#409
Holiday Syndrome
After the historic day when the Earth-2 Human Alliance made contact with Earth-1 and China and Russia vanished from the map, the world changed completely.
While Earth-1’s civilization was bragging about opening new horizons of modern civilization through magic stones, dungeons, and the blessing of mana, it collapsed completely upon encountering the higher-dimensional civilization of Earth-2’s Human Alliance.
Advanced science became indistinguishable from magic.
Just like that, the technology of Earth-2, which used gates and dungeons—previously perceived as natural disasters on Earth-1—to navigate dimensions and break through permanent bidirectional gates between parallel universes, was almost magical when compared to Earth-1, which had barely begun to integrate mana and science, stuck at the elementary stage of measuring player abilities and dungeon outputs.
Earth-1’s modern civilization couldn’t keep up with the Earth-2 Human Alliance in any aspect.
Thanks to various advanced new technologies derived from research on bidirectional dimensional gates and over 30 years of accumulated science related to otherworldly invasions, along with the existence of supernatural abilities since the dawn of human history, Earth-2 had reached a stage where the utilization of such powers had far surpassed the primitive magic engineering and mana usage of Earth-1.
An EX-ranked player from Earth-1, reliant on their status window, couldn’t compete against the EX-ranked heroes of Earth-2, armed with superweapons and advanced technology.
Let alone the final bosses of the Human Alliance, the savior Kim Deok-Sung, who overcame the crisis single-handedly, and the swordsman Kurosawa Yuji, whose combat prowess was on par with him, proved that even a herd of EX-ranked players would struggle to even scratch them.
Not just the superhumans, but the weaponry of modern civilization, such as dimensional particle cannons, plasma torpedoes, magical barriers that reduce physical attacks covering entire ships, and dimensional bombardments dropping plasma bombs through opened gates—all these Earth-2 futuristic weapons could not be matched.
However, despite their overwhelming power, the Human Alliance maintained peaceful exchanges with Earth-1 as promised, aside from military actions related to Kim Deok-Sung and the preemptive strikes against Russia and China.
During this process, a minor incident occurred where Korean loan sharks, gangsters, villains related to Kim Deok-Sung’s parents, as well as high-ranking players backing them, influential politicians, and large Korean player guilds all mysteriously vanished overnight. But in the tumultuous Earth-1, it wasn’t considered a critical issue.
Thus, as the UN representatives of Earth-1 had anticipated and despaired, the economy, politics, and culture of Earth-1 quickly fell under the overwhelming soft and hard power of Earth-2.
Earth-2 is now under the influence.
It wasn’t a completely different race like aliens; it was a parallel world within the same culture as humanity, making it even more astonishing.
The change began with South Korea of Earth-1.
Kim Deok-Sung Special City, the future capital of the United Humanity Union, is being developed, adjacent to the land that used to be North Korea and is now directly governed by the Union. Earth-1’s South Korea has lost a significant number of high-level players and large player guilds to the United Humanity Union.
That country was the first to withdraw from the UN and join the United Humanity Union as an observer nation, leading many other countries of Earth-1 to follow suit.
“Our America of Earth-1 will officially withdraw from the UN and apply for observer status in the United Humanity Union, effective immediately.”
The United States of Earth-1 struggled to maintain the UN, which had become a mere puppet after everyone else withdrew. Ultimately, it could not withstand dimensional isolation any longer and joined the United Humanity Union as an observer nation via a presidential statement, leading to Earth-1’s complete subjugation.
Simultaneously, the UN and independent states of Earth-1 were entirely destroyed.
The United Humanity Union peacefully absorbed Earth-1 into its sphere of influence, constructing orbital elevators, space colonies, and permanent large two-way gates in Earth’s orbit while terraforming Mars and Venus for human habitation.
Moreover, the United Humanity Union sent exploration fleets and settlers to alien planetary systems, including Alpha Centauri, terraforming those worlds and incorporating them into its territory.
Thus, the United Humanity Union rapidly began to develop into an interstellar nation.
During this process, the Union utilized Earth-1’s dungeons and gates to start limited exchanges with other dimensions like medieval fantasy and martial arts realms. Some fantasy races and martial artists from those worlds even migrated to the United Humanity Union.
Despite the rapid changes in the universe day by day, the sacred capital of the United Humanity Union, Kim Deok-Sung Special City, has yet to be completed.
[From today, all of humanity’s major holiday, Chuseok, begins. For three days, all 16 billion people belonging to the United Humanity Union, from Earth to Alpha Centauri, will take a break. On all planets, there will be celebrations to honor the great leader, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, by making Songpyeon……]
Earth-2, Special City Seoul, the temporary capital of the United Humanity Union.
Next to Kim Deok-Sung’s residence stands his parents’ mansion.
Now, the grand holiday of not just the nation, but of humanity, Chuseok, has arrived even for him, who is treated as the leader of the Union and effectively an emperor.
*
[……On the internet, regardless of nationality, a Songpyeon Challenge and Hanbok Challenge to honor Mr. Kim Deok-Sung is trending. The atmosphere of these celebrations varies greatly across different regions. For instance, in Earth-2’s America, there has been a significant increase in the number of people heading back to their hometowns inspired by Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, resulting in sold-out airplane tickets……]
In the living room of the parents’ mansion.
Although called a living room, it was almost as large as a playground.
From the giant TV in the middle of the room, a somewhat surreal news report was playing.
Seeing an announcer tearfully calling my name while continuing with the holiday coverage, I was starting to confuse whether this was North or South Korea.
Moreover, the major holiday of the United Humanity Union?
I couldn’t fathom why the entire Union would celebrate a Korean holiday.
[……In Earth-2’s Japan, the popularity of Korean-style Songpyeon has surged greatly, with traditional wagashi shops starting to sell Songpyeon as well.]
Such stories weren’t present in the original work.
Now I understand that the original is a kind of record created by receiving information from parallel worlds, but still, this is just too much.
I know, but come on, it’s a holiday celebrated by all humanity.
This seems to be beyond just madness.
Just as I was about to turn off the TV, unable to stand it anymore.
“Hawawawawa! Mother! Girl! I want to know how to make songpyeon!”
A familiar voice rang in my ears.
It was Evangelin.
With her impressive pink twin tails and dressed in a hanbok like a newlywed, she was squatting and fiddling with the songpyeon dough.
Ah, right, today is the first day of the Chuseok holiday, and I visited my parents’ house with the wives.
Even though it’s called my parents’ house, it’s right next door, but since both our house and my parents’ house are enormous mansions, it doesn’t really feel like next door.
I had forgotten because the crazy news was blaring on the TV.
“That’s right! Mother! Eri-ring! I want to know how to make songpyeon too! Please tell me!”
As soon as Evangelin’s words finished, Eri winked and smiled.
“Hoh hoh hoh. My daughters-in-law. You were curious about how to make songpyeon? I’ll teach you now.”
With the large bowl of songpyeon dough in the center, my mother smiled at the heroines gathered around.
Initially, my mother had expressed reluctance to have 17 daughters-in-law, but now that quite some time has passed, she has grown accustomed to them and sometimes even cherishes them more than I do.
It’s a joke, but she often tells me that the heroines are a precious bunch.
Well, they may have weird speech patterns, but they aren’t bad people.
“Washboard. Are you pretending not to know how to make songpyeon, trying to flatter Mother? Isn’t it common sense for the virtuous wife of the Kim family to know how to make songpyeon beforehand?”
Similarly dressed in a blue hanbok, Rin glared at Eri and interrupted her.
I think I almost saw Rin in a hanbok for the first time today, as she usually only wears kimonos.
“Hmph. Cow. Who said she doesn’t know? Eri-ring isn’t just looking for a recipe that can be easily found on the internet; she wants Mother’s unique songpyeon making vision recipe. Well, Cow, since all your nutrients are concentrated in your chest and not your brain, you might not understand Eri-ring’s deeper meaning. Ebevebevebevp.”
After hearing Rin’s words, Eri stuck out her tongue and made a face at Rin.
“You, whose breasts are like a cliff and lack any motherhood… How dare you belittle the symbol of motherhood? If you’re jealous of my full, large breasts, just say so, Washboard.”
But Rin stayed unfazed, with a proud smile, resting her hands on her own overwhelming presence above her poofy hanbok jacket.
“What? Cow? Did you just say that? And Eri-ring is not flat! I’ve got a solid B cup and a slender body! And I’m the most beautiful girl in the galaxy?!”
Eri’s eyes widened at Rin’s words.
Under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn’t mind, but on Chuseok, especially in front of my parents, watching Rin and Eri erupt into a catastrophic argument over breast sizes was making my face burn.
After a long time, I felt my hands and feet curl up awkwardly.
I’ve gotten used to the light novel speech, but broadcasting that damned light novel dialogue live in front of my parents is a whole different ballgame.
Can’t we just stop already?
This is so embarrassing.
Twitch.
In fact, my mother’s face stiffened slightly.
“Hoh hoh hoh. Stop it, you two. Eri, Rin. You should get along well.”
But, as a seasoned adult, my mother intervened gracefully without panicking.
“Understood. If it’s Mother’s request, I’ll comply like a virtuous wife.”
“Hmph! I’m only letting it slide because it’s Mother’s request, Cow! There won’t be a next time!”
“No way!”
At my mother’s mediation, Rin and Eri puffed their cheeks and stepped back.
It felt like walking on thin ice.
Was the holiday meant for days like this?
Cold sweat dripped down my back.
“Alright, you asked me to teach you how to make Songpyeon, right? First, cut the dough with a knife, press it into a wide circle, and then put the prepared filling inside. Shape it beautifully, and it’s done!”
My mother demonstrated how to make Songpyeon.
The filling was, of course, sesame.
Anything like bean Songpyeon isn’t fit for human consumption.
In the basin were various colors of dough, not just white flour dough, but also mugwort green, pink, and yellow doughs.
“Like this, right? Right, Mother?”
The first to shape the Songpyeon was Olivia.
Dressed modestly in a Hanbok, Olivia, the blonde beauty, presented her properly shaped Songpyeon.
“Yes, that’s right. Our Olivia, how can you shape it so elegantly? With such beautiful Songpyeon, you might just give birth to a lovely daughter someday.”
My mother was amazed; Olivia’s Songpyeon indeed looked quite decent.
“Y-ye-yes? A lovely daughter?!”
Olivia was taken aback by my mother’s praise.
Her face turned bright red.
“Yes. In Korea, there’s a superstition that if you shape Songpyeon beautifully, you’ll give birth to a beautiful daughter.”
My mother continued explaining.
Her statement wasn’t wrong; it’s true there’s a superstition like that in Korea.
But the problem was that this wasn’t an ordinary Korea, and the 17 daughters-in-law weren’t ordinary people either.
When such superstitions appear in a light novel, it’s a cliché for the heroines who truly believe in it to go wild.
I shut my eyes tight, envisioning the catastrophe that would unfold.
“Ohohoho! Truly, only you, Mother, can appreciate the value of the Songpyeon crafted by the noble hands of Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, the eldest daughter of the Bonaparte royal family of France!”
Hearing my mother’s praise, Olivia covered her mouth with her hand and let out a lady-like giggle.
Her platinum hair fluttered as her face turned a deep shade of red with glee.
“Songpyeon, when shaped beautifully… a beautiful daughter?”
Wilhelmina, the ivory-haired beauty in a Hanbok, murmured softly as she gazed seriously at the colorful dough.
“A beautiful daughter is not something we can just ignore, right? Isn’t that right, sis?”
Beside her, Seira, the white Hanbok-clad girl with white hair and red eyes, clenched her fist and whispered in Wilhelmina’s ear.
“…I’m not your sis… Boo…”
Wilhelmina puffed her cheeks at Seira’s remark.
“I want a beautiful daughter too! For Mayu’s sake, if it means having a beautiful daughter…!”
“As a devoted wife, I can’t miss the chance for a beautiful daughter!”
Mayuzumi Mayu sparkled with starlight in her eyes, and Rin took a determined stance with the dough.
“I want to shape Songpyeon beautifully too and give birth to my lord’s beautiful daughter!”
“…I’m not interested in superstitions, but it wouldn’t hurt to shape Songpyeon beautifully. I’ll join in as well.”
With those words from Makoto and Aris, numerous heroines charged at the dough, reminiscent of a competitive race.
Crash, bang!
Watching the classic chaos unfold around the dough, I sighed.
Is this what they call holiday syndrome?
Realizing Chuseok had just begun, my vision went completely dark.
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