Above Your Head

"You're the well-known Ice Flower. Indeed, you're as outstanding a beauty as I've heard. I also heard you're still young, but you're mature enough to produce a successor." Zhou Hongyi was not taken aback by the unexpected intrusion of the Student Council President, Min-kyung. No, rather, he ran his eyes up and down her whole figure. He savored her appearance with a satisfied look.

However, regardless of that, Min-kyung did not seem to pay any heed to it at all. "Stop talking nonsense and get to the point."

"Get to the point?" Zhou Hongyi had a command of Korean which was almost at the level of a native speaker, so he reacted sensitively to Min-kyung's informal speech[1].

However, Min-kyung immediately moved. It was as if she did not care whether Zhou Hongyi was offended or not. Seeing that she did not even think before acting, she probably expected this situation. Kwaaaangggg! A sabre, about 2 meters in length, was embedded in the ground as it crushed the floor of Geunjeongjeon Hall. At the same time, Min-kyung's high-pitched voice resonated, "I declare a Defensive War!"

Mission Generated!

The Lee Family side has accepted the Captain's War!

Progress – Zhu Family: 0/1, Lee Family: 0/3

Zhou Hongyi's expression changed at the text that just appeared. "It seems like you know the words of command. Even if you're rotten, you're still one of the Seven Great Households, huh." His lips were twitching at the unexpected situation, but his attitude remained relatively unchanged. It was just something that became slightly troublesome for him.

Then, Min-kyung said as she stared at Zhou Hongyi, "That's right. We're one of the Seven Great Households, just like your Zhu Family."

"...You bitch." Zhou Hongyi's relaxed expression turned ugly. "You're running your mouth too recklessly."

However, Min-kyung did not care. "Why? Do you want to say that you are the Zhu Imperial Household, and not the Zhu Family, which is one of the Seven Great Households? Then, how come you couldn't say that to the Great Wizard? Instead, you're doing this shit here?" Craaaack! She had a cold look as she pulled out the sabre that was stuck on the floor. Despite having a beautiful appearance, no, rather, it was because she had a beautiful appearance that she could display such a twisted cold smile. She said, "What a loser."

"..." In an instant, silence swept through the disorderly Geunjeongjeon Hall. Zhou Hongyi's face, which had changed intimidatingly, was subsiding down. Of course, that did not indicate that his anger dissipated. "...King Lee. I wanted to be nice as a representative of the Zhu Imperial Household, but it seems I can no longer do so."

"King Lee? Did you even treat me like a King?" Putting aside the gentle-mannered demeanor, considering the fact that the Lee Family's Patriarch could not maintain his position without being treated like a pushover, the cynical smile of Sung-yeop was unprecedented.

Zhou Hongyi's eyes twitched. "If you don't like that, I can treat you like a puppet slave. The situation is actually progressing that way right now."

"You bastard...!" Sung-yeop, the Patriarch of Lee Family, could be seen trembling with bloodshot eyes. It was an extremely violent and wretched sight to be seen as a diplomatic scene between two countries.

I let out a vain laugh at that sight. 'Wow, China is not pulling any punches, huh? If a general is already like this, then if the man who self-proclaimed himself as the Emperor of China came, all hell would break loose. He might even ask them to do the three kneeling, nice kowtow, ceremony[2].' Even I, who did not have much patriotism for Korea, found it a bit annoying. This was an outrageous scene. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that if I was a bloodthirsty patriot, China would have already been completely devastated. If one were to ask why it would be completely devastated...

Captain-nim, should I shoot?

Oooh! Good, great! Let's drop a Soul Energy Bomb, a goddamn Soul Energy Bomb! Blasting off with the Particle Cannon is good too!

Should I shoot?

Ahhh! The level of defensive barrier here is pretty good, so what do you say to dropping a Maximum Annihilation Bomb? There are 28 rounds laying around in the Albatross' military warehouse!

I'm shooting!

Alright, let's shoot! I'm really shooting!

'Ahh, shut up you guys.' I restrained Genie, who lost her cool, and Ares, who was excited. No, what kind of control persona was more emotional than me, a human? 'I don't really want to be involved, so ignore it. It's not as if it's causing any direct harm to me.'

But he's infringing the taboo! These disrespectful things! How dare you, in a country owned by His Majesty the Emperor!

'Ah, I'm not the Emperor. Didn't I say that I quit? And why does Korea belong to me?' I have already said it several times before, but Genie still wasn't convinced. Usually, Genie had a calm demeanor, but she had a great deal of attachment and reverence to the position of 'Emperor'. Even though the form of her control persona was a desert dancer, her origin was clearly from the military, and perhaps that was the reason why…

But Captain-nim, even if I have to use a little bit of power, there is no reason for us to watch this. 

'That's true.' I agreed. The Albatross ship, which I received from the Leonhardt Empire (though it was closer to robbing them of it), was a ship of astronomical value that was not often seen even in the Great Universe. It was a futuristic multi-purpose battleship with a built-in Terra-class Iron Heart, and was powerful enough to completely devastate Earth, which did not even have a proper defense system, in just a matter of minutes.

Moreover, on the Albatross ship, there were 10 units of Golden Knight Order (Human-rank), 50 units of Golden Lion Unit (Beast-rank), and 100 units of R7 Flight Squadron (Tool-rank) that was given by the Leonhardt Empire. In fact, if I managed the Gigas Unit well, I would probably even be able to overturn the Three Great Magic Towers or Five Great Military Factions.

Then, why are you mixed in among the general public which amounted to nothing? If you desired for it, everyone would revere you though, Captain-nim.

It was a calm voice that somehow contained strong aspirations, but I shook my head. 'Because those kinds of things... I can't feel any sort of value coming from it.' If I had coveted health and power, there was no need for me to insist on returning to Earth. No matter what kind of luxury or pleasure it was that I could enjoy on Earth, they were not even one-tenth thousandth of what the Emperor of the Empire could enjoy.

What I yearn on Earth was just a house. I just wished to have a peaceful and boring daily life. Others might ridicule me if they heard it, but... I came back to Earth just to play games, watch TV, surf the Internet or waste away my life and ability in a normal way. I just wanted to quietly live a calm and stress-free life until the end of my life.

'But...' I smiled bitterly because the reality I faced when I came back to Earth was one that fell into the gutter. My house was gone, and I had to stoop to a situation where I had to be a parasitic houseguest living off someone else's house. And now, there was going to be a war in the country. 'Genie, what's the power difference between the Zhu Family and the Lee Family?'

It's not that overwhelming. There's a slight difference in numbers, but it's only about four to five times at most. 

I think it's more than that though?

That's how they're perceived, because there are external forces in the Zhu Family. It was said that the true power of the Zhu Family lied not in the family itself, but in the external members who consider themselves the 'Empire of China'. This is because the Vajra Faction, Darkness Faction, and Sky-Shaking Faction of the Five Great Military Factions that existed in China supported the Zhu Family. Moreover, the Supreme Magic Tower of the Three Great Magic Towers that was located in North Korea was basically no different from being controlled by China. The Zhu Family had the support of ability users that was on a totally different scale from the other households. Hence, the Zhu's Household referred to themselves as the Zhu Imperial Household instead, because they had the power to do so. 

"Alright then! You were given a choice to do it the easy way or the hard way, but it looks like we have to do it the hard way! I have no choice but to personally punish you myself!"

While I was listening to the explanation, a new text appeared, perhaps to indicate that the story had progressed, The Zhu Family side's Captain has been decided! In an instant, an arrow mark rose above Zhou Hongyi's head and a red circle was drawn under his feet. I let out a vain laugh at the vivid graphics. "It's progressing like a real game..."

Whether I found it baffling or not, Zhou Hongyi pulled out a sword with a deep blue blade. It was a sword that was a little over a meter long and had a straight fuller[3]. The handle had an embroidery thread splendidly shining in silver.

"I've heard that the Twin Flowers of the Lee Family are exceptionally strong, even among the rising generation! However, I will personally teach you how reckless it is to act rashly in such an important situation."

As Zhou Hongyi said, the Student Council President was strong. That was because she definitely had the highest Level among the humans I have seen while looking through the entire Lee Family.

Korea Empire

Level 9

Imperial Princess, Lee Min-kyung

'But even so, it means that she can't become a Compléter,' I thought. There was only a level difference between Level 9 and Level 10, but there was a huge gap between them. Compléter, also known as the Realm of a Master, could only be achieved by completing a stage and obtaining a part of power that was generally not obtainable. Hence, a lower grade presence would not dare to underestimate them.

Fortunately, that was a matter that Min-kyung herself knew, so she immediately took a step back. "Designating a representative!"

The Lee Family side's Captain has been decided!

The Captain's War begins! 

"Hoooo, a representative? If it's a representative..."

Cluck. A young boy stood forward in front of Zhou Hongyi, who was mocking him. That's right. It was a boy, who looked cute and even pretty. He was literally one of the most handsome boys not just in our school, but perhaps in the entire country. He was Kwan Yeong-min, my older brother.

"Hi, ahjussi. I'm the representative." A twisted smile was hanging from my brother's face, which was unlike the good-natured smile I had always seen. Even though my brother's face was like that, even a glimpse of him seemed decadent.

"...You?" Zhou Hongyi, who was confident, distorted his expression in an instant.

"Yes, I'm a man."

"Wh-What the. You… Who the hell are you?"

"What are you going to do even if you know? Just come at me."

At the scornful attitude, Zhou Hongyi suddenly screamed with a stiff expression. The relaxed demeanor he was displaying until now had already disappeared. "Impudent! Where do you think we are at?! Ohooo! You must really be a frog at the bottom of a well[4]! You brat, you need to be able to discern when to step out and when to not!"

"I told you to just come at me, alright?"

"How dare a greenhorn like you talk to me, one of the Five Great Masters-...!"

"Are you not going to come at me?"

"..." Finally, Zhou Hongyi shut his mouth.

"What the, what's going on?"

"What's wrong with Zhou Hongyi?"

The Lee Family ability users, who were taking up positions nearby, began to question. It was as if they realized something was wrong. Furthermore, suspicions arose in the eyes of the six warriors who followed Zhou Hongyi. Then...

Thuuump! Something rose through the floor with a heavy advance. Ares whistled as he was able to recognize it at once. Ohhooooo, this is an expensive one.

'What is? Is it a weapon hidden in the ground?'

Get a hold of yourself and take a good look. That thing wasn't hidden in the ground. 

I focused on the video that was displayed on my glasses. Indeed, Ares was right. It didn't show itself through the ground. Rather, the ground rose and formed a shape.

"Earth Dragon God Sword..."

"General-nim?"

The warriors, who maintained silence like a stone, opened their mouths for the first time. Seeing that there was a hint of perplexion contained in their voice, it seems that they could not comprehend Zhou Hongyi's behavior.

"Why would he bring out the Earth Dragon God Sword against a greenhorn like that..."

"General-nim, unless you are in a first-degree crisis, the God Sword Summoning would require His Majesty the Emperor's approval. If things go wrong, other families may be able to interfere..."

"Shut up."

"...General-nim?" The warriors were taken aback at the sudden violent words, but regardless of that, Zhou Hongyi stared at Yeong-min-hyung with a stone-like stiffened expression.

I laughed. 'Is it because he's a Master in his own right? He must have felt something.' I looked above the both of their heads. The titles of the two facing each other could be seen side by side.

Central Plains

Level 11

Swordsmanship Compléter, Zhou Hongyi

Republic of Korea

Level 15

Thousand-Year Ghost Blade, Kwan Yeong-min

It was outrageous. Yes, it was a ridiculous thing — the fact that the human being that I saw with the highest level after coming to Earth was my brother.

1. Commonly referred to as banmal(반말) in Korean, and it is a form of informal speech. For example, annyeong and annyeonghaseyo. With the former being banmal and latter being formal speech/jondaemal(존댓말).

2. This is the formal etiquette on meeting the emperor in ancient China.

3. A fuller is a rounded or beveled longitudinal groove or slot along the flat side of a blade.

4. Frog at the bottom of a well refers to a person of limited outlook and experience.