Chapter 518: Conquest of Seoul (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 518: Conquest of Seoul (5)
Screams echoed from outside.
Listening to the sounds of slaughter, the citizens of Guri huddled together with terrified expressions.
"...We're all going to die."
"I heard from soldiers who deserted Hanam that Roman Dmitry slaughtered every single person there. He didn't leave a single soul alive. He even decapitated the mayor and put his head on a spike! There's no way he'll spare us."
"Oh, God."
Roman Dmitry's methods were extreme.
He broke international law and mercilessly slaughtered his enemies. Even though he hadn't actually harmed a single civilian, his shocking method of putting heads on spikes inevitably caused rumors to distort the truth. Jeong Mun-ho had gathered information on the rebel forces and reported it to the Central Government. Since he took the lead in trying to bring down Incheon, he paid a fitting price. However, there was no way for the citizens to know that this brutal punishment was strictly limited to him.
This contagious fear was intentional.
To completely crush his opponents, Roman knew there was no need to appear humane to his enemies on the battlefield.
How much time had passed?
The outside finally grew quiet. It was then that the doors to the shelter swung wide open. A man dressed in civilian clothes stepped inside.
"Citizens of Guri, there is no need to be on guard. I am the mayor of Incheon, Kim Jun-hyeok. I have no intention of harming you."
"The mayor of Incheon?"
"Why is he here...?"
The crowd murmured in confusion.
Kim Jun-hyeok had received a call from the mayor of Guri while he was still in Hanam. After wrapping up the situation there, he immediately headed to Guri, leaving the defense of Incheon entirely to Kang Min-ho. The reason he stood here instead of Roman Dmitry was simple: his name and status as a fellow mayor brought a sense of relief to the terrified people.
Kim Jun-hyeok continued. "I will now explain the protocol you must follow going forward. As you know, the war between the Central Government and our rebel forces has begun. The mayor of Guri and all other Central Government officials are dead. This area is now the territory of the rebel forces. However, the Great Disaster is not yet over. Since we do not know when Guri might be attacked by monsters, Incheon will establish a defense system here to replace the previous forces. Therefore, please remain where you are. If there are those who do not wish to comply with our orders, we will not stop you from leaving. But if you follow our control, Incheon will guarantee your safety."
It was an unexpected turn of events.
Roman Dmitry did not abandon the citizens. Knowing they would be in danger due to the annihilation of their defense forces, he deployed Incheon's troops to secure a minimum level of safety.
It was a gesture of consideration. He refused to leave innocent civilians exposed to the monsters. Though they were currently citizens of a hostile faction, he recognized them as the people he would have to embrace in the future.
"I understand you must be very frightened, but rest assured. We will never harm you. In thirty minutes, we will distribute supplies so you can rest comfortably. Once the entire situation is resolved, we will speak with you again."
"...Are you really not going to hurt us?"
"I heard you slaughtered everyone in Hanam! Are you trying to trick us?"
The people cast distrustful glances his way.
Kim Jun-hyeok understood. That was the nature of war.
He looked at them with a firm expression. "Why would we kill innocent citizens? Lord Roman Dmitry is simply merciless to his enemies. He ruthlessly punishes those who turned a blind eye to the Central Government's injustices despite knowing of them, but there is no reason to punish those who are merely caught up in the circumstances. I swear on my name as the mayor of Incheon, Kim Jun-hyeok. The sword of the man I serve is never, under any circumstances, pointed at ordinary citizens."
The carrot and the stick.
If Roman Dmitry was the stick, Kim Jun-hyeok was the carrot.
The people's expressions softened. Whether Kim Jun-hyeok's words were true or false, his reassurance of their safety eased their terror.
Just maybe... Incheon's victory might not be a bad outcome after all.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Seoul.
A fierce battle was underway. Monsters had been pouring in endlessly due to a Monster Wave, but after a life-or-death struggle that blurred the lines between day and night, the defenders had finally succeeded in wiping them out.
Boom!
Rumble!
"We wiped out the Monster Wave!"
"We won!"
"Waaaaah!"
The joy of victory spread like wildfire.
Amidst the cheering crowd, a man clad in golden armor removed his helmet, revealing his disheveled hair.
The Heavenly Sword, Min Chan-gi.
He turned to his subordinate. "What is the situation elsewhere?"
"The situation is also nearly wrapped up in Geumcheon-gu and Eunpyeong-gu, where the other Monster Waves occurred. It's thanks to the arrival of the Chinese reinforcements. They are lending their strength to push back the monsters, and we expect all threats to be resolved within a few days at the latest."
"...China. In the end, we've drunk from a poisoned chalice." Min Chan-gi grimaced.
China was currently one of the world's leading superpowers. During the early days of the Great Disaster, they had suffered more massive damage than any other nation. Having too many people living on a massive landmass was a problem, but their command structure had also been dysfunctional. It had led to local warlords governing each region, much like South Korea's local governments.
The division of China.
Back then, China's future had looked bleak. But ten years ago, a certain figure appeared and completely changed the situation.
A being who called himself the Emperor.
He unified China, and ever since, the nation had shown a burning ambition to swallow up other countries at any given opportunity.
Which meant one thing: China's help came with a price. South Korea would never be able to escape their shadow in the future.
"If the rebellion hadn't broken out, President Kim Jeong-tae would have refused China's help to the very end. He might use the rebel forces as an excuse, but this choice has exposed his true colors. A traitor who would sell out his country just to protect his petty power—that is his true nature."
"...What should we do now?"
"When the rebel forces first revealed their intentions, we made our stance clear. We stated that we could not participate in a rebellion that throws the country into chaos in the midst of the Great Disaster, and that we would focus on securing the safety of Seoul rather than political matters. But now that the Great Disaster is drawing to a close, we must make a choice. Standing by won't be a solution forever."
It was just as Min Chan-gi said. The guilds, including the Heavenly Sword, had taken a step back. They believed that if individual forces like guilds joined a nation-scale conflict, South Korea would be in grave danger.
The Guild Representatives Meeting.
Min Chan-gi had led it. Under his leadership, the guilds had concluded that they should focus solely on the Great Disaster.
His subordinate spoke up. "The rebellion is already irreversible. Hanam and Guri have already fallen into their hands."
Min Chan-gi fell into deep thought.
Logically, they should choose the Central Government. Now that China had sent reinforcements and the rebels were branded as violators of international law, the rebel forces' victory was uncertain. Furthermore, the Heavenly Sword had all its foundations established in Seoul. If the rebel forces wiped out Seoul, the Heavenly Sword's foundation would crumble. Yet, Min Chan-gi could not bring himself to rashly antagonize the rebel forces.
No. To be precise, he could not antagonize Roman Dmitry.
Back when Kang Min-ho was making a name for himself, the Heavenly Sword had attempted to recruit both him and Roman Dmitry on Min Chan-gi's orders.
Back then, they had seen his true nature. They realized exactly what kind of existence Roman Dmitry was.
'According to the data I've gathered, Roman Dmitry's limits are still immeasurable. Even back then, he handled the Omen Phenomenon and the Red Moon all by himself. After the outbreak of the Great Disaster, he wiped out S-Rank monsters and Monster Waves single-handedly. He is clearly an S-Rank, or perhaps an even higher existence. If even Park Min-woo, known as the Mage in White, follows him, antagonizing Roman Dmitry might be suicide.'
He calculated the practical benefits based on the information before his eyes. Considering the losses the Heavenly Sword would have to bear, there were too many reasons not to antagonize Roman Dmitry.
His methods were also brutal. If they made an enemy of him, they could expect no mercy.
But...
'His brutal methods are the problem. If he truly slaughtered all the people of Hanam, I cannot compromise with him.'
The massacre of civilians weighed heavily on his mind. Although Min Chan-gi led the Heavenly Sword for his personal ambition, he was not the type of person to display malice just to achieve his goals. He wanted the country to remain whole. A nation only had meaning if its citizens were safe. Thus, Roman Dmitry, who started a rebellion even at the cost of massacring civilians, seemed like a literal devil.
In the end, the Central Government was the only answer. Naturally, one's allegiance lies closest to home; to protect the citizens of Seoul, they had to throw their weight behind the Central Government.
But just then...
"Guild Master. I have something to tell you regarding the matter in Hanam."
It was another guild member. Min Chan-gi cast him an inquisitive look.
* * *
It was a baffling situation. The rumors claimed that the citizens of Hanam had all been slaughtered, but the words of someone actually from Hanam were completely different.
"My family is in Hanam, so I contacted them. They said all the citizens of Hanam are safe. The rumors about Roman Dmitry are completely false. It's true that he slaughtered all the soldiers who opposed the rebel forces, but he didn't touch a single civilian. In fact, fearing that monsters might threaten the citizens, he established a defense system for them, supplied them with provisions, and looked after their well-being. Honestly, I don't even know who is evil and who is righteous anymore. The Central Government has been busy only looking after Seoul's safety since the Great Disaster began, but hasn't Roman Dmitry secured the safety of all the local governments in such a short time?"
This testimony shattered all of Min Chan-gi's assumptions. He had intended to follow the Central Government because he thought Roman Dmitry was an evil man, but if this was the truth, it was a completely different story.
'So he is a man with clear boundaries.'
According to what he had investigated so far, the people of Incheon respected Roman Dmitry. If his sword only showed brutality to his enemies, there was no reason to oppose the rebel forces.
'The Central Government is becoming more selfish as time goes on. At first, they certainly prioritized Seoul for the sake of South Korea's safety, but now it has turned into a system that only guarantees the safety of a few powerful individuals. At this rate, it's only a matter of time before South Korea collapses. As a man of power, I must make a choice.'
His dilemma deepened. He pondered for a long time. Roman Dmitry had many issues. His origin from another world. His unclear identity. Though many questions followed any decision to align with him, Min Chan-gi wanted to believe in just one fact.
'The fact that he prioritized the citizens' safety even amidst the chaos. I believe that is Roman Dmitry's true nature.'
He made his decision.
Min Chan-gi spoke. "Secretly summon all the guild masters. We are going to decide our future."
* * *
It was already the sixth city.
Immediately after crushing Gwangmyeong, which had fought to the bitter end, Roman Dmitry received a transmission from Min Chan-gi.
[We wish to join the rebel forces. It is not simply for personal gain. We also know that joining the rebel forces means dismantling our foundation in Seoul, but President Kim Jeong-tae's atrocities are crossing the line. We will help you. With just a single promise to guarantee the safety of Seoul's citizens, the guilds of Seoul, including the Heavenly Sword, will lend you our strength.]
It was unexpected. The guilds of Seoul. He had expected them to remain bystanders until the very end. Yet, even as they were securing the safety of Seoul, they had made a bold decision contrary to his expectations.
This was an opportunity. If the guilds of Seoul rose up from within, the rebel forces could seize victory in an instant.
However, Roman Dmitry reacted coldly.
"I do not particularly care for ambiguous relationships. You delayed your decision under the pretext of securing Seoul's safety, but I do not believe that choice was made solely out of concern for the citizens. You should have made a decision regardless. With the rebellion already a reality, you postponed your choice not because you cared for the citizens' well-being, but because you needed enough time to read the flow of the board. If you truly cared about the future of South Korea, the safety of the citizens you claim to protect should have included the provinces as well."
It was a simple matter. Just because they took a step back... did they think the problem before them would solve itself?
No. A situation where they had to intervene would have eventually arrived anyway. The guilds of Seoul had all their foundations in the capital and maintained close relationships with the city's powerful figures. If the Central Government collapsed, they would lose everything. On the other hand, if it didn't collapse, they would be branded as traitors for betraying their long-standing relationships.
That was why they had stepped back. While they certainly had the citizens' safety in mind, they also needed time to assess the situation.
The anxiety of whether they could afford to antagonize Roman Dmitry had weighed on them. After much deliberation, Min Chan-gi had concluded that they must not make an enemy of him. While Roman Dmitry was incredibly strong, the fact that he had spared the civilians was what ultimately swayed his mind.
"I have no intention of blaming you," Roman continued. "Since your future was at stake, you had to think it through. However, there is no longer a place for you in this fight. If you wish to share in our future, do not join the war. Stay back. Watch how the rebel forces, including Incheon, and I, Roman Dmitry, bring down the Central Government. You will be evaluated after that. Your choice now does not guarantee you any special privileges in the future; instead, you will have to earn everything through your own efforts in a South Korea whose landscape will be reshaped by me."
It was arrogant. Even though he knew their choice could shift the tides of the war, Roman Dmitry did not accept the guilds of Seoul.
In any case, it didn't matter. From the very beginning, the guilds of Seoul were not that important to him. They had simply overvalued themselves, whereas Roman Dmitry was assessing the war by an entirely different standard.
"From the moment you deferred your choice, you lost the right to choose. Standing by is the only way for you to survive."
Click.
He cut the transmission.
Lee Tae-seong approached and asked, "What do you plan to do now?"
Gwangmyeong. That was the last one. Having dealt with all the cities that had sided with the Central Government, it was now time to put their main plan into action.
Roman Dmitry spoke coldly. "Park Min-woo."
"Yes, sir."
"What do you think is the fastest way to end this war?"
"That would obviously be..." His eyes wavered. He knew the answer instantly, but it was highly problematic. "If we attack the enemy's headquarters and take down their commander, we can end the war in one fell swoop. The problem is that the Central Government is aware of my existence. Knowing the possibility that I might attack their interior using Teleport, they must have prepared themselves thoroughly..."
Suddenly, he shut his mouth.
Who was the man standing before him? It was Roman Dmitry. Park Min-woo had experienced despair firsthand because of this single man, yet here he was, offering such timid advice against the mere Central Government.
Sure enough.
"Which makes it all the more meaningful," Roman said. "Since the enemy will be guarding their interior with everything they have, their defeat will make them experience an overwhelming sense of despair, completely bypassing any strategic elements. I hear it is not easy to use Teleport magic through magic interference. Is it possible for you to use Teleport with your abilities?"
Park Min-woo's lips twitched. He knew the location of the headquarters. He also had the ability to use Teleport through magic interference. And above all, didn't Roman Dmitry possess the power to execute a strategy that others would call suicide?
Excitement welled up inside him. He had always wanted to pull off such an absurd operation with Roman Dmitry at least once.
"Of course. I will open a portal right away."
In perfect sync, Park Min-woo channeled his magic power.