July 13, 2010

  Jung Sun-bum was at the school storage room early in the morning, wiping down the exterior of a digestion engine with a rag. He disassembled the engine, cleaned every part thoroughly, and began reassembling it. "Working hard from the morning, huh? Need a hand?" Gamamusa approached and helped with the assembly. Soon, students started gathering. "...Hey, shouldn’t you greet the professor when you see him?" At Gamamusa’s words, the students bowed in greeting. Gamamusa smiled. "You all live at the military base, right? Being non-commissioned officers must be tough, not even getting to sleep in the university dorms. You look exhausted. How about warming up before starting the day?" The students stretched and began their tasks, collecting grass from plastic bins and feeding it into the digestion engine. One student approached Gamamusa and whispered in his ear. Gamamusa looked puzzled. "...Keep working, everyone. I’ll step out for a bit." He left the storage room and met Ko Ye-eun, who was waiting on the sports field.

  "...Long time no see, Ye-eun. Mind if I ask why you’re here?" Ko Ye-eun hesitated before speaking. "...Professor, I heard you’re working on an invention. The students told me. Can I help?" Gamamusa looked surprised. "...You want to help me? How?" Ko Ye-eun crossed her arms. "...Well, to digest grass, you need the right mix of microorganisms, right? I think I can assist with that." Gamamusa stared at her, then smiled warmly. "...I appreciate the offer, but I can’t let you join our group. You’re a girl." Ko Ye-eun frowned, annoyed. "...What does that have to do with anything? I can help with the invention!" Gamamusa shook his head. "That’s not what I mean. You’re a mentally healthy girl, so you don’t need my help. In fact, with a bright future ahead, I might hold you back. But these boys, they’re broken inside. To help them, I need to reshape their bodies and minds, turning them into purpose-driven weapons. That’s their path to success. Of course, if a girl’s in a dire situation, she could join. But you’re not in that position, are you?"

  Ko Ye-eun glanced at the boys working in the storage room, then turned away reluctantly. Gamamusa sighed. "...Well, I could use her to infiltrate Hiroshima University for intel. But knowing too much about my secrets is dangerous, Ye-eun." He returned to the storage room. During a break, Gamamusa began writing on the chalkboard: Babel, Rome, Europe, Belle époque. The students, reading the words, looked confused. "What do those four words mean?" Jung Sun-bum raised his hand and asked. Gamamusa nodded. "Good question. These four terms categorize the eras humanity has experienced." He drew a map of Europe and the Middle East on the board, marking a line between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers to show population movements across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

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  "...As you know, the Bible mentions the Tower of Babel, built by ancient humans. When their languages split, they scattered worldwide. As I’ve said before, humans have a tendency to divide in pursuit of glory or to become the center of the group. The fall of Babel, the center of glory, means humanity lost its focal point. So, it’s natural that ancient humans dispersed." Gamamusa drew the Roman Empire, connecting Europe and the Middle East. "The Rome state is when one empire dominates its neighbors. This isn’t just the Roman Empire—ancient China, India, and the U.S. during its decade of hegemony after the Cold War are examples."

  He drew lines across Europe to mark multiple countries. "The Europe state is when equal nations compete. Europe is the prime example, but Japan’s Warring States period also fits. This state often sees all-out wars, like the Thirty Years’ War, the Seven Years’ War, or the Hundred Years’ War, among evenly matched nations." Gamamusa extended lines to Africa, Asia, and South America. "The Belle époque state is a mix of the Rome and Europe states. Examples include the colonial era, the Cold War, and the new Cold War that’s just begun."

  He underlined Rome, Europe, Belle époque with chalk. "In the Rome state, there’s no competition. A single hegemonic power monopolizes everything, stunting technological and territorial progress. China, during the Ming and Song dynasties, had chances for technological growth and overseas colonies but stagnated. Similarly, after defeating the Soviet Union, the U.S. halted space and AI development." He pointed to Europe. "The Europe state is when equal nations engage in unavoidable all-out wars. Technological progress is inevitable here. During Japan’s Warring States period, musket technology advanced rapidly. In Europe, every major war spurred technological leaps, and colonial competition was fierce, with Spain pioneering colonies after the Reconquista."

  He pointed to Belle époque. "The Belle époque state is more complex. In a Europe-like state, equal nations often fight all-out wars, which feel burdensome. But what if weaker nations appear? Equal powers will invade or influence these weaker states. During the century of colonialism after the Napoleonic Wars, Europe entered a Belle époque era of peace. Europeans competed for colonies but avoided all-out wars. Even major incidents like the Fashoda Crisis didn’t escalate. When strong nations conquer weaker ones, their homelands remain peaceful while competing, achieving both peace and rivalry. After colonies were depleted and World Wars erupted, newly independent nations were influenced by the U.S. and Soviet Union, entering another Belle époque state."

  Gamamusa set down the chalk. "The flow of world history can be understood through these four eras. Europe, after colonizing the Americas, progressed through Europe and Belle époque states. China and India cycled through division, unification, or competition with weaker neighbors, moving between Rome and Europe states. These shifts are key indicators of humanity’s progress and peace."

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