The Overlord of Blood and Iron

Kang Chul-In was able to find Park Sun-Ja on the rooftop of the hospital.

“Mother.”

“S-Son?”

Park Sun-Ja quickly wiped her tears.

As I expected.

Kang Chul-In knew that she was going to be on the rooftop. She had done this back then, too. When his father had suffered from the traffic accident, Park Sun-Ja came up to the rooftop to cry alone.

“W-Why are you here… you’re not exactly in the best condition to…”

“I’m fine.”

Kang Chul-In spread his arms wide apart as if to prove it.

“Son…”

“As you already know… I’m not an ordinary human. This kind of injury means nothing…”

“Is that something you should be saying to your mom?”

“...!”

“Goodness!”

Park Sun-Ja trembled with frustration. This was the mind of a mother. No matter how strong one’s child was, if they were injured to the point that they had to be bedridden, parents would feel like their own bone and flesh were being taken apart.

“I can’t believe you!”

“I-I apologize…”

“You’re the same!”

“Pardon?”

“You’re the same as your father.”

“Ah!?”

Kang Chul-In realized what Park Sun-Ja was saying. A forgotten memory popped up.

“Ah! It hurts!”

“H-Honey…!”

“Don’t worry too much. I’m not even that hurt, so what’s with the fuss?”

“I-Is that something you should be saying right now? You could die at any moment! It’s a miracle you’re awake right now!”

“Hahahaha~! Do you think this Kang Han will die from this? Don’t worry. I’ll be up and about soon. I can get through this with some food…”

“H-Honey!”

That was Kang Chul-In’s father, Kang Han’s, end. He had acted tough until the end and hadn’t been able to leave any sincere last words behind.

“Kek…!” Kang Chul-In laughed. “S-Sorry… mother…”

He shouldn’t have laughed. Thinking of his father’s end and laughing?

He was so fiery… thinking about it now… gosh… he was so foolish.

How could a person act so tough before they died?

“Keek…!”

Park Sun-Ja must’ve remembered it too because it seemed like she was trying to hold in her laughter.

“Son.”

“Yes, mother.”

“Dad seems foolish, huh?”

“N-No…”

“Come on~!”

“R-Really…”

“Don’t lie.”

“S-Sorry…”

Park Sun-Ja smiled. “Your father was like that.”

“Yes…”

“One day, his right shoulder was ripped to shreds after falling into the ocean, back during his younger days.”

“I see.”

“Do you know what your father said back then?”

“Hm?”

“He said some medicine would do the trick.”

Shock filled Kang Chul-In’s face.

What kind of ridiculous…!

It didn’t make sense no matter how much he thought about it. If a person was bit by a shark, they should immediately go to the hospital, but his father wanted to put some medicine on it and call it a day?

Was it that scar?

Kang Chul-In had seen a scar when he was young.

And…

“Son! Look!”

“What’s this? Did you get hurt?”

“This is…”

“Yes?”

“A scar that I got when I was younger from fighting a shark!”

“R-Really!?”

“Of course!”

“T-Then, who won?”

“Of course I won!”

“Wow…!”

“That shark swam away so fast his fin almost fell off!”

“You’re so amazing, dad…!”

“Right? I’m strong, huh?”

“Yeah!”

“Hahahaha~!”

His father had put him on his knee and bragged about the “fight” with the shark.

“...”

Kang Chul-In was speechless for a moment.

Gosh.

Looking back at it now, it wasn’t something a good son should say, but…

He was an extreme fool.

There was no denying the fact that Kang Han was a fool beyond anyone’s imagination.

“Do you know what your father said back then? He said that kind of injury was nothing for a man. He was so stubborn that we took care of it with some medicine… two days later, he fainted from excessive bleeding. I can’t believe him. Goodness!”

“...”

“He always went on about what a “man” was. He said it was okay to get hurt because he was a man. My son isn’t that foolish, but… it seems you’re a bit similar, no?”

“Ahem…!”

Kang Chul-In coughed and looked away.

“Please.” Park Sun-Ja pleaded Kang Chul-In. “Everything is fine. I won’t ask you what you do outside. You’re an adult, and the king of a land.”

“Yes, ma’am…”

“But I can’t forgive you for getting hurt. Don’t be foolish like your father. Understood?”

“Understood.”

“This hole in my heart is enough with just the one your father left behind.”

Kang Chul-In couldn’t say anything at the words that kept on pricking his conscience. He knew how much his mother had suffered after his father passed away. South Korea was a horrible place for a woman to raise a child alone.

“Understood, son?”

“Yes, mother.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “That won’t happen.”

“Can you promise?”

“Of course.”

Actually, it wasn’t a promise he could keep 100%. What he was about to do was dangerous.

But…

I’ll return alive.

Kang Chul-In hardened his resolve. His ambition, and the unfinished work of the Emperor of Blood and Iron… after he accomplished the two, he would return, basking in gold.

“Alright, go.” Park Sun-Ja waved her hand at Kang Chul-In. “You’re busy.”

“After this, I’ll be free.”

“I can believe those words, right?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, since my son is a man that keeps his word.”

That was the end. Kang Chul-In didn’t extend their conversation with useless words, and Park Sun-Ja didn’t ask what her son was going to do.

She just…

Be careful, son.

There’s no problem.

Spoke with her eyes.

“Then, I’ll be back.”

Kang Chul-In bowed at Park Sun-Ja and began to walk away.

“Whew…” Park Sun-Ja sighed looking at his back.

***

Ninetails summoned all the officials of the Valhalla Kingdom who hadn’t gone off to war.

“I, the Second Queen of Valhalla Kingdom, Ninetails...”

Then, she began to speak.

“Will now announce that our kingdom is in an emergency situation. Any healthy man who is 16 and over will be going into war.”

It was an unavoidable decision. The Valhalla Kingdom was facing its greatest crisis after being established. From the north came Saturnus’s Ancient Empire, and from the south, Lee Ji-Tae’s army. The two large forces were attacking the Valhalla Kingdom as if they had agreed upon it beforehand.

Kwak Jung had also fainted from overworking himself. If she didn’t make this decision, the kingdom would be destroyed.

“Timothy!”

“Yes, your second Majesty.”

“Release all the stored equipment and food supplies.”

“B-But…!”

“We are in a national crisis. It’s not time to worry about finances. Until my husband returns, we must go this route to stall for time. Do it immediately. If not obeyed, you will be punished according to kingdom law.”

“Yes, your second Majesty!”

Timothy bowed low and accepted Ninetails’s command.

“Also!” Ninetails didn’t stop there. “From this moment on, anyone foolish who tries to split the kingdom apart will be executed on the spot, understood?”

“Yes, your second Majesty!”

How could he not heed her orders? Ninetails were a sexy and cute wife in front of Kang Chul-In, but not in public. She was also a ruler.

Husband…! But her inner thoughts were different. Please return… quick…!

Ninetails didn’t know what to do. Everything was disadvantageous to them.

“Y-Your second Majesty!”

It was then.

“Bad news!”

“What happened?”

“Her Majesty Lee Chae-Rin in the south… lost…!”

“...!”

“They lost half of their forces and are currently retreating!”

“Your second Majesty!”

That wasn’t the end of the bad news.

“In the north, our forces have lost, and Esmeralda territory is about to be invaded by enemies!”

A dead silence descended on the Lord’s Hall. Ninetails bit her lower lip.

No way…!

She didn’t understand. The Valhalla Kingdom soldiers were the strongest in the continent. Even though two forces were attacking them simultaneously, they shouldn’t have been losing like this.

Something’s strange.

She could understand that the north had lost because of Saturnus.

But…

My little sister lost? No, never.

She couldn’t believe Lee Chae-Rin’s loss.

“Your second Majesty!”

Just then, the messenger added more information.

“W-We just received news…”

“What is it?”

“I-It’s…”

The messenger couldn’t speak immediately. He couldn’t believe the news he had received.

“Quickly report. Now!”

“I-It’s… the soldiers of Overlord Lee Ji-Tae… all 500,000 of them…”

“What is it?”

“They’re all monsters…!”

Ninetails suspected something was wrong with her ears. Monsters?

All 500,000 of them?

***

“Where are you going, your Majesty?”

Kwak Jun asked Saturnus.

“I want to meet my daughters-in-law. Kek…!”

“...!”

“I heard my son has a pretty daughter?”

“Y-Yes…”

“I must have that girl in my possession.”

“Pardon?”

“When my son returns, I’ll ravish my granddaughter in front of him. Hehe…! What do you think, isn’t it fun just thinking about it? Hahahahaha!”

The demon let out an evil laugh.

What a crazy bastard…!

Kwak Jun held in his curse from spilling out.

“Hehe… how fun… really amusing…”

“...”

“Having my son’s daughter take my seed will do it… hehe… yes, that might be even better… kek, kekekek…!”

Just how crazy did you have to be to think those thoughts? Kwak Jung couldn’t tell how mad Saturnus was.

Just…

Gosh… that bastard… is evil itself…

It was clear Saturnus wasn’t human.

“Then I’ll be back, so continue bothering my son’s army.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

Saturnus began to move. His destination was the southwest, where the Valhalla Kingdom’s capital, Laputa, was.