Became the Weapon Monopolist of the Gods-Chapter 7: Immortal Hero (1)

I realized today for the first time that something can be both cold and hot at the same time.

Fwoosh...

Flames were flickering inside the transparent mana stone, like icy crystals.

Seolhwa Stone.

This beautiful mana stone, which seemed like it could also be used as a decorative item, appeared in front of me as I came out of the Trial Gate.

It was visually appealing, but what I liked most about it was that it could substitute for my insufficient mana.

Seolhwa Stone

Mana Capacity: 2500 / 2500

"This is really good."

The mana capacity, which surpassed mine by a full five times, was highly satisfactory.

‘Now I won’t have to worry about running out of mana.’

As long as I controlled it properly, I didn’t think I’d collapse while using Napoleon’s Rifle.

By the way...

"I'm hungry."

After walking around all day, my stomach was completely empty.

I brought out the gas burner, boiled water in a pot, and added the ramen seasoning.

"Ah, this is it."

As the seasoning dissolved, a pleasant aroma filled the air.

While waiting for the noodles to cook in the boiling water, the bell rang—

Ding!

The door to the general store opened.

‘Ah, I forgot to lock the door.’

Since I was planning to close early today and test out the Seolhwa Stone, I apologized to the customer who had just entered.

"Sorry, but we’re closing for today..."

But then—

"I'm sorry. I got lost in the heavy rain."

Swoosh...

The outside world was pouring rain heavily, with loud sounds of rainstorming.

"Could I take shelter here for a moment?"

When I looked at the middle-aged man who said this, I suddenly lost my words.

Crack—!

The flash of lightning illuminated the face of the man, and it was so familiar.

A large physique, a reddish beard, and prominent eyes.

He was someone who no Korean would fail to recognize.

He was a hero whose statue was commonly found in Gwanghwamun or on a 100-won coin.

A great general who built an undefeated legend and saved a collapsing country.

"General Yi Sun-sin...?"

"You know me?"

─I’ve encountered Yi Sun-sin from a failed timeline.

My second customer at the general store.

He was none other than the ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) great Yi Sun-sin.

"I’ve seen you from afar."

"I see."

Although I had only encountered him through history books, statues, or on the 100-won coin, one could metaphorically say it was from a distance.

‘He looks quite frail.’

General Yi Sun-sin, unlike the modern, gentle and kind image of him, looked somewhat different.

He had no flesh on his face, and his cheekbones stuck out, his lips were thick, and his eyes were like those of an ox.

Even so, it was amazing how, just by looking at him, I could instantly recognize, "Ah, this is Yi Sun-sin!"

"General."

"Stop calling me that. How can you address me as a general when I have been dismissed?"

"You were dismissed?"

"I was dismissed by the king for lying and ordered to serve as a common soldier. I am following that order now."

As Yi Sun-sin said, he was indeed wearing a white uniform.

‘That’s why he looks so frail.’

According to history, Yi Sun-sin had been given orders multiple times by King Seonjo to eliminate the invading Japanese forces occupying Busan.

However, Yi Sun-sin saw those battles as ones that were doomed to failure.

Eventually, he disobeyed the orders, and in anger, King Seonjo found a pretext to accuse him of falsifying reports, stripping him of his command and ordering him to serve as a common soldier.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

The 52-year-old general was instructed to walk all the way from Seoul to Hapcheon, covering a distance of 670 kilometers.

So, Yi Sun-sin, while serving as a common soldier, had come to knock on the door of my general store to seek shelter from the rain and wind.

And this meant...

‘It’s around the time of the Battle of Myeongnyang.’

The historic naval battle where Yi Sun-sin defeated 133 Japanese warships with only 13 of his own.

The battle that turned the tide of the war and earned Yi Sun-sin the title of Seongung, the "Great Hero."

─Help Yi Sun-sin win the Battle of Myeongnyang.

As soon as I grasped the situation, the system window popped up with a quest.

‘Ugh, what is this...’

It was an even worse quest than Napoleon's, and I felt a bit overwhelmed.

Perhaps noticing my confusion, the system message continued.

─Reward: Legendary Artifact

‘...Is this for real?’

 While Yi Sun-sin was serving as a common soldier, he had a companion.

"Anwi," he said.

Anwi was Yi Sun-sin’s right-hand man, the key figure who led Yi Sun-sin’s forces to victory in the Battle of Myeongnyang.

‘Did Anwi also serve as a common soldier with him?’

I wondered, but that wasn’t something I could know for sure.

Since this was a failed timeline, the facts and stories might differ.

"The rain isn’t stopping."

Even though it was late at night, outside the window, the thunder, lightning, and heavy rain were still pouring.

"If it’s not too much trouble, may I stay here for the night?"

"Yes, you may stay. It’s nice to have people around."

"Ha ha, thank you."

I refused the bundle of coins that Anwi offered and allowed them to stay at the general store.

Outside the store, there was a mountain slope, and the two of them left early in the morning. They didn’t completely leave, though.

"I'm sorry, but may we stay here for a while longer? We will compensate you."

"It’s fine. You can stay as long as you need."

"Ha ha, thank you."

I allowed them to stay, even though I refused their compensation.

The next day, as the rain stopped, they returned by sunset.

"It might not be here."

"Let’s look around a bit more. He might still be around here."

Based on their conversation, it seemed like they were searching for something.

‘Are they looking for Bae Seol?’

The next day, Yi Sun-sin returned, still without having found what he was searching for. His expression seemed dark.

I had a hunch, so I approached him while he was resting and asked.

"Excuse me, could you tell me what you’re looking for?"

"Have you seen someone named Bae Seol nearby?"

As expected, Yi Sun-sin was looking for Bae Seol.

‘Could the timing have moved up?’

Bae Seol, the naval commander of Joseon, had defected with 12 ships.

He had escaped with ships he was supposed to hand over to Yi Sun-sin, and after doing so, he defected again.

According to Yi Sun-sin’s Nanjung Ilgi, Bae Seol showed severe symptoms of anxiety and PTSD.

Because of this, people speculated that Bae Seol had suffered from PTSD and defected because of it.

After defecting, Bae Seol made a remarkable escape, breaking through Japanese lines and fleeing all the way to his hometown, Seonsan in Gyeongsang-do.

Because of such tales, some jokingly referred to him as a “human weapon” who could break through the Japanese army alone.

But Bae Seol wasn’t suffering from PTSD, nor was he a “human weapon.”

In modern times, it’s been revealed that Bae Seol was not even human anymore.

Bae Seol had become a ‘monster.’

If the moment Bae Seol became a monster was moved up, it would explain why Yi Sun-sin was chasing him while he was supposed to be serving as a common soldier.

Yi Sun-sin had once been a Chakyo-gapsa, a hunter of demons.

"If you want to find Bae Seol, you should go to a dark and damp place. Look in valleys, caves, or beneath rocks."

"How do you know that?"

"Because that’s where Gseundae, his favorite creature, likes to go."

Bae Seol, now a corrupted monster, was the Gseundae, a shadow demon from Korean folklore.