Clash (2)
I moved slowly forward, blending into the crowd.
The Firefighters' Rally was being held at Gwanghwamun Square.
If I traced the protest route from the Sejong-daero intersection, it ran straight north in a dead line.
By the end, the firefighters would gather in Gwanghwamun Square, give speeches, and steel themselves for what came next.
A few of the firefighters around me were talking among themselves.
"It’s been so long. I can’t believe we’re actually out here at this hour."
"I’m so damn nervous I might get called out on an emergency run."
"Yeah. If it comes to it, we’ll have to sprint back."
With the exception of the bare minimum needed to keep watch, the firefighters had gathered around Gwanghwamun.
They’d been forced to leave their posts, but they still hadn’t forgotten what it meant to be firefighters, and their nerves stayed taut as wire.
In my previous life, a few firefighters had even returned to headquarters in the middle of the Police-Fire War.
Which came first: condemning the corrupt police, or protecting civilians?
Hard question.
Maybe what I was trying to do was catch two rabbits at once.
"Huh?"
"What’s going on all of a sudden?"
The procession marching relentlessly toward Gwanghwamun Square came to a halt.
In an instant, the formation shattered, and the person in front toppled backward.
When only a few people are gathered, movement is easy and there’s no collision.
"Aaaah!"
"D-don’t push!!"
But once the crowd gets dense enough to overflow, that’s a different story.
Multiple crowd crushes broke out at once, and the situation turned dangerous in a heartbeat.
"D-don’t step on me!"
"Somebody fell here!"
"Stop! Stop!"
The firefighters collapsed like dominoes, completely against their will.
Damn it.
I’d originally planned to blend into the crowd and make my way to Gwanghwamun Square that way.
It was the best way to hide who I was—and, I figured, the best way to strike back at the villains.
Looks like the timing’s earlier than I thought.
But I couldn’t delay any longer.
I planted a hand on one firefighter’s shoulder and jumped.
Using the shoulders of the firefighters in sequence, I vaulted up and landed against the side of a tall building.
I shoved my fingers into the gap between the wall and the building’s exterior.
That kept me from slipping even while I braced myself against the wall.
There.
I struck a pose like some comic-book hero, Spider-Man.
Next, I brought my other hand to my mouth.
I shaped my fingers into a ring and whistled.
Tweet.
At the bright note, something emerged beyond the building.
A wyvern flapping its wings as it came flying in.
Pippi arrives.
The moment Pippi drew near, I kicked off the wall and climbed onto its back.
"Master, I’m here, meow!"
Pippi called out briskly.
With the long procession below us, I pointed ahead.
"Let’s go."
* * *
At Gwanghwamun Square, there were so many firefighters gathered that there wasn’t room to drop a pin.
Colorful placards rose above the crowd, impossible to miss.
< Root Out Corrupt Police! >
< Police Commissioner Park Nam-yong OUT! >
< Let’s Protect the Republic of Korea! >
...
About ten thousand firefighters.
It was a mass rally that would go down in history.
Red fire trucks were parked all around the square.
A middle-aged man standing on the platform gripped a microphone.
His name was Han Jong-il.
His rank was Fire Chief.
Three Taeguk hexagon insignia were emblazoned on Han Jong-il’s chest.
Fire Chief was equivalent to a first-grade civil servant.
Aside from the Fire Commissioner, it was the highest rank a firefighter could hold.
"From this moment, I will read the statement."
The firefighters looking up at the platform had eyes full of something fierce.
Five years earlier, Han Jong-il’s son had died in the line of duty at a fire scene.
Since then, Han Jong-il had devoted both body and soul to the rights and safety of firefighters.
He refused every attempt to buy a promotion, and he never hesitated to blow the whistle on corruption from within.
Among the senior brass, he was a thorn in their side, but among most firefighters, Han Jong-il was deeply respected and trusted.
To the firefighters, Han Jong-il was “Father.”
"We are firefighters who have dedicated our lives to the safety of the people."
As Han Jong-il led, the firefighters answered in unison.
"We call for the reform of the police. We demand the punishment of corrupt police who trample our pride."
It was a unified cry loud enough to shake the square.
"Next, we will hear a speech from Firefighter Gu Ja-min."
Han Jong-il handed the microphone to Gu Ja-min.
Gu Ja-min, who was naturally timid, swallowed hard.
He glanced down and his heart thudded wildly.
...This is incredible.
Had he ever seen this many people gathered in one place in his life?
And now he had to speak in front of all of them.
Gu Ja-min gripped the microphone with trembling hands.
"Hello. I’m firefighter Gu Ja-min. Not long ago, I responded to a call at the club Red Moon.
"While I was unconscious and being carried away, the police did nothing to restrain the assailants. Only later did I learn that the people who attacked me were villains from the Dark Alliance."
Gradually, Gu Ja-min’s breathing steadied.
Whenever he said the word "villain," a hot surge of anger welled up in him.
"I don’t want to hand an unfair, corrupted world down to the next generation. For my beloved mother and father, for my wife, and for... "
Gu Ja-min faced forward and raised his voice.
"For my son! I call for the reform of the police!"
The moment he finished, a thunderous roar rose up.
Gu Ja-min let out a breath of relief.
At last, he’d done his part.
Han Jong-il approached and patted him on the shoulder.
"Good work."
"Thank you, Fire Chief."
The emcee took the microphone and continued the proceedings.
"Next, we’ll gather on the lawn and march together while singing the Firefighters’ Anthem."
Gu Ja-min looked at his watch.
His wife’s delivery was drawing near.
"Excuse me, Fire Chief... "
Han Jong-il understood what Gu Ja-min was trying to say.
"I’ve heard. Go on, get to the hospital."
"Thank you."
Originally, Gu Ja-min had been planning to stand at the front until the Firefighters' Rally ended.
But given the circumstances, Han Jong-il decided to make an exception for him.
Han Jong-il soothed him and said, "I’ll be hoping for a safe delivery."
"Yes, sir!"
Gu Ja-min nodded vigorously.
He’d been worried something might go wrong during the Firefighters' Rally, but...
Guess I was worrying for nothing.
Smiling, Gu Ja-min started to walk away.
"Then let’s all move to the lawn square while—"
That was when it happened.
"Attention. The Firefighters' Rally ends here. Stop the illegal demonstration and disperse immediately."
A police officer who had been watching the speech shouted through a microphone.
The firefighters looked at one another in confusion.
"What the hell is he talking about?"
And an illegal demonstration, of all things.
It was a blatant insult, a statement that completely disregarded an event taking place under government protection.
"Quit making things up!"
"You disperse!"
The police didn’t care.
"We will repeat: if you do not disperse, we will proceed with forced dispersal, and you may face disadvantages as a result."
It was obviously a threat.
The firefighters’ anger surged to its limit.
"Disadvantages?"
"Those assholes talk to us nicely for once and think they can treat us like suckers!"
Then—
With a sharp pop, a police tear gas canister detonated.
Thick smoke rolled over the firefighters.
"Ghk!"
"C-can’t breathe!"
They were trying to forcibly break up a legitimate peaceful protest.
The firefighters’ eyes blazed.
"Fall back, front line!"
"Get the gear out of the fire trucks!"
As expected of firefighters.
Years of experience on the scene seemed to shine through, and they moved with perfect coordination.
They put on the gas masks and oxygen masks stored inside the trucks and stood against the police.
"Tear gas, and that’s it?"
"We breathe hotter smoke than this every damn day!"
Tear gas was no longer a problem.
The police flinched and issued another warning.
"If you do not retreat, we will use physical force."
While the police hesitated, a firefighter in his twenties stepped forward.
"Go on, then. You sons of bitches."
The police brought up the riot squad.
They simultaneously drew their clubs.
"Fine. You started this!"
The firefighters gripped their fire axes.
They formed ranks and glared at the police.
They looked as ferocious as if they were about to strike at any second.
"... "
"... "
"... "
The riot squad, having failed to seize the initiative, went deathly pale.
The police commander barked in a fury.
"Effective immediately, I designate you as an illegal protest force. Since you have ignored police dispersal orders, we will deploy water cannons!"
The police opened fire with water cannons.
The firefighters smirked.
"A water fight? Works for me."
With the sound of engines starting up, the fire trucks lurched into motion.
Powerful streams of water tore through the air and surged toward the police.
"Kuaagh!!"
"Aagh!!"
The police tried to block them with shields, but they were no match for the fire trucks’ water cannons.
"Serves you right!"
"Welcome to the water park, you bastards!"
The riot squad retreated and rushed back to their commander.
"T-team leader. What do we do?"
The police commander surveyed the battlefield.
They had handpicked three thousand elite officers to stop this protest.
And in pure numbers alone, the firefighters had the advantage.
If they kept surging forward like this, there would be nothing they could do.
"Fall back for now!"
The police raised a white flag and retreated en masse to the north.
To the firefighters, it looked like they were running for their lives, and it was incredibly satisfying.
"Look at them! They’re scared!"
"What’s wrong? Come on, keep going!"
Triumphant music blared from the speakers, as though announcing victory.
Ooh! For the sake of victory!
Ooh! I will go with you!
The firefighters threw their arms over one another’s shoulders and sang along.
That is, until the speakers crackled and died with a sinister snap.
"Huh? What now?"
The firefighters, still dancing in their excitement, looked around in confusion.
Then they saw it.
A black mass was trampling the green grass as it walked toward them.
The figures wore gas masks and carried weapons in their hands.
Tension settled heavily between the two groups as they finally faced each other.
"Hey, you firefighter bastards."
"Who gave you the nerve to go strutting around here?"
"You dared lay a hand on the police... "
The gas mask at the front sprang forward.
"You need to be taught a lesson!"
A massive ice hammer sliced through the air and slammed into the firefighters in front.
"Ghk!"
"Ugh!"
With the sound of bones shattering, five firefighters were sent flying at once.
The firefighter struck by the ice hammer stiffened all over as if he’d been doused in liquid nitrogen.
Gu Ja-min’s pupils widened as he watched the battlefield.
...Awakened people!
There were only about a hundred of them.
In a large gathering of Awakened, there were only two possibilities.
Hunters.
Villains!
The gas-masked figures counterattacked the firefighters.
"Now do you understand your place?"
"Beg for forgiveness!"
"No, wait. Even if you beg now, it’s too late!!"
They drove jackknives into firefighters’ stomachs without mercy, and axes sank into thighs.
One of them swung a chainsaw in a circle and severed a firefighter’s wrist.
"Aaaagh!!!!"
The severed wrist rolled and hooked around Gu Ja-min’s ankle.
"S-someone, stop the bleeding!!"
Gu Ja-min wrapped the firefighter’s severed arm with his own hands.
"What are you doing, you bastard?!"
A hammer flying in from somewhere slammed into the back of Gu Ja-min’s head.
"Ghk."
Gu Ja-min’s vision spun.
A warm liquid poured down from his forehead.
Even the sky was cruel today, with the clouds drifting by so peacefully and calmly.
Gu Ja-min collapsed to the asphalt in a bloody heap.
With his cheek pressed against the road, he stared blankly into hell.
Five or six villains were stomping on the firefighters in a frenzy.
One villain grabbed a firefighter by the face.
...Stop.
Blood splashed through the air.
The firefighters screamed and panicked.
Stop.
The villains in gas masks laughed and sneered at them.
Stop it!!!
His mind was going distant, so far away that no sound would come out anymore.
Forcing his lips apart with great effort, Gu Ja-min managed to whisper,
"...Honey."
Himself, dancing like an idiot after hearing the news of the pregnancy.
His wife coming to the door in the early dawn, her eyes sleepy, her belly round with life.
The ultrasound photo of sturdy little Tun-yi, who would soon be born...
It all flashed through Gu Ja-min’s mind in a rush.
Please.
His eyes grew wet, and tears spilled down his face.
"Please, somebody help me!!!"
The moment he was about to sink endlessly into the pit of despair, the sky darkened.
It wasn’t because of clouds.
Something enormous was flying overhead, blocking out the sun.
Gu Ja-min slowly lifted his gaze.
A dragon?
A monstrous bird with claws on its wings was flying through the sky.
Squinting, he saw that someone was riding on its back.
A man in a purple mask and suit.
Like a god who had descended to judge humanity.
He pointed at the villains with one finger.
Kwaaahhh!!
The monster opened its mouth and spewed fire.
About ten villains were instantly engulfed in flames.
"Aaaagh!!!"
"Aaagh!!!"
The wicked men in gas masks rolled across the ground, screaming.
The stench of burning flesh spread through the air.
"First, ten taken care of."
The Purple Devil had descended to earth.