< 84. Hell of Disbelief (12) >
***
The first mass immigration did not happen overnight.
The time gap between the first elves to set foot on Earth in 1945 and the last elves to migrate was close to five years. Because it was the early days, the terminals and other facilities were inadequate, and there was a limit to the number of people that could be transported at one time.
However, the short time from the first contact when the committee knocked on the UN door to the first immigrant departure is noteworthy. It took only a few months for the terminals of the US and USSR, which now look like mere buildings, to be completed. For some reason, the governments of both countries were in a great hurry at the time. It seemed abnormal.
Once the floodgates opened, the influx of immigrants increased year after year.
Coincidentally, the period of migration was when the seeds of the Cold War were sprouting, and elves were seen as a symbol of the new civilization called magic. The United States attempted to prevent the spread of communism by re-immigrating some elves to Western Europe as part of the Marshall Plan, and the Soviet Union also attempted to solidify solidarity by relocating a small number of aliens to the communist bloc.
As a result, elves were welcomed all over the world.
Not only her beautiful appearance, but also her enchanting smile and neat manners – later on, humans learned that her politeness was actually a defensive mechanism of distancing that blossomed out of the fear that ‘these blunt-eared people might hit us in the back of the head at any moment’ – attracted the attention of the media.
Longevity, which can last for more than a thousand years, has been an object of envy, and has also given rise to hope that our descendants will also be able to enjoy its benefits. Moreover, the magic that blossoms from their fingertips is a wonder in itself.
As time passed, it was no wonder that when the Council proposed mass immigration of another race, the reactions from all over the world were explosive.
***
The world had already experienced the elves and was dissatisfied that the influx of useful and fascinating immigrants was limited to the two countries of the smile.
“The next mass immigration must provide equal opportunities to the entire world!”
“We condemn the exclusive behavior of the two countries toward extraterrestrial immigrants, who are the treasures of the Earth!”
Neither the United States nor the Soviet Union wanted their camps shaken by this issue, so it was agreed that the next mass immigration would be allocated by country quota. The international community’s voice was so harsh that even the poorest countries at the time promised quotas on moral grounds.
After the agreement among the Earthlings was reached, the committee sent information on the next species to be sent to the UN.
The expressions on the faces of the world leaders who read it must have been cold and frozen.
“What is that?”
And some even screamed when they saw the footage sent by the committee.
“What the heck, it’s a monster!”
Their appearance was hideous by human aesthetic standards. Their bulging muscles were more threatening than attractive.
They also did not know the letter ‘Ma’ in magic and did not possess any unique technologies that were inaccessible to Earthlings. Some countries even expressed great discomfort at the explanation that they were enslaved in their home dimension.
And what caused many to agonize was their fertility. The species gave birth only once in their lifetime, but each litter produced six to eight children. Many would have thought this to themselves, though they could not say it out loud.
‘At that level, isn’t it closer to an animal than a human?’
Humanity gave them the name ‘Orcs’.
***
After Orcs were revealed, the world’s reaction was divided depending on the faction.
The liberal camp led by the United States was cautious. Their superior reproductive capacity and labor force made them attractive as livestock, but they were a double-edged sword when it came to making them citizens.
“Mr. President, the population growth trend after the war is already serious. If we accept that race as our citizens in the midst of this…”
The hell of overpopulation and the swamp of poverty predicted by Malthus were becoming a reality.
But the communist camp reacted quite differently.
“Poverty is not caused by the population explosion. Poverty is caused by the exploitation of capitalists. Population is the driving force of revolution and production. So we must actively encourage childbirth!”
In addition, the massive population loss that the Soviet Union had suffered due to the famine in the 30s and the war in the 40s was still having an impact at the time. Orcs seemed like an attractive resource to overcome the demographic disaster that had reduced the labor force by tens of millions compared to a few decades ago.
In the end, despite the resolute opposition of economists, party officials spoke out firmly.
“The average birth rate of Orcs is 7? Last year, the birth rate of Earthlings was 5. Well, it’s not that different, is it?”
Eventually, as a result of deliberate concessions from the free world, the communist countries accepted far more orc immigrants and used them as a propaganda tool for their regimes.
“We have won this competition to attract alien immigrants!”
The free world also accepted a certain number for the sake of saving face, but the clever United States shared the burden as much as possible with its allies.
“Western Europe said they wouldn’t accept more than this amount? When we gave them the elves, they shamelessly accepted them, but now they’re acting selfishly… Then, try proposing them to the countries that need our support! Countries that need loans right now. Then, won’t we also be able to deduct the talent debt we owe to the committee?”
Moreover, Germany, which was on the verge of entering a formal division at the time, was not only caught between the two camps, but also accepted the largest number of orcs per capita due to its war crimes, and now no one is unaware of the consequences. Just as everyone knows that the choice of the communist camp at the time was a fatal mistake.
***
As time goes by.
Contrary to the communists’ hopes, the Soviet economy began to falter significantly in the 1980s. The decisive factor was the spread of magic stones, which dealt a blow to the Soviet Union’s heavy dependence on oil and gas.
As the Communist Party of China collapsed, the Soviet Union felt a great sense of crisis and tried to revive the sinking country. The target of the distressed Communist Party’s attention was the Orc people who had been increasing at a tremendous pace for several decades.
“The current percentage of orcs in the Soviet Union is lower than that of East Germany, but in absolute numbers it is the highest in the world.”
“Look at the social problems occurring in East Germany now! If we continue like this, we too will···.”
“There’s a bigger problem. If this trend continues, the foundation of our planned economy will collapse. Because of the orcs! It will become impossible for the state to produce industrial products, food, and energy for all the people!”
In the end, Moscow makes the worst mistake.
“There will be a lot of backlash.”
“······There is no turning back now.”
The alternative they proposed was a racially selective birth control law.
It was enforced only on orcs, prohibiting childbirth before receiving permission.
“Forcing them to have only one child or two children is impossible. Once they have one child, they will have at least six! We just have to make sure they don’t have children. There is no other way!”
After that, as everyone knows, a revolution centered around the orcs broke out in the Soviet Union, and the flames of neo-speciesism spread among the orcs throughout Europe.
Scholars predict that if the incident had not happened, the Soviet Union would have lasted 20 to 30 years longer. Conspiracy theorists also claim that the Old Dragon was behind it, but few people listen to their voices.
And just before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the resistance of the orcs there had a great influence on the orcs of West Germany, which was a free world. Although they had a large number of members, they were still treated as leftovers, and in solidarity with their overseas compatriots, they held demonstrations everywhere, calling for the abolition of discrimination, and as these demonstrations became more violent, the situation inside Germany became close to a battlefield.
It was around this time that Joachim Steinmeier spent his childhood.
***
Joachim remembers his childhood. People screaming in the streets. Demonstrators writhing and bleeding. The acrid smoke rising everywhere. The ear-piercing gunshots and screams.
In the alley right next to the orphanage where he grew up, orcs would gather every other day, shout battle cries, and confront the police.
The reason I ran away from the orphanage was because I was hungry. It was impossible for the orphanages in West Germany, where the economy was in ruins due to social chaos bordering on civil war, to receive proper food rations.
Life on the streets wasn’t easy either. As the economy worsened, people became more violent and merciless toward the weak. I was beaten up for stealing food from stores, and I limped through trash cans.
The people who were the kindest to him were the goblins. After the mines closed, they were forced to beg in the alleys like Joachim.
After learning of this, Joachim began stealing and eating the goblin’s food.
‘Something is wrong with this.’
Joachim thought that the world he lived in was a bad dream.
I can’t believe it. This world can’t be real.
——————
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It would all be a bad dream. When he opened his eyes, he would be lying in bed, sleeping in his own room with a roof and a wall and a door. The room would be full of toys. And in the kitchen, his father and mother would be. His father would be a smart man who could read the newspaper, and his mother would be a kind woman who was an amazing cook.
So, it is clear that the world we are seeing now is a lie.
A terrible dream that, upon waking up, you are relieved to discover that it is not reality.
“What a blessed child. I know it when I see it. He has talent.”
The tall alien that approached Joachim was looking at him with both eyes open, with the middle eye between his eyebrows tightly shut.
“How about it? Would you like to study the word of truth with me?”
Joachim, who followed him, realized that his belief that this world was nothing but a lie was true.
However, no matter how hard Joachim tried, there was a reason why the nightmare would not end. This dream was not his own, but God’s dream.
He devoted himself to the doctrine and served God with all his heart, so he quickly received grace. He awakened to divine powers so easily that even Joachim’s adoptive father, the patriarch, was surprised.
“God gave me hope in my ignorance. And He gave me grace. That’s why I don’t understand it even more. I have already been recognized. I have been recognized as worthy to serve God. Many earthling priests have the same qualifications.”
Joachim, now an adult, was staring at the table.
“I am well aware of the closed nature of our religious order. To the extent that the scriptures read by priests and laity are separate. However, I absolutely cannot accept that there is discrimination even among priests… Father.”
On the table lay the severed head of an alien.
There was no sign of breathing. He was cold and did not seem to be circulating blood. Nevertheless, his eyes were staring straight at Joachim.
=Send me back, Joachim.=
The priest ignores the adoptive father’s words and continues speaking.
“You are already a sign of miracles. Since you are a miracle that has occurred on Earth, Earthlings have the right to keep you by their side and worship you. So please tell me. What else are you hiding? What secret doctrines have you not revealed to us… What other words of truth are there?”
=Send me back home.=
“What happens when the gods’ sleep becomes shallow?”
Joachim’s breathing became ragged.
“Will all lies crumble? Will this world collapse and only those who remain in God’s memory will live forever? Will that moment come soon?”
=······.=
The Patriarch does not answer. Joachim’s gaze grows cold.
After a moment of silence.
“The German immigration office is after me. It seems they’ve made some kind of deal with the heretic inquisitors who haven’t set foot on Earth yet. I can’t even imagine what kind of deal they made.”
A tip-off came to the Frankfurt church saying that an immigration agent named ‘Christoph’ was looking for Joachim.
After confirming this, those who followed Joachim attached the magician who had bribed the agent with drugs, and soon found out that what he said was true.
Knowing that his location had been discovered, Joachim had to change his plans. He had intended to hide in the Czech Republic for a while and interrogate the Patriarch, but he had no choice but to move again.
The fact that the Inquisitor was in collusion with the Earth forces was a big problem.
“But they will never get their hands on you. They will join hands with an untouchable helper, me, here. So you had better give up and tell them all your secrets.”
Instead of responding mentally, the Patriarch was looking over Joachim’s shoulder at the ceiling. Joachim quickly looked back, sensing that the direction of his gaze was strange, but there was no one there.
After confirming once again that there was no one in the room or around him, Joachim began interrogating the severed head again.
***
=Phew! I almost got caught!=
(Metaphorically) Feeling his heart sink, Ha Eun-seong, in astral form, left the place. The hideout of Joachim that Min-jun had learned of was a name that referred to an overly extensive area. So as soon as he arrived, Min-jun instructed Ha Eun-seong to search the area thoroughly again through astral projection.
The target for the search was clear. There was little chance that there would be more than one severed alien head in this city.
“Coolook! Knock!”
Ha Eun-seong, who returned with a polymorphic body, told what he had seen and heard.
“I found it. The severed alien head. But… it was actually alive?”
Minjun frowned.
“What the heck, I don’t understand English.”
There was no need to think long about it. Once you got your hands on it, you would know the inside story.
But Cassie, who had been listening to the story, asked with concern.
“I heard he was talking about an assistant or something… Shouldn’t we be careful? Could he have already joined hands with someone?”
Minjun had an idea of who the target was.
“I think I came to meet the dragon that supports the church.”
“Callieter?”
“Yes. The sponsorship contract was probably signed in the name of the parish, so if there is a conflict with the main church, it would be right to take their side. They are probably thinking of using that as an excuse to ask for protection. But the problem is···”
Minjun tilted his head.
“That dragon might be somewhere else right now?”
Christoph had made it clear that he would be away from Lair for some time to investigate the bizarre murders that were occurring all over Germany.
But why are you waiting for that dragon here?
“Ah, over there···”
Ha Eun-seong looked at Min-jun with a shiver. He had witnessed something while returning to his spirit state.
Then Minjun nodded as if he knew and pointed to the roof with his finger. Ha Eunseong spoke in a small voice.
“You knew that?”
Minjun said grumblingly.
“Why are there so many stray cats in a neighborhood full of monster rodents that would eat cows?”
The moment he said that, the curse was complete.
“Gyaaaah!”
A soul-rending scream was heard from up there.
“what!”
The moment when Cash woke up in shock.
Everyone saw a shadow of a person falling outside the window. And Minjun’s eyes also saw a string of light falling at a fast speed. A long list of numbers next to the word ‘Asif’.
Minjun sighed faintly.
“It’s already the fifth today.”
thud!
Crash sound.
And then, from far outside the building, a voice groaning in pain follows.
“Gyaaaah! Keu …
I thought I knew who the voice belonged to.
Is that woman working for the Brazilian government now? Minjun tries to remember.
She is a prisoner who knows each other but does not have the kind of friendship to care for each other in this competitive situation. What she is screaming while falling is a threat to report her to the committee for property damage.
Of course, Minjun didn’t even pretend to hear. If this level of punishment had been meted out, Minjun would have been soul-wiped long ago.
I could hear people murmuring from below.
“Oh, Mom… This lady’s eyes are bleeding!”
“Ambulance! Call an ambulance!”
“No, what the hell is going on? A few hours ago, a man passed out and vomited in the restaurant on the first floor of this hotel… and now a woman fell from the roof?”
“Oh! I saw that on the internet. There was a liter of green jelly-like stuff coming out of his mouth. I thought I was going to throw up.”
“Is there a strange plague spreading through the city?”
It was right after leaving Frankfurt that Minjun learned that he was being pursued.
The prisoners from all over the world, who had started to enter Germany one by one in pursuit of the talent, seemed to have decided to follow Min-jun instead of confronting him directly for various reasons, like hyenas following a lion to steal its prey.
They were convinced that Minjun would somehow find the Patriarch’s head, and that following him would lead them to their target.
Minjun thought with a snicker.
‘If you can steal it, give it a try.’
< 84. Hell of Disbelief (12) > End
