Chapter 228
Chapter 228
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: Winter is Here
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The No Do-ha, who was blissfully enjoying her light novel-style lifestyle that could be summed up as:
「I was just an ordinary Grade 7 civil servant at a rehab hospital, but after the world ends, I become the [Ruler of Busan], [Master of the National Highway Management Corps], [De Facto Ruler of the Peninsula], and [Mayor of New York]?! ~For some reason, this guy who looks like the world's savior keeps obsessing over me, but what is this?~」
...was left alone for the moment as we dove headfirst into the defense game.
"Nice to see you all, agents. Straight to the point. A blizzard is coming from the north, and we're predicting temperatures will stay at negative 120 degrees for a while."
I had gathered about thirty National Highway Management Corps agents and tapped the blackboard.
A map of Sinuiju was pinned to it.
"We don't know how long the winter will last. It could end in a day or drag on for a full year. In the worst case, we'll be cut off from the outside world—except for SG Net—and forced to endure harsh times in isolation."
"......"
"For this operation, we've specially selected elites from the National Highway Management Corps with high aura reserves. Think of each of you as a human heater. We'll take turns warming the lodgings, so please conserve your fuel as much as possible."
A faint ripple of laughter spread through the National Highway Management Corps agents.
It was a harsh environment, but no one complained. If it was just about enduring the cold, it wouldn't be a particularly tough void.
The problem was that achieving it as Awakeners under the condition of 'just enduring negative 120 degrees' was incredibly difficult in itself.
"We'll start the operation tomorrow, but before that, I'll take a few questions."
A few National Highway Management Corps agents shot their hands up.
"You there. Agent Lee Ha-seong."
"Yes. I'm aware we have three months' worth of stockpiled food. If the winter in Sinuiju lasts longer than three months, how should we handle it?"
"I'll slip out of Sinuiju for a bit and bring back the Sword Marquis. I've prepared land suitable for greenhouse farming. While the crops grow, we'll form hunting teams to secure food. Next, you there. Agent Cha Jae-hee."
"Thank you. If the anomaly 'General Winter' expands beyond Sinuiju or moves, how do we respond?"
"We judge it to have a main body or core. I'll intercept it personally. Next."
The meeting continued.
The National Highway Management Corps agents only asked questions strictly necessary for the operation and neatly lowered their hands. The thirty gathered here were all outer disciples who had received my teachings, knowingly or not.
(Most had been taught indirectly through the constellations, so they themselves didn't really know.)
"With that, head back to your lodgings and rest up. We launch the operation tomorrow."
"Yes!"
The very next day.
Just one night had passed, but the temperature had definitely dropped. If yesterday felt like early winter, then from this dawn onward, the biting chill was setting in for real.
Even No Do-ha had no choice but to abandon her hopeful delusions when such obvious cold hit in July.
"Fuck. That Weather Agency Awakener or whatever always screws up the forecasts, but nails it exactly when it counts..."
"Ah. Actually, that's a 50% hit rate—which is basically 100%."
"Huh? Why...?"
"Think about it simply. Info like 'rain tomorrow' or 'snow tomorrow' is something anyone could guess without the [Weather Agency]. It's ordinary. But predicting a negative 120-degree blizzard tomorrow? That's 'weird' in itself, right?"
"Oh...?"
"In normal times, it'd be an impossible possibility. Just bringing it up means the [Weather Agency] perfectly predicted the weather. They can never nail ordinary weather, but they always hit the completely abnormal stuff."
"Hmm. I see..."
No Do-ha nodded in understanding and sipped her hot coffee.
At 8 a.m., people gathered at the operation headquarters (housed inside the Statue of Liberty). Everyone was bundled up thick in winter gear.
Yoo Ji-won, the celeb famous for her stylish outfits even in Busan, glanced over in her white uniform topped with a fur cape.
"Your Excellency. Preparations are complete."
I nodded.
"Deploy the prisoners."
"Yes."
Now then.
Sharp-eyed readers would have noticed the gap: the group that came to Sinuiju numbered '50,' but only '30' were National Highway Management Corps agents.
The remaining 20 were prisoners dragged from Busan and elsewhere.
The prisoners who had proven so useful during the Inunaki Tunnel assault were time to shine again today.
"All prisoners. Pay attention to His Excellency's words."
Yoo Ji-won addressed the twenty prisoners.
"Ah, fuck..."
"Making a fuss first thing in the morning..."
The mood among the prisoners, transported across the peninsula for half a month, was foul even as a polite exaggeration. They half-assed it, glaring at Yoo Ji-won.
Which was why, not even ten seconds later, blood sprayed.
Yoo Ji-won had slit one prisoner's throat with a dagger, not even blinking.
She flicked the blood off her dagger. Then, in the exact same tone and blank expression, she repeated:
"All prisoners. Pay attention to His Excellency's words."
The now 19 prisoners' eyes sparkled like children's in a new world.
...Sometimes I wondered if she was pledging undying loyalty to me just to legally commit murder.
Anyway, in the now ice-cold atmosphere, I spoke up.
"From now on, you'll be assigned numbers from 1 to 19. When called in order, step outside one by one."
I tapped the route on the map with the pointer.
"It's nothing difficult. Just cross the Yalu River Bridge and keep walking north."
"North..."
"Yeah. While you walk, I'll keep signaling via radio. Respond appropriately to whatever comes through the radio. That's it."
"......"
"I'm warning you upfront: escape is not recommended. You all know Team Leader Yoo Ji-won's ability. You'll be hunted to the ends of hell, then taste suffering worse than hell."
Yoo Ji-won twirled her dagger beside me. The prisoners paled.
A hint of bewilderment flickered in their eyes, which I could interpret as: Why are we treated like trash criminals while that silver-haired psycho enjoys a high position?
It was a question I'd harbored for a long time, so I quickly added:
"Don't worry. It's not all punishment. See that river up north? The Ai River. Just 30 km from the Yalu River Bridge."
"......"
"If you reach it and return, I'll reduce your sentences by 250 years. Depending on your attitude in the National Highway Management Corps rehabilitation facilities afterward, it could be more."
"...!"
Only then did the prisoners' weary eyes light up.
All these conscripted prisoners had base sentences over 500 years.
Guys whose minds were shattered from serving time on the [Button that Advances One Year Per Press].
The carrot of a 250-year reduction was incredibly tempting.
They'd been decent Awakeners before their crimes, and swapping a 60 km round trip for hope was a steal.
"Uh, really? You'll actually reduce our sentences...?"
"I promise it in Team Leader Yoo Ji-won's name."
The prisoners' eyes chilled again.
I cleared my throat.
"...I'll promise it in Director No Do-ha's name."
"Wooooh!"
"Awesome! It's not even 60 km total! We got this!"
The prisoners burned with the motivation of cram students who'd binge-watched three motivational YouTube videos (foreigners, subtitled).
And so, Prisoner 1 through 19 were sent out, spaced 50 meters apart.
For reference, they were given radios along with U.S. military uniforms. The usual expendables in apocalypse flicks.
"Saintess. If you please."
"Yes."
In one corner of the operations room, far from the agents.
The Saintess sat bundled in a fur hat, fur clothes, sleeping bag, and blankets. She clasped her hands together.
Her current task could be described like this:
[Scout 1. Scout 1.]
[Keep heading straight. Reports say friendly forces are isolated 6 km ahead, communications cut.]
[Confirm their status and return together if possible.]
Using her telepathy, the Saintess disguised it as radio chatter.
The content was baffling to the prisoners. Friendlies? Isolated? Return together? None of that had been briefed.
-Fuck, what bullshit is this?
[Scout 1. Do you copy? Keep reporting what you see ahead.]
-Uh, yeah. Nothing much. Just a rickety bridge— is that the Yalu River Bridge?
[That's the Yalu River Bridge. Somewhat damaged, but prior recon confirmed it's passable for people. Cross carefully.]
-Fine. Got it.
Meanwhile.
I kept placing 'figurines' one by one at the Saintess's feet. Tap, tap.
Mini Statue of Liberty. Eiffel Tower model. St. Peter's Basilica. Big Ben. Taj Mahal. Tokyo Tower...
Like a shaman lining up cursed totems. Like kids chanting kishotenketsu.
I carefully positioned Earth's landmarks on the 'world map' at the Saintess's feet.
"......"
No Do-ha watched silently from an armchair nearby, also wrapped in winter gear.
-Huh?
[What's wrong, Scout 1? Any issues?]
-No, crossed the bridge fine, but uh, snow flurries? Weird.
The world map was hand-drawn by Yoo Ji-won herself. Less precise, but infused with her authority.
Once I'd placed all the famous landmarks across the map.
I lightly flicked one. Tap-.
The Eiffel Tower toppled.
[Predicted anomaly. Suspected ice age void unfolding in that sector.]
-Ah shit, that's why it's so cold?
[The longer you stay in the void, the risk escalates exponentially. Retrieve friendlies at target and return ASAP.]
-Yeah, yeah. Got it. Kinda chilly.
Toppled St. Peter's.
-Huh?
Toppled Big Ben.
-Huh, wh-what? Fuck.
[What's wrong, Scout 1?]
-Sudden blizzard! Can't see shit. Whoa, fuck, snow everywhere all of a sudden.
[Radar shows your position normal. Keep advancing.]
-I am, but I can't see properly!
Toppled the Taj Mahal.
-Fuck, static, can't see shit! Cold! Freezing my ass off! No joke, this is serious, static.
Then noise crackled over the radio.
The Saintess looked down at me. I read the meaning in her gaze and nodded.
'It's here.'
The radios given to the prisoners were mere props. We communicated solely via the Saintess's telepathy.
Naturally, there was no room for 'noise' interference.
In other words, the entity causing the radio noise now wasn't the Saintess—it was 'something else.'
-Can't see ahead, static.
Click.
Contact with Scout 1 lost.
The Saintess continued unflinchingly, coldly, without a change in expression.
[Scout 2. Scout 1's comms are spotty. Do you see Scout 1 50 meters ahead?]
-Huh? Static, n-no. Blizzard's too thick, can't see ahead at all, static.
Scout 2, lost.
Scout 3, lost.
Scout 4, lost.
On Yoo Ji-won's [Minimap], the black pawns marching north at 50-meter intervals toppled like dominoes.
Tap-.
When I toppled Tokyo Tower.
The last remaining landmark of human civilization on the world map was solely the Statue of Liberty.
At that moment, the Saintess parted her lips.
"Scout 19, lost."
"......"
"It's here."
No one voiced the foolish question of where.
A crackling freeze emanated from the world map. The paper map, empty save for the chess pieces, suddenly frosted over.
The ice clearly targeted the 'Statue of Liberty,' surging toward it.
"Undertaker."
"Yes."
Unfazed, I picked up the Statue of Liberty and placed it down on Sinuiju. Tap.
The frost encircling the world map from all sides abruptly twisted its maw, surging ferociously toward Sinuiju.
Drawn by the offering I'd raised, greedily devouring the sacrifices we'd tendered.
Static screeched from the radios—devices that should have gone silent.
The specially made thermometer for this op plunged exponentially.
Negative 10°C, 20°C, 40°C, 80°C.
"National Highway Management Corps! Aura release!"
"Yes!"
Negative 120°C.
At that instant, boom! A vibration shook. The main gate, bolted shut after sending out the prisoners, groaned boom, boooom in succession.
The blizzard clawed at it from beyond like a giant's talons. An annoyance. Hurry and open this ridiculous door.
Everyone knew.
Winter had come.