The War of the Giants and the Final War.
People remain divided over these two myths—some insist they’re true, others say they’re not.
In truth, trying to prove or disprove myths might be a futile endeavor. But if I were to share my own view, I’d say the War of the Giants is more likely to be true. The reason? There are almost no records about the Final War, while some accounts remain about the War of the Giants, including details about what happened afterward. (Though, of course, that’s relative.)
Let’s take a look at one such record. It was written thousands of years after the War of the Giants, a dialogue between a giant who made their home in the mountain range and an ancient shaman who has since withdrawn from the world.
『Dialogue Record』
Kushan Thor asked,
“Thousands of years have passed since the war with the heavens. We who live now have no connection to those times.”
“Is there truly no other way?”
The ancient shaman replied,
“Much time has passed since the war. I know you bear no fault.”
“Perhaps that is why you and I have come together like this. This meeting is a blessing from the gods.”
“Maybe you have regained a power incomparable to the past.”
“Yet, are you still not satisfied?”
Kushan Lord asked,
“That’s not what I mean. I respect the ancient shaman’s power, and your efforts and sacrifices.”
“But it’s frustrating. We were once the rulers of the land, yet after the war, we endured only pain and humiliation.”
The ancient shaman said,
“It cannot be helped. From the gods’ perspective, the passage of time holds little meaning.”
“How absurd. Did you think the gods’ wrath would be swayed by mere time?”
Kushan Lord asked,
“Then what must we do? Must we continue to endure this curse, this divine anger, as we have until now?”
“I do not seek privilege. I only want to reclaim what was rightfully ours, what we were meant to have. How can you dismiss such longing as foolish?”
“We have tried everything. We have suffered pain and humiliation, sincerely repented, and begged for forgiveness. Yet nothing has changed.”
“Once more, I ask: is there truly no way to regain our former glory?”
After a long pause, the ancient shaman quietly said,
“…It’s not that there is no way.”
“During the War of the Giants, the Arian Lord who led the gods felt deep sorrow for the countless kin lost.”
“Afterward, the Seven Gods each placed a curse upon the Arian Lord, who in turn placed a curse on you as a condition of your sealing.”
“This condition is that the giants must feel sorrow.”
“In other words, you must experience the very sorrow the Arian Lord felt.”
Kushan Lord asked,
“To feel sorrow… I understand what you mean.”
“But it’s contradictory.”
“We haven’t felt that emotion in a long time. In fact, we don’t even know what sorrow is anymore, because the Arian Lord took it from us.”
“To take it away and then tell us to feel it—what kind of contradiction is that?”
The ancient shaman said,
“That’s why you must try to feel it.”
“Sorrow is literally the sealing condition. It is an unchanging law set by the Arian Lord.”
“Giants, grieve. Try to grieve.”
“Feel a sorrow so deep and intense that it revives the emotion the gods took from you.”
And finally,
“If this condition is lifted, not only will you regain sorrow, but the curse binding your power will be broken.”
“And your former glory will naturally be restored.”
—Excerpt from ‘Ancient Shaman and the Giants,’ author unknown, retrieved from the Atlanta Secret Library.
Have you ever heard the phrase “an odd companionship”?
Perhaps the current Northern Expedition fits that description perfectly.
When forming an expedition, the most important thing is how the formation is arranged. Whether it’s a frontal assault or a flanking ambush, the commander-in-chief must always create a formation flexible enough to respond to any situation.
Kim Yuhyun, well aware of this, arranged the best possible formation within his means.
That said, this morning brought a change—more accurately, an addition—to the formation.
At dawn, Kim Yuhyun issued a special order: to release the giant’s legs and place it at the front of the formation during the march.
If they were still investigating the sample, this order might not have been entirely incomprehensible. Still, it was natural for the users to find it strange. Placing the giant at the front, rather than the center, raised concerns—not just fear, but the risk that the giant might flee.
But Kim Yuhyun was not unaware of these worries and offered two justifications.
First, given the territorial disputes within the Steel Mountain Range and the fact that this giant is the strongest species there, placing it at the front would heighten other monsters’ vigilance. In other words, it was a scarecrow effect.
Second, Kim Yuhyun moved the Hamil Clan’s position from the center to the front. This meant something simple: if the giant did manage to escape, Kim Yuhyun would take full responsibility.
The reason this order didn’t spark serious conflict was the Northern Expedition’s trust in Kim Yuhyun.
The role of commander-in-chief is one that must encompass everyone, but it also carries everyone’s expectations—not just for strength as a user, but for something special.
And Kim Yuhyun had recently proven his uniqueness. During the earlier clash with the monstrous bird legion, which had threatened heavy losses, he sent them away with just a few words. Every user witnessed that scene firsthand.
“Still, he’s the Thunder God.”
“He must have some plan.”
With that in mind, the Northern Expedition accepted Kim Yuhyun’s two justifications. Acceptance doesn’t mean full understanding, but they followed without complaint.
Thus, the Northern Expedition’s march began amid some unease, but ultimately, Kim Yuhyun’s reasoning proved correct. From morning until dusk, aside from a few monstrous birds circling overhead, they were never attacked once.
Of course, it’s only been a day so far. The “scarecrow effect” Kim Yuhyun mentioned will need a few more days to confirm.
But at least for today, the users were in good spirits. It was far easier to keep an eye on the giant and prepare separate meals than to risk their lives fighting monsters.
So, whistling happily, they set up camp and prepared the giant’s meal.
This situation wasn’t bad for the giant either.
The giant, possessing some degree of intelligence, was well aware it was a prisoner.
Despite the risk of being killed and dissected at any moment, it showed no hostility. Throughout the march, it tried to engage in conversation on various topics, and when mealtime came, it ate diligently.
Whatever the intention, the giant’s long-standing curiosity about humans made this situation something of a new world for it. That’s why it could tolerate—and had no choice but to tolerate—the restraints on its body.
Of course, it goes without saying that Kim Yuhyun’s dedicated efforts made the giant feel this way.
Anyway.
As the Northern Expedition’s march ended and the day’s campaign wound down, dinner time began.
Kim Yuhyun was sharing the meal with the giant. After trying to converse since last night, their relationship had developed to the point where they could eat together and talk comfortably.
“I’m really telling you, it’s unfair! That day, I wasn’t just fighting those big-winged ones.”
The giant, its body tightly bound to a pillar, waved its right arm wildly as it spoke passionately. Earlier, both arms had been tightly bound during the march, but now the situation was different.
This was also Kim Yuhyun’s order—to free one of the giant’s arms during meals so it could eat.
Of course, after the meal, both arms would be bound again, and Kim Yuhyun kept a cautious distance.
“I’m telling you, I was trying to save that young one.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Recently, monsters from other regions have been crossing into ours. That young one, unaware, went out alone and got caught by one of those monsters. I happened to see it and tried to help.”
“Right.”
Recalling the event clearly frustrated the giant. It lifted the large pot in front of it and drank deeply. The steaming hot stew poured down its throat in gulps.
The white steam rising looked scalding, but the giant didn’t flinch, devouring the stew in one gulp—and then finished a second pot. Its appetite was truly enormous.
After finishing two pots in no time, the giant wiped its upper lip and spoke again.
“I’m serious. Think about it. I actually saved that young one, but then those big-winged ones suddenly attacked me. Wouldn’t you be angry? Wouldn’t you?”
“Of course I’d be angry. …But.”
At that moment, Kim Yuhyun, who had been quietly listening, sighed softly and set down his spoon. He gently stroked the crystal orb in his pocket and spoke.
“That’s the third time I’ve heard that story today.”
(So… uh, this is the third time?)
(Yeah. Then you fainted when you saw us, those big-winged ones showed up, and I sent them back. I told you all that, didn’t I?)
(Oh, r-right? Hehe.)
The giant scratched his head awkwardly but smiled brightly. Then he grabbed a handful of bread from a pile nearby and started munching away. He seemed to really like the food.
Kim Yuhyun’s tone wasn’t truly reproachful either. He even chimed in now and then, occasionally smiling.
But his eyes were sharp and serious, never wavering as he studied the giant intently throughout their conversation.
“He’s way too calm.”
That was exactly what Yuhyun thought.
Since being captured, the giant hadn’t shown a hint of anxiety. If he had any sense, he’d probably understand why they put him forward and why humans had come into the mountain range.
Yet, despite all that, his attitude suggested he wasn’t afraid of death at all…
“He’s confident.”
Or perhaps it was pride.
As rulers who had governed this mountain range for thousands of years, the giants had never lost control. They would likely dismiss this human incursion as just another external attack from the past.
With that in mind, Yuhyun gazed quietly at the giant. By now, the bread was all gone, leaving only two empty pots sitting beside him.
(Hmm. Human food really suits your taste, huh? It’s pretty delicious.)
(Want some more?)
Watching the giant smack his lips with a hint of regret, Yuhyun held out his bowl. He wasn’t really offering it—just a polite gesture. Judging by the size and amount, there was no way the giant could eat that much.
(Thank you!)
But the giant didn’t refuse. As if he’d been waiting, he quickly snatched the bowl and stuffed it into his mouth.
It was only for a moment, but a flicker of displeasure crossed Yuhyun’s face.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Next chapter coming right up.