Chapter 31
The summoned expedition team, called back by Jung Dong-gun’s order, returned to Gyeongju.
Then, aside from those deployed to maintain security and safety in the liberated farmlands, the remaining members of the expedition team were organized into the Northern Gyeongju suppression force.
Their number reached 500.
Additionally, reconnaissance units and special squads were added to assist the suppression force, bringing the total number of soldiers involved to 512.
Each one of them was a highly trained elite operative, cultivated with the extensive investment of the Balhut Cult and the best efforts of the military administrator, Jung Dong-gun, and they were seasoned by extensive real-world combat experience gained through various expeditions.
‘There is no fear of war among these soldiers.’
What pleased Jung Dong-gun most was the attire the soldiers wore.
Marching in perfect formation, the soldiers, dressed in identical uniforms, resembled the army of South Korea from before the end times.
‘In reality, it’s not even close to the same level as back then.’
Of course, a closer inspection would reveal that the uniforms they wore were not the digital camouflage typically associated with combat uniforms, but rather something closer to navy-blue dress uniforms.
However, they had successfully provided the minimum essential gear for the soldiers’ safety, including bulletproof vests, helmets, and protective gear for their arms and knees.
Moreover, each of these individuals was an Awakened, so they were expected to play a significant role on the battlefield.
“Have you arrived?”
“Yes. I’ll be counting on you, Dong-gun.”
“With honor.”
With Choi Yuna’s arrival, the previously stern faces of the soldiers softened instantly.
It was partly because they admired Yuna’s dignified demeanor, but many of them also owed her their lives in one way or another.
Among the soldiers, Yuna was virtually idolized… practically regarded as a saintess, so they couldn’t help but be genuinely happy at her presence.
While Jung Dong-gun understood the soldiers’ sentiments, he wasn’t going to let it slide.
“Focus! Are you planning to show such undisciplined behavior in front of the head of the cult?!”
“No, sir!!!”
He tightened discipline and sternly corrected them.
Soon, they would be marching toward the stronghold of the enemy, Northern Gyeongju.
It was not the safe environment of Southern Gyeongju but the dangerous Northern Gyeongju, filled with outlaws and raiders.
Therefore, no matter what injuries they might suffer, unless it was instant death, they should never let their guard down, even with a healer by their side capable of bringing them back from the brink.
“Then, let’s depart.”
“Alright, everyone, proceed with the march as you were trained!”
At Yuna’s command to set out, the soldiers began marching in formation, following Jung Dong-gun’s signal.
Starting from the main hall of the Balhut Cult, the suppression force headed through the streets, soon encountering crowds of onlookers.
Many spectators gathered to watch the parade-like march of the soldiers, taking photos or simply observing.
Some were worried about their loved ones in the suppression force, while others offered food as a gesture of gratitude to the troops.
“They seem to be quite supportive.”
“The soldiers will appreciate it too.”
The blessings from the many spectators gave the soldiers a sense of pride that their actions were just, directly boosting their morale.
There was no fear in their hearts.
For justice and righteousness were on the side of the Balhut Cult!
“Welcome, Yuna.”
The suppression force reached the Gyeongju Bridge, the border between Northern and Southern Gyeongju.
Upon arrival at the bridge, an Awakened, stationed in a lookout post to monitor raiders crossing from the north, approached Yuna to report on the current situation.
“Northern Gyeongju’s movements are suspicious.”
“They must have caught wind of our actions. It seems there’s a spy within Southern Gyeongju.”
It seemed that the enemy had realized that the suppression force had mobilized in Southern Gyeongju.
Jung Dong-gun deduced that there must be a spy in Southern Gyeongju, and his guess was likely accurate.
“This was within our expectations, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. The guards from Northern Gyeongju near the border are ready to shoot at any moment. For safety, we plan to have our vanguard conduct a suppression operation and then proceed.”
Of course, this scenario was anticipated.
Northern Gyeongju wasn’t ignorant, and it was only natural that they would monitor the movements of Southern Gyeongju, which they considered a rival.
And just as Northern Gyeongju observed Southern Gyeongju, the reverse was also true.
“It doesn’t matter. We plan to punish the tyrant of Northern Gyeongju and his accomplices according to their crimes. So, proceed with the full suppression.”
“Understood.”
Whether Northern Gyeongju was on alert or not, today was the day they would settle things with Northern Gyeongju once and for all.
If they could bring down Do Josoon, the ruler of Northern Gyeongju, the remaining raiders were merely minor threats.
If there was anything noteworthy, it was—
“Who are those people? That… one of them seems to be Taehyun.”
Near the Gyeongju Bridge outpost, a peculiar vehicle was parked.
And in front of that vehicle, two men were smiling at each other, welcoming Yuna and the army.
“The other is Kang Jaewan. His occupation is…”
“A war correspondent. Pleased to meet you, Yuna.”
“A war correspondent…”
A war correspondent is a journalist who accompanies military forces into war zones to report on battle conditions.
Given the dangerous environment, they risk their lives during coverage, and many have lost their lives in the line of duty.
However, their reports serve as important historical records, and international law typically guarantees their safety.
“Yes, I am accompanying the cult’s expedition team to capture footage of the situation outside Gyeongju and their battle scenes. It’s unexpectedly profitable work.”
“Northern Gyeongju is dangerous. We might not be able to protect you.”
Of course, with South Korea in disarray, international organizations couldn’t function properly, so the only group capable of ensuring their safety was the Balhut Cult.
Even more so, as the Balhut Cult was on the brink of a decisive battle with Northern Gyeongju’s tyrant.
There was no guarantee of safety for Kang Jaewan, who claimed to be a war correspondent.
“Thank you for your concern, Yuna. But this time, it’s not the battle I’m interested in. I want to report on the citizens of Northern Gyeongju.”
“Not the battle… you mean the civilian areas?”
“Yes. I originally lived in the north rather than the south. So… I have some familiarity with the internal situation there.”
Though Kang Jaewan appreciated Yuna’s concern, he assured her it was unnecessary.
What he wanted to cover was not the clash with Northern Gyeongju but the lives of its civilians.
With a bitter smile, he gazed beyond the Gyeongju Bridge as if he knew something.
Yuna guessed that Jaewan had his reasons and turned her attention to Taehyun, who was inspecting his food truck behind him.
“Then, what about you, Taehyun? I heard you were running a street food stall with your parents….”
“Haha. Now I’m using this fancy food truck to provide cold drinks and snacks to the expedition team in real-time.”
Kim Taehyun wanted to differentiate himself from other food vendors, and his approach was to sell cold drinks and snacks to the expedition team, who frequently traveled outside the city.
Though Gyeongju itself was safe, the outside was still crawling with zombies and monsters.
Even though the expedition team scouted ahead to clear the path, there could still be remnants lurking, and operating a food business in such conditions meant putting one’s life on the line.
Fortunately, Kim Taehyun himself was an Awakened, so he could fend off any zombies that approached his food truck while selling his wares to the expedition team… Eventually, he became a respectable small business owner.
“The cult provides emergency rations, but having hot fish cakes and cold drinks on the spot is great for boosting the soldiers’ morale and energy…”
“Even Jung Dong-gun is a regular, right?”
“Ahem. Is there a need to mention that in front of Yuna?”
Kim Taehyun’s success was due to a straightforward reason.
Even with all the resources of the Balhut Cult, the food they could provide to the soldiers on expeditions was limited to emergency rations, high-calorie chocolate, or warm lunch boxes for sustenance.
They couldn’t guarantee a delicious or hot meal for each soldier.
“Hey, the PX service has arrived!”
“I’m not a PX service! I even have an official brand now!”
“Yeah, but you’re still acting like one.”
So, with delicious, freshly heated food or ice-cold drinks being sold nearby, how could a soldier who had just fought zombies resist the sweet, refreshing relief?
Moreover, since he wasn’t overcharging but rather selling at reasonable prices, his popularity among the soldiers soared, with even the commander, Jung Dong-gun, becoming a regular.
He essentially provided a mobile PX service.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing well, Taehyun. So, are you working today?”
“No, today is volunteer work. I teamed up with Jaewan. I even bought some expensive rice from the liberated farms.”
“Volunteer work! That’s wonderful!”
“It’s really not that much…”
But giving back a little of what you receive is also part of life.
Today, he wasn’t here for business but to volunteer.
Yuna looked at Taehyun with sincere admiration, her eyes shining with appreciation.
Feeling a bit awkward under Yuna’s gaze, Taehyun glanced at Kang Jaewan, who sighed and spoke up.
“In reality, it’s about raising the value of his brand… but sometimes, even self-interested altruism can help a lot of people.”
“Oh, come on! I’ve dedicated my life to the Balhut Cult!”
“Yes, yes.”
“But there are people who find hope in that. I think you’re a courageous person, Taehyun.”
While Kang Jaewan downplayed Kim Taehyun’s actions as self-interested altruism, Yuna shook her head, calling it an act of courage.
However, it seemed their brief moment of peace had come to an end.
“Yuna, the suppression of the Northern Gyeongju outpost is complete.”
“Then proceed as planned.”
“With honor.”
The news that the vanguard had neutralized Northern Gyeongju’s outpost meant there was no time to delay.
Yuna bowed her head slightly in apology to Taehyun and Jaewan before slowly stepping forward to stand before the soldiers.
“This is the most important advance for us! This battle… it’s one that God Bahamut is watching!”
“Yes. Everyone heard that, right? We need to prove our worth to God Bahamut!”
She then informed the soldiers that Bahamut would be watching this fight.
It was the most important battle for the Balhut Cult, a perfect chance to demonstrate their value to their deity.
In response to Yuna’s declaration, Jung Dong-gun rallied the soldiers, emphasizing that they needed to show their worth since Bahamut was watching this fight.
With this, the soldiers, whose discipline had become somewhat lax, straightened up, adopting tense expressions as they began to cross the Gyeongju Bridge slowly.
There was no resistance.
The vanguard had already subdued the outpost at the border, clearing a path.
All the suppression force needed to do now was cross the Gyeongju Bridge triumphantly, as if they were returning heroes, and march down the roads of Northern Gyeongju.
Indeed, it was a march.
“It looks like the suppression force is holding a full military parade.”
“It was intentional, wasn’t it?”
“You’re not wrong. The operation is proceeding according to plan.”
It resembled a military parade, often held by nations to display their military power.
The suppression force held this impressive parade along the roads of Northern Gyeongju, like a nation’s army.
In perfect formation, they marched down the road, singing military songs as if they were a formal national army, showing off their might as they advanced toward Northern Gyeongju.
“The spirit of Mount Baekdu extends across the 3,000 li of our land…”
“The Mugunghwa of Korea shines upon the world…”
“Raised in the bloodline of Hwarang, we…”
The song the suppression force sang was none other than the South Korean military anthem. For those who had served as active-duty soldiers, it might have been a nightmare tune, yet it also evoked nostalgia.
“Is that… the army of our country?”
“Is it really the military?”
The song, although it could stir trauma or PTSD, was deeply ingrained in those who had served as soldiers, and they would never forget those lessons.
The male Awakened and ordinary men living in Northern Gyeongju thought that the South Korean army had finally arrived, finding the familiar military songs comforting.
In fact, there was a reason to believe so.
“They’re all wearing the same uniforms and carrying the same weapons!”
Their uniform attire and weapons, along with their spirited march, made it hard not to see them as a legitimate army.
Of course, they were smaller in scale, with only 500 soldiers, not wearing digital camouflage combat uniforms, and lacking heavy, modern armored vehicles.
But to those watching, it was impossible to precisely count the marching soldiers, and their navy-blue uniforms sufficed as military garb.
Instead, the spectators, intimidated by the disciplined formation and the soldiers’ bold advance, felt as if there were over a thousand troops.
“These lunatics!”
That sentiment was shared by Do Josoon’s faction, who were preparing to intercept the invasion from Southern Gyeongju.
Instead of sneaking in stealthily, they were brazenly conducting a parade in enemy territory?!
Initially, he thought it was pointless madness, but after seeing the unrest among the slaves and the Survivor Camp inhabitants of Northern Gyeongju, he cursed, realizing it was a cunning strategy.
“Boss, are you sure about this? Aren’t those actual soldiers sent from the government?”
“Shut up! That’s just a sneaky trick by those Southern Gyeongju bastards!”
Even his own followers began to waver upon seeing the parade.
While he managed to stop the unease by barking orders, even Do Josoon himself couldn’t help but wonder if those soldiers had indeed been dispatched from the South Korean government.
“What’s this? Identical uniforms and weapons? Is that even possible in this situation?”
He thought that only a nation could distribute standardized equipment to each soldier amidst the chaos of the apocalypse.
Smart uniforms, military boots, and well-maintained firearms.
If that wasn’t a national army, then whose army could it be?
‘What do I do? If I run away now, I’d lose all the wealth and power I’ve accumulated.’
The sight of what seemed like a legitimate army threw Do Josoon into confusion as he struggled to regain his composure.
Running away wasn’t an option.
His main base in Northern Gyeongju held all the wealth he had plundered and accumulated.
Choosing to abandon that wealth and flee would be tantamount to suicide.
‘Damn it, if I run now, even my subordinates will doubt my power.’
Moreover, if he ran away without putting up a fight, his followers would begin to doubt his strength.
Do Josoon’s authority as the King of Northern Gyeongju was based on his undeniable power, a strength that none dared challenge.
But if this leader, who had ruled through sheer force, fled without a fight from an army dispatched by Southern Gyeongju, who would continue to follow him?
‘Who would follow such a cowardly bastard? No one.’
Even someone like Do Josoon, who rarely cared about the opinions of others, understood this one truth.
If he ran away without doing anything, it would be the end for him.
“That woman! Boss! That’s the head of the Balhut Cult!”
“What?!”
While his mind had already concluded that he couldn’t win and urged him to flee, he hesitated, unable to bear the thought of losing his current power.
In the midst of his hesitation, a subordinate’s report suddenly brought a glimmer of hope to Do Josoon’s face as he turned his gaze toward the indicated location.
There stood none other than Choi Yuna, the head of the Balhut Cult, marching confidently among the soldiers.
It was the most crucial figure of the Balhut Cult, standing there unguarded.
‘Is this bait?’
At first, he thought it was bait meant to lure him in.
After all, it seemed too tempting not to be a trap.
‘If I could capture her, I could turn the tide. But it’s blatantly suspicious.’
It was true that capturing Yuna could shift the odds in his favor.
That’s why he couldn’t help but be suspicious.
“If we capture her, we could take everything from the Balhut Cult, couldn’t we?”
“Boss?”
Yet, at the same time, a primal desire began to stir within him.
If he truly managed to capture Yuna, wouldn’t he be able to take everything the Balhut Cult had?
He could control even that damned dragon and those annoying Balhut Cult officials to his liking.
It was a base fantasy, but it was undeniable that the lure of Choi Yuna was tempting and sweet.
“Alright, just one chance. If I succeed, it’s over.”
If he set aside his foolish fantasies and focused solely on the practical, it was clear that capturing Yuna would put him in a favorable position during any ensuing negotiations.
It was a golden opportunity to solidify his control over Northern Gyeongju.
Crisis could indeed turn into opportunity.
“Boss, do you really think that’s possible?”
“Think about it. There aren’t that many soldiers. We don’t have to fight them all. If we can just target her, we win!”
There was no need to engage the entire army.
Just one target.
If they could capture Yuna, they could declare their victory.
Do Josoon tried to persuade his followers with this argument.
“I don’t want to. I’d rather quietly ru—”
“Run away? From me?”
But that was Do Josoon’s logic. To others, it was tantamount to suicide.
One of his subordinates attempted to protest, suggesting they flee, but Do Josoon’s ruthless hand seized the subordinate’s throat.
“Kehek?!”
“Shut up. The king makes the decisions.”
The sound of a pig being slaughtered echoed through the room.
Do Josoon’s face, twisted with rage as he choked his subordinate with overwhelming strength, was terrifying.
“We’re going to fight! Think about it. If we run away, do you think we’ll be treated well elsewhere?”
He knew all too well that if they fled now, all the wealth and power they currently enjoyed would vanish.
The mention of losing their status made the subordinate’s face turn pale.
For now, they were Do Josoon’s followers and received favorable treatment in Gyeongju, but would they be treated the same way elsewhere?
“We may be kings here, but we won’t be kings anywhere else!”
As outsiders, they might face discrimination.
Here, they could rule like kings, but elsewhere, it would be entirely different.
“Besides, you all know, even if you don’t want to admit it, that every other city besides Gyeongju is hopeless. Do you really want to fight zombies every day?”
“No, sir!”
Above all, other regions outside of Gyeongju were still under threat from zombies.
They could end up spending every day fighting for their lives against zombies.
They wanted nothing to do with the daily struggle of battling zombies for survival.
“If we can capture just one person, we could become the rulers not just of Northern Gyeongju but all of Gyeongju. We could finally enjoy everything we’ve only tasted in bits and pieces until now! We could claim the rights that should be ours!”
So if they could just capture this one person, they could gain even more wealth and power.
It wasn’t entirely impossible.
Yes, rather than losing everything and facing ruin, it might be worth the gamble to take a chance and fight.
“Surely, no idiot would want to run away from this party?”
“Ooh!”
Do Josoon’s persuasion ignited a roar of approval from his followers, their faces now brimming with desire.
It was a sight befitting the leader and his men.
—
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