Part 1 Chapter 4 (3)

The day of the decisive battle dawned.

The largest expeditionary force mobilizable in Korea, consisting of a quarter of all South Korean Heroes and two S-ranks.

Shin Jingwang, who was in charge of the command, received the baton directly from President Seonui Cheol and declared his aspirations for the operation.

– We will reclaim Seoul.

With those words, the Heroes boarded the vehicles heading for New Seoul.

April 13, 2020, 09:00 AM.

The Seoul Reclamation Operation began.

* * *

April 13, 09:20 AM, Gyeongbu Expressway.

“Do we really have to go all the way to Seoul like this?”

Harang frowned at the rattling seat. It was a good thing she had subtly created a mana cushion under her butt; otherwise, she would have injured her backside before even reaching Seoul.

“It can’t be helped. The road conditions are a mess.”

Seunghyung gripped the handle tightly with a bitter expression. The military truck rattled violently as it drove over the monster corpses left on the road.

“Ugh. Monster corpses appear every ten minutes!”

“Hunters hunted them as they came and went. There are no Cores.”

“Then they should clean them up before leaving!!”

Her getting angry and subtly dropping formalities seemed intentional. Seunghyung took his eyes off Harang, who was starting to get hysterical, and looked beyond the road.

“……I can do it.”

The mana within his body, checked by clenching and unclenching his hand, was perfectly fine. Seunghyung and Harang had left the banquet hall at an opportune moment to conserve their stamina.

“Ugh. This ahjussi is showing off again. Ahjussi, this isn’t a film set….”

Harang couldn’t finish her sentence. Seunghyung shook his head and gave a benevolent smile.

“It’s okay. Now.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that your ahjussi’s vibe right now is something….”

Harang struggled to express the feeling she was experiencing. Just the day before yesterday, he had been acting as if he was on his last legs. But now, he was resolute, like a tragic male lead lost in melancholy.

“Well, everyone has different ways of overcoming things, but you’ll be fine, ahjussi. Your future is bright…. Haah, I’m sorry. This is my first time dealing with a situation like this.”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

She was a young lady who had grown up under strict management since childhood. As a promising talent who showed S-rank abilities even as a child, she was like a hothouse flower who had lived in a world quite far removed from the deaths of those around her.

That’s why she was called Seolhwa Princess (雪花公主). Harang, transparent and pure like an ice flower, lacked much experience of the world.

“Let’s talk about the operation. First, the command center is in Anyang, right?”

“Yes. The Sports Complex. The place where you defeated the Fire Dragon, ahjussi. It can accommodate equipment for 152 Heroes, and it’s also a place where monsters don’t come. Perhaps because the Fire Dragon’s aura still lingers.”

Seunghyung found it strange to set foot again in a place he had last been in Seoul. However, with a little more thought, the reason for placing the command center specifically in Anyang became clear.

Seonui Cheol. By placing the command center there, he intended to impress upon people that the Hero who defeated the Fire Dragon was going to reclaim Seoul.

“In Anyang, the team will be divided into three. The West Team, centered around Tempest Lady and Unsa. The East Team, centered around Pungbaek and Wusa. And you, ahjussi, and I will be the Support Team.”

Harang puffed out her cheeks, showing her displeasure.

“Does this even make sense? Seriously. Conserving our strength until we cross the Han River.”

Shin Jingwang, the Minister of Monster Countermeasures who came as the commander, divided the forces, mainly A-rank Heroes, to deal with the snake in the City Hall.

The vanguard would go around Gwanaksan Mountain to the left and right, rendezvous at Yeouido, and then, with the two S-ranks who had conserved their strength, cross the Han River, gather their forces, and defeat the S-rank monster in Seoul City Hall.

That was today’s primary plan. Harang didn’t like it.

“Anyway, we don’t use much mana against small fry.”

“Using it is still using it, so you have to understand.”

“Are you bragging about having a lot of mana, ahjussi? Compared to me, you only have a veeeeeery slight bit more, you know?”

Harang pouted her lips.

“What do you usually eat that your mana exploded and increased so much right after you awakened? Did you eat some wild ginseng that grew by consuming mana?”

“It’s not like that, but I just became desperate…. How did you become an S-rank?”

Harang shrugged, cupping her face with both hands.

“I was an S-rank from birth. I didn’t know it because I grew up in an orphanage until Gwanggeom-nim found me.”

“…Is this a boast, or a sad past?”

“Both! Later, when I find the parents who abandoned me, I’m going to tell them this! ‘Parents! The child you abandoned has returned as an S-rank!’ Hehe.”

“Oh, um. Right. That’s impressive.”

Seunghyung scratched his cheek and then looked up at the sky.

The sky was clear, without a single cloud.

“So, you know, first I’ll show my parents my assets….”

Considering Harang’s excited chatter as white noise, Seunghyung fell into thought. Cheon Gaeul, who must be somewhere in Seoul.

The mid-April spring sky was as flawlessly clear as an autumn sky.

* * *

10:00 AM, 63 Building Rooftop.

“Well, it’s perfect weather for villainy.”

I lay on the rooftop of the 63 Building, basking in the sunlight. Sunlight was a good source for me to recover depleted mana.

– Preparation complete.

At Deokbae’s words, heard from my smartwatch, I brought up a screen over my eyes.

“What about Beacon?”

– Beacon, ready.

– …….

Gaeul, who was with Beacon, said nothing. I urged Gaeul to respond.

“Gaeul-ssi? Can you hear my voice?”

– …Masquerade, ready. But why am I doing this, what do I even need to prepare for?

“Of course, there’s something to prepare. A promise that you absolutely won’t come out of the Barrier?”

Gaeul, visible on the screen, was sitting on a sofa in the Speaker’s office inside the National Assembly Building. A flame Barrier preventing outsiders from entering was cast over the office door.

– You even put a monitor on me, what are you so worried about?

– Ahahaha. If you call it monitoring, my position is a bit….

“You’re observing the entire battlefield, yet you’re concerned about monitoring? Gaeul-ssi. If Beacon tries to attack you, stab him in the eye. I can fix it later.”

– I feel like I’m being treated worse and worse….

Jihwa put a hand to his eye and sniffled. But it wasn’t wrong to say that he was observing the entire battlefield.

♩♩♬♪

A small canary flying in the sky landed on my finger. Dozens of Mini Phoenixes, modeled after my true form, were deployed across the battlefield, not just this one.

They all became mana relays assisting Beacon’s supernatural ability. Beacon was now sharing the vision of all Mini Phoenixes.

An intention was conveyed from a Mini Phoenix observing the south of Seoul from the summit of Gwanaksan Mountain. It seemed to have noticed something.

– They’ve arrived.

“Beacon!”

Through the relay of the Mini Phoenix-hereinafter abbreviated as Minix-a blue-white eye pattern appeared on the back of Beacon’s hand, which was covering his eye.

Hwareuk.

A blue, eye-shaped flame flared up on the rooftop of the National Assembly Building. By linking Minix to Beacon, Beacon had reached a higher level in reconnaissance.

The supernatural ability of far sight (遠見) that allowed him to grasp the entire southern region of Seoul at a glance. For now, Beacon was the CCTV and satellite illuminating the entire battlefield.

“What’s the enemy’s position?”

– They’ve set up their command center at Anyang Sports Complex. Judging by the situation, they seem to be dividing their forces into three. It appears they’ll be advancing from three directions.

“Why there… well, alright. Then where are Fire Fist and Seolhwa Princess?”

– No movement. They are on standby in Anyang.

Beacon’s report raised a question. Why would they keep their two strongest forces on standby?

‘The opposing commander is military-trained. If I consider his capabilities as a Hero commander to be zero….’

There’s something going on. Tens of thousands of possibilities flashed through my mind and disappeared. If there’s one most likely scenario-

‘Let’s think simply. No need to overcomplicate things. It’s power conservation.’

They’ll deal with the small fries using C~B rank Heroes, and deploy A-rank or higher against named or dangerous species. If S-ranks are needed anywhere in Seoul, there’s only one case.

‘They’re trying to conserve their strength until they attack the snake in City Hall.’

“Beacon, what about the enemy’s troop movements? Any changes?”

– The personnel have been divided into roughly 1/3 each. The large groups have split left and right, and mostly non-combatants remain at the command center. It doesn’t seem like they’ll be crossing Gwanaksan Mountain.

“Is that so?”

Assuming the existence of the Azure Syndicate hasn’t been revealed yet, the enemies the Heroes are wary of would only be monsters or Villains.

As they intend to reclaim all of Seoul, they would try to conserve their strength for the reclamation of the area north of the Han River, which is relatively more difficult.

I drew the enemy’s predicted path on the map.

‘Even assuming the enemy is a veteran commander….’

Circling Gwanaksan Mountain left and right, heading north. On the way, they would eliminate monsters and apprehend Villains.

The dispersed forces would converge at Yeouido, the only place with a path to cross the Han River.

“I was wondering what would happen if they crossed Gwanaksan, but this works out well. We’ll proceed as planned. Are there any enemies on our side that we should be particularly wary of?”

– There’s Stormgirl. Most appear to be young.

“Oh-ho. Does that mean?”

– Among the three you mentioned, Pungbaek and Wusa have been deployed to the East Team. We have Unsa on our side.

The Heroes who went east headed towards Seocho as expected.

The Heroes who went west moved as if they would come up to Yeouido along the Line 1 route.

Fortunately, the opponent moved as expected.

“Then let’s get started. Jo Deokbae-ssi, can you hear me?”

– You call Kim Jihwa ‘Beacon,’ so why am I just ‘Deokbae’?

Deokbae grumbled from beyond the screen. He said he hated the codename ‘Rock Monster’ so much, but it seemed a bit embarrassing to be called by his name.

“The Azure Syndicate is a meritocracy, so everyone below B-rank is a regular member. You can only get a cadre nickname from B-rank onwards. So work hard, minion number one.”

– This guy, really.

Deokbae, annoyed, tried to throw the object in his hand. I chuckled, watching Deokbae make the gesture but unable to actually follow through.

“Don’t get angry. If you handle this one properly, I’ll give you a bunch of the Cores that come out.”

– So you’re saying I just need to rampage again.

“It’s different. Though you rampaged indiscriminately last time, Deokbae-ssi.”

I drew a path on the map and sent it to Deokbae. A zigzag route tearing through Geumcheon-gu from four-lane roads to alleyways, heading north towards Guro.

At its end was Guro Digital Complex.

“Right now, you need to lure all the monsters hiding in the alleys onto the main roads. Got it?”

In Deokbae’s hand was a Spirit Stone charged with mana.

* * *

10:10 AM, Anyang Command Center

Shin Jingwang tried to hide his trembling hands by tightly gripping the command baton.

Nervousness? No. Nor fear.

‘This is an opportunity!’

Elation. The responsibility of undertaking a crucial mission. The sweet dream of honor and power to be gained after successfully completing the mission.

And more than anything, what made Shin Jingwang happy was the command baton itself in his hand.

“Team A, respond.”

– This is Team A, on standby.

“Team B, respond.”

– This is Team B, .

Shin Jingwang disconnected the microphone from his ear and chuckled under his breath. A-rank espers, whom he had revered like gods just a few weeks ago, were now responding and moving like soldiers at his command.

He wanted to make the soldiers run laps on the parade ground, but Shin Jingwang still lacked the power and confidence to do so. Shin Jingwang, who inwardly resolved to attempt such actions when he eventually reclaimed Seoul and advanced on Pyongyang, tapped the map on the screen with his command baton.

“Team A, move along Gyeongsu-daero. Team B, move towards Gwacheon as instructed.”

– Orders confirmed. We will report any unusual signs found while advancing north.

– Heh heh, let us old folks have an easy journey.

Shin Jingwang frowned at Pungbaek’s sarcasm. Although Pungbaek was an A-rank esper and older than him, Shin Jingwang was strictly the commander in the current operation.

“Watch your language, Agent Pungbaek. That’s a warning.”

– What are you trying to achieve by tormenting a dying old man? Are you going to put me in an electric chair? Heh heh! Alright. I’ll follow, khahaha!

– …I apologize, Commander. Please give Team B’s orders to me.

“…Change Team B’s leader! Transfer authority to Wusa!”

At Shin Jingwang’s irritated command, the Heroes in the command center hastily took action. Most of the Heroes, organized as D-ranks, were, as always, serving as operators, relaying commands and detecting targets.

“What are you doing! I said change it!”

The operators secretly frowned at the outrage of changing the field leader for using improper language. However, knowing Pungbaek’s past and Shin Jingwang’s background, they had to obey the order, even if they disliked it.

“Field command authority for Team B is transferred to Wusa.”

– Roger. …Commander-nim, I must tell you. The command of Heroes is different from that of a regular army-

“Comms! Cut the line!”

The operators stared blankly at each other before hastily cutting the communication. Shin Jingwang’s face turned red from his neck to the crown of his head.

“This guy and that guy…!”

The command baton trembled as if it would break. Under his chilling momentum, the operators remained silent, fixing their gaze on their respective screens.

Someone wished for this ice-thin atmosphere to break. Fortunately, a report came in that would appease Shin Jingwang’s anger.

– This is Unsa. Monster wavelength confirmed 200m ahead. It’s C-rank.

Good. At least this one is somewhat to his liking. Shin Jingwang cleared his throat and tapped the map with his command baton.

“Team A! Commence attack with ready Heroes!”

* * *

“Unsa, are you from the military?”

“No. I just played along appropriately.”

Unsa tapped her watch. In Team A, advancing north along the western route, no one had more Hero experience, or ‘jjam’ as it’s vulgarly called, than Unsa.

“Isn’t the very criterion for dividing teams blatant? Since I have the most experience here, I’m taking the lead.”

“Unsa is younger than me, but she’s just like an older sister.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Pungbaek, Unsa, Wusa. Among A-rank Heroes, they were veterans among veterans, active even before the Pyongyang incident.

Among them, Unsa was a rising star among rising stars, active as a Hero in the body of a young middle school girl.

Kyaaaak!

The cry of a monster reached their ears. Monsters gathered in small groups on the main road spotted Team A and began to charge down the road.

“Team A, commencing interception. Any monster in sight.”

Unsa, gripping the spear slung on her back, dashed forward. Simultaneously, close-combat Heroes charged alongside Unsa.

“Let’s kill every last one of them.”

The Heroes rushed towards the monsters.