Chapter 465 : Government Posts (5)

Hyeokryeon ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Cheon-gang broke the silence that had settled over the hall. “The Minister of Finance’s words may seem sound at first glance, but there is one glaring issue with his proposal."

“And ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍what might that problem be?”

Hyeokryeon ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Cheon-gang answered Wi Jin-hak’s question. "If we split the leadership of the Divine Cult from the leadership of the Empire, the Minister of Finance—who already holds one of the highest possible ranks in the cabinet— may grow far too powerful.”

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍seemed that Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang had arrived at the same conclusion as Il-mok.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only difference was that Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang had voiced it openly.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍officials who had already been thinking the same thing nodded in agreement, while those who belatedly realized this wasn't merely a debate about the separation of religion and state began glaring daggers at Zhuge Mun.

Suddenly finding himself as public enemy number one, Zhuge Mun spoke. “Your Majesty. Might this humble subject be granted an opportunity to answer these accusations?”

“Speak.”

Taking his cue, Zhuge Mun rose to his feet and turned to face Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang.

"This is truly baffling. This humble official merely mentioned the separation of religion and state. If my familial ties with the Empress are the issue, would it not suffice for His Majesty to simply take in concubines? Having multiple heirs is only natural for the stability of an Empire. There is no reason to oppose it.”

"Even if His Majesty were to take concubines, the one who bore the greatest legitimacy is naturally the firstborn son of the Empress.”

Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang’s objection caused Zhuge Mun to laugh.

"Even if we separate the religion from the state, designating the Crown Prince is a right that belongs exclusively to His Majesty the Emperor. Tell me, Minister of Education, how dare you presume to privately decide a matter for His Majesty to determine?"

With his argument countered, Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang could only hold himself back as his face turned bright red.

The others, too, found it difficult to speak up. They had realized that going toe-to-toe with Zhuge Mun in a debate was the same as willingly stepping into a landmine.

Seeing the verbal slaughter, Il-mok could only swallow a sigh.

‘It will be difficult to know which it is for certain.’

The minister's intentions remained impossible to pin down. Maybe he had spoken out of genuine concern. Or maybe he was merely trying to secure an advantageous position before stepping back.

Trying to figure out what was going on inside that sly man’s head was next to impossible.

Still, Il-mok couldn't just sit back and let the man control the entire narrative. He put a smile on his face and chimed in.

“The Minister of Finance’s words are indeed correct. In this humble subject’s view as well, if a Holy Emperor is chosen according to the current system of the Divine Cult, it invites instability. Sooner or later, it is bound to become the source of serious conflict. If so, shouldn't we first discuss exactly how the successor will be chosen?"

It was a rebuke asking why they were automatically assuming that the Emperor’s children must be designated as successors.

“If a fairer and more stable method exists, then there will be no reason to discuss the separation of religion and state at all.”

No sooner had Il-mok finished than Zhuge Mun’s lips curled into a faint smile.

It was not a sneer.

To Il-mok, it looked almost as though he were enjoying himself.

"Well then, what is this incredibly stable and fair method that Your Excellency the Grand Preceptor has in mind?"

Il-mok had seen that question coming from a mile away. It was a classic trap he had fallen into far too many times in his past life. 

In the corporate world, the moment you pointed out a problem, management always fired back with: 'Okay, so what's your solution?'

And the moment you offered a solution, it became your responsibility to execute it.

That, too, was part of working life.

Obviously, Il-mok had no intention of taking on more unpaid overtime. 

He gave the room a polite smile.

"Oh, we have a room full of brilliant minds right here! I’m

"With so many distinguished minds gathered here, I'm sure we can arrive at a solution together, don’t you agree?”

Zhuge Mun’s smile crumbled. He had been racking his brains to refute whatever answer Il-mok might give, only for his opponent to give him nothing to work with.

Barge into a discussion, point out a problem, refuse to elaborate, then leave.

It didn't matter whether it was a university group project or a work project; it was the most infuriating thing a teammate could do.

‘Well, not my problem.’

His purpose from the beginning had been to obstruct Zhuge Mun.

And the situation unfolded exactly as Il-mok had intended.

Those gathered in the hall began moving their mouths without pause, offering various methods for selecting a successor.

"Separating the religion and state is blasphemy! It’ll rip the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult right down to its roots! Just as it has always been, the strongest among us must ascend to the position of Cult Leader and rule over us all!"

Ah, the religious extremists.

These hardline conservatives were screaming for blood, refusing to accept even a millimeter of progress.

"No, the separation is necessary! But since our Divine Cult is built on martial might, we just have to evaluate the Emperor's children and crown the one with the highest accomplishment as the Crown Prince!”

The conservative moderates offered what they considered a compromise, though it was little more than old doctrine wrapped in new language.

“If the Holy Emperor is chosen by martial arts and the Crown Prince is also chosen by martial arts, then what was the point of separating religion and state?”

At least one person had enough sense to point out the obvious flaw in their reasoning.

And right in the middle of this circus, Zhuge Mun—one of the only two radical progressives in the entire building—was going full one-man army against the wave of fanatics.

"Martial arts might be great for executing the evils and upholding order, but governing a nation is an entirely separate matter! How can you possibly suggest we pick the Emperor of a massive nation based on how hard they can hit things?!"

"Telling people that 'the strongest rules' is basically telling them that anyone can take the throne! If you read between the lines, you're practically begging people to start a rebellion! We have to restrict the line of succession to people with actual legitimate claims!"

As he took fire from every direction and screamed back at a room full of meatheads, Zhuge Mun’s usual signature unflappable composure was gone. His face was beet red, and his voice was hoarse.

Watching the bloodbath safely from the sidelines, Il-mok sipped his metaphorical tea.

‘Man, he is fighting for his life out there.’

Even though Il-mok had deliberately derailed the meeting into a complete dumpster fire, he actually did have a succession plan in mind.

Ironically, Il-mok's ideal scenario was also heavily based on separating the religion and state.

Among those who sought to break away from the Heavenly Demon Cult's centuries-old order, only two men could truly be called radicals.

One was Zhuge Mun; the other was Il-mok.

Yet despite sharing the same desire for reform, their visions could not have been more different.

If he had to compare it to anything, Il-mok’s ideal resembled the political systems of Britain or Japan from his previous life.

Even in the twenty-first century, both nations had retained their royal families. The monarch remained the nation's symbolic figurehead, while the actual business of governing was left to elected officials.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult could function in much the same way.

So why was it that despite having conceived a solution of his own, he had kept silent and deliberately thrown the meeting into disarray?

Sabotaging Zhuge Mun was a nice bonus, but mainly…

‘Trying to introduce democracy in medieval China is literally insane.’

Fundamentally, Il-mok himself knew full well that it was impossible to realize.

The people’s level of education and the fixed notions held by those of this era were secondary concerns.

To form a Cabinet and elect a Prime Minister, you first need to hold a nationwide democratic election.

In this era, however, holding an election in the first place was all but impossible. Simply getting ballots into the hands of every citizen would be a nightmare on its own. Even if that hurdle could somehow be overcome, there was no telling how many opportunists would take advantage of the situation during the whole process.

Even in the technologically advanced modern world, vote tampering remained a problem in countries across the globe. Attempting to hold a nationwide democratic election in this age would only render the process meaningless. It would be nothing but a waste of administrative resources and money.

His experience from his previous life proved as much.

Whenever election season came around, the work dumped on him by the National Election Commission nearly paralyzed his regular duties. Unpaid overtime and weekend shifts had practically become his entire life.

If running an election was that much of a hellscape in modern-day South Korea, where the population was densely concentrated and technology highly developed, how the hell was he supposed to run an election here?

He couldn't even fathom how many thousands of bureaucrats he’d have to grind into the dirt just to get it done.

‘If I had stood up and suggested we hold an election, they 100% would have made me the guy in charge of organizing it. Ugh. I'm getting a migraine just thinking about it.’

While Il-mok was busy shivering from his corporate PTSD, a booming voice infused with profound internal energy rattled the walls of the hall.

“Enough!”

Only then did silence descend upon the boisterous hall that had been filled with voices.

Wi Jin-hak swept his gaze across those assembled in the hall before speaking. “I have heard all of your opinions well. As the Minister of Finance has said, I too understand that sticking to the Divine Cult’s survival-of-the-fittest tradition puts this Empire at massive risk of collapsing or tearing itself apart in the future."

But just as Zhuge Mun was about to release a sigh of relief at Wi Jin-hak’s words—

“However, there will be no separation of religion and state.”

Wi Jin-hak drove the point home completely. “As I lead this new Empire,  I will continually consult with you all to invent a better and safer succession system. Furthermore, until such a method has been established and should I depart this world due to an unforeseen accident, illness, old age, or the like, then select the Cult Leader according to the existing system.”

In other words, they would change the system if a reasonable solution emerged; if not, they would retain the old one.

Maybe it was because Wi Jin-hak’s tone left no room for argument, but even though his grand plan for separating the religion and state had just gone up in smoke, Zhuge Mun simply bowed deeply.

“This humble subject shall obey Your Majesty’s will.”

***

That night, Il-mok left his quarters and headed somewhere.

When he reached his destination and made his presence known, the door swung open to reveal a very familiar middle-aged man.

“Welcome, Grand Preceptor.”

With a smiling face, Zhuge Mun ushered him inside. “Would you prefer tea or wine?”

"Tea will be fine, thanks."

The two men took a seat across from each other. A maid quietly stepped in to pour their tea, and the moment her task was done, Zhuge Mun ordered her to leave.

Once they were completely alone, Zhuge Mun took a sip of tea and asked, “What brings you here at such a late hour?”

“There are several things I wish to ask.”

"By all means, ask away. Hahaha."

Il-mok took a sip of tea before directing a question at the relaxed-looking Zhuge Mun. "Why did you stick your neck out like that today? Why take such a risk to push for the separation of religion and state?"

“Those who originally belonged to the Heavenly Demon Cult may find it difficult to agree, but I too have staked everything on the Divine Cult. And yet, I can see clear as day that the Empire I've staked everything on is going to collapse like a house of cards in a few decades if nothing changes. How could I just sit back and let that happen?"

At Zhuge Mun’s inscrutable expression, Il-mok pressed the issue. "That must be pretty disappointing for you, then. His Majesty has made it clear that religion and state shall remain united.”

Zhuge Mun let out a soft laugh and answered. “My purpose was only to change the method by which successors are chosen. The separation of religion and state itself matters little. As I said in the hall, a system under which anyone who is strongest may become Holy Emperor will bring disorder in the future. So long as the Holy Emperor may be chosen only from among qualified individuals, whether religion and state are united is of no great consequence.”

Suddenly, Il-mok recalled a certain voice he had heard in the hall.

The foolish suggestion that the Holy Emperor and the Emperor should be separated, while the strongest among the Emperor’s children should be made Crown Prince.

But what if that solution were adopted while religion and state remained united?

The Emperor's strongest child wouldn't just become the Emperor; they would become the Holy Emperor of the entire Divine Cult.

And this method was commonly used among the great clans of the Central Plains, though not within the Heavenly Demon Cult.

‘Was this his aim from the very beginning? To make his own grandson the Holy Emperor?’

Just as Il-mok entertained that suspicion, Zhuge Mun spoke again. “I know well that Your Excellency, the Grand Preceptor, suspects my intentions. But might you consider the matter from the opposite perspective, if only once?”

“From the opposite perspective?”

When Il-mok wore a puzzled expression, Zhuge Mun elaborated. "The undisputed second-in-command of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The man every single cultist assumes is next in line for the throne. The ultimate war hero who basically built this Empire with his own two hands. The man who will become the next Holy Emperor if we stick to the old tradition.”

Zhuge Mun paused before continuing.

"When a man with that resume intentionally sabotages a meeting to prevent a new succession system, is he doing it for the good of the Cult? Or is he just a power-hungry tyrant protecting his own throne?"

Il-mok stared blankly at Zhuge Mun.

Not because he had suddenly realized that, from Zhuge Mun's perspective, he looked like a man consumed by ambition.

It would have been nice if it were true.

'Is this bastard insane?’

Il-mok kept his mouth shut purely because he knew a barrage of vicious curses would spew out if he opened it.

‘I'm already working myself to the bone as Grand Preceptor, and you think I want to be Emperor?! Yeah, right!’

Back during the war, just managing a measly few tens of thousands of troops had nearly given him a Qi Deviation from the sheer stress. He had risked his neck on the front lines more times than he could count, and chronic overwork was just his baseline state of existence.

And now this guy was telling him that he wanted to become the next person who would sit on the throne and take responsibility for over a hundred million people?!

Oh, hell no!

Il-mok absolutely did not want that kind of life.

The same held true even now after being appointed as the Grand Preceptor. The only reason he was even doing it was out of a shred of basic human decency; the war had just ended, and the Empire's administration was a flaming dumpster fire.

The same held true even now, when he had been invested with the office of Grand Preceptor.

Once the Empire stabilized, he was retiring. If they rejected his resignation, he was going to ‘grab’ a fat severance check and desert in the middle of the night to live a leisurely life somewhere quiet in the countryside.

Unless someone put a blade to his throat and threatened him to become Holy Emperor (Heavenly Demon), Il-mok had not the slightest intention of doing so.

***

TL Note: After 465 chapters, we finally get the title drop. The original Korean title was a play on a popular meme that goes something like, "Did someone hold a knife to your throat and force you to do ○○?"

It was also a sarcastic way to say, “No one told you to do so, so why are you doing it?”

That makes the title especially hilarious given Il-mok's circumstances.