Became the Weapon Monopolist of the Gods-Chapter 11: Immortal Hero (5)
The mood in the Joseon navy stationed at Byeokpa was filled with gloom.
Rumors had spread widely that the Japanese fleet numbered 133 ships.
The soldiers were terrified, fearful of when the Japanese would strike.
Normally, Yi Sun-sin would have gathered the soldiers on the beach and delivered a motivational speech to boost their morale.
─ “If you wish to live, you must die; if you wish to die, you must live.”
This famous quote from General Yi Sun-sin came from his rallying speech before the Battle of Myeongnyang.
And with the courage inspired by the general’s speech, the navy achieved the monumental victory in the Battle of Myeongnyang, a historical feat that would be remembered forever.
The victory at Myeongnyang wasn’t just Yi Sun-sin’s achievement alone, but a collective accomplishment of the 2,000 unnamed soldiers of the Joseon navy.
However...
‘I guess he hasn’t prepared yet.’
Despite the Japanese fleet being just half a day away, General Yi Sun-sin hadn’t yet delivered his speech.
As a result, the soldiers’ morale had plummeted, and they were on the verge of desertion.
“Damn it.”
At this rate, the terrified soldiers wouldn’t be able to achieve the miracle of Myeongnyang.
But I couldn’t pressure General Yi Sun-sin into giving an impromptu speech, either.
I had often felt through live speeches by politicians that an unprepared speech could do more harm than good.
A poorly delivered speech would have the opposite effect.
The problem was that General Yi Sun-sin showed no signs of finishing the speech in the next half-day.
Speeches, no matter how spontaneous they seemed, took an enormous amount of time to prepare.
The great speeches of historical figures we know weren’t made on the spot; they were the result of long preparation.
They consulted experts, hired skilled writers, and spent time refining their words—an entire process designed to produce moving, impactful statements.
Especially for General Yi Sun-sin, whose speech would go down in history as legendary. Such speeches couldn’t have been produced in a day or two.
The problem was, I didn’t know the full text of his speech.
All I knew was the famous quote: “If you wish to live, you must die; if you wish to die, you must live.”
I probably knew about as much as General Yi Sun-sin himself did.
“Damn it.”
As I leaned against the Manmul Sang counter, deep in thought, I suddenly had an idea.
‘...What if I just write it?’
I didn’t know exactly what speech General Yi Sun-sin had given, but I did know the speeches of historical figures.
I knew Hitler’s speeches that created the most fanatic regime in history, or Winston Churchill’s speeches as the British Prime Minister...
I could even recall speeches from cartoons and anime that left a lasting impression.
The speech by Captain Alvin from XX before his death charge was particularly memorable.
Maybe if I mixed them up a little, I could come up with a decent speech.
There would be no problem writing it in Hangul since the text would be automatically translated.
“...Should I try?”
The speech I wrote wouldn’t be exactly the same as General Yi Sun-sin’s, but the situation had become desperate.
The Japanese fleet was half a day away, and if I left it like this, the Battle of Myeongnyang would fail.
‘As long as the result is good, who cares?’
With my mind made up, I grabbed a pen and opened a notebook.
And I began ‘plagiarizing’ from famous historical speeches.
Yi Sun-sin, with the blank sheet of paper in front of him, held his brush in a state of deep contemplation.
But it wasn’t a strategic dilemma about how to fight the war.
‘Not being able to prepare the rallying speech is a huge problem.’
War is fought with strategy, but it’s the soldiers who carry out that strategy.
And Yi Sun-sin knew very well that it was the ‘morale’ that drove the soldiers.
However, Yi Sun-sin had not prepared the rallying speech to boost their morale.
He had wasted time capturing the excrement, and now there was no time left to write his speech.
“General, the soldiers are losing morale.”
Anwi urged him, but Yi Sun-sin did not respond.
In front of the blank sheet, he couldn’t figure out what to write...
‘This is bad.’
Just then, Yi Sun-sin, facing one of the greatest crises of his life, was about to take action.
─ “General, Choi Seon-in has arrived.”
“Choi Seon-in? Let him in.”
As the paper window opened, Choi Seo-jun walked in. Yi Sun-sin looked at him curiously and asked.
“Choi Seon-in, what brings you here?”
“I’ve come to offer a little help, as I thought the general might be struggling with the rallying speech.”
“Oh, the rallying speech?”
“Yes.”
Yi Sun-sin’s face lit up, and he immediately stood up. He took the notebook that Choi Seo-jun offered.
As he slowly read the text written in it, his eyes gradually grew wider, and soon a deep sigh escaped him.
“Ha! Did you really write this?”
“Indeed.”
“Truly, truly impressive handwriting...!”
“What does it say that’s got you so surprised? Huh!”
Anwi, with a curious expression, also took the notebook and looked at it, his mouth falling open.
“Immediately gather the soldiers at the harbor!”
“Understood!”
Anwi quickly left the room.
The sound of crashing waves was the only thing that echoed on the dawn beach of Myeongnyang.
As the torches pushed ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) back the darkness, more than 2,000 Joseon navy soldiers stood in formation.
Their faces were filled with fear and gloom.
Then, Yi Sun-sin, wearing his general’s uniform, walked toward them.
He looked over the frightened soldiers, and then spoke.
“The Joseon navy will lose today.”
A shadow fell over the faces of the soldiers.
They knew it too.
They knew they could never defeat the Japanese fleet.
With only 13 ships against 133 Japanese warships, victory was impossible.
But General Yi Sun-sin had confirmed that hopeless truth himself.
Someone, with a voice full of fear, asked.
“Then, are we going to die?”
“Yes, we will all be wiped out, and the waters of Myeongnyang will become the grave of the Joseon navy.”
“Then why... are we fighting?”
“Because we are the Joseon navy. We fight to pass on our will to the next generation.”
A famous quote from a military commander in fiction came out of Yi Sun-sin’s mouth.
“In the past six years of struggle, I have endured with only one thought—to defend our people. The one word I have never known is ‘surrender.’”
The speech of Adolf Hitler, who led Nazi Germany, echoed over the waters of Myeongnyang.
“But!”
I plagiarized.
“The thing I fear more than surrender is that if we do not stop them here, all hope for justice and freedom on this land will be gone.”
The radio broadcast by King George VI to the people.
“The only thing I can promise you is this.”
I plagiarized.
“I will be the shield on the front lines of the Joseon navy, and I will shed blood, effort, tears, and sweat.”
Winston Churchill’s inaugural speech.
“Victory cannot be guaranteed. I cannot promise that we will leave the battlefield without a single casualty.”
And...
“Yet, I hope to march into the battlefield with you.”
The famous quote from Yi Sun-sin’s speech echoed across history.
“If you wish to live, you must die; if you wish to die, you must live.”
(Desperation brings life; living brings death.)
“Those who wish to die, follow me.”
As Yi Sun-sin’s speech concluded, a quiet silence fell.
Only the sound of the crashing waves filled the still air.
Then, at one moment...
Clap, clap!
The sound of applause broke the silence. It spread through the soldiers like an infection.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Their tridents slammed against the sand.
“Woooahhh!”
A loud cheer shook the waters of Myeongnyang.
“Wow.”
I couldn’t help but click my tongue in astonishment.
With just one rallying speech, the gloomy atmosphere had been completely reversed.
As expected, mixing in some famous quotes had a huge effect.
This is why historical figures always delivered speeches before battles.
‘Incredible.’
It felt like I was watching a fanatic group at work.
Just as I marveled at the soldiers’ revitalized morale...
“Enemies!”
“The Japanese have arrived!”
The urgent cry of a scout pierced through the heated cheers of the soldiers.
Only 50 li away.
Hundreds of Japanese warships were rapidly advancing, covering the waters of Myeongnyang.
“All hands, aboard the ships!”
At Yi Sun-sin’s powerful roar, the confused soldiers began boarding the 13 Panokseon ships.
“Choi Seon-in, come with me!”
“Yes.”
Anwi approached and led me toward Yi Sun-sin’s Panokseon.
“Lift the anchor!”
“Row the oars!”
The sailors, now aboard the Panokseon ships, frantically raised the anchor and began rowing with all their might.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen
Swoooosh...!
With the dawn sky as their backdrop, the 13 Panokseon ships sailed across the waters of Myeongnyang.
Pooohhh─
As if to greet them, the trumpets blared, and the terrifying Japanese
warships swarmed like a horde of bees.
I gripped Napoleon’s rifle tightly, my nerves on edge.
‘If it comes down to it, I’ll just open the shop and escape.’
I had no intention of fighting here.
Even without my help, General Yi Sun-sin was bound to win the Battle of Myeongnyang.
That was history.
There was no reason for me to get involved.
Besides, as an E-rank hunter, this wasn’t a battlefield where I could be of much use.
“Hey, you there! What are you doing? Come help carry the cannons!”
“Ah, yes!”
I quickly moved after an unknown soldier who called for me.
Even though I didn’t want to, everyone else was working, so I couldn’t just stand around doing nothing.
“Hurry and move!”
“Yes!”
‘Ugh, this is so heavy.’
Carrying the cannonballs, made of heavy iron, was making my arms cramp.
“When the drums start, load the cannonballs into the cannon and set fire to the fuse.”
“Eh? I’ve never handled a cannon before...”
“Just aim, and you’ll be fine!”
Since they were short-handed, a soldier hastily handed me a cannon and left to help elsewhere.
“Ugh.”
Are they seriously asking me to fire this?
While I stared at the cannon with a confused expression...
Ding!
[The battlefield’s energy is detected.] [Napoleon’s Rifle’s abilities are activated.]
【Cannonball General Napoleon】
─ Napoleon, the hero of the French Revolution, dominated the battlefield with cannons. No one can match him in artillery.
Firepower: 500
Accuracy: +60%
“...Huh?”
What is this?
Boom─! Boom─! Boom─!
Before I could check the new abilities, the drums sounded.
“Fire the cannon!”
At the soldier’s shout, the others began firing the cannons.
“What are you doing! Fire already!”
“Ah, yes!”
As I froze up, the soldier next to me scolded me.
‘Forget it.’
I aimed at the nearest Japanese warship and set the fuse on the cannon.
As the fuse burned, the cannonball shot out.
Pooohhh─!
‘Ugh, why does it sound like that?’
The deafening sound of the cannon made me wince.
And then...
Kaaaaaa─!
The Japanese warship in the direction of the cannonball exploded with an enormous crash.
“...Huh?”
What? Why is it sinking?
‘Is it... fragile?’
The soldier who had been urging me to fire, now with a stunned expression, asked.
“What did you shoot?”
“Huh? I just did what I was told...”
“One more shot! Shoot at that ship!”
“Ah, yes!”
Pooohhh─!
─B-Bakemono!
Napoleon’s cannon had announced the beginning of the Battle of Myeongnyang.
