151. Surviving in Kim Su-ho's Seoul (5)
After much deliberation, the conclusion Kim Su-ho reached was remarkably simple.
"In the end, a decisive victory that silences all discontent... in other words, a great achievement is what we need."
With that accomplishment in hand, he could either dismantle or revive the Republic of Korea as he saw fit. Staying put like this would only lead to the Han River defense line—under his command—drowning in the very river it was meant to hold. So Kim Su-ho gathered the maximum forces at his disposal...
"An expedition."
He planned an expedition into Gangbuk. Gangnam had been reclaimed through the covert alliance of various factions, so by reclaiming Gangbuk, he would fully liberate Seoul. It would amount to declaring the resurrection of the Republic of Korea—precisely what those leeches clinging to it craved. He was certain they couldn't refuse. Sure enough, the higher-ups couldn't bring themselves to outright reject his Seoul reclamation operation. They offered only tepid endorsements with uneasy expressions.
In truth, the troops amounted to little more than those loyal to Kim Su-ho himself.
"It's finally come."
"Yes. If we reclaim Gangbuk and liberate Seoul, we can push forward from there."
Kim Su-ho brimmed with confidence, convinced there would be no defeat. Once Seoul was reclaimed, he believed real progress could begin. He threw everything into the effort. First, he rallied his followers and declared his intent to launch an expedition into Gangbuk. Excluding the defensive forces to hold the Han River line, everyone advanced with him.
And far more smoothly than expected, they pressed on. Kim Su-ho successfully reclaimed Yongsan, pushed past Seoul Station, and even reached Myeongdong. In a display of unstoppable momentum, he and his forces proved their valor across the entire Korean Peninsula, confirming that he was the white knight who had emerged in this apocalypse.
"Of course, we've only scouted to Myeongdong. Our base camp is in Yongsan. But we can proudly proclaim that we've crossed Seoul Station."
Though they had advanced to Myeongdong, the only proper stronghold Kim Su-ho had secured was the old presidential office area in Yongsan. Still, reaching Myeongdong meant they had pierced the heart of Seoul—Seoul Station—and advanced beyond it without a single loss in countless battles. It demonstrated the real possibility of reclaiming the city. Even the wavering public opinion in Gangnam began shifting favorably toward him.
"Now no one can deny us."
"Indeed. We still have loose ends and plenty of powerful named monsters ahead, but bit by bit, we can reclaim Seoul."
But readers seeing this already know the truth. Kim Su-ho, who pushed to Myeongdong, ultimately suffered defeat and retreated to the Han River defense line.
It began with the exposure of a truth too horrific, beastly behavior no different from animals.
"Your Excellency, this is grave!"
"What is it? Don't tell me our base camp has been raided..."
"We've detected suspicious movements along the Han River defense line. As you advanced to Myeongdong, they've grown restless!"
Yes, betrayal. The moment they judged Kim Su-ho would truly reclaim Seoul, the factions entrenched in Gangnam betrayed him. Spurning his goodwill, they waited for him to tire and prepared to stab him in the back. The National Intelligence Service had caught wind of it and reported to Kim Su-ho.
But his reaction to the report...
"What did you say?"
"They're poised to betray us."
It was news so absurd it turned his hair white. He stared at the NIS agent in disbelief, but the agent insisted it wasn't a mistake—they were truly on the verge of betrayal—and laid out the brutal truth.
Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal, betrayal. Something snapped in Kim Su-ho's mind.
"N-No, that can't be. They're people—surely they wouldn't stab in the back someone who saved them out of basic human decency?"
At first, he denied the report. He wanted to deny it. After all his efforts, this was the return: betrayal once more. Even for a fool like Kim Su-ho, this was unforgivable. After all, they had betrayed the most sacred castle in the Republic of Korea.
"How much have I poured into this?! How much have I endured?! Why do you always betray me?!"
But that shock soon turned to rage. He might not have fully satisfied them, true. In this apocalypse, compromise was necessary, and Kim Su-ho—forced to learn politics—had swallowed his pride to meet their desires. He'd even allowed policies that carved flesh from his own body, like empowering rival factions. Yet... betrayal.
In that instant, murderous intent toward them surged within him.
"If the Han River defense line falls under their control, we're done for—total annihilation!"
But the moment killing intent arose, what Kim Su-ho felt wasn't bloodlust, but terror. Sure, purging the traitors sounded good. But it would turn the Han River line they managed into enemy territory, forcing him to breach his own meticulously designed defenses. The ragtag forces there couldn't hold against his army. Even Kim Su-ho alone could smash through. But the line would collapse, and the organizations in Gangnam would crumble with it.
"What the hell do they want?! Tell me their demands!"
"Your Excellency..."
Next came bargaining. He'd give them what they wanted—just please, no betrayal. His sharp mind had already realized their foolish choice had half-collapsed the Han River line, but he was scheming ways to shore it up. That was bargaining.
"Ha... is it true? They're really moving to betray me?"
But in the end, resignation set in. He didn't want to believe the NIS report. Yet all the signs and his experience screamed it was real. What he could do...
"...Accept it. I have to. Denying it at this point crosses the line. They're exactly the type."
He finally admitted they weren't human, but beasts.
"What now?"
"Don't ask us."
"We don't know."
Even the NIS agents, stunned by these inhuman beasts, wore grim faces, admitting they had no idea how to proceed. Who could have foreseen that people—people—would forget favors bestowed and strike from behind? No matter the discontent, reclaiming Seoul was everyone's dream. No one imagined they'd choose betrayal and drive a nail into that hope.
If he hadn't secretly placed NIS agents along the Han River for defense, his forces would have been annihilated on two fronts.
How do I handle this politically? What even is politics? Damn it! If only I had an advisor who could give political counsel!
The problem: Kim Su-ho had no one under him capable of political advice. Anyone like that had already formed their own factions or stabbed him in the back.
"Goddamn beast bastards."
"Watch your words."
"But Your Excellency, considering what those scum are doing, they're no different from extremists! Hell, they're straight-up certified beasts!"
Even the NIS had reached their limit after witnessing it firsthand, venting their fury. They wanted to purge the traitors—no, the beasts—on the Han River line right then, refusing to treat them as human.
"And think of the conspiracy theories they've spewed at you! It's laughable how they whine lowbrow crap on community boards, oblivious to the grim reality!"
Devoid of faith, chasing only desire. Even in this apocalypse where justice and morality had crumbled—no, especially now—shouldn't they at least honor their word?
"...We're stuck."
Above all, he'd saved them, only betrayal. Released them, betrayal. Treated them well, betrayal. Allied, betrayal. Only untrustworthy scum remained. Kim Su-ho saw the situation as completely deadlocked. Even retreating now wouldn't restore the pre-expedition status quo. His forces had long decided to abandon the Republic of Korea, while they clung to its tattered signboard. Civil war was inevitable.
I can't continue the expedition like this. We reached Myeongdong, but without Gangnam's support, we can't hold this front.
Kim Su-ho realized he couldn't maintain the Myeongdong line and pondered abandoning the expedition for retreat.
Was it a reckless push from the start?
He reflected on Gangnam's current state, wondering if he'd overreached.
The issue is I can't leave home base. Status quo is the limit!
Now factoring in the Han River betrayal, he realized his presence—the ultimate force—had to anchor the line permanently. The strongest Awakener in Seoul reduced to a civil war deterrent. What a maddening bind. Status quo was the ceiling.
"Reclaiming all of Gangbuk at once is impossible?"
"Impossible. The undead resistance is fierce."
"And our numbers are too few."
"I see."
He considered riding the momentum to wipe out Gangbuk's undead and claim it as base. But the answer was manpower shortage. His elite unit was small. Fine for decapitation strikes, not territorial control.
The answer was already there.
The solution to this mess had been presented long ago.
The Balhut Cult. They call others pseudo-cults and rebels. Everyone else in Gangnam has drawn lines, rejecting the Republic of Korea outright. But the Balhut Cult alone cleanly accepts this apocalypse and admits the country's fall.
That solved half the problem.
Recognize the Republic's collapse, and their demanded authority—pre-apocalypse titles—becomes meaningless. And law! Old laws mean nothing here. They're crippling us, used as excuses for inaction. We need new laws fit for the end times. And loyalists like the NIS who serve me.
Completing these reforms was the path forward.
I should have consulted internally like the Balhut Cult first! Rushing to accept anyone led to this mess! But retreating now and copying their blueprint? In this entrenched situation, it'll just spark backlash.
Kim Su-ho's final conclusion:
"Regrettable, but we abandon the expedition."
"Your Excellency, is that wise? Those damn fools will curse you just for pulling back."
"And they'll claim to represent the Han River line. Even retreating, we should at least hold the expedition force..."
Abandon the expedition and return to the Han River line. His loyal subordinates showed concern at the decision, warning he'd lose control of the line.
"I know. That's why we're withdrawing. Pushing further would just bleed our troops dry. Seoul's reclamation is off the table. So the least we can do is show them reality."
He knew that. Perhaps losing Han River control was his aim.
"If Seoul falls, we'll seize a city as fallback refuge. Hand the Han River line to them."
From now on, dump the full burden of the line on them, hoping they'd grasp his reality. He devised a sub-plan they'd never imagined.
"Is that okay? Leaving Gangbuk?"
"We abandon it. But the Republic of Korea isn't over yet. Even if it ends, it won't be those beast-certified scum who finish it."
The Republic of Korea was done. No one could deny it, not even Kim Su-ho, who'd benefited greatly. But the one to tear down its last signboard... wouldn't be those beasts. He swore it.
"They'll stab you in the back. They've already betrayed us."
The NIS warned his life was at risk, but...
"Stabbed in the back? Fine, let them try! If someone kills me and steps up to defend Seoul and save its people, that's what I want! This Seoul won't be a sinking ship dragged down by their politics and pretensions—it'll rise proudly and burn gloriously!"
He laughed heartily, welcoming it. If they could beat him, they'd be stronger Awakener than him—enough to smash the beasts, defend Seoul, protect the citizens. Thus, Seoul wouldn't perish from Korea's chronic ills but stand tall and perish nobly.
"For that, I'll unleash everything I've held back. It's a time of chaos! Time for the beast-certified heroes and champions I've restrained to rampage!"
For that, he'd free all the lone wolves he'd contained with his power. He declared all restrictions on provincial influencers lifted, proclaiming an endless era of turmoil on the peninsula.
"May a hero arise to topple those beasts and end this nation."
"Your Excellency, we'll follow you."
And in that chaos, they sincerely prayed a great hero would be born.