Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 151
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 151
41. In Japan
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are still being interpreted to this day.
The most representative reasons are the vast number of characters, nearly 50 million, and the difficulty in interpretation because the annals are all written in classical Chinese.
Language and writing naturally change little by little as time passes, and since classical Chinese is an ideographic script, the same character can have different meanings depending on the surrounding characters or the content of the sentence.
These are precious records left by our ancestors.
They cannot be interpreted carelessly.
Therefore, historically important content is interpreted by comparing it with contemporary historical materials such as the Seungjeongwon Ilgi, and since the content can change as new materials are discovered, even previously interpreted sections need revision, making interpretation difficult and time-consuming.
But Johann read through it smoothly.
Kim Young-ik, suddenly alert, examines the section Johann had read.
“Ah! This is a section that has already been interpreted.”
It’s content that has already been published on the internet.
Kim Young-ik feels slightly disappointed, having hoped Johann might have exceptional talent in languages.
‘Was that it? Phew.’
“What kind of king was King Gongjong?”
What kind of person was King Jeongjong from the perspective of later generations?
‘Jeongjong, Yi Bang-gwa’ also has expectations.
“King Jeongjong… He was someone who sacrificed a great deal.”
A king who served as a buffer between his father, King Taejo Yi Seong-gye, and his younger brother, King Taejong Yi Bang-won. A king who did not produce a legitimate heir in order to pass on the nation his father founded intact to his younger brother.
“You could say he was a king who buried all his qualifications as a ruler.”
“Buried… them?”
“During the Goryeo period, he was a military commander who effectively led the Gabyeolcho and governed the northeastern region, present-day Hamheung area, in place of King Taejo Yi Seong-gye.”
Even the barbarians beyond the Amnok River regarded him as Yi Seong-gye’s successor.
Would such a person have been ignorant about territorial management?
If King Jeongjong had been ambitious, perhaps Joseon’s history would have changed.
Nevertheless, the reason he seemed unable to abandon his military habits was to pass Joseon to his younger brother Yi Bang-won, who could lead it better than himself, according to scholarly interpretation.
Kim Young-ik adds a comment to this explanation.
“And he probably strictly ordered King Taejong and King Sejong the Great to firmly control his bloodline, his illegitimate sons, lest they become a threat to royal authority after his death. He probably also told them not to treat him with the respect due a former king.”
Because receiving treatment as a king could leave seeds of discord.
Because he wanted it to become his younger brother Yi Bang-won’s Joseon.
“…I believe that’s what he did.”
Otherwise, King Taejong and King Sejong the Great wouldn’t have served King Jeongjong so devotedly.
Gasp!
‘Jeongjong, Yi Bang-gwa’ is shaken.
‘That’s right. That’s what happened.’
It’s accurate.
“Of course, this is just my interpretation. The popular interpretation is somewhat different.”
A king with no presence.
A king whose reason for being king is incomprehensible.
A king who loved to play.
“In the past, he was even depicted as a weak king who only watched his younger brother King Taejong’s mood.”
“Ah.”
‘How dare Yi Bang-won disrespect Yi Bang-gwa? Does he want to get beaten to a pulp?’
Seeing Johann’s expression, Kim Young-ik bursts into laughter.
“Haha. That was a depiction from when the Jungjong Sillok hadn’t been interpreted much yet.”
“Right?”
“What is it? Let me laugh too.”
When Mark shows curiosity, Johann explains.
“So you’re saying a studious younger brother is giving attitude and acting up to his older brother, and the older brother just lets it slide? Even if he’s a king?”
If he had a younger brother who acted like that, he would have beaten him up. Since that’s what he would have done.
“That’s why it’s a wrong interpretation.”
“Aha.”
Mark’s eyes light up as he looks at the annals.
“You mean even those kinds of records are all written down?”
“I told you Joseon was a nation obsessed with records.”
“Really amazing…”
He feels regret and envy, wondering what it would have been like if American history had been recorded like this too.
‘I’m glad I came.’
Even for Mark, who has traveled abroad quite a bit, this is a new experience.
It seems like it will be an eternally memorable experience.
Mark, with his ears wide open, listened attentively to Kim Young-ik’s explanations thereafter.
“Shall we look at Hunminjeongeum now?”
“Yes!”
Johann and Mark answer energetically.
Among all the writing systems in the world, the only script whose origin and creator are clearly recorded in history.
Kim Young-ik unfolds copies of the Hunminjeongeum Eonhaebon and Haeryebon.
“This is the script that King Sejong the Great created and promulgated for the people who couldn’t learn classical Chinese, the script of the nobles at the time, and thus couldn’t express their grievances or convey their intentions.”
And the Eonhaebon and Haeryebon contain the reasons for creating this script, its composition, and how to pronounce and write it.
“…Wow.”
Click! Click! Click!
Mark takes out his phone, while Johann stares blankly at the Haeryebon.
‘This is Joseon’s unique script.’
A script unique to Joseon, created by Joseon, which had to receive China’s permission even for crowning a crown prince and inheriting the throne.
‘Jeongjong, Yi Bang-gwa’s’ emotions surge.
‘No.’
Johann, suppressing his emotions, looks at Kim Young-ik.
“So these are all the materials that remain to this day?”
“…There is another Haeryebon called the Sangju Manuscript, but we haven’t been able to get it back because the current owner is demanding an enormous sum.”
Kim Young-ik says this while subtly brightening his eyes.
“Then you could just pay the money.”
“They’re demanding about 100 million dollars.”
“Whoa… for one book?”
“Is he crazy? Johann, what was the value of Norton I’s gold coins that you discovered?”
“At current value, it was probably about 100 million dollars?”
He’s not sure of the exact amount.
Because he had lost interest in it.
“You donated all of that, didn’t you?”
“I received a few gold coins as mementos. We agreed to revise the historical content about Norton I, and when displaying Norton I’s diary in the museum, they agreed to record my name as the discoverer. I transferred everything under these conditions.”
He didn’t want to gain fame as a sudden millionaire and have his freedom restricted, and there were also personal safety concerns.
“Most importantly, it was military funds left by America’s only emperor and his retainers for America.”
He couldn’t dare to be greedy about it.
“Wow… that’s amazing.”
Kim Young-ik also expresses respect for Johann’s decision.
“But if it hadn’t been Norton I’s gold coins, I would have rightfully demanded my share.”
Johann says this while looking at Kim Young-ik.
Flinch!
“Ahem.”
‘I thought so.’
Why would he need to explain Korea’s circumstances in detail to a completely unrelated foreigner?
It seemed like he had received contact from the Gyeongbokgung manager.
“If the price is right, I’ll hand it over in rental form.”
‘Even though I made it deliberately, it could be discovered if put into a machine.’
Of course, even if he rented it out, they would still do carbon dating, but since he was going to get criticized anyway, he at least needed to get the book back.
‘Since it’s mine that I made.’
“Ahem. Mr. Jefferson. In Korea, when artifacts are discovered…”
“That’s Korean law.”
“Huh?”
Mark looked back and forth between Johann and Kim Young-ik.
“The Joseon cookbook that Gyeongbokgung mentioned. You want him to transfer it to Korea. For free.”
“Ah!”
Mark’s expression hardened.
“I think Johann is right about this, Mr. Kim.”
An American had paid a legitimate price and owned it in America.
Even if it happened to be another country’s artifact, there was no reason to transfer it for free.
“Or you could file a lawsuit in international court.”
But if they filed a lawsuit, he and Johann would never set foot on Korean soil again.
The good image they had received so far would also turn bad.
“…I’ll contact you soon.”
“I hope it’s a fair value. Let’s go, Mark.”
“Yeah.”
The desire to stay any longer had disappeared.
“Ugh! What a shame.”
Coming outside and stretching, Mark clicked his tongue.
Korea had only given them a good image for the past 2 nights and 3 days.
Korea had treated them like great actors he couldn’t dare look at, like world stars.
But they had ruined it at the very end.
“Me too.”
Korean people who had given bigger cheers and support than Americans and sang along to the songs.
The emotion he received from them was still stirring his heart, so when he released an album later and started an overseas tour concert, he had planned to come here first, but that feeling had become clouded.
‘Korea must have a bad perception of people who acquire artifacts.’
Otherwise, he couldn’t have said such things.
‘Or maybe it’s just that person.’
Either way, his mood was soured.
“Are you going straight to Japan?”
“Yes. What about you, Mark?”
“I’ll do one more interview and then go to Hong Kong.”
He would visit Japan after ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ was released.
Even so, it was only a matter of a few days.
“Then… we’ll have to part ways here.”
“Let’s meet when the schedule is over.”
“Yeah. Let’s meet leisurely when everything’s finished.”
The two shook hands and embraced each other, then parted ways.
* * *
“…That’s what happened.”
Kim Seo-hyun’s brow furrowed at her secretary’s report.
“Should we change the cultural property acquisition law?”
Cultural property-related laws were already controversial enough.
Even their SJ Group hoped that cultural properties wouldn’t be discovered when constructing apartments and such.
“I’ll submit an agenda.”
From the possibility of passage to who to put at the forefront.
There were many parts to review.
“Do that and… Kim Young-ik, was it? What’s his evaluation?”
“He’s a figure who praises former President Syngman Rhee, and has been serving as chairman of the National Institute of Korean History since September last year.”
“Nine months is quite a lot. Remove him.”
“Yes, understood.”
He had said such things even knowing that Johann was a VIP of SJ Group.
He must have been fully prepared when he said it.
After the secretary left, Kim Seo-hyun picked up her phone.
“Yes, Johann. Are you at the airport now?”
Whirrrr!
Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
Johann’s eyebrows twitched as he passed through the immigration checkpoint.
“Japan has a different smell too.”
Like Korea, a mysterious smell that couldn’t be expressed in words.
“You requested security guards, right?”
“Yes. We requested them from Warner Brothers Japan.”
The situation when entering Korea would have been quite troublesome if Warner Brothers Korea hadn’t sensibly dispatched security guards.
There was no guarantee that such a situation wouldn’t occur in Japan as well.
“We received contact that they’re waiting outside.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Since they wouldn’t have to wait in this place with nowhere to sit.
“Let’s go.”
Johann put on the sunglasses he had bought in Korea and passed through the immigration gate.
“Huh?”
Click! Click! Click!
“Welcome to Japan!”
“Please look this way!”
Five reporters shouting in Japanese toward them and pressing camera shutters.
‘Why, why aren’t they here?’
They weren’t there. People cheering like in Korea.
If anything, there were only a few women holding placards saying ‘オオカミ(Wolf-sama)’ and ‘ヨハン、ようこそ(Welcome, Johann-sama)’ and airport users whose eyes lit up thinking ‘Oh, must be a celebrity.’
Johann’s face turned bright red.
“Welcome to Japan. I’m Manager Ryosuke Murata, dispatched from Warner Brothers Japan to escort Mr. Johann Jefferson. These are my staff members.”
“I’m Assistant Manager Sota Yamada.”
“I’m Employee Rin Yamamoto.”
Polite greetings from a man in his 40s and men and women in their 30s and 20s.
Johann also hurriedly bowed his head.
“I’m Johann Jefferson. Nice to meet you, Mr. Murata. Mr. Yamada, Ms. Yamamoto.”
“Oh! You speak Japanese fluently? How did you learn… Oh wait, let’s move first.”
“Yes…”
Surrounded by 10 security guards, Johann looked beyond them.
“Um… you probably don’t need to provide security.”
“Haha! It’s fine!”
Since they had received a security request, they had a duty to escort him safely regardless of the situation.
‘Are they making fun of me?’
A reasonable doubt arose.
“No. Let’s meet those people first.”
The middle-aged and elderly women in their 50s and 60s stood out more than the school girls holding placards.
How on earth did they know about him to come welcome him like this?
Johann approached them.
* * *
“To see Johann with my own eyes!”
“Oh! I’m so glad I lived to see this day.”
Even from a distance, their hearts were trembling.
Tears welled up and they felt like they might collapse.
‘No. I can’t!’
They couldn’t collapse here and worry Johann.
It was a moment when the middle-aged and elderly women grabbed each other’s arms tightly for support.
“Huh? What?”
Johann was approaching them.
He stood in front of them and bowed his head.
“Hello, I’m Johann Jefferson.”
Japanese that pierced their ears.
Their hearts felt like they would stop, yet they wondered if this was a dream.
Because his Japanese was so fluent.
“You are my fans, right?”
“…Yes! Yes! Yes!”
“Do, do you dislike that middle-aged women like us are your fans?”
“Not at all!”
There was no way that could be true.
He was just curious.
How did they come to know about him, why did they come to like him?
“Japan is a country far from America. It’s a non-English speaking country.”
He was simply curious why older women from distant Japan would like him, someone who was only 16 years old, younger than their own children.
“Would this be an inappropriate question to ask?”
“No! Not at all-! Sob!”
Just looking at him like this made them feel like they might collapse from joy, and the being they loved most in the world was asking so kindly and carefully.
He was worried that their feelings might get hurt.
“The, the reason I came to like you, Johann, is…”
Johann’s eyes widened at the story that flowed from their lips.
Thump!
It was a shock as if someone had struck him on the head.
* * *
-Hahahahaha!
-Ah! My stomach! I’m dying! I’m- dying-!
“Just die.”
-…Hahahahaha!
It was even more annoying because it was Emily rolling around holding her stomach.
Johann, who had ended the video call, pressed his heated cheeks.
“I found out that Japan has a culture of being wary of causing trouble to others, so they probably wouldn’t have come out.”
“Did Mr. Murata say that?”
“Yes.”
‘Then those people came out because they liked me enough to endure the disapproving looks they might receive.’
They said that after watching the Grey’s Anatomy episode Johann appeared in, they discovered ‘Dream – Journey on a Ship’ and found hope in life.
‘They said they became my fans from that time.’
Women in their 50s and 60s who married young, supported their husbands, and spent all their years raising children.
They said that while they were gradually withering away, not knowing what they could do or what they should do, they gained courage to try new things after encountering the cover of ‘Dream – Journey on a Ship’.
Those words gave Johann a great shock.
Even the sight of them tearing up when he held their hands.
The girls of his age also had their own circumstances.
‘Hikikomori… bullying…’
One girl opened her closed door and came out.
Another girl who was too shy and had no friends gained courage to approach others, and another girl aiming for a place called Tokyo University said she found breathing room by taking up travel as a hobby after only studying since childhood.
“It was just a song I made because it came to mind…”
‘Dream – Journey on a Ship’, a song he thought of after seeing the life of Benjamin, the ‘Art Student’.
‘Robin was like this too.’
There were many stories of people gaining courage from listening to that song.
Each time, he was grateful and came to understand the power of music.
But this was Japan, a country far from America.
Even a country that had fought a war with America just a few decades ago.
Somehow, it made him think a lot.
“What’s today’s schedule?”
“Today there are stage greetings at two representative theaters in Tokyo.”
Then today’s schedule would be over.
Tomorrow he just needed to attend a fan meeting called a handshake event and appear on a talk show hosted by Japan’s representative boy group.
“And the day after tomorrow, you can leave the country after touring Tokyo.”
“Tomorrow… a fan meeting?”
“…Are you concerned about Wolfie?”
“Of course. It’s my first fan meeting.”
Emily and Wolfie had liked him from the moment he first stepped into society.
If he were to meet with fans, they should have been first.
“I understand. Then I’ll cancel this schedule.”
“Please do that.”
Thanks to the fans who came to the airport, he learned that over ten thousand people in Japan liked him, but wrong was wrong.
“Will the sightseeing include cameras too?”
“Yes, please think of it as a guide role introducing Tokyo.”
And they would conduct interviews during that time too.
“That sounds fine.”
It was a more relaxed schedule than Korea.
Johann got up from the bed that held the warm embrace of sunlight in the spacious and clean hot spring hotel and walked to the window that embraced the full view of Tokyo, looking down below.
The fans who had followed from the airport.
Even though they saw him enter the dormitory, they were still standing outside the hotel.
Enduring weather that was more humid and hot than Korea.
“Rick, could I ask you a favor?”
“Would hats or parasols and cool drinks be enough?”
“No. Rather, dinner.”
He wanted to eat together with them at the restaurant that Warner Brothers Japan had reserved.
“I understand. I’ll notify them.”
“Thank you. Then let’s go out.”
To buy hats and parasols, and drinks to cool their heated bodies.
Just as they had given him unforgettable memories, he wanted to give them unforgettable memories too.
‘If only my schedule had been more relaxed, I would have done this in Korea too….’
He wondered if there was any point in doing Gyeongbokgung Palace, the History Compilation Committee, and being a guest at the Black Eyed Peas concert.
Johann ran his fingers through his hair as he left the hotel, while the fans covered their mouths and sobbed.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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