Season 3: Chapter 300. A Familiar Face (4)
Joseon finally advanced to the finals.
"Joseon! Joseon!! Is this really, truly happening!?"
Boom!
The turtle ships navigated the rivers, pushing inland and firing cannons toward the palace. China’s fertile lands and crops began to burn in flames.
"Joseon! The first and second games were astonishing, but the third game! It’s truly overwhelming!"
From China’s perspective, the third game was utterly unbearable to watch.
— Wow.
— They got completely wrecked, lol
— It ended with just a bang! lol
— Naval battles are no match
— Cookie’s form is insane
— Whoa
Even fans of Joseon, who were on the winning side, felt astonished.
— Will they be okay when they go back??
— They might get arrested by public security, lol
— 200 New Human Anatomy Exhibits Added.
— What even is this?!
— I’m worried for China...
Some viewers even expressed concern for China. If the second game had been manageable, the third game revealed a complete collapse, mentally and otherwise.
"The turtle ships! They’re firing at the palace! There’s no need to go in and cut their throats directly!!"
Joseon’s ships, with their flat bottoms, could easily enter shallow waters. The Miraculous River map featured rivers extending deep into inland areas.
One unique feature of this map was that players could nearly reach the main base just by following the rivers. Flat-bottomed ships, in particular, could approach with ease. A total of three ships, including the turtle ships and Panokseons, had entered China’s main base. This was the result of China’s crushing defeats in earlier naval battles.
"If they fire from here, everything will collapse!!"
"It’s effectively like having three tanks firing! Can anyone in China stop this!? Can they stop these tanks now!? No, they can’t!!"
— Gasp
— Tanks... wow
— For real, there’s no one in China left to stop the tanks, lol
— What the heck, lol
— Save us, Tankman
Joseon’s three warships reached the very front of the palace. No Chinese forces were left to stop them.
Boom!
The cannons fired at the palace one by one, destroying it completely. The remaining resistance couldn’t even put up a meaningful fight. All significant opposition had already been subdued.
[Victory]
At last, the word victory appeared in front of every Joseon soldier.
Flap!
The Taegeukgi (Korean flag) fluttered over the collapsed Chinese palace.
"Woaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
Thunderous cheers reverberated throughout the stadium.
"So many!!"
The caster stood from his seat and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"There have been so many battles!!"
Overcome with emotion, his voice cracked.
OrangeKing nodded along and shouted with him, "Yes! Even just in the main tournament! The flatland battle against the resurrecting Vikings, the curved shots that required memorizing the map! The Persian match against war elephants! The Korea-Japan match that went all the way to the fifth game!! And now!! The match against China!!"
"The match against China! They’ve won! Now! Joseon!!!"
The caster pumped his fist into the air and screamed.
"Advances to!! The finals!!!"
"China is down!! Rome, bring it on!!!"
The crowd’s roar filled the stadium once more as if responding to his call.
"Woaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
— YES!!
— This is insane.
— Wow
— Did China really lose 3-0?!
— Incredible, lol
— Sigh...
***
After Joseon’s victory, right when their advancement to the finals was confirmed...
"Ugh, aaaaaaaargh!"
Ju-Hyeok, watching from the waiting room with the think tank team, was so shocked that he jumped up and down. He never expected Joseon to defeat China 3-0.
"We ad-advanced!? We’re in the finals!?"
He grabbed Chi-Seung and shook him repeatedly, asking again and again.
"Yes! H-heh! The finals it is! Where else would they go!?"
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
Ju-Hyeok’s mind went completely blank. It was now filled with lists of things he had to order immediately...
‘This is insane. How much money is this going to bring in?’
Joseon had made it to the finals of the national competition. Merchandise sales doubled with every extended match. They had already surpassed the break-even point in the quarterfinals.
After the Korea-Japan match, their popularity soared and every online shop sold out. Now, they were heading to the finals. They weren’t just making profits anymore. The potential revenue would be staggering to the point of being frightening.
‘If it’s enough profit...!’
Although the earnings would go to the company, it would bring in enough for Ju-Hyeok to realize his plans for expansion.
***
Even Ju-Hyeok, who didn’t know much about the game, reacted this intensely. The gaming community that adored Civil Empire, especially Embul, was experiencing even greater excitement.
The forums became overwhelmed, causing servers to crash and recover repeatedly. Even platforms with larger servers like LIL Pro struggled to keep up.
[Joseon! Finals finally, I can’t believe it]
[We’re renaming the country to Joseon starting today.]
[Cookie is insane, wtf.]
[Wait, are we facing Rome again?]
[Did they really go 3-0?]
[Unbelievable...]
[The end of humanity is here. The age of Nuttilion has come.]
[BTS, Bong Joon-ho, Son Heung-Min, and Almond, let’s go.]
While Joseon’s fame rose significantly after the Korea-Japan match, advancing to the finals brought them into the spotlight on mainstream news. It wasn’t just online articles. They made the 9 P.M. news, complete with anchor coverage and video reports.
"Tonight, we have an interview with the national competition team that has stirred up a storm in esports and captivated the nation."
A sharply dressed anchor introduced the team. Hui-Chul appeared for the interview conducted by a local reporter in Japan.
[National Competition Commander: Cookie, Gook Hui-Chul]
Hui-Chul’s face appeared on the screen with his name displayed below.
“Hello, it’s an honor to meet you, Cookie.”
“Yes, nice to meet you.”
“By now, the entire nation knows about you, but Civil Empire is still somewhat unfamiliar in Korea. Could you briefly introduce the game?”
“Ah, yes...”
He explained that Civil Empire was a team-based game inspired by history and different civilizations.
“This time, you defeated both Japan and China. China is considered one of the top three strongest teams in Civil Empire and you beat them 3-0. How do you feel about this achievement?”
“Our team has improved significantly as the tournament progressed. I think the results simply reflect our growth.”
“Wow, that’s incredible confidence! What are your thoughts on facing Rome next?”
“They’re a very strong team. We already faced them in the qualifiers. They’ve also defeated Mongolia, which holds the top ranking.”
“Yes, that’s true. Did you expect them to defeat Mongolia?”
“I had a feeling they might since we played against them in the qualifiers.”
“I see. Could you share your determination going into the finals?”
Hui-Chul looked directly into the camera and spoke, “The team you’ll face won’t be the same one from the qualifiers, Anto.”
This message was directed at Anto, the Roman team’s commander.
“Hahaha! That’s great! There are also various events planned for the finals. It’s said that there will be a celebratory performance by Raimon in Japan, which has become a hot topic. Are you a fan of Raimon?”
“I’m so focused on gaming and work... I’ve heard of them, though.”
“Another hot topic is the special event Japan prepared to celebrate Korea’s advancement to the finals. Do you know anything about this?”
“Yes, I’ve heard about it. It hasn’t been officially announced yet. I was told a K-pop group would perform. They’re quite popular in Japan, so it seems to have been arranged successfully. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the organizers.”
The two continued discussing the celebratory performances before moving on to the final question.
“Lastly... do you have any messages you’d like to share?”
“Hmm...”
Hui-Chul paused briefly before speaking.
“I’d prefer to say this after winning. Since no one can guarantee victory against Rome, I’ll say it now.”
“?”
The reporter widened their eyes, sensing that something important was about to be said.
“To my fiancée who has always supported, cared for, and guided me... I want to say thank you. Ye-Ji, thank you. I love you.”
“Wow, that’s so sweet! Haha.”
The reporter, unaware of the significance of Hui-Chul’s gratitude, simply clapped and laughed cheerfully.
“And... there’s one more person I’d like to thank. Someone I’ve never properly acknowledged.”
“Yes, of course. Please go ahead.”
“Almond.”
“... Almond?”
“This is my first time addressing this officially.”
“...”
Hui-Chul broached a topic he had always been cautious about as the leader. As he mentioned before the Korea-China match, he felt like the time had finally come.
“Ever since Almond joined, our team has improved tremendously. Meeting Almond was... perhaps the greatest fortune for our team. He’s an extraordinary player and a truly respectable athlete. I know this is his final year. Whatever he pursues next, he’ll have our unwavering support and encouragement.”
That marked the end of his interview.
***
Since the interview aired on the 9 P.M. news, its impact was significant. Firstly, it raised Hui-Chul’s recognition as Cookie to new heights.
[Big: Has Cookie Finally Surpassed the Famous Cookie?]
===
For years, searching “Cookie” brought up the timeless hit from NewJeans’ debut that took the world by storm.
But now, has Cookie from Civil Empire surpassed that?
(Photo)
===
The accompanying screenshot showed Hui-Chul as the top result when searching for Cookie.
— Whoa
— Wow, lol
— Is this for real?
— Amazing
— Cookie’s form is insane
— ??? NewJeans, step aside
The title, “Person of Interest,” was prominently displayed alongside his name. Secondly, the mention of Almond at the end garnered significant attention.
— Isn’t this the first time Cookie officially acknowledged Almond?
└ For real??
└ Yeah, that’s why there were so many rumors about them clashing, lol
└ Haha, remember when Almond first became a leader during Best Yi-Sun-Shin’s debut? The rumors were intense
— Cookie really appreciated Almond. You can tell since he mentioned it at the most important moment
└ Right... right after his fiancée. That’s huge
└ :(
Until then, Cookie had never publicly acknowledged Almond’s contributions. While casual viewers of the national competition didn’t notice, long-time fans of the team and Almond knew this all too well.
Despite Almond’s incredible performances like earning MVP titles repeatedly, Cookie and the think tank rarely mentioned him. This fueled rumors with some saying that Almond was a secret weapon kept under wraps. Others claimed that the two were clashing. Most speculations were baseless.
Hui-Chul had simply waited. He waited until every team member fully trusted Almond. Even when some criticized the lack of recognition, he held firm. Only then could the team truly become one.
‘Wait a second...’
At the team’s lodging, Sang-Hyeon watched the interview on TV.
‘What... was that?’
He momentarily became speechless as he listened to Hui-Chul’s words. Unintentionally, his gaze shifted to Pang, who was watching beside him. Pang, along with Malatang and Cookie, had been part of the team from the start.
However, Hui-Chul mentioned Almond instead of them in the most prominent interview. Although Almond was last to be acknowledged, this moment carried the greatest weight. Sang-Hyeon felt deeply moved but also a little concerned.
“Finally, he’s speaking the truth, that guy.”
Thump.
Pang patted Sang-Hyeon’s back and gave him a thumbs-up.
“That stubborn mule never admitted it, huh? Almond’s practically an all-time MVP! Hahaha!”
Pang’s hearty laugh made Sang-Hyeon crack a small smile. Afterward, Pang excused himself to get some water. Instead, he headed to the smoking area.
Click.
Lighting a cigarette, he gazed at the sparse stars in the city’s night sky.
“Sigh...”
In the barren cityscape, the visible stars could be counted on one hand. For some reason, he felt as though sparkling lights filled the dark void. Perhaps it was the tear forming in the corner of his eye, but those lights finally seemed to reach him tonight. He stubbed his cigarette into the ashtray and murmured with quiet determination.
“Let’s win.”
He resolved to show that his own light still burned brightly, knowing it could reach someone someday.
***
A couple of days later, the day of the finals arrived.
“Woooooaaahhhh!”
“Raimon is amazing!”
“She’s so beautiful!”
A grand celebratory performance marked the beginning of the finals. The scale of the event was immense, including a surprise appearance by a K-pop group.
“Hoo...”
With each segment of the event ending, the players’ tension grew.
‘It’s almost time.’
Sang-Hyeon had grown uncharacteristically quiet. His gaze was fixed as if he was scrutinizing the proceedings. While fans enjoyed the festivities, the players found it hard to relax with the match ahead looming large.
As Sang-Hyeon tried to calm his nerves, the stadium’s screen suddenly flickered to life.
Buzz.
A face appeared.
“Who is that?”
“What’s this?”
“Huh?”
Most viewers couldn’t recognize the person onscreen, but Sang-Hyeon’s eyes widened in recognition in the waiting room. That face was all too familiar, yet now also seemed distant over the passage of time.
The man, his expression carrying both age and a warm smile, finally spoke.
“His archery... was extraordinary. From the very first time I saw him, I knew he was different.”
[Translator’s Notes]
My favorite K-pop group happens to be New Jeans, and from reading this novel, it seems like the author is as well.
#Cookie #HypeBoy