Chapter 75: Chapter 75
00068 --- The Little Prince in the Ossuary----=
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# After the Rain, Camp Roberts (5)
Many people claim that the disabled and the able-bodied are equal human beings. However, it is rare for their words and actions to align. It's not that these people are evil; it's simply difficult.
What makes it so difficult?
"It's hard not to harbor pity,"
The feeling of sympathy is a human instinct, the mind that pities someone less fortunate than oneself. Therefore, sympathy for someone also means recognizing that person as lacking compared to oneself.
Good people discriminate against the disabled because they are good, and bad people discriminate because they are bad.
Yun-cheol is a prime example. He calls the disabled "friends with disabilities."
This term carries the obligation for the able-bodied to consider the disabled with friendship. The goodwill it conveys is indeed admirable. However, a true egalitarian would say, "Why are the disabled your friends?"
Gyeo-ul spoke to the elderly Gang Yeongsun.
"If I make the same mistake, please point it out. I worry that I might unconsciously offend."
The gracefully aging senior smiled while moving her pen.
"With that mind, it's enough. Even Confucius said that only at seventy did he act in accordance with propriety. Expecting elder wisdom from you, the little leader, would be overreaching. I just feel sorry for Deputy Deputy leader Yun-cheol."
Gang Yeongsun seemed to feel sorry for Yun-cheol, who treated the disabled with prejudice.
Yun-cheol is a right-minded person. If you point out his prejudices, he would be ashamed and try to correct them, as is fitting with respect for him. However, the senior did not do that. Instead, she advised Gyeo-ul to make use of his prejudice. The elderly woman persuaded Gyeo-ul with just one line.
"The bigger the shadow of prejudice, the more space there is to hide."
The disabled volunteered to be the eyes and ears for Gyeo-ul. This task becomes easier as people's vigilance decreases. In that sense, it's better if they're considered pitiful people...
It is what the disabled themselves wanted. They wished to discover new possibilities within their disabilities and feel rewarded by contributing to the community.
"If Yun-cheol knows the situation, he won't think poorly of it. It's paradoxical, but you could see it this way. Settling a mistake made out of prejudice with prejudice. Above all, there are many whom we should feel sorry for besides Deputy Deputy leader Yun-cheol. We're deceiving everyone, after all. It's just that it's a practical necessity and, ultimately, something for everyone's good, so it's a compromise. Don't worry about it."
The senior responded with a smile rather than with text.
Gyeo-ul began reading from the memo passed on from Gang Yeongsun.
Secret internal surveillance was a role given to one of the disabled, Lee Hoon-tae, but none of the other disabled stayed idle either. Perhaps because they've weathered hardships together, there's a strong sense of camaraderie. Thanks to that, the amount of information flowing to Gyeo-ul keeps increasing.
He spent some time closely reading the part about the religious activities within the alliance. There was something concerning. It was a record of a service held by a small group of Christians.
"The Lord loves us. He wants to save us. But who is saving us now? Who is loving us? Isn't that person the very will of the Lord staying by our side?"
"Nothing in this world happens outside the Lord's providence. From the moment of creation to the day of judgment, do you believe all history and events are within the Lord's plan? Thus, do you believe that the young man named Gyeo-ul, the Son of Man, is the Lord's grace given in human form?"
"You must believe. You must. The Lord has enlightened us with miracles. Without grace, how could the young man have achieved so many exploits? How could he save people with prophecy, and why do new miracles occur wherever he goes? Surely, isn't his being the very will of God?"
"The Son of Man still does not know himself. He does not know he must be anointed with the Spirit. No one has informed him of this truth. Because no one has declared, 'Where is He who is born King, we have come to worship Him.'"
"This is precisely the mission given to us. We are the chosen ones...."
The handwriting was slanted, as if it had been written secretly at the scene. The recorder also devoted space to people's enthusiastic reactions—tears, cheers, applause, and so on.
The boy shook his head.
"It looks like I should convert to Islam or something."
The elderly woman sitting across hid her mouth with her hand and laughed. Then she wrote on the paper.
"Have you ever considered becoming their Savior?"
"Enough with the jokes. There are more cons than pros."
In reality, that's true. Religious communities tend to become conservative. Because there's an ultimate answer to all questions, everything outside of that is dismissed. Biblical inerrancy and Sharia are prime examples. Of course, religious communities can be perfectly rational. However, it was a difficult expectation for a community believing in the Second Coming of a Savior.
Moreover, pretending to be the Messiah isn't easy. The mental repulsion outweighs the practical difficulty. It strays too far from the way of life he wished to preserve.
The senior showed her notebook.
"I think it's a fine thing that you can say that. However, I don't think we can just leave them be. I'm worried even more people might get swept into it. As you may already know, there are a lot of people outside and inside of the alliance who are inclined towards you."
"Well... Let's keep it in mind for now. There are other problems to solve first."
For now, it was necessary to meet the key figures in the group. Depending on whether they sincerely believed their words or were merely exploiting Gyeo-ul's name for personal gain and influence, the response would differ. In case of emergency, they might start a counter-campaign.
The senior penned down a new question.
"What is that problem?"
Gyeo-ul thought for a moment, then divulged the matter of the unnamed letter from Baek Ji-seon and the conflicting opinions of the two deputies to the senior. Although it should be treated as confidential, it holds no meaning to hide it just because it is secret. After all, the senior already shared bigger secrets with him.
"What do you think after hearing it? What do you think I should do?"
Receiving the question, the elderly Gang Yeongsun wrote the words more slowly than usual.
"It's tough for me to say which side is better. I'm not qualified to give advice."
"Not qualified? Why do you say that?"
"It's because I am a generation who experienced the 6.25 War."
When Gyeo-ul slightly tilted his head, the elderly added several lines of explanation.
"I still see the war in my dreams. It is a fear deeply engraved into my bones. Recently, a new fear has been added, but it doesn't replace the old one. And in one corner of that nightmare, there is certainly a fear of the Chinese military."
"That's why. I might still despise the Chinese. Of course, I don't feel that way myself, but as long as my dreams are trapped in the old war, that influence must linger unconsciously, shouldn't it?"
In short, she meant that since this issue involved Chinese people, she wasn't confident she could make an objective judgment. Gyeo-ul crafted a gentle smile.
"I'll keep that in mind when listening. I'm just trying to gather as many opinions as possible before making a decision. So you don't need to think too hard about it. Please feel free to speak your mind."
The pen paused briefly. The senior sat upright and deliberated for a long time. Finally, determination flowed into a stream of words.
"As someone who received much help from Yun-cheol's goodwill, I feel embarrassed to oppose helping others under any circumstance, yet Deputy Min Wang-ki's opinion seems more valid to me."
"Among them, there are those who have been involved in crimes since the past. While they say, 'hate the sin, not the sinner,' this situation is different. In my opinion, it is not the sin but the resentful relationships formed by the sins that are the problem."
"The letter states that members from Huashenghua and Shoufufang were discriminated against within the Triad. Their families were held hostage, so imagine how convenient of a tool they were to the Triad. So much blood would be on their hands."
"So if the Alliance accepts and shelters them, wouldn't those holding grudges against Huashenghua and Shoufufang also harbor grudges against the Alliance people and yourself?"
"Such grudges would have started when we allied with the Triad. Other Chinese organizations can't do anything about the Triad because of the Gyeo-ul Alliance."
Gang Yeongsun began writing her response before Gyeo-ul even finished speaking. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel fire.net
"It's slightly different. Until now, the alliance had been influencing indirectly as a third party, but accepting Baek Ji-seon's faction means becoming a party to these grudges."
"Moreover, there's an inherent need for them to establish a hostile relationship with us as a means of organizational maintenance. There will continue to be people defecting, either because life seems better in the Gyeo-ul Alliance or to escape internal strife. It's different from just disliking or having negative feelings."
Gyeo-ul reflected on her opinion.
"In some ways, this is in line with Deputy Min Wang-ki's objection, but you brought up an aspect I hadn't considered. Thank you for the valuable insight. I'll think about what you've said more deeply."
The senior smiled warmly.
Then, Gyeo-ul read the remaining memo thoroughly and, after organizing his thoughts, stood up to leave.
"It's late, so go ahead and rest for today."
The boy bowed to the senior before leaving the headquarters tent of the Alliance.
Even though the sun had already set beyond the horizon, the construction site was still bustling. Receiving various greetings, Gyeo-ul mulled over various things while heading to his lodgings.
Until now, there might have been many Chinese people who thought life seemed better in the Gyeo-ul Alliance, but few truly wished to rely on it, likely considering it a haven for Koreans. The stateless individuals brought in by Amalia's request were only five. Hence, the difference in nationality served as a veil.
If Baek Ji-seon's faction was accepted, that veil would collapse. This was Yun-cheol's claim, and truth be told, it was Gyeo-ul's desire as well. Naturally, the other Chinese groups would dis. Senior Gang Yeongsun pointed it out too. They would replace the barrier of nationality with that of grudges.
The effectiveness of that would remain to be seen.
In the worst case scenario, the Chinese might attempt to kill Baek Ji-seon's faction to prevent a wave of desertions. It might not stop there. They would also want to warn Gyeo-ul. To stay out of their affairs.
A direct confrontation was unlikely. That would be suicidal. But what about indiscriminate terror targeting the Gyeo-ul Alliance?
Suddenly, Gyeo-ul recalled the time when he went to meet Lee Chinjian. 「Survival Sense」 and 「Fighting Spirit」 had warned him of projectiles, likely from bows or slings. Not to mention, the current ongoing construction made sourcing materials for weapons much easier.
'This might actually be useful.'
While ordinary blades might be overlooked, serious projectile weapons wouldn't be tolerated, especially by the military, as they pose a severe threat to base security. Naturally, the Chinese would recognize this. Unless it is a dangerous situation, they likely wouldn't attempt to use them.
Unless it is a dangerous situation.
---------------------------= Author's Note ---------------------------------
1. I apologize for the day's delay in the series update. I hit a writer's block. It took me ten hours for a single line and then five more hours to fill half a page.
This is all due to the extreme criticism from the bad readers who dislike the author.
I know who you are. Aren't you feeling a prick of conscience, those who said the author resembles Won Bin?
Of course, I also remember the kind readers who said I didn't resemble Won Bin.
I'll never forgive you.
Q. RGZ95: You seem happy to finish the deadline before your friends. Shouldn't you prepare for the next episode?
A. Yes, I have a deadline every day. Haha.
This is odd. This novel is supposed to be updated 3~5 times a week...
Q. Dowon: I want a bit more childlike wonder.
A. Me too. There's no chance to accumulate it, only using it up daily, and as an author who's a childlike being, it's a life-or-death crisis...
Q. LoliFeelsSad: I thought the cough was a foreshadowing, but I guess it's completely healed. Haha.
A. At this age, isn't it odd for a cold to get better so quickly? :)
Once the author catches a cold, it lasts for about three months.
Q. PAM: What? Loose? Deadline? I bet a few months later, you'll regret saying, 'Why did I run my mouth back then? Deadlines are so painful.' But shouldn't the Hero Alliance get bigger anyway?
A. As mentioned, for the author, every day is practically a deadline.
It's already 3 a.m. Ahhh...
Q. Blatar: But is WhiteBean a man or woman?
A. Beans are hermaphroditic plants with both pistils and stamens. So, whiteBean is probably... no, this feels like defamation.
Q. Ketaro: I've made up my mind. From now on, I'll hit recommend on every episode daily. Why? Because I enjoy reading it!
A. I've decided. From now on, I'll play one game of Overwatch every day. Why? Because it's fun!
...is the author's dream. I haven't played it in four weeks since buying it. Haha.
Q. Qvex: Do you like fried dumplings?
A. Of course, I do. I like it even more if you lock me up and give it to me.