Chapter 150
In truth, all of these problems stemmed from the fact that Kim Suho had successfully managed the political chaos that broke out after the heavy downpour, to the point of preserving the nameplate of South Korea.
In other words, Kim Suho’s achievements had ended up convincing not only the ministers of the old government and the self-proclaimed National Assembly members but even the citizens of Seoul that South Korea had not ended yet.
If South Korea had clearly come to an end, the ministers and self-proclaimed Assembly members would have realized how dire the situation was and cooperated with Kim Suho in order to survive.
‘Still, I’m a Korean citizen—telling me to end South Korea… Isn’t that going a bit too far?’
Even Kim Suho himself, the very person involved, was under the impression that South Korea hadn’t truly ended yet.
While the president and the real National Assembly members had gone missing, the working-level officials under them had survived, and Kim Suho was using those surviving officials to stabilize the chaos in Seoul, so from his standpoint as well, it was difficult to say that South Korea had collapsed.
Whether he liked it or not, Kim Suho had undeniably become the one who benefited the most from maintaining the nameplate of South Korea.
“But that’s just how it is on the surface.
Anyone who knows what’s going on understands that South Korea has already been reduced to just a nameplate.”
“If the nameplate of South Korea disappears, on what grounds can we command these people?
Where would our honor and respect come from?”
Of course, the high-ranking officials who understood the situation were well aware that South Korea was little more than a tattered signboard.
It wasn’t as if they had rebelled against Kim Suho out of ignorance—on the contrary, because they knew that the nameplate of South Korea was merely a house of cards supported solely by Kim Suho, they clung to that collapsing name even more desperately.
“Do we have a choice? We’re in a position where we have to cling to this tattered nameplate.”
“Good grief. To think we’ve fallen this far. It’s the end of days.”
After all, the basis for them manipulating the citizens and challenging Kim Suho, who held overwhelming power, was entirely due to the fact that the nameplate of South Korea still existed—along with the authority and positions guaranteed by that nation.
If all the things South Korea had guaranteed were gone, they would be nothing more than refugees begging Kim Suho for protection, having lost everything they once possessed.
So, compared to Kim Suho, it was only natural that they were even more obsessed with the nameplate of South Korea.
Even if it was a house of cards, in order to not lose the power still in their hands, they had no choice but to grovel like beasts.
“We’ll have to keep operating things like this, one way or another. And if a better option arises, we can solve it then.”
At the very least, Kim Suho possessed the most important quality in this Apocalypse: combat power.
And on top of that, he had such outstanding command skills that it made one wonder if he had chosen the wrong profession.
He had constructed the Han River Defense Line, slowly regained control over the Gangnam area, restored the functionality of Seoul as a city, ensured the supply of food and necessary materials, and even managed the shelters—all on his own.
Kim Suho had proven to everyone in Seoul that he was a hero born of this Apocalypse,
and that became the reason why the remnants of the old South Korean government began to gather around him.
“Damn it, he’s too competent! He’s too damn good!”
“You can’t discard him after using him like that!”
It was likely because of these exceptional abilities that the nameplate of South Korea could be preserved,
and perhaps why even more parasites were clinging to that name.
Thus, as compensation for his godlike combat and leadership abilities—
“My head hurts.”
—he was severely lacking in political power—in other words, the ability to lead social consensus.
You could say it was downright terrible.
He only stubbornly demanded cooperation from the old South Korean elites with a steel will, without uttering a single word to soothe their anxiety or fulfill their desires.
Naturally, those in power harbored deep dissatisfaction toward Kim Suho, who was stripping them of their privileges,
and were greatly disappointed in his self-righteous righteousness and unwavering sense of justice.
Frankly, if Kim Suho had been even a little more flexible,
if he had even slightly addressed their anxiety and desires,
Then perhaps one of them might have defected and pledged loyalty to him.
So, the failure to persuade the upper class was, to some extent, Kim Suho’s responsibility.
However, it was difficult to outright blame him for it.
“How would I know how to play politics!?”
After all, Kim Suho himself had lived as a regular citizen with no ties to politics.
He was one of those who had no political affiliation and showed no interest in politics,
yet overnight, he became the final authority over the Han River Defense Line and a real-world politician who had to convince the former ruling class.
While he could handle the defense line with his talents,
persuading others and delivering speeches that moved hearts required not just talent, but life experience and social aptitude.
It was a task far outside his natural disposition.
“I got hit with the Apocalypse right after my military discharge!”
He had just completed his long military service and was discharged—only to encounter the Apocalypse immediately after.
It went beyond bad luck.
He genuinely wanted to curse the heavens for constantly throwing such ordeals at him.
“Haha. You really were unlucky. It’s basically like you were reinstated as an officer right after discharge, Your Excellency.”
“I never even received officer training!”
“Yes, that’s why I’m even more surprised.
So you really did have talent, after all.”
To Kim Suho, it was undoubtedly misfortune,
but to South Korea—or at the very least, to Seoul—he was a white horse-riding Transcendent who appeared at the most critical moment.
Even though he had never received proper training,
his ability to command the masses and realize what he envisioned in his head was clearly a sign of natural talent.
Thanks to that, countless working-level officials and public servants who once served in South Korea had sworn loyalty to Kim Suho and followed him, becoming his support base.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“We have another issue.”
“Again!?”
That’s why, if someone were to pick the busiest person in Gangnam,
it would, of course, be Kim Suho.
He had to manage the vast Han River Defense Line while commanding the elite agents who followed him.
But this wasn’t a bad thing— rather, it was proof that he had inherited all the assets left behind by South Korea.
In that regard, his foundation was far superior compared to the Balhut Cult in Gyeongju.
The distant Balhut Cult in Gyeongju didn’t even have a single special agent,
so they had to train civilians from scratch by passing down leftover knowledge.
In contrast, Kim Suho had no such concerns.
As long as he maintained the nameplate of South Korea, elite agents and soldiers would be summoned on their own.
If God Bahamut of the Balhut Cult were to witness this scene,
Even without knowing the internal politics, he would surely feel envious of how easily Kim Suho was able to summon elite agents and Awakeners.
That’s how many powerful Awakeners were gathering under Kim Suho’s command—far more than any other faction.
“Yes. We have intel that criminal organizations and raiders who have tasted blood are disguising themselves as refugees and sneaking into Gangnam from across the Han River.”
“If crime syndicates reach Gangnam in this situation, it’ll turn into chaos! Let’s arrest them at the Han River Defense Line or block their entry altogether.”
“Understood.”
Thanks to this, Kim Suho had completed the Han River Defense Line based on that foundation and was able to fully control it.
By maintaining the nameplate of South Korea, he had even gained access to the elite forces trained by South Korea,
So while there were political problems, it couldn’t be said he was cornered.
After all, in this Apocalypse, the most important thing was the power to protect oneself.
If it came down to it, Kim Suho was in a position where he could ignore all political norms and carry out a personal coup with his own guards.
“Oh, and this is the intel compiled from each region by the National Intelligence Service.
Please take your time reading it.”
“Thank you, agent.”
Most of all, the fact that the National Intelligence Service had become Kim Suho’s ally meant that Kim Suho could practically sit back and access all of South Korea’s information.
Even now, operations were being planned based on intel collected by the National Intelligence Service, and they were risking their lives not only in Seoul but in provincial cities as well to gather information.
“The Balhut Cult in Gyeongju. The Immortal Cult in Busan. And the growing number of refugees claiming to be Raiders across various regions. It’s a mess. At least Daegu has just formed an Interim Government, but what about the other areas…?”
Thanks to that intelligence network, Kim Suho was able to recognize the existence of the Balhut Cult and the Immortal Cult faster than anyone, and he could monitor the state of each region and the overall situation of what remained of South Korea in real time.
Of course, most of the information was nothing but bleak, and Kim Suho’s morale was gradually beginning to crumble.
“It’s all starting to fall apart.”
The political enemies who stalked Kim Suho’s every move like stalkers noticed that he was beginning to weaken and started devising plans to press him even harder.
A frontal confrontation was out of the question.
They didn’t have the strength to carry out a personal coup, and if asked whether all of them combined could overpower Kim Suho, they would shake their heads without hesitation.
The gap in power was overwhelmingly in Kim Suho’s favor.
Frankly, if someone said Kim Suho could singlehandedly massacre all of his enemies, people would nod in agreement.
The power of the first Transcendent-level Awakener of South Korea was no empty boast.
“Come to think of it, didn’t those Raiders say they were heading for the Han River Defense Line?”
“There was a criminal organization, too. Wow… I just had a really fun idea!”
What they needed was not strength but manipulation—timely propaganda and fabrication aligned with Kim Suho’s actions.
In other words, a political offensive.
Even a simple security operation like the current one could serve as perfect bait for their agitation.
“Citizens, look at Kim Suho! Isn’t he driving away poor refugees who risked their lives to reach the Han River Defense Line? How can you say he’s not a dictator? Kim Suho is a dictator! A tyrant who will destroy democracy! We must rise up!”
“Kim Suho is no longer the Hero of Seoul!”
The moment these criminals fell into their hands, they instantly turned into poor refugees seeking survival at the Han River Defense Line, becoming propaganda fodder.
Of course, they knew full well that those approaching the defense line weren’t innocent refugees but bloodthirsty criminal organizations.
If they were in Kim Suho’s position, they would have recoiled and blocked entry just the same, executing the same policy as Kim Suho.
“But Kim Suho’s the one in charge, right? That means it’s his fault.”
“What I do is romance. What you do is adultery.”
It was classic hypocrisy.
They understood everything, but to them, whether Kim Suho’s policy was right or wrong didn’t matter. Their only goal was to strip away his authority.
What mattered now was tarnishing Kim Suho’s towering prestige.
“Please trust me!”
“We conservatives must unite and resist!”
Some even emerged to form new factions within Kim Suho’s own camp.
As expected of elites, they used their remaining networks to form a new power base in Gangnam—one that succeeded.
In fact, this was similar to the survivor camps commonly seen in provincial cities, so Kim Suho didn’t react sensitively to the formation of such factions in his own area.
“Forming a group is fine. So, do you plan to assist us?”
“Oh, of course. For our rights, we’ll help you, Mr. Kim Suho.”
Rather, he directly called them in, acknowledged their leadership, and requested their cooperation.
If they had formed a faction, it meant they had a military force to project that influence—and with even one more soldier to fight zombies, Kim Suho saw them as viable allies.
The problem was, unlike Kim Suho’s expectations, they weren’t idealists—they were a group acting solely for their own gain.
“Do you truly intend to help us? This doesn’t match what was promised.”
Far from sincerely aiding Kim Suho, they merely received supplies distributed by him, grew their influence, and in the end, dumped the entire burden of the Han River Defense Line back onto Kim Suho alone.
With a headache, Kim Suho firmly confronted them, pointing out the breach of agreement.
“Aren’t we helping? We’re properly managing the Han River Defense Line, aren’t we?”
“I heard there was an incident in the section of the defense line under your control. Yet you shamelessly received supplies?”
“That was just a minor field-level error.”
“You were the ones who asked to take responsibility for the Han River Defense Line. But if you act like this, isn’t it the same as abandoning civilians who come here risking their lives?”
“Not everything can be managed like you do, Mr. Kim Suho.”
It would’ve been better if they had only pursued self-interest to some degree while maintaining decorum.
At least back then, even if there were individual desertions, they didn’t provoke Kim Suho too much.
Of course, the fact that they pursued only their own interests under Kim Suho’s protection was annoying—but at least they still listened to him.
“We need to rescue the remaining survivors in Gangbuk.”
“That’s a good cause. Then, Mr. Kim Suho, please stay behind at the Han River Defense Line.”
“…Excuse me?”
The problem was that factions were now emerging to challenge Kim Suho’s command itself.
The Gangnam faction that grew fat on the supplies Kim Suho provided now began nitpicking every order, seeking only political gains.
Even if those arguments were ridiculous and harmful, as long as they gained political advantage, they were willing to shout them out loud—classic populism.
“If Mr. Kim Suho isn’t here, who will defend the Han River Defense Line?”
“So you mean you’ll go into Gangbuk and rescue the survivors?”
“Yes! We, the Seoul Youth Corps, will carry out the rescue mission brilliantly!”
A group emerged that wanted to go on an expedition to claim credit for rescuing survivors and take over leadership of the Han River Defense Line, effectively pushing Kim Suho aside.
Kim Suho was speechless in the face of their baseless confidence and wondered where their delusions even came from.
But these people had no shortage of confidence.
“I’m an Awakener too, right? That means I can do whatever Kim Suho does!”
“Our opponents are just zombies! If our expedition team is full of Awakeners, it won’t even be that dangerous!”
“Kim Suho was just overrated! I’ll be the next Hero of Seoul!”
It was pure vanity—or moths flying toward the flame of Kim Suho’s empty reputation.
They were mostly keyboard warriors from internet forums, the kind who had fantasized endlessly and now believed they were the main characters of their own story.
But surprisingly, such people were common in this Apocalypse.
In a different direction, even Choi Yuna and Baek Seol-hwa—those who formed contracts with God Bahamut and became the Priestesses of the Dragon—could be said to belong to this category.
The difference between these bums and the Priestesses of the Dragon, however, was this—
“It’s dangerous. Gangbuk is currently full of undead. We don’t even know what’s deeper inside! If we don’t all cooperate—”
“Enough.”
“…Huh?”
They were completely unable to assess themselves objectively and blindly believed they would succeed with no logic or basis.
Where was rationality? Where had objectivity gone?
They hadn’t even reached Level 10, yet they refused to listen to the advice of Kim Suho, who had surpassed the realm of Transcendents.
“Is Mr. Kim Suho the leader here? He never had the right to command us to begin with. We’ll do as we please. We didn’t come here to listen to your annoying nagging.”
Instead, they outright denied his command and displayed a pathetic jealousy.
Had they succeeded despite ignoring Kim Suho, he might have acknowledged them for their skill and will, despite their arrogance.
“So… you lost?”
“Yes. We marched in with confidence and were wiped out.”
“And all the manpower and supplies?”
“Gone.”
In the end, the bold ones who had stepped forward were defeated—and the news came that they had been annihilated.
Despite Kim Suho investing supplies and helping them build strength, they had vanished without even paying back the effort, leaving behind only disgrace.
Kim Suho felt overwhelmed with disbelief, wondering if they were really fellow citizens of the 21st century like himself.
“Why should we sacrifice ourselves to help Gangbuk residents!?”
“Relocate them somewhere else already!”
As time passed, even Gangnam, Kim Suho’s base, began to grumble, unable to endure the prolonged Apocalypse.
Local residents clashed with incoming refugees, and now Kim Suho was forced to resolve the growing conflict between Gangbuk and Gangnam.
Before the Apocalypse, it would’ve just been a typical local dispute.
“What do they expect me to do now!?”
Kim Suho had no energy left to resolve even those local disputes.
“This is just unfair…”
He was on the verge of collapse from constant unfair treatment.
“I need a way to turn this situation around.”
And yet, the fact that he still managed to prepare a way to reverse the despair—
proved that Kim Suho truly was the white horse-riding Transcendent destined to save Seoul.
—
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