Chiwoo: War God Reborn

It was about time to reconvene after checking the status of the Guryeo tribe village.

[Creak!]

The shrine door opened, and Young-ho, Young-beom, and Do-yoon entered first.

"You've all worked hard. Come, sit down."

Gab-su greeted them.

[Thud]

The three sat down without a word. Their faces were etched with fatigue and palpable disappointment.

"The situation is worse than we thought. No, it's far too bad."

Young-ho, slumping his shoulders, spoke first. A deep sigh was mixed in his voice.

"That's what I mean… something felt off. When all there was to eat was grubs and porridge…"

Young-beom shook his head with a disgruntled expression. "This village, it's truly serious."

"Haa… I know. Honestly… there's nothing that can make money, and no hope in sight."

Do-yoon shrugged, sounding deflated.

As their complaints continued, Sang-cheol frowned and said firmly,

"Is that all? Why are you beating around the bush? Explain it one by one so I can understand. Step by step."

Do-yoon, with a grim face, was the first to speak.

"Yes. First, the biggest problem is food."

"Food?"

At Gab-su's question, Do-yoon nodded and said,

"The porridge, potatoes, and bugs we ate for lunch… that was it. Because it's a mountain, the types of food we can grow are very limited."

Young-beom rested his chin on his hand, his expression filled with frustration.

"And the land is sloped, so farming itself isn't possible. It'd be faster to find flat ground than rice paddies. It's an impossible land."

"So they only grow root vegetables like potatoes… but it's not like the large fields we know; they only grow enough for their families to eat. The problem is, it's not easy to store, so it spoils quickly."

"If only we could trade, it might be okay…"

Young-ho sighed and continued.

"There's nothing to sell. Just some herbs and animal hides they've managed to collect, but how can they make a living with that? Like this, nothing will bring in money."

"Hmm…"

Gab-su let out a heavy groan. Deep worry also clouded his face.

[Creak!]

The shrine door opened again.

"We're back."

Min-chan walked in silently and sat down. His eyes were deeply沉重, but he seemed to be deep in thought.

Tae-geon took a breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead with one hand. His expression wasn't good either.

"First… this village, geographically speaking, is quite advantageous defensively. But that's also its greatest weakness."

"What's that supposed to mean? If it's good, it's good; if it's bad, it's bad. Speak clearly."

Sang-cheol frowned and cut him off. A growing impatience laced his voice.

Tae-geon nodded and quietly continued.

"The village entrance, remember it? The large rock blocking the path when we first arrived. That was the village's only entrance. Other than that… it's all mountainsides. Steep, rugged cliffs surround the entire village. Literally, it's blocked on all sides."

Sang-cheol's frown deepened.

"…Meaning, as difficult as it is to invade, it's also impossible to escape. We're completely trapped."

"Yes. If there's a fire… and someone intentionally blocks that entrance—"

"Then everyone would burn to death."

Young-ho said in a low voice. His eyes were already painting a horrific scene.

As his words fell, the air in the shrine grew colder. A heavy sense of despair weighed down the room.

"So, the food situation, the water situation… it all has a reason. This… truly looks hopeless."

Do-yoon said, looking around with downcast eyes.

"Just got dropped into a completely new world… thought we had to survive, that one thought made us crawl in here… but what a mess this is, seriously."

Young-beom muttered with a hollow laugh.

"I see… the people Dam-bi sent at first… probably didn't think about future generations. If they had known this place was like this…"

Gab-su said quietly. Deep fatigue was etched in his eyes.

Then, Min-chan spoke.

His voice was low but clear, making the air in the shrine taut again.

"Unfortunately, there's one more piece of bad news."

Everyone's gaze turned to Min-chan.

"There's a communal spring here that people use. It's water flowing from a crevice in a rock on the outskirts of the village… and its volume is gradually decreasing."

The shrine fell silent again.

"It's not just one mountain after another, this is… cliff-level."

Sang-cheol tilted his head back and closed his eyes. Deep weariness was in his tone.

"If the water dries up too… this village is truly doomed."

Do-yoon said with a worried expression.

"Nothing exhausts and weakens people as much as hunger."

No one could refute Tae-geon's words.

"..."

Gab-su remained silent, deep in thought. After a long silence, he finally, slowly raised his head.

"We can't endure like this. This village, it absolutely needs change."

Min-chan quietly echoed his words.

"So, now it's time to choose.

Whether we leave here, or… truly protect this place."

His gaze pierced through each person, one by one.

"Noya, what are your thoughts?"

His gaze slowly swept over everyone.

One by one, with unwavering eyes.

Finally, his gaze stopped on one person.

Min-chan turned his head and asked clearly.

"Noya… what are your thoughts?"

Noya, who had been standing quietly in the back, finally took a slow step forward.

Her movements were old, but her eyes shone with hope.

"I made up my mind a long time ago."

Her voice was cracked but clear.

"This place… is not a place of exile we chose.

It is merely a place where the gods, pitying us, hid us.

However… now, there is no reason to hide anymore."

Noya quietly looked at Min-chan.

Her eyes held a blend of long waiting and vague faith.

"If you stand at the front… we will follow."

It was a short, concise statement.

But within it lay the will of a crumbling village, leaning on its last hope.

Min-chan lowered his gaze.

After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his head and said.

"Noya, I tell you again.

I… have no intention of becoming a leader."

His voice was firm, but not harsh. Instead, it had a quiet, permeating strength.

"I am merely a sword to be wielded.

Setting the direction and lighting the path… that is not my role."

Min-chan's gaze slowly shifted towards Gab-su, who was sitting in a corner of the shrine.

"And I, too… have someone I am following."

The moment those words fell, the atmosphere in the shrine instantly froze.

Everyone's gaze simultaneously focused on Gab-su.

"...Huh?"

Gab-su's eyes widened.

In a flash, he found himself the center of attention, looking around with a bewildered expression.

"From the previous world to this place…

You led every single one of us without losing anyone.

Simply because we were your disciples."

Min-chan's words were calm, but their resonance was deep.

Soon after, Sang-cheol nodded, and Dam-bi, Tae-geon, Do-yoon, Young-ho, and Young-beom

one by one, in a line, began to slowly nod, looking at Gab-su.

As if they had known it for a long time,

the conviction that 'this person is okay' quietly settled on their faces.

"...Hey, you brats."

Gab-su raised both hands in a fluster.

"Why is everyone nodding? I haven't even accepted yet,

and I haven't heard Noya's words, have I?

Elder, I… I'm not ready yet."

Gab-su waved his hands in embarrassment.

At his words, Noya slowly, but warmly, smiled.

"It is simply the natural order… each finding their place.

You have good disciples, Director."

At that one remark, Gab-su was momentarily speechless.

He scratched the back of his neck and lowered his head.

"Oh dear… if you put it like that, what more can I say…"

His face already held an undeniable sense of responsibility.

He tried to laugh it off with a joke, as usual, but his eyes held a heavy, serious determination.

"Actually… this isn't something to think about merely emotionally."

He paused to take a breath, then continued in a slightly lower, deeper voice.

"As time passes, many… much blood will likely flow.

But if this choice can save even one of my family from dying…

then I'd take a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand slaps on the cheek."

The air in the shrine fell silent again.

No one spoke, but everyone accepted his words deeply in their hearts.

"However, there is one condition."

At Gab-su's words, everyone's gaze turned to him again.

"That sword—"

He glared at Min-chan.

"I think I'll have to sharpen it a bit today, and take off the rust."

A strange laugh mixed with his final words.

Min-chan bowed his head slightly.

The corner of his mouth curved up ever so slightly.

"Understood, Director."

At that one remark, Dam-bi let out a small laugh.

Sang-cheol, Young-ho, and Young-beom nodded and began to clap,

while Tae-geon silently bowed in respect.

At that moment, a 'true center' was formed for the first time in the crumbling shrine of Guryeo village.

A feeling that surpassed the word 'leader'—

a feeling only those with someone to protect could possess.

"First… there's something I'd like to ask of Noya."

Gab-su bowed his head and continued.

"Please persuade the villagers for the relocation.

As you've heard, staying here… is ultimately a path to drying up and dying."

The shrine fell silent again.

Cutting through that silence, Min-chan added.

"If I suddenly step forward as a 'leader',

even things that were working might go awry."

He raised his head and looked at Noya.

"The people of this village… will trust Noya's words more than a stranger like me.

For the future's sake, that trust must not be broken."

Noya, who had closed her eyes for a moment, quietly nodded.

"Understood. Do not worry.

I will clear the path for the hearts of the people."

Then, Sang-cheol exhaled briefly and said.

"Director. There's one major problem."

Everyone looked at Sang-cheol.

"We do need to relocate, but the problem is… the location isn't decided, and even if it is, food is an issue.

This village has roughly 200 people, let's say we take them all.

Food for the journey, food upon arrival—nothing is secured in the current situation."

He crossed his arms and tilted his head back.

"Honestly speaking… if we set off now in this state,

it'll just be changing the order in which we die."

At his words, everyone was speechless for a moment.

Then Noya, who had been sitting quietly, opened her mouth.

"The food problem during the journey… I think we can manage somehow."

Everyone looked towards him.

Noya slowly continued.

"There are groups of merchants who occasionally buy hides and herbs from this village.

The time for them to visit the abandoned quarry below… is soon.

Since the villagers have collected goods until then,

if we exchange them for dried food… we can secure enough food for the immediate departure."

"Oh, that's a relief!"

Gab-su's face brightened, and he rose from his seat.

"Would you handle the negotiations with that merchant group, Noya?

You already have their trust, after all."

Noya nodded lightly.

"Leave it to me."

"Good."

Gab-su looked around again and said.

"Then we can't just sit idly by in the meantime.

Let's secure as much food as possible through hunting and gathering during the remaining time.

Food for the journey is important, but a reserve supply is essential until we can stabilize upon arrival."

Sang-cheol nodded at his words and continued.

"Starting tomorrow, let's begin training and hunting together."

He lightly tapped his palm with his fist.

"We should also assess their skills and get to know each other.

If we suddenly appear and say, 'We're going to train you,' who would like that?"

Sang-cheol smiled subtly and looked at Noya.

"After all, men… tend to bond through hardship.

Noya, please assist with that part too.

Under the pretext of hunting, rather than training, naturally unite the young men of the village."

Noya nodded.

"Do not worry. I will speak to them about that."

"Good."

Gab-su chuckled briefly.

Then.

"Wait a moment!"

Do-yoon raised his hand high.

As everyone's gaze turned to him, Do-yoon smiled, a little sheepishly.

"Can't I… go along to the merchant negotiations?

Somehow, I feel like learning various things would be helpful later."

Gab-su narrowed his eyes and looked at Do-yoon.

He seemed to be deep in thought for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Hmm… yes, do that.

It would actually be inefficient for everyone to be stuck on just hunting and training."

He looked around again and said.

"Dealing with merchants requires quick wit and a sharp mind.

You seem well-suited for it, Do-yoon."

"Alright!"

Do-yoon smiled brightly and clenched his fist.

"Then, we'll start moving officially tomorrow."

At Gab-su's voice, the atmosphere in the shrine changed.

Each person began to envision their own role in their minds.

"Do-yoon will handle negotiations with the merchants.

Dam-bi, help Noya and focus on preparing for the relocation.

Young-ho, Young-beom, move with the hunting and training personnel—"

He turned his head to Min-chan and Tae-geon and said.

"And, Tae-geon and Min-chan, let's talk separately about organizing a reconnaissance team.

We need to decide where to relocate, and who should lead the way."

Everyone nodded.

A small but clear spark was kindling in each of their hearts.

[The next morning]

The fog that had enveloped the village slowly began to lift.

The cold air of early morning bit at their skin, but the village was busily awakening.

Meanwhile, beyond the outskirts of the village, on a quiet hillside path—

cutting through the cool air, the voices of two men mingled softly.

"Why would Elder Pungpyo… suggest we have something to learn from these outsiders and ask us to hunt with them?"

The one who spoke was a powerfully built man with a large physique and a weighty aura.

The other man standing beside him shrugged.

He was a tall man with bronze skin and sharp eyes, of a lean and agile build.

"They're probably short on food for the relocation preparations, and also short on manpower."

He exhaled lightly and continued.

"Anyway, U-am, those outsiders… they do look quite strong.

I saw them that day. They crushed goblins with their bare hands."

The large man called U-am scoffed.

"The man called Chiyoo, and the woman called Hwansa… they were in a critical state that day, weren't they?

They probably got beaten by goblins. After getting thrashed like that—

they come back with a swagger and act all important."

He shook his head with his arms crossed.

A subtle sneer dripped from his words.

"Honestly, Pungpyo, it's not us who need to learn from the outsiders.

On the contrary—I think I need to impart some wisdom to them."

At his words, the man called Pungpyo, who stood beside him, quietly shifted his gaze.

"...Shall we test them?"

It was a short, concise remark.

But within it, a light challenge and a subtle interest were mixed.

U-am lifted the corner of his mouth for a moment.

"Ha, fine.

Let's see if there's anything I truly need to learn."