There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 465

Side Story – Whereabouts of This Star (7)

466. Side Story – Whereabouts of This Star (7)

My grandfather laughed heartily and said,

“Scared, you little rascal? I returned all the bullets when I was discharged.”

“Didn’t you learn in the military not to even aim an empty gun?”

“I’m not a soldier now, so it’s okay.”

Oh? Is that how it works?

“You returned the live ammunition, but why did you take the pistol with you? Is that allowed?”

“Everyone usually returns them as a formality, but you don’t really have to. As long as you report it to the police station and renew the permit every five years, it doesn’t violate the Gun Control Act.”

I thought Joseon [Korea] had become a gun-permitting country as a reward for conquering America, but it seems that’s not the case.

Well, there’s no way the centralized country of Joseon would allow such a thing.

Anyway, my grandfather in this world was also a soldier, it seems.

‘Come to think of it, those overflowing medals in the display case, are they all Grandpa’s?’

When I asked, suddenly curious, my grandfather shook his head and said,

“Most of them are mine, but not all. Your great-uncle was also in the military until he became like that…”

It seems like we were a wealthy military family here too.

But what on earth has to happen to make a person like that?

“There was a bit of an unsavory incident. It was to the point where we both had to take off our uniforms because we couldn’t continue our military life any longer.”

“So?”

“Well, I have thick skin, so it doesn’t matter, but your great-uncle was heartbroken and just stayed at home, then he got into some strange stuff… I can’t really say anything because he perked up because of it.”

He seems to be getting a lot of attention and is happy, so I guess it’s OK.

“I heard he earns more money than a hundred generals combined.”

My grandfather shook his head and said,

“But why did you both have to take off your uniforms?”

“Ah, it’s nothing much. I punched the Prime Minister in the face while drunk.”

“……Pardon?”

It’s not nothing, you old man.

‘Well, it’s not a big deal compared to a coup.’

Still, aren’t you saying it too calmly?

When I stared at him with a dumbfounded face, my grandfather said as if it was really nothing,

“It was when I was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the regime at the time suddenly brought in some dogshit new model, with a monkey-like Baekje [ancient Korean kingdom] merchant.”

“So?”

“I told them 40 reasons why they shouldn’t buy that, but they wouldn’t listen at all. So, after a drink, I just did it.”

My grandfather mimed swinging a lid-like fist.

He says it like it’s nothing, but it seems it became a huge political scandal at the time.

Of course. In modern South Korea, it’s like the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff punching the President in the face.

“After that, the regime sharpened its knives and tried to kill us, so what could we do? We both had to quietly leave. It didn’t matter to me since I had already climbed as high as I could, but your great-uncle had only just gotten his star [rank of general].”

My grandfather said glumly.

“Is that how it ended? The guys who should be punished didn’t get punished?”

I was furious, jumping up and down at the pain our family had to endure.

But my grandfather rubbed his palms together and smiled wickedly.

“No? As soon as I took off my uniform, I reported it to the Board of Audit and Inspection. In the end, all the money-grabbing was exposed, and all those involved went to jail. They’re probably still rotting, saying it’s the biggest corruption since Dangun [legendary founder of Korea].

Thanks to that, the cabinet had a complete funeral, and this grandpa even got to be the Minister of Military Affairs.”

“……You’re amazing.”

“I was lucky. The regime put a lot of pressure on, but the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection at the time was a tough guy.”

“Oh, there was such a person?”

If I had such a subordinate when I was king, how great would that have been?

‘I would have cracked down on those who only think about lining their own pockets.’

When taking care of state affairs, there were more than a few things that were glossed over, saying that you can’t handle rice cakes without getting some crumbs on your hands [you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs].

And there’s probably a lot more I don’t know.

I nodded and said,

“Anyway, that means you’re retired.”

Son of a bitch, my brother said I’m the only unemployed person in our house, but there’s one more?

“……I’ve dedicated 40 years to the military, shouldn’t this be called retirement rather than unemployment?”

My grandfather asked, but I was firm.

I can’t be the only person in this family who does nothing.

‘Great-uncle is an exception.’

Because he is an industrial powerhouse.

I should ask him for pocket money later.

‘Hmm, just being in the same situation as me gives me this sense of relief.’

Even though he’s a four-star general, I felt more confident that I, who honorably completed my active duty, was slightly superior to an old man who was dishonorably discharged.

‘Although it seems like I’ve never been near the military in this world.’

But it’s too much to completely erase the military life that’s clearly etched in my mind.

* * *

The next day, my mom, who had contacted the O Guk Gong family, opened her mouth.

“I contacted them this morning, but it turns out that friend’s exchange student program is until this semester?”

“Yes?”

I stammered.

“But…… they won’t leave Hanseong [Seoul] right away, will they?”

“I don’t know. Most of the kids at our school who finish early have already finished.”

The third child lay face down on the sofa and yawned.

“It seems like that’s the case with that friend too. It’s strange, but their family is urging them to come in, and they’re asking to see them today if possible, what should we do?”

What should we do?

We have to go while the iron is hot.

“Then you go directly, no, I’m worried about entrusting a fish to a cat [entrusting something to someone unreliable].”

“I’ve turned over a new leaf. Do I have to roll over in front of you to make you believe me?”

“What does that have to do with turning over a new leaf…… Okay. I got it. Should I pick you up near Gwanghwamun [main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace]?”

“Then take me too. I’ll look at books at that Doeun Bookstore over there.”

Ah, there must be a huge bookstore in this world too.

Without even being told to get in, my brother got into the passenger seat.

* * *

My heart pounded as I drove towards Gwanghwamun.

‘Does Juso Hwa have memories like me?’

Why did they ask to meet here of all places?

The movements of the human presumed to be Juso Hwa that have been identified so far are in three places.

The movie theater showing Hwan’s love story.

The art gallery where the silver mirror is displayed.

And Gwanghwamun.

The first two are understandable because they are deeply related to our couple.

But Gwanghwamun is a bit ambiguous.

Well, it’s the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, so there are no special memories of passing by.

If I had to pick one, I did a moonwalk in front of it once, but that’s not a memory with Juso Hwa.

Maybe they just had something to do around here and asked to meet here.

I dropped off my brother and parked the car in a public parking lot, then slowly walked up to the plaza.

In front of Gwanghwamun, as in the original world, many demonstrations were taking place.

Among them, the large-scale demonstration with trucks was particularly eye-catching.

“Hey student!”

“I’m not a student.”

“Anyway, come here and sign! It’s important!”

I picked up a pen and wrote No Bun’s name in the signature column and asked.

“But what kind of signature are you getting?”

Then the woman who was getting signatures pointed upwards and said,

“It’s a ten million signature campaign to register the Hwangnyongsa Pagoda game as an intangible cultural heritage.”

“No way that kind of thing is an intangible cultural heritage.”

And why are they even getting these signatures?

I was speechless, but then a loud drum sound erupted from the side.

As the gathered people held up signs, the person on the stage picked up the microphone and shouted loudly.

“Everyone! We will fight to the end! How can they dismiss our precious traditional game as obscene gambling!”

“Our family’s traditional game! Obscene gambling, what nonsense!”

“This is an insult to the names of our Chunggyeonggong Nam Jae! And his great-grandson, Chungmu Gong Nam Yi!”

“The Electronic Entertainment Management Committee must immediately withdraw the 19+ rating!”

“Withdraw! Withdraw!”

“The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism must apologize immediately!”

Grandfathers with bristly beards, wearing hats and durumagis [traditional Korean overcoat] from who knows where, shouted while holding signs.

I’ve seen a lot of demonstrations by young gamers in my past life, but this was the first time I’d seen such a sight, so I stared blankly at the scene.

Apparently, an online game that ‘reinterpreted’ the Hwangnyongsa Pagoda game received a 19+ rating, and the enraged Jongchinhoe (clan association) rose up.

As a countermeasure against the committee’s decision, they are even launching a campaign to register Hwangnyongsa Pagoda as an intangible cultural heritage.

‘Nam Jae would have been really angry if he were alive.’

Meanwhile, on one side, a memorial service was being held to lament the disloyal descendants who failed to prevent the tyranny of the country.

They even set up sacrificial offerings and were wailing in front of their ancestors’ portraits.

It wouldn’t matter if it was just that, but the problem was that the fire spread to someone who clearly had no interest in this at all.

For example…….

“Aigo! Your Majesty! The treacherous subjects are suppressing the things that Your Majesty personally made and bestowed, how can we atone for our disloyalty in failing to stop this!”

“Your Majesty! Please forgive our disloyalty!”

While the Jongchinhoe elders were prostrating themselves and wailing,

“Ah! Please step back! Ancestral rites and ceremonies are all prohibited in front of the Taehwangje statue! Fines will be imposed for holding ceremonies!”

“If you want to pray for blessings, just pray silently in your heart! Step back!”

A police officer was shouting with a megaphone, and a group of soldiers was surrounding something and setting up a fence.

The Jongchinhoe elders were holding up the ancestral table in front of it and protesting for permission to enter.

And above it, there was a huge figure that stood out even amidst the crowd.

I slowly approached it.

Fortunately, the police didn’t seem to see me as being on the same side as those old men, so they didn’t block my approach.

The explanation that was reflected over their shoulders was enough to make me swallow hard.

The statue that sat solemnly in a chair, as if looking down on this vast Hanseong as it was.

– Statue of Taehwangje Sejong

The one who brought the light of civilization to the world. It was built in Angang (安康) year 8 to commemorate his great and high achievements.

‘Ah, so this is it.’

My statue, built here instead of the statue of King Sejong that would have been in the original world.

‘So that’s why you chose this place as the place for our reunion?’

I muttered inwardly.

“He’s an amazing person, isn’t he?”

At that time.

I felt a presence next to me as I looked up at the statue, and then I heard a clear voice.

I smiled as I closed my eyes.

“Halfway, yes.”

“Halfway?”

“He achieved great things, but he wouldn’t have been anything alone.”

Yes, without my family.

I might have lived a much emptier life. And the achievements I could have achieved would have been reduced by that much.

It can only be complete when the other half exists.

‘I think that’s a great thing to say.’

I wonder if this would be a passing grade as a reunion line.

I thought as I slowly opened my eyes.

And then I blurted out.

“Huh?”

Next to me was not Juso Hwa, but a strange woman.

I tore at my hair and jumped up and down.

“Kkyaak! Who are you!”

I naturally thought it would be Juso Hwa and talked while posing, but who is this woman?

But she said, rather flustered.

“Please calm down. The young lady left just now.”

“No, where to again!”

I was frustrated.

Isn’t it enough to have been circling around this much?

Did I die and she found a period of ennui [boredom]? Or is she planning to burn her husband’s heart out after seeing him after a long time?

When I shouted, the woman added as if making an excuse.

“For your information, it wasn’t her intention.”

“Are you saying she was kidnapped?”

When I narrowed my eyes and asked, the woman shook her head.

“It seems that Director Min contacted her through the Nanjing headquarters. O Guk Gong found out about this and ordered her to return to Nanjing immediately.”

“Then where is your young lady now?”

“Airport!”

A honking sound was heard from the side, and my brother, who had brought the car from who knows when, stuck his face out.

“I just got a call from Mom! She went to the airport!”

I immediately got into the passenger seat.

He brought the car with good sense, I’m so happy.

I shouted cheerfully.

“Let’s go to the airport!”

“……Aren’t we going home since the person we were going to pick up disappeared?”

Oh dear.

He doesn’t know why I’m doing this.

But there’s no time to explain.

“Step on it, you idiot!”

There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]

There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]

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Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Imagine a Joseon dynasty unlike any you've read before, where the throne isn't yours by right, but by cunning and strategy. What if the most revered king in Korean history, Sejong the Great, was your younger brother? Forced to confront a destiny not of your choosing, you face a daunting question: Can you truly surrender to fate, or will you defy it to forge your own legend in a kingdom ripe with ambition and intrigue? Dive into a world where blood is thicker than water, but power is the ultimate prize. Will you yield, or will you rise?

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