Invitation to the Chatroom of the Gods - Chapter 49



Only Krnovel

Episode 49 – The Value of Chivalry

The ground turned to mud by the flooded Yangtze River.

Chalbak─.

The King’s wet footsteps were heard.

Thousands of drones swallowed dry saliva and raised their gazes downward.

“······!”

“······!”

“······!”

All the warriors of the knight troupe who had raised their gaze were startled and their bodies froze.

‘Your Majesty···.’

‘Has something changed?’

Of course, his face was no different than before because he was wearing a mask.

Still, the reason I feel like something has ‘changed’ is, should I say, the atmosphere or the momentum?

I felt a sense of ‘dignity’ that I couldn’t explain.

The level itself was different from the last time we met.

Of course, he had shown signs of being a great king in the past as well, but not to this extent.

This presence and pressure that weighs down on all sides whenever the King takes a step.

Doesn’t this feel like facing the ‘absolute being’ who rules over the world with the majesty of a great king?

Chalbak─.

The King’s footsteps spread oppressively once again.

The hairs on my head stood on end, and cold sweat ran down my back and waist.

With every step, with every move the King made.

An unknown presence spreads out in all directions around the King and beyond.

······You can’t win even if you beat him to death.

In the first place, I didn’t have the ‘confidence’ to face the Great King.

But now, I don’t even have the ‘thought’ of fighting back.

Even if all 4,000 or so warriors gathered here rush in, they will not be able to do anything to the Great King.

All the warriors of the swordsmanship gulped under the oppressive pressure.

The king walked across the scenery of Poyang Lake to the upper seat and sat on the throne.

The great king sitting on the throne slowly turned his head and looked at the thirty-six officers and warriors.

The King’s gaze passed over them all as if he was remembering each and every one of their faces.

“You all did a great job.”

A statement that leaves out many things.

It was just a single word, ‘congratulations’ from the Great King, but for some reason my heart was filled with emotion.

“The reason I gathered you here is to give you a ‘reward’ as promised. So let’s get started right away without wasting any time. General Koo.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Gu Cheol-san, who was promoted from a 12-member officer to a general.

He took a step forward and brought out a long folding chair from one side.

The length of the unfolded scroll was long enough to drag along the floor, and something was written all over it.

This time, it seemed like a great achievement and public achievement by the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan.

The warriors of the knights’ corps looked forward with great anticipation to the congratulations and rewards that would follow for their exploits.

however.

“Jang Dan-gae, a member of the Ilchae clan, was born with a congenital disability···.”

What I heard from the former general’s mouth was not the merits and achievements of the swordsman group.

These were the various stories of none other than the warriors of the Hyupgaekdan.

Ten people, ten colors.

They say that when there are ten people, there are ten colors.

There were 4,000 stories for the 4,000 members of the Jang River Swordsman Group.

Those who feed their younger siblings. Those who live with sick parents. Those who take care of their disabled children. Those who lose their families and lovers to the tyranny of bureaucrats. Those whose families are torn apart by vicious loan sharks······.

If you listen carefully to the old general’s words, you can see that the saying that there is no grave in this world without a story is not for nothing.

Is that why?

‘Did he have such circumstances?’

‘I don’t even know that···.’

Although they had the same name, Jang Gang-su-ro-chae, they were not originally ‘comrades’. They were simply competitors and enemies.

Although they have finally reunited as the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan, they still have not found anything like ‘comradeship’.

Rather, there were still old feelings left, and there was a fight between us without us knowing it.

But it was said that one cannot know unless one experiences the situation.

Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

‘So at that time···.’

‘That’s what it was.’

‘I had no choice but to do that.’

The thirty-six members of the group were able to understand each other once in a while, and the emotions that had been building up and suppressed were melting away one by one.

Now, they were no longer separate groups, but had come together as one under the name of the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan.

The old general’s voice continued for a very long time, but no one seemed bored or annoyed.

How much time has passed like that?

“His Majesty is very sorry for all these events, and he grants gold and silver to all members of the Jang River Knights, along with their previous achievements!”

Suddenly, a flash of consciousness dawns.

“What, what···?”

“What did you just say···?”

All the warriors in the band looked at each other with their eyes wide open.

Of course, it is true that I expected a reward.

But I was never hoping or expecting ‘Geumwonbo’.

At most, I was hoping for a few pennies in return.

I could be loyal to that extent.

No one would have thought that one person would be rewarded with a huge sum of money, enough to live comfortably for several years.

But what about Geumwon Bora?

What about gold coins and not silver coins?

The value of one gold coin is enormous. But you’re giving it to everyone gathered here?

This is absolutely impossible.

If you were to award just one gold ingot to each of the Jangganghyeopdan’s warriors, you would need a whopping 4,000 gold ingots.

4,000 gold coins.

Is this······a reward that makes sense?

Even if you open the storehouse of Jogye-ak, 4,000 gold coins is excessive. In the whole world, there are only a handful of people who have that much wealth.

It is difficult to hold on to the interests of the Yangtze River.

Moreover, didn’t the Great King not seek any profit from the Yangtze River during that time?

Although most people were busy looking after their own interests, the king showed no greed. He even distributed the toll to the Jang River Knights.

Moreover, he even gives rewards in this way. Where in the world can you find such a great king?

“The leaders of each swordsman group, come forward and receive the king’s reward!”

Yet the King was unhesitating. He had no hesitation, no hesitation, and therefore no sign of regret.

So······I think that’s what it was.

“······.”

“······.”

“······.”

This is the reason why no one in the Jang Gang Hyeop Gang steps forward. This is the reason why no one opens their mouths.

Is it really worth receiving this award?

Do we deserve this award?

The reward bestowed by the King was a reward for the recent activities of the Jang River Swordsmen.

But until recently, they were a group of bandits called Janggangsurochae.

They were a people who committed plunder and atrocities. They lived by terrorizing, persecuting, and exploiting innocent people.

Of course, I compensated them for the damage and asked for their forgiveness. But that doesn’t mean that it ‘never happened’.

Moreover, wasn’t it all compensated by the ‘Great King’ opening his warehouse?

It was possible to become a member of the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan and live a new life, all because of the Great King.

They still wore the stigma of being ‘thieves’.

Even if you say there are unavoidable circumstances, it is nothing more than an excuse.

They were nothing more than a bunch of black people and a sect, so are they really qualified to receive such an extravagant reward and cover up their past infamy just because they performed such a small act of chivalry?

Their heroism was not to be rewarded, but rather to ‘atone’ for their past mistakes.

And just as the time that has passed cannot be brought back, he would remain a thief for the rest of his life.

“······.”

“······.”

“······.”

All 4,000 or so people gathered at Payangho had the same thought in their minds. That’s why no one was happy or cheering.

Only a desolate atmosphere hung over the entire Poyang Lake.

So, there was only shame and not being able to raise my head.

It was just then.

“What does this look like to you?”

Suddenly the King’s voice was heard.

Looking up at the throne.

There was something in the palm of the king’s hand.

It was a horseshoe-shaped coin made of gold, and its name was also called ‘Majegeum (馬蹄金)’.

“That’s Geum Won-bo.”

Gold treasure.

The king nodded faintly at the seventh officer’s answer.

“That’s right. Then do you know the value of this one gold coin?”

“Ha, this is a fortune that one person can live off of for several years.”

The fourteenth officer was the answer, and that was the value of the gold ingot.

That is why I knew how great the reward the King would bestow was, and that is why I could not raise my head.

The King nodded once again.

Then he slowly came down from the throne and stood in front of 4,000 warriors.

So, not long ago, the mud floor of Lake Pa-yang overflowed and became muddy.

The king threw the gold treasure to the ground with a thud. As if that wasn’t enough, he kicked it and trampled it.

Everyone was shocked and bewildered, but the king had no hesitation.

The gold coin was covered in dirty mud. The gold color that had once sparkled after being kicked repeatedly had faded and was unsightly.

The king picked it up and asked again.

“What does this look like?”

“That’s Geumwonbo···.”

This time, the thirtieth executive answered, and everyone agreed.

Even though it was covered in mud, it was wiped off and that was it, so it was still a gold treasure.

“How much is this worth?”

“That, that… is the same as before.”

“Is that so?”

The King nodded again.

Then, this time, he used force and crushed the gold ingot.

Even though it was gold, it was just a lump of iron, and the fact that he could easily crush it was a new way to see the extent of the king’s power.

“What does this look like?”

And then the King’s question was heard again.

This time, no one answered.

That would be the case, since the shape of the horseshoe called Wonbo could no longer be found, having been crushed by the power of the great king.

It was now nothing more than a ‘nugget of gold’.

“So what is the value of this?”

“That, that is… the same as the gold coin.”

But the value did not change.

The Yuanbao (元寶) is only an ‘appearance’ and a ‘form’.

The material that determines the value is ‘gold.’

Even if the shape is distorted, the gold content inside it has not changed, so naturally its value remains the same.

“It has been soiled by mud, trampled by my feet many times, and has become so distorted that it can no longer be called a gold coin. Are you saying that its value has not changed?”

“The dirt can be wiped away, and the only thing that remains is the shape of the original ingot. The amount of gold contained within it has not changed. Therefore, its value has not changed either.”

The answer of the twenty-fifth executive, who was quite bold.

The king nodded slightly.

“As you can see, this gold treasure is covered in all sorts of dirt. It’s covered in mud here and there, it’s been trampled by my feet, and it’s been distorted to the point where it can no longer be called a gold treasure.”

however.

“You say that this is still worth ‘gold and silver.’”

The gaze of the king behind the mask was directed straight ahead.

A gaze that seems to face each and every one of the thousands of unmanned people gathered at Pa Yang Lake.

“Then what is the reason?”

The voice of the great king that was heard also seemed to be speaking to each and every one of the thousands of warriors.

“Even this mere gold piece of treasure has been tainted by all sorts of things, yet it does not lose its value. Why do people? Why do you think you are losing your original value?”

Suddenly, the eyes of the Jang Gang Hyeop Gak Dan’s unmanned forces opened wide.

“Even this mere metal, the gold and silver ingot, has unchanging value.”

My body… and my thoughts… froze, as if they were frozen.

As if their minds had stopped, thousands of drones were unable to utter a word or form a single thought.

The gold treasure now resting on the palm of the King’s hand.

That thing that was covered in mud, kicked, and distorted, so much so that it could no longer be called Geumwonbo.

Why do they look so similar to me and us?

Why do they look so similar to us, covered in all sorts of dirt?

“Everyone makes mistakes. A momentary mistake can lead to a sin. People can get mud on their bodies like this. If you ask me whether I have lived a clean life, I have not.”

and.

“Your bodies are covered in more mud than others. Furthermore, your hearts are clearly distorted. Nevertheless, I ask.”

The gaze of the great king behind the mask is directed towards the thousands of warriors gathered at Pa Yang Lake.

“Has your chivalry been damaged?”

No one······ answered.

“I don’t think you are good people. If someone asks, I will say you are evil people.”

It was a statement that could not be denied, nor could it be denied.

That is why the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan were people who were a hindrance to the Great King.

The Great King was a cloud dragon that ascended high into the sky and floated above the clouds, so the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan were worse than not existing at all.

however.

“And yet I will be your great king.”

The Great King was still saying that he would be our Great King.

Even if the body of the dragon, a noble being that embraces us, is covered in the mud of the ‘mistakes’ of the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan,

“I will always be your king.”

The King was saying that he would be with us till the end.

“There will definitely be criticism from people. There will definitely be sarcasm saying, “Why now?” No matter how hard you try, what has already happened cannot be undone, so the whole world will say that you are born as ‘scum.’”

Nevertheless, the king simply spoke.

“Then I will just become the king of the maggots.”

Willing to come down from the clouds and join us.

A dragon that has already asked for the Yeouiju, but has not lowered itself and ascended to heaven.

Sleeping dragon.

So the king asks:

“Are you going to make me just a burrowing king?”

······No voice came out.

This unspoken emotion that was pounding my heart was something that could not be expressed in words.

I just gritted my teeth and bit them.

I clenched both my fists.

I swallowed the tears welling up in my eyes and held them deep in my chest.

The king’s words were heard again.

“Constantly reflect on the mistakes of the past. Repent for your sins, but do not be consumed by them. Pick up your fallen body and shake off the mud from your body, but do not run away from ‘responsibility.’ And so······.”

The king grabbed the crumpled gold ingot and straightened it out.

He then wiped away the mud that had accumulated on him with his sleeve.

Although it was restored to its original form, it was not in its original, complete form.

It was wrinkled, had holes here and there, and even the traces of mud could not be completely erased······.

“Prove the true value of chivalry that you possess.”

Nevertheless, it was able to reach a level where it could be used as currency.

The face of the masked king was not visible.

However, there was absolutely no sign of pretense······it was the appearance of a great king.

different.

It’s just different.

It’s just so huge.

The vessel of a man called the Great King.

The heart of a man called the Great King.

The chivalry of a man called the Great King.

It’s so huge.

It was so large and wide that it could not be dared to be counted, and so it could not be called merely the ‘King of the Yangtze River’.

How could one disparage the Yangtze River, a watercourse that crosses the world, as ‘mere’? However, when looking at the Great King, the Yangtze River was ‘mere’ and ‘insignificant’.

I dare say that the Great King is the vessel that holds the entire world.

So, the 4,000 or so warriors of the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan gathered here.

Even though they were all placed in the King’s bowl, there was still plenty of room.

“······.”

“······.”

“······.”

No one opened their mouth.

And so, only a desolate silence descended upon Lake Pa-yang······.

Crunch!

In their hearts burned a burning passion that set all things on fire.

* * *

This kind of speech was not my style, and I had never given one before.

What reason would there be for me, who has lived my entire life as a country bumpkin, to give a speech to thousands of people?

Still, there was no other reason for me to close my eyes and give a speech.

‘I was scared because I thought you’d say no to the reward.’

The expressions on the faces of the swordsmen, who were bowing their heads, were clearly on the verge of throwing a tantrum and refusing to accept the reward.

They seemed to doubt whether they deserved the award, but how much merit did they have for giving it up?

Seriously······I was just terrified.

But now, the determined expressions and glaring eyes came to mind.

Even when 4,000 or so ordinary people gather, their spirits are quite strong. But since they are all trained martial artists, I thought, “Why am I an island?”

‘It’s a good thing I ate the fleet and recovered my innate energy.’

If I hadn’t done that, I would have almost collapsed without being able to handle that momentum. The momentum was that strong.

Anyway, looking at their expressions now, I was finally able to feel relieved.

And I think it was called ‘putting yourself in someone else’s shoes’.

I could understand the mind of the rewarder, Ju Gwan-cheon, a little.

‘How much more merit would have been accumulated than that…’

There could never have been too little accumulated. At the very least, it would have been in the tens of thousands. In other words, several decades’ worth of merit would have been accumulated.

Then, you could purchase not only the ‘Seon-dan’ (仙丹) that has the growth effect of the Taesang No-gun-pyo, but also various ‘divine instruments’ made by the blacksmith’s immortals and the Ya-shin (冶神).

I still don’t know if the expression ‘purchase’ is correct···.

‘Let’s check it out right now!’

My heart raced with joy as I took the folding screen out of my bosom.