Efforts Against The Calamity… (3)

After Britain had been devastated, the Cultists of Ruin flocked there in large numbers, and the process of subjugating territory from France to Britain continued.

And as they began the work of turning humans into sacrifices, which could be called the specialty of the Cultists of Ruin, to create relics and “Seeds,” Beral unexpectedly settled down on British soil rather than leaving for another country.

Because of that, Europe fell into even greater chaos instead, and while everyone in the world watched to see how the situation in Eastern Europe would flow, they began devoting themselves to strengthening what they could each do internally.

Meanwhile, a problem was about to arise in Chengdu, China.

“Even if it’s called a Red Gate, in the end, the monsters that pour out are just strong, and the benefits are even greater, aren’t they?”

“The giant is the problem, but if you remove that, it’s actually even more profitable. Maybe that’s why the country isn’t desperately trying to close it?”

After the Red Gate had once gone berserk, the situation had calmed down, and Chengdu had no choice but to wait until the Gate opened again. But today, that wait came to an end.

“H-huh?!”

“The Gate is opening! Tell everyone!”

The closed Gate began to open, once again drawing a large circle.

The Chinese authorities once again hurried their preparations to subjugate this Red Gate and arm the country’s elites with its byproducts, but contrary to China’s circumstances, the vividly red Gate suddenly faded as though its color was draining away.

And from a certain moment, it began to take on a yellow color. Seeing this, the Chinese authorities’ army could not help but be horrified.

“W-what is this?!”

China grew urgent, and because they were not unaware of what disaster had occurred at the Yellow Gate, an emergency was declared, and renowned mages and Awakeners from all over the country had to be forcibly summoned.

And this news quickly spread to neighboring countries as well, and among them, the one that reacted most seriously was Japan.

“Prime Minister Ichida…. What do you think?”

As the person elected as a representative by the voting rights exercised by each warlord faction so that he could handle external affairs, he could only exercise powers close to those of a diplomat, but at present, many people were looking toward the prime minister.

“What authority do I have for you to look at me?”

Prime Minister Ichida openly embarrassed them with those words, but just then, Chief of Staff Matsuda, who had made great contributions in the previous war and gained fame while expanding his influence, looked at Prime Minister Ichida and asked a question.

“Although Japan is currently split into more than twenty warlord factions, you are the person seated there by their votes, so I would like you to put forward any opinion at all.”

Silence continued. Then Prime Minister Ichida asked.

“I would first like to know clearly how far I can exercise my authority.”

At that, Chief of Staff Matsuda looked back at his adjutant, and with his nod, the adjutant understood the hand signal and spoke to Prime Minister Ichida.

“Our warlord faction declares that it will actively participate in and support Prime Minister Ichida’s exercise of authority. So please put forward, with at least a little confidence, your wise opinion on how to resolve the difficult problem of this situation.”

It was a sudden action, but Chief of Staff Matsuda’s power was that great.

The Self-Defense Forces had now been torn apart and divided by Japan’s warlord factions and could not properly play their role, but even so, many former Self-Defense Force elites were following Chief of Staff Matsuda.

Prime Minister Ichida fell into serious thought at the active support of Matsuda, who could be called the leader of a powerful group easily counted among the top three of the warlord factions, and he pointed out and spoke about the fact that China had revealed that a Red Gate could transform into a Yellow Gate.

“We currently have a powerful enemy right before our eyes. Unless an appropriate degree of relationship restoration with them proceeds, we will eventually be unable to do anything about the two Red Gates on our own and stand at the crossroads of ruin, just as France and Britain did.”

“So you are saying we should leave room to improve relations with Korea?”

“Half of it is that.”

“And the other half?”

“I think all the warlord factions must frankly join forces, gather strong individuals, and show the will that we can resolve this on our own as well.”

It was not an easy thing. In the end, because of disputes over mutual interests, they had no choice but to clash sharply.

During the Second Korean Peninsula War, three warlord factions had fallen into internal strife because of the Korean military’s scheme.

As a result, those three warlord factions were torn apart by the other surrounding warlord factions, and when the damage at the time was estimated, many citizens expressed concern at the fact that Japan had suffered damage close to one-tenth of its total military power.

“That sounds like nothing more than chasing clouds.”

In the end, Chief of Staff Matsuda had no choice but to say one thing. However, Prime Minister Ichida looked at Chief of Staff Matsuda and spoke firmly.

“If we cannot even deal with the Red Gates, and Yellow Gates occur and monsters like Beral are formed, our archipelago will fall into a desperate situation that cannot even be compared to the present. During the previous Daegyeokbyeon, one-third of our people had to die or be injured, and even now, aren’t we continuing a war of attrition while being unable to do anything about much of our territory and dealing with the monsters that keep flooding in?”

The prime minister’s words were heavy.

Everyone knew it, but power was not something easy to put down. So if they did not intend to put it down immediately, Prime Minister Ichida was convinced that if the situation continued meaninglessly, the Red Gates would become Yellow Gates and swallow up the Japanese archipelago.

There was no way everyone did not know that, and just as silence settled and everyone was watching each other’s reactions, it happened.

“I am Chief of Staff Yoshimitsu. Like Chief of Staff Matsuda, I wish to lend my strength to Prime Minister Ichida.”

At that moment, a sudden statement was heard, and after looking at one another, some chiefs of staff began speaking.

They too declared that they would actively support Prime Minister Ichida.

Prime Minister Ichida was flustered by that, but when everyone’s gazes gathered on him, words eventually flowed from his mouth.

“…I do not know whether our Great Japanese Empire can become one again, but one thing can be made clear.”

As silence settled and all eyes gathered on him, Prime Minister Ichida shouted as though making a proud declaration.

“We will form a special army to subjugate the Red Gates. I hope each warlord faction will support us with three strong individuals who rank within their top ten, and I will allow byproducts to be taken according to contribution, so I command your active participation.”

The meeting hall grew noisy at his words, but no one ever brought the thoughts they each had out of their mouths.

The political situation was now flowing chaotically, but Prime Minister Ichida did not necessarily think that was bad.

Meanwhile, upon receiving the report that Red Gates could transform into Yellow Gates, Korea’s presidential office also ended up summoning the country’s top Awakeners.

Kim Dae-san looked around at the master-class figures who had been summoned in such numbers that the countless seats prepared in the large conference room were filled, swallowed a groan, and brought up the topic for which he had called everyone.

“At present, there is one Red Gate in Russia, three in China, and two in Japan.”

It was something everyone already knew. Kim Dae-san’s statement was meant to make them aware of just how serious the situation was, and when their gazes gathered, he continued speaking.

“Among these three countries, the only country that has cleared out a Red Gate itself is currently Russia. Even that, they say, was only barely able to destroy the core after paying enormous sacrifices. So I will ask. If this spreads into Yellow Gates, can China and Japan handle it, and how can Russia resolve the one remaining Gate? We need to discuss that.”

At this, there was someone who raised his hand.

“I am Jeong Hyeong-jin, the Tower Master of the Daegu Magic Tower. Are you perhaps thinking of providing support if they cannot subjugate the Red Gates?”

The room stirred lightly. At that, Kim Dae-san took a brief pause before answering.

“For China and Japan, yes, putting that aside, I judge that perhaps we may need to provide help to Russia.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the location of the Red Gate is Vladivostok.”

At present, Korea had taken all the territory of former North Korea.

It had even pushed the border with China a little farther up through this war.

Because of that, the situation was no longer that distant, so the government had judged that if a disaster occurred at any time, the calamity could move toward their side.

Therefore, the government revealed that if, after thorough discussion, it was judged that they had to provide help, they intended to urgently dispatch personnel and close the Red Gate.

Everyone began weighing things in their heads and murmuring, and among them, Jeong Hyeong-jin, one of the influential figures of the Magic Tower who had asked the question, thought of Yu Jin-sang, who had been rising recently, and continued speaking.

“Red Gates boast an extremely dangerous level of difficulty. Securing our own country’s safety comes first, but in the sense of cutting off future misfortune at the source, I support actively helping Russia.”

It could be called a decision that was too quick, but Kim Dae-san nodded at Jeong Hyeong-jin’s statement and expressed his gratitude.

But at that moment, Han Sang-gil raised his hand.

Everyone’s gazes gathered, and the room fell silent.

Han Sang-gil was called the head of the group currently exercising the greatest influence in South Korea.

Jeong Gil-sun and Cheon Jong-un could represent their own groups, but recently, Han Sang-gil had gained the support of the academy and the world’s only 8th Circle black mage, and had been entrusted with the position of academy principal.

He was a person who had no choice but to draw attention in many ways, and at that, Kim Dae-san also nodded due to their long-standing connection.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity. What I am curious about is not the Russian side. Looking at the previous contents, China and Japan are also in serious situations, and China even currently has a Yellow Gate near Qingdao. Is this not the topic that should be dealt with first?”

“That is not wrong. However, I believe we must first resolve the matter of preventing more Yellow Gates from appearing.”

Everyone nodded at Kim Dae-san’s words. And just then, Chu Myeong-hun cut in and spoke.

“I am Chu Myeong-hun. I too believe that, as the president said, preventing the increase of Yellow Gates should be our top priority. Therefore, aiding Russia will be a great stimulus to neighboring countries in various ways.”

Because that stimulus did not mean provoking hostile countries, but rather that they had to appeal that they had that much leeway, everyone’s gazes gathered on Han Sang-gil, the speaker. At that, Han Sang-gil sighed and opened his mouth.

“I am saying this because it seems you are thinking of black mages as the group that should go on an expedition to another country, but we have no intention of laying a hand on that matter.”

At that firm declaration, everyone stirred.

The commotion was of a different kind from all the murmuring until now, and some were busy jeering, saying he was cowardly, while others said that this was just like black mages.

It was a statement that inevitably drew all kinds of criticism, but because he had driven in the nail beforehand, Kim Dae-san’s and Chu Myeong-hun’s expressions stiffened.

The reason was simple. They had been planning to continue with the topic that it would be easier for the group with experience closing a Red Gate to go provide support.

But since he had drawn the line in advance, if they said through the commotion that the black mages had to go, they would end up in the position of pathetically begging, so Kim Dae-san closed his mouth.

‘There is still nothing about him I like. But it will be enough if the government does not say it.’

As though he had been waiting, someone raised his hand, and when Kim Dae-san looked that way and gave him the chance to speak, attention gathered.

“I am Kim Dong-uk, the representative observer seated here as a representative of the people. I would like to ask a question to the black mage who spoke so clearly about drawing a line.”

The meeting hall, which had grown quiet again due to the sudden situation, stayed that way, and when Han Sang-gil nodded, Kim Dong-uk continued the statement he had prepared.

“Unlike Awakeners, ordinary people like me cannot forget the situation of the Daegyeokbyeon. I am well aware that many Awakeners, including black mages, worked hard to protect this country and its people. However, this incident is a situation where chaos on a different level from the previous Daegyeokbyeon is expected, and I do not think it is good to irresponsibly take a step back and watch from the sidelines like that. On top of that, I heard that you previously monopolized a Red Gate and also controlled the information. I ask this question because consistently taking such an attitude is not only an act of deceiving the people, but, like the Cultists of Ruin, is considered an act harmful to the country, making your intentions deeply suspicious.”

A somewhat strong statement burst out, and just then, some reporters showed interest and began writing it down.

And seeing Kim Dae-san curl up the corners of his mouth as though wearing a satisfied smile, Han Sang-gil could not help but click his tongue.

‘Seong-chan, just how far ahead have you seen, you brat…?’

Han Sang-gil inwardly clicked his tongue, and as he was making a serious expression, someone came to Kim Dae-san and whispered into his ear.

And just then, Kim Dae-san, who had been glaring at Han Sang-gil as if he would kill him, asked for understanding and rose from his seat.