Chapter 482: I Deeply Love This Country
Chapter 482: I Deeply Love This Country
"Your Highness Oger, you've saved us again! We're truly grateful!"
Oger flicked his long spear dismissively, not even glancing at the fallen pirate. He turned to the man cradling his daughter, flashing a smile radiant enough to rival the sun.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, I'll always protect you all."
"Your Highness Oger!"
The man, overwhelmed by Oger's warmth, froze in stunned silence.
"With Your Highness Oger here, we'll never be in danger!"
"Yes! Oger is the Strongest! Pirates don't stand a chance against him!"
"Your Highness Oger!"
"Your Highness Oger!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Watching their genuine joy, Oger himself momentarily faltered.
That's right. As long as I'm here, this country will never face disaster! Pirates, illicit merchants, criminals – none will dare threaten this land hailed as a 'hunting ground' as long as I stand guard!
King Krayen Oger had always believed this.
He was powerful – exceptionally so.
He'd learned Haki and combat techniques from the 'Kingdom's Guardian Deity,' surpassing even his mentor. He'd rescued an old pirate, mastering that peerless combat style capable of piercing anything.
Everyone acknowledged his strength – and so did he.
A once-in-a-century prodigy in Krayen Kingdom's history, destined to save this nation that had suffered pirates treating it as their playground for a hundred years!
...
Again and again.
Every day, he repeated the same battles, eliminating intruders who came to 'hunt' their prey.
Again and again.
Again and again.
"My daughter!!"
When Oger arrived, all he saw was the man collapsed over his daughter's corpses, wailing in grief.
"Your Highness Oger."
The man looked up, tears streaming. "Pirates suddenly burst in and killed my daughter! Just one pirate!"
One pirate?
Oger turned to see Ba Bo approaching, dragging a dead pirate over his shoulder like a sack. The burly man's expression was grim.
"Your Highness."
"What happened, Ba Bo?" Oger asked.
"We were careless. While we were fighting the pirates outside, this one slipped through", Ba Bo lowered his head, guilt twisting his features.
The dead pirate was frail, barely more than skin and bones, wielding only a small dagger at his waist.
The grieving father was a muscular man – he could have subdued this weakling with one hand. And the crowd gathered around? Why had so many witnesses allowed this scrawny pirate to commit murder before their eyes?
Why?
...
"Your Highness Oger! More pirates have come! They... they killed my wife!"
...
"Your Highness Oger, my father..."
...
"Your Highness Oger!"
"Your Highness Oger!"
"Your Highness Oger!"
...
Like a nightmare. No matter how many pirates King Krayen Oger slaughtered, no matter how many pirate crews he crushed in nearby sea areas...
More fled criminals would always infiltrate the island, committing atrocities openly before the eyes of everyone.
No one resisted.
Why?
...
"Ba Bo, I want to recruit soldiers. Just the two of us aren't enough to Protect this country."
"Your Highness, we can't recruit soldiers."
Ba Bo's voice turned bitter. "Krayen Kingdom hasn't had soldiers for a long time. No matter how generous the pay, the people refuse to enlist. They fear pirates."
"Why?" Oger frowned.
"I don't know... Maybe I'm just an exception."
Ba Bo managed a wry smile, then grew solemn. "Your Highness, the future of this nation rests on your shoulders!"
Why? Why fear pirates? Why refuse to enlist and Protect the country? Can't pirates and illicit merchants be killed with a single stab like any ordinary man?
Why?
...
"Fight back! Fight back already! Pirates die from a single stab – just like this!"
In the streets, Oger had specially captured several live pirates, gathering citizens to witness. He drove his spear through one pirate's chest before the crowd.
"See? He's dead! There's nothing to fear! Just do as I do – they're flesh and blood, they can die!"
But no matter how he pleaded, his people remained unresponsive, some even turning away in discomfort. When he dragged a volunteer forward to execute a pirate, the man could do nothing but tremble and weep.
Krayen Kingdom's most cherished virtues of 'kindness' and 'gentleness' now revealed their fatal flaw.
Oger grew weary.
...
"Why won't you fight back?"
On that day, Oger finally snapped, confronting an elderly man who'd lost his children.
The old man's tragedy mirrored the earlier father's – in broad daylight, before many witnesses, a sudden pirate attack had robbed him of his children.
While the pirate killed, many had watched. The pirate escaped.
"What are you saying, Your Highness Oger? How could ordinary people fight back against pirates?"
The elderly man knelt beside his children's corpses, lifting his face. His eyes were hollow, numb with resignation.
That expression struck Oger like lightning. He stood frozen, his face gradually twisting into stunned disbelief.
"Your Highness, we can't fight pirates. We're grateful for your protection, but pirates only come for treasure. Even if my luck ran out and my children died, resisting would only bring more deaths next time. Better to endure. Wait for you to come, and the pirates will leave."
"Yes, Your Highness. We lack the strength to fight. Unlike you, we're not like you."
"Exactly, Your Highness! We can't fight pirates! They're too terrifying!"
"Yes! We've never been able to fight pirates since a hundred years ago!"
"Your Highness, please hurry and defend us from the pirates!"
The crowd chorused.
No resistance.
No fight.
Was this truly the case?
Oger gazed at his people. Their faces were filled with confusion and numbness.
They were gentle, kind, always ready to help others, to comfort the grieving.
They'd help bury entire families slaughtered by pirates.
But rage? Resistance?
None.
That day, the sun vanished behind dark clouds, unleashing torrential rain.
Just like this nation – it had never deserved a sunny day.
This country...
Had died long ago.
...
"Ba Bo, one person's strength has limits."
That day, Oger stood covered in blood, his voice cold as he addressed the shocked Ba Bo.
At his feet lay his father, sister, and brother.
"I once foolishly believed that if I grew strong enough, I could Protect and save this country. But I was wrong. I can kill pirates, kill criminals, but I cannot kill this numbness in our people."
"You called me a once-in-a-century genius of Krayen Kingdom, but even this genius has no solution. Saving this nation and its people requires more than one man's strength."
"Pirates can never be eradicated. I will grow old, I will die. Placing hope in another like me is unrealistic."
"I must awaken this nation's fighting spirit!"
"For that, I need hatred. They won't fight pirates or the monarchy? Then I'll force them to resist!"
"Let all sins fall upon me! Let the people fear me, hate me, until they can no longer endure and rise against me!"
"Once they rebel against the monarchy, they'll finally fight pirates too!"
"Saving this country won't be your burden or mine – only when this nation awakens can it truly be saved!"
...
"Kill!!!"
As the surging crowd charged up the steps, King Krayen Oger feigned terror, shouting, "Don't come closer! I am your King!"
He raised his hand, fingers splayed wide toward the people. His gaze locked onto Sag, the leader of the charge.
"DO You Truly Dare Overthrow ME?!"
"Yes! We'll never be oppressed again – by pirates OR kings!!!"
Sag roared, his silver-white spear lunging straight at Oger's throat.
Oger's eyes steeled. As the spear neared his neck, his gaze drifted past Sag to the entire crowd, their faces alight with fervor.
His eyes finally settled on Navy, the swordsman at the back of the crowd.
You ask why?
Of course, it's because...
King Krayen Oger's face, usually cold and gloomy, broke into a smile – radiant as the sun he'd once worn.
I deeply love this country.
And now...
It is saved.
Hiss!!
(End of Chapter)
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