Evacuation (1)
Evacuation preparations were wrapping up swiftly. Han Seong-geun and the Ulsan-Pohang awakeners under his command had notified their collaborators stationed in North Ulsan of the evacuation, and they'd minimized the personal belongings people could bring along.
"Come on, no cutting in line—stand straight! Everyone's getting out safely! If you miss this bus, another one's coming right behind, so don't worry!"
Pohang Airport quickly filled with people heading to Gyeongju for refuge. Jin A-yeon's team of awakeners managed traffic control as they loaded refugees onto buses. The Balhut Cult was pitching in too, organizing traffic for a smooth exodus and bolstering defenses against any potential Immortal Cult raids.
"Is evacuation prep complete?"
"Yes, sir. We've instructed the refugees to pack as lightly as possible. Of course, most can't bear to leave their hard-saved possessions behind, so they've ignored us and stuffed their trunks full anyway."
"Politely ask them to leave heavy items—no transport for those. Tell them to lighten their loads as much as possible. The more useless baggage, the fewer refugees we can ferry at once."
"Understood. But it's not just Ulsan Airport—people are pouring in from all over North Ulsan. We'll announce they need to wait for the next bus."
They maintained order and control as best they could. The hundred buses gathered here were now ready to roll out.
When Jeong Dong-gun asked Han Seong-geun if preparations were finished, the deputy mentioned a few hiccups along the way, sharing thoughts on the evacuation with his commander. And the biggest headache among those issues?
"…We've mobilized a hundred buses, so we're evacuating around four thousand this time. But there are still so many left?"
Way too many refugees were flooding Ulsan Airport in response to the news. Even with a generous hundred buses, plenty remained.
"Yes, sir. Not just Ulsan Airport—refugees from across North Ulsan, and even a few trickling in from South Ulsan."
Considering Ulsan once held a million souls, these four thousand boarding Balhut Cult buses were just the tip of the iceberg. Survivors from North Ulsan camps were converging, and incredibly, some were even coming from Immortal Cult territory in South Ulsan.
Jeong Dong-gun clutched his aching head at the sheer numbers, murmuring, "More survivors than expected. I figured… at least half the city was wiped out by now."
"That's what I thought too. Can we handle this?"
From the Balhut Cult's perspective, it was impossible to hide their surprise at the unexpectedly high survival rate. To desperate refugees flocking to Ulsan Airport, it might've sounded absurd—but Han Seong-geun shared the sentiment. Too many. Far too many. Were they even within the Anti-Immortal Coalition's capacity?
"It's manageable. Trade with America has ramped up lately, so food imports are rising too."
Thank goodness for U.S. trade; it kept this influx from overwhelming the cult. Imports were growing steadily, stockpiled as surplus grain in cult warehouses. They could distribute the older or near-expiry stocks under relief programs, feed the refugees, settle them in Gyeongju—and boost the city's scale in the process. The Balhut Cult, rooted in Gyeongju, might even welcome this boon.
"Good to hear. But those coming from South Ulsan worry me. Anyone crossing the bridges falls under Immortal Cult jurisdiction—we can't properly vet them. Let's prioritize evacuating survivor camps at Ulsan Airport and nearby ports first."
"Are they trustworthy?"
"Most fought the Immortal Cult. Not entirely above suspicion… but close enough."
The real question: Were all these refugees reliable? Han Seong-geun admitted he couldn't guarantee it. Survivor camps lacked the admin muscle or intel network to screen everyone thoroughly.
"How many do you expect total for this op?"
"At least ten thousand, minimum."
"Ten thousand. Tiny compared to Ulsan's million, right?"
Jeong Dong-gun hadn't held high hopes anyway; he nodded and probed the scale. Han pegged it at ten thousand at least—minuscule against the city's pre-apocalypse population, in his view.
"A million? No way they're all intact. At best… half? No, a quarter."
"Still, two hundred fifty thousand survivors."
"Mourn the seven hundred fifty thousand dead, or celebrate the quarter that lived? What a messed-up end times."
"Couldn't agree more."
Han Seong-geun lamented a world where lives were cheap as dirt—yet grief felt impossible. Those incomprehensible numbers meant undead hordes of equal scale likely roamed Ulsan, chilling him to the bone. Jeong Dong-gun nodded in solidarity: if that many undead infested the city, evacuation needed to accelerate.
"Right. We'll depart in thirty minutes. Once they're safe, we'll send the buses back."
Preparations sped up.
"One question."
"Yes?"
"Why buses? Wouldn't that teleport spell you showed before be simpler?"
Han Seong-geun wondered aloud why not use teleport magic instead. Fair point—safer than buses, straight to Balhut Cult HQ with a snap.
"I'd love to. But mass-casting it risks mishaps. Can't gamble four thousand lives on side effects."
"Ah… yeah, makes sense."
Han Seong-geun got it instantly. Safety demanded inconvenience—hence the buses. No one could shoulder the blame if teleport failed catastrophically. Resigned, he dove back into prep.
"At least we're safe once we hit the Donghae Expressway checkpoint. Outposts line the route—if undead or monsters hit, stationed troops will cover us. I've ordered them to escort any refugee convoys."
"Appreciate it."
Finally, departure was set. Han Seong-geun thanked Jeong Dong-gun's foresight.
"I'll leave refugee transport to A-yeon."
"I'll stay here, but my adjutant Sang-hee will go with them."
They needed commanders for the convoy. Han nominated Jin A-yeon; Jeong picked his deputy, Son Sang-hee. Both reliable, capable awakeners. With them leading, no threat could touch the column—or so they believed. But…
"I'm the leader here, but… can I handle this many?"
"…I'm worried too."
Jin A-yeon and Son Sang-hee were daunted by the massive op, voicing real doubts. Suddenly shouldering four thousand lives? Daunting, even with sub-officers to assist.
"Honestly, Mr. Han should lead the refugees. I'd rather stay."
A-yeon figured leadership suited Han more than her fighter self. As the convoy finalized amid her fretting…
"Interview possible?"
"Huh? Who're you? YouTuber?"
A man approached with camera, mic, notepad, and pen—utterly out of place in the apocalypse. Jin A-yeon blinked, dubbing him a "nutuber."
"War correspondent."
"War correspondent… like, follows battles to report?"
"Exactly. I document frontline events for the Balhut Cult."
She knew the term and confirmed; he affirmed, explaining his role in informing the public. Intrigued, A-yeon eyed him—solid awakener, but…
"Gutsy guy. This place is dangerous. You're… weak."
Not strong enough for such peril, weaker than Han Seong-geun. She warned him bluntly, but the correspondent just scratched his head, unfazed.
"Haha, hear that a lot. Name's Kang Jae-wan, war correspondent. Yeah, it's risky—but someone has to report it. And you've got my back, right?"
"Once refugees leave Ulsan Airport, defenses thin out."
"Got a rich buddy if that happens. Strong enough, loaded—I'll be fine."
Kang Jae-wan grinned wryly at the familiar jab, insisting this was his beat. Coalition protection? No sweat. A-yeon countered post-evacuation reality, but he waved it off—his wealthy pal had it covered.
"Rich? In the apocalypse? Everyone's broke."
"Haha, still means something in Balhut Cult territory."
She got most of it, but questioned "rich" in end times—when even tycoons died out. Jae-wan insisted it mattered here.
"Oh, right—who're you? Mid-interview, haven't caught your name, miss."
"Jin A-yeon."
"Jin A-yeon… Jin A-yeon… ah."
He asked for her name—and lit up.
"That Fukuoka hero, right? Same name."
"That's me."
"The hero's back on the peninsula!"
Instant recognition. To him, a Japan-celebrated legend aiding Korean survivors was huge. And spot-on…
"Yeah, came back like I promised. Problem is, got stuck at Ulsan Airport."
"Nightmare."
"Total disaster. Suffered plenty. But I saved folks the cult was hauling off—so, all good."
She'd shielded countless from Immortal Cult clutches upon arrival—a hero in Ulsan too.
"Such a sense of justice."
"Justice? Not sure that's it. Hmm. Just did what I could. That's for damn sure."
Impressed, Jae-wan praised her righteousness. A-yeon looked ambivalent. Claim pure justice? Her flaws said otherwise. Best answer: she gave her all to what she could do.
"In the apocalypse, that saves lives. Trivial to you, profound to others."
"Ah, yeah… I get that."
He declared it heroic enough. A-yeon nodded, grasping it somewhat.
"Solid story."
Jae-wan beamed—prime article material.