MTLNOVEL Chapter 10
Holding our bladders, we returned to the Door of the “Myriad Things Shop” and had a late lunch of Shin Ramyeon.
General Yi Sun-sin and Hanwi ate no less than eight packets and still weren’t satisfied, even mixing in rice with the broth in an outrageous display of appetite!
“Guh, this rice is outta this world! Where do you get this grain from?”
“It’s called Hetban.”
“Hetban?”
“It’s rice cooked by blending various kinds of grains.”
“Ho ho! Combining different fields’ harvests like that is truly remarkable!”
Truth be told, I don’t really know what kind of rice Hetban is either…
I just know it’s domestic.
“By the way, what device do you use to cook this rice?”
Hanwi was amazed that the microwave could cook rice perfectly in just two minutes and kept asking questions.
Each time, I kindly answered without holding back.
“It’s called a microwave, which heats food using electromagnetic waves called microwaves.”
“M-microwave? Complicated stuff. Truly, the sorcery of the sages is wondrous.”
Even if I explained properly, they wouldn’t understand anyway, so there was no need to hold back.
“This will be the last time you can eat this ramen.”
Yi Sun-sin looked at the empty ramen bowl with longing.
Instead of his usual white robes, he was wearing the red military uniform of Joseon.
Even while enduring banishment, he always carried his arms ready to return to duty at any moment.
His attire was exactly how I’d seen him depicted in history books as a general…
…except for the Coca-Cola can in his hand.
“I’ll probably find other foods tasteless after this.”
“That’s true. The thought of not being able to eat these delicious things anymore makes me want to settle down here. Haha.”
Hanwi also showed deep reluctance about leaving the Myriad Things Shop.
The two couldn’t tear themselves away from modern foods loaded with MSG.
However, having received King Seonjo’s royal decree, they had to head to Jangheung despite themselves.
“Master Choi, we’ve caused you much trouble during our stay.”
“Just a moment.”
As Yi Sun-sin was about to say goodbye, I stopped him, took out a gas burner, and lit a flame outside.
“And now for some sorcery.”
“This talisman looks different from those used by mudangs.”
Thinking the thousand won bill was a talisman, Yi Sun-sin and Hanwi watched quietly as I set it on fire.
In Joseon where spirit possession and mudangs were common, such acts weren’t particularly surprising.
When the partially burned bill fell to the ground and I stood up…
“He says you should come along.”
“Together?”
“Yes. That’s what he said.”
It was a made-up excuse since I had no real reason to go along.
==
─Help Admiral Yi Sun-sin win the Battle of Myeongnyang!
Reward: Legendary Artifact
==
‘This won’t do. We can’t part ways here.’
No matter what, I needed to stick with Yi Sun-sin until the Battle of Myeongnyang since that was the mission given to me by the Status Window.
So I pretended to be a crazy sage, though I had no idea if it would work. In reality, such behavior would just get me labeled as weird.
But surprisingly…
“You can read the celestial omens too?”
“Master Choi, let’s go together.”
It worked easier than expected.
‘Good call on going with the sage act.’
Anything I did, they found meaning in it.
Cults don’t appear for nothing.
*
Since the Myriad Things Shop appeared deep in the mountains far from any houses, our first night involved camping in the wilderness.
Chirp chirp—
With grasshoppers chirping and animal cries echoing somewhere in the distance, the mountain evening was quite cold.
Crackling, crackling.
We warmed our frozen bodies by the campfire sitting side by side.
“We’ll have to go hunting before sunset if we’re going to eat dinner.”
“I’ll go.”
“There’s no need.”
When Hanwi tried to stand up with his bow to hunt, I stopped him.
“If there’s no need, does that mean you brought food?”
Both Yi Sun-sin and Hanwi looked at me curiously.
All I had was a small backpack from the Myriad Things Shop.
“Yes, I brought some provisions.”
I took out a mat from my backpack, spread it out, and placed a gas burner and grill on top.
“…This sorcery certainly seems convenient.”
“The size is small but it holds quite a lot.”
The two watched with amazement as I kept pulling things out of my small bag.
That’s because my bag wasn’t ordinary.
An extradimensional backpack.
A magical item with internal space much larger than its external appearance.
Popular among hunters as an “inventory” for carrying all sorts of things conveniently.
About 500 liters in size. Think of it as the equivalent of five military rucksacks.
I took out pork belly, lettuce, perilla leaves, pine mushrooms, etc. from my backpack.
“Master Choi, what kind of meat is this?”
“Pork belly.”
“Ho ho, the cuts are exceptionally precise.”
Hanwi marveled at the consistent slicing done by the butcher machine.
“In that case, I’ll start grilling.”
Once the grill heated up, I placed the pork belly on it.
Sizzle—
The pork belly started cooking immediately, emitting a mouthwatering sound and aroma.
“Gulp.”
“Um.”
Yi Sun-sin and Hanwi swallowed.
I waited for the meat to cook properly before flipping it.
Sizzle—
The nicely browned surface was revealed.
“Whoa.”
This was it.
The color was amazing.
After finishing the other side, I cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces with scissors.
Then, I wrapped some in lettuce with pine mushrooms and perilla leaves and offered it to Yi Sun-sin.
“General, please try it.”
“Thank you.”
Despite maintaining a dignified expression, Yi Sun-sin couldn’t hide his appetite as he quickly picked up the ssam and brought it to his mouth.
“Mmm?!”
“Wow, this taste is incredible!”
“Give me some too. Is this how you eat it?”
Unable to resist Yi Sun-sin’s exclamation, Hanwi hastily made a ssam and brought it to his mouth, then burst out in admiration.
‘Which scholar claimed people in Joseon disliked pork again?’
They sure aren’t refusing now.
Watching them eat, I finally made a ssam and brought it to my mouth.
“Mm.”
I involuntarily started humming.
The appropriately fatty meat danced in harmony with the fragrant perilla leaves in my mouth.
With the cool breeze, the full moon hanging round and bright, and the open mountain scenery. Plus this delicious meal.
Our first camping experience in Joseon was a success.
*
One concern I had while heading to Jangheung was not being able to use the “Myriad Things Shop.”
Since I would be with Yi Sun-sin, I wouldn’t be able to return to the mountain hollow where the shop appeared.
‘This lack of shelter might be problematic.’
This inconvenience went unnoticed during the Napoleon period since we stayed in one place.
However, my worry was erased the very next day after camping.
“Let’s stay here at this abandoned house today.”
Unable to find housing the next day, we decided to spend the night at a deserted house we discovered.
When I opened the door first…
To my surprise, it led to a familiar space.
‘Huh? Why is the Myriad Things Shop…’
Through the door of the abandoned house stretched out my own shop.
“Master Choi, I didn’t know you could perform such sorcery.”
“Truly impressive!”
“…”
At Yi Sun-sin and Hanwi’s exclamations, I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
==
◆Dimensional Connector
─Can install a door connecting to the Myriad Things Shop.
─Mana Cost: 1000
─Uses Remaining: 3/3
─Caution: 3-day cooldown after use.
==
‘There’s a feature like this too?’
While surprising, it made perfect sense.
After all, the location where the Myriad Things Shop appeared never made sense in the first place.
Whether it was some random alley entrance leading to the shop during the Napoleon period or this time an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere turning into the shop entrance.
There was no need to feel strange every time the entrance changed.
‘This convenience is great.’
On the other hand, General Yi Sun-sin began recruiting soldiers to fight alongside him while heading to Jangheung.
And I got to witness firsthand just how incredible his popularity was.
Just how many patriotic commoners there were.
“I would gladly give my life to fight alongside the General!”
“General! Though I am old and inexperienced with swords, if I can fight the Japanese, I will join you willingly!”
Everywhere we went, the sentiment towards Yi Sun-sin among the common folk was extremely positive, and volunteer soldiers willingly followed him.
“I, Bae Heung-rip, will join forces with the General!”
“Here comes Song Ye-jeong!”
Starting with 60 men in Jinju, we reached 120 by Gurye, 200 by Suncheon, 300 the next day, 500 the day after, 700…
By the time we finally arrived in Jangheung, 2000 soldiers were following Yi Sun-sin.
Throughout the entire journey, I felt awe and admiration.
The admiral who started alone without a single soldier, merely appointed by King Seonjo like an afterthought, had become a general leading thousands of naval troops.
This was the result of the “undefeated legend” Yi Sun-sin demonstrated throughout the Imjin War.
Having fought through countless battlefields over six long years without a single defeat.
‘Well, if you have a general like this, patriotism would naturally arise.’
Seeing the volunteer soldiers willingly joining Yi Sun-sin, I once again realized the immense power held by the existence of a hero.
If someone like Yi Sun-sin existed in 21st century Korea, Seoul wouldn’t have fallen so easily to monsters.
However, even such a great general was left speechless upon seeing the forces allocated to him.
“General! There are only 12 panokseons available!”
“General! The 21 chontamseons are all we have!”
12 panokseons, 21 reconnaissance ships.
This was the fleet given to Yi Sun-sin.
And the last remaining strength of Joseon.
“…”
During the Imjin War, Yi Sun-sin had amassed over 300 warships and 4 turtle ships, all of which sank while he was banished.
“General, at this rate…”
“We will gather the panokseons and move to Yijinpo!”
While Anwi cautiously suggested retreating, Yi Sun-sin silently gathered the remaining fleet and moved to a larger harbor.
They managed to acquire 1 additional panokseon and 12 more chontamseons.
However, the efforts were rendered meaningless when rumors spread among the scouts returning from reconnaissance.
“The Japanese ships cover the sea black!”
“They’ve already entered Haenam!”
News came of the approaching massive Japanese fleet.
The fear of hundreds of Japanese ships arriving at any moment weighed heavily on the soldiers.
Late in the evening, when I visited Yi Sun-sin, he was reading the royal decree sent by King Seonjo.
“His Majesty orders us to disband the navy and return to Seoul to plan for the future.”
Looking at his reflection in the transparent blade of the Twin Dragon Sword, Yi Sun-sin asked me.
“Master Choi, what do you think?”
“Do as the General wishes.”
“Do you know what I wish?”
“Whatever I say, won’t the General still choose to fight?”
“…”
“Then fight.”
Instead of answering me, Yi Sun-sin started grinding ink in his inkstone.
He then began writing a reply on hanji paper with his brush.
I read its contents.
─Your subject still has 12 ships remaining. As long as this humble servant lives, the enemy shall not dare…
Watching Yi Sun-sin write the reply by candlelight, I quietly left the room.
Half a month later, the massive Japanese fleet numbering in the hundreds covered the seas of Myeongnyang.
September 16th of the Jeong-yu year.
The fateful day had arrived.