Chapter 110
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The One Who Was a Companion II
Shin Noah
4
Let's accelerate time.
"Hello- Teacher!"
"Oh. Yohwa."
"Yes! Hehe. Long time no see!"
One day, Cheon Yohwa came down to Busan with a few of her close associates.
As was characteristic of Baekhwa Girls' High School, it went without saying that everyone was wearing white sailor uniforms. Now Cheon Yohwa wasn't a 4th-year high school student but roughly a 9th-year high school student, so she should be graduating soon.
The #1 guild master on the Korean Peninsula was doing witch cosplay, and the #2 guild master was doing school uniform cosplay. The future of this land was dark.
"Have you been doing well?"
"Of course. I'm always doing well."
"Ahaha. True, it seems like you'd return safely even if dropped in the middle of the Sahara Desert. By the way-"
While the two of us were conversing, the other Baekhwa Girls' High School guild members had drifted far away at some point. In the square where only the two of us remained, Cheon Yohwa glanced around.
"Busan. It's changed a lot."
"Mm."
Cheon Yohwa's words were correct.
Busan in the 173rd iteration boasted a cityscape that couldn't be found in previous iterations.
The previous Busan, though called the #1 city on the Korean Peninsula, wasn't very glamorous given the apocalyptic circumstances.
Even the entertainment district, using expensive electricity to deck itself in yellow and pink lights, had buildings that mostly didn't exceed two stories. The elevators and sewage systems needed to maintain high-rise buildings were completely destroyed.
But now it was different.
Most buildings were 4-5 stories, and several buildings over 10 stories could be seen. Civilization hadn't suddenly been restored. The most expensive housing was still on the 1st floor.
It was simply that the population who absolutely wanted to live in Busan had increased that much, even if it meant accepting the lower body exercise of climbing up and down stairs every time they needed to use the bathroom while living in a 5th-floor building.
"How should I put it, it's fancy."
"How's Sejong these days?"
"Ah- well. Same old. Since we have a tight grip on Sejong, people gather there somewhat, but other cities must be serious? I hear professional workers have all been stolen away to Busan, so whenever guild masters gather, they always grumble about it."
Cheon Yohwa's eyes narrowed as she looked toward the new capital of the Korean Peninsula.
"But those complaints can't really focus on one place. There's no guild master powerful enough to fight against the National Road Management Commander, right?"
"Well. You exist, Yohwa."
"Ahaha. The guild masters say that all the time too."
Cheon Yohwa laughed awkwardly and waved her hand.
"Why would I get into a power struggle with Commander-nim? I'm perfectly content just feeding our kids, beating up anomalies, and occasionally traveling around to meet Teacher!"
"Oh my. That's just like you."
"Hehe..."
But for such a modest lifestyle, the auras of the guild members she brought to Busan were extraordinary.
She probably assembled her envoys only with Baekhwa Girls' High School's elite members.
I secretly glanced at Cheon Yohwa's waist. Like a Pokémon trainer equipping Pokéballs, anomaly master Cheon Yohwa also wore an hourglass on a specially-made belt.
A glass bottle of pure white sand. Despite its appearance, it was an anomaly sealing tool that couldn't be destroyed by physical force.
Mugan (Infinite Void).
It was the strongest weapon Cheon Yohwa possessed. Had it recognized me even inside the hourglass? Her doppelgänger 'Cheon Yohwa (天寥化)' rustled the sand with a soft sound.
As soon as she detected the vibration of the belt, Cheon Yohwa's gaze turned cold. The vitamin-like smile that had been radiating in all directions until moments ago instantly evaporated.
"Shut up."
The hourglass trembled briefly then went still. Perhaps it was my imagination, but the vibration felt like mockery to me.
That was when it happened.
-Ah, ahhh――.
From speakers rising like utility poles throughout Busan's city streets, a small singing voice began to flow.
It was an a cappella recorded in Dang Seorin's voice.
-Ah... ahh... ah....
The melody resembled a nursery rhyme. Yet it was festive only to the extent that it didn't grate on people's nerves from being overly cheerful.
As the low singing passed briefly between us, Cheon Yohwa's eyebrows softened.
"Ah- this is. That thing? Busan's famous attraction?"
"Yes. The National Road Management Commander's song."
"Heh... Listening to it for real, my mind does feel at ease? Or should I say my mood improves. This isn't a drug?"
It actually had drug-like effects.
'The National Road Management Commander's Song' was broadcast at the top of every hour from 7 AM to 10 PM daily. The effects of the spell's incantation also subtly changed depending on the time.
For example, at 7 AM, a song containing the 'effect of waking up refreshed and having clear thoughts.' At 10 PM, a song creating the 'effect of feeling pleasantly drowsy and being able to sleep soundly the moment you lie in bed.'
"Thanks to that, you won't find people with healthier sleep anywhere in the world than Busan citizens. There's not a single insomnia patient."
"Hmm..."
"And during most people's working hours, songs full of vitality and energy play. When work ends and it's time to eat dinner, songs that relieve stress and make people feel vaguely uplifted so they can have enjoyable conversations with others play at just the right tempo. Both labor productivity and overall life satisfaction are at their highest."
"A happy city."
Even now, dozens of citizens were gathered in clusters under the speakers. And when the song ended, they made refreshed expressions and returned to their workplaces in small groups.
'A city made of song.'
That was what Busan had become.
"No wonder other cities keep losing population to Busan."
It took a full six years of day and night research with Dang Seorin to create this system.
They developed five types of magic suited to each situation, and used anomalous artifacts so the magic's effects wouldn't be significantly lost even when recorded.
"Well then, Teacher. I have a meeting scheduled with the owner of that song. Please excuse me!"
"Ah. Alright."
"Yes! See you again soon!"
Dang Seorin and Cheon Yohwa, representatives of white magic and black magic, Busan's de facto ruler and Sejong's warlord, commander of the National Road Management Corps and student council president of Baekhwa Girls' High School.
The meeting of two awakened ones considered rivals in many aspects was held in secret. Of course, thanks to the Saintess's 'Clairvoyance,' I could eavesdrop on all the important contents of the secret meeting.
Though I couldn't know the detailed parts of the negotiation because for some reason the Saintess was reluctant to tell me.
Meeting results.
"Hehe. We're neighbors now. Please take care of me from now on, Teacher!"
"...."
It was decided that Baekhwa Girls' High School would move its headquarters from Sejong to Busan.
The entire Yeongdo District was allocated as Baekhwa Girls' High School's territory, and Sejong City citizens were also permitted to freely migrate.
Cheon Yohwa maintained her title as Baekhwa Girls' High School's student council president but was also granted the position of vice commander of the National Road Management Corps.
No matter how anyone looked at it, it could only be interpreted as Cheon Yohwa bringing her entire guild and suddenly surrendering to Dang Seorin.
I think that was the decisive blow.
5
Let's accelerate time a bit more.
As Cheon Yohwa, the only one counted as Dang Seorin's rival, bowed her head with absurd ease, the other guild masters couldn't hold out either.
One by one, guild masters who had reigned like kings in their respective strongholds bowed their heads. They curried favor with the National Road Management Commander to maintain their value and status even a little.
Dang Seorin was generous.
"Undertaker. You said that undersea tunnel can be connected to Kyushu, Japan, right?"
"Mm."
"Kyushu has lots of famous hot springs. Can't you extend the tunnel near there? If we build fancy villas there and give them as gifts, other guild masters would be reasonably satisfied."
So it came to be.
Some warlords tried to hold onto power until the end, but it was useless. The National Road Management Corps had the 'Sword Empress.' As long as the Sword Empress didn't tread on farmland, the Korean Peninsula's food sovereignty lay entirely in Dang Seorin's hands.
Clink. Dang Seorin lightly swirled her wine glass.
"I always respect your thoughts, Undertaker, but I think differently about the operation of the National Road Management Corps."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Is there really any need to inefficiently leave multiple cities and order Corps members to patrol deadly routes? The Korean Peninsula's population is now barely a handful anyway. Busan alone is enough."
"...."
"I'll make Busan the finest city on the Korean Peninsula... No, in this apocalyptic world, a city so fine you couldn't find better anywhere. One that no one would envy."
"...Then the entire Korean Peninsula will be devoured by the Void. A 'Monster Wave' will occur with high probability. You'll witness a sight of nearly infinite anomalies invading from beyond the horizon whenever you're bored."
I warned.
"Honestly, we can't predict what will happen. Monster Waves are virtually impossible to subjugate. Are you planning to play an endless defense game in reality?"
"That's scary. But... Yeah. We can do it. With your power and my magic, it's possible. Undertaker. I'm asking you. Will you follow me?"
"...."
I hesitated for a moment.
Should I call it the intuition built up as a regressor? I felt that this very moment was a point of no return.
Even if that were true, my answer was already decided.
"...Of course."
Dang Seorin smiled radiantly.
"As expected of you, Undertaker! I'll trust only you!"
Acceleration.
Four years later, only one city called Busan remained on the Korean Peninsula.
The world of a witch who wanted to wander and travel here and there more than anyone, paradoxically became narrower than any other iteration.
The average number of floors of buildings in Busan increased a bit more. It could now be called humanity's last metropolis.
Even the Saintess, who had always stayed in Seoul's Yongsan District, moved her residence to Busan. It was because there was no longer any need to stay there and observe the Korean Peninsula's awakened ones.
Thus, in the very center of Busan where land prices had skyrocketed, surprisingly, a wide plaza spread out with no buildings occupying it.
A plaza designed for tens of thousands to sit around. The center was hollowed out so all citizens could intuitively see what was happening below.
Like a colosseum.
That was Dang Seorin's 'courtroom.'
Dang Seorin sat at the head of the judgment seat. Next to her sat Cheon Yohwa— a girl who at some point had dyed her white sailor uniform black.
The judges looked down below. In the incredibly grand courtroom, a defendant was kneeling.
"I... committed violence against a passerby."
The defendant's quiet self-confession echoed throughout the vast courtroom. A feat of Dang Seorin's [Amplification Magic].
"Sometimes I can't control my own body. Should I call it anger? It surges up suddenly... When I come to my senses, it's always like that. This time too, if the people around me hadn't stopped me, I would have beaten someone up."
Booo- Jeers erupted from the gallery where tens of thousands were gathered.
But when Dang Seorin lightly tapped her gavel, the entire city fell silent as if it had never happened.
"Continue speaking."
"...Yes. I hate having this kind of self too. I apologize and atone to everyone I've harmed... And above all, I beg you, Your Honor, please... fix this personality of mine..."
The defendant bowed their head.
Dang Seorin shook her finger with a cold expression. Then a golden balance shone in the air.
The magic of equivalent exchange.
"Sinner. Do you repent your wrongdoing?"
"Yes."
"As you wish, [from now on, your inner violence will be castrated]. Under this condition, the victim has generously proposed to forgive the violence you committed."
The victim who made such a generous proposal had received a verdict one year ago in this same courtroom of [the mercy to forgive in one's heart even those who have wronged oneself].
"Do you agree to the victim's proposal?"
"Yes, of course. Thank you, Great Witch. Thank you..."
"Bailiff, if you please."
Cheon Yohwa in her black uniform stood up.
She approached the defendant and placed her hand on their head. Cheon Yohwa's murmuring voice was cleverly muted so it didn't echo in the courtroom, but I could guess that she was now 'brainwashing' the defendant.
Personality modification. Implantation. Distortion.
That was Cheon Yohwa's ability.
"Ah..."
Finally, the golden balance glittered.
On the left scale was the victim's forgiveness, on the right scale was the defendant's violence.
The scale, having obtained consent from both sides, achieved balance— and granted each party's wish.
The defendant stood up abruptly.
"I don't feel it... I don't feel it! That thing that tormented me my whole life, that emotion, I don't feel it anymore! Ah! Thank you! Thank you! Your Honor, Great Witch! Thank you!"
Tens of thousands of spectators clapped in unison. Voices cheering for the defendant saying it turned out well, shouts praising Dang Seorin and Cheon Yohwa's authority rang out.
They too were citizens who had [exchanged] something in the courtroom due to trivial or serious incidents.
"Ah, Guardian Your Excellency."
Suddenly a voice came from beside me. I turned my head to see Yoo Ji-won standing there.
"Ji-won."
"Yes. Why are you observing the trial from such a secluded place? If you're Guardian Your Excellency, you could watch from closer."
For reference, that 'Guardian' was a title for me. They said it meant the city's guardian.
It was a naming convention with too much of Dang Seorin's taste, so I personally didn't prefer it. I almost missed the 'Your Excellency' title that Yoo Ji-won used to exaggerate.
"I was just passing by. I have to leave to block another Monster Wave anyway."
"Ah... As expected. You really are busy."
Yoo Ji-won showed a smile.
It was a smile so natural, warm, and therefore completely un-Ji-won-like that the original Yoo Ji-won could never have made.
"But thanks to Your Excellency's hard work, the city's citizens can live with peace of mind, can't they? I'm always cheering for you. If you need my guidance for anything, please tell me anytime."
"...."
Sincerity could be felt in all those words.
In a situation where finding truth in sincerity was difficult, I was momentarily at a loss for words.
Yoo Ji-won had also recently had her psychopathic personality castrated by Dang Seorin's [Equivalent Exchange] and Cheon Yohwa's [Brainwashing].
For a long time, Yoo Ji-won had one incurable disease-like habit. She would secretly hunt small animals wandering the streets—whether cats, dogs, or birds—and slaughter them.
But unlike Yoo Ji-won, the scene of slaughter was discovered, and she was eventually brought before Dang Seorin's 'Witch's Trial.'
"Ji-won."
"Yes?"
"Are you satisfied with your life these days?"
Yoo Ji-won blinked.
"Of course. There have been few times I've lived as fully as lately. From the day I received the trial, I finally feel like I'm living like a person."
"...."
Is that really true?
I had a slightly different interpretation.
I had never heard such information that Yoo Ji-won enjoyed butchering small animals as a stress relief method.
Even if it was a hobby acquired in this iteration, it was hard to believe that someone of Yoo Ji-won's level would 'accidentally' expose a cat butchering scene.
Perhaps it was a deliberately disguised hobby and deliberately exposed behavior.
The person before my eyes had orchestrated 'behavior that looked like psychopathy to anyone.' And then received the witch's trial and had her personality corrected.
She had judged that 'doing this' was advantageous to survive here, and to continue surviving as the city's powerful figure.
Yoo Ji-won knew how to view the world simply as a map and labyrinth with predetermined entrances and exits. To her, even her own personality and way of thinking must have been merely means to reach the 'correct answer.'
"...I see. Good for you. Then keep up the good work, Director Yoo."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
I walked through a passage with no visible exit.
Waaaaah-! Shouts erupted from the distant gallery. It was an enormous cheer.
Dang Seorin! Dang Seorin! The entire courtroom shook as if hit by a running train.
Guided by that sound, before leaving the courtroom, I suddenly turned my head once more to look below.
Just then, another defendant's personality was being placed on the golden balance and exchanged. Dang Seorin whispered something to Cheon Yohwa, and Cheon Yohwa nodded.
At that moment, Dang Seorin and I made eye contact.
"...."
"...."
But it was only for a very brief moment. Dang Seorin turned her head to continue her duties as the city's ruler, as this place's judge.
And I too.
Even as I exited the corridor, the shouts behind me didn't stop. Dang Seorin! Dang Seorin! Dang Seorin....
In the courtroom, cheers never ceased, and outside the city, songs never stopped from the speakers.
I walked wrapping those two melodies around my footsteps like shadows.