Chapter 354
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 354
Chapter Title: 145. Faith (2)
Before the war, the All Rivers Return Cult that rose in China dragged the country down the path to ruin, much like the Taiping Rebellion of old.
The Chinese government branded them as fanatics and responded with merciless suppression, but at the same time, they conducted thorough and meticulous analyses of the religion they dismissed as fanaticism.
I'd seen some of those reports myself.
Fanatic organizations are far more diverse and varied than we imagine.
The Chinese government classified their factions based on their degree of worldliness, which I personally think is an appropriate categorization.
The factions that strictly follow the pure teachings of the cult's founder, Ma Won-gap, are surprisingly harmless.
Like the people we saw in the Paju Rift, they ignore worldly affairs and devote themselves to a self-destructive path of becoming one with monsters and rifts.
The problematic ones are the worldly factions.
They half-accept Ma Won-gap's teachings and form organizations like the typical cults we see, expanding their influence.
In the process, they invoke scriptures and doctrines even Ma Won-gap wouldn't know, and infighting among fanatics—washing blood with blood—is commonplace.
The fanatics we usually deal with are the latter type.
What was particularly striking in the Chinese government's report was how these worldly fanatic groups recruited believers.
We thought people joined fanatic groups through proselytizing, but surprisingly, the number who entered via missionary work was low.
Less than 20%, according to Chinese government estimates.
Over 90% of those arrested on fanatic charges and facing execution confessed that they had no choice but to join the fanatic organizations.
They defended themselves by claiming that in forsaken lands unprotected by the state, joining a fanatic group was the only way to survive—an act of emergency refuge.
The report didn't record whether their defenses were accepted in Chinese courts, but the idea that most fanatics joined for survival rather than religious zeal was a fresh shock.
Because it implies that even fanatics are human.
In other words, they didn't voluntarily side with the monsters.
Of course, that doesn't change anything.
In extreme situations, excuses and circumstances are irrelevant.
Only what's right in front of you is the truth.
Even if it's just a fleeting glimmer, nothing changes.
I believe the life of one of my team members is worth more than ten innocent civilians, and that conviction hasn't wavered even now.
No matter the circumstances, if someone tries to kill me or my comrades, I'll kill them without hesitation.
Anyway, it's clear how fanatics expand their forces.
They mainly target the abandoned people and groups.
Fanatics have the knowledge and wisdom to survive in erosion zones, and while not abundant, they have sufficient supplies.
To those with nowhere to go and no one to rely on, they must seem like saviors in a way.
Of course, once you become a believer, you become a thorough accessory to the organization.
In highly worldly groups, they even install a "Cult Leader" who lives in luxury rivaling ancient kings and nobles.
The cult with that Awakened woman from our forum in the past was like that, and the faction we're dealing with this time is also a worldly one.
There's one more important distinction here.
"It's mainly the North Korean faction."
Fanatic core groups fall into three broad categories.
One is homegrown in Korea, another is North Korean.
Rarely, there are those from mainland China, but their numbers are so small they don't matter much.
The majority are North Korean.
It makes natural sense.
People from a crumbling North Korea flocked to the Chinese border, encountered the budding All Rivers Return Cult, returned to their own collapsing homeland to grow the cult, and when the army abandoned the front lines, they crossed the DMZ into South Korea, absorbing forsaken people and groups to expand further.
Why does this matter? Because their origin lets us infer detailed tactics and behavior patterns.
"This is footage from the recon drone my little sister sent up."
Hong Da-jeong apparently works as a drone operator in the same unit.
With no military background and being a woman, she faced heavy disadvantages in recruitment, but her field performance shut up the recruiters.
The footage she captured perfectly shows the characteristics of the North Korean faction we know.
"Lots of sentries, huh?"
North Korean factions use a ton of manpower.
Excessively so.
It's like assigning ten people to a job one could do—not grinding them like in South Korea with 80+ hour weeks, but sheer overkill.
Terribly inefficient, but using that many people means you catch something eventually.
The bonus in sentry work is one such gain.
Since North Korea itself is one giant barracks, structuring like the military is a key trait of their factions.
Centered on a large department store as their base, the fanatics had formed tightly linked defensive positions everywhere.
The fact that many of the weapons held by sentries in makeshift bunkers—cobbled from wrecked cars and cement blocks—were domestically produced said a lot.
"Did the Legion faction supply the weapons?"
Defender nodded.
"Instead of Kim Byung-chul, there's this guy named Han Sung-yeol who set up in Wonju doing arms deals."
"Did the fanatics have anything to trade?"
"Women."
"Women?"
"Yeah. They trade weapons for women, apparently."
"What a piece of trash."
"Rumors say he does organ trafficking too. Guy's gone as far as he can go. Not that I have room to talk."
"...A soldier who's awfully concerned with medical care and troop welfare."
I'd expected the warlords to drop their masks once the Legion faction dissolved, but as always, reality exceeds imagination.
No need to dig deeper.
There are too many trash heaps in this world; trying to understand each action could drive you insane.
Anyway, whether they sold a ton of people or Han Sung-yeol was generous, the fanatics were well-armed.
Their positions were balanced, commanding a substantial force—a powerful group.
But couldn't our reporter Yang, Woo Min-hee, handle a force like this easily?
Doesn't seem like something that requires calling me in.
Defender glanced around before answering lowly.
"Commander Woo. She's holding back her strength."
"Holding back?"
"Maybe twice a year at most? Word is she avoids combat extremes. Even the veterans by her side say so, so it's probably true."
"...I see."
Woo Min-hee's face briefly flashed in my mind, but I'm no Awakened, so I can't grasp her thoughts.
"..."
She must have her reasons.
Anyway, this mission is undeniably tough.
Even a regular Awakened who ignores orders would hesitate to dive in.
No matter how bullet-reflecting an Awakened is, constant gunfire from all directions hits limits fast.
Reflection fields aren't tents you keep up 24/7.
We don't know the exact mechanics, but from experience, we know Awakened and monster powers amplify explosively like internal combustion "waves," akin to engine blasts.
Even monsters can't generate waves infinitely.
After prolonged combat and fatigue buildup, they can't produce them.
It's stark when mid-sized or larger monsters die in kill zones to barrages—they reflect shells elsewhere at first, but under rain-like artillery, fields shatter or waves fail, and they're crushed.
Awakened are the same, but their wave endurance falls short of small monsters.
So in urban warfare like this—against fanatics who disregard life due to zeal—even elite regular Awakened face meaningful death rates.
Plus, fanatics likely have multiple regular Awakened-level ones themselves.
For regular Awakened, it's a battlefield they'd hate to enter.
Especially for those from Jeju, unused to fighting humans.
"Looks like ground infiltration's impossible."
I spoke while eyeing the map and drone feed.
"They've probably accounted for underground routes like subways too?"
Defender nodded, but his expression was grim as expected.
"The tunnels are in bad shape."
Defender showed a new screen.
Beyond the pitch-black tunnel of the old commuter rail stretched a grayish-white infested area.
"Monsters have nested there."
Not a fresh nest.
An ancient, reinforced fortress of a nest, impregnable.
Defender nodded.
"That's why they picked that eye-catching mall—not for nothing."
In summary, there's a plan to end the fanatics, but reaching them is tricky.
That's Defender's conclusion.
But it needs revision.
"...What kind of monster?"
I'm looking at it.
*
One conclusion I've reached from organized life since my mid-teens: there aren't many ways to make someone who doesn't want to work move.
They can fake going through the motions.
That's easy.
But what we do can't be half-assed.
Hunter work allows no small mistakes.
Forcing real effort there is extremely hard.
Especially if they're stronger and higher-ranked than me—better to give up.
No point clinging.
They say sincerity moves heaven, but who knows.
If the world were like that, it'd be more livable than now.
Of course, I'll meet the slacking regular Awakened.
As Seoul Hunter HQ chief, it's one of my duties.
[ MAIN ]
The regular Awakened had nested in a renovated old post office next to The Hope, with intact heating and power.
Proudly displaying the English word for "main force" on a sign made their pride obvious.
Makes sense—from a regular Awakened's view, they're always the core, others support.
Hard to stomach operating eye-to-eye with those they saw as beneath them.
No grounds to blame them—we were the same.
Despite equal physiques and training, we academy hunters dismissed "school hunters" for differing institutions and durations.
Much less regulars with objective edges—they deserve understanding from their level once.
Of course, I'm their commander.
Woo Min-hee tasked me with integrating these strong pups into the new org.
Maybe she stayed out fearing she'd kill these precious assets if she stepped in.
Screeech—
Opening the creaky door, hot air warmed my face.
With temps barely 2°C, they guzzled precious power running radiators full blast.
A corner thermometer read 28°C as young guys lounging loosely in the open room turned to me.
"Who are you?"
A man asked gruffly.
Barely late teens in face, but over 190cm tall.
I walked slowly, precisely to the hall's center amid their stares, without answering.
Then gazed at the regular Awakened.
I scanned faces.
Resentment, contempt, surprise—mostly contempt.
I spoke calmly, firmly, unperturbed.
"...I'm Park Gyu, newly appointed commander of Seoul Hunter HQ. Callsign: Professor."
At "Park Gyu," the Awakened finally reacted.
Even these arrogant types know my callsign somewhat.
"Professor?"
"For real?"
"That's the guy...?"
"Younger than I thought."
Murmurs and gauging glances.
I added, turning my gaze.
"Who's the leader?"
A man raised his hand.
Seeing his face, I thought, "As expected."
I don't buy physiognomy, but he looks like he'd never listen—made for music or art scenes, not military.
"Me."
He stood.
"An Seung-hwan. Level 9."
A woman handed him a jacket.
Patched with various badges.
Like old Legion deserters commemorating feats.
"...I spent a year and a half in Big Hall. Went 12 times total, including two blasting ops."
Unknown to me.
Couldn't tell what it meant.
But the nuance? Probably comparing to me.
Claiming his record matches or tops mine.
"You know Commander Woo's orders?"
An Seung-hwan nodded without blinking.
"Why aren't you joining the op?"
An Seung-hwan opened his mouth.
"We're not refusing to join."
"I don't like beating around the bush. Voice your complaints here."
"Ah... yes. So, to reiterate, we're not invincible soldiers like non-Awakened think. We don't reflect every bullet—we die if hit too."
"..."
"Kim Da-ham? Kim Da-ra? Anyway, we told that woman our demands, but seems she didn't pass them on?"
I gestured for him to continue.
An Seung-hwan smiled, emphasizing certain words.
"We need support units, including a tank company."
He stressed "tank company."
"Doesn't it make sense for us to move in after tanks clear paths and secure flanks?"
An Seung-hwan sat, crossing legs, looking up at me.
His hollow, indifferent eyes confirmed persuasion via words was impossible.
At the same time, I knew luxury demands like tank companies were unfeasible.
But that doesn't mean abandoning this valuable force.
"Seems you're all mistaken about something."
I scanned An Seung-hwan and the others, eyes gleaming with varied resentment.
"At least here, you're not the main force."
No laughs, but mouths cracked grins.
"I'll show you."
People tend to work hard when made to feel worthless.
I hope these guys do too.
"..."
What a pain—a clingy one attached.
"Hi there?"
Unknown woman.
Regular Awakened with An Seung-hwan.
Her face eerily like Woo Min-hee's.
"Can I tag along too?"
Foul-tempered, crabby, testing people.