Ch.105105. Evacuation (1)

# Evacuation preparations were quickly underway.

The dejected Pohang Awakened led by Han Seong-geun had informed their collaborators stationed in North Ulsan about the evacuation, and they had streamlined the items to bring along for the evacuation as much as possible.

“Come on now. No cutting in line, please stand straight. Everyone will evacuate safely! Even if you miss this bus, there will be another one, so don’t worry!”

Pohang Airport was instantly filled with people trying to evacuate to Gyeongju, and the group of Awakened led by Jin A-yeon began controlling traffic and loading evacuees onto buses.

The Balhut Cult was also helping with traffic control for the safe evacuation of refugees and strengthening security measures in preparation for possible attacks from the Cult of Immortality.

“Are the evacuation preparations complete?”

“Yes. We’ve instructed the evacuees to keep their personal belongings as minimal as possible. Of course, most refugees can’t bear to leave behind the assets they’ve somehow preserved, so they’ve ignored our instructions and packed their trunks full.”

“Please ask for their understanding that we cannot transport heavy items. Ask them to minimize the weight and size of their luggage as much as possible. The more unnecessary luggage we have, the fewer refugees we can transport at once.”

“Understood. However, many people are coming here to evacuate not only from Ulsan Airport but from all across North Ulsan. We’ll announce that these people should take the next bus.”

Somehow maintaining order and control, they prepared for evacuation, and the 100 buses gathered here were beginning to complete their departure preparations.

When Jeong Dong-geon asked Han Seong-geun if the evacuation preparations were complete, Han nodded and mentioned what had happened during the preparations, sharing his opinions about the evacuation with Jeong Dong-geon.

And among the problems that arose during the preparations, the most troublesome was…

“…We’ve mobilized 100 buses, so we should be able to evacuate about 4,000 people this time. Are there still many left?”

There were too many refugees coming to Ulsan Airport after hearing about the evacuation.

Even though they had generously mobilized 100 buses, the reality was that there were still many refugees coming to Ulsan Airport.

“Yes. There are refugees coming not only from Ulsan Airport but from all across North Ulsan. And though few in number, there are also refugees coming from South Ulsan.”

Considering that about 1 million people lived in Ulsan, the 4,000 refugees boarding the cult’s buses were just the tip of the iceberg.

There were cases of survivors coming from all across North Ulsan for evacuation, and there were even refugees from South Ulsan, which was under the Cult of Immortality’s control.

With more people than expected, Jeong Dong-geon grabbed his aching head with his hand and spoke.

“Many people survived. I… thought half the city was already wiped out.”

“Indeed. Can we handle this?”

From the Balhut Cult’s perspective, they couldn’t hide their surprise at how many had survived beyond their expectations.

It would have been an absurd response from the perspective of refugees coming to Ulsan Airport for survival, but Han Seong-geun who heard the response seemed to share a similar sentiment.

There were too many.

Too many to ask if the Anti-Immortal Alliance could handle these refugees.

If they hadn’t established exchanges with the United States, the Balhut Cult would have had to use all their stockpiled supplies to feed the refugees.

“It shouldn’t be beyond our capacity to handle. Our exchanges with the US have increased recently, so food imports are also increasing.”

The good news was that with exchanges with the US, this number of refugees wasn’t beyond the Balhut Cult’s capacity to handle.

As exchanges gradually increased, food imports from the US were also increasing, and that imported food was stored in the cult’s warehouses as surplus.

If they distributed grains that were nearing their expiration date or had been stored for a long time under the pretext of aid, and fed the refugees while settling them in Gyeongju, the status of Gyeongju would rise a level, so the Balhut Cult, based in Gyeongju, might actually welcome so many refugees.

“That’s fortunate. But I’m a bit worried about those coming from South Ulsan. Those coming from across the bridge are not under our jurisdiction but under the Cult of Immortality’s, so we haven’t been able to properly identify who they are. For now, we’ll prioritize evacuating the survivor camps that have settled at Ulsan Airport or nearby ports.”

“Are these survivor camps trustworthy?”

“Most are survivor camps that have fought against the Cult of Immortality. I can’t guarantee there are no suspicious elements… but most should be fine.”

The issue was whether all the refugees coming to Gyeongju could be trusted.

Han Seong-geun’s answer indicated he couldn’t be certain.

The survivor camps didn’t have the administrative capacity or intelligence to check each refugee’s personal information one by one.

“How many people do you expect to participate in this evacuation operation?”

“I’d say at least 10,000.”

“10,000. Considering the population that lived in Ulsan, that’s few. Didn’t you say 1 million people lived there?”

Jeong Dong-geon didn’t seem to have high expectations either, as he nodded at Han Seong-geun’s words and asked about the scale of the evacuation.

Han Seong-geun said at least 10,000, and Jeong Dong-geon assessed that it was small compared to Ulsan’s population.

“1 million. There’s no way all 1 million would still be intact. Think at least half… no, half of half.”

“So 250,000 survived.”

“Should we be sad that 750,000 died, or happy that 250,000 survived? Truly, I don’t know how to feel about this apocalypse.”

“I agree.”

Han Seong-geun wanted to mourn the world where human lives had become so cheap, but he could only lament the reality that he couldn’t mourn.

It was a staggering number just to say out loud, and the high probability that there were that many undead in Ulsan made Han Seong-geun’s heart fearful.

Jeong Dong-geon, also sympathizing with that sentiment, thought that if there were so many undead in Ulsan, the refugees’ departure from Ulsan should proceed quickly.

“Yes. Then we’ll depart in 30 minutes. After transporting them to a safe shelter, we’ll send the buses back.”

They quickly proceeded with departure preparations.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Wouldn’t it be more convenient to use the teleport magic you showed last time rather than transport buses?”

However, Han Seong-geun seemed curious about why they were using transport buses instead of teleport magic and asked Jeong Dong-geon.

It was actually a valid point.

Rather than bothering with transport buses, one click of teleport magic would take them to the safest place, the Balhut Cult’s main hall.

“I’d like to do that too, but using it on such a large scale is difficult. I’m told there could be magical accidents. We can’t play with the lives of 4,000 people with such side effects.”

“Ah… I see, that makes sense.”

Han Seong-geun immediately understood Jeong Dong-geon’s explanation.

For safety, they had to accept some inconvenience, and that inconvenience was the transport buses.

Honestly, if the teleport magic failed and an accident occurred, no individual could take responsibility for the lives of 4,000 people within the accident range.

Understanding why they were using transport buses, Han Seong-geun made a resigned expression and proceeded with evacuation preparations.

“Once you reach the gateway to the East Sea Expressway, you’ll be safe. We’ve also set up checkpoints along the route, so if you’re attacked by undead or monsters, you can get help from the forces stationed there. I’ve already ordered the agents stationed at the checkpoints to escort the refugees when you arrive.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Finally, they completed the departure preparations.

Han Seong-geun thanked Jeong Dong-geon for his thoughtfulness.

“I plan to entrust the transport of refugees to A-yeon.”

“I will remain here, but my adjutant Sang-hui will accompany the refugees.”

They needed to recommend commanders to lead the refugees. Han Seong-geun recommended Jin A-yeon, and Jeong Dong-geon recommended his adjutant Son Sang-hui.

Both were trustworthy individuals and skilled Awakened.

With these two together, they were confident they could repel any enemy, so Jin A-yeon and Son Sang-hui were assigned the role of leading the evacuation procession, but…

“I’m the leader, but can I really lead such a large number?”

“…I’m worried too.”

Jin A-yeon and Son Sang-hui seemed intimidated by the enormous scale of the evacuation operation, trembling with fear and wondering if they could handle it.

Understandably, they felt pressured after suddenly being placed in charge of the lives of 4,000 refugees.

Of course, there were non-commissioned officers to help Jin A-yeon and Son Sang-hui, but…

“Honestly, I think it would be better if Mr. Han Seong-geun led the refugees and I stayed here.”

From Jin A-yeon’s perspective, she thought it would be better for Han Seong-geun, who was good at leading people, to lead the refugees rather than herself, who was only good at fighting.

As she watched the evacuation procession that was about to depart, worrying about what lay ahead…

“May I interview you?”

“Huh? Who are you? Are you a YouTuber?”

A man approached with a camera and microphone.

He had a notepad and pen hanging around his neck, and Jin A-yeon called him a YouTuber with a perplexed expression, as his appearance seemed out of place in this apocalypse.

“I’m a war correspondent.”

But the response that came back was that he was a war correspondent.

“War correspondent… that means a journalist who follows battlefields, right?”

“Yes. I record the situation on the ground and report it within the Balhut Cult.”

Jin A-yeon knew what the term “war correspondent” meant, so she mentioned the definition she knew, and he confirmed it, saying that he records situations like this and reports them to the public.

Jin A-yeon looked at the war correspondent with an interested gaze, and she could also tell that he was an Awakened himself.

However…

“You’re a brave fellow. Don’t you know this is a dangerous place? You’re weak.”

He wasn’t a strong enough Awakened to come to such a dangerous place.

Realizing that the person before her was weaker than Han Seong-geun, Jin A-yeon warned him that this was a dangerous place, but the war correspondent who received the harsh words scratched his head as if used to it and said:

“Haha. I hear that often. Ah, I’m Kang Jae-wan, a war correspondent. I know it’s a dangerous place, but shouldn’t there be at least one or two people to report these facts? And right now, you all are protecting me.”

“When the refugees at Ulsan Airport leave, there won’t be many people left to protect this place.”

“In that case, I have an acquaintance, so there’s no problem. He’s moderately strong and moderately wealthy, so I don’t think I need to worry about my life.”

The war correspondent who introduced himself as Kang Jae-wan gave a bitter smile, saying he heard such comments often, but insisted that this was exactly where he should be.

Above all, he was confident that with the alliance forces protecting him, what danger could there be? But A-yeon told him the reality that if the refugees left, the defense of this place would also loosen.

However, as if it wasn’t a problem at all, Kang Jae-wan said that since he knew a rich friend, it wouldn’t be a big issue.

“Rich…? What meaning does being rich have in this apocalypse? Everyone’s poor.”

“Haha. In the Balhut Cult’s territory, it all has meaning.”

Jin A-yeon understood everything else, but she questioned whether the word “rich” truly had meaning in this apocalypse.

Even that rich gentleman might be dying, unable to adapt to the apocalyptic era, so what meaning did being rich have?

To that question, Kang Jae-wan replied that it was a meaningful word in the Balhut Cult.

“Ah, by the way. Who are you? Since I’m interviewing randomly, I haven’t heard your name, miss.”

“I’m Jin A-yeon.”

“Jin A-yeon… Jin A-yeon… Ah.”

And to conduct the interview, he asked for her name, and as soon as he heard the name Jin A-yeon…

“You have the same name as the hero of Fukuoka.”

“That’s me.”

“So the hero has returned to the Korean Peninsula!”

He immediately seemed to realize Jin A-yeon’s identity, calling her the hero of Fukuoka and showing a genuinely surprised expression.

From Kang Jae-wan’s perspective, he could perceive it as a hero who could have lived comfortably and been highly respected in Japan appearing in Ulsan to help survivors.

In fact, that perception wasn’t entirely wrong…

“I came back. I promised I would return to Korea. The problem is that after returning, I got stuck at Ulsan Airport.”

“That must have been a disaster.”

“It was a disaster. I went through a lot. But since I saved people who were being dragged away by the cult, it all worked out in the end.”

As someone who arrived in Ulsan and protected many people from the Cult of Immortality as a leader, she was sufficiently praised as a hero in Ulsan as well.

“You’re full of a sense of justice.”

“A sense of justice. Is this stemming from a sense of justice? Hmm, I’m not sure. But I just did what I could do. That much I know.”

Impressed by her admirable demeanor, Kang Jae-wan evaluated her as being full of a sense of justice, but Jin A-yeon made a somewhat ambiguous expression at those words.

To say that she fought solely out of a sense of justice… honestly, there seemed to be many shortcomings.

So her answer to explain her current actions was simply that she had done her best to do what she could.

“In the apocalypse, that alone saves many people. What might seem trivial to you can be perceived as deeply moving to others.”

“Ah. I think I understand that.”

And Kang Jae-wan asserted that with just that, she could save countless people.

Jin A-yeon nodded as if she somewhat understood his words.

“Indeed. That’s a good story.”

And Kang Jae-wan kept smiling, seemingly having found good material for an article.