Chapter 71: CH-71
The corners of his lips curled into a smile. I expected to see some trace of hesitation in his eyes. After all, everyone here practically glazed me as the hero of the nation.
And it wasn’t just my status that made me think that.
The power coursing through my body right now had already reached a level that not even my real-life self could contend with. Just opening my palm made me feel like I could crush boulders.
"Allow me to introduce myself, General Sun. My name is Tae Yul. I am a just wandering swordsman... one who just so happens to be employed by the imperial family for the time being.
His introduction was humble, but that annoying smile, which made his eyes seem nearly closed, was irritating.
In anime, this is the classic ’nice on the outside, evil mastermind on the inside’ look—basically, the moment they open their eyes, you know someone’s about to lose a life.
"Then are you going to stop me from escaping?’ I asked, letting my body relax slightly.
Even so, the air snap with my movement, showing just how much power flowed through every fiber of my being. It was like having a body made of high-pressure springs.
However, there was an odd feeling in my right hand, as if a part of it were missing.
Tae Yul didn’t move. His hand rested lightly on the sword at his hip, but I could tell from his stance that he was ready to draw it at a moment’s notice.
"Stop you?" he shook his head. "No. I’m here to see if the legends are true. The man who single handedly faced an entire army... yet here you are, unarmed and trapped in this small room. Step outside and let me see if the stories are worthy of the man himself."
Absolute confidence. That was what I felt from him.
I knew then, without a shred of uncertainty, that I was facing someone truly powerful. Someone for whom the idea of losing didn’t even exist.
And yet... that confidence didn’t intimidate me. If anything, it excited me.
He might be strong—but so was I.
"You have to push me hard enough if you want me to get serious," I challenged him.
"Oh... I intend to."
He leapt back and vanished into the prison hallways, his voice echoing after him:
"I’ll be waiting for you outside."
I didn’t chase after him. My focus turned to the woman who saved me—now kneeling on the ground, her breathing shallow and strained.
Even with her face mostly covered, I could tell she was a real beauty. Those eyes and lashes alone were enough to prove it.
"Are you alright?"
"General, there’s no need for concern. I’ll be fine—it’s just the pill’s side effect."
Just as I suspected, the constitution that allowed me to take so much medicine at once was unique to me.
"What’s your name?"
Her eyes widened behind the mask. I hurried to explain myself before the silence grew more awkward.
"Most of my memory is hazy after the trauma I suffered. I need you to help me remember."
Cliche drama plot, but I really didn’t have anything better than amnesia.
Besides, it’s the perfect way to dodge all the boring details—like remembering names.
"Those ungrateful traitors!" Her nails dug into her palms. "How... how could they treat you like this? You’re the one who save this nation from the invaders."
Calling the Imperial Army traitors when we were the rebels didn’t make much sense, but whatever, everyone needs their own version of the truth.
Words continued to spill from her lips, each one tearing down the Imperial family, until I interrupted, asking for her name again.
She cleared her throat and lowered her head.
"My name is Yun-ha. I’m part of the resistance, formed to overthrow the current emperor. Your close friend, General Hong Ji-won, leads it, along with five other generals. Together, they march their armies toward the capital."
The first thing that came to mind was that General Hong and the others weren’t doing this solely to save the country. They were driven by their own personal agendas.
One ambition stood above the rest, to claim the throne. After all, history belongs to those who survive to tell it.
"Have they arrived?" I asked. Depending on her answer, I could start shaping my next move.
Her chest rose and fell with a long, drawn-out exhale, carrying the weight of countless battles, before she shook her head.
"No. They were intercepted by the Imperial army, but they will reach the capital in two days. We came here ahead of time to rescue you."
Two days. That’s far too long... though, in this era, with no cars or fast travel, I suppose it’s inevitable
"How many troops do we have right now?"
"We command five thousand now; that alone will secure our retreat. Once we join with General Hong Ji-won’s army of fifty thousand, we shall encircle the palace."
That number might sound impressive, but everything was relative.
"And what is the total number of the Imperial army?"
"Four hundred thousand," she whispered, the color draining from her face. Even saying it aloud sap her strength.
Goddamn it. I knew things would never go as smoothly as they planned. With such a disparity in numbers, it would be nothing short of a miracle if they even reached the capital.
"But General, our forces are made up of seasoned warriors—and with enough preparation, you alone could take down tens of thousands."
I doubted that was even remotely possible—unless I was some kind of android who never got tired and carried a gatling gun with tens of thousands of bullets. People always exaggerated military feats, and my current reputation was no different.
Well, at least that meant most of the Imperial army wasn’t in the capital. If I played my cards right, I could seize control from within.
Now that I think about it, the bottle they gave me contained a large number of pills, even though it was clearly stated that taking more than one was dangerous.
Whoever planned this must have known about my unique constitution.
"Who gave you the pills you handed me?"
"It’s General Hong Ji." she answered without hesitation.
That name again. He must’ve been really close to the original owner of this body to know such secret.
thud!
thud!
thud!
The walls trembled as heavy boots and shouts thundered toward us. The enemy had grown impatient, pressing in relentlessly.
Perfect. I wanted to test my body anyway so this would make for a decent warm-up.
"Come. Let us show the Imperial Family the meaning of regret."
I stepped out of the prison chamber and picked up one of the swords scattered across the floor.
It sat awkwardly in my grip, unfamiliar, yet not beyond control. A bit of practice, and it would move as naturally as an extension of my arm.
Before long, about thirty soldiers appeared to block our path. Clad in dark tunics and protective leather vests, they carried swords, their foreheads bound with bandanas marking the Imperial army.
The hallway was narrow so only three men could stand side by side. Their numbers were useless now. If they got enough braincells, they would’ve waited outside for an ambush.