Chapter 200 – Apex [Brave New World]

December 31, 2033, 23:50.

Bosingak.

Countless crowds had gathered in family units, couple units, friend units, and various other units, waiting for the bell toll.

In just 10 minutes, the dark and chaotic year of 2033 would pass, and the hopeful year of 2034 would arrive.

The bell toll would begin the moment the clock struck 23:59:59, with the Mayor of Seoul, National Policy Advisory Council Chairman Lee Dongseok, and other selected representatives from various social strata.

On TV, a brief briefing on the major events of 2033 was playing.

『In March of this year, the International Coalition Assault Team was formed following the terror attack by Ululu Tumbebe that began at Denpasar Airport in Indonesia. Thanks to this, Africa, which had long been oppressed by the Undead Legion, was liberated in July…….』

Listening to the anchor’s calm voice with one ear and letting it go out the other, Siguk quietly gazed out the window.

Watching an illusion as if the very concept of ‘hope’ was forming a constant wave like a Mana Wave, Siguk smiled.

“Are you really sure you don’t need to go?”

Yeo Jeongyeon approached Siguk holding two glasses of wine, each half-full.

Accepting the glass she offered, Siguk replied.

“Chairman Lee Dongseok will be the face of it anyway. If I go there, I’ll just unnecessarily divert attention for no reason.”

At his words, Yeo Jeongyeon stood quietly beside Siguk, smiling, and looked out the window.

“It’s been quite an eventful year. Right?”

“It has.”

“Will things get better from now on?”

“They will get better.”

Yeo Jeongyeon quietly rested her head on Siguk’s shoulder.

“Next year, you’ll become a father too.”

“Officially, it’s the child of the Kurokawa family.”

“But it carries your blood.”

Siguk looked at Yeo Jeongyeon.

She slightly raised her eyes to look up at him.

Siguk gently pulled her closer with one arm.

Yeo Jeongyeon also wrapped her arms around his waist.

“The US and Russia are trying to intervene in China’s political situation.”

“Figures. The Dungeons are being managed stably now, and the ones that break out only show strength on the level of lions or tigers, so they have some leeway.”

“What should we do?”

“The Cartel? Or Korea?”

“Both.”

“The Cartel doesn’t need to expand anymore. The entire Chinese mainland is already within our sphere of influence. The Chinese underground economy can’t even function without going through us.”

“Southeast Asia is the same.”

“Anyway, that place feels like Marcos’s autonomous territory. Besides, Marcos being Filipino probably gives him more trust from Southeast Asian Villains than a Korean or Chinese person would.”

“Thanks to that, we’ve managed to control up to the Strait of Malacca.”

“That’s exactly as far as we need to go.”

“What about Korea?”

“Well, just do as we always have. Watch what the great powers do from the sidelines and then jump in at the right moment.”

Yeo Jeongyeon smiled.

『The countdown has begun. 10, 9, 8…….』

The countdown to send off 2033 had begun.

『3, 2, 1!』

As the countdown ended, the deep, resonant sound of the Bosingak bell toll flowed from the television.

『Thus begins the year 2034, the Year of the Gapin. We wish our viewers a happy and prosperous New Year.』

Siguk and Yeo Jeongyeon lightly clinked their glasses and drank their wine in one go.

“I hope everyone can be at peace from now on.”

“That’s how it will be.”

And so, carrying the wishes of these two and many others, the year 2034, the Year of the Gapin, began.

February 8, 2034.

As promised by Nam Hanseok, an early general election was held.

The election results showed Nam Hanseok’s ruling party securing a comfortable majority in the Senate, and the party’s president, Im Chan-soo, was elected as the next Prime Minister.

The Im Chan-soo cabinet, the second administration of the 7th Republic, raised the banner of <Comprehensive Social Reform>.

This naming reflected the fatigue towards revolution that had built up among the people due to the violent protests that swept the political landscape in the latter half of 2033.

“The Advisory Council’s position is that reform is first needed in the areas of public safety and welfare. If you, Prime Minister, keep this in mind and build specific policies, it should work out.”

At the words of Park Seongjun, the Director-General of the National Policy Advisory Council Secretariat, who had now become quite familiar with his duties, Prime Minister Im Chan-soo nodded.

“And there is a banquet prepared by the Chairman’s Committee of the National Policy Advisory Council and a delegation from the Federation of Korean Industries this Friday evening. We kindly request the attendance of the Prime Minister and all cabinet ministers.”

Watching Park Seongjun, whose initial awkwardness had now almost completely disappeared, from beside him, Yeo Jeongyeon wore a bittersweet smile.

Because in his figure, skillfully performing the duties the Secretariat must do as Director-General, she felt that Siguk would soon be leaving.

March 21, 2034.

In an ultra-luxurious maternity hospital in Tokyo, Kurokawa Minori gave birth to a daughter.

Siguk, who watched the child being born by her side, named the daughter Kurokawa Asuka.

“You did well.”

“Thank you for being by my side.”

“Take good care of Asuka.”

“Don’t worry.”

During her postpartum recovery period, staying by her side, Siguk continued to ponder the future his own daughter would have to live in, while simultaneously recalling his great-great-granddaughter, Byeoli, left behind in the 99th world.

‘She’ll be fine, right?’

Thinking he would bequeath such a comfortable human civilization to that child as well, Siguk stayed in Japan until early April.

May 7, 2034.

The wedding of Nayeon and Hwang Jungi was held with the participation of the JH Group board of directors, the Chairman’s Committee of the National Policy Advisory Council, a delegation from the Federation of Korean Industries, and acquaintances from the bride and groom’s sides.

Leading Nayeon and approaching Hwang Jungi, Siguk couldn’t hide his smile.

Standing before the groom and handing over the bride, Siguk lightly tapped Hwang Jungi’s forearm and returned to his seat.

With Samhwa Group Chairman Yong Jaehyung officiating, the two were joined in matrimony.

“I hereby declare the marriage between groom Hwang Jungi and bride Lee Nayeon to be solemnized.”

Following the pronouncement of marriage by officiant Yong Jaehyung, the two shared a kiss.

Watching this, Siguk smiled and simultaneously shed tears.

‘This is enough. Yes.’

Remembering her from his past life, who met a miserable end without even getting to live a proper life, let alone get married, Siguk was remembered as the only one who cried at the wedding.

“They say it was a speed violation?”

Watching the couple, who had changed into traditional wedding attire and were going around greeting the guests, Yeo Jeongyeon asked Siguk.

“Already three months, I hear.”

“Is that so?”

“When I first heard that, I was going to teach that punk Jungi a lesson, but it turns out Nayeon crossed the line first.”

Seeing Siguk telling the story with a laugh, Yeo Jeongyeon also managed a smile.

She tried to pour a glass of beer into her own glass.

But Siguk stopped the beer from coming out of the bottle.

“What’s wrong?”

At Siguk’s sudden action, Yeo Jeongyeon looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Siguk quietly shook his head.

“Is there something wrong with the alcohol?”

“No. The alcohol is fine.”

“Then what?”

“Alcohol consumption by a pregnant woman is fatal to the fetus.”

For a moment, Yeo Jeongyeon didn’t properly understand Siguk’s words.

Then, she soon understood his words and her eyes widened.

Looking at her, Siguk smiled.

“It’s only just implanted and is growing slowly. So from now on, you need to be thorough, from diet management to stress management.”

Saying this, Siguk poured water into her glass instead of alcohol.

Yeo Jeongyeon, overwhelmed by surprise and emotion, didn’t know what to do and just stared blankly at Siguk for a while.

Then, Nayeon and Hwang Jungi approached the table where Siguk was.

“Hyung.”

Hwang Jungi greeted Siguk with a smile.

Siguk extended his hand to Hwang Jungi. Hwang Jungi grasped his hand in return.

“Don’t make Nayeon cry.”

“Haha. Of course, Hyung. Even if someone cries, it’ll be me, not Nayeon.”

At Hwang Jungi’s answer, Nayeon smiled and lightly tapped his arm once.

Watching that, Siguk grinned.

“Thank you, Oppa.”

At Nayeon’s words, Siguk looked at her with a warm expression.

“No. I’m the one who’s thankful, Nayeon. For growing up well.”

“No. It’s all thanks to you, Oppa. Thanks to you, I met my dad and mom, and I could come this far. Really, thank you.”

Tears welled up in her smiling eyes.

Siguk laughed and looked at Hwang Jungi.

Hwang Jungi simply gave Nayeon a light hug.

Nayeon wiped her tears in his embrace.

“Live well. Understood?”

“Yes, Hyung.”

“Yes, Oppa.”

The Chinese civil war was hastily concluded as the US and Russia, having sorted out their internal chaos, began to intervene.

Under pressure from the two great powers, the Beijing and Shanghai governments signed a peace agreement.

The agreement stipulated that from 2033 to 2043, for 10 years, Li Kebao would complete his fixed term, and then for the next 10 years, power would be handed over to the Beijing Faction. With this, it seemed China would not be engulfed in civil war again.

After Fenrir died and Siguk completely absorbed her power, the Dungeons weakened.

Clearly, Orcs that were once strong enough to face a tank alone were now so weak they could be easily killed by the pistols police use. In an instant, the world began to become peaceful.

The reconstruction of Africa progressed gradually as the whole world invested capital.

Korea appropriately jumped on the reconstruction project led by the US, Russia, Europe, and Japan, and thanks to this, secured exclusive development rights for oil fields near South Sudan.

Unlike the Nam Hanseok cabinet, the Im Chan-soo cabinet was able to calmly carry out the reforms they publicly declared, under the guidance of the National Policy Advisory Council and with the cooperation of the chaebol groups, gaining support from the people.

Of course, Siguk’s change played a big part in making that possible, but the fact that Im Chan-soo himself, unlike Nam Hanseok, was fundamentally from a traditional bureaucratic background also contributed.

Nam Hanseok officially died on August 9, 2034, due to the worsening of his chronic illness, pneumonia.

His funeral was held as a state funeral as a mark of respect for a revolutionary leader, and although he was a failed politician, the people mourned his passing.

And in December 2034 and March 2035, Siguk’s nephew and son were born from Nayeon and Yeo Jeongyeon, respectively.

Siguk named the nephew, who resembled Hwang Jungi, Hwang Young-pyo, and named his own son born to Yeo Jeongyeon, Yeo Jun-young.

And on May 1, 2035.

In the presence of Nayeon, Hwang Jungi, Yeo Jeongyeon, and his young nephew and son, Siguk quietly passed away.

His funeral was quietly held as a family funeral, and his body was cremated and scattered in the East Sea.

Thus, Siguk’s existence was completely erased from the world.

Below his feet, on Ganghwa Island, soldiers were busily moving about.

Among them, Byeoli, also wearing a military uniform, was seen carrying artillery shells.

“Did you say your goodbyes without regret?”

Beside Siguk, the avatar of the Unknown Darkness, who wore his face, asked him.

“Let me ask you just one thing.”

Instead of answering, Siguk posed a counter-question.

“By any chance… do you know how the family I left behind in the 100th world is living?”

“Of course I know.”

“…How are they living?”

At Siguk’s question, the avatar of darkness closed its mouth for a moment.

Suddenly, Siguk felt an inexplicable anxiety.

Soon, the darkness opened its mouth.

“By the time of your great-great-grandson’s great-great-grandson, a daughter of the Kurokawa family and a son of the Yeo family got married.”

“What?”

“Hwang Jungi and Lee Nayeon later had two more daughters, and Lee Nayeon’s great-grandson’s great-grandson married the great-grandson’s great-grandson of Ivan Ivanov.”

Siguk chuckled softly.

“Should I say that turned out well?”

“Isn’t that a matter of how those people feel?”

Siguk nodded.

“Then, I’ll focus on the work here now.”

“I’ll always be watching over you.”

The darkness disappeared just like that.

Siguk smoothly descended downwards.

“Huh?! Mister!”

Byeoli was the first to spot Siguk and waved her hand happily.

The soldiers looked at Siguk and saluted, standing at attention.

Siguk flashed a bright smile towards Byeoli and waved his hand back at her.

The End