#411 – The Great Festival of Humanity
Lunar August 15th.
Finally, the harvest festival has arrived.
This morning, I got up and set the ritual table in the living room with my father.
As we placed soup, ribs, pancakes, and songpyeon on the table, I heard a voice.
“I know what this is! *Red on the East, White on the West! *Order of the Ritual!”
Olivia, with a lively expression in her hanbok, placed her hands confidently on her waist and laughed.
A French princess speaking about “Red on the East, White on the West” while wearing a hanbok—how did it come to this?
(Translator’s Note: *Red on the East, White on the West: The order of placing red fruits on the east side and white fruits on the west side during a ritual. *Order of the Ritual: The order of placing jujube, chestnuts, pears, and dried persimmons starting from the left.)
Where did it all go wrong?
“Hehe, indeed, miss. You are well-versed in Korean culture. I am glad I taught you.”
From the shadows, Bella, the hanbok-clad maid, emerged with a gentle smile.
“Hmph. Bonaparte, I know that much. I memorized everything in preparation for Chuseok. A true lady of the house should assist in setting the ritual table. I’ll help.”
“Eri-ring too! Eri-ring wants to set the ritual table too!”
Suddenly, Rin, dressed in hanbok, jumped in and started setting up the table.
As Eri joined in, the heroines rushed in all at once towards the ritual table.
Thanks to them, my father and I had no more tasks left.
In an instant, the ritual table was fully set.
It was a completely orthodox ritual setup, just like I had seen in textbooks.
“Now, let’s start the ritual. Everyone, gather around.”
As my father cleared his throat and spoke, the previously noisy heroines lined up behind us.
Seeing them standing in their colorful hanboks brought back memories.
My father lit the incense, and the ritual began.
Together with my father, mother, and seventeen heroines, we totaled exactly twenty for the ritual, reminiscent of a grand ceremony.
“Yoo Se-cha⋯⋯.”
Wearing a traditional hat, my father recited the ritual text, followed by a series of bows.
After all the ritual procedures were completed, we sat around the large table.
“Finally, we get to partake in the food! Hawa-wa-wa-wa! I’m so excited for the food, girls!”
Evangeline, in her pink hanbok, sparkled with excitement.
“Is this similar to the ceremony of sharing wine among brothers? Show us the Shinozaki-style ritual food…”
“Show me the vision of Kiryuu’s divination…”
Beside me, Rin clenched her fists with a serious expression.
A brotherhood toast, huh?
I’m losing it.
What’s with this divination?
“Alright, ladies, take a shot and down it!”
My father personally poured 청주 (cheongju) for the heroines.
My glass also filled with 청주.
As I gulped it down, the alcohol’s scent lingered at the tip of my nose.
I told you, I hate bitter alcohol.
With the divination done, the events for Chuseok were practically wrapped up.
Now all that was left was to clean up and have fun.
Just as I thought that…
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. Father, Mother.”
Han Seo-Jin stood up and spoke calmly.
Wait, Han Seo-Jin?
This feels ominous…
Just as I felt a slight unease, Han Seo-Jin continued.
“On this grand holiday of humanity, Chuseok, leaders from around the world have sent messages of greeting to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Beep.
As Han Seo-Jin spoke, the TV turned on.
A middle-aged man in a hanbok appeared on the large screen.
[Congratulations on celebrating Chuseok, great Messiah and national hero, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. I never imagined that a day would come when someone like me would send Chuseok greetings to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung… *sniff*… This is truly moving… *sniff*…]
It was the newly elected President of South Korea, succeeding the term of Kang Myung-Hyun.
The president teared up and then fainted right then and there.
“Oh my.”
“Goodness…”
Father and Mother were startled at the sight of the fainting president.
My face felt hot.
How embarrassing.
Why can’t they even film a video properly without causing a scene?
I’m losing it.
And it didn’t stop there.
[On this great holiday of Chuseok, we extend our greetings to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, the Messiah and leader of the Human Alliance. All 7.7 billion people on Earth-2 owe their lives to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. You are truly the savior of the new era. From now on, the United States of Earth-2 will fulfill all obligations and responsibilities as a member state and a permanent member of the Human Alliance.]
[On this great holiday of Chuseok, the Secretary-General of the Soviet Union sends greetings to the leader of the Human Alliance. It was thanks to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung that we had the opportunity to revive the Soviet Union, which was rotting from within under the League’s control and to steer it away from the path of ruin. I, along with the people of our Soviet Union, will forever respect Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.]
[The Prime Minister of Japan sends greetings to the leader of the Human Alliance. Nationwide, Japan is currently engaged in making 송편 (songpyeon) and hometown visits in honor of Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. We, Japan, humbly consider ourselves his maternal clan. The Japanese people take pride in having been entrusted with Mr. Kim Deok-Sung’s education. We wish you a wonderful holiday.]
[To the great hero of the Korean nation and the immortal sun, the savior of the world and leader of the Human Alliance, this is the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea sending respectful greetings. Are you enjoying the great national holiday, Chuseok? The 20 million Korean people, along with myself, admire Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, the immortal sun and savior of humanity. It would be an immense honor if you could visit Pyongyang on Earth-2 someday.]
[It would be an infinite honor if you could stop by.]
[I would like to greet the leader of the Human Alliance from the Vatican. Since Mr. Kim Deok-Sung defeated humanity’s enemy, the Human Alliance was established, and the world has become peaceful, with wars nearly disappearing. The priests and believers of the Orthodox Church and the Universal Church are also holding a thanksgiving mass for Mr. Kim Deok-Sung today. All of this is thanks to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung’s elimination of the enemy of humanity and God. This year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude once again.]
[The President of China greets Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, the pride of Asia, the savior of all humanity, and the leader of the Human Alliance, on behalf of 1.4 billion Chinese people. On the occasion of Chuseok, the Chinese people are making songpyeon instead of mooncakes and setting off fireworks to commemorate Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. We too were saved by Mr. Kim Deok-Sung on that day. The people of China will never forget his grace.]
A never-ending stream of videos showed world leaders wearing hanbok and performing deep bows.
It was painful to watch.
Embarrassing and mortifying.
Why are they acting like this?
Why are they playing this in front of my parents?
Is this some sort of audiovisual torture?
“Next up, greetings for Chuseok from global CEOs and the heroes of New Crowns…”
Just as the greetings from the leaders finally ended,
Han Seo-Jin dropped another bombshell declaration.
Seriously, stop it already.
Why are they making such a fuss over unnecessary greetings?
*
On Chuseok day.
While Kim Deok-Sung was struggling,
the same video was playing across all screens in the embassies of the Human Alliance spanning Earth-2, Earth-1, Mars, Venus, Alpha Centauri, and even the martial world and fantasy realms.
[Greetings, citizens of the Human Alliance. This is Kim Deok-Sung. Today is the great holiday of Chuseok. We celebrate the harvest of the year and…]
Earth-2.
In this world that regards Kim Deok-Sung as a savior and the birthplace of the Human Alliance, his video was being played everywhere.
In Times Square in New York, in Shibuya in Tokyo, at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul, in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Red Square in Moscow, London and Paris, even in unified Berlin and Dubai in the Middle East, and in Sydney, Australia.
Even in the Space Colony constructed in Earth’s orbit, Kim Deok-Sung’s Chuseok greetings were playing.
“Sniff sniff.”
“Long live Mr. Kim Deok-Sung!”
“O leader of the Human Alliance! Protect us forever!”
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung is the best!”
The citizens of Earth-2, watching Kim Deok-Sung’s video, were crying while wearing hanbok and waving the Taegukgi and the Human Alliance flag.
In the U.S., France, Japan, Germany, China, Taiwan, the Vatican, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and even the Pacific islands,
people everywhere on Earth-2, dressed in hanbok, were enjoying Kim Deok-Sung’s speech while eating songpyeon.
All the broadcasters of Earth-2 were also wearing hanbok, shedding tears while reporting on Kim Deok-Sung’s speech.
[The great holiday of humanity, Chuseok! Secret recipe for making songpyeon revealed! With this, can anyone be a songpyeon fanatic?]
[How to properly wear hanbok revealed! This is how you wear hanbok!]
“This is how you wear it!”
“Did you know that the Hanbok actually originated from Hanfu? Let’s properly explore the evolution of Hanfu!”
The media has started to release special articles about Chuseok one after another.
But the scenery of Earth-1 looked a little different.
Excluding the direct control regions like North Korea and parts of Africa, other countries were glancing strangely at the landscapes of Earth-2.
“What on earth is Chuseok?”
“They say it’s a Korean holiday?”
“Why is that world celebrating Korea’s holiday as a union holiday?”
“Hey, it’s a long weekend! What’s not to like?”
There were some puzzled looks, but surprisingly, there weren’t any negative vibes.
“Still, the heroes from Earth-2 are definitely better than those selfish player bastards.”
“Isn’t it funny how those player jerks neglect dungeons that don’t profit and then get schooled by the Earth-2 heroes?”
“Things have gotten easier than before, and they’re not even aliens, just fellow Earthlings. Joining the Humanity Union might not be a bad idea?”
“I can’t understand taking a break for Chuseok, but the welfare initiatives of the Hero Kim Deok-Sung Foundation are commendable.”
It had been 10 years since the age of the players began.
During that time, Earth-1 was essentially a society where players ruled as a privileged class, almost creating an invisible hierarchy.
Selfish players flaunted their powers, acting like bullies, while the law only offered them slap-on-the-wrist punishments.
They were untouchable due to their overwhelming might and wealth.
But did the players of Earth-1 fulfill their original duty of protecting the world from dungeons? Not at all. There were some heroic players at the start of the cataclysm, but as time passed and the player system became fully organized, dungeons and players turned into an industry.
There were far too many cases of players leaving unprofitable dungeons unattended, leading to forced dungeon breaks, which weren’t even newsworthy anymore.
In the age of players, dungeons were treated like money-making mines instead of disasters.
To the regular folks of Earth-1, players were more like thugs collecting protection money than friendly neighbors.
But heroes from Earth-2 were different. They actively challenged unprofitable dungeons and closed gates, striving to resolve injustices.
There were no issues with character or bullying at all. In fact, they tried hard to get along with regular people, which was a strange sight for civilians of Earth-1.
The heroes of Earth-2 were completely different from the selfish players, and crucially, their formidable power, enhanced with disease-inflicting weaponry, far surpassed that of Earth-1’s players.
The downfall of the player guilds and players who had been lording over others was nothing but a matter of time.
“If things keep going like this, the Humanity Union might not be so bad?”
“Honestly, Kim Deok-Sung doesn’t seem like the dictator everyone makes him out to be.”
As goodwill towards Kim Deok-Sung gradually increased even on Earth-1, the warm-hearted heroes’ achievements were slowly merging Earth-1 emotionally with the Humanity Union of Earth-2.
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