Chapter 436. To Hell With It (10)
Chi-Hyun tried not to answer. He had said those words, but wasn’t sure how they could be used against him. In cases like this, it was best not to say anything. At that moment, the host, who had been quiet so far, opened his mouth and said, “Please give an answer.”
‘…Why is this punk suddenly intervening after being quiet so far?’ However, Chi-Hyun was the one who had asked Zelit to moderate the discussion. In the end, Chi-Hyun was forced to answer, “That’s right, but before you continue, you need to explain yourself for the insult just now.”
“Isn’t calling that an insult going too far? I just told the truth as it is.”
“What are you specifically referring to?”
“I said that because there are some double standards involved,” Chi-Woo continued. “It wasn’t like this when we collaborated with an enemy other than the Demon Empire, right?”
“If you’re talking about the Sernitas and Abyss, you should refrain from making any hasty speculation. Even if it’s not the Demon Empire, anyone—”
“I’m not making a hasty speculation,” Chi-Woo cut him off. “Do you remember how the seventh recruits joined the earlier recruits?” After getting out of the forest, the seventh recruits settled down in a fortress near the border. However, this fortress did not make a good long-term base. Thus, they recaptured the capital of the former Salem Kingdom, and the seventh recruits were able to join the previous recruits there.
“It was entirely thanks to the Abyss that the previous recruits were able to safely reach the capital of the former Salem Kingdom.” As he said, the heroes who had arrived earlier were only able to travel across the dangerous path crawling with lurking enemies thanks to Evelyn, who had been the witch of the Abyss at the time; she had personally led an army to occupy the attention of the Demon Empire.
“I was the one who made a deal with the Abyss,” Chi-Woo quickly went on, “No one took issue with that at the time.” There was no need to even mention the reason why. “It was because we were so neck-deep in our problems that we were thankful for even a small reprieve we could earn by holding an enemy’s hand. The fact that we still have a long way to go is the same now as it was then. But just because we have settled down somewhat and overcome a crisis that almost extinguished us once, our attitudes instantly changed. So tell me, how is everyone not acting as anything but a stuffed pig?” When they were hungry, they would eat anything without being choosy, but now that the situation had changed, their attitude completely flipped.
Though he understood what Chi-Woo meant, Chi-Hyun’s attitude remained unchanged. “I already told you. The Abyss and the Demon Empire are in different categories.”
“What’s the difference?” Chi-Woo immediately refuted. “The Demon Empire was our enemy, and the Abyss is still our enemy. They both joined forces with Sernitas and targeted us. It’s the same as before. What are you saying that’s so different?”
“Even if they’re all our enemies, the shared past is different. This is the first time that the Abyss has emerged as an enemy of humanity on Liber, but that’s not the case for the Demon Empire. Therefore, the extent of antagonism is bound to be different.”
Chi-Woo let out a hollow laugh at Chi-Hyun’s explanation. “That’s funny. If past grievances are more important than our present realities, why are we gathered together in this city? And why did the League gather at the Cassiubia Mountain Range?”
Would humanity or the League have joined forces like this if the situation hadn’t gotten to this point? The answer was no. Humanity as well as the League were both races that had at one point hated and fought with each other, just like Eshnunna’s Salem Kingdom and Shahnaz Hawa’s nomadic tribe had been hostile to each other in the past. The half-demon tribe was a good example as well. Moreover, those three examples were far from the only ones; there were most likely a lot more. And yet they were now together under one banner for a single purpose.
“I’m saying the same standard should be applied to this instance; just as you put aside the past for a while and held hands with each other to survive. We’re all still hungry. It’s not time for us to be picky about a hot or cold meal.”
“It’s not a matter that can be simply compared to a cold meal,” Chi-Hyun said flatly. “What you say sounds reasonable at first, but being rational does not necessarily mean that you are right. It’s arrogant to think that everyone will think like you.” He softly continued, “If the Demon Empire had fought alongside us from the very beginning, your words would have sounded more convincing than they are now. But no, they hadn’t done that.”
“…”
“The demons have committed all kinds of atrocities so far. And their attempt to attack us even ended up leading to their downfall. However, you want us to accept them so that they could lend us a little strength now? No matter what the current situation is like, that’s a demand that clearly exceeds our psychological and emotional tolerance.”
Chi-Woo closed his eyes. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you this for you to understand, but…” Then he opened his eyes wide, the muscles in his neck tensing. “The Demon Empire survivors who had expressed their willingness to surrender did not commit the atrocities you mentioned. Rather, they helped us, took care of our family, and even tried to gather and help them escape as much as possible!”
Chi-Hyun groaned. From the spirit he was showing, Chi-Woo seemed ready to even reveal that Chi-Hyun had temporarily teamed up with Bael and accepted her as a comrade in the past.
“…Even so, our will is firm.” Chi-Hyun thought this topic would only lead to his disadvantage, so he decided to wrap it up here. “Even if we can cooperate right now as you said, no one knows what will happen later.” In short, he was saying that there was no need to take risks considering what would come after Liber’s salvation. “Therefore, there is no place for the Demon Empire in the future that we’ve pictured. The absolute majority think so and hope this will be the case.”
“Is what the majority wants the right thing to do?”
“That’s a dumb question. We’re not here to discuss right or wrong. If both of us have good reasoning, what more should we base it on?”
“…Why don’t you just tell me the truth?” Chi-Woo gritted his teeth. “The majority just needs someone to vent all their emotions and anger at.”
“Well, I won’t say you’re completely wrong, but I’d like to correct one part. Our anger is perfectly justified, and the Demon Empire is only getting the punishment it deserves.”
Chi-Woo sighed. What Chi-Hyun just said was no different from declaring, ‘No matter how hard you bark, I’ll definitely kill the Demon Empire.’ In this sense, none of his words got through to him.
“…So you’re saying.” Chi-Woo glared at Chi-Hyun for a while and sighed. “In any case, the Demon Empire must endure our anger no matter what. Isn’t that right?” He wasn’t asking Chi-Hyun. “Does everyone agree with that?” There was no answer, but the silence was in itself an affirmative. Chi-Woo read the mood of the crowd and nodded. “In that case, I see.”
“If all of you must kill the Demon Empire survivors who are seeking refuge at Shalyh even though they’re different from the Demon Empire members as we know it, and if you’re just doing this because all the targets of your anger have disappeared, and you need a punching bag—and if you know that it’s not the Demon Empire survivors who committed those atrocities but still choose to blame it all on them—” If that really was their reason, then Chi-Woo had only one thing to say to them. “Then all right, Seven Stars will accept the decision of the general assembly.”
The stadium fell into a commotion at his sudden declaration. Chi-Hyun’s eyes also narrowed.
However, Chi-Woo wasn't done yet. “And I will propose another agenda here today. As soon as the Demon Empire’s punishment is over, Seven Stars will leave Shalyh.”
That was a bomb dropped out of nowhere. Chi-Woo announced that the Seven Stars would leave Shalyh and walk their own path. The audience quickly grew even noisier with the shocking declaration Chi-Woo made out of the blue. Chi-Hyun also looked as if he doubted his ears. He even looked a bit disappointed. “How ridiculous. Are you throwing a tantrum?”
“What do you mean a tantrum?” Unlike them, Chi-Woo was extremely calm. “This is a place where even if individuals didn’t commit a crime, they are punished just for the fact that they were part of a group that did wrong.” He continued calmly, “In that sense, isn’t Shalyh a place for those who committed war crimes? How can I bear to live together with them?”
“…What did you say?” Even Chi-Hyun was aghast this time; he had hoped Chi-Woo would cross the line, but that was too far even by Chi-Hyun’s standards. Chi-Woo was essentially turning everyone sitting here into enemies. Chi-Hyun had no idea what the hell Chi-Woo was thinking. If Chi-Woo was acting like this because he was too angry and couldn’t control his emotions, he had made an irreversible mistake.
“I clearly told you before. To watch what you say.”
“It’s not like I’m making up stories. All I did was relay the facts as they were.”
“What part of that is the truth?”
Chi-Woo didn’t reply to Chi-Hyun’s question right away and let the silence stretch. When he felt the heat flowing and began to boil around him, he smiled brightly. However, his smile lasted only for a moment; soon, his expression turned deathly serious, and he shouted, “Ru Amuh!”
Shortly after, the tightly shut entrance opened with a bang, and a handsome blond man strode in with three leashes in his hand. The three people he was dragging were in a complete mess; they couldn’t even walk properly. Ru Amuh dropped them roughly in front of Chi-Woo, where the light allowed everyone to clearly see them. The audience briefly forgot their anger and focused on the newcomers. In an instant, all eyes were on them.
“These are heroes from the Celestial Realm like us,” Chi-Woo said, “And they recently trespassed into the Demon Empire’s zone and attempted to rape a girl.” The audience erupted into greater commotion, and Chi-Woo continued, “According to the demon who chased them out, they took off all her clothes and were laughing and deciding their order with rock, paper, scissors.”
If what Chi-Woo said was true, no excuses could be made; it was a clear war crime. Chi-Hyun finally recognized Chi-Woo’s intention and tried to hurriedly intervene, “That’s—”
However, Chi-Woo immediately cut him off as he knew what Chi-Hyun would say.
“That’s the enemy. We’re just merely returning to them what we also experienced. So it doesn’t matter. Are you going to say that?” He gently raised the corners of his mouth and asked, “Then what about this? What about the heroes who forced their allies, the natives, to sacrifice themselves even though they refused?”
Chi-Hyun frowned at Chi-Woo’s question. “Don’t muddle the discussion. I don’t intend to defend this incident, but for what happened at that time, there was at least a greater cause for their actions. It’s obviously different from war crimes.”
“For the greater cause, the greater cause…then let me ask you two more questions.” Chi-Woo tilted his head and asked, “What about the heroes’ demand for sexual favors toward native women?” The commotion disturbing the hall stopped for a while. Chi-Woo took advantage of the silence to raise his voice one level higher, “What about trying to force the princess of a fallen kingdom, who had gathered and led the remaining natives for us, to sleep with them in exchange for help?” He wasn’t just making up stories; the fact that he specifically identified those involved was proof that he was making true accounts… Moreover, everyone was well aware that given the current circumstances, things like that were more than likely to happen.
“Should these actions also be seen as noble and great actions for this world’s salvation and Liber’s future?”
Chi-Hyun shut his mouth for the first time. The hall became even more chaotic at his silence. Unlike the Celestial Realm heroes, who had shut their mouths and become silent, the League and the natives became even more rambunctious. Chi-Woo didn’t miss this either. “Why are the League and natives causing such a stir?”
At his sudden question, the League and natives all responded with a confused expression.
“Are you all so innocent?”
Everyone scowled and narrowed their eyes. From the Demon Empire to Celestial Realm heroes, and now, the target suddenly shifted to them. There were probably some of them who thought, ‘What about you?’
“I’ll tell you in advance. Yes, I have nothing to be ashamed of. Since I entered Liber, I can confidently say that I have done nothing that I would be ashamed of under this sky.” Then he asked again, “What about you all?”
This was the limit of Chi-Hyun’s patience. As Chi-Hyun thought, Chi-Woo had already crossed the line way too far. The audience had merely come here as observers, but suddenly became the accused. There was no way they would just stand still.
—That’s completely ludicrous!
—Even if you are telling the truth, that’s only the sins of a few bad actors!
—What a faulty logic based on hasty generalization!
—Yes. How can you treat us all like criminals just because a few people acted like that? Do you think that’s right?
—Don’t muddle the point with your shrewd words!
All kinds of criticism poured out towards Chi-Woo. Amid a flurry of attacks with various abusive language mixed in, Chi-Woo stood unshakable. Rather, he felt a little dejected that their response was exactly as he had expected. “How funny.” He smiled blandly. “Do you really think they’re the minority?” Chi-Woo turned around 360 degrees. “Are you really that confident?” He took in all of them and said, “I serve La Bella, the goddess of balance who is fairer and more neutral than anyone else, and I’m her apostle.”
At that moment, magic happened. “If I take each and every one of you currently residing in Shalyh to La Bella and ask her for her judgment, and when the results come out—will you all react the same way as you do now?” It was a magic that instantly silenced the audience, who were about to rise and furiously protest.
It wasn’t just the Celestial Realm heroes. People were the same no matter where they were, especially in a world like this. On Liber, all the states that originally ruled the middle world were destroyed, leaving the land lawless. Anything could happen in a world like this, and it wouldn’t be strange. Whether it was losing all hope and surrendering oneself to their desires, or committing atrocities for survival; the natives and League members were no different from the Celestial Realm heroes in this regard.
On the contrary, they could be seen as even worse than the Celestial Realm heroes. No one could guarantee what had happened in places where the majority of people’s eyes didn’t reach, or if there was really anyone who hadn’t had a single experience killing and stealing from others or allowing their instincts and desires to get the better of them. Only then did Chi-Woo’s question, ‘Are you all innocent? Are you really that confident?’ finally reach their hearts.
The noisy hall became still as death. A powerless person’s shouts were nothing more than a dog’s bark. Coming from a powerful being who had the potential and ability to carry out their will, however, it became a threat. What if Chi-Woo really made good of his words? Then it was guaranteed that at least a third of the current audience would disappear, and that was the lowest estimate. In other words, those who deserved punishment were not the ‘minority’, but might be a ‘greater majority’ than expected.
And Chi-Woo wasn’t finished. “By the way, those who wanted to punish the entire Demon Empire through guilt by association are now talking about the error of hasty generalization when they become the target…” It seemed as if he was talking to himself, but Chi-Woo murmured for everyone to hear him. The audience flinched at his biting remark. “...It would have been really great if you could have applied that same standard to the Demon Empire. So that there could be some consistency.”
Dead silence flowed throughout the whole audience, and the volatile atmosphere instantly cooled. “You all said you wanted a healthy future for Liber.” Chi-Woo scanned the venue and continued, “For the results to be healthy, the process must be healthy too. If the process is not just, the results cannot be just either.” He looked up at the central stage where the bright light shone. “What do you think? Oh great legend.”
Then everyone’s eyes shifted to one person again, towards the individual who willingly stepped forward for their own sake. Yeah. If it was him, if it was the legend, he would say something for their sake. Expectant gazes poured to Chi-Hyun from all sides.
However, Chi-Hyun’s lips remained sealed shut. “…” He simply stared down at Chi-Woo with a complicated expression like a person left suddenly speechless.
“The Demon Empire was our enemy, but we are allies who fought together so far, so they are in a different category.” While the audience waited anxiously, Chi-Woo took the stage again and continued his spiel. “Thus, you can’t accuse us of crimes without a good cause. If that’s what you think, I understand.” He quoted what Chi-Hyun had said before and answered his own question. “Then I will also stray away from the path I’ve been walking so far and commit war crimes in hidden places as much as possible whenever I feel like it… Ah, actually, it won’t matter if I get caught. Since I’ve been fighting for us harder than anyone else, right?” He asked with a shrug.
Chi-Hyun’s mouth opened briefly and then closed again. Everyone clearly witnessed Chi-Hyun’s logic, the declaration that they had sympathized with, cheered on, and supported, getting crushed one by one.
“…You said earlier that we are all heroes.” Chi-Woo took his eyes off Chi-Hyun and asked everyone, “Will you still consider me a hero even if I do so? Or should I be looking up at you as heroes?” He asked again, “Do you really think of yourselves as heroes?” And again, “Are we all—really heroes?”
“If that’s the kind of hero we want to be and strive for—” Chi-Woo stopped talking briefly, and his gaze sharpened. He looked back at everyone with piercing eyes. “If it’s a hero like that—” He spoke quietly but clearly so that everyone could hear him, “To hell with it all.”
If that was what it truly entailed, to hell with being a hero.
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