Chapter 18
Do you know what a shared destiny community is?
My very reasonable complaint—that, as magicians, the most important section was missing—was completely ignored by the other magicians.
They all looked at me as if wondering what kind of lunatic I was, then immediately turned their attention back to the colonel.
The only person who actually responded was the exhausted-looking colonel himself.
"We'll discuss localized infiltration-type alteration phenomena later. Any other questions?"
As the colonel looked around the room, Sergeant Lee Sejun—the person who seemed most familiar with the military—raised his hand.
Technically he was a civilian now that he'd become an operator, but old habits died hard.
I could practically see his lips twitching as he fought the urge to recite his rank and name.
Summoning superhuman determination in pursuit of discharge from military life, Lee Sejun held it in and instead asked a sharp question.
"Where exactly are the Republic of Korea's artillery and air assets? Aside from that one helicopter at Suwon Station, we didn't see tanks either."
He had a point.
Wasn't Korea famous for being called the Artillery Defense Ministry because it prioritized artillery firepower over everything else?
Only after hearing the question did it occur to me.
Something had felt off.
Wouldn't everything have been solved if they'd just shelled the area from the beginning?
The colonel's expression grew complicated.
"Most currently available artillery assets, air assets, and armored units are deployed along the Seoul Containment Line. Following the expansion of emergency martial law into Gyeonggi Province, additional units stationed throughout the country are being redeployed."
He pointed at the map.
"Approximately one hundred and twenty thousand troops are currently assigned to the Seoul Containment Line. The Republic of Korea Armed Forces are prioritizing supply and logistics support for those forces above all else."
Apparently remembering that we were civilians—
Right. We actually were civilians. Fuck.
—the colonel began explaining what the military considered the greatest dangers of the crisis.
"The primary concern is that visual observation is nearly impossible. As of January 18th, Seoul is concealed beneath a dense fog layer several hundred meters thick. Interior observation is impossible. The same conditions apply near the containment line."
The next sentence made my stomach tighten.
"Artillery bombardment is already underway. Firing solutions have been adjusted to flatten outer urban districts near the containment perimeter."
A news article I'd read suddenly came back to me.
People had been reporting distant artillery fire.
According to the colonel, shelling had already been ongoing around Seoul for days.
At that moment he projected a weather map dated January 10th.
"However, on January 10th, an evacuation operation carried out in consideration of domestic and international public opinion failed due to infiltration attempts by Amalgams. Simultaneously, the fog expanded and engulfed portions of the containment line."
The map shifted.
"As a result, the military's priority became locating and rescuing frontline containment units. Utilizing reconnaissance assets provided by the United States, low-altitude aircraft and fighter assets were redirected toward supporting isolated frontline forces."
Another slide appeared.
"Even during the Suwon Station incident, the Air Force's highest priority remained maintaining the containment line."
"The helicopter that said it was low on ammunition..."
I muttered.
The colonel nodded.
"According to testimony from Major Kang Minsu, who commanded operations at Suwon Station, emergency support was requested from a helicopter already returning to base. The pilot's report confirms this."
The screen changed again.
This time it showed actual operational photographs.
Frontline containment units were on the verge of collapse.
Maintaining the containment line had taken priority over preventing a breakthrough at Suwon Station.
The photographs were horrifying.
Soldiers wearing full CBRN protective gear.
Two-man teams carrying flamethrowers.
Barbed wire hastily erected as defensive barriers.
On the opposite side stood melted-faced monsters.
The soldiers blasted them continuously with fire.
The images weren't inspiring.
They were desperate.
In another photograph, artillery flashes illuminated the fog.
The bombardment was so intense it looked as if the military had decided to return the area to the Stone Age.
The entire fog bank glowed white.
"Naturally, twelve consecutive days of containment operations have imposed extraordinary fatigue upon military personnel who have already spent approximately one month fighting Amalgams."
The colonel clicked to another slide.
"Equipment degradation caused by continuous combat and fog exposure is also severe. Furthermore, once artillery and air power began sealing the surface, attempts to breach containment through subway systems using refugee movements created new concerns."
"Tanks are primarily being used to maintain the containment line. Additional armored units remain in reserve. Others continue guarding rear-area population centers against security breakdowns."
Monk Cheonghwi finally spoke.
"If I understand correctly... the military believes the creature known as the Amalgam is capable of learning human tactics."
"Correct."
The colonel nodded.
Then he advanced to the next slide.
The moment the image appeared, my spine chilled.
It was that thing.
The monster I'd seen while escaping Suwon Station.
A pale human head.
A spinal column stretched out behind it like a giant centipede.
Ribs used as legs.
That grotesque creature.
The colonel tapped the image.
"Identified Species No. 2."
Autonomous Spinal Extraction Entity
"Field designation: Predatory Spine."
The name was listed in the timeline documents as well.
The colonel informed us that the creature's existence and biology were classified as Level-Three secrets.
Only then did I realize that, aside from the two guards outside, there wasn't another person anywhere near this conference room.
"This organism possesses a reproductive structure at the tip of its spinal tail. The structure functions as both a blade and an injection organ."
The room grew silent.
"It typically ambushes prey from concealed locations such as ceilings and pipes. It severs the lower spinal column of the victim, disabling the lower body, then injects its own biological fluid directly into the victim's spine."
I found myself swallowing involuntarily.
Surely I'd heard that wrong.
I looked around.
Everyone else looked equally stunned.
The colonel continued.
"The infected victim's spine and skull then become an independent organism possessing its own instincts and behavioral drives. The parasite consumes the host's internal organs, manipulates neural signals to control the body, and eventually tears its way out once the host is no longer viable."
Nobody spoke.
The colonel quickly changed the screen to an ordinary map of Korea.
Almost as if he didn't want us staring at the creature any longer than necessary.
"Due to its photosensitivity, power restoration at Suwon Station has enabled effective extermination efforts. Three specimens have already been eliminated. Current policy is to seal the underground portions of the station and monitor the situation."
Honestly, I was afraid to ask how they had discovered all of that.
Some things were better left unknown.
A human brain only had so much storage capacity.
I didn't want those particular details taking up any of mine.
Thankfully, the colonel didn't seem interested in elaborating either.
To summarize the discussion that followed:
1.
Lee Sejun asked:
"Then why isn't the military using flamethrowers everywhere? Or liquid nitrogen?"
A.
Everything had already been deployed to the front-line containment forces.
Fuel-based flamethrowers with meaningful stopping power and firepower had long since been retired from the ROK military's arsenal. After digging through old stockpiles and reissuing whatever remained, they managed to gather about 30,000 units.
Every single one had been sent to the Seoul Containment Line.
Specialized CBRN units and combat engineers had likewise either already been deployed or were in the process of deployment.
As for liquid nitrogen, the military simply didn't possess lightweight infantry equipment capable of maintaining cryogenic temperatures in the field. They were apparently still busy trying to design such systems from scratch.
Moreover, their effectiveness in open terrain was limited.
As a result, current doctrine focused on maximizing the use of existing weapons.
As for why incendiary bombs and white phosphorus munitions were being used only sparingly—
They said they would explain that later.
***
2.
Pastor Park Yohan asked:
"How on earth did you manage information control so effectively?"
A.
Apparently this was where the AI boom truly paid off.
While quietly relocating Seoul's communication infrastructure and data centers to rear areas, the government feared widespread panic among Seoul residents.
So they used network instability as an excuse to restrict communications.
At the same time, trained AI systems were deployed across online communities, news sites, and social platforms to maintain the illusion that everything remained normal and prevent mass panic-driven evacuations.
Then, finally, Shin Nain voiced the question that everyone had secretly thought about but never dared ask.
"Since these people are already under Satan's influence, couldn't we just nuke Seoul? Most Seoul residents weren't particularly faithful anyway. Isn't this divine judgment?"
Pastor Park nearly jumped out of his seat.
"No... Brother Shin Nain, what kind of thing is that to say?"
"Jesus told us to save the sheep. He never told us to save the goats."
At that point, the colonel who had been briefing us stepped aside.
A different colonel took his place.
He wore elegant glasses above deeply etched smile lines.
His nameplate read:
Colonel Min Beomjun.
"Greetings, civilian operators. I am Colonel Min Beomjun of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nuclear Response Center. I have also completed training with American chemical warfare units."
After exchanging a nod with the previous colonel, Min Beomjun took the pointer and advanced the presentation.
"I'll now explain the currently projected scenarios."
***
Colonel Min outlined three major reasons why striking Seoul with nuclear weapons was not a realistic option.
First.
"South Korea does not possess nuclear weapons."
Simple.
Brutal.
Absolute.
"We would need to persuade a nuclear-armed nation to conduct the strike. Very few countries are willing to accept the international condemnation and political consequences that would follow."
Shin Nain immediately pulled out his earbuds.
Then he pounded his chest dramatically.
"This is why our country needed nukes! If we'd had nukes, Seoul would've been nuked already!"
Technically not wrong.
Still an incredibly irritating thing to hear.
Ignoring Shin Nain's lament about nuclear sovereignty, Colonel Min moved on.
Second.
"The currently identified Species No. 3—the Degenerative Cellular Aggregate—has already infiltrated Seoul's sewer network."
He clicked the pointer.
"Under those circumstances, destroying only the surface of Seoul would not meaningfully eliminate the biological population."
Another click.
The room grew quiet.
"To completely eradicate the infestation, underground infrastructure and sewer systems would also need to be destroyed."
Click.
Click.
Then he revealed a calculation so absurd that the room froze.
"Based on current projections, Seoul would need to be divided into three sectors and subjected to three separate one-megaton thermonuclear detonations at ground level."
Silence.
"Complete vitrification would be required."
Nobody spoke.
"Naturally, the consequences would be catastrophic."
The next slide displayed a map of the Korean Peninsula.
Except this map showed wind patterns.
Colonel Min pointed to the arrows.
"If three thermonuclear devices detonate at ground level, powerful electromagnetic pulses will disable containment-line equipment, medical systems, and electronics."
He paused.
"But that's not the primary issue."
Everyone already knew what was coming.
"Fallout."
The laser pointer moved toward Seoul.
"Estimated radiation levels at ground zero would exceed 300 sieverts per hour. Far beyond immediately fatal thresholds."
Nobody needed further explanation.
The wind arrows pointed diagonally across the peninsula.
From northwest to southeast.
January.
Winter.
Northwesterly winds.
The colonel continued.
"Due to seasonal wind patterns, we are already exercising extreme caution with incendiary and white phosphorus munitions to prevent secondary fires."
His voice remained calm.
"If fallout from three thermonuclear detonations rides those winds, it would reach Busan within twelve hours."
The room remained silent.
"Gyeonggi Province would experience immediate fatal exposure."
"Chungcheong regions would suffer lethal radiation levels."
"Even Gyeongsang regions would experience severe radiation injuries."
At ease, hands behind his back, Colonel Min delivered the conclusion.
"Therefore, the United States and China—both of whom now possess varying degrees of knowledge regarding the true nature of the Seoul crisis—are currently advocating different solutions."
***
The American Position
The Americans were essentially asking:
Are we sure nukes would even work?
What if the creatures become stronger afterward?
What if they adapt?
What if destroying Seoul doesn't stop outbreaks elsewhere?
Also, the fallout would drift toward Japan. Are we seriously considering this?
Their conclusion:
Research first. Observe. Study. We'll provide support.
***
The Chinese Position
The Chinese position was considerably more blunt.
Essentially:
Stop screwing around.
If the situation gets worse, are the Americans going to take responsibility?
Evacuate whoever you can to islands in the Yellow Sea.
Then nuke Seoul.
The fallout can only travel north after that.
North Korea is already mostly mountains and wasteland anyway.
Use it as a buffer zone.
Shell anything that comes through.
And finally:
Korea, it is what it is.
The living have to survive.
Your birth rate is already collapsing.
Think of it as accelerating the process for humanity's benefit.
The room had grown deathly quiet by the time Colonel Min continued.
"The government is currently attempting to secure foreign support and preserve national sovereignty by using reconnaissance data from inside the fog, information regarding magical script, and our accumulated knowledge of localized infiltration-type alteration phenomena as bargaining assets."
For the first time, I thought I heard a slight tremor in his voice.
Maybe I imagined it.
Maybe not.
My dopamine receptors, which had only recently recovered, felt broken all over again.
I could only imagine what everyone else was feeling.
Before I knew it, I was tapping my dry lips with my index finger.
"So that's why maintaining the containment line is so important."
My voice sounded distant.
"If containment fails..."
The colonel nodded.
"Yes."
Then he delivered the final answer.
"Regardless of South Korea's wishes, neighboring powers will make decisions based on their own interests."
"And nuclear weapons will be used."
***
When the meeting ended, everyone left the conference room looking half-soulless.
Each wandered off in a different direction.
I couldn't help asking Lieutenant Shin Hangi as he escorted me back toward the van.
"You already knew?"
"Haha..."
He gave me a tired smile while helping me into the vehicle.
"Like I told you."
He motioned for the quick-witted driver to step away for a moment.
Then he pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one.
His hands were pale.
His face even paler.
"There was a reason all the people who could leave already left."
He took a long drag.
The smoke drifted into the cold air.
"Now all that's left..."
His eyes stared somewhere far away.
"...are the people who'll either die with this country or survive with it."