WeTried Translations
Translator: Coughing Baby
Editor: Coughing Baby
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Little Prince in the Ossuary
Chapter 98
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Spark (1)
Bzzzzz. His smartphone buzzed, waking Gyeoul. The name on the screen was Gerald M. Laughlin, the regimental commander. Gyeoul checked how much time had passed in sleep mode, then answered before it buzzed again.
“Lieutenant Han Gyeoul speaking.”
[Oh, Lieutenant. It is the regimental commander. Sorry for disturbing your rest. I was the one who told you to rest, so this is a little embarrassing.]
After returning to base, Gyeoul had been granted about two days of rest by the regimental commander. He had returned only yesterday, January 30. Today was the last day of January. A new month started tomorrow.
“It is fine. What is this about?”
[I have a few things to pass along. There are also matters where I need your opinion. Ah, this is not a combat mission or anything dangerous, so do not worry. If nothing comes up, can you meet me in my office at 16:00?]
“I will be there.”
[Good. There is still time, so take it easy coming over. I will hang up.]
The call ended quickly.
It was 2:57 p.m. Gyeoul checked his condition. His body responded sharply, exactly as he intended. Recovery was complete. No lingering effects from the cold or fatigue remained. Still, the shortened break was disappointing. Sleep inside the worldview was a chance to rest for exactly as long as Situational Computation required.
‘Things to pass along... Is this about the last mission?’
A military massacre of civilians was an extremely sensitive issue. So was a firefight between U.S. troops. Squad Leader Hernandez had worried the authorities might bury what happened this time, and that someone might be blamed unfairly.
He was off duty through today, but Gyeoul still put on his combat uniform and gathered his weapons. It was always better to be ready for an emergency. In system terms, incidents were always random variables.
As he dressed, he checked his incoming history. There were messages from the two Vice-Captains and two combat group leaders of the Gyeoul Alliance, plus many missed calls. A lot of the texts had been sent before his return. During the mission he had been out of range, so he had only actually received them after coming back. Status reports, requests for approval on handling issues, and messages asking if he was okay.
He was tapping out a few replies when a call came in.
“Yes, Yura-ssi.”
[Ah, Captain! You finally picked up! I got your text reply, so I thought maybe... Since you suddenly left, we had no news for two days, so I... everyone was really worried. You are okay, right?]
From the way she spoke, she seemed not to know Gyeoul had returned yesterday. That made sense. Even if combat group members were treated as regular troops on paper, there were still many gaps in practice. When Gyeoul was absent, they basically had no channel to the U.S. military.
‘There is one, but it is one-way.’
Their ability to speak up was even weaker than when Gyeoul had still been a volunteer, weak enough that they had no way to ask where he was. The U.S. military did not pay much attention either. It was something he needed to fix soon.
“I am fine. And I am sorry. I should have contacted everyone, but I was so focused on the mission that it slipped my mind. It was urgent. I will be more careful next time.”
[No, no! If you were busy, that can happen! Ahaha, did you go outside, by any chance?]
“Yes. I went to Santa Margarita Lake.”
At once, he heard quiet voices whispering around her. Where is Santa Margarita Lake? Huh? I know. That should be even farther south than Atascadero, right? Wow, that is far! He could pick out the voices of Yura’s combat group members. He could picture the scene on the other end, people gathered in a circle around the phone, listening in.
[Hmm-hmm. Then... you are not hurt anywhere, right?]
He had already said he was fine, but she asked again anyway. Gyeoul glanced at the back of his left hand. He had received proper treatment as soon as he returned. A temporary reduction modifier had been applied to his grip strength and fine control, but it was mild, and it was only a minor wound. It might leave a scar.
“I did get hurt, but it was just a few scratches. Please tell everyone there not to worry.”
[Understood! When are you coming?]
“Today might be difficult. The regimental commander called me in, and I still do not know why. If time allows, I will stop by late, even if only for a little while. Is there anything I need to know?”
[No, nothing like that. Since you got called in, I will not take more of your time. Please try to come today if you can. Everyone says they miss you, Captain.]
Right after that, male and female voices shouted around her. When are you coming! We will wait! Let us eat dinner together! Squad Leader Yura and Squad Leader Jin-seok fought again! And so on. That last line flustered Yura.
[H-Han-byul! Why would you say that! Captain! I am hanging up! Do your best! Fighting!]
Quiet whispering in front, loud panic in back. The call cut off before he could respond.
After what happened at the sawmill, he had thought the two combat group leaders would hold back around each other, but maybe not yet.
‘Then again, built-up feelings do not disappear easily. Emotions always find reasons.’
At least that was true in Gyeoul’s experience. A story from the world he had lived in before. Once you got angry for any reason, next you searched for reasons to stay angry. Anger was like a baobab tree that grew on its own. Remembering that metaphor from a book he had read long ago, Gyeoul knew he had one of those trees inside him too.
He had wanted to be angry.
So he had searched for a worldview full of things shaped like people.
He left the barracks. One typhoon had passed and another was on the way, and the sky was a dull gray-white. The rain seemed to have paused for now.
On the way to regimental headquarters, after several friendly greetings, he ran into people who were not friendly at all.
“Listen to the words of the Bible! Truly, truly, I tell you! Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life!”
“Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself! Whoever does not believe God makes Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God gave about His Son!”
“And this is the testimony! God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son! Whoever has the Son has life! Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life!”
“Did you hear that! Whoever does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ has no life! Those who do not believe are already dead! What does it mean to be alive but dead? It means you will soon become the same as those offering eaters! Do you want to live? Do you want to live? The Bible has that path! The Bible is the Book of Life the Lord wrote to give you life!”
“Many people read this precious book carelessly! They are heretics! It is the road to hell! The proper interpretation of scripture is the power of a chosen prophet! Seek the gospel from our Pastor Park Tae-sun, anointed by miracles! You too can gain eternal life!”
The people holding pickets and Bibles with fierce energy were from the Full Gospel Saints. From the middle onward, it was classic cult nonsense, but to those who already believed, it carried the weight of truth.
Come to think of it, what exactly was that 「miracle」? Gyeoul remembered when colds had been spreading. Rumors had gone around. They said Pastor Park Tae-sun’s blessed holy water could cure every illness. Some guessed they had just slipped antibiotics into it, but nothing was confirmed.
‘If there really is something there, it could be another change I do not know yet.’
As he thought, one person approached him. The girl was clearly frightened.
Inside the Saints, Gyeoul was not viewed well. She had probably heard many malicious rumors.
Gyeoul turned to walk away. He tried to pass quickly, but the girl ran up and blocked him anyway.
“Excuse me! J-just, just a moment!”
People’s eyes turned. Regardless of affiliation, everyone was watching this strange standoff. In the middle of it, the girl’s hands trembled badly. Gyeoul finally stopped and made exactly the amount of smile he needed.
“What is it?”
“Th-this!”
Gyeoul took the paper she held out. It was small, packed with tiny handwriting. Surely not a letter. He looked it over. It was a missionary leaflet.
‘Did she make this herself?’
As expected, it was Bible verses.
「So now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)」
There was a lot more written besides that. He was just about to say he had no intention of taking up religion from this, when the girl beat him to it.
“L-Lieutenant Han Gyeoul! Aren’t you scared?”
“Scared of what?”
“The offering eaters!”
Offering eaters. That was what the Saints called infected mutants. Gyeoul denied it first.
“What if I am not scared?”
“You must not lie! The Lord hates people who lie! 「A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who speaks lies will perish!」 Proverbs 19:9! Please remember that!”
“Why do you think I would lie?”
“Because offering eaters are the Lord’s wrath! Maybe you are telling a lie without even knowing it! You think you are not scared, but deep down, that is not true!”
A question asked after deciding the answer was not a question. Still, the other person was a young girl, younger than him. Gyeoul kept his reply gentle and measured.
“That could be true. No one knows their own heart perfectly. Still, I know my heart better than anyone else. I do not think I need someone else telling me what it is.”
Maybe his soft attitude gave her confidence, because much of her fear disappeared. Religious zeal took its place. It was zeal that felt innocent for her age.
“There is a reason! Your life is on the line!”
“Sorry, but I do not have time to waste like this. Excuse me.”
“No!”
The girl grabbed Gyeoul as he tried to pass. He could have shaken her off, but that would not look good. While he hesitated for a second, she began preaching again.
“Ugh! Please, read what I just gave you! God said those in Jesus are not condemned! If you believe in Lord Jesus, those offering eaters will not be able to harm you, Lieutenant! Listen to our pastor and escape the valley of death!”
As she spoke, the hand gripping his sleeve turned white. She was that desperate. At least from her side, she was doing this because she truly worried about him.
While he peeled her fingers away one by one, Gyeoul realized the girl’s strength was strangely high. Even the Threat Level evaluation from 「Combat Sense」 put her around an average adult male.
‘It is already abnormal that a 「Threat Level」 evaluation appears in the first place...’
At this rate, the only interpretation was that the girl had innate warrior potential. Even then, it meant nothing in front of the corrections attached to Gyeoul. He removed her hand, then held both her hands together in his own, studying her with new eyes.
If he let go now, she would probably grab him again. Gyeoul soothed her with calm words.
“I will read it, so please let me go now. I promised to meet the regimental commander. Being late would be a problem.”
“Then it is a promise with me too! You said you would read it, so you have to read it! Lying is...”
“The thing the Lord hates, right? Understood.”
Only then did the girl step back. She looked about middle-school age. After taking a few steps away, she bowed deeply with a flushed face.
“Thank you for giving me your time! If Lieutenant comes to church, everyone will be happy!”
Gyeoul answered with a silent nod, started walking again, and checked the time. He had left with plenty of room from the start. Even after being held up, it was not enough to make him worry about being late.
From behind him, he heard the girl call out, still unable to let it go.
“Pastor Park Tae-sun saved me with a 「miracle」! I hope a miracle comes to you too, Lieutenant!”
Hmm. He turned for a moment. The girl was smiling brightly, waving hard. Gyeoul asked her:
“What is your name?”
“Me? Wow, I am Hwangbo Esther! If you really come to church later, please say you came through my introduction!”
Gyeoul decided to remember that the girl was someone who had experienced that 「miracle」.
============================ Author's Afterword ============================
#Empathy
The dystopia depicted in the Ossuary is, in the end, a world of people who do not empathize. Everyone, please do not hate each other just because your opinions differ. Closing that gap is always done through conversation, not fighting.
#Model
When asked about Gyeoul’s model, LuckySeven7-nim said it was the author himself. Thank you so much. Be careful when you sleep. There might be a Great Old One under your bed.
#Q&A
Q. OneChance-nim: @When I happened to have thoughts about colors in my second year of middle school and told a friend, they started seeing me as an edgy middle-schooler! They still tease me with that whenever they remember. What a childlike-innocence-filled friend!
A. Sounds like a good friend! Please send them to the bottom of the Baltic Sea!
Q. twking5008-nim: @O Great Old Ruler (pfft)! I offer sacrifices (recs, comments) for childlike innocence. Please be satisfied!
A. I am satisfied. Receive my blessing. [Childlike Innocence recovery speed +10%]
Q. PersonTree-nim: @This suddenly came to mind, but I saw the businessman who bought Gyeoul’s body as someone who stayed faithful to his wife his whole life, to the point he could feel betrayal himself, and even in illegal deals he kept his own standards? So the sprout that started from his wife’s betrayal blooms into incest, right? Heok heik, childlike innocence, childlike innocence!
A. Ah... this childlike innocence is defective... By any chance, did your childlike innocence battery explode? The Little Prince in the Ossuary is a good childlike innocence charger, but I do not think the spec matches.
Q. OurArts-nim: Was your nickname taken from Tongu+Skka?
A. What is Tongu, and what is Skka? My nickname came from the Tunguska Explosion. They say the cause was most likely a meteor impact.
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