Chapter 87: Okay, 1 Thousand Dollars

[Translator – Aren]

The negotiations between us Supreme Archmages and the military were led primarily by Pastor Park Yohan and Major General Jeon Minho.

Of course, the military generals had probably already prepared most of their decisions in advance, but they seemed to have judged Major General Jeon Minho, a fellow Korean, as the most suitable person to handle the negotiations.

Calling them negotiations made them sound more impressive than they really were. They weren’t actually that complex and could be summarized into three points.

1. The military cannot readily accept the existence of the Yellow Gaze Monster.

"The information you provided concerning the various unidentified entities is immensely valuable. The problem is the Yellow Gaze Monster, the creature you nicknamed the Lighthouse. You’ve never actually seen it yourselves and only know that it’s supposedly located at Lotte Tower?”

"General, that’s a monster you must never encounter in person.”

The pastor nodded with a grave expression and spoke respectfully, but the response was firm.

"That’s precisely the problem.”

Major General Jeon Minho subtly turned his head and checked the American generals one by one.

They did say a word, but their expressions made their thoughts very clear.

General McKinsey, the stern-looking blond white man, was already wearing a bitter smile as his eyebrows twitched.

Lieutenant General Royce, the bald Black man with kindly eyes, absentmindedly rubbed the scar beside his mouth, while Brigadier General Thatcher, the black-haired white man whose lowered eyelids still made him look sleepy, reacted similarly.

Speaking on their behalf, Major General Jeon Minho turned back toward us.

"Earlier, Shin Nain-ssi claimed that he used magic to read the mind of someone recorded in video footage. That was how he determined the 55 Unit’s tactics and intentions. What if the mutating ray allegedly produced by this Yellow Gaze Monster can likewise affect people through media such as recorded footage? The military would have no way to confirm its existence other than directly deploying personnel. Even analyzing the footage at headquarters could be dangerous.”

Major General Jeon Minho lightly scratched his forehead with his index finger beneath his neat crew cut as he answered.

"The current policy of the Korean-US Combined Command is clear. Because this is an unprecedented incident involving an unknown threat, we have no choice but to demand greater certainty. We will temporarily suspend reconnaissance around Jamsil, where the Yellow Gaze Monster is said to be located, and postpone any attempt to clear the surrounding fog. However, even with eyewitness testimony, if there is no documented evidence, the military must officially deny its existence. We ask for your understanding.”

The Korean-US Combined Command and the Reality Survival Command had decided to deny the existence of natural-disaster-class monsters, such as the Yellow Gaze Monster.

Officially, at least.

2. However, support for wizards will increase dramatically, and institutional reforms will follow.

General McKinsey smiled toward Major General Jeon Minho and started saying something again.

Damn it. I couldn’t understand a word, so I whispered to Shin Nain, the Supreme Archmage’s personal translator.

"What’s he saying this time?”

"He’s rather blunt.”

"The moment he chose not to speak Korean in front of Koreans, he was already beating around the bush. Translate it bluntly.”

How could someone jabber away in English in front of Koreans and call that blunt?

If you wanted Koreans to understand you directly, you had to use the native language of Koreans.

Even Shin Nain’s contemptuous stare was powerless before my sharp and logical rebuttal.

In the end, Shin Nain stopped objecting and translated it directly.

"He says life is about to turn to shit for Koreans.”

"Why?"

Seoul had been wiped off the map on the first day of 2028. Wasn’t life already sufficiently shit?

Just then, Lieutenant General Royce murmured something with a sympathetic expression after hearing General McKinsey, while Brigadier General Thatcher responded in the most businesslike tone possible. According to our translator Shin Nain, this was what they said:

McKinsey: I thought money was the only reason the discussion of a nuclear strike was being blocked, but apparently Congress had reasons besides lobbying funds. If Stage 3 is already this capable, we’ll need to proceed more carefully with the interrogation of the rescued Stage 4 local survivor.

Royce: Even so, I'm concerned. Maintaining and institutionalizing this blockade line and martial law will cause severe violations of the Korean people’s freedom and human rights. Furthermore, although the Korean government made the militarily correct decision, the fact that an elected leadership abandoned 10 million citizens is fatal. Civil operations will be easier only if we publicly distance ourselves by declaring that the United States had nothing to do with the Korean government’s decision.

Thatcher: One thing is certain. China has already made contact around Incheon and northern Gyeonggi Province and is attempting to establish infrastructure for training wizards. They are already strongly emphasizing to the international community that Korea’s elected government is under their authority. China appears to be applying diplomatic pressure by claiming that our command is attempting to usurp Korean sovereignty, intending to seize the initiative on the Korean Peninsula and later monopolize the infrastructure for training wizards.

Only then did I remember once again what situation our country was in.

Right. Fuck.

On April 2nd, I had heard that Chinese forces had advanced onto Ganghwa Island under the pretext of resolving the crisis and conducting relief operations, effectively turning our administration into a puppet government.

While Shin Nain translated, Lee Sejun and Hamza even dragged their chairs closer so they could hear, and both wore equally grave expressions.

"Is our country finished?”

"Sejun-ssi, the nation’s fate was already sealed when Seoul became Sodom, steeped in decadence and pleasure.”

"Ah…I-I’ll go to another country instead of Korea.”

"If you eatsamgyeopasal with soju, you’re Korean too. Hamza, the soldiers will shoot you even if you reach an airport or port, so let’s just stay here. Okay? I’ll share my Spam with you.”

Around then, Major General Jeon Minho was carefully placating Pastor Park Yohan, who had become a yes-man, while explaining various benefits.

"From now on, one MPC can be exchanged at a fixed rate of 1 thousand dollars. However, dollars cannot be exchanged back into MPC. All supplies entering through military-requisitioned facilities such as Pyeongtaek Port will become purchasable exclusively with MPC. It will be more comprehensive, capitalistic, and free than the MPC system implemented by the Korean military. Aphorism will be guaranteed the highest level of treatment and receive substantial benefits in obtaining and exchanging MPC. The standard quantity and quality of supplied goods will also be considerably greater.”

"Do you really have to say you’ll give us more MPC? Can’t you simply give us everything for free?”

Even the yes-man pastor twitched when money entered the conversation.

True to his love for money, he began actively haggling at a moment like this.

As Captain Kim Howoon translated the argument while sweating profusely, General McKinsey was the first to laugh heartily and speak.

"We'll pay you more than you can spend - but nothing's ever free. That's America for you."

Even an English prodigy like me, with my glorious TOEIC score of 400, understood one thing.

Nothing was free.

Major General Jeon Minho looked at the dissatisfied pastor, then, as though he had been waiting for this moment, ordered Captain Kim Howoon to bring out another file.

"Of course, there is a way for you to obtain all of this completely free of charge. Access to military supplies and priority in distribution, priority fire support, field command authority and immunity within Seoul, legal protection useful even outside combat situations, security service guaranteeing future evacuation and the safety of your families, and even American citizenship. If you sign here, you will enlist in the military and be assigned as a special officer under the Joint Alteration Operations Group of the Reality Survival Command, beginning at the rank of first lieutenant…”

"Ahem, hmm. Hrrhmm!”

Perhaps the pastor had something caught in his throat, because he began clearing it for no reason.

Major General Jeon Minho’s desperate gaze shifted toward the other Supreme Archmages, so I hurriedly looked away.

Shin Nain had already gently closed his eyes and begun pretending to pray, Hamza blinked as though he knew nothing, and Lee Sejun was frowning.

I repeatedly poked Lee Sejun in the side and whispered.

"Sejun-ssi, you could totally make a career out of this. Become an officer.”

"No. I have no intention of doing that.”

"Why?"

Lee Sejun turned toward me with a deeply serious expression.

"My loyalty isn't something you can buy just by offering me more. Of course I’m afraid. I’m human too. I’m scared, I tremble, and it hurts. But this is the country that reached out to me during the hardest period of my life, even if only through its bureaucracy. So when that country fell into hardship, I decided I should risk my life and help it at least once. The Republic of Korea already paid the price required to purchase my loyalty. It doesn’t need to add anything more.”

Lee Sejun.

He was a genuinely solid man who understood chivalrous loyalty, the kind you would only expect to find in some old-fashioned martial arts novel.

"As long as I’m still a man.”

It was tragic that Lee Sejun had become an idiot after his testosterone overflowed.

Meanwhile, Major General Jeon Minho was still coaxing and placating the yes-man pastor while pouring out all kinds of explanations.

"Of course! There will be no problem if the members of Aphorism choose to remain civilian Operators. You will receive institutional support and protection from command, so in practical terms, even field commanders will not be able to treat Aphorism carelessly. Furthermore, although it’ll be under military supervision, overseas travel and leave will be permitted. Unlike other civilian operational units, you will also be exempt from fees for using military barracks and facilities…”

"Isn’t there anything we get for free~?”

When the pastor tapped the table repeatedly as he spoke, even Major General Jeon Minho finally sighed in exasperation before answering.

"Providing you with an entire requisitioned building would be difficult, but we do plan to support Aphorism’s independent activities by supplying containers and other facilities. We will install electricity and running water so that you can operate an independent headquarters equipped with basic amenities, lodging, and cooking equipment.”

"Oh?”

This time, my eyes lit up.

It might amount to little more than placing some shipping containers together, but they were offering to create an entirely separated space just for us?

3. Guidance regarding connections with private sponsors.

Major General Jeon then explained that once the systems governing civilian operational units and specialist soldiers were formally reorganized, Korea would gradually transform into something resembling agarrison state under military rule.

This time, he gestured to Captain Kim Howoon and even had him stop interpreting.

A conversation exclusively among Koreans.

Major General Jeon Minho firmly pressed beneath his eyes as he spoke.

"Anderson Makenford. You know him, right?”

At first, I couldn’t remember who that was, but Hamza refreshed my hazy memory.

"The guy who talks far too much?”

Ah.

That kindhearted man who had eagerly handed me materials such as Dragonblood Incense and called me the Best of the Best still remembered us. Wealthy people with good character truly were different.

I felt a warm sense of gratitude.

Major General Jeon Minho appeared to feel differently, however.

"Now that word has spread that you have returned, his circle and the related social circles are extremely pleased. And it’s not only them. You know that many influential people are secretly immersed in occult practices such as shamanism and feng shui, right? As rumors concerning Heart-branch magic spread and information about magic became known among the upper class, the Reality Survival Command has been flooded with pressure to permit information leaks and private sponsorship arrangements.”

"Oh, hallelujah! As expected of our brothers in faith. Hahaha…”

The sight of the pastor nervously fiddling with his collar was quite striking.

True to the stereotype of the money-grubbing zealot, he simply wouldn’t let a moment like this slide.

"Aren’t you a little too obsessed with money for a clergyman?”

"Baek Jemin. Do you have any idea how much money church planting costs? If you want people to live properly, you need money. Squeezing every last benefit out of opportunities like this is exactly what the Lord expects of a pastor.”

Major General Jeon Minho let out a deep sigh as he watched us.

"Even if you like free things, be careful not to accept too much sponsorship. Ultimately, these people want you to share or leak information about magic. They may even ask you to escort them into the fog.

Those were the three main points of negotiation.

The military and the Supreme Archmages.

Though we seemed like one body, we were really two, and we brought things to a reasonably pleasant conclusion while smiling amicably.

At least, that was what I thought.

As Major General Jeon organized the files and handed them to Captain Kim Howoon, the meeting began to wind down, and we Supreme Archmages rose from our seats.

-Scrrrrrape!!

The sounds of chairs being pushed backward overlapped, and Major General Jeon Minho was the first to turn toward us.

I wondered whether he had something more to say, but contrary to my expectations, Major General Jeon Minho snapped into a rigid posture and saluted us.

-Snap.

"Civilian Operators of Aphorism. At a time of national crisis, when the country faced its greatest peril, you answered the mobilization order, voluntarily chose to become civilian Operators, and became the only civilian operational unit to volunteer for the first Seoul expedition, which resulted in tremendous loss of life. Though the road ahead remains long and treacherous, as a soldier, I offer you my deepest respect and gratitude for the courage you have shown.”

Then he approached us again and shook each person’s hand in turn.

The American generals watching from behind joined in with applause, then came forward smiling and launched another round of handshakes.

When it was my turn, each American general reacted differently.

Brigadier General Thatcher said nothing. He merely gripped my hand firmly, shook it a few times, and released it.

Lieutenant General Royce winked his left eye and squeezed my hand tightly.

"Kimchi Spam. As much as you want.”

General McKinsey had been my greatest concern, but this time he gave me a proper handshake without fooling around.

Instead, he turned my hand this way and that as we shook, then let out a faint laugh.

"I heard you all volunteered. Put some muscle on and you'd really be something."

With those handshakes concluded, the military generals began filing out in a crowd.

Captain Kim Howoon’s back looked especially miserable today as he did everything possible to assist the stars climbing the stairs.

Once the generals had departed and only we Supreme Archmages remained, Captain Kim Howoon turned back toward us while wiping the beads of sweat gathered across his forehead.

"Erm. I know you’re exhausted, but could you help me clean this up?”

Lee Sejun, who was likewise wiping sweat from his forehead, spoke.

"Let me ask one question first.”

"Yes. Go ahead.”

"If he’s a marshal, why does he have four stars?”

Only then did the rest of us exchange confused looks.

"Don’t marshals have four stars?”

"Jemin, how would I know? I’m not a soldier.”

"What matters is not rank, but faith. Anyone capable of discussing nuclear strikes against Satan and his demons must possess the spirit of a crusader.”

"I like the moon."

Me, the pastor, Shin Nain, and Hamza.

Not one of the four of us knew.

"Well, it’s only Confidential anyway…"

At that, Captain Kim Howoon sighed in relief as though it were nothing and began straightening the chairs.

"The United States 3rd Fleet is scheduled to be forward-deployed toward Japan. Congressional approval is practically guaranteed, and they’re currently coordinating with Japan. Once Congress gives its approval, General McKinsey will also be promoted to marshal. Though unofficial, he’s already acting in that capacity.”

*t*t*

The place we were shown to was a barracks set up in a relatively quiet area.

Captain Kim Howoon inspected the condition of the barracks with his driver, but amid all this chaos, I figured that if it had lockers, beds, clean mattresses, and running water in the nearby shower room, what more could anyone ask for?

The pastor was the only person worrying about pointless things in a situation like this.

He even called Captain Kim Howoon aside to speak with him privately.

"More importantly, what about Go Ryeoha-ssi? Are they still interrogating her?”

"Given who she is, and considering the reports that her Hand-branch magic is no laughing matter, she’ll likely be held by the research division for some time. She has also been in contact with their wizards, so it will be difficult for her to regain her freedom immediately.”

"Good grief~. She’s part of Aphorism too! Aphorism!”

"Pastor, even if you keep pressing me like this, there are procedures we have to follow…”

While the captain suffered under the pastor’s questioning, the battle to claim beds began inside the large barracks containing eight of them.

I chose the bed closest to the entrance, Shin Nain took the deepest corner, Lee Sejun picked one in the center, and Hamza settled beside me. We naturally set down our backpacks, removed our outerwear, and put down our rifles.

Just then, Captain Kim Howoon’s driver unfolded a folding table for us and piled it high with all kinds of combat rations, snacks, and bottles of cola that he had brought along.

"Enjoy your meal!”

"Thanks.”

"Not at all! I’ll check whether there’s any food left from the mess hall, so please wait here. If there isn’t, I’ll go to the Post Exchange and buy you something. The captain told me to use his card to look after the civilian Operators!”

Captain Kim Howoon’s driver was a plump-cheeked young man with narrow eyes.

I was feeling touched by the sight of him bowing politely and turning away in a hurry when a strange sense of déjà vu struck me, so I called him back.

"Wait."

"Yes? Yes, sir!”

"You’ve removed your name tag too. What’s your name?”

"Ah! Corporal Son Gain¹! My parents gave me the name because I’m their pretty only son!”

"Right. Just tell us where the shower room is, then you can go.”

"Yes, sir! Exit the barracks and turn left once. It’s communal, but it isn’t the designated time yet, so there shouldn’t be any problem if you use it!”

Captain Kim Howoon’s driver, Corporal Son Gain, gave the directions in a pleasantly respectful voice, then turned away again.

Even though he was a soldier who knew the reality of the blockade line, the simple fact that he didn’t have to stand on it appeared to have transformed him into a super ace.

And while I watched Corporal Son leave, Lee Sejun, who had already demolished an entire bag of snacks, spoke while grabbing a fistful of potato chips.

"Why’d you ask his name?”

It was nothing more than an idle question tossed out while he mindlessly stuffed his face with snacks.

But Shin Nain, who had presumably been quietly eavesdropping on my thoughts, grinned and sapped a cracker in half with his front teeth.

"Hehe…Indeed. I wonder why.”

Hamza had already secured a bottle of cola before anyone else could steal it and slipped straight into his backpack.

All while glancing sideways at me.

I became curious about what kind of person Hamza imagined me to be, but this time, I held myself back and let it pass.

Instead, I pulled out the smartphone I had kept tucked away in the innermost pocket like a sacred treasure and shrugged.

"No reason."

A tiny amount of charge remained in the battery of the smartphone that had been switched off and left drained.

-Vrrt

The smartphone vibrated.

The battery was at 2%, but that was enough to check the time.

"It just felt weird knowing his face but not his name."

April 25th, 2028, 7:23 PM.

Only then did we Supreme Archmages finally experience rest in the truest sense of the word.

Listening to the pastor and Captain Kim Howoon still arguing outside the barracks, I switched the smartphone off again and decided to keep my hands busy.

"Captain Kim’s driver is great and all, but he didn’t even bring us coffee.”

"Jemin-ssi. Can you stop needling people? Do I seriously need to give your temples a little squeeze before you come to your senses?”

"Hehehe…”

"Jemin-ssi, open a can of Spam for us. Let’s share it together.”

The apocalypse had arrived.

But for now, my grimy hand was too busy grabbing a potato chip to eat.

_________________________________________________________________________

¹ Gain is a pretty feminine name, so he says that his parents named him that because he’s pretty.