Ch.622Chapter 23. Patriotic General Do Ji-hwan (26)

# The Age of Abilities

In the age of abilities, certain fields have naturally begun to fade away.

The athletic world.

The sports world.

No matter how much humans train their bodies, they can’t defeat even a single E-rank ability user.

If someone trained hard from middle school and became a professional boxer, the blood, sweat, and tears they shed would be immeasurable.

However, no matter how much humans train their bodies, ordinary people and ability users are different.

“So can the world kickboxing champion go around destroying tanks?”

A single E-rank high school girl ability user equals the combat power of three tanks.

Everyone has seen this with their own eyes during the riots in Thailand, and even without that, it’s already a “reality” verified for various reasons around the world.

No matter how much one trains their body, it’s ultimately useless against transcendent power.

However, they haven’t given up on exercise.

After all, exercise is about personal goals, self-improvement, and physical training.

To add one more thing…

“Seol-hee. Did you know? Athletic men have a higher probability of fathering children with abilities.”

“……”

“And if he’s a ssireum champion, that’s the ultimate jackpot.”

Baek Seol-hee let out a hollow laugh about the young man, a college student and former high school ssireum champion who was now the husband of three sisters.

“…He’s not the type to hit women, right?”

“Of course not. The men on this profile aren’t just ordinary athletic guys. The ssireum champion was truly a coincidence, but they’re all gentle people who exercise diligently.”

People who purely love exercise.

Those who are genuinely happy even when their wives give them just salad and boiled chicken breast for breakfast.

“The men the tavern owners put on the profile have all been filtered through the eyes of ‘aunties.’ They were chosen as if they were picking their own husbands. They’re not the kind of men you see on the news or internet communities.”

In other words, a character assessment.

Aptitude is another matter, but once humanity is satisfied, aptitude becomes the next issue.

“…Does the Syndicate care about such things?”

“We can’t introduce strange men and end up creating demons.”

“…Wouldn’t they become demons after all three get thrown down on the bed by the ssireum champion? Like…”

Baek Seol-hee made a V-sign with her hands beside her face.

“‘I was defeated by an ordinary person who’s not even an ability user!’ or something.”

“Where did you learn such things?”

“I saw it in doujinshi from Japanese Comic Market.”

“…I asked you to look at materials, and you became an otaku.”

“I’m not an otaku. It was in the Goblin-related materials.”

“……”

It seemed like I’d heard something even more serious, but right now, the “patriotization” of foreign villains was a more important issue, so I decided to move on.

“Anyway, so those three will be entrusted to the ssireum champion?”

“Yes. Although he’s a prison guard, he thinks these women are foreign exiles, not villains, so he won’t mistreat them. It’ll work out well.”

He’s the ssireum champion they chose themselves.

Not just any sport, but a Korean traditional sport—ssireum, the sport most beloved by the will of Hwan, and he’s a former high school champion.

“His character is sufficient, and his abilities are sufficient. There’s just one unverified aspect…”

“What is it?”

“He was a champion on the sand, but what about in bed?”

“…Don’t the tavern owners know about that too?”

“There’s a problem.”

A very big problem.

“According to the tavern owners, this ssireum champion…”

“Come on, surely with this physique, you’re not going to say he’s a ‘virgin’?”

“He has the same condition as his wives.”

“Holy…”

Baek Seol-hee looked the young man up and down with disbelief.

“Usually athletes, you know, do that… early, right? Especially male athletes. I heard female ability users specifically look for such men.”

There’s one aspect that can’t really be considered good.

“D-rank or C-rank ability users, targeting athletes or celebrities…”

“Doing the ‘Armored Taejo.'”

It’s a world where everyone is patriotic.

Some seriously go to Ulleungdo, but others seek casual encounters, going from one man to another woman.

Free encounters.

Just as Armored Taejo showed how amazing an S-rank man’s physique is to a four-member girl group in Gaeseong, most others do the same.

Male ability users meet celebrities, idols, singers, models, etc.

Female ability users meet celebrities, athletes, capitalists, etc.

The reason they don’t meet other ability users is probably due to “self-management.”

While celebrities and athletes take meticulous care of themselves, C-rank and below ability users often rely solely on the minimum correction provided by magical power and neglect body management.

Nevertheless, there are certainly ordinary people who have appearances similar to ability users, despite having looks that rival mediocre celebrities.

Therefore.

“To Baek Seol-hee, who has the Mir ghost dwelling in her head, it might seem like all athletes do such things early, but this person doesn’t.”

“So everyone in this profile is pure?”

“Not exactly.”

Rather, they’re few.

Perhaps about the probability of a “pick-up” target in a mobile gacha game.

“How lucky.”

Of all these athletic men, the one all three chose happens to be a virgin ssireum champion.

“I knew his physique hidden under the satba was also championship level, but actual practice is… huh?”

Suddenly, looking at his profile, a chill ran down my spine.

“Wait a minute. Could this be…?”

“What?”

“…Let me make a phone call.”

I asked Baek Seol-hee for permission, then called a number I knew.

[Oh my, Manager Do. Calling me like this. Who are you planning to bring this time?]

A familiar and benevolent voice, a collaborator of the Syndicate who could contact me directly.

“Mr. Jang. By any chance, among the people you know…”

[…Ah, that kid? Well, um, that’s.]

The caretaker of the Ulleungdo pension, Mr. Jang, stammered.

[Did I not tell you about my younger days once? I married the second one, but that… hahaha!]

“……”

[It was like that in my time. Even with love and loyalty to the country, the law was what it was…. But you’re lucky, Manager Do. The country has changed all the laws for you. Hehehe.]

“I might be getting three Chinese daughters-in-law, just letting you know.”

[Huh? Formal speech? Is there a woman next to you?]

“Yes.”

[Ah, I see. Of course. You must be polite in front of women.]

While restraining Baek Seol-hee, who was poking my waist next to me, I explained the situation to Mr. Jang.

“So basically…”

[Hmm… Is he being used?]

Mr. Jang openly expressed his discomfort, despite talking to me, at the possibility that his son(?) might be used by three women, possibly even killed in that way.

[Then I should leave Ulleungdo soon. Did you say they’re in Yangyang? Or…]

“They’ll be moving to the Geumgangsan View Apartments soon, but for at least two weeks… Hey, Seol-hee. Why do you keep trying to say something…”

“Mr. Jang, do you have any rooms available?”

[Ah, for Ms. Baek Seol-hee, I’d cancel existing reservations! Just kidding. There are none. Haha. You can come anytime. Since I didn’t know when you’d come, I’ve kept reservations open.]

“That’s…”

Baek Seol-hee, who had interrupted the call, frowned.

“Isn’t this peak season? It’s before the World Cup.”

[That’s exactly why I need to keep it open. Well… actually, I was told to keep this secret, but it might be better if you ask directly.]

“Directly…?”

[Yes. According to what I’ve heard, now that Haeguneul has pulled out of Ulleungdo, they’re actively buying up real estate.]

“Ah.”

I understood.

“Mr. Jang. I’ll call you back soon.”

[Alright. I’ll be waiting…]

Click.

The call ended.

I didn’t hang up first; Mr. Jang did.

“Are you still concerned about this?”

“Of course. That woman isn’t from Haeguneul.”

“…Woman?”

“Yes, woman. …Don’t pinch me. Just because I know doesn’t mean I have any intention of using my pretty boy tactics.”

According to the original work:

“Cheonrian is devoted to one love. She’s loved a man since childhood.”

Cheonrian is a woman, and she wants to share sincere love with someone.

‘The problem is that it wasn’t revealed who that man is.’

It seemed like a plot point was about to be revealed, but before that, a meteor fell and the Earth was destroyed.

So I know that “Cheonrian” is a woman and that she loves someone, but I don’t know who it is.

“Anyway, it’s a world where everyone is patriotic. More people will want to be patriotic in the future. The Peach Sisters trying to ruin the World Cup was all about ‘interfering with patriotism.'”

“…Somehow it seems both trivial and sacred at the same time.”

The country where the World Cup will be held.

Naturally, many people from around the world will visit.

And of course, ability users will be among them.

Villains like the Peach Sisters might come, or just ordinary heroes.

“Various athletic men and women of Korea will try to seduce foreign ability users to enhance national prestige, and foreign ability users will try to marry Korean men and women to put down roots in Korea. …Not just ability users, but everyone.”

Planes from all over the world are already heading to the Korean Peninsula.

Some countries are even sending cruise ships to dock at Tongyeong Port to use as accommodations.

“During the World Cup, this country will become a patriotic village.”

Three S-rank ability users submitting to a ssireum champion is patriotism.

A girl group dancing together before Armored Taejo is patriotism.

Patriotic master Do Ji-hwan staying on Ulleungdo with patriotic partners including Baek Seol-hee is also patriotism.

In short, everything is a preliminary work of national prestige for a wholesome and safe World Cup.

And Ulleungdo will become the Syndicate’s forward base for the normal hosting of the World Cup in Korea and the Syndicate’s victory.

More precisely…

“Seol-hee. Pack your bags. And about your doppelgänger, leave it here at the Busan house, looking slightly pregnant.”

“…Why?”

“Because you need to be with me on Ulleungdo with your real body. To the island that protects the patriotic master.”

The entire world.

All athletic men and women are targeting Do Ji-hwan.