Phantom Sniper and Suspicious Allies
Former North Korean Army Major Lee Ilshim thought to himself that everything had gone smoothly up to now, like water flowing down a stream. During the day, he'd destroyed the enemy's military drones with some ingenious weapon. "He" had said that it created an opening. The drones hovering in the sky now couldn't see a thing if you fooled their heat sensors. And... it had all come true, just as "He" predicted.
The so-called mobile unit from the Korean forces had fallen right into the trap he and his men had set, tumbling into a hellish pit. The fleeing soldiers looked like a ragtag mob. Was this the power of that proud Republic of Korea? Lee Ilshim sneered at them and ordered pursuit. Just as they were about to mop up the escapees from the rear gate, something unexpected happened.
It started with a single shot from a soldier in the backseat of a vehicle. Bang!
"Gah!"
The moment the soldier fired, a bullet came flying back as if it had been waiting. A shot from the darkness pierced the driver next to Lee Ilshim, then went straight through the soldier who'd just fired from the backseat. Screech! The car swerved wildly as the driver died, flipping over the slope in a massive roll.
Lee Ilshim shielded his head with both arms and absorbed the massive impact with his body. Thud!
"Nngh..."
He crawled out of the overturned car. In his hand was his trusty personal rifle, and his eyes burned with fury. Bang!
"Urk."
One soldier firing blindly in response took a bullet through the head. 'Where are you? Where, you demon?!' Lee Ilshim scanned the surroundings, assaulted by attacks that returned like vengeful spirits every time a gunshot rang out. Just then, he spotted a building in the direction the mobile unit had fled.
He crawled to cover behind a tree. Peering through his night-vision scope, he glared at the building as if to bore holes through it. 'Got you!'Bang!
The first shot missed frustratingly. The bullet ricocheted, and the sniper vanished. He patiently swept the building again. As long as he kept that one pinned, his remaining forces could push into the Liberal Arts Building, he calculated.
Vroom! Reinforcements arrived, and right on cue, the enemy poked his head up on the left side of the building. Bang!
"Got him!"
Lee Ilshim shouted as he saw the figure disappear from the window the instant he fired.
"As expected of Comrade Lee Ilshim!"
"We believed only in you, Comrade!"
Amid the cheering soldiers, a chill ran through him. 'Something... feels off.' The enemy moved like a ghost. Even with night gear, he'd never seen marksmanship like that—not even in North Korea's special forces.
"Could it be a ghost...? Possessed by one...?"
"Comrade! Let's go rip the flesh from those demons who killed our brothers!"
"Halt."
"Comrade?"
"I said halt!"
Lee Ilshim grabbed his radio and ordered his forces to retreat. One comrade nearby shouted excitedly at the decision.
"They're right in front of us! The demons who slaughtered our fellow countrymen are right there!"
"It's a trap. They're luring us in."
"But we have the numbers..."
"No changing the order. Fall back."
The comrade muttered under his breath, clutching his gun—names of the comrades who'd gone silent after entering the Liberal Arts Building. Lee Ilshim let out a small sigh.
"Comrade."
"As expected! Changing the—" Bang!
His shot dropped the comrade to the ground. The surrounding soldiers fell deathly silent.
"Fall back."
"Yes, Major!"
At the command, the troops swiftly withdrew to defensive positions in perfect order.
"Major, aren't you taking the vehicle?"
"...I'm fine. Got any camouflage netting?"
"Right here!"
Lee Ilshim grabbed the thermal-shielding camouflage netting they'd used for the mobile unit ambush. He racked the bolt on his rifle, emptying the chamber, and muttered. Clink!
"I'll settle this unfinished score."
Hiding near the Liberal Arts Building, he vowed. "You'll pay... for insulting Him."
...Why were my ears so itchy? I scratched my irritated ear and got up from my seat.
"Conel? How's the situation?"
No answer. Looking around, I realized I was somewhere completely different.
"This is... an alley? Kinda familiar."
Staring at the subtly familiar path, I tilted my head. I racked my brain, but nothing came up.
"Shai! Conel!"
"Hey! Chinese auntie!"
No response even to the line that'd make Shai charge at me ready to kill. I decided to walk forward for now. Strolling down the dimly lit alley under flickering streetlamps, a growing sense of familiarity hit me. In my memory, turning here should lead to...
"Ah! This is it."
Recalling an old memory, I looked down. A blade was buried deep in my gut.
Suddenly, some shadow had stabbed my stomach with a knife. Stab! Stab!
The blade showed no mercy. Not content with one thrust, it twisted inside me two, three times. Now I knew from experience: when a knife hits your body, your legs give out, and you collapse. Grabbing it or counterattacking? Normal people can't manage that. So I crumpled to the ground.
Swimming in my own pool of blood wasn't half bad, surprisingly.
'-ah-'
'---i-'
"...Sigh, such is my fate."
I sighed, hauled myself up, and lunged at the shadow's unguarded back. No need to worry about the knife in his hand. Wrap your arm around the neck, squeeze, hook the leg, and slam him face-first. Without a proper breakfall, his head cracks; if he does it right, he just gets a free chokehold from me.
Thud!
"--ah—"
"Shut up, you bastard!"
Choking full-force, his resistance weakened in seconds. Stop here and grab the knife? Nah, I didn't stop. A crunch of twisting bone came from his neck. What if I kept going...? Probably...
Crack!
..."B2?"
"...Unfamiliar ceiling? Wait, no—it's our department lounge? Familiar ceiling."
"I have no idea what you're saying."
I cracked my eyes and tossed a joke at Conel. She let out a small sigh—maybe annoyed at the joke, or relieved I was okay.
"What's the situation?"
"Fortunately, they retreated. We're in... a sort of stalemate now."
"Good. Relieved to hear it."
Sitting up, my neck twinged slightly. On the desk nearby sat my slightly cracked ballistic helmet.
"Dodged a direct hit. Minor injuries thanks to that."
"Stings a bit."
Mentioning the injury made my cheek hurt. A mirror nearby showed my wounded face.
...This looks like I could pass it off as a tree branch scratch. Shaking off the silly thought, I stood.
"Where's Shai?"
"Cleaning up."
"Shai? Cleaning what?"
"Well... people, I suppose. Or rather, persons."
As Conel finished, noise erupted outside. I headed out of the lounge toward the commotion. People were there—but more than expected. Five in mobile unit gear, and eight civilians.
"So we can't leave? Stuck here forever?"
"Sorry. No safe way out right now. Going out would be riskier..."
"Mister! If we delay more, my mom's gonna kill me! Curfew's passed!"
A middle-aged mobile unit guy was arguing with college students. The unit was taking all the heat, though.
As I approached, Shai greeted me. "Too bad you didn't die."
"Unlike some, I manage my risks."
"Oh? And who might that 'some' be?"
Sharp question. I dodged Shai's glare.
Then the mobile unit guy talking to the civilians approached. "Hello. Police Mobile Unit Lieutenant Kang Shinrip. Thank you for your help first off."
I glanced at Shai. Her gesture said just answer, so I did. "No problem. We're all in the same boat, right?"
"...I see."
"Chief! I told you—them! The secret agents operating at Korea University!"
"Constable Jeong! Keep it down."
Something in my answer set off the baby-faced mobile unit guy, who yelled loud enough for everyone. "Secret agents? Like that internet stuff?"
"Whoa! They really exist. Weren't you on the third floor earlier?"
"...Can I get an autograph?"
"Idiot, they're secret agents."
Good thing my face was thick-skinned. Calming my burning cheeks, I continued. "...Classified, hard to discuss."
"Of course... I understand."
The lieutenant shook my hand lightly. As we exchanged greetings, the glasses-wearing mobile unit guy approached. "Chief, Officer Hyeoksu's in bad shape. First aid done, but not sure how long he'll last."
"Damn... Sergeant Kim, give him the painkillers from the kit. I'll radio HQ again."
Following their gazes, a severely injured man lay there—similar to the terrorist who'd gone berserk earlier.
"Secret... agent, right?"
"Yes."
Sergeant Kim eyed me, then relaxed. "Saw combat traces earlier. Your gear looks like the terrorists'."
"It is."
I tensed, expecting suspicion, but it didn't come.
"If possible, could you share the weapons you captured? Ours got lost or damaged in the fight."
Too big a call for me alone. Conel was approaching, so I asked. "They need guns. What do we do?"
"...Gathered in an empty classroom. More combat-ready people, the better."
"Hand over the guns?"
"Yes! Please."
We headed to the classroom with the mobile unit folks. I'd locked it with a padlock swiped from the lounge. Punched in 000, and it popped open easily.
"...Did you really need to lock it?"
"Better than nothing."
I brushed off Shai's jab and opened the door. HK-416s and pistols sat on the desks.
"Can we take them?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
Sergeant Kim slowly approached a rifle.
...Wait, had I safed the weapons? Rushing over in panic. "W-wait... uh oh!"
Aftereffects from getting shot? Dizziness hit, and I stumbled—tackling the sergeant from behind absurdly.
"Aaaah! Let go!"
"Hold still!"
He freaked out weirdly. Déjà vu like from a dream as I pinned him with my weight.
Suddenly, Conel and Shai aimed at the mobile unit guys.
"Don't move! I recommend staying still."
"I don't warn. I just shoot."
Conel herded them away from the guns and said to me, "Knew it, huh? Good call."
"Huh?"
"They never trusted us. Wanted the guns to regain control."
"...Figured as much."
"Bringing them to the classroom was brilliant improv. Messy if civilians saw this."
I played along. Weren't we buddy-buddy moments ago? Standoff dragged on.
Soon, the chief raised his arms and stepped forward slightly. "No intent to fight."
"Hm, bold for trying to deceive us and grab guns."
"...Guilty as charged. Sorry. But you never know, right?"
"Ch-Chief? What's going on?"
Only the constable and I didn't get it here. Frustrated, the pinned sergeant yelled. "Hey! Jeong Jisung! I told you not to sleep during briefing! This is the Liberal Arts Building! Danger zone!"
"What? I wasn't sleeping."
"You punk! Who believes people in a danger zone are secret agents? Plus, during our briefing..."
"Hello? Not a good... evening, is it."
A clear woman's voice cut through the noise—from the lieutenant's radio. Conel responded calmly despite the surprise.
"...Who are you?"
"Oh dear, introducing myself in front of folks who's been all over the news lately has me shaking."
"How about dropping the jokes?"
Answer? ...Classified, can't say.
"You're..."
By now, even I got it. Not many people—or groups—in Korea could say that.
"Kidding. National Intelligence Service. If you're okay with it... mind chatting for a bit?"