Chapter 4

EP 2 - The Red Han River's Psychic (1)

"We need to go to a safe place first. Where should we go?"

"To the military."

Yeo Doyeon answered briefly, and I nodded.

"Where is the nearest military base from here?"

I am a person with a disability and don't know. Yeo Doyeon and Lee Hojeong are women. Yang Pansuk went to the Vietnam War using his connections to become a national hero.

The only one who has completed military service is Yang Ilho.

"Right. Ilho, where is the nearest military base from here?"

Yang Ilho said,

"......How would I know all the locations of the ROK Army bases just because I served in the military?"

"Oh, right."

"Bro, you're a person with a disability, right?"

"......17th Division. Capital Defense Command."

Councilor Yang Pansuk's eyes lit up.

"I was on the National Defense Committee during my first term."

"Indeed, you are Councilor Yang."

"The 17th Division is in Incheon, and the Capital Defense Command is in Gwanak."

The 17th Division is to the west, and the Capital Defense Command is to the south. If we follow the Han River, it would be better to go to the 17th Division.

However, whether the 17th Division or the Capital Defense Command can deal with those monsters is another matter. They are mostly armed with rifles. I don't think they can kill those house-sized creatures.

Most importantly, the majority of the ROK Army is stationed in the north.

"......What about going north?"

Everyone perked up their ears.

"We need to join up with the military first. We should go to a place with tanks and artillery. Ilho, is the internet working now?"

"Ah, let me check. ......It's not working, bro."

"Then it means that the monsters haven't appeared in Yeouido. What network do you use?"

"KSK."

"Please check with other network providers."

My sister and Lee Hojeong responded.

"LU+ internet is working."

"MU network is down."

I gave instructions with relief.

"Sis, while the internet is still working, search for a map of the northern part of the Han River and capture everything around us. Especially, follow the left side of the Han River up to the military base in Paju. All of it."

I could hear the sound of Yeo Doyeon frantically taking screenshots on her phone.

"Councilor Yang, what about going north along the Han River? It seems a bit risky to head towards the Capital Defense Command and the 17th Division-"

"Just get to the point."

"The 17th Division and the Capital Defense Command will probably be a mess. There might be some tank drivers in Paju, so let's go there."

"We are already heading there."

"Thank you."

I don't know much, but I know Paju is the front line. There should be tanks and artillery. Sure enough, when I searched on my phone, the 2nd Armored Brigade was there.

"Let's go to the 2nd Armored Brigade in Paju. Monsters gather in crowded places."

I pointed out another issue.

Family.

"Sis, where are Aunt and Uncle?"

"I called them earlier. They are in Tongyeong."

"Are there any monsters?"

"Don't know. They seem to be safe."

At least they are in Gyeongsangnam-do, which is a relief.

Ilho is an orphan. He has no family, no girlfriend, and only knows us.

Then, Hojeong.

"Hojeong, are your family members-"

"Don't worry about them."

It seems she has a bad relationship with her family. In this situation, it's a relief.

The problem is Councilor Yang Pansuk.

His constituency is in Jeolla-do, so his family and relatives all live there. His son-in-law's family is in Busan because he works at the Busan District Court.

The problem is his only granddaughter, who attends a prestigious high school in Seoul. I sometimes give her a ride to school, so I know her a bit.

"......Councilor Yang. Is your granddaughter-"

"She's on a school trip. To Gyeongju. What a stroke of luck......"

"Then it seems your family members are all safe. That's a relief."

"......Yeah."

It seems no one has any family members to take care of. If so, let's go to Paju-

- Ring! Ring!

It's a phone call. I carefully picked up the phone. It's Aunt.

"Hello?"

-S, Seungmun! What's happening in Seoul...!

"All of us, including Aunt Doyeon, are safe. We are escaping safely. Have any monsters appeared there?"

-Oh...! Thank goodness. Lord, really...!

"Have any monsters appeared?"

-No, they haven't......

Thank goodness.

"Ms. Byun Sojeong. Can you summarize the news you've seen so far, focusing on the key points?"

-Well, a biological terror attack happened in Seoul. The National Assembly building collapsed. Strange monsters appeared. Phew......

Aunt took a small deep breath. I could hear Uncle saying, "Wait, let me take the phone!" but fortunately, she didn't hand it over.

"Monsters are killing people in the central part of Seoul, and martial law has been declared. The ROK Army is suppressing the situation."

"Then, since the phone battery is precious, I'll hang up now. I love you, and please stay safe. I'll come back. Please convey my greetings to Uncle. I'll call you first if possible."

Click.

"Let's go to Paju. Martial law has been declared, and the ROK Army is in action."

"......"

"......"

Everyone looked at me with strange expressions.

Councilor Yang Pansuk, who was driving, nudged me.

"You are my student."

*

What happened to Kang Seokho?

No one said anything. We silently moved forward.

Lee Hojeong, trembling, approached me.

"Um, um. People......"

She pointed below the deck.

We were in the yacht's control room, so it wasn't very clear, but a dozen or so people were waving their hands and shouting something. It was obvious what they were saying.

Some people even jumped into the river and swam towards us, though it was a futile attempt.

I slapped Lee Hojeong's cheeks. I was holding her head.

"Food, safety, control."

If the evacuation is prolonged, we need to consider the food supply for them. Their potential for aggression. The power struggle that might arise if an undefined group forms.

That's why we can't take them on board. Lee Hojeong silently returned to the corner and crouched down. She is a well-educated person as a National Assembly staff member.

-Slap!

Yeo Doyeon hit me in the face.

"Did I teach you to be like this?"

"......Talk, talk."

I held my throbbing face and stood up. Then I said to everyone,

"Should we take them on board?"

I could tell from their expressions.

In favor: Lee Hojeong, Yang Ilho, Yeo Doyeon

Against: Yang Pansuk, me

Again, Councilor Yang Pansuk is someone who doesn't want to make enemies.

"......I'll turn the boat around. But this is the last time."

*

"Thank you! Really, thank you!"

A young mother held her child and bowed repeatedly. Yeo Doyeon, Yang Ilho, and Lee Hojeong were helping the people get on board.

Seven new people joined us. The yacht was large enough to accommodate them perfectly.

They barely managed to get on board, their faces pale and trembling. Some were holding the railing and vomiting.

Yeo Doyeon approached me with a slightly apologetic look. Her usual fierce and fierce face, but her left eye was slightly narrowed, indicating she was sorry.

"......Does it hurt?"

"It does."

She is like her father, not good at apologizing. She turned around and went into the cabin without a word. I decided to forgive her, as it's not the first time.

*

While Councilor Yang Pansuk was driving the yacht furiously along the Han River, we gathered in the cabin to introduce ourselves.

A family of four. Three students. Roughly, that's how it looked.

Everyone was hesitant, but the head of the family introduced himself first.

"Thank you so much. My name is Gam Cheol. We were on a family picnic when suddenly-"

He looked worried and held my hand.

"You must have been very scared. I hope the children are not hurt."

"Thank goodness we are alive. Just. Yes. Thank you. This is my wife, Cheon Hwa, my daughter, Gam Jiyeon, and my son, Gam Seok."

The woman was holding a crying baby, and a pretty daughter was standing next to her, holding her hand.

"Are you Jiyeon? You must have seen something terrible. Are you okay?"

"......"

I knelt down and made eye contact with the child, patting her head. The elementary school girl nodded, looking dazed, which was pitiful.

Next, it was the students' turn to introduce themselves.

"Ah, hello! I'm Jina! Thank you so much for saving us!"

"Sure. Jina. Are you a high school student?"

"Yes."

The girl seemed dazed and cut off the conversation with a short answer, staring blankly into space. I turned to her friends.

"What are your names, students?"

"......Ah, I'm Kim Jae-hoon. Thank you for saving us."

"......"

The last student suddenly burst into tears and fell to the floor, so I didn't get his name. It didn't matter since I wouldn't remember it anyway, but the two students clung to their friend and started crying together.

The yacht was suddenly filled with tears.

*

I stood next to Councilor Yang and looked at the yacht moving forward. Behind me, my sister and the 1st and 2nd mates were chatting warmly with the new arrivals.

It's a relief.

"Isn't it a relief?"

Councilor Yang Pansuk said what I was thinking, making me flinch.

"......What, what do you mean?"

"The people behind us are laughing and chatting. You can't see this scene."

I looked at the red Han River visible beyond the yacht's control room.

People were falling off the bridge, and limbs were floating. The yacht hit floating bodies and occasionally crushed people who had swum this far.

He was driving the yacht, silently mowing down people with the propeller.

I was curious how they could laugh and chat without seeing this, so I glanced back.

"This is what politicians do."

Councilor Yang Pansuk drove the yacht silently.

"Rescuing people from a terrible reality. Leading them forward while bearing everything alone."

"......"

"Sometimes, when citizens who have glimpsed the terrible reality criticize, politicians must keep moving forward. Only then can the country survive."

He looked