[Translator – Jjsecus]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Chapter 32 – Creator II
Noh Doha’s patients never hesitated to praise him whenever they gathered.
“Wow, the road to Bansong feels so refreshing and nice.”
“Exactly. There’s no bumps or cracks in the asphalt. Instead of managing unnecessarily wide lanes, just having a clean, pretty single lane makes such a difference, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed, it’s Teacher Noh. Where is Teacher Noh’s hotown?”
“It’s a village called Dangil at the end of Haenam.”
“Ah, no wonder you were born in such a beautiful place with clean water and air! We need soone like that born in our neighborhood too.”
At first glance, it sounded like grandfathers babbling while playing baduk, but old folks tend to choose detours over straight roads. Translating their inner thoughts would sound sothing like this:
“Envious! So envious!”
“Please pave our roads too!”
Noh Doha was a character who passively carried human distrust and misanthropy, born into this world, yet he intuitively knew that beneath the words uttered by humans lurked vile and pathetic desires.
However, this eccentric was incredibly generous to his patients. It was as if he had a limited edition level of favorability towards them. Just as a dictator who hated humanity would humble himself in front of a pet like a re servant, Noh Doha also balanced his own heart in a subtle way.
“Elderly people… even to your neighborhood, would you pave the roads…?”
“Huh? No, no, Teacher! I didn’t an to say that!”
“But you did say that… you said you’d like it if we paved the roads, didn’t you?”
“Oh, geez. It would be nice if you did, really nice. I just… I feel bad complaining to you, who’s already overwheld with work.”
“Yes. You must feel sorry. You, a patient who has nothing but age in this ssed up world, clinging to a promising technician like . Since you know you’ve vented to the overwheld teacher, please continue to apologize to the other patients…”
Noh Doha visited the Guild Union.
Even now, and back then, the leader of the union was arrogant. Well, to , it felt like being called in as a rcenary captain once in a while.
“Welco, Teacher Noh Doha. Heard you’re doing so business lately.”
“Ah, please don’t say such things… It’s a bit embarrassing to boast about business in front of Three Thousand Worlds. I’m just gathering a few old n who used to roll around in the mudpits and making a few miles of shabby roads…”
Unexpectedly, Noh Doha was blunt and arrogant.
There wasn’t necessarily a eting of minds between them; it was more about finding common ground in their wallets. Whenever Tang Seorin saw the physical assets Noh Doha brought in every quarter, anyone would feel a sense of deference.
“Why suddenly so humble in front of ? So, what’s the matter?”
“Well, it’s because we’re doing so maintenance work on the existing roads to make it easier for patients to travel… There’s also an issue of fairness, and you know how people are, if they feel like they’re the only ones not getting sothing, they get upset. So, given the circumstances of the construction…”
“Are you planning to overhaul the entire road network in Busan?”
“Well, yeah… it’s actually tidier that way. But it’s turned into a massive project. Each guild claims this is their territory, so they’re at odds.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Seorin adjusted her wide-brimd hat.
“Could you help organize the territories?”
“Yes, of course. If it’s inconvenient, you can just call when there’s a guild eting or sothing, and I’ll make sure there’s a seat for you…”
“That sounds better. I don’t want so guilds having fits because I seem to be milking Teacher Noh Doha. This is sothing the teacher should handle from start to finish, so there’s no room for gossip.”
“That could be the case. Guild leaders are filled with pride and greed…”
“Alright.”
Tang Seorin grinned.
“I’ll arrange a seat as soon as possible.”
“Thank you, mam.”
Noh Doha chuckled softly.
“If by any chance you beco a cripple later on, I’ll really give you a good deal. Just co back with your brain and heart intact…”
“…”
The noteworthy part here isn’t the wording “cripple” but rather “a good deal”. There was no ntion of doing it for free, even if one were to die.
Noh Doha nodded goodbye and left the train carriage.
Tang Seorin glanced at the sofa where I was sitting. Coincidentally, I was also visiting the Three Thousand Worlds Guild as a guest.
“What do you think?”
“Noh Doha is a good person.”
I sunk into the sofa. The chairs were very cozy, probably because this was one of the few places in the country where they had converted the lounge car of a luxury train.
Tang Seorin looked at sharply.
“Even though he insulted ?”
“To be more specific, he said ‘if you beco a cripple later’. Don’t take offense. Adding weight to every word he says would only tire you out, sir. Have you ever seen the Three Thousand Worlds Guild Leader witnessing Noh Doha treating patients?”
“No.”
“I’ve had the opportunity to observe him closely all day.”
This story wasn’t about the current run; it was about another one. Ah, just so you know, I always tell stories as if they’re unfolding in real-ti, but that doesn’t an everything happened within one run. Most of the ti, events unfold over several runs, and I skillfully weave them together during editing.
For example, when describing the downfall of the governnt in this country. I’m not glued to the radio 24/7, and how would I know what statents the Provisional Governnt and the coup forces made?
So speeches I heard in the 4th run, others in the 11th. Witnessing refugees throwing a Seoul city official out of a window only happened in the 37th run.
My “omniscient observer perspective” was gained through nurous runs and experiences.
And I’ve invested plenty of ti to judge whether soone is trustworthy or not. Among those tis were occasions when I almost acted as Noh Doha’s sidekick, assisting him almost like a secretary.
Unfortunately, in the past runs, I wasn’t present in this scene when Noh Doha visited Tang Seorin. So, his projects always ended after progressing only to downtown Busan at most.
But things will be different from now on.
As I ntioned, this ti, I ca to the headquarters of the Three Thousand Worlds Guild “not by chance.”
“People who are physically uncomfortable often feel emotionally uncomfortable too. Is it only the patients themselves? Even if there are caregivers, they feel the sa. Despite hearing complaints and curses from such people, Noh Doha has never once turned away a patient.”
“Hmm.”
“On the surface, he seems ominous and has an odd way of speaking, but it’s hard to find anyone as reliable as Noh Doha, no matter where you go.”
“But he’s always extorting money from Awakeneds.”
“It’s a scam tailored to each person. Didn’t I say? He’s never turned away a patient. Would only Awakeneds with so flexibility in their wallets visit Noh Doha’s workshop?”
Tang Seorin stroked his chin.
“…But still, he’s soone who has been caring for patients his whole life. Can he handle big responsibilities?”
“He’s not soone who adjusts responsibility to fit his size, but adjusts himself to the size of responsibility. It’s okay.”
“…”
Finally, she nodded.
“Okay. If it’s your character assessnt, I’ll trust it.”
[Translator – Jjsecus]
[Proofreader – Gun]
And Tang Seorin was the type to follow through hell and high water once she gave her trust.
Not long after, a national guild eting was held at sea in front of Busan. As you can guess from the term “at sea,” a cruise ship was chartered.
In reality, there was no fuel to sail, so it just docked at the pier, but even that was a luxury and extravagance that was hard to imagine in this day and age.
At such formal events, figures like those from the Second Provisional Governnt or mbers of the Youth Corps were strictly excluded.
So self-proclaid “big shots” sent representatives to protest, but Tang Seorin dismissed them lightly.
The Foreign Minister of the Second Provisional Governnt? What’s that?
Oh, a mber of the Fukushima Korean Association.
Sorry, but it’s hard to hear here. Why don’t you co closer and speak from across the Korea Strait?
It was a eting hall exclusively for guild masters.
The only invited guest here was Noh Doha. Except for the chef, singer, and jazz band brought in for appearances, of course.
“Uh… Master…?”
“What?”
Noh Doha looked around at the guild masters in attendance, wearing a puzzled expression. It was an unusual sight.
“Maybe it’s just , but it seems like not only Busan guild masters but also guild masters from all over the country are gathered here…?”
“Oh.”
Tang Seorin waved her hand as if it were no big deal.
“Don’t worry. We’re getting inquiries from everywhere because we’re holding a eting. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other’s faces. Why not take this opportunity to extend the shelf life of our appearances?”
“Oh, I see…”
He was relieved.
The event proceeded as follows. First, Tang Seorin, who hosted the eting, ca out and greeted everyone. Just briefly, making it clear that she wasn’t the star of the show.
Then it was my turn.
The applause was thunderous.
“Doctor! It’s been so long!”
“Co visit Gangwon Province soti. Our kids really want to see you.”
“Is Sim Aryeon doing well? Thanks to the last ti you sent Sim Aryeon, we cleared the gate without any trouble.”
“I’ll make sure to make a place for you and entertain you soti!”
On one side of the eting room, an elderly man in a governnt uniform sat with his arms crossed.
This was truly a gathering of Korea’s prominent Awakeneds.
Sure, I was just compared to a rcenary captain, but did you know? Even Switzerland, a neutral country, once made a living as rcenaries.
The trust earned through rcenary work could easily be transferred to the financial sector, creating a historical precedent.
In other words, among the guild masters gathered here from all over the country, it was extrely rare to find soone who hadn’t owed a favor at least once.
And like diligent debtors, the guild masters were eager to repay both the principal and interest owed to the country’s bank. They knew well that if they didn’t repay now, they’d be in for a snowball effect later.
“I sincerely thank all of you who have gathered here from far and wide. While these words might seem ordinary, they encapsulate the the of today’s eting. The long and arduous journey. Isn’t it ti to take a closer look?”
“Right on!”
“Hurrah!”
The the of today’s eting? That was already written down and sent with the invitations.
Even when the guild masters opened their letters, the Saintess shot off a ssage in the group chat. Sothing like, “‘The Saintess of Savlvation highly recomnds this quest.” Sothing along those lines.
The authority of Tang Seorin. My trust. The endorsent of the Saintess.
It was literally a trinity. There was no greater credential in the entire Korean Peninsula. Probably not even in the whole world.
“So of you may already know. Our eternal supporter of the Awakeneds! Thanks to this person, even if monsters chew our limbs off, it’s not a problem! The owner of the ‘Noh Doha Forge,’ which has made remarkable contributions to maximizing the combat capabilities of Awakeneds! …And also a person with the character and personality to make even the Awakeneds who are a bit stubborn nod their heads. Ladies and gentlen, let’s give a warm welco with enthusiastic applause! It’s Mr. ‘Artifact Maker’ Noh Doha!”
Thunderous applause erupted. Not figuratively. Who used thunder magic?
I noticed Tang Seorin leading the first clap from the front row. A happy smile spread across her face.
By the way, Tang Seorin had quite the temper. If soone called her an idiot, she had every intention of proving who the real idiot was.
I may have portrayed only the good side of Tang Seorin, but there were tis when she grabbed a rival guild master who dared to curse at her, gave them a good beating, and then laughed, saying, “Oh, look who’s here, a TS cutie in a place like this? Now, who’s the real idiot?”
Of course, it was mainly because of her particularly bad blood with that guild master.
Anyway, it was a good proof that she hadn’t acquired her position at the helm of the Korean Awakeneds Guild Federation through poker chips.
Have you ever heard the saying, “Green is just another shade of blue”? That they’re all in cahoots? It may have beco less common now, but there was a ti when I, too, was a faithful follower who rose to the position of sub-guild master under such Tang Seorin.
“….”
With joy at being so well received by Tang Seorin and , Noh Doha trembled all over.
After receiving my introduction, Noh Doha strode up to the platform. Then he grabbed the microphone. The expression Noh Doha had at that mont was, uh… probably the kind he wore quite often when he was a grade 7 governnt official.
To put it in simpler terms, it went sothing like this:
“I’m Noh Doha…..”
Well, shit.
[Translator – Jjsecus]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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