Chapter 1784. It's the regret you have yet to face. (4)

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Thud.

Jin Songwon roughly placed the bowl he was holding down, as if throwing it. The half-cooled porridge inside trembled for a moment before settling.

Baek Cheon, who had been staring blankly at the bowl in front of him, shifted his gaze to Jin Songwon. The latter, his face concealed behind a mask, bluntly commanded.

"Eat."

"Thank you."

Baek Cheon, bowing respectfully, carefully lifted the bowl with both hands. His hands trembled slightly, but he managed not to drop it.

As he watched Baek Cheon drink directly from the bowl, Jin Songwon, exasperated, scolded him.

"Do you have no sense of caution? What if it were poisoned?"

"..."

"We are now your enemies. Surely, you're aware of that?"

Baek Cheon placed the bowl back down, his face composed as he looked at Jin Songwon.

"If you intended to kill me, there were easier ways. You wouldn't have saved me in the first place."

"..."

"And now, there's no reason to go to the trouble of poisoning porridge just to kill me."

"You're good at talking."

Finding himself speechless, Jin Songwon closed his mouth. Baek Cheon calmly resumed drinking from the bowl.

Jin Songwon's gaze grew heavy.

"Why didn't you leave?"

Baek Cheon paused, setting the bowl down, and replied.

"You didn't tell me to leave."

"But I never told you to stay, either."

"..."

"There's nothing left for you here."

The only reason Jin Songwon had saved Baek Cheon was on a whim. Or, perhaps deep down, he had hoped for someone—anyone—to listen to him.

Someone who could understand his situation, someone who might empathize with him and help him release the burden of his emotions. Someone who could perhaps grasp his pain.

But since that conversation ended, Baek Cheon had no more reason to stay. No one was stopping him, and no one was watching over him. If he had wanted, he could have left at any time.

Baek Cheon chuckled.

"Well, that's for me to decide, isn't it?"

The masked face of Jin Songwon visibly twitched.

"Let me remind you, the people here don't have good feelings toward you. It wouldn't be surprising if someone tried to cut you down at any moment."

"That's true."

Baek Cheon nodded calmly.

Of course, if you look at it objectively, Baek Cheon had done nothing wrong.

But not everyone is capable of such a cool-headed judgment, especially those driven to desperation.

"Knowing that, are you still hanging around here because you have no attachment to life anymore?"

At Jin Songwon's derisive question, Baek Cheon didn't answer right away. He finished the remaining porridge in one gulp, then slowly set the bowl down.

"I used to think that way."

"...Hm?"

"That even if I died now, I wouldn't feel any regret or bitterness. I thought there was nothing left to lose."

"But that's not the case now?"

Baek Cheon's gaze drifted outside the tent, where the weary figures of people lying around came into view.

"My perspective has changed a bit."

Reading Baek Cheon's line of sight, Jin Songwon's eyes darkened.

"Oh, so after seeing those in worse situations than you somehow surviving like insects, you've decided that even you aren't ready to die yet?"

"Maybe. Who knows?"

"...What did you say?"

A hint of murderous intent seeped from Jin Songwon. It wasn't because of strong anger, but because some of his fury had leaked out unintentionally. A dangerous signal, indeed.

Despite sensing this, Baek Cheon remained calm.

"Though, to be precise, it's a little different."

Still staring outside, Baek Cheon spoke quietly.

"I just realized there are things I haven't lost yet."

Jin Songwon silently regarded Baek Cheon, the tension in the air gradually easing.

"You have a life with nothing to do."

"That's how it turned out."

Jin Songwon let out a faint sigh, one too quiet for Baek Cheon to hear.

'Different, you say…'

He couldn't deny that Baek Cheon seemed 'different'.

Their situations were equally hopeless. In fact, one could argue that Baek Cheon's circumstances were worse, being trapped in an even deeper abyss than the people here.

At least those here had some reason to cling to life, but Baek Cheon no longer had anything like that.

Yet, in this place where everyone else had lost their light and color, Baek Cheon still seemed to carry a faint glimmer. So dim it was barely visible, but to Jin Songwon, that light shone painfully bright.

He closed his eyes, a distant feeling washing over him as thoughts of his children, far away, came to mind.

And then, someone appeared at the entrance of the tent.

The newcomer entered with steady steps, cast a brief glance at Baek Cheon, and whispered something into Jin Songwon's ear before quickly leaving.

Jin Songwon stared at Baek Cheon in silence for a moment before finally speaking.

"Whatever you wanted to do, it seems that opportunity has just slipped away."

"Pardon?"

In response to Baek Cheon's puzzled expression, a commotion erupted outside.

People who had been slumped against the walls like corpses began to stir. Slowly, but every single one of them moved.

A sense of dread flashed through Baek Cheon's mind.

"....Are you going to be deployed to the battlefield?"

"That would be the better case."

"...Then?"

"A full mobilization order has been issued. No one is exempt."

Baek Cheon's expression grew strained, recognizing the gravity of those words.

Jin Songwon drove the point home, though it hardly needed to be said.

"It's an all-out war."

Cold sweat broke out on Baek Cheon's forehead.

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Ho Gamyeong felt his lips going dry.

'All of a sudden...'

Jang Ilso's mind had finally cleared, which should have been a cause for relief. It certainly wasn't something to be worried about.

But if the first order he gave upon regaining his clarity was a total mobilization command, then things were different.

As he watched the Evil Tyrant Alliance's forces gathering one by one, Ho Gamyeong glanced sideways at Jang Ilso, who stood beside him.

He seemed unchanged.

The half-closed eyes, the subtly upturned corners of his lips. A face that looked confident, yet somehow exuded a hint of wickedness. It was the very same Jang Ilso he had known for many long years.

But precisely because of that, it bothered him even more.

".... Ryeonju-nim."

"Speak."

"Giving the total mobilization command now means..."

"Yes. You know it."

Jang Ilso grinned.

"It means we're about to start a real war. An all-out war."

"....So suddenly?"

"Are you worried?"

Ho Gamyeong exhaled briefly and spoke in one breath.

"To be honest, I have many concerns. As I reported earlier, our internal situation is far from stable. Supplies are lacking, and morale is at its lowest. The bigger problem is that the relationships among the key figures of Evil Tyrant Alliance are at an all-time low. On top of that..."

"On top of that."

Jang Ilso interrupted, as if he didn't need to hear the rest, and smiled wryly.

"Mistrust and grievances against Ryeonju are growing. Am I right?"

Ho Gamyeong couldn't bring himself to nod or deny, letting out a groan instead. Even setting all of this aside, now clearly wasn't the right time for an all-out war.

"Although Thousand Faced Manipulator didn't accomplish his mission perfectly, he did leave a seed of discord among them. Now would be the time to reorganize internally and wait for that seed to sprout, wouldn't it?"

"Gamyeong-ah, Gamyeong-ah… why are you being so frustratingly slow to understand?"

Jang Ilso let out a deep sigh.

"....Ryeonju-nim?"

"You, of all people, should know this. That in war, it isn't always the better side that wins."

"..."

"Tell me, who wins in war?"

Ho Gamyeong bit down on the inside of his mouth, not because he didn't know the answer, but because he did. Because he understood what Jang Ilso was implying.

"Those who fight in wars inevitably break. They have no choice. They kill countless people, and their comrades die right next to them. It would be strange not to break. Yelling at them to remain calm or collected is pointless, especially when they might die tomorrow."

Ho Gamyeong nodded in agreement, and Jang Ilso continued, a smile lingering on his lips.

"That's why, in war, it isn't the stronger side that wins. It's the side that breaks less."

He had experienced this many times.

They had defeated stronger forces and struggled against weaker ones.

Why was that?

"It doesn't matter how perfect we are. What matters is whether our situation is better than our enemy's."

The two great factions fighting for control of the world were already locked in a grueling struggle in the mud. As Evil Tyrant Alliance deteriorated, so did Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

'From a rational perspective, their situation is slightly worse than ours.'

Jang Ilso's words weren't wrong. Still, Ho Gamyeong's concerns and doubts lingered.

"I understand your intentions, Ryeonju-nim. But... isn't this a time when just waiting could further solidify our advantage?"

"Do you think so?"

"Yes. Even though that cursed Plum Blossom Sword Demon defeated Thousand Faced Manipulator, it's not like Thousand Faced Manipulator was killed or fatally injured. The fear of Thousand Faced Manipulator striking again will gnaw away at them."

"....Hmm. And?"

"Additionally, they know we have more strategies than just Thousand Faced Manipulator. That, too, will fuel their anxiety. So, Ryeonju-nim, we should stall for time and..."

Ho Gamyeong trailed off, falling silent as he realized something. He finally understood why Jang Ilso considered this the right moment.

Jang Ilso slowly nodded.

"Yes. That's it. They'll think I'm planning another scheme and brace themselves for it."

They, too, had observed Jang Ilso for a long time. His strategies always yielded maximum results with minimal effort. He preferred attacks akin to arrows shot from afar.

"That's precisely why."

Jang Ilso licked his blood-red lips.

"Those who prepare for schemes don't consider full-scale war. While they think we'll try something sneaky, they let their guard down."

"..."

"Both sides are equally in shambles."

Jang Ilso's gaze fixed ahead. People were gathering in dense clusters before him, like swarming ants.

"Then, before they can recover, we must crush them and make sure they never rise again. That's how we win."

Ho Gamyeong closed his eyes. There was no room for further argument.

The Paegun Jang Ilso he knew was present here.

In front of him were tightly packed forces, with their leaders standing prominently at the forefront, waiting for orders from Jang Ilso.

Ho Gamyeong would normally have observed the expressions and atmosphere of these people, but now, he didn't spare them a glance.

The only person he needed to watch here was just one.

Taking a step forward, Ho Gamyeong turned to Jang Ilso.

"The preparations are complete, Ryeonju-nim."

Even his usually cold and composed voice trembled slightly.

"Give the order!"

Ho Gamyeong bowed deeply. Behind him, those lined up also dropped to one knee simultaneously. Everyone instinctively knew what they had to do now.

Jang Ilso looked down at those bowing before him. The sight was breathtaking, yet he did not hold his breath. He simply wore a familiar smile.

"Let's go."

He turned around, and his crimson robe billowed grandly.

"To take over the Central Plains."

The blood-red robe at the very front fluttered like a banner, and the forces of Evil Tyrant Alliance began to move.