Chapter 86: The Deserters Who Got Stronger

[Translator – Aren]

Secrets.

We tend to forget the weight that word carries far too easily.

People complain that they can’t understand why anyone would keep things hidden. Some might grumble that if everyone had simply been honest from the beginning, the problem never would have grown worse.

But honesty is only an effective method of communication when the situation can actually be resolved.

Human beings are not as strong as they imagine, nor can they remain steadfast. They steam in the face of absurdity aimed directly at them, and when a rational, carefully calculated outcome places them at a disadvantage, they refuse to accept it.

The fact that humanity survived the Black Death only a few centuries ago by locking away anyone suspected of infection, nailing their doors shut, and leaving them to starve has been forgotten for much the same reason.

Humanity can never accept an unpleasant truth.

The truth that they aren’t special. The truth was that, in the struggle to survive against these monsters, it’s impossible to protect everyone, lose no one, and remain morally pure.

I felt that truth again as I faced the secrets contained in the documents Captain Kim Howoon had handed us.

The three most important points indicated by what was written here could be summarized as follows.

First, why had they reacted so calmly to the report of abnormalities involving the Han River?

Major General Jeon Minho explained it very kindly.

"On January 3rd, a final reconnaissance attempt was conducted inside the restricted transit zone. In the process, circumstantial evidence confirmed the presence of countless unidentified entities. We also secured eyewitness testimony that monsters were jumping into the Han River. Baek Jemin-ssi’s testimony will serve as important evidence offering a fragmentary glimpse of how the Han River has transformed.”

They had also conducted reconnaissance using unmanned drones, but apparently, whenever an underwater drone that had been functioning normally approached a certain stretch of water, its feed suddenly filled with static, and the drone failed. Until now, they had only assumed that something was there.

My testimony had transformed their suspicions into near certainty.

The American generals also seemed deeply impressed as they recalled the process of my testimony.

Lieutenant General Royce clasped his hands together and offered a quiet prayer.

Meanwhile, the sleepy-looking white man with black hair, Brigadier General Thatcher, muttered to himself as he busily wrote something across the documents.

"Next time nukes are on the table, we need a kill plan for that entire river. Boil it. Irradiate it. Total eradication. We'd better have a contingency plan ready."

At that, General McKinsey, who had been listening quietly, laughed heartily and looked toward Brigadier General Thatcher.

"Easy, Thatcher. You want nukes, take it up with Congress. Maybe remind those fine senators who's been funding their campaigns - they seem to have forgotten."

Brigadier General Thatcher nodded with a dissatisfied expression. Wondering what they were talking about, I looked toward Captain Kim Howoon, but it was no use. Captain Kim merely kept his lips firmly shut and shook his head.

Was it a private conversation between generals? Well, I should respect their privacy.

I withdrew my interest and focused on the next question instead.

Second, who was this so-called [Prophet] who had interfered with the predecessor organization of the Reality Survival Command?

Only the generals could answer that question.

We Supreme Archmages waited in heavy silence for a direct explanation from the military leadership. It was faster to hear it spoken out loud than to decipher the densely tangled writing ourselves.

The generals skimmed through the documents they had been given and let out brief groans.

Eventually, Major General Jeon Minho placed the document packet on the folding table and summarized the matter in a calm voice.

"We currently believe that the Prophet was a heretic who attempted to mobilize outside forces due to either a power struggle within the 66-Society or a disagreement over methodology. In particular, during this first Seoul expedition, you are aware that, unlike the follow-up unit that included Aphorism, special forces advanced along Subway Line 3.”

"Is that so?”

I deliberately pretended not to know before anyone else could say something careless.

I was referring to the information Shin Nain had obtained through his Ears-Branch magic concerning those special forces. For example, that of the roughly 70 personnel who had been deployed, nearly half had died, and the survivors had escaped.

I believed we should not reveal the full extent of our intelligence-gathering capabilities too readily.

"Kimchi Spam. Don’t worry. We already know about the Stage One Ears-branch. Keep it between us, and you've got nothing to worry about."

Shit, what was he saying?

I had never scored over 400 on the TOEIC, so I couldn’t hold a conversation in English at all.

Had Captain Kim Howoon not read the room and explained, I would have remained there frowning and stewing over it.

"He says that even if you learned about the special forces along Subway Line 3 while communicating with the signals officer at the Seongnam blockade line, there will be no problems as long as you keep it confidential.”

"How do you know about that?”

"The booklet distributed even to you reservists contains the military’s secured knowledge concerning magic. And after operating civilian operational units and specialist soldiers for several months, the military has developed a partial understanding of Heart, Eyes, and Ears-Branches up to Stage 2. However, the information concerning the Hand and Tongue-Branches, along with the concepts of Ritual-type and Inverted Alteration-type magic, is among the most valuable achievements Aphorism brought back from this expedition. The generals will praise you more later, so for now, please focus on the conversation.”

Captain Kim Howoon’s eyes were practically begging me to just go along with it.

It was the first time that day I had seen his cheekbones twitch that violently.

Still, when I reluctantly nodded, the generals’ expressions changed now that they were certain we knew about the special forces.

That was when Major General Jeon Minho, who had been watching in silence, continued in a grave tone.

"If you have already learned the information concerning the special forces, this will be easier to explain. The special forces deployed on this expedition weren’t ordinary special forces.”

"Well, naturally. If the Korean-US Combined Command sent them, wouldn’t they be incredibly strong?”

Pastor Park Yohan raised his eyebrows with a doubtful expression.

He didn’t say it outright, but most of us felt the same way. If the reason the special forces were not ordinary was simply that they were special, what more was there to say?

I, Baek Jemin, made an effort to provide satisfyingly enthusiastic reactions, but I hadn’t yet reached the level of applauding every obvious statement.

Amid the strange atmosphere, Shin Nain tilted his head, Lee Sejun gave a small yawn, and Hamza continued looking around.

"They were top-tier special operations personnel. Given the differing roles of each nation’s special forces, direct comparisons are difficult, but even so, they were people who could confidently be called the very best. 76 personnel were deployed for this operation. We can’t disclose the exact composition or official unit names, but the commonly used terms alone should tell you enough.”

Major General Jeon Minho spoke with a serious expression.

"Every one of them wasDelta Force or from theSpecial Mission Unit.”

"...!!!"

Among us Supreme Archmages, Lee Sejun was the only one who made a scene.

While the rest of us looked at Major General Jeon as though asking why he was acting so grave over something we had never heard of, Lee Sejun abruptly shoved his chair back, sprang to his feet, and opened his eyes wide.

Then, apparently realizing that he was the only one reacting like that, he looked at the indifferent Supreme Archmages in shock, and then even greater shock.

"Wait, none of you know? Delta Force! The Special Mission Unit!”

"What the hell are those, you otaku?”

When I threw that at him, Shin Nain also clicked his tongue in displeasure and reprimanded Lee Sejun.

"Sejun-ssi, nothing is remarkable before the love of the Lord, so why are you so surprised? Read the Bible. Then you will witness the wonders of faith in every verse.

"Aagh, seriously!”

Unable to endure any more, Lee Sejun heavily dropped back into his chair and covered his face with his enormous right hand.

The pastor absentmindedly scratched his chin as he wondered whether they were really that impressive, while Hamza blinked innocently and put on an expression that said he knew absolutely nothing.

Major General Jeong Minho let out a hollow laugh and kindly added an explanation.

"Put simply, they were humanity’s finest. The soldiers mankind could confidently hold up as the very best.”

"Humanity’s finest, huh? You should’ve said that from the start. We would’ve understood immediately. Right, Baek Jemin? Nain, you too, right? What about you, Islam?”

"Of course."

"Amen."

"I don’t know anything.”

Only then did the pastor straighten in posture again and adopt a serious expression.

I had no choice but to do the same.

See? Compared to names like Delta Force and the Special Mission Unit, which meant nothing to us, that description was far more intuitive.

For some reason, though, every military general either let out a disbelieving laugh or shrugged as though there was no helping it.

Major General Jeon Minho sighed as though he had aged another 10 years and continued his explanation.

"While you succeeded in acquiring a broad range of knowledge concerning magic, information about monsters, and intelligence related to the 66-Society, the special forces deployed along Subway Line 3 advanced as far asDogok Station and engaged in repeated combat. The following information was acquired during that process. Please turn to the next page.”

That led into the third point.

Third, why had humanity’s finest special forces retreated after suffering casualties amounting to more than half their number?

The answer was densely recorded on the following page.

They contained clearly printed images that looked as though they had been captured by action cameras, but at first, I couldn't tell what was strange about them. They simply looked like ordinary soldiers who had been shot and killed.

Even when I compared them to the ordinary soldiers at the blockade line, it was difficult to see what made them different.

Helmets, gas masks, backpacks, K2 rifles, a grenade attached to the belt, an old canteen, and combat uniforms stained with blood and dust. With chemical-protection suits in such short supply that military ponchos were being used as substitutes, there was nothing strange about them not wearing full protective gear.

Had Shin Nain not pointed it out, I might never have noticed.

"Check the bandages wrapped around the backs of their hands and their left shoulders. Look at the numbers written on them."

Only then did the strange details in the images become visible.

"Good grief. None of you know what Delta Force or the Special Mission Unit are, but somehow you’re great at spotting things like this.”

"Quiet, Lee Sejun. Nain caught something important. Why are these men wearing bandages over their combat uniforms? It doesn’t even look like they’re bleeding.”

"There is blood on the bandages. But it’s strange. It doesn't look like it seeped through. It looks like it was smeared on.”

Lee Sejun grumbled, the pastor adjusted his glasses, and Hamza stared in confusion.

Following Shin Nain’s observation, I was the only one who immediately focused on the number.

"...55."

Only then did the densely packed writing beside the image come sharply into view.

Major General Jeon and the other generals seemed to notice that we had finally begun concentrating, because they explained.

"The special forces returned with definitive physical evidence supporting what had previously circulated only as a rumor.”

"A rumor?"

"It isn’t as though the military never sent separate reconnaissance teams before. After the Threshold Breach, as reconnaissance inside Seoul became increasingly difficult due to the strange fog and various hostile environmental changes, limited troop deployments were attempted several times. Their objective was to inspect communications infrastructure and attempt radio contact with military units inside Seoul that had gone silent. However, most of those missions ended in total annihilation or disappearance. The only evidence suggesting that those units still existed came from rumors of clashes with humans near the blockade line.”

Major General Jeon pushed his own file toward us and pointed precisely at the white bandages wrapped around the soldiers’ hands and left shoulders like unit insignia.

"They are believed to be a private armed force controlled by the 66-Society. According to testimony from the operatives, they act under the command of wizards belonging to the 66-Society and display an uncanny degree of organization unlike the crude training one would expect from former conscripts. Their presumed members include active-duty soldiers who failed to escape Seoul during the Threshold Breach, as well as deserters…”

He was referring to the scabbed-over number 55 carved into the backs of their hands with a blade and the number 55 written in blood across their white bandages.

"They have been provisionally designated the 55-Unit. Their objective is believed to be restricting reconnaissance by personnel from outside Seoul and preserving the 66-Society’s influence within the city.”

*t*t*

Using a tablet PC Captain Kim Howoon hurriedly brought over, we were able to watch the action-camera footage recovered by the special forces.

An unexpected person played a major role here. Shin Nain.

He had reached Ears-branch, Stage 3, raising his level of attainment, and could already use Past Vision through Eyes-branch, Stage 1. The instant the action-camera footage began playing, he sharply furrowed his brows.

The special forces in the footage were cautiously advancing through a subway passage when Shin Nain began butting in with narration.

"They’re preparing an ambush."

"Hey. No spoilers."

"The Ears-branch wizards are talking to one another. 7 Ears-branch, Stage 1. 3 Eyes-branch, Stage 1. 1 Heart-branch wizard. They were cultivated systematically.”

"What?"

Shin Nain had reached a level where he could even hear the thoughts of the people recorded in the footage.

Was this the realm of Ears-branch, Stage 3?

Meanwhile, the footage itself began to change.

Gunfire erupted, and the engagement began. Yet despite the special forces’ overwhelming training and skill, a completely unexpected outcome started to unfold.

Armed with state-of-the-art tactical equipment and optical devices that let them see through the darkness, the special forces were being fought on equal terms by the 55-Unit, whose members were likely little more than former conscripts. Even considering their familiarity with the terrain and the advantage of an ambush.

After hearing Shin Nain’s explanation, Major General Jeon Minho narrowed his eyes and pressed him for more details.

"Please be more specific. Shin Nain-ssi, your talent and magic may provide an opportunity to save many more lives in the future.”

"In the name of the Lord, I will gladly do so if it helps those fighting against Satan and his demons.”

Thanks to that, we were able to eavesdrop on what could only be called the 55 Unit’s tactics as they faced the special forces’ calm and overwhelming response capabilities in the action-camera footage.

The special forces’ extraordinary marksmanship and overwhelming combat prowess as they killed members of the 55-Unit drew our admiration, but the tactics pouring from Shin Nain’s mouth were no less formidable. Major General Jeon practically interrogated Shin Nain, desperate to understand how the 55 Unit fought.

"What is the role of the Ears-branch wizards? What are their capabilities?”

"The 7 Ears-branch wizards serve as communications operators. Ears-branch magic allows users at the same stage of attainment to communicate with one another through telepathy. There appears to be a range limit, though. Jemin-ssi and I have communicated that way before. Because they can exchange words instantly through telepathy, they act as the squad’s rifleman while attaching one or two members to each of the 3 Eyes-branch wizards and the single Heart-branch wizard, coordinating their movements."

"The Eyes-branch wizards… What role do the members of the 55-Uni train in Eyes-branch magic perform?”

"They act as tracers. Most of their abilities involve effects such as infrared detection or dark vision, and they aren’t overwhelmingly powerful like Jemin-ssi. Instead, they aim and fire at whatever they see or throw objects to create sounds and guide their allies’ fire.”

"And the Heart-branch wizard?”

"He’s the machine gunner."

The moment the special forces in the action-cam footage attempted a proper counterattack, a metallic clatter rang out from the subway tunnel, followed by a storm of suppressive fire.

There had been no prepared position there, and because the ambush had sparked such an intense engagement, one special forces operative suffered a critical wound. Even so, they truly lived up to their reputation as humanity’s finest. The special forces withdrew with practiced skill and suffered no further casualties.

Meanwhile, three members of the 55-Unit had been killed.

The problem was the 55-Unit’s tactics.

"They’re beginning to retreat. No…every one of them has switched to magazines reinforced with Hand-branch, Stage 1. This is…”

Amid the violently shaking action-cam footage as the special forces evacuated their wounded comrade, bizarre cries and screams began to ring out.

The cries of the monsters we had grown sick of hearing over nearly 11 days in Seoul filled every corner of the subway tunnel.

Anyone could understand why a horde of monsters had appeared at that exact moment. The only difference was whether they realized what the 55-Unit intended to do with them.

Shin Nain stared into the final view of the special forces operatives beyond the shaking screen.

The moment he gripped his rifle and aimed into the darkness.

"...Suppression."

Just as he was about to fire at the horde of monsters approaching through the darkness, a fierce field of fire poured in from behind.

While the rest of us Supreme Archmages remained silent, Shin Nain explained the 55-Unit’s intent.

The Heart-branch wizard belonging to the 55-Unit continuously fired the machine gun, restricting the special forces’ movement and firepower. It didn't matter if monsters were killed in the process. The gunfire would provoke even more monsters, and they knew those creatures would arrive in overwhelming numbers.

The Eyes-branch wizards of the 55-Unit acted as spotters, guiding the machine gun’s field of fire. At the same time, they detected any monster groups that might turn on them and secured an escape route in advance.

The Ears-branch wizards of the 55-Unit served as riflemen, maintaining enough firepower for their own squad to escape and killing enemy soldiers who attempted any unexpected action.

And finally, their most important mission.

Near the end of the footage, while the operative continued firing into the darkness and killing the charging monsters despite the hail of bullets, a chilling voice echoed at the edge of his vision.

The voice was so hoarse that it was impossible to tell whether it belonged to a man or woman. It scraped across the speaker’s vocal cords and was recorded in the footage.

[Bring me the bastards who decided on the blockade.]

One of the special forces operatives turned toward the direction of the voice.

The owner of the action camera couldn’t turn around because he was busy aiming at the monsters and holding them back.

They were trapped on both sides of the tracks, shell casings tumbling around them while countless orders rang out like screams.

Then at some point, one of the special forces operatives firing toward the voice stopped pulling the trigger.

Several operatives appeared in the action-cam’s view, their faces drained of color as they slowly lowered their weapons.

That was when a voice that sounded like their commander shouted.

[Break through the rear!]

Complicated hand signals passed between them, and a fierce pursuit began.

Amid the sounds of bullets bursting and ricocheting, approaching footsteps followed behind the special forces operative in the footage.

Then, the video ended with a click.

Shin Nain looked between the generals waiting for an answer and us Supreme Archmages, who had been left speechless by the overwhelming footage.

"The true mission of those demonic underlings is to follow and protect a wizard belonging to the hordes of demons known as the 66-Society.”

The generals didn’t appear ready to believe Shin Nain immediately.

However, since they had already heard the explanation of the magic system, it didn’t take them long to accept it. More importantly, once they learned that the effects of Ears-branch, Stage 3 could even apply to people recorded in video footage, its value soared beyond measure.

Then General Jeon Minho summarized the situation with an impressed expression as he looked at Shin Nain.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Shin Nain-ssi. The military’s conclusion is similar to yours. The reason we consider the Prophet a heretic within the Society is that his actions contradict the Society’s current policy. The 66-Society is deliberately restricting the military and the outside from acquiring information, has repeatedly committed hostile acts against reconnaissance teams sent by the military, and has killed them without mercy. Their intention to leave Seoul as an unknown territory is clear. We also believe that attempting small-scale engagements near the blockade line and drawing monster hordes toward it reflect the will of the 66-Society.”

"Couldn’t it simply be independent action by local survivors inside Seoul?”

"Even if it’s independent action, considering the various forms of influence the 66-Society possesses inside Seoul, it’s clear that they’re at minimum tacitly permitting it or standing by and allowing it to happen.”

The answer to my question sounded fairly convincing.

Failing to act was the same as standing by. What beautifully simple logic.

Meanwhile, the American generals who had listened to Shin Nain’s live narration through interpretation also seemed quite impressed.

Marshal McKinsey, the highest-ranking officer among them, moved first and asked Lieutenant General Royce and Brigadier General Thatcher.

"Hard to wrap my head around. Even accounting for variation between stages, these folks seem to be in a league of their own. Do we have anyone on our side who can match them?"

Lieutenant General Royce answered first with an awkward smile.

"First thing I checked when I took over, sir. We don't. The scale supposedly goes up to Stage Five, but the vast majority of ours are Stage One. Stage Two - we're talking a few hundred, across the board. Stage Three? This is the first report of it we've ever received."

Brigadier General Thatcher then spoke at length in a stiff soldierly tone.

"The rescued civilian is reportedly Stage Four, and according to these Operators, most of the hostile practitioners inside Seoul are estimated at Stage Two minimum. Factor in the 55 Unit providing fire support and additional manpower, and future expeditions into Seoul are going to be significantly harder."

Unable to endure it any longer, I asked Captain Kim Howoon,

"What are they saying?”

Realizing that I was one second away from adding curses to that question, Captain Kim hurried over and whispered into my ear.

"They’re currently evaluating your abilities."

"Oh. What are they saying?”

"Well..."

Shin Nain stepped in for the hesitant Captain Kim Howoon.

"I will explain.”

"Wasn’t your Ears-branch magic blocked?”

"Jemin-ssi. Not everyone needs magic to understand a foreign language.”

According to Shin Nain’s interpretation, it went as follows.

Marshal McKinsey: It’s difficult to imagine. Even if there are variations between stages, their abilities seem far superior. Do we have any wizards better than them?

Lieutenant General Royce: I checked as soon as I took command, but we don’t. The scale supposedly goes up to Stage 5, but the overwhelming majority on our side are Stage 1. Only a few hundred have reached Stage 2, and this is the first report we have ever received of Stage 3.

Brigadier General Thatcher: We were told that the rescued local survivor is Stage 4, and according to their testimony, most hostile wizards inside Seoul are estimated to be at least Stage 2. If they are further reinforced with manpower and firepower from the 55-Unit serving as their fire support, future expeditions into Seoul will become considerably more difficult.

Once again, I had no choice but to be impressed.

Shin Nain. Was this bastard overflowing with usefulness even as a translator?

The world must have made him a fanatic to keep things fair.

Just then, General McKinsey turned toward us and offered a brief remark somewhere between a snort and a hearty laugh.

"Best of the best. They weren't kidding."

I had no idea what the rest meant, but I had understood the most important part.

I nodded with my atrocious English skills and gave them a smile brimming with pride.

"Yes, sir. We are Best of Best."

That was when Lee Sejun, who had been silently covering his face, snapped at me.

"Jemin-ssi, this is fucking humiliating, so please stop.”

"Don’t you know ‘an awl in a pouch?’ It has to piece through the fabric to be seen.”

"I don’t think that's what it means…”

For someone who had treated me like an idiot earlier because I didn’t know about Delta Force or whatever other nerdy nonsense, he found the strangest things to criticize.

That was when Major General Jeon Minho cleared his throat and addressed us.

"Beyond this, there is still a great deal of information, knowledge, systems, experience, and operational capability that Aphorism, the Korean-US Combined Command, and the Reality Survival Command under its authority will need to share.”

"Well…If the American generals are asking, then naturally we should help.”

"I’m glad you feel that way. In that case…”

Pastor Park Yohan looked at the rest of us as though we were pathetic, then nodded in response to the major general.

Encouraged, or perhaps simply resolved, by the pastor’s answer, Major General Jeon continued.

"I believe it’s time for us to begin formal discussions regarding Aphorism’s deployment and the military support you will receive.”