“Don’t worry. We’ve been preparing for this for a long time. Even if I’m gone, my family will stay behind. And we have you.”
“Power is like a monster in itself. How can you trust me?”
“You could’ve thrown me out a long time ago if you wanted to. Why would I not trust you?”
Joonbum smiled and Jackson smiled back.
“You’ve got me.”
“But seriously, do you want this seat? You can have it if you want it.”
Jackson paled and shook his head.
“No thanks, Your Majesty. No one in their right mind will want to take that throne. I’ll have insomnia worrying every day about assassinations the day I sit on that throne.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“No, it is.”
Jackson then realized something and asked, “When did you last sleep?”
“Huh?”
“Do you even remember the last time you slept?”
Joonbum then realized what Jackson was trying to say.
“Oh, I probably slept for twenty minutes about two months ago?”
“Look! You spend twenty-four hours always doing something. Everyone knows that you are special in that you don’t need sleep.”
“Right.”
Joonbum answered as Jackson continued, “If I sit on that throne, people will compare me to you. Even if I sleep a bit more, I’ll be known as the lazy emperor that sleeps all day. Ugh, I would never want that position, nor would anyone in their right mind.”
“Haha!” Joonbum smiled, “Keep the empire safe.”
“Goodbye, Your Majesty. My hair will be covered white by the time you get back.”
“Yeah…. I guess so.”
People gathered around the parade. It was a day when millions of troops marched towards the mountain where the Gate was. The red Marauder leading them drove in front.
People shouted, chanted, and cheered. Tens of trucks played marching music as they drove past. It was the finale of the beginning of the war celebration. Joonbum hated stuff like that but Jackson insisted on having a celebration to have people remember it for a long time.
It was going to be a ten-year-long memory. Jackson was right in his choice. He said that people in their right mind would not want the emperor’s seat, but there were a lot of people who had crazy minds.
“Ugh, I don’t like this,” Joonbum smiled as he commented.
“But it will serve as a warning to those who might become greedy. We can’t leave our kids with our troubles.”
“Hmph! They should grow up rough, that will make them strong. They need to fight their own way out,” Jinpok retorted grumpily.
“The first troops should have finished by now.”
Jinpok spoke as he reclined back on his seat in the Marauder.
“I received a report that they have secured the perimeter by the Gate. I think it was easier than we thought. However, we have pictures of destroyed buildings and plants blocking our way.”
He then showed a few pictures to Joonbum.
“It’s as Taesoo said.”
“Yeah. It really is a mess. I guess human civilization has no chance against natural disasters.”
The photos showed buildings that had collapsed or had sunken deep into the earth, and they were covered with trees and plants.
“However, we have a good chance.”
“Right,” Joonbum answered.
Jinpok then hesitantly opened up, “By the way, I heard that they have complaints relating to residence limitations and permits to exit the empire.”
Jinpok was talking about the people from Earth. It had been 10 years since they arrived and the Eepire had welcomed them with open arms. They were the ones with higher education and ample experience. They needed protection and help and the empire provided it to them in return for their knowledge.
However, as time passed, they wanted more. There were some who wanted to move out of the empire.
“I heard that there are some who dream of becoming the 2nd Emperor or King.”
“Is that possible?”
“It should be. Humans can do such a thing.”
Jinpok mused and Joonbum laughed.
“Well, we’ve got time. We’ll see what happens when we return.”
Soon, they were out of the city walls. A path opened up before them as the troops parted. The Marauder’s engine roared.
“Let’s go!”
It was sunset by the time they arrived at the Gate.
“It’s been a while.”
It was a sight that Joonbum used to see every day. He remembered the past when he was mesmerized by its majestic nature.
‘I used to love this view.’
Those were the days when he would look out at the view in astonishment. The days when the stars in the night sky were enough to get him excited. Those were the days of his youth.
‘It has already been twenty years.’
End of Chapter
