Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Chapter 609

#609

Taejonbirok Volume 25, Episode 9

Chapter 134: Encountering the Lazy (4)

“That’s all.”

"……okay."

Baek Hoe-myeong nodded weakly.

'This is miserable.'

The human casualties weren't as severe as expected. No matter how formidable the Wei Yanho was, it wasn't possible to track down and defeat all of them.

If you think about it, it's an obvious result.

The damage now is much greater than the damage incurred while being chased, as it was inflicted while rushing towards Wei Yanho in the beginning.

Even taking all that into account, the damage could be considered minor, if you just look at the numbers.

However, Baek Hoe-myeong could not think of this defeat as a simple accident.

This is a disaster.

That too is a colossal defeat.

There was reason to choose defeat. If they had waited for reinforcements from the main force, waged a war of attrition, and then committed their full force, even Wei Yanhu would have had no choice but to retreat.

If luck was on our side, we could have made that place the tomb of Wi Yeon-ho.

But the damage to be incurred was simply too great. Therefore, that option was unavailable. Choosing to retreat at that point was not a mistake.

But I didn't expect what happened next.

As Wei Yanhu pursued them, Baek Huiming was fatally wounded.

The justification for a strategic retreat has become insignificant in the face of real casualties. The extent of the damage inflicted and the extent of its catastrophic impact are of little consequence.

It is important to note that those who were retreating felt like they were being chased by only one person, Wei Yanhu.

The scam was the worst, in and of itself.

Baek Hoe-myeong turned his head slightly and looked at the swordsmen who were setting up camp.

Everyone is down.

It was a feeling that those engaged in war should never experience. Baek Hoe-myeong sensed that the situation was becoming increasingly dire.

Between the sunken eyes, occasional irreverent glances are seen.

Baek Hoe-myeong bit his lip.

It's a given.

Being chased by one person with that much power?

If someone else had committed such a crime, Baek Hoe-myung would have looked down on him like a bug. The fact that he received even this small response was a testament to how much trust Baek Hoe-myung had earned from them, and how strong their loyalty was.

'What should I do?'

If things were as they were, I was planning to do maintenance here and then wait for the Demonic Cult to advance.

When the Demonic Cult first shook the political alliance, it was enough to reap the rewards. And Baekgeomseong was worthy of it.

While those foolish demonic cultists were held captive by Wi Yeon-ho, Baekgeomseong single-handedly confronted and defeated the Jeongmu Alliance. So, he deserves this level of luxury. Except for this particular situation.

It gets worse.

The longer we drag this out, the more negative thoughts will spread. Immediately after an absurd victory, we suffered an absurd defeat.

It would have been better if we hadn't achieved a great victory. We could have strengthened our resolve. But once our spirits plummeted to their lowest point, it was unlikely we'd be able to recover easily.

“Your Majesty.”

"hmm……."

“Give me the order.”

Baek Hoe-myeong's lips twitched.

It's a painful choice, but it's his. Those who lead must make choices. Even if that choice is wrong and harms the whole, it's better than hesitating and not making a choice.

“Wait.”

“……Lord Soga?”

A question, not a restoration, comes back.

Anyone who hears this knows how much damage this choice will cost.

“Follow orders.”

"Ha, but Lord Soga, this isn't a suitable place to wait. And… everyone's spirits are low. Spending time won't help them recover."

“I know.”

I know it deeply.

Baek Hoe-myeong chewed his lips.

'What decision would you have made in this situation?'

It's not even worth thinking about.

If it were Gaju, everything would have been resolved in a very simple way. All he had to do was find Wi Yeon-ho and behead him.

Baek Hoe-myeong felt deep despair.

He learned everything from his father. He lived believing that acting and thinking like a father was the right thing to do. But at this very moment, Baek Hoe-myeong realized the truth to his bones.

He can't be like Gaju.

No matter how much blood he inherited, he was still the head of the family, and he was still him. He wasn't born with the same genius as the head of the family.

Others hail him as a genius, but his talents don't even reach the level of the master. He can never be like the master.

So, you can't follow the lead.

Because the head of the household has never once pondered such concerns. Why would he ever consider how to deal with an opponent he cannot handle on his own?

That's not going to happen.

“……Wait, here…….”

“That’s a handshake, Sogaju.”

Baek Hoe-myeong turned his head.

“Hey, uncle!”

Cheonryu Sword.

The Cheonryu Sword Baek Gong-ui suddenly appeared and was walking towards him.

Baek Hoe-myeong felt both shame and relief as he watched Cheonryu Geom slowly walk towards him with his backpack on.

"ah……."

The moment the tension was about to ease.

"conflict!"

The Cheonryu Sword roared.

The moment he heard that scream, filled with energy, Baek Hoe-myeong's entire body tensed. Those observing the situation also stood upright.

“Don’t let your guard down!”

The voice of the Heavenly Sword rang out loud.

"You pathetic, pathetic creatures! When you live with a sword, victory and defeat are inevitable. Those who, after a single defeat, lose the strength to hold the sword, dare to hold it!"

Those who heard that rebuke each gritted their teeth.

It was a word that touched my pride.

"Are you afraid? Are you afraid of losing? Are you afraid of dying? Or are you afraid of not achieving your goals?"

I was trying to find an answer to something.

Somewhere between honesty and a just cause.

But the Cheonryu Sword did not wait for their answer.

"What does it matter what the answer is? It's already shameful to be afraid!"

Cheonryu Sword raised his hand and pointed to the sky.

“Look!”

The gaze is turned towards the sky.

"Those who died unjustly at the hands of those villains are looking down on us. What will they think when they see you now? What will they think when they see you, your tails tucked in, defeated, after facing a powerful enemy?"

“…….”

"The Ten Thousand Swords embrace all the swords of the world. But there is one thing that is not worthy of the Ten Thousand Swords. That is the sword of cowards!"

The Cheonryu Sword instantly changes the atmosphere.

The atmosphere that was falling into the abyss gradually became more and more tense.

“What do you want!”

Everyone wanted to discuss the cause. But Cheonryu Sword said something else.

“It must be Wei Yanhu’s neck.”

“…….”

"A cause? A purpose? All well and good. But how can we discuss a cause if we can't even restore our wounded pride?"

Cheonryu Sword turned his head and met everyone's gaze.

“I will go and cut off Wei Yanho’s head.”

It's boiling.

Very quietly.

My emotions weren't overflowing, but they were boiling hotter than anything else.

"I can't leave that bastard who tarnished the name of Mangeom like this. Defeated? Run away? I too was defeated. I too ran away!"

The Cheonryu Sword shouted as if spitting blood.

"There's no shame in losing. There's shame in not struggling in a perpetual defeat. If you've been defeated, just win! If you've been crushed, just repay it with a great victory. That's our way!"

At that moment, a roar erupted, as if sending the world away.

They stomped on the floor, raised their heads, and screamed like madmen. Some stood there, swearing, while others trembled, clutching their swords.

Cheonryu Sword waited for their reactions to subside without saying a word. Only after everyone had vented their frustrations and regained their composure did he speak.

“Sogaju.”

“Yes, uncle.”

“Give me the order.”

“…….”

Baek Hoe-myeong's eyes shook.

Since Cheonryu Sword was here, I assumed he'd naturally take command. Given the current atmosphere, it seemed only natural for Cheonryu Sword to command everyone.

Baek Hoe-myeong failed to lead them, and Cheonryu Geom captivated them with just a few words. So, it's unclear who was more powerful.

“Unless the head of the household is present…….”

The Cheonryu Sword was resolute.

“We only follow the orders of the Sogaju!”

“…….”

"Lieutenant Soga, your servants have been disobedient and have failed to properly carry out your orders! This time, we will absolutely carry out your orders! So, command! In the name of Mangeom!"

Baek Hoe-myeong nodded quietly.

“Maintenance is done here.”

The command didn't fit the tense atmosphere. Just as a hint of disappointment was about to leak out, Baek Hoe-myeong opened his mouth.

“After that, I’ll go and cut off Wei Yanho’s head.”

The atmosphere was boiling again.

“How did you come here?”

“Have I come to a place I cannot go?”

"That's not true. There's no place in the world you can't go, Uncle. Especially if it's a place where hundreds of families have stayed."

Cheonryu Sword smiled brightly.

“I came because I thought you might need me.”

Baek Hoe-myeong bit his lip tightly.

What would have happened if the Cheonryu Sword hadn't come here?

Just thinking about it made me dizzy.

Thanks to the arrival of the Cheonryu Sword, the situation was able to be resolved.

“Uncle.”

“Speak, Sogaju.”

“Please take command.”

“……You said command?”

"I am incompetent. I am inadequate. I am not yet capable of leading the Ten Thousand Swords and Hundred Schools."

Cheonryu Geom looked at Baek Hoe-myeong with strange eyes.

“They, too, would rather be led by you, Uncle, than by me. So, for the sake of the Great Plan….”

“Sogaju.”

It was a cold and firm voice.

Baek Hoe-myeong shivered at the cold energy contained in Cheonryu Geom's voice.

“Listen carefully to what I say.”

"……yes."

"We're not doing this for immediate results. While it's important to conquer the world and force them to pay, more importantly, the name of Mangeom will resonate for a thousand years to come."

“…….”

"And it is not old people like us who must shoulder that burden, but the next generation of leaders, like Sogaju. Don't try to end everything with condemnation. Our mission is not one of condemnation, but one of revival."

“I will keep that in mind.”

"Grit your teeth. Straighten your shoulders. Even if you make mistakes, even if you fail, even if you do something that is the most foolish thing in the world, you are the one who gives the most to a hundred families!"

Baek Hoe-myeong clenched his fist.

"That's what it means to be on top. You have to endure that immense responsibility. Even if your bones break and your flesh rips under the crushing weight, endure it, endure it again. Only then will you be worthy of being called the Sogaju of the Ten Thousand Swords and Hundred Schools. Do you understand what I mean?"

“I will keep that in mind, and keep that in mind again!”

Cheonryu Sword nodded.

Will began to appear in Baek Hoe-myeong's eyes again.

“But… what about you?”

When the name of the head of the household was mentioned, Cheonryu Sword's face slightly distorted.