Ch.300300. Japanese Unification War (1)

The discussion about the distribution of honors and rewards, which had once been a heated topic, continued endlessly.

Even as Seoul was gradually regaining its former glory, with reconstruction efforts getting back on track and a new “Miracle on the Han River” taking place, citizens’ attention was focused not on the city itself but on two heroes.

The frenzy was endless—theatrical performances depicting battlefield scenes, parodies, videos, and even social media memes were flooding every platform. In other words, the citizens of Seorabeol were starved for entertainment, and the distribution of honors had become their favorite form of amusement.

“The top honor this time definitely goes to Kim Su-ho!”

“No, General Jeong Dong-geon’s loyalty is more valuable than anything!”

“Forget that—replay the Hyeonmu missile launch scene!”

For the citizens of Seorabeol, the war to recapture Seoul had become a festival that left only good memories, and the stories of heroes born from it were pure entertainment. However, the Seorabeol cabinet was beginning to feel burdened and threatened by this atmosphere.

At first, they had deliberately allowed it to boost morale, but they were now sensing that this enthusiasm was slipping beyond their control.

“The popularity is good. Public support for heroes is important. But… when it continues too long, interest becomes distorted. Other national heroes who fought in the war might become discontented.”

Prime Minister Hwang Geun-chul was the first to mention this problem. While spotlighting heroes was beneficial, it meant that other heroes who fought alongside them were being forgotten.

Heroes weren’t limited to Kim Su-ho and Jeong Dong-geon—the nameless soldiers who bravely fought against the Cult of Immortality were also heroes to Seorabeol. If these heroes received no compensation, who would take up arms when Seorabeol faced another crisis?

Naturally, Seorabeol needed to prepare appropriate rewards for these national heroes—rewards that would motivate anyone to fight for their country.

“We’ve already established a National Cemetery in Seoul for Seorabeol’s heroes and laid to rest all the Awakened who died in battle. The problem is that everyone seems more interested in the honors ceremony than in the fallen…”

Despite Seorabeol holding ceremonies to honor heroes who died on the battlefield, citizens’ attention remained fixed on living heroes rather than the fallen ones. This could cause discontent among soldiers who fought for Seorabeol, requiring careful attention.

“Eventually, this entertainment fever will turn into a power game. Creating heroes, tearing them down… and what follows is the hero’s downfall scenario.”

Given the situation, National Assembly Speaker Park Cheol-gon agreed with the Prime Minister, expressing concern that this event could degenerate into another power struggle.

In fact, extremist factions within Seorabeol were already exploiting the situation, spreading radical ideas like “heroes are unnecessary,” “Kim Su-ho is a dictator,” and “Jeong Dong-geon is planning a coup.”

They used the media or took to the streets, shouting to citizens that their logic was correct. The cabinet, unable to tolerate this, was controlling the situation by dispersing these demonstrations. But with such fires breaking out daily, it was time to find a way to extinguish this fervor.

“Usually, provocative memes can be suppressed by other, more provocative memes. One major incident can be blocked by another larger incident. It’s like fighting poison with poison.”

“But such incidents don’t happen easily. Seorabeol has already begun stabilizing after completing the pacification of South Korea.”

The Dragon God Association and the Constitutional Democratic Party, who had fought fiercely during the honors ceremony, were now working together to address this fervor, as if they were facing an urgent crisis.

Initially, they had tried to use this fervor for their party’s benefit, but gradually realized they might be consumed by it instead. Their united effort to suppress it revealed a rather negative aspect of human nature.

But this was clearly for the country’s sake, and with the Prime Minister and Speaker concerned, there was nothing wrong with it! The pre-apocalypse Republic of Korea had always been a realm of scheming where the weak couldn’t survive.

“What about the Yamato Alliance?”

“If you’re referring to the Yamato Alliance…”

The one who suggested a strategy to the troubled cabinet was the Dragon Priestess, who had been quietly observing their behavior from the head seat.

To be precise, it wasn’t Yu-na in Seoul, but Baek Seol-hwa, who was governing the headquarters in Gyeongju in her place. Nevertheless, she was also a Dragon Priestess directly connected to the Dragon God Bahamut.

All cabinet members showed her the respect due to a monarch and inquired about her proposal.

“Now that the Seoul recapture operation is over, the Yamato Alliance will enter its own unification war for the archipelago. That should be enough to overshadow the honors ceremony issue.”

At this shocking statement, the entire cabinet raised their heads in unison.

Another major war was about to break out near the Korean Peninsula, and since it involved their ally, the Yamato Alliance, Seorabeol couldn’t remain idle.

According to the mutual defense treaty, Seorabeol was obligated to participate in the Yamato Alliance’s war. Since the Yamato Alliance had fulfilled its alliance obligations, it was time for Seorabeol to show its loyalty as well.

“Indeed. An issue of that magnitude could certainly suppress the current honors ceremony issue!”

“Using war itself makes me a bit uncomfortable…”

“But in this post-apocalyptic world, war is commonplace. No need to worry. Right. Seorabeol isn’t afraid of war!”

What made this particularly appealing was that the new war would take place in the Japanese archipelago rather than in Seorabeol, meaning that even defeat wouldn’t cause significant damage to Seorabeol.

A major war in a neighboring country would be enough to divert public attention, and if the archipelago unification war actually happened as Seol-hwa suggested, Seorabeol would participate.

“A crisis…”

“And an opportunity.”

Crisis often presents opportunity.

Just as people were growing tired of the burning hero tales and forced political games, a new enemy and a new war could once again unite the people of Seorabeol.

‘They’re thinking about another implicit national unity cabinet. These damn major parties.’

This sentiment was shared by both the Dragon God Association and the Constitutional Democratic Party, which had split apart as soon as the war ended. Only the third party, the Korea First Party, watched the two parties’ collusion with dissatisfaction.

However, they didn’t want to risk political backlash by opposing the Dragon Priestess’s words, and new wars didn’t always deny opportunities to the Korea First Party.

In fact, wasn’t it because of the war that the Korea First Party, previously barely a negotiating group, had become a proper negotiating body?

“I never mentioned participation, yet everyone’s eyes glazed over at the mention of war.”

“It can’t be helped. War has become like everyday life now.”

Silence fell over the meeting room, but everyone was thinking the same thing.

Yes, Seorabeol needed a war, and that war was the archipelago unification war!

It might seem strange that national assembly members would think of war first, but in this post-apocalyptic world, war had become an everyday occurrence and an entertainment product. Politics had become about deciding how to use these wars.

Baek Seol-hwa could only sigh at the cabinet, which immediately thought of war when she had merely mentioned it, while her secretary Seo Un-jae assessed that war had indeed become commonplace.

“We need a general election. The current assembly no longer represents the will of all Seorabeol citizens. I will speak to Lord Bahamut about this.”

“As you command.”

Seeing the state of the assembly and cabinet, Baek Seol-hwa determined that a general election was necessary for structural reform, and Seo Un-jae followed her words without resistance.

However, it was also true that a great storm was coming to the Yamato Alliance.

The capital of the Yamato Alliance, now named Tokyo, was already preparing for a new battle.

“With the Seoul recapture operation, our Awakened have also reached superhuman levels. Now we too must enter the archipelago recapture operation.”

They were initiating the unification war because they actually had a chance of winning.

The Yamato Alliance Awakened who participated in the Incheon landing operation had reached superhuman levels through fierce battles with the Cult of Immortality, including their leader Takashima Shiro.

Moreover, having fulfilled their alliance obligations and successfully negotiated diplomatically with the Dragon God Bahamut, the Yamato Alliance had gained much from the Seoul recapture operation. If they didn’t enter the archipelago unification war now, they might face civil war—that’s how much the national fortune of the Yamato Alliance had risen since its founding.

“Today, our Yamato Alliance must go to rescue citizens painfully surviving throughout Japan! After long preparation, the Yamato Alliance can finally proudly declare the archipelago unification war!”

Takashima Shiro’s name had risen as the most powerful authority throughout Japan, becoming someone no one within Japan could disregard.

With such a figure calling for Japanese unification, warlords across Japan couldn’t help but feel tense. In reality, while not at the level of nation-building like the Yamato Alliance, there were already lords who could at least claim the title of daimyo.

From the Self-Defense Forces that inherited the legacy of old Japan to the daimyos ruled by the old Japanese power families—Shiro proudly declared to these old-generation forces that were enemies of the Yamato Alliance:

“The Yamato-Seorabeol alliance has united our Yamato Alliance. And this alliance has made us stronger. I have seen cities regain life on Korean soil. I witnessed the power of humanity rising again after the worshippers of death were defeated! Now it’s time for us to reclaim that glory in this archipelago!”

All Awakened, politicians, and officials belonging to the Yamato Alliance nodded at Shiro’s declaration.

Since Seorabeol had unified South Korea, the Yamato Alliance also needed to unify the Japanese archipelago.

If complete unification wasn’t possible, they at least needed to unify all of eastern Japan, and the current Yamato Alliance had developed enough strength to unify eastern Japan.

Shiro raised his right hand high and brought it down on the table as if drawing a blade.

“From this moment, the Yamato Alliance initiates the Japanese archipelago unification war! All remaining Self-Defense Forces and local armed groups must immediately submit to our Yamato Alliance! If you resist, you are our enemy!”

The city fell silent at this arrogant declaration, then was soon engulfed in cheers and the sound of fireworks.

Yes, now it was entirely possible.