Chapter 42

======================

Clearly, the night sky over Seoul had turned purple.

But few people noticed it.

So it was just another night.

Although gates appeared simultaneously in various parts of Seoul, the fact that they occurred mainly around military bases made the civilian areas relatively peaceful. No bureaucrat had predicted the 'Wave' from such issues.

No, someone must have raised doubts. However, ... it was such a terrifying thing, like predicting a nuclear war, that the decision-makers were skeptical, and most importantly, ...

It was dawn.

“Hey! What kind of nonsense are you talking about at 2 AM? Is that for sure?”

Thus, the response was inevitably delayed.

Soon, stories began to spread that people coming and going in Seoul were facing a semi-transparent wall.

Finally, at 4 AM, ...

All communications in Seoul were cut off, revealing the start of the Fourth Wave to the world.

From then on, Seoul became busy.

– Citizens, this is the National Gate Response Headquarters. We are issuing a gate occurrence alert for the entire Seoul area as of now. This broadcast is real. I repeat...

In Munhwa-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, a noisy voice echoed through the blacksmith alley.

It wasn't from a regular loudspeaker but from a 'mana alarm.'

The fact that it was activated meant that a gate had opened nearby.

“...Oh! What on earth is happening!”

The blacksmith alley had a considerable resident population.

This was because they had to work day and night to meet guild orders.

The 3-shift system, where the lights never went out, was the culture here.

Therefore, at this moment, many blacksmiths were listening to the alarm broadcast.

“Boss, but this isn't just a gate, it's, what, a Wave, they say?”

“Does that make sense, you fool! Do you think a Wave is like a U.S. rock band's tour?”

“I wish it wasn't... Anyway, let's go to the shelter quickly.”

And, Kang Jeong-doo was also out on the street.

“What to do...”

He usually didn't sleep much at night, but he came out to check the commotion outside.

After assessing the situation, he hurried back to the single room of his workshop.

“Hye-sul! Get up! Hurry up!”

“Ugh... What time is it to make such a fuss...”

“Yes, it's a fuss! There's a fuss!”

“-Ah!”

Kang Jeong-doo kicked his granddaughter, who was pulling the blanket over her head, and took out a travel bag from the wardrobe.

“Ugh, what kind of fuss to... Huh! Is it a gate?”

Hye-sul understood the situation upon hearing the alarm sound outside.

“Yes! Get the stuff on that shelf over there!”

“Hmm... Am I dreaming? Then, I want to awaken as a mage, not a blacksmith.”

“Shut up and get up, you!”

Thus, the two hurriedly prepared for evacuation and went outside.

– ...Citizens, please evacuate to the nearest shelter immediately.

A shelter was an evacuation facility equipped with a magic defense barrier to prepare for gate situations.

The nearest government-operated shelter was Yeongdeungpo Station.

However, there was a privately operated shelter in the basement of the guild office.

Naturally, Kang Jeong-doo and Kang Hye-sul headed there.

But, they heard a thunderbolt at the shelter entrance.

“Hey, no more can go in. The shelter is full.”

“...What? What do you mean?”

It was an absurd statement.

“I don't understand how the shelter can be full, but let's go in.”

The shelter was a large one with a capacity of over 500 people, and the guild always boasted that all members could take refuge and stay for at least a few weeks in case of an unexpected accident.

“I don't understand you old folks... It's full, so we can't take anyone more.”

“Then, what are we, this kid and I, supposed to do?”

“Who cares where you die? I don't give a damn.”

Kang Jeong-doo realized why they were acting this way.

The current disaster was not a regular gate situation.

The guild's upper management, noticing this, decided to reduce the number of people to last as long as possible, and the first to be cut were blacksmiths like Kang Jeong-doo, who were not obedient to the guild.

“Kang, it's dangerous, but let's go to the Yeongdeungpo shelter. Ugh, how dirty, cough!”

When another blacksmith tried to stop Kang Jeong-doo, the guard smirked.

“Yeah, get lost quickly. Be careful not to get stabbed by goblins on the way.”

Kang Jeong-doo's eyebrows twitched.

He was a weak old man, but he wasn't without a temper.

“What the...”

“Damn! You bastards!”

But before he could, a shout erupted from somewhere.

It was his granddaughter, Kang Hye-sul.

She screamed and lunged at the guard.

“Move! We have the right to go in too!”

“What, are you crazy!”

“Don't discriminate! We are guild members who pay our dues regularly!”

“I don't care, go to the Yeongdeungpo Station shelter, ugh, you bitch!”

“-Ah!”

The guard swung his arm, and Kang Hye-sul fell backward.

As a blacksmith player, she couldn't do anything to the guard by force.

Kang Jeong-doo helped his granddaughter up and glared at the guards.

But that was all he could do.

“Ugh... Why! Why are all the strong ones so selfish?”

Kang Hye-sul's face contorted in anger, and the guard sneered.

“Sigh, being weak is a disability, why are you whining?”

This made Kang Hye-sul curse again.

However, her curses were drowned out by a loud noise.

Thud-thud-thud—

A gust of wind blew, and a beam of light shone down from the sky.

It was a helicopter.

“...Huh?”

“Oh! It's the AMT!”

The guards looked up and cheered.

“Wow, it's worth paying taxes! They came to rescue us so early!”

Kang Hye-sul bared her teeth.

“What the hell! We pay our dues regularly, why are you treated like this?”

“What, what? That brat is really...”

The guard couldn't hold back and swung his arm.

“Those kinds of people need to be taught a lesson to know the fear of the world...”

At that moment, three ropes fell from the helicopter, and AMT soldiers in black combat uniforms landed. One of them pushed the guard who was threatening Kang Hye-sul.

“...What, what is this?”

“Step back. This is a warning.”

Meanwhile, the helicopter landed on the helipad on the roof of the guild office.

A guild official ran out from the shelter to greet them.

“Oh! Welcome! I'm so grateful that you came to help us so quickly.”

“Hmm, I'm sorry, but that's not the case. The civilian rescue operation hasn't started yet.”

“Huh? Then...”

“For now, you'll be safe in the shelter. We're here to find someone.”

“...Who are you looking for?”

“We've already found them.”

The sergeant, who seemed to be the leader of the helicopter team, was holding a photo and looking at something.

It was the direction of the blacksmiths who had been turned away.

The sergeant frowned as he surveyed the scene.

“By the way, are those people not allowed to enter the shelter?”

“Huh? No, no!”

“What do you mean no? We saw everything from above.”

“Well, that...”

“Do you know that it's illegal and punishable to deny entry?”

“Ah, well, what...”

Today, shelters are directly linked to the survival of citizens.

Therefore, shelters significantly affect real estate prices, and to operate a private shelter, one must meet the conditions set by the government and be subject to continuous management and supervision by relevant agencies.

One of these conditions is the 'unconditional acceptance' of nearby evacuees.

“If it's found later that you violated the regulations, you'll lose the right to operate the shelter.”

“...”

The sergeant then approached Kang Jeong-doo.

“Mr. Kang Jeong-doo, is that you? We've been sent to bring you to someone.”

“Yes, I'm Kang Jeong-doo, but who... who is looking for me?”

“He said you'd know if I mentioned Mr. Lee Hyun-wook. Can you come with us?”

Kang Jeong-doo's eyes widened, and

Kang Hye-sul's lips curled up.

“Huh? Mr. Lee... is he a general?”

Kang Jeong-doo knew it was an absurd question, but he asked anyway.

If they had come with a military helicopter to fetch him...

He must be in a position to influence the AMT, even if not a general.

And in fact, it was a statement meant for the guild officials to hear.

***

Thus, Kang Jeong-doo, Kang Hye-sul, and a few blacksmiths arrived at the 1st Battalion.

Lee Hyun-wook greeted them.

“Mr. Kang, thank you for coming.”