I tamed the First Rank Chapter 154
The rapid pacification of the chaotic period following the fall of the Yuan Dynasty in China was largely due to the presence of the Ming dynasty's founder, Zhu Yuanzhang. However, Zhu Yuanzhang vanished from history, seemingly never having existed, and thus the Ming dynasty ceased to exist.
“He was a beggar when he was young, so maybe he died because he was unlucky then?”
“Uh, maybe that’s why.”
“He could have starved to death because his house was so poor.”
Hearing Hyeon Gyu-ha's speculation, it seemed plausible. In fact, it seemed like a miracle that he had survived the world of In Yoo-shin lived in and even founded the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang never existed, and so the Chinese mainland endured a long period of chaos. Several figures established states and proclaimed themselves emperors, but none were able to unify the Chinese mainland.
To make matters worse, even the Oirat (a Mongol tribe that invaded the Ming Dynasty and even captured the emperor) moved south. The Jurchen, who had also grown in power, crossed the Shanhai Pass (a gateway to the Great Wall of China, the most important strategic point preventing invasions by nomadic tribes), a landmark in this world, and joined the chaos.
In short, it was a mess. The gate opened in the middle of it all, igniting a period of global chaos that likely wouldn't be resolved for hundreds of years.
“It’s split nicely.”
Hyeon Gyu-ha muttered as he looked at the current, divided map of China, and In Yoo-shin, bewildered, agreed. He didn't notice that Hyeon Gyu-ha's gaze had glanced at his lips as he said, "Nice."
Meanwhile, before its fall, the Yuan Dynasty left a gift to the Korean Peninsula. The allied forces of the Yuan and Goryeo dynasties, having set out on an expedition to Japan at a time when typhoons were not blowing, suffered no damage. Instead, Kyushu was devastated under their hooves. The authority of the Kamakura shogunate, which ruled Japan at the time, collapsed, and civil war broke out.
With both sides in such a mess, Goryeo was perceived as relatively less devastated. It also learned a lesson from the negative: "Let's not end up like that." Yi Song-gye accepted the throne from the Wang clan relatively moderately, and there was no particular reason to move the capital to Hanyang.
In Yoo-shin felt a sudden surge of pride. Gaeseong, a thousand-year-old capital city like Gyeongju. How wonderful...!
I read the articles I searched with a proud heart.
“Oh, the gate was first opened in the 17th century.”
“It opens really early here.”
“If Catastrophe had come out 60 years ago, it would have been no joke.”
A prolonged and intense period of chaos, even severing international relations, swept the world. Even a few dungeon breaks would have brought weaker nations to the brink of destruction. But the consequences weren't all bad.
The severing of international exchange meant the severing of the link between the colonies and the homeland. Furthermore, resources were available as gates opened, and the number of Awakeners was proportional to the population. Even previously impoverished nations were no exception.
“I heard that everyone somehow managed to survive on their own?”
As the world entered a period of stability, exchanges and wars between nations resumed, but large-scale overseas expeditions or global wars did not break out. To wage such a large-scale war would have required the conscription of more Awakeners into the military, which meant they would be unable to deal with their own Gate.
The United States, with its vast territory and resources, seems to have a lot of awakeners to the truth that it is the best in the world and has become a powerful nation.
"I envy you for not allowing imperialism to expand. Oh, and Jeong Yak-yong was also an Awakener."
Hyeon Gyu-ha, who had been looking at In Yoo-shin's chubby lips as he chattered happily, belatedly shifted his gaze to his cell phone.
The phone screen displayed information about Jeong Yak-yong's research and inventions, which had a significant impact on modern magical engineering. The Awakener, considered a comparable genius of his time, was Yi San, a member of the royal family.
“If it’s Yi San, isn’t it Jeongjo? Why didn’t Jeongjo become king…?”
In Yoo-shin, oblivious to Hyeon Gyu-ha's gaze, diligently tapped the screen. Because the civil war had altered Japanese history, preventing the Imjin War, Renjo, or rather Seonjo, remained a worthy ruler. The subsequent Gwanghaegun's misdeeds seemed to have been a level Joseon could withstand.
“Aha, so that’s why King Gwanghaen was not deposed and his descendants continued to be kings……”
Hyeon Gyu-ha finally couldn't hold back and covered In Yoo-shin's lips. The words that couldn't escape his lips were caught on Hyeon Gyu-ha's tongue and swallowed deep in his throat.
His lips, which chattered happily, were as sweet as his powerful appearance.
***
The celebrities appearing on the TV-like screens were some who mirrored their world, while others were not. If it weren't for subtle differences like the traditional clothing and props, it felt like watching a TV from the real world.
In a world where the end was predicted, even after hearing 8-se's definitive answer, he was worried, but In Yoo-shin was surprised that such infrastructure was still maintained.
On the other hand, Hyeon Gyu-ha's gaze turned more cold.
'I wonder if the government is going to great lengths to maintain broadcasting infrastructure and cultural life.'
If people can lead normal lives, they can also maintain emotional stability. Even in a world teetering on the brink of apocalypse, this principle seems to hold true.
In fact, that kind of problem was fine no matter what, and Hyeon Gyu-ha's attention was focused solely on In Yoo-shin, who sat next to him. Just seeing his face, which seemed to be watching dramas and variety shows he didn't know anything about, with such fascination, left no room for boredom.
But with so much going on today, fatigue seemed inevitable. A heavy drooping eyelids descended, and In Yoo-shin, who had been watching TV, yawned and rubbed his eyes, his face finally hunched.
Hyeon Gyu-ha was deeply satisfied that his face hadn't fallen forward, but had settled on his shoulder. He gently rubbed In Yoo-shin's cheek with his other hand.
“Yoo-shin-ssi, are you going to continue sleeping?”
“Ugh.......”
“If you don’t wake up now, I’ll take it that you’ve given me permission to bite, suck, and lick you.”
The answer came not from the god himself, but from 8-se on his lap.
“Sqe......”
He tapped the head of 8-se with my index finger, as if telling him not to do that while he was sleeping, even though he was constantly watching his expression.
“I’m not a stalker, so I wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Squeak.”
If I had been able to communicate with the 8-se, I would have heard something along the lines of, "You live on the roof every night, and you're not a stalker?" But no matter how much I shouted, Hyeon Gyu-ha couldn't hear me, so the poor hamster was left feeling suffocated.
Hyeon Gyu-ha grabbed the astonished 8-se and placed him on the sofa. He then carefully picked him up so that In Yoo-shin wouldn't wake up.
The bed was a little narrow for two people, but it was spacious enough for one. So, if you lay down hugging each other, it was just the right size.
He put his arm under his neck and gently pulled In Yoo-shin in. In Yoo-shin rolled into his arms, as if seeking warmth in his sleep.
Hyeon Gyu-ha whispered, feeling as if he were falling into a distant void, through the even breathing of his deep sleep. He could only say it because he knew he wouldn't hear.
"Actually, I lied to Yoo-shin-ssi last time. When I said he would last decades even in the worst-case scenario, I wasn't saying it with any certainty. The world is barely holding on thanks to my father and aunt, so if my father, our last bastion, were to disappear, it might plummet."
He harbored such suspicions, and he also hoped to find his mother before that. However, Hyeon Gyu-ha calmly assessed his own condition, thinking that if Stoyan were right in front of him, he likely wouldn't have been able to control his murderous intent.
This is what would have happened if there had been no In Yoo-shin.
Hyeon Gyu-ha now knows what should be his top priority: the safe return of In Yoo-shin. To that end, he confronted Stoyan, but instead of blowing his head off, he simply engaged in a smooth conversation. It was a quiet conversation, not even aggro.
Perhaps it would ultimately be a good solution. Stoyan would be more likely to respond to a child who had a calm conversation first, rather than one who immediately tried to blow his own neck.
In Yoo-shin allows him to take a step forward as a better person than he was yesterday. If it weren't for In Yoo-shin, he would have been completely absorbed in finding a way to kill Stoyan, knowing that killing him would lead to the destruction of this city, the world. If the world didn't have In Yoo-shin, Hyeon Gyu-ha would have felt nothing even if it were destroyed.
The ultimate result of this is mutual destruction and death.
There were days when I willingly plunged into that eternal death. There were days when I believed that dying alone was my only destiny.
But now, Hyeon Gyu-ha is lying next to In Yoo-shin. Without doing anything, without thinking anything, just deeply intoxicated by In Yoo-shin's presence.
The days that pass by aimlessly, without running towards the goal that leads to death, are so full.
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Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
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