The center space station of the Lucifel Sector.
Outside, 573 warships were lined up in formation. It finally looked somewhat like a proper fleet.
“Captain, preparations for departure are complete,” Cierra reported.
I nodded.
‘The training is a bit lacking.’
Specifically, I was concerned about the captured artillery ships. When a crew transfers to a new vessel, they need a period of adjustment. However, now was not the time to be picky about such things.
“Yu, be careful out there.”
My father had come down to the docks to see me off. His face was etched with worry. It was understandable, considering I was his only son.
There was a peculiar religious belief in this world—the conviction that if a bloodline ended, the souls of the ancestors would vanish along with it. It wasn’t scientifically proven, but this world couldn’t be explained by science alone. There had been many attempts to prove the existence of the afterlife through various divine relics. The result was the “Force Sustenance Theory.”
Of course, many people dismissed it as unscientific. Nevertheless, it exerted a profound indirect influence on the thoughts of the people here. Even if one considered it a superstition, it was impossible not to feel uneasy about it.
“Yes, Father. I won’t overdo it. There won’t even be a reason for me to push myself.”
Probably?
This time, I planned to take the easy route and just scavenge the remains.
The process for this “free win” was simple. Dalip would go on a rampage in Sector Nine. The Imperium forces would rush back to Sector Nine in a panic. The Allied Forces would pursue them with a vengeance. I would then lie in ambush in a suitable spot and hit them from the flank.
What a beautiful plan.
“Well then, I’m heading out. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Captain!”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The Vice-Captain and Double 07 followed behind me. The ship was already on standby for departure.
*Thud!*
As soon as I boarded, the hatch closed.
*Clack! Clack!*
As I walked down the corridor, the crew members who spotted me offered a salute. Salutes were usually omitted during active navigation, but it was standard protocol to exchange greetings before departure.
*Whirrr! Click!*
I arrived at the command center.
*Snap!*
Everyone stood up and saluted me. Compared to when I first arrived in this world, my status had risen astronomically. Everyone looked at me with eyes full of trust. This was the morale of a victorious army.
*Flump!*
I sat in the captain’s chair. Crossing my legs casually, I gave the order.
“Depart!”
***
I traveled at a leisurely pace. If I arrived at the battlefield too early, it would be problematic in its own way. I didn’t want to get caught for just watching the battle without participating.
I had no intention of wasting my troops. My plan was simply to reap the rewards during the pursuit.
“Sojin, please adjust the speed so we arrive on time.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll make sure our timing is perfect.”
“Vice-Captain, check the training progress of the newly incorporated ships frequently.”
“Yes! I’ll oversee the instructions personally.”
I dumped the basic training onto the Vice-Captain. I knew absolutely nothing about it, after all. When I was playing the game, I just had to click the “Train” button. It was a relief that Vice-Captain Cierra was a graduate of the military academy.
“We’ll take a break at a nearby colony.”
“Understood!”
Since we needed to train regularly, we stopped at various colonies along the way. Naturally, I delegated the training to the Vice-Captain.
As for me?
I went sightseeing. I went shopping. And I waved my hand a bit to the public.
“Waaaaah!”
Everywhere I went, crowds gathered and cheered.
“Park Yu! Park Yu! Park Yu!”
They even chanted my name. I was quite the celebrity. Thanks to my face being plastered all over the national newspapers, I had become a famous figure. Moreover, I had smeared the face of the enemy leader, so it was only natural.
“Oh! Young Master, this is on the house.”
This happened when I stopped at a restaurant on some rural space station. I was even treated to free food. It wasn’t just me; my subordinates were treated well wherever they went.
“You really didn’t have to.”
“If it weren’t for you, Young Master, our colony would have been scorched. If you hadn’t forced them to retreat with your negotiations, we would have been next.”
Looking at the map, this star system was indeed in a precarious position. They had narrowly avoided a crisis thanks to the hostage exchange with Eung-run.
“In that case, I won’t refuse.”
I was now adjusted to the food of this world. I could even distinguish various flavors. It felt as if the composition of my taste buds was different. It was like watching color television after only knowing black and white.
“That was a good meal.”
“Thank you once again for saving our colony!”
The restaurant staff came out to see me off and bowed. I waved my hand dismissively and walked out into the street.
“Hmm…?”
Just as I was about to return to the ship, I saw someone walking in the distance who felt familiar. The person toddled along like a child, but their face looked severely aged.
‘Eureka! Taeguk Sansu!’
He was a legendary figure who was incredibly hard to meet. Known as the teacher of all, he was the author of the martial arts manual called “Blade, Fist, and Axe.” The main content involved the basic application of the Force for handling blades, unarmed combat, and axes. Though the title only mentioned those three, it was applicable to almost any weapon.
“All crew members, atteeeeention!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.
The area near the docks was half-filled with residents and half-filled with my men. To be precise, there were a few more of my subordinates.
*Snap!*
My men stopped in their tracks simultaneously. They stood at attention and turned their heads toward me. A heavy silence descended upon the noisy docks.
“Salute the Grandmaster!”
When I saluted in a certain direction, everyone else followed suit in a daze. Passing residents looked on, wondering what was happening.
*Dash!*
I rushed toward Taeguk Sansu.
“Oh! Grandmaster Taeguk Sansu.”
I offered my greetings to Taeguk Sansu, who barely reached my knees.
“Who might you be?”
“I am Yu of the Park family.”
“Ah. The one who has been causing quite a stir lately.”
“That is correct.”
I beamed with a wide smile. I could finally improve my pathetic Force manipulation skills. I didn’t ask for much. I just wanted to master the basics.
“And how do you know me?”
“Are you not the author of ‘Blade, Fist, and Axe’?”
“Hahaha. To think a reader of such a failed work, which hasn’t even sold a thousand copies including e-books, would be here.”
Taeguk Sansu had once been a martial arts instructor at the military academy, but now he was a wandering teacher. He was currently a complete unknown.
However, he would become a celebrity in the mid-game. Many people eventually realized the true value of his book. After that, martial artists would flock to him like clouds wherever he went, just to receive a tiny bit of instruction.
In the game…
[Ding! An event has occurred. You can increase the martial experience of three characters.]
A message like that would pop up. You just had to click it, and that was it.
‘What a stroke of luck.’
He could turn even a dullard into an average martial artist by improving their Force manipulation. My Force purity was on the higher side. If I could just master the basics, I should be able to handle one or two soldiers with ease.
“People just haven’t recognized your true value yet, Grandmaster. I am certain ‘Blade, Fist, and Axe’ will become a bestseller.”
“Hahaha. You certainly know how to flatter an old man.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask for your guidance?”
“I shall do so. However, I have business to attend to, so I can only spare 3 days.”
He was traveling to perfect his own martial arts. He wasn’t the type of person who could be tied down anywhere.
“Thank you!”
I pumped my fist. I only had about that much time anyway. What I wanted was exactly the basics. Moreover, it was important to become an acquaintance. If he ever passed through the territory I ruled in the future, he would stop by to say hello. Taeguk Sansu was known for his excellent follow-up service.
Day 1.
.
Day 2.
.
Day 3.
I received his teachings with great enthusiasm.
However…
“Why… does it feel like nothing has changed…?”
“This is indeed… strange…”
Taeguk Sansu also looked quite flustered.
“Could it be because of my relic?” I asked, showing him the ring on my left hand.
“No. A mere relic cannot cause such a severe issue. For a person, manipulating the Force should be as natural as breathing. But you move the Force entirely through conscious intent. Look, try it like this.”
“Like this?”
I mimicked his movements and Force manipulation.
“No! Not like that, like this!”
“Like this?”
“No! No! Like thiiiiis! *Cough, cough!*”
“Are you all right?”
Taeguk Sansu’s face turned beet red. He even thumped his chest in frustration occasionally.
According to the game settings, Taeguk Sansu was someone who rarely got angry and kindly taught martial arts to everyone. Were the game settings wrong?
“For… for now, keep reading my book until we meet again.”
“Thank you for the lesson.”
He left a single book behind and departed. The fact that he gave me a book meant he acknowledged me as a disciple. This ensured that Taeguk Sansu would visit if he ever passed nearby.
“I’m going crazy…”
No matter how much I skimmed through the book, I couldn’t understand a thing. The paper was white, and the ink was black.
“Sudongtae. Do you understand this?”
He read the book and scratched his head.
“Hmm… do you do it like this?”
He clenched his fist.
*Whoosh! Pop!*
The moment he threw a punch, a light in the shape of a plum blossom burst in mid-air. It had no practical combat use, but it was used to verify results when practicing “Blade, Fist, and Axe.”
‘This talented jerk!’
The plum blossom embroidered in the air didn’t disappear for a long time. The faint scent of plum seemed to drift through the air.
“Sudongtae thinks he has become stronger!”
“I… I see. Congratulations.”
They say a school dog can recite poetry after three years, but this guy did it in 3 days. Since he was my guard, he hadn’t left my side for a single moment.
“I’m glad that you’ve grown stronger, at least.”
Right. Why did I need to increase my own martial power? I had a monster like this right next to me. He was my martial power.
‘Let’s not be disappointed.’
A single tear rolled down.
“Master, why are you crying? Sudongtae is also sad.”
“No. I’m just so happy that you’ve grown.”
I wasn’t disappointed at all. And it wasn’t like there were no other ways.
‘Since it’s come to this, I’m changing the plan. The operation name is Item Power.’
A long list of undiscovered relics compatible with the human race flashed through my mind. I repeat, I was absolutely not disappointed. An experienced player always has an alternative method.
*Drip.*
I wiped my cheek with my fist.
***
Our fleet arrived leisurely at the target star system. It was not far from where the Imperium army was stationed.
“Captain, I hear the Allied Forces were crushed! Here is the data.”
The Vice-Captain handed over the news report. Reporters were busy relaying the war situation via high-speed dispatch ships.
“I see.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“I told you they’d get hammered. Although, it’s more severe than I expected.”
It had been a battle of 4,500 versus 2,000 + 1,500.
Scanning the news, it seemed they had been completely caught off guard. Naparrre and Ugogoal had lost nearly half their forces. It seemed the Imperium Marshal was familiar with Naparrre’s tactics. Well, since they were allied with Chronoskan, they might have had data on Naparrre, who was a guest general.
“Does this mean I have to be a bit more proactive…?”
This world really won’t let me just have a free ride.
However…
“Captain! We have an incoming transmission.”
*Beep!*
[Broooother!]
Uganaoda appeared on the screen. He was in a pathetic state. Patches of fur were missing, and his teeth were chipped.
‘You idiot!’
It looked like he had charged straight at the Imperium army. Judging by his appearance, he must have even engaged in boarding combat.
[I am sorry. While pursuing the enemy, I was caught in a planetary ambush!]
There were three main ways to ambush an enemy.
Hiding in a nebula.
Laying “logs” on the path and waiting.
Hiding on a planet and targeting the enemy during an interstellar warp.
The third method was rarely used because bringing warships onto a planet was disadvantageous in itself.
“At least you’re safe. How many ships did you lose?”
[I lost 400 ships.]
He had started with about 1,200 ships. That meant only 800 were left.
‘Still, Grand Marshal Humildas’s forces are intact.’
However, the Raccoon Man was truly hard to predict. He was the definition of a wild card. Sometimes he was sharp, and other times he was incredibly dense.
“What about reorganization?”
[We finished it a short while ago.]
In this situation, it would be difficult for my fleet to conduct independent operations.
It was a relief, though. I had intended to lie in ambush once I heard news of a retreat, but now it was impossible to act on my own.
“Let’s go to the Allied Forces’ main camp together.”
[Yes! Brother.]
His fleet followed mine obediently. His troop count was still higher than mine, but his reputation was negligible. That was likely why he had overextended himself this time. He probably wanted to join the Allied Forces in triumph after gaining some fame. Instead, he had rushed his maneuvers, fallen into an ambush, and been soundly defeated.
***
We arrived at the Allied Forces’ base. The heavy-bottomed Grand Marshal Humildas was also there. He seemed to be feeling the heat after hearing about the great defeat.
‘You should have fought together from the beginning.’
Humildas had tried to save his troops only to end up facing even greater losses. The Imperium Marshal was slowly moving his main camp while sending detachments to the surrounding areas. The vicinity was being scorched in real-time.
“Welcome!! Lord Park Yu.”
When I arrived with Ganaoda and our forces, he welcomed us warmly. He flew over on a hovering disc and kept patting my shoulder.
“I heard the amazing news. You crushed 1,500 ships from Sagitta!”
“They started chasing me like they wanted me dead, so I just ran around and somehow it turned out like that. I fled into a gray nebula, and it turned out to be a complex nebula.”
I used both hands to mimic things exploding.
“They were crashing into each other, shooting each other… it was a total mess.”
“…”
At my words, everyone fell silent with absurd expressions. I didn’t need to reveal all my cards here. It would be troublesome if they tried to put me in the vanguard.
“Oh. And that person?”
Humildas turned his head to look next to me.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Ganaoda of the U family.”
“Oh, is your father by any chance Lord U-Heuk?”
“That is correct. I heard that the famously merciful Grand Marshal Humildas was in trouble, so I brought my forces.”
“Ooh! How reliable.”
Ganaoda’s expression wasn’t great. In the end, he had to rely on his family’s prestige.
“We plan to launch a total offensive soon. You two should join in as well.”
I shook my head.
“Why don’t we wait just a little longer?”
“Innocent people are dying right now!”
If you cared so much, why were you hunkered down in the center? If they had fought together from the start, they wouldn’t have suffered this much damage.
“When I was on my way as an envoy previously, I met Prince Dalip and delivered a message requesting aid.”
At those words, everyone’s gaze shifted to me.
“And?”
“He will raise an army to take a position in Sector Nine.”
However, everyone’s expressions remained lukewarm.
“The civilian casualties are too great to wait for Dalip. We don’t even know when he’ll raise his army.”
Humildas seemed to have no expectations.
“It’s true that he is the strongest warrior of our Empire. But he has no loyalty. He probably just said he’d help.”
Marshal Ugogoal snorted. Come to think of it, the relationship between the two was quite poor.
“Sector Nine is not a good location for Dalip’s forces to settle. It’s too close to the capital,” Naparrre added in disagreement.
His point was that Dalip, who had been exiled from the center, wouldn’t covet Sector Nine.
But they only said that because they didn’t know Dalip. On the contrary, Dalip was exactly the type of person who would covet Sector Nine to push back into the center. He was second to none when it came to arrogance.
“No. Dalip will definitely raise his army.”
Grand Marshal Humildas narrowed his eyes at my words.
“It seems you’re afraid. If that’s the case, stay behind as the reserve!”
“I… I will participate! Please let me lead the vanguard!” Uganaoda shouted urgently.
‘Ugh, these people are such a headache.’
I suppose it was natural. Humildas and Ugogoal were just minor characters who were eliminated early on. Naparrre and Uganaoda still lacked experience.
‘Persuasion isn’t going to work.’
They had gathered every stubborn person they could find.
“Then, I will take the rear and serve as the reserve.”
“I suppose it’s a relief you’ll at least do that.”
Grand Marshal Humildas seemed quite upset with me. He likely thought I was holding back to save my troops. After all, that was exactly what he had been doing until now.
‘I guess you won’t know it’s garbage until you taste it.’
Still, it wasn’t the absolute worst-case scenario. Maybe the second worst?
In any case, if a large-scale battle broke out, Humildas’s troop count would decrease. That would mean less interference in the Lucifel Sector.