Season 3: Chapter 229. The Crime of Leaving the Island (3)

Right after the match between Joseon and Persia, Sa-Rang responded defensively.

"I don’t really use siege weapons."

Chi-Seung had asked about why she didn’t use siege weapons effectively. From the third and fourth eras onward, siege weapons significantly impacted the outcome of battles. However, Sa-Rang refrained from using them. He had noticed during practice, but it was even more pronounced in actual matches. Chi-Seung wasn’t someone who would miss such details.

"Could you tell me why?"

He analyzed every match and noticed her usage frequency was abnormally low. He knew she didn’t prefer them, but didn’t expect her to avoid them even when necessary.

For example, ordering the swordsmen to jump from the walls in the battle against Persia’s elephants was cost-efficient but risky. It didn’t go entirely well in the second or third game either. Most swordsmen died when they landed because the enemy had placed Anousha on the elephants.

Despite this, Sa-Rang continued to drop swordsmen to kill the enemies or relied on Almond's attacks to handle the elephants. In reality, using Hwacha or even a lesser trebuchet would have made it easier to deal with the elephants.

'Especially with her control skills, she could have completely wiped them out.'

The usual reason for avoiding siege weapons was a lack of confidence in controlling them. Siege weapons required direct control from the commander for both movement and attacks. Those who primarily gave broad commands like Cookie tended to avoid them.

'But even Cookie uses them sometimes.'

Even Cookie, who preferred broad strategies, used siege weapons when necessary.

'Why doesn’t she...?'

Strangely, Sa-Rang didn’t use siege weapons even though she possessed far superior micro-control skills compared to Cookie. Chi-Seung wanted to know why as the team’s strategist. It was his responsibility.

"..."

However, Sa-Rang remained silent. Her expression seemed to say, "Why should I tell you?" Sa-Rang sometimes had this arrogant attitude. It seemed like a habit ingrained in her.

Such people inherently intimidated Chi-Seung. Those born in high society were born predators. For someone like Chi-Seung, who had to graze on grass, facing such people made his hands and feet tremble.

However, even herbivores showed their teeth when they had to protect their pasture. For Chi-Seung,

Civil Empire

was his life and not just daily sustenance.

Gritting his teeth, he persisted.

"Please don’t give me that look. It’s not just about you anymore."

"..."

She gazed out the window, exhaling lightly.

"Then why don’t you do it, Chi-Seung? Do you remember why this isn’t just about you?"

As expected, she retorted sharply.

"We asked you to join. I’m not even part of the roster. I thought you were the best fit."

"Then, just follow my lead."

"That’s not acceptable."

"You begged me to join, and now you want to dictate what I do?"

Chi-Seung felt it clearly. She was very different from Almond. Sure, she wasn’t wrong. He knew it was unreasonable. They had begged her to join, and now they tried to dictate her actions. It was absurd, but the world didn’t always work according to propriety.

Chi-Seung simply nodded. For the team’s victory, he was willing to be the shameless uncouth person.

"Yes."

His brazen reply made Sa-Rang’s eyes narrow sharply. His heart pounded and his limbs trembled, but he continued to speak.

"Telling you what to do is my job. We’re not in a hierarchical relationship. It’s just my job."

She continued to glare, seemingly daring him to say more.

"You agreed to join us. Whether you like it or not, we’re a team."

"Since when?"

"We’re in the same boat. You’re holding the helm, but you need to listen to the rowers too. And..."

Chi-Seung almost cried out.

"You enjoyed it too! Didn’t you laugh when we won the game? I saw it! We laughed together when we won, and we put our arms around each other! That makes us a team, right? Isn’t that what a team is?" Chi-Seung shouted and stood up.

Sa-Rang looked at him, stunned.

“Whether we win or lose, we do it together. That’s what makes us a team. It’s not up to you to decide otherwise.”

A long-forgotten voice echoed in her mind.

Chi-Seung asked again, "Should we make a siege weapon strategy or not? Answer me."

"I can’t use siege weapons."

"Why?"

"..."

After a moment of hesitation, she confessed.

"Direct control consumes a lot of my energy."

"Energy...?"

"Moving siege weapons is equivalent to moving myself."

She pointed to her thin legs covered by a blanket. Legs that needed a wheelchair. Legs that couldn’t move.

"I can’t move normally. In the game, if I move... it’s hard to explain, but it’s not good. The same goes for Almond shooting arrows."

"?"

‘What? Almond too?’

This was news to Chi-Seung. He knew Almond had physical issues in the capsule, but he didn’t realize it was because he was moving differently in the game than he could in reality. Then, something crossed his mind.

"How will you handle the naval battle in the quarterfinals?"

They would have to fight on ships because of the ocean map in the quarterfinals.

"You'll have to control the ships too."

Ships, like siege weapons, required direct control from the commander. Only the crew handled the firing. They managed the elephants with swordsmen, but they couldn’t fight with swordsmen at sea. Even Joseon's prized archers would be useless for destroying ships.

"Can you manage?"

"I can handle one game."

"What about the next?"

"The next... there shouldn’t be a next."

"?!"

***

The players entered for the second game as Joseon faced Japan in the quarterfinals.

"Wowwwww!"

Cheers and drums filled the stadium.

Chi-Seung pushed Sa-Rang’s wheelchair and said, "I watched the Fake National Team earlier."

She didn’t respond as the capsule opened.

Chi-Seung helped her inside and spoke again, "You still think we’re a team, right?"

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

He was referring to her interview when she said she wanted to be part of the team.

"That was edited to sound like that."

“Ha,” Chi-Seung laughed louder and closed the capsule lid.

"Let’s go! Fake national team!"

Thud.

The space darkened as the lid closed. Sa-Rang gazed into the darkness and rotated her wrists.

'Let's end this.'

Even in a naval battle, she could manage one game. Almond seemed capable of handling three games now as the countdown began.

[Game Start]

Light burst forth from the darkness, and the game began.

***

"Joseon vs Japan! Japan vs Joseon! The second game is a naval battle!"

“Wowwwww!”

Both the Korean and Japanese crowds erupted in cheers. The Japanese hoped for a comeback while the Koreans wished to ride the momentum toward a complete victory.

Thud...!

Augmented reality holograms brought the map to life with grand effects. Mountains rose and the peaks flattened to form large platforms Joseon in red and Japan in blue at the top.

"At one o’clock is Joseon and at seven o’clock is Japan! They’re positioned at opposite diagonals!"

With a dramatic sound, blue water filled the stadium. The mountains turned into islands with the largest two islands becoming the bases.

— Wow

— This is an ocean map

— Amazing

— So exciting

The map's name appeared prominently in the stadium.

[The Dawn of Navigation]

The Dawn of Navigation was a map with over 70% of the terrain as ocean. Only a few small islands in the middle of the sea separated the bases.

"The Dawn of Navigation! OrangeKing, please explain this map!"

"Sure. It’s a typical ocean map. The starting bases are the largest land masses. There are small islands scattered in the middle, each with substantial resources."

"Oh, really? Each one?"

"Yes. Some have gold, some have wood, some have stone... like that. Depending on the situation, different islands will be targeted. Battles frequently occur over these islands."

As the game began, barbarian soldiers dispersed to scout the islands.

"Knowing it's an island map, the barbarians will scout alone. Their purpose is to hunt and locate resources for the home base."

"I see. They move alone since they won't encounter any enemies. Japan is also sending workers to the sea immediately."

"Yes, to gather food. They gain a 15% boost in fishing."

Splash.

The Japanese workers cast their nets to fish. Meanwhile, Joseon workers continued gathering wood and gold, processing animals caught by the soldiers.

"What are the advantages and disadvantages in this game?"

"Before the game started, I explained that ocean maps are disadvantageous for Joseon. It's more accurate to say Japan has the advantage."

"It’s the food issue, right?"

"Yes, food is the basis for all melee battles. Even ships consume a lot of food. The rowing workers on ships also consume food."

"Ah, I see!"

"Yes. But!"

"But?"

"Food is not the core resource in ocean maps."

"Really?"

"Yes. There won't be fights over food on ocean maps."

"Because there's an abundance?"

Yes, the sea was a treasure trove of food with unlimited fish. While the gathering speed varied, Joseon wouldn't run out of food either.

"The important resources are those used to build ships. Ships consume a lot of food, but that’s not exhaustive. Wood is crucial. It's scarce on ocean maps and heavily used for ships. Next is gold, which is vital for advanced weapons."

The core resources on ocean maps were gold and wood.

"How well they secure these resources and conduct naval battles is key!"

"Both sides are building shipyards. Ships are crucial in this map..."

They prepared to build the essential ships.

"They'll likely build fishing ships first, right?"

"Yes. And Joseon advances to the second era first."

Boom!

[Joseon - 2nd Era]

As the shipyard was being constructed, Joseon advanced to the second era.

— Era upgrade gods

— Japan is still behind

— Blessed by birth

— The land of rushes

— The land of open runs

Various titles appeared in the chat. Joseon's era upgrade speed today was impressive.

"Good. They can deploy warships faster to control the sea!"

"Right. The fight over sea control is intense on ocean maps."

Joseon completed its shipyard.

[Shipyard - Complete]

"There are two types of ships in the second era. One is the fire ship, which shoots flaming arrows but is slow. The other is the swift ship, capable of ramming."

"Joseon should go for fire ships, right?"

"Yes. The flaming arrows are effective... Huh?"

Fire ships were known as sea towers with archers shooting flaming arrows from them. They were highly efficient in early sea battles, but Joseon chose swift ships.

[Swift Ship - 1%]

"What is this?"