Political Statement (4)
"Nonsan Oknyeo Peak vicinity gate outbreak report. Captain Park Ha-yuri, Deputy Squad Leader Sergeant Jeong Yi-young, and eight trainees were en route for mountain march training when they encountered the gate situation. Training objectives were subsequently shifted to gate adaptation and abomination response."
Nonsan Gate Report — Recalled by Ju Kang-rim
That was the Nonsan Gate report left by Park Ha-yuri in Ju Kang-rim's memory. Of course, the report omitted countless unavoidable circumstances and emotional regrets.
Ju Kang-rim had heard those stories directly from Park Ha-yuri herself. She seemed to carry a deep sense of self-loathing about the incident.
Vroooom!
The horned abomination charged toward the trainees in an instant. It was too close for Park Ha-yuri to rush in and block it, or for Sergeant Jeong to deploy a protective barrier in time.
But there was one person standing precisely between the trainees and the abomination.
"I'll give you ten years."
Ju Kang-rim swiftly transformed his hand axe into the saingeom. The moment it morphed into a blade, he slashed upward at the abomination as if he'd been waiting for it.
Kwajajajak.
From its single leg's toes to its lone eye, the saingeom cleaved the abomination in half in one stroke.
"Gak, ga, gaga, gakak."
The abomination froze, its lips flapping soundlessly. Its bisected eye wobbled grotesquely before swiveling back toward Ju Kang-rim.
"Wanna lick my eyeball?"
"Gross little shit!"
Ju Kang-rim swung his sword again, this time horizontally.
Kwajik, kwagagak.
Wood chips exploded amid the racket, but sticky resin splattered without any real damage. Ju Kang-rim grimaced at its tougher-than-expected durability.
But it was about what he'd anticipated. Unlike immortals who writhed in pain from saingeom wounds, abominations were inherently too much for a lone fighter—especially one tied to a gate core.
"First sighting of an abomination presumed to be the gate core on the mountain ridge. Engaged immediately and eliminated it, but gate closure failed. A second abomination appeared, ambushing the trainees. Destroyed it on the spot."
But this time, it wasn't just Ju Kang-rim here—there was another exceptional "exception" present. Buying her that brief moment had been enough.
Click.
Ju Kang-rim locked eyes with Park Ha-yuri, who had ghosted in right beside him. The next instant, a deafening roar and gale-force wind shoved his body back.
Kwakwakwang.
Ju Kang-rim nearly tumbled down the slope but barely grabbed a tree to halt himself. Amid the flying sawdust, he saw Park Ha-yuri rushing over anxiously.
His ears rang from the blast, muffling her words. But her tapping her own ears as she approached suggested she was thinking the same thing.
Thankfully, his hearing returned soon enough.
"Your ears! You okay? Can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear."
Park Ha-yuri looked surprised at his reply. It must have happened to her a few times before. Without his transcendent regeneration as a coroner or grim reaper, he'd probably be deaf by now.
"Good thing. Tough eardrums, huh?"
"I train 'em regular."
Park Ha-yuri was the type who could crack normal jokes and keep spirits high even as humanity teetered on extinction. Replying to her goofy humor had become routine for Ju Kang-rim.
She glanced back at the trainees with relief. They looked a decade older, but she was saying they'd handle themselves if left alone.
But Ju Kang-rim knew what had actually happened.
"Gate entered closure after core destruction, but two trainees severely injured, one killed. The deceased turned zombie and was disposed of on-site. Captain Park Ha-yuri accepted responsibility and submitted resignation."
"I owe you one. Thanks."
"Nah. Just doing what anyone would."
Ju Kang-rim feigned humility, but he hid a smirk. Truth was, he'd known the real gate-core horned abomination lurked in the woods and would ambush the trainees—it was in the report summary.
Before regression, she'd taken responsibility and submitted her resignation, which was predictably rejected. But she'd carry that guilt over a trainee's death under her watch for years.
Today, though, thanks to him, no one died. Now she'd just see it as a huge debt to him.
Heh... clueless she's been played, overflowing with gratitude.
All for his personal schemes, saving lives like that.
The stormy sky was clearing. The gate was closing.
Park Ha-yuri turned to Ju Kang-rim as it sealed shut.
"If you're free, wanna grab a bite at the base?"
"Appreciate it."
She flashed a grin and led the way. Ju Kang-rim eyed her back, plotting something bigger.
I'll let you serve humanity your whole life, retire safe and sound, and enjoy a peaceful old age. That's the ending that suits you.
Park Ha-yuri had offered to treat him to a meal, but decent eateries near the army training camp? Fat chance. Even for Ju Kang-rim, with his sour military memories, the barracks mess hall was the best option.
"So..."
After sending Sergeant Jeong and the trainees back to quarters, she spoke up alone with him in the empty mess.
"Mr. Ju Kang-rim. First off, I've got a proposal."
"Proposal?"
"Your skills ain't half bad, and you seem young. How about enlisting and serving the country?"
Ju Kang-rim's head throbbed at that. He'd already served as an active-duty soldier, then risen to colonel under Gerald's army after commissioning as an officer.
"Didn't I say I already belong somewhere?"
"Oh, right. But that's a fake affiliation, yeah?"
Park Ha-yuri grinned cheekily. Ju Kang-rim realized she'd seen right through a lot about him.
"Mr. Ju Kang-rim, what's your real deal?"
She wasn't easy prey. But he'd prepared for this.
Hell, if she hadn't caught on, he'd have dropped hints to make her.
"My real deal?"
"No such thing as Yeomra. Sergeant Jeong mentioned it, but I know the org's progress—or lack thereof. It's a shell group. No way it'd have talent like you."
She probed calmly, without hostility or wariness—just friendly smiles.
Ju Kang-rim shrugged. "Got any guesses?"
"Foreign agent or headhunter? Thought assassin at first, but nah—you passed up the perfect ambush spot in the gate. Even if you'd failed. So, upfront: I'm not switching to private corps or flipping countries."
Her quick denial confirmed she'd fielded offers before. As expected for an S-rank.
S-ranks switching nationalities or taking fat private gigs was commonplace worldwide. That's why awakener management laws curbed emigration and jobs.
Directionally right, methods insane.
"Sharp as ever, Captain Park. But only half right."
Ju Kang-rim leaned toward the table.
"No 'official' Yeomra, sure. But not just a hollow front. It's more... discreetly hidden."
"Proof?"
"My existence alone proves it's real, no?"
She narrowed her eyes. Cocky, but he'd spotted the gate and core before her.
No average hunter matched that.
"National Intelligence Service? Rumors they wrangle awakeners."
"Can't confirm or deny. No ID or proof. Dig all you want—nothing."
She still suspected, but if he were real NIS, she'd never crack it. So she trusted her gut over his backstory or motives.
"Let's hear it. You click with me, and I trust you."
Her faith in people matched her solid build.
With her primed, Ju Kang-rim geared up for the tough pitch.
"Heard of the Awakener Management Act?"
She tensed, leaning back—no soldier should opine on pending legislation, especially to a stranger.
"Why bring that up?"
"Didn't Congressman Park Tae-hyeon visit Bari Unit last Sunday?"
She paused, then nodded. It was classified, but he'd nailed the timing.
"Say he did."
"You know he's a key sponsor. Hell, the most vocal advocate."
"..."
"No need to say it. No awakener likes being treated like plague carriers, conscripted cheap for danger zones."
"Keeping my opinion to myself."
"But some civilians love his ideas. And his biggest backers? Awakener groups."
She frowned.
"Unofficial, but Park Tae-hyeon pulls strings with interest groups and power players—all pro-Management Act. Guess why."
"...Cheap, controllable awakeners on tap."
Ju Kang-rim nodded. "If it passes as is, awakeners get drafted to backwaters or 'loaned' private. No nationality swaps, no extra pay. Zero accountability."
Management Act levels the field—S or D-rank, all cheap labor. Why pay top dollar for S-ranks when you can risk 'em for minimum wage?
Awakener groups backed it naturally. They weren't the ones slaving.
Once you're the exploiter, the exploited's pain doesn't register.
"His Bari visit? Checking if the slaves are fit for use. He's probably plotted where to deploy your unit already."
"That's a stretch."
"Maybe. But it's vile legislation, ugly dealings. What if he plans mercenary deployments abroad?"
Park Ha-yuri scowled in disgust. Even her patriotism soured on the Act—awakeners felt disrespected, not just mistreated. Backlash inevitable.
But she couldn't sell out a congressman to him.
"Didn't he meet any of these folks personally?"
Ju Kang-rim named names. Her eyes widened in shock.
Bari members were classified. Yet he knew exactly who Park Tae-hyeon met.
"How...?"
"He plans to export those awakeners overseas."
Specifically, into Gerald's forces. Key Bari assets, but Park Tae-hyeon's poaching would leave the unit overly reliant on her alone.
"And I want to stop it."
Steepled fingers, Ju Kang-rim pressed.
"Can you help me take down Congressman Park Tae-hyeon?"