THE GOD OF WAR RETURNS
In the Kingdom of Baekje, there lived a prince renowned for both beauty and unmatched martial skill. No matter what weapon he held—light or heavy—he wielded it as if it were part of his own body.
He was Prince Wang Baekje, thirty years old, the son of the King and Queen of Baekje. Yet despite his status and fame, fate had been unkind—he still had no partner to stand beside him in life.
In ancient times, men and women were expected to marry by the age of eighteen. If they failed to do so, then by thirty, marriage would be forced upon them whether they wished it or not. Rich or poor, noble-blooded or commoner—no one could escape this rule.
Within the royal palace of Baekje, among the king’s children, only Wang Baekje remained unmarried. He was the eldest of thirteen princes living inside the palace, and the other twelve already had their own spouses. Beyond the palace walls, the king also had five more sons from other women, still young and all male.
The heavens had blessed the king strangely—every one of his children was a son. Not a single daughter was born.
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Royal Lineage
King of Baekje: Wang Baekhan
Queen: Park Mingyan
Crown Prince: Wang Baekje – 30
1st Consort: Gu Yihwa
Wang Baekhwa – 29
Wang Baekyi – 27
2nd Consort: Min Dayin
Wang Baekyin – 28
Wang Baekda – 26
3rd Consort: Sang Rinjing
Wang Baekjing – 25
Wang Baekrin – 24
Wang Baeksang – 23
1st Concubine: Wang Choiseok
Wang Baekchoi – 22
2nd Concubine: Yi Songsoon
Wang Baeksoon – 21
Wang Baeksong – 20
3rd Concubine: Lee Wonhee
Wang Baekhee – 19
Servant Wife: Sorim
Wang Baekrim – 18
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Because Prince Baekje had lived almost his entire life on the battlefield, he cared for nothing except the safety of the royal harem and the kingdom’s people. For this reason, he earned the fearsome title—
“The God of War.”
For fifteen unbroken years, he fought at the borders. Not once did the enemy succeed while he stood guard. No invader could infiltrate Baekje’s territory under his command.
Rumors spread among the people. Some said the prince carried a sacred talisman. Others whispered that he was the reincarnation of the ancient war deity, JE, the God of Battle himself.
---
At the Border Camp of Baekje
“Kutching! Kutching! Hya!”
“Kutching! Kutching! Hya!”
Not a single battle was ever lost when he led the troops.
His strategies were flawless. His senses were sharp. Even the smallest sound would wake him from sleep. His nose and tongue could detect poison instantly. He knew if a spy lurked nearby—and traitors were executed publicly as a warning.
Yet none of the soldiers had ever seen his face.
Only when he wore his mask did they recognize him. Even his voice alone inspired fear.
Stories claimed he was ugly, his face ruined by scars from brutal training in his youth. To hide his shame, he covered himself, revealing only his nose and lips.
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The Day Before Returning to the Capital
“I feel both joy and sorrow as I leave,” Baekje said before his men.
“Thank you for the memories we forged together. Without our unity, this kingdom would never know peace.
“I am already thirty. Though I still wish to serve, I must now fulfill other duties—as a son, and as a prince. I must take the imperial examination. If I pass, I will compete in the struggle for the throne, even if I do not desire it. Such is my fate as the king’s son. I apologize to everyone.”
Many soldiers wept as he departed—not from sadness, but from relief after suffering under his harsh training for over ten years, fifteen in total.
Riding alone into the capital without guards or attendants, the people stared at him in fear. He had been gone too long. Though they respected him, his masked presence made them uneasy.
---
At the Palace Gate
Before he could enter, the palace guards suddenly shut the massive gates in front of him while the citizens watched.
Fury surged through Baekje.
“Insolence! Do you even know who I am?!”
One guard scoffed.
“We don’t care, even if you’re king of another land.”
“YOU!” Baekje roared.
The guards laughed.
“Because of your disrespect, blood will stain this gate!”
The crowd stepped back in fear.
Baekje’s eyes sharpened. When no one remained near, he rode forward and, with a swift slash, beheaded his own horse.
“IIIIIRRRRR—!”
Witnesses screamed and fled.
With no one left, Baekje climbed the gate and sat atop it.
“Fools! Why didn’t you open the door?!”
“Aaaaah!” the guards cried.
“There’s a ghost!”
“You idiots! You turned me into a ghost? Why did you lock me out? Do you know how many letters my father sent just to bring me home? Do you know how many years I spent at the border?!”
The guards froze.
Then a man approached.
He wore rough straw clothes, abaca sandals, and a mask that showed only his mouth and nose. The guards mistook him for a spy—until they noticed the sword at his side bearing Baekje’s emblem.
The old man spoke calmly.
“Please forgive them, Prince Baekje. These fools failed to recognize you.”
The guards trembled and knelt.
“Forgive us, Your Highness! We accept any punishment—even death!”
Baekje’s voice was cold.
“Instead of execution, you will be imprisoned for one month. You will copy the book Ethics of Good Governance and write what you learned. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
He questioned them, learned their names, and confirmed they had families.
“Do not worry. I will not harm them. But try to escape, and your loved ones will suffer first.”
Terrified, the guards ran.
Baekje laughed darkly.
“Ahahaha… They’re truly afraid of me. Hah… It’s been a long time since I laughed like this.”
---
“Your Highness, come down already!”
“Alright, Yunuko Bong.”
“You still remember me?”
“Of course. I consider you my second father. So? Is your junior still strong?”
“Lower your voice! It’s daytime! Are you hungry?”
“Yes.”
“No wonder you were expelled from the palace and sent to the army. But you seem worse now.”
“You said it yourself. I torture fools and strengthen cowards.”
Yunuko sighed.
“Still… in a good way.”
---
At the Queen’s Palace
Baekje knelt.
“Mother. Father. Your son, Baekje, greets you. May heaven grant you long life.”
“Rise,” the king said.
“Sit, my son.”
“I will excuse myself.”
“Wait. Let us dine together.”
“Later. I miss Yunuko Bong’s cooking.”
“Is that so?” the queen smiled.
“Jing, Jang—go to Prince Baekje’s palace. Ask him to bring his meal here. We wish to keep him with us.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”