A Gate Opened On My First Day As A Politician - Chapter 29: A Nuclear-Level Incident (4)

The rainy season ended, and a typhoon arrived.

The flames consuming the buildings finally began to subside.

The view of Gangbuk from above was sorrowful. Refugees wandering the streets, sporadic gunfire echoing in the distance. A city once teeming with life was slowly dying.

A fighter jet roared past, splitting the air, and in the haze of gunpowder, the martial law headquarters came into view.

Raindrops fell over the grim battlefield. As I stepped under the umbrella held by a soldier, I quickened my pace with a resolute expression.

A single recorder hidden in my inner pocket.

—

A suited deputy minister of defense.

A soldier familiar with politics.

A tough guy with the look of a smart corporate executive.

A boring and straightforward strategist.

A composed gambler.

A man always racing against time.

Fast and monotonous in speech.

These were my impressions of Cha Jae-kyun.

In short, he was a man I couldn’t get a handle on. If his personality could be defined, perhaps that was it.

But while I could discern his personality, I couldn’t grasp his essence.

Was he the dictator of a new military regime? Or a hero saving the nation?

Cha Jae-kyun reviewed Yang Pan-seok’s recording with an inscrutable expression, tilting his head slightly.

“This is… quite intriguing.”

“You weren’t already aware of this?”

As always, his response was swift and unperturbed.

“Though I have a close working relationship with the National Intelligence Service, I have no intention of interfering with the National Assembly.”

Translation: ‘Oh, I don’t knooowww~.’

How adorably coy. Cha Jae-kyun blinked, as if to flaunt his acting skills.

“You’re proposing to back Assemblywoman Won Ok-bun as acting president?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then, may I ask your intent in bringing this to me?”

Translation: ‘I may have confined the lawmakers to a hotel, forced the acting presidential candidates to resign, and deployed the National Intelligence Service near the National Assembly, but hey, I had nothing to do with it.’

I deliberately took a long sip of barley tea, buying time to think.

1. Cha Jae-kyun, the military. Dangerous.
2. Won Ok-bun, the National Assembly. Legitimate.
3. Yang Pan-seok. Crafty.

As always, my decision was swift.

As a National Assembly member supporting Won Ok-bun, I would follow Yang Pan-seok’s covert orders and align with Cha Jae-kyun.

‘Tap.’ I slammed the empty paper cup onto the table.

“Deputy Minister, are you a politician or a soldier?”

“……”

“Seizing control of the military while confining lawmakers, forcing the acting presidential candidates to step down, and deploying the National Intelligence Service around the National Assembly—this is not the work of a soldier. Give me a clear answer.”

He responded in a composed tone, as if it were no big deal.

“Why do you ask?”

“If you plan to engage in politics rather than war, I’m willing to cooperate. But how can I do so if you remain so ambiguous?”

Translation: ‘Are you aiming for power or not?’

I revealed my belly and wagged my tail.

Once the country stabilized, the military’s power would naturally diminish. If he was a hunting dog that could be dealt with later, it didn’t matter if I loosened his leash now.

Cha Jae-kyun replied.

“Did you ask if I’m a soldier?”

“……”

“I have never once strayed from my duties as a soldier.”

A cryptic statement.

“If I hadn’t confined the lawmakers, they’d be parading in front of reporters, threatening impeachment every time someone died.

If I hadn’t forced the acting presidential candidates to step down, someone with no experience in military matters would have seized control.”

He essentially admitted that he took preemptive measures because he knew the chaos they’d cause. His voice carried weariness as he continued.

“1.4 people are dying every second. Not because of monsters, but because of the orders I’ve issued. And that’s why I always do my best.”

‘Thud.’ He stamped a document.

“I’ve deployed a special forces unit to rescue the U.S. ambassador to Korea. We’re allocating troops to save a non-citizen just because we’re worried about the U.S. reaction.”

He picked up another document and showed it to me.

“But if this gets out, we won’t be able to conduct such operations in the future. That would hinder our cooperation with U.S. forces. That’s why I didn’t impose an embargo on the press—I just silenced them outright.”

He put the document down and pointed a finger at me.

“But if Assemblyman Han were to reveal this publicly, it would cause quite a mess. What do you think I would do then?”

“…You’d silence me.”

“Whether through threats or persuasion, I’d ensure you kept quiet. So, is that strategy or politics?”

It was a fascinating question. I smirked faintly and listened as Cha Jae-kyun continued in his dry tone.

“Do you know the book ‘On War’?”

“Clausewitz?”

“There’s a saying: war is the continuation of politics. You’re a sharp man, so I trust you understand.”

The confinement of lawmakers, the forced resignations of acting presidential candidates—all of his “political maneuvers” were, in his view, extensions of war.

Cha Jae-kyun posed a confirming question.

“Do you see me as a general or a politician?”

Politics and war were not so different. I, too, engaged in politics for the sole purpose of fighting monsters. That was his explanation.

I closed my eyes briefly.

“Then, Deputy Minister, are you saying you have no interest in power?”

“I am the person most deeply invested in power.”

He resumed reviewing his documents, speaking to me only with his mouth.

“I’m constantly on guard against acting presidential candidates with no military experience causing chaos, and politicians blinded by votes interfering with military operations.”

“Then what is your ultimate goal?”

“The annihilation of monsters.”

“May I lend a hand?”

“That’s why I called you here.”

The conversation flowed effortlessly. We had already confirmed each other’s intentions.

And yet, ‘called’ me, he said.

So, deploying the National Intelligence Service around the National Assembly was his way of sending me a signal. A show of power, inviting me to join him.

At last, he revealed his true intentions.

“We are engaged in an endless war against enemies that don’t diminish no matter how many we kill. And we still have no way to close the Gates. A more ‘efficient’ method is required.”

Now that I controlled a paramilitary force—the Guild—he had no choice but to partner with me.

Perhaps his delayed support during the Shinbundang Line escape was intended to kill me. But now that I held the Guild’s reins, he had no other option.

Cha Jae-kyun made his decision.

“I’ll grant you access to Class 1 secrets and relevant military authority. The details are in these documents.”

Damn. He wasn’t holding back. Giving military authority to a civilian? My hands trembled slightly as I took the papers.

“You may also use civilian personnel for public cooperation efforts. Please do your best to activate the Monster Damage Recovery Foundation.”

“Then, can the Guild function as a mobile strike team in southern Gyeonggi Province?”

“Helicopters, medical supplies, funds—if necessary, I can even transfer limited operational control. Please do your utmost to protect the nation and its people.”

An enticing offer from the military commander.

“…Additionally, when political disputes within the National Assembly escalate, I would appreciate it if you could prevent interference with military operations.”

So, he was asking me to keep those bastards from messing with the military. I pretended to deliberate for about 12 seconds before responding in a solemn voice.

“…I’m honored and humbled to be entrusted with such a significant role. I will do my utmost.”

Call.

—

After hashing out the details of our agreement, I turned back on my way out of his office.

“Assemblywoman Won Ok-bun being named acting president doesn’t seem to surprise you.”

Translation: ‘You already knew she’d become president, didn’t you?’

It was odd enough that the man confining lawmakers would release the Minister of Justice.

Come to think of it, Won Ok-bun was an opposition minister.

She was someone the Democratic administration had placed for bipartisan cooperation since she was less aligned with the Republican Party. Appointing a staunch Republican would have been disastrous.

In essence, Won Ok-bun was neutral.

And neutrality meant someone adept at compromise.

So…

“…She seems quite reasonable.”

It wasn’t far-fetched to assume Cha Jae-kyun and Won Ok-bun had already struck a deal.

I chuckled lightly as I left the office.

It was ridiculous.

Outwardly, everyone clamored to band together, but beneath the surface lay an intricate web of conflicting interests.

A nest of vipers.

That was the true nature of this world.

There were no clear allies or enemies. Just crafty raccoons, each laughing as they shook hands while hiding a den of snakes in their bellies.

The clueless ones would get blindsided and become prey for the others.

In the end, Yang Pan-seok was right.

The only rule was to have no rules.

Avoid making enemies.

If you had one, eliminate them immediately.

Diluted alcohol. Watered-down liquor.

A limping man vanished into the dark corridor with a faint smile.

—

I reached out to ring the doorbell.

‘Thud!’ Before my finger even touched the button, the door swung open.

“Eungnyak!”

“…Hello.”

“Oh, oh? Pi Chae-won?”

That’s odd. Why is Pi Chae-won here at Chun Hwa-ran’s house?

Without a word, she held the door open and walked back inside. Chun Hwa-ran peeked out with a bright smile.

“Oh my! Assemblyman Han!”

“Ah, it’s been a while, Director Chun!”

I held out a bag as I stepped forward.

“Folic acid in kiwi is supposedly very good for pregnant women!”

“Oh my, what’s this…!”

Chun Hwa-ran accepted the bag with a gentle laugh. Her belly was noticeably round now.

“And so, I brought some Korean beef!”

“Please, come in, Assemblyman!”

Pregnant or not, meat always wins.

Gam Gi-ja and Gam Ji-yoon peeked out from inside. Gam Gi-ja was cradling his newborn son.

“Oh, Assemblyman! Welcome!”

“Korean beef! Korean beef!”

Gam Ji-yoon gleefully levitated the beef with her psychokinesis and dashed off to the living room, while Gam Gi-ja and I exchanged greetings at the entrance.

Chun Hwa-ran had taken over an entire university hospital for her research, so their accommodations were in a VIP suite.

“Wow, calling this a VIP suite doesn’t do it justice. This is practically a five-star hotel.”

“Well, these rooms are meant for corporate chairmen. We were just as shocked when we first came here. Oh! Please, come in.”

I struggled to pull my prosthetic leg out of my shoe as I asked, “But I didn’t expect Pi Chae-won to be staying here. Although I heard you gave her a room next door.”

“Hehe, well, Chae-won decided to just live with us.”

By now, Gam Ji-yoon had somehow attached herself to Pi Chae-won’s face like a koala. Thanks to her psychokinesis, it was a feat she could manage.

Watching Pi Chae-won flail blindly, I couldn’t help but think of someone being overtaken by an alien larva. Still, it was nice to see them getting along.

Pi Chae-won startled and peeled Gam Ji-yoon off. With a playful scream, Gam Ji-yoon floated away in zero gravity, while Pi Chae-won stared at me expressionlessly.

“……”

I awkwardly smiled in an attempt to look like the friendly uncle.

“!”

Without a word, the girl turned and disappeared into the room.

…What the heck?

—

Korean native cattle. ‘Hanwoo’.

We call it ‘hanwoo’.

The crimson flesh, so vibrant it’s nearly scarlet, gleams with intricate white marbling.

I picked up a glossy slice and slowly placed it on the grill.

‘Hissss—’

The intoxicating sound, accompanied by the rich aroma of sizzling meat, filled the air.

“Since I’m the only one who can handle mana, I’ve been conducting the research alone. Ji-yoon has helped with things I can’t do, though.”

Beef shouldn’t be overcooked. I took a piece off the grill before it lost its juices and popped it into my mouth.

“I’ve been experimenting with what elements can be synthesized through mana, whether biological cells can be replicated, and the differences between mana-based substances and real ones, among other things.”

Juices burst forth between my teeth, and a rich, savory flavor spread across my palate.

“For instance, just knowing the components and molecular structure allows me to create cold medicine with mana. So theoretically, creating new drugs with impossible molecular combinations isn’t out of the question.”

It was like a meadow.

A bull was galloping across my tongue. With every bite, I felt grateful to be alive.

“Perhaps we could even develop a drug that drastically accelerates the body’s natural healing. What do you think, Assemblyman?”

“It’s delicious.”

“Sorry?”

“Pardon?”

“Pfft…!”

Chun Hwa-ran and I stared at each other, dumbfounded, while Gam Gi-ja coughed up a few grains of rice, chuckling.

“See, honey? You’re lucky I’m the one listening to this. Other people wouldn’t understand a word.”

“!”

Chun Hwa-ran clenched her fists and bit her lip.

“You’re all about science, but us humanities folks feel like our brains are frying when we hear stuff like that! It’s so boring!”

Her shoulders started trembling as tears welled up, so I quickly stood and retreated to the bedroom.

‘Clink.’ Chun Hwa-ran slammed her spoon onto the table.

—

Hey. Humanities major.

Huh? Huh?

Is that casual speech?

H-honey, what’s wrong…?

I’m three years older than you, punk!

—

I stopped in my tracks at the sound of their voices from the kitchen. Chun Hwa-ran is three years older than Gam Gi-ja?

How does she look that young at her age? Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I quickly fled to the bedroom.

“Yahp!”

“Kyaaaah!”

Gam Ji-yoon, who had been clinging to the ceiling, suddenly dropped onto my face. Startled, I lost my balance and fell to the floor, though her psychokinesis cushioned the impact.

“……”

Pi Chae-won, holding a swaddled baby, looked down at me with a peculiar expression. Gam Ji-yoon clung to Pi Chae-won again.

The two sat on the couch, watching TV together. Since there was an empty spot beside them, I joined.

“Pi Chae-won, how have you been?”

“……”

She silently nodded.

Was she naturally quiet, or had her experiences left her withdrawn?

Smiling, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“I said I’d be your guardian, but I haven’t visited often. I’m sorry.”

“……”

She shook her head wordlessly, her expression blank. She seemed spaced out, almost vacant.

It might have something to do with her abilities. I’d have to approach carefully.

Regardless, ability or not, support was support. I pulled out a gift I’d prepared for her.

“Do you like chocolate?”

“……Ah.”

Pi Chae-won stared blankly at the gift box I offered. Did she not like chocolate?

If she didn’t want it, I’d make her eat it.

“This is Ferrero Rocher. It’s really good…”

“……”

“It costs as much as a whole chicken for 30 pieces…”

“……”

“I worked hard to get this. Are you not going to eat it?”

Pi Chae-won looked at me with an inscrutable expression. Was I busted for buying these on clearance? With her future-sight, maybe she’d figured it out.

“……”

After a moment, she reached out, picked a chocolate, unwrapped it, and ate it.

“Me too! Me too!”

She handed another chocolate to the whining Gam Ji-yoon, then bowed slightly to me in silence.

Hmm. Hard to read. Her personality was as elusive as Cha Jae-kyun’s.

I awkwardly closed my mouth and turned to the TV. Lawmakers were announcing the launch of the Monster Response Special Committee.

– Lawmakers from the underground National Assembly have proclaimed the establishment of the Monster Response Special Committee. Initially hiding due to suspicions of a North Korean invasion, they have emerged after determining that the threat is not an intelligent entity.

– …Thus, we announce the creation of the Monster Response Special Committee, tasked with addressing concepts we’ve never encountered before: Gates, superpowers, and monsters.

– Some argue that the 12-member National Assembly is abusing its extrajudicial authority. However, the committee has pledged to work toward rapid societal stabilization. This is KBS News 9.

The committee was established. Of course, they wouldn’t suddenly rush into law reform or anything radical.

It would likely proceed with subtle media play, making gradual changes in line with public opinion. These weren’t stupid people; they’d handle it with finesse.

But that wasn’t my main concern right now.

The real question was how to get closer to Pi Chae-won.

I was 27 years old. How was I supposed to approach a 17-year-old girl without coming off as a weirdo? Was there a way to naturally earn her respect as a reliable guardian?

How could I get her to share what she knew?

Lavishing her with gifts didn’t seem effective. Besides, I was broke.

For now, all I could offer was basic support like food and shelter, but meaningful communication still seemed unlikely.

Ah, right.

“Is your back feeling better now?”

Pi Chae-won had taken a fire attack in my stead. Even a self-serving person like me had to show gratitude.

“…Yes. Ji-yoon’s mother helped me…”

“That’s a relief. Thank you for what you did back then. I should repay you properly—maybe treat you to a meal in Busan…”

The roads connecting Gangbuk to the southern provinces were under strict military control. With millions wanting to head south, traffic was chaotic.

‘Tap, tap.’ Lost in thought, I snapped back as Pi Chae-won tugged on my sleeve.

“What is it?”

“Um, over there…”

– B-b-breaking news!

The announcer fumbled her words. Seriously?

An anchor should stay composed—

– A nuclear bomb has detonated on Mount Baekdu!