## Chapter 1521 – Sword Saint Returns – Demon God of Another World

“W-Well, if I may say so… conscription isn’t a system of slave soldiers.”
“What are you talking about?”

Just as I was about to wrap things up, the Governor-General added as if to object.

Was he trying to make excuses?

What was he going to say in front of me, a victim of imperialism?

“Wasn’t it a system of slave soldiers that should only be used in ancient kingdoms? But you say it isn’t?”
“That is…”
“Unlike Earth, my world has mana. So, it’s natural to have superhumans like you hunters. Of course, superhumans reigned supreme. And they conscripted slave soldiers just like you guys do now. Ancient kingdoms maintained their military power that way. Of course, it’s a system I can never condone now.”

—Drip, drip, drip.

As I made up the story on the fly, cold sweat started to trickle down his forehead. Good. Seeing his reaction, it was clear. This guy was completely overwhelmed by me.

He’d probably do whatever I told him to from now on. That would make things easier for me too. Well then, since he seemed to want to make excuses to me, I’d listen for a bit.

I’d be able to use the Governor-General quite a bit in the future.

“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“First of all, before the Gate incident, South Korea was a liberal democracy, but the soldiers’ salaries weren’t much different from what they are now.”
“What? Why? As far as I know, a liberal democracy isn’t ruled by a single, extralegal autocrat, but by representatives of the citizens elected by vote. Am I misunderstanding something?”

I asked, pretending not to know.

I wanted to see how this bastard would talk.

“No. You understand correctly. That’s exactly what it means.”
“But… why would such a country maintain a system of slave soldiers? It doesn’t add up.”
“I’ll explain that to you now. It’s true that paying soldiers such ridiculously low wages that don’t even meet the average is no different from forcing them to sacrifice. Of course, I knew that. I also completed my military service before the Gate incident, before I became an Awakened.”

Oh. Come to think of it, this bastard was a veteran?

But damn, they were still only paying 300,000 won?

“So, you also experienced the system of slave soldiers, yet you forced that treatment on others?”
“Of course not. Never. I may be an Awakened lord, but that doesn’t mean I enslave people or do anything like that.”

The Governor-General shook his head.

“Rather, I respect the citizens. It’s because the world has become like this that democracy has collapsed and monarchism has emerged, but I still remember liberal democracy.”

What the hell was this bastard trying to say, laying the groundwork like this?

Could he even fix this in front of me?

“In the past, South Korea, as a liberal democracy, was a proud nation where any adult could naturally exercise their right to vote. It was also a country where it was possible to naturally achieve what the citizens wanted. Even through non-violent means. It was a healthy nation run solely by the will and desire of the citizens.”

That’s what democracy is.

“I understand what you mean. But what does that have to do with the system of slave soldiers?”
“As I just told you, a liberal democracy is run by the will of the citizens. If the leader of the country commits illegal acts, it’s possible to remove them with the power of the citizens, and if there’s a bad system, it’s also possible for the citizens to change it.”

Yeah, so what?

“What the citizens don’t want doesn’t happen, and only what the citizens want happens in the political system. Heavenly Demon.”

I gestured for him to say more.

“So, to reiterate, the system of conscription… no, the conscription system you mentioned, Heavenly Demon, was also something the citizens wanted.”
“What?”
“That system has been maintained in a liberal democracy for decades. So, wouldn’t you say that’s the will, desire, and belief of the citizens?”

The Governor-General spoke with a very confident attitude.

“In conclusion, South Korea’s conscription system was something the citizens wanted and has protected for decades as a vital value. The same goes for the salary. The citizens of South Korea were always ready to sacrifice themselves to protect the country.”

He continued to speak quickly, as if stating his beliefs.

“That’s why we didn’t bother changing it. No, we had no intention of changing it. I may be in the position of Governor-General now, but I’m still just a person who remembers democracy. I would never trample on the beliefs of the citizens.”

His gaze turned to me.

“Therefore, as it’s something you, the hero who saved the nation, have mentioned, I will improve the salary system for conscripted soldiers, but I’m not sure if the citizens will welcome it. This is a value that our South Korean citizens have upheld for over decades… I’m not sure what kind of backlash there will be.”
“…”
“That’s all.”

With that, the Governor-General’s short speech ended.

“…”

After listening to everything, this was a rather interesting line of reasoning.

Just listening to him, it was as if Koreans were beings who had devoted their souls to upholding the belief that soldiers should be lowly servants. That’s why they had protected such a system for decades.

What kind of nonsense was this… no, damn it.

Listening to him, it made sense?

Inhumane imperialism…!

That’s right! The reason such an absurd system of slavery could be maintained in a liberal democracy was entirely because the citizens had craved it! What an imperialistic act this was…!

If the Governor-General had spouted nonsense, I would have flicked him on the forehead, but this was a somewhat convincing story! Indeed! So that’s what it was!

“Of course, we also hate the system of slavery. We Awakened have privileges because we’re very useful in the monster wars, but that doesn’t mean we treat people like slaves. That’s impossible. If such a thing were to happen in South Korea, we would gather hunters and exterminate that existence.”
“…”
“South Korea is not a shameful and disgusting country where the system of slavery is maintained. So, please don’t be disappointed.”

I nodded.

“I see. I understand. So, the soldiers’ salaries were like that to respect the values that the citizens have upheld for decades.”
“That’s right. It’s a value that the citizens have wanted and protected. It’s a most precious system. I may be an Awakened lord, but how could I ignore and trample on that? As a former citizen of a democratic country, I have a duty to protect it.”
“Hehehe, so you’re blaming me?”
“Excuse me?”
“Are you giving me the cold shoulder for trying to easily break your values and rules?”

Still, this bastard was the leader of a country. He couldn’t possibly like being arbitrarily swayed by me. So, he must have been trying to use this opportunity to protest a little. To ask to protect their sovereignty a bit.

The lengthy nonsense he had spouted earlier must have been to express that.

“C-Cold shoulder, you say?”
“Yes. There’s a word called ‘cold shoulder,’ isn’t there?”
“Hahaha… to be honest, I can’t say I didn’t have that feeling. We… South Korea is a sovereign state, after all. No matter who you are, Heavenly Demon, if there’s something to say, we have to say it. That’s all I was thinking.”

He said honestly with a faint smile.

“Aren’t you, Heavenly Demon, a benevolent emperor who values humanity? I think South Korea is a country that upholds that humanity. So…”
“So, you’re saying you want me to protect your sovereignty?”
“Y-You could see it that way.”

—Drip, drip, drip.

Sweat flowed down the Governor-General’s forehead again.

Of course, sovereignty meant fusion Confucianism. The sovereignty of a country claimed by a mere superhuman lord couldn’t possibly be genuine. He had been talking about democracy and whatnot, but this bastard’s essence was still a superhuman lord.

I knew very well what these guys were thinking as they lived.

I was an emperor myself, after all.

I was the person furthest from democracy.

What the Governor-General was saying about sovereignty was ultimately asking me to acknowledge a political system centered on powerful Awakened… but unfortunately, I couldn’t acknowledge that kind of thing.

Only I could reign supreme.

Why would I entrust the rule of the human world to mere humans? My world was already under my control. Sovereignty was something that belonged to me.

As a god, I would manage even Earth.

“Hahahaha! What an audacious fellow!”

—Thwack!

So, I laughed heartily and struck the Governor-General’s back.

“Ack! Aaaack!! Kuaaaaaack!”

It was the divine skill of laughing heartily while beating up a disagreeable bastard. The Governor-General, struck by my palm, groaned in pain and clenched his teeth.

“That audacity to make demands in front of me! I like it! Governor-General! I like you more and more!”
“A-Aack…!”
“Hahahahahahahahaha!!!”
“Ha, ahaha… Y-You like me… T-Thank you… Cough!”

After being beaten for a while like that, the Governor-General straightened his posture and coughed.

“A leader of a country must have guts! I understand your intentions!!!”

This bastard wasn’t just a pushover.

He still had value. Of course, when the time came, I would have to replace him along with the Earth leaders. In the first place, the power of these superhuman Awakened flowed in from another dimension along with the monsters. If I solved that, superhumans and whatnot would all disappear, so it was power they would lose anyway. I would let them lose it in a slightly better way.

Only I could reign supreme.

“Well, since you’ve pleased me, let’s talk a little more.”
“Y-Yes…”

* * *

“Looking at the history of my Earth, it’s been a continuous cycle of war and inhumane rule. Of course, that trend seems to have subsided a bit in the 20th century, but the Gate incident has once again increased the chaos.”
“That’s exactly right.”

The Governor-General nodded.

“I’ve heard that Awakened lords who have become superhuman often force inhumane treatment on citizens. Tell me what you know about that.”

I decided to ask about that while I was at it.

“An extension of the system of slavery… is it?”
“That’s right.”
“Yes. Among the Awakened lords overseas, there are some who treat citizens like slaves. Similarly, there are Awakened warlord forces from dismantled countries… they tend to do that. There are also many who rule violently. And there are countries that threaten neighboring countries with nuclear weapons.”
“Which countries are like that, specifically?”
“Hmm…”

He hesitated before opening his mouth.

“If I tell you here, will you, Heavenly Demon, consider that country immoral and take immediate action?”
“I would.”
“In other words, the fate of a country is in my hands.”
“That’s right.”

He seemed cautious about something.

“Then… I can’t say without proper investigation and judgment. I can’t use your power, Heavenly Demon, based on my meager knowledge.”
“No. Doesn’t your country have an intelligence agency? You should be able to grasp accurate information about neighboring countries at any time.”
“…”

Was this bastard trying to score points with me?

“More than anything, even if I heard your words, I would definitely go and see and judge for myself. The Governor-General just needs to tell me. It’s entirely up to me to figure out and take action.”
“U-Um… I see. I just meant that a little more review would be needed.”
“Even as we speak, people in that country are probably being treated like slaves and suffering. Speak quickly.”
“I understand. Then, as a representative, I’ll tell you one.”

I was about to prepare to listen to it.

“There’s a country called Belgium.”

Huh?

“The lives of the Belgian people right now… are hell itself. They live as slaves. Made so by a single, very powerful S-class Awakened.”

A great shock.

“…That Awakened is?”
“From the destroyed country called Congo…”

It struck my head like lightning!!!