The eyes reveal more than I expected.
Especially the eyes of a human facing death tell a story.
Typically, emotions hidden beneath the name of composure, protected by society’s shield, come pouring out unfiltered. Those emotions manifest through the eyes, the window to the heart. Even the most skilled at concealing their feelings cannot help but show at least a fragment when faced with the intense threat of death.
That’s precisely why Jinseong shot the soldier without hesitation.
Eyes.
The soldier spoke of surrender, but his eyes undoubtedly bore a blade.
A sharp blade.
Like a warrior concealing a dagger in his bosom while seeking an opportunity to sever another’s breath, his eyes were sharp with the intent to strike. The edge of that blade may not be fully revealed, yet it was undeniably visible, implying that even in the face of death, there was a desire to at least “make you suffer before I go.”
What if it wasn’t about making you suffer?
Then he must have thought of discreetly conveying the truth about the current situation to the Self-Defense Forces.
Either way, there was no future that benefited Jinseong.
That’s why Jinseong eliminated the last survivor.
“Hmmm. It might have been easier had I gotten help….”
While there was a hint of regret, what could he do?
Keeping him alive could mean danger.
Though the divination said he was a coward, it’s well known that those on the brink of a major event can transform entirely.
For the soldier, that transformation was happening right now.
Yet who would have guessed it would cost him his life?
Jinseong moved through the hallway.
His feet slid forward as if some slippery substance had been spread beneath them, making him appear to glide on ice or navigate through a subtly warped space.
Of course, it wasn’t that the space was actually warped.
His shoes were simply assisting his movement.
Using the power of his shoes, he swiftly checked the weapons stored aboard the ship.
Torpedoes, mines, unnamed missiles, ammunition, hand grenades…
He easily checked the weapons while wandering through the ship.
Though this was his first time on a Japanese destroyer, the structure of a warship built for military purposes is fairly consistent, isn’t it?
Determining possible locations for weapons wasn’t particularly difficult.
Moreover, getting inside was also easy.
Wherever there was a need for biometric access, he could simply use the soldier’s finger and eyeball, presumably belonging to the commander, to unlock the door. For places requiring keys, he could summon a ghost to bring one.
For password entry, he either generated high heat with Samādhi True Fire to destroy the mechanism or used magic to unleash a burst of electricity to break it. If it wouldn’t open after being damaged, he’d drag a ghost over and force it open. If that failed too, he’d create a gap and stuff in improvised explosives to detonate a few times.
In the past, while working as a mercenary, he had learned a thing or two from the specialists in explosives and had picked up enough to imitate their methods.
Thus, Jinseong effortlessly secured the weapons.
Explosives made of metal and gunpowder.
Each one capable of sinking ships, blowing up buildings, and killing people.
Jinseong stroked his chin as he beheld them.
“Hmm.”
These weapons showcased vast intimidating power.
It was hard to believe these belonged to Japan, a nation that claimed it had no military.
‘Perhaps they were stocked for the operation…’
It was evident the ship was crammed to its limits.
Under normal circumstances, there’d be no reason to carry such a load, so it was assumed that they were filled in preparation for provoking Korea.
‘Cluck, your thoughts are visible.’
Essentially, it seemed they intended to start with mere provocation, yet if Korea attacked, they aimed to actively respond and engage in battle.
This implied that the upper echelons of Japan were fundamentally believing that they had the upper hand in any potential war.
Well, it wasn’t entirely erroneous.
Japan’s navy and air force were stronger than Korea’s.
While their navy was overwhelmingly dominant, the air force wasn’t devoid of difference either.
Yet Korea’s army was undeniably strong compared to Japan…
But what good did that do?
To attack Japan, they would have to cross the sea and utilize the sky.
As long as Japan’s navy and air force were stronger, Korea could only adopt a defensive stance.
One side could strike freely, while the other was penned in, forced to defend.
Naturally, it was reasonable to perceive the former as stronger.
Korea could only wait like a turtle, hiding in its shell, seeking an opportunity when the Japanese military landed or hoping to breach Japan’s superior navy and air force to launch an assault on the Japanese mainland.
In that sense, the mindset of Japan’s leadership wasn’t entirely off the mark.
However, what they overlooked was that Japan hung heavily with critical weaknesses.
Before his return, Japan had been precisely pierced by those weaknesses.
The homeland fell into chaos due to just four capable individuals, allowing seeds of civil war to be planted. Furthermore, the tide of war, which had been flowing favorably, turned completely, ultimately reducing the Japanese mainland to a sea of flames.
‘If that were to happen again… it would indeed be a tragic affair.’
Jinseong wished to avoid a repeat of that calamity.
Japan had to remain peaceful.
It could not be allowed for ruins to burn while artifacts were lost in a raging inferno, nor should Onmyoji studying the unique art of Yin-Yang magic waste their lives in senseless war. The destruction of magical materials and divine objects contained within telecom resources also needed to be prevented.
War is inherently terrible.
What could be more futile than the destruction of magical resources and human lives amidst the flames of war?
Jinseong had yet to thoroughly study Japan.
He hadn’t examined its peculiar magical practices nor completed the collection of artifacts and magical materials specialized in curses.
Due to the unique closed environment of the island, he hadn’t finished researching the precious spells and magical objects that had developed abnormally. Meanwhile, he had yet to uncover the spells and magical objects that the government kept tightly hidden.
And that’s not all.
Japan still held onto clans that had persisted and maintained their lineage.
It would be strange if spells and magical objects passed down through generations weren’t in existence.
Especially how many useful ones there might be.
The divine objects housed within the shrine.
The Shinto priests and shamans wielding divine power.
The relics and magical materials collected during the days of the Japanese Empire from various nations.
Items brought back during the bubble economy era by throwing money everywhere.
…
…
…
All those turning to ashes?
That must never happen.
Absolutely never.
Thus, now was the time for Jinseong to act.
Before arrogance and recklessness sparked a massive fire that would turn valuable objects to cinders, he must enlighten those lost in delusion.
Such enlightenment would be harsh and painful.
The heads of those who considered themselves privileged would roll, screams would echo, and a sense of defeat would weigh heavily, spreading a misanthropic atmosphere. The aftermath would linger, tormenting them…
But…
That wasn’t what truly mattered.
To Jinseong, the sorcerer, it was a matter of indifference.
Economy, military…
Those were concerns for them to handle.
They would do what they could.
Jinseong would only do what he could.
‘I know neither how to operate nor utilize those items… If only there had been a cooperative soldier, perhaps things would have been easier…’
Yet that would have been carried out in the manner most familiar to Jinseong.
‘Well, it’s not such a big deal…’
It would unfold in the way Jinseong had most frequently performed.
‘As long as explosives explode well enough, and the ship moves in any way, that’s more than sufficient.’
It would be executed based on Jinseong’s experience.
“Now, ghosts, oh floating things in the water! Jump into the sea in time with the bell’s chime, rise and pop your heads above! Flail your short arms and move your legs, flipping around like a dead fish with your bodies pressed against the ship. Thus, turn the bow of the ship away from land and guide it to a place like yourselves….”
It will be accompanied by fire, gunpowder, and blood.
And, proceeding alongside the enthusiastic cheers of the ghosts.
*
The ship bobbed gently, floating with the waves.
Underneath the surface, clusters of ghosts waved their limbs like oars as they moved, driving the ship forward effortlessly, even without an engine.
With hair flowing like seaweed, they planted roots deep into the water while embracing explosives, ready to blow at any moment—how clever were they?
Thus, the ship moved on.
The ghost ship, now possessed by spirits, sailed forth.
Destination: Dokdo.
Dokdo.
