Chapter 67

EP 12 - Those Who Bear the Burden (5)

The designer of the Chungcheong defense line, a pragmatist who had aligned with Won Okbun to overthrow the entire upper echelon.

Commander Kim Doo-sik thought deeply.

The citizens of this country are truly pitiful.

"I know that thinking about the nation and the people is a cliché! But we must save people first!"

The Minister of National Defense, who had traded defense and power for six months of peace, needed a bullet shield.

"Why do you speak as if our lives are in your hands?"

"Hong Seon-a CEO...!"

"The dispatch agreement for the headquarters' hunters clearly includes a right to refuse."

But the hero refused to be a hero anymore.

However.

"Eight hundred thousand! Eight hundred thousand people!"

It didn't matter whether he was a hero or a villain. The minister needed a bullet shield, not a hero.

"These aren't just numbers; they are all precious lives! While we are arguing, the monsters...!"

Because the egoist had turned into an altruist, and even the hero had abandoned the world.

Because only self-interest existed, and only doubt remained.

The citizens of this country are truly pitiful—

"There is a way to save Korea!"

* * *

'Damn...'

Minister Yoo Jae-kyung was the third in line to succeed the president, still not fully adapted to power. Or, more precisely, the second, since the position of Prime Minister was vacant.

In any case, his mindset was still that of a humble, high-ranking 'A' level 1 civil servant, making his current position seem surreal.

A video conference involving about 26 people.

Politicians, ministers, entrepreneurs, bureaucrats, and military personnel engaged in heated discussions on the main channel. The results of these discussions were immediately relayed to the field.

Cargo ships borrowed from abroad by CEO Cheon Geum-soon, through the Deputy Minister of Interior and Safety, were directed to the maritime surveillance of the Coast Guard, and immediately reported to the line of Colonel Yu Hyun-jong, transferring 70,000 refugees to other ports.

The success of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coercing the U.S. to provide missiles was immediately reported to the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, leading to bombings in the key monster-dense areas of the capital region.

The death of the second-largest conglomerate, SG Company's CEO, during this process, was buried in the dark through a secret agreement between the company's vice president and the Financial Services Commission chairman.

Numerous underground bunkers, where connections beyond authority and responsibility were made.

The Chungmoo facility.

This was the brain of the Republic of Korea.

And at this moment, the central nervous system of the nation was on high alert due to one person's statement.

Acting President Won Okbun, unable to believe her ears, asked again.

"...Representative Han Seung-moon, what did you just say?"

"I suggested pushing all the monsters to the north."

The lame representative, who would have become president if he were over 40, continued his explanation in a monotone, no one could ignore him.

The young politician stood in front of a large screen, raising his head proudly.

"The northern army is on the verge of collapse, and 800,000 citizens in the southern capital region are about to be massacred. If the monsters keep pouring out indefinitely and the Chungcheong defense line collapses, the country will be in ruins—"

"Speak briefly."

"Isn't this all because the monsters are spreading in all directions?"

"Yes."

"Let's control the direction of the monsters. Push them to the north, the opposite direction of the Chungcheong defense line."

A look of disbelief momentarily crossed Acting President Won Okbun's face.

Minister Yoo Jae-kyung, thinking 'This kid is at it again,' bit his lower lip. On the surface, he appeared solemn.

Next to him, Representative Yang Pan-seok, who had been silently observing, tried to dissuade Han Seung-moon in a whisper, but the madman's attitude didn't change.

The madman, with a plausible expression, spouted madness. At least, that's how it looked to Minister Yoo Jae-kyung.

"The monsters are spreading from a hole that's only 1 km wide. Whether we build a wall with mountains, scare them away, dig a large trench, or set it on fire with napalm, now is the only time we can control the direction of the monsters' spread."

"Does that make any sense?"

Representative Han Seung-moon shrugged, as if to say, "Why not?"

"Why not?"

"Are you kidding—"

"I will go to Seoul with Jang Ji-yoon."

An internationally recognized strategic-level superhuman.

Jang Ji-yoon, who had blocked the Han River's upper stream by moving soil from Mount Simhak for two hours.

No one knew what would happen if her power doubled.

A single thought crossed everyone's mind.

'What if...'

Everyone looked at Han Seung-moon with a cold expression, and before anyone could exclaim in amazement,

"Are you crazy!?"

Only one person,

Colonel Yu Hyun-jong, representing the northern army, which was desperately retreating, stood up, foaming at the mouth.

"There is no defense line in the north, I've told you that several times!"

He shouted with a flushed face.

"Three hours! No, 2 hours and 40 minutes from now, when the monsters reach, we will all die. What, what? Push all the monsters to the north!?"

Colonel Yu Hyun-jong raged.

"I didn't know you were such a person, Representative Han Seung-moon! How can you...!"

"Colonel Yu Hyun-jong."

"Are you telling us to all die!?"

Han Seung-moon smiled calmly.

"Without a defense line, if we can't escape within three hours, we will all die, right?"

"You know that and still say it!?"

"......Hmm."

Han Seung-moon, smiling kindly, limped over and placed his hand on Yu Hyun-jong's shoulder.

Click, and Han Seung-moon placed his hand on Yu Hyun-jong's shoulder badge,

Thud! and Yu Hyun-jong, looking dazed, slapped Han Seung-moon's hand away.

Han Seung-moon, rejected physical contact, smiled.

"I'm saying this because I trust you, Colonel Yu."

"Why are you suddenly acting friendly?"

"In a game where we all die if we can't escape within three hours, the number of monsters doesn't matter."

It's a time attack.

Han Seung-moon, with a faint smile, placed his hand on his chest.

"I still remember the leadership you showed during the Uijeongbu retreat operation—"

"Shut up, shut up!"

"I trust your command, no, I trust the exceptional field commander, Yu Hyun-jong."

Han Seung-moon, who had been arguing with Yu Hyun-jong, turned around and drew a line in the air with his cane. To speak to Won Okbun, he needed to speak into the monitor and microphone, but

he was trying to persuade the audience.

"There are 6 million in Gangwon-do, 800,000 in the southern capital region, and 35 million south of the Chungcheong defense line. Let's push the monsters to the north. With the Air Force, with Jang Ji-yoon, I will go to Seoul."

"Hey, Han Seung-moon! Hey, you!"

Yu Hyun-jong stood up, trying to grab Han Seung-moon, but

"Everyone, think about it. The monsters don't distinguish by nationality. If the monsters go to northern Gyeonggi-do, will they really cross the Taebaek Mountains to go to Gangwon-do?"

"Stop! Stop! This young punk is—"

It was already too late.

Han Seung-moon raised his clenched fist.

"Let's push the monsters to North Korea! That's what I'm saying!"

Yu Hyun-jong, his legs giving out, collapsed.

Minister Yoo Jae-kyung, watching him, didn't have much different thoughts.

In his 56 years of life, he had never met such a madman.

Especially since the madman was the same age as his daughter.

This was the moment Minister Yoo Jae-kyung, the Minister of Strategy and Finance, began to fear Han Seung-moon for life.

*

This is not propaganda.

It is closer to a thoroughly calculated political engineering.

In fact, both have similar meanings.

However, propaganda is about swaying emotions, while politics is about calculating interests.

And for a member of the National Assembly, this is a daily routine.

The U.S. Forces Korea commander, through an interpreter, promised air support from the 7th Fleet to Yu Hyun-jong, the overall commander of the retreat operation. This was to reduce the damage to U.S. forces stationed in Pyeongtaek. Kim Doo-sik was the same.

Indeed, if the northern part of Gyeonggi-do was completely abandoned, the monsters were more likely to spread towards North Korea rather than Gangwon-do. His priority was to protect the Chungcheong defense line, so he silently agreed.

To the Minister of National Defense, the success or failure of the operation was not important.

If it succeeded, the responsibility would be reduced, and if it failed, there would be a top-level scapegoat. This was also true for most cabinet officials, who indirectly supported it.

Yu Hyun-jong made one last desperate attempt.

"There might be a war with North Korea. If a nuclear bomb is launched, will you take responsibility!?"

However, unfortunately.

There were only about ten people in the world who knew that Won Okbun planned to attack North Korea before the presidential election,

"Let's do it."

"Acting President...!?"

Han Seung-moon was one of them and a key figure.

"......"

And the only person who knew that this was all to save his sister was Yang Pan-seok.

*

There was one person who had a similar idea to Han Seung-moon.

"What, what. They say they're pouring out from a 1 km hole. Can't we just solve that?"

"Block the entrance?"

"Yep."

David Kim nodded casually and crossed his legs.

He was sitting on a plastic chair under a secluded culvert in Incheon, surrounded by people.

The reconnaissance team leader, with a sinister face, took out his phone from his school uniform pocket and checked a message.

"The monsters are coming this way."

"Isn't this place already Monsterland?"

"Small gates produce small monsters. A 1 km gate will produce large ones."

"I see."

David Kim spat out a worn-out cigarette with saliva. A bad habit he had since Iraq.

He looked around. 25, no,

now only 25 guild hunters were gathered.

Hong Seon-a had left, and Kim Han-bit had become the new 2nd team leader,

Park Jung-gu, the new 2nd team leader after Kim Han-bit's death, said bluntly.

"Can't we just take care of them all?"

"No, it's not that simple, sir."

"It's like a dike breaking; you just need to block it. What's the big deal?"

Support 1st team member Seo Jung-a hung her head.

"We can't just block it and expect the gate to close..."

"So, what?"

"Trying to cover 1 km with 25 people, it's just a way to keep fighting monsters until we die—"

"You...! Hey, you, damn brat. Why didn't you follow Hong Seon-a earlier? What have you been doing? You're always whining and complaining, aren't you!?"

Translation: "Young man, don't wander around in dangerous places, go home."

"Auntie! Stop criticizing me! I'm getting really angry!"

"Sorry!"

As the floor froze at Seo Jung-a's pout, Park Jung-gu quickly apologized and backed off.

Madam Jeong Bok-rye, the ace of the attack team and a founding member of Apgujeong, tapped her shoulder with a steel pipe and said indifferently.

"Is there anyone here who values their life?"

She laughed lightly.

"I haven't slept since our 'puppy' became monster food. Who has a problem with going to hunt monsters? I still remember it. In Mok-dong Paris Park, I was holding my grandson's hand, and when we got to the entrance, only his wrist was left—"

The reconnaissance team leader, with a sinister look, cut her off irritably.

"Ah, damn, grandma. How many times have you told that story? I'm tired of it."

"Damn..."

"But I understand your sadness. Is there anyone here who hasn't lost family to the monsters? I saw my parents being dragged away."

The reconnaissance team leader, in his school uniform, frowned deeply and pointed at the crowd.

"Raise your hand if you have at least one dependent left. Look. No one. I understand Madam Bok-rye's feelings, but going to Seoul is a different matter—"

A middle school girl with a rifle cautiously pushed her way through the crowd.

"I... My mom is still alive!"

"Shut up. I have a younger brother too."

The former soldier middle school girl sulked and retreated back into the crowd. The reconnaissance team leader, with a nervous look, adjusted his school uniform tie.

"Anyway, doing our best to hunt monsters and risking our lives to hunt monsters are different matters, right?"

"So what?"

"Don't use the excuse of hunting monsters to commit suicide just because you've lost your family. I'm saying this because I'll be very sad when my grandma dies."

While the reconnaissance team leader was speaking, Madam Jeong Bok-rye crushed her steel pipe but, perhaps moved by his last words, her eyes welled up and her momentum waned.

Kim Chun-sik, watching, grinned.

"Madam, are you crying again? Is it menopause?"

"Old age, you brat..."

"Looks like menopause to me. Anyway, raise your hand if you want to go to Seoul."

About half raised their hands.

"Two, four, six, eight, ten, two, four, five... Raise your hand if you don't want to go."

The other half raised their hands.

David Kim, after a moment's thought, took out a 100 won coin from his pocket.

He grinned and held up the coin, shaking it.

"Alright, if it lands heads, we'll go to Seoul—"

- Kaaaaaa!

A thunderous roar shook the heavens and earth.

Concrete fragments rained down under the culvert.

"Damn, what the hell."

"Hey, let's go up to the bridge."

"Looks bad..."

"Feels ominous..."

The hunters climbed up to the bridge and looked at the sky over Seoul.

From the giant gate, something was descending.

No, it was being forcibly pulled down.