The First Move Is an Explosion

The first move came with a loud explosion. “Support in this situation? Are you insane? Why would we even do that...? That’s what His Excellency said.”

No matter how you looked at it, those were clearly his own inner thoughts, but since the President felt exactly the same, I decided to let it slide.

“But every rule has its exceptions. In this case, it depends on how much the other side is willing to offer.”

“And only as long as I don’t push myself too far.”

I needed to think carefully from now on about exactly where that line lay. We had no idea where or when the monsters would appear, so we had to maintain at least a minimum level of defense. At the same time, we would establish what that minimum actually meant.

“First of all, the easiest option—bullet and artillery support—is out of the question. We may have eliminated Gangcheori, but ammunition is still being consumed on quiet frontlines across the country, and the urgent police rearmament plan has made supply chains extremely sensitive.”

This wasn’t about ordinary production rounds. We were talking about specially treated ammunition. Catalyst production was nowhere near enough to cover every bullet. Even if it were possible, that was a distant future prospect. For now, we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were only using it to extinguish the most urgent fires. Of course, even here there were exceptions.

“If you want to put Yuseong on the negotiating table, get my permission first. The gods of religion are no longer mere illusions, after all.”

“The leadership, including His Excellency, is well aware of that. The prevailing opinion seems to be that they should at least notify you beforehand.”

“That’s not it. They’re wary of Yuseong herself volunteering to go help them, aren’t they?”

That child was good-natured to her core. She clung so earnestly that she could even make the family who had abandoned her look back. It was different from how I could become ruthless for Dohwa’s sake. She would reach out to the kindness rising in her own heart.

“To be precise, they’re afraid that once they learn what the Divine Maiden can do, their eyes will glaze over and there’s no telling what they might try.”

There were two things only the Divine Maiden, Kim Yuseong, could do. The first was guiding the direction of Heavenly Energy users. There were none in Korea yet, but by estimation, aside from the rare few who had found their own path, Heavenly Energy users couldn’t set the direction of their power and were therefore weaker than other Awakened. But if Yuseong guided them, those users would grow stronger. Their specialties would be reinforced, and even their weakest areas would reach at least basic proficiency.

For example, Jang Bora, whose specialty was support, would not only have that support strengthened but would also be able to use blessing, purification, and healing at a fundamental level. That was why Yuseong had met so many Heavenly Energy users and strengthened them all. This much was public knowledge.

The second ability, however, remained classified.

“Does the blessing still hold?”

“Four hundred and eighty hours have passed, yet it remains in its initial state. Error rate is less than 0.01 percent. We cannot be certain about longer periods, but the researchers are confident it will last more than a year.”

“I’ve asked multiple times, but… there are no catalysts involved, correct?”

“Correct. There is only the blessing. Wood, metal, lead bullets, incendiary rounds, armor-piercing shells, chemical weapons, explosives—every one of them has gained increased stability.”

“It may be slightly inferior to catalyst-applied technology, but…”

“If it leaves the original unchanged and remains semi-permanent, its value is immeasurable.”

When ordinary blessings lasted no more than three days, the value of this one was beyond calculation. It was definitely too much to handle Gwerieoknanshin, but against lesser territorial spirits, modern firepower was worth testing. If it worked, the entire war situation would shift dramatically.

“The only variable would be sorcery that strengthens the monsters from the game era, but…”

“Something like that would require more time to appear. Or perhaps it already exists somewhere on Earth but hasn’t engaged in open war with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠humanity yet.”

Because it had been a game, because it was one unified worldview, the monster side possessed countless tactics and means to oppose humans. There was no rule saying humans couldn’t possess what monsters had, and the reverse was equally true. The recent events in this very country—when the human named Lee Han joined hands with Gangcheori—had shown exactly what could happen.

“Meow.”

At that moment, Hyeonro, who had been batting a tennis ball around in the corner, began slinking toward us. Sometimes I wondered whether this creature was actually a ghost or simply a cat pretending to be one.

“…Speaking of which, since she’s here—would tracking him again be difficult?”

“If we had a clear trail like last time, maybe. But this time it’s impossible. No matter how powerful a spirit he is, he’s clearly already fled overseas and erased his traces. A few drops of residual energy won’t be enough.”

I didn’t know exactly what his so-called Great Work was, which made it all the more concerning. Still, if he showed himself again, I would end him by any means necessary. To Dohwa, he had been a clear threat.

“Purr~”

Hyeonro rubbed her head against my leg. She even began to purr—the sound cats make when they’re content. The chief secretary’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.

“She seems to be showing affection. It’s quite rare for a cat to express closeness like this.”

“It’s because of my Yin-Cold Body. It perceives yang energy as food, but treats friendly yin energy as an ally.”

“On another note, Dowol-nim. We cannot physically stop you if you choose to go abroad for personal reasons, but… please consider Japan rather than China if at all possible.”

“Why?”

I asked cautiously, suspecting some political entanglement, but the answer that came back was, as usual, far beyond what I had imagined.

“Because China is… in a state where one wrong move could split the country apart.”

“Thank you, thank you so much!”

The woman cradling a newborn baby and the man who appeared to be her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠husband kept bowing deeply to Yuseong, expressing their gratitude again and again.

It was understandable. With income streams cut off, demand for medicine far outstripping supply, and hospitals barely functioning, their child—more precious than life itself—had fallen gravely ill. In such despair, if a benefactor appeared to cure that illness, the couple would have bowed a hundred times more with nothing but joy.

“I only did what needed to be done. Please raise her with love.”

The young couple left with satisfied smiles, holding their baby close.

It’s exhausting, but…

It felt deeply rewarding. Her schedule was chaotic, flashing from one end of the country to the other like Hong Gildong, yet offering a helping hand filled her with warm satisfaction.

“…”

But that feeling lasted only a moment. Sensing the sudden shift in Park Seok-yoon’s aura behind her, Yuseong’s heart grew heavy.

She quietly withdrew her hand, opening her palm in a gentle restraining gesture that made him relax his stance. Then, recognizing that the person waiting behind the couple was next, she walked forward slowly.

“What troubles you?”

Yuseong changed her usual question from “Is anything wrong?” to something more fitting.

“…How ridiculous. You stood by while the people of North Korea were slaughtered, yet you have the audacity to strut around enjoying wealth and glory like this?”

Everyone present, including Yuseong, was startled by the thick North Korean dialect that emerged from the shabby man’s mouth. They had sensed the ominous atmosphere, but none had expected him to be from the North.

Even so, Yuseong’s duty remained unchanged.

“Make the Republic great ag—”

“Don’t. Even without a catalyst, ordinary weapons cannot harm me.”

The man’s face twisted. He had not yet drawn the pistol hidden in his coat.

“And if you point it at an innocent person, I will take that arm. Surrender yourself.”

The atmosphere turned hostile. As everyone held their breath, the man glanced around and reached for the gun inside his clothes, but—

“…Huh?”

What his fingers closed around was nothing but the worn fabric of his shirt.

“I warned you. Not to do it.”

Heo Gang-yoon’s cold voice whispered from behind the man as he shook the old standard-issue revolver.

The situation seemed over. The police, who had been watching to see whether he would draw a weapon, began moving in with handcuffs instead of guns. That was when it happened.

Yuseong’s gaze locked onto the revolver in Heo Gang-yoon’s hand before she could even process whose voice it was.

-Ta-at!

Her hand moved like lightning, snatching the gun away.

Golden heavenly energy formed a sphere the size of a volleyball around the revolver. The explosion followed instantly. No matter how violent it was, a blast no larger than a handgun could not breach Yuseong’s protective shield.

“Kyaaaaaah!”

Even though it was safe, the citizens who realized a bomb had detonated fell into instant panic. Park Seok-yoon grabbed the man by the collar and hoisted him high off the ground.

“Talk! Who the hell sent you!”

“…”

The man remained silent. He simply opened his mouth wide and clenched his jaw with enough force to grind his teeth together.

-Bang!

With a small detonation, the upper half of the man’s face exploded.

“Unnie, I’m off!”

“Okay, have a good day. Listen carefully to the teacher. Hyeonro’s going with you, so play nicely together.”

“Yeah!”

I answered my big sister with all my energy. I had been away from home a lot lately, and our new family member Hyeonro was coming to kindergarten with me too.

I had woken up yesterday because my sister made a really loud noise before leaving the house, but kindergarten had nap time, so it would be fine.

“Meow.”

Hyeonro, who had been rubbing her cheek against my sister’s leg, looked back and forth between us, then leaped into the bus by herself and instantly became the center of attention.

“Please take good care of her.”

“Of course. Don’t worry at all. Thank you so much for your concern.”

While the teacher and my sister exchanged greetings that sounded different from the ones we learned at kindergarten, I climbed onto the bus. There were little stairs for children, but I was seven years old now, so I would use the big steps like everyone else!

…It took a while, but in the end I won. While everyone was distracted by Hyeonro, I quickly found a seat. If I had been slow, my precious friends might have taken it, and we had been taught that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we must fasten our seatbelts once the bus started moving. Rules were rules.

“Hi, Dohwa.”

“Hi, Hyunsoo!”

I returned Hyunsoo’s greeting just as she gave me one. Her black hair and eyes that sparkled like deep-blue jewels were so pretty. If I kept staring, it felt like I was being pulled into the ocean.

As I gazed blankly at Hyunsoo’s eyes for a moment—

“Meow.”

Hyeonro, who had somehow escaped the other children, let out a cry that brought me back to my senses. She hopped onto my lap for a second, then went over to Hyunsoo and rubbed against her. It seemed even more enthusiastic than when she did it with my sister, but the thought vanished when she soon returned to my lap, curled up, and fell asleep.

-Vroooom.

The bus started moving. It was the road to kindergarten, where I wouldn’t feel lonely even if my sister was far away for a little while.