A Gate Opened On My First Day As A Politician - Chapter 35: North Wind (6)

While walking on the line. I must do what needs to be done.

What exactly is it that needs to be done?

—

The Northern Gyeongbuk Penitentiary, commonly known as Cheongsong Prison, is home to South Korea’s worst criminals. Death row inmates are confined in detention centers, leaving the penitentiary almost exclusively populated by life-sentence convicts.

In that context, the list of test subjects handed to me by Cha Jae-kyun was essentially a list of human trash—serial killers, parricides, and child rapists.

“It took quite some time to sort through them, if I recall correctly. Of course, I wasn’t the one who did it.”

I silently stared at Cha Jae-kyun for a long while. He counted lives with clinical detachment.

“According to the internal investigation, 514 violent criminals were used as test subjects, and aside from 14 escapees, all were executed.”

A slightly brisk tone.
A detached expression.
A polite manner of speaking.
And a faint, businesslike smile.

“Seventeen civilian casualties.”

This was the Cha Jae-kyun I had always known.

“During the process of replenishing test subjects, six civilians forcibly conscripted were all executed. Additionally, 11 civilians infected by magical factors during the suppression of the escapees were killed just before they could transform into monsters.”

“…Transform into monsters?”

“One of the mutant Awakeners exhibited infectious properties. From what I’ve heard, it spread spores that turned nearby individuals into monsters. The individual in question was terminated.”

He spoke of horrifying events, yet there wasn’t a hint of change in his demeanor.

“The person overseeing this experiment was Director Jeong Joon-seok of the National Intelligence Service’s Counterterrorism Security Bureau. He was executed for forcibly conscripting civilians under the pretense of confidentiality.”

This was simply who Cha Jae-kyun was—someone I didn’t truly know.

Neither anger nor disappointment seemed appropriate.

This was simply who he had always been.

And yet…

“Do I look like a villain to you?”

I had only judged him according to my assumptions. I didn’t know Cha Jae-kyun.

“Six civilians died during the recruitment of criminals, leading to the death of Director Jeong Joon-seok. Furthermore, 42 individuals, including researchers and civilians, died in the riots during the disposal of the test subjects, prompting the declaration of martial law. Tonight, Director Kim Do-hwan of the National Intelligence Service will commit suicide. Officially, at least.”

I looked at him with an indiscernible expression. Cha Jae-kyun continued.

“The vacant position of the National Intelligence Service Director will be filled by a candidate recommended by Acting Director Won Ok-bun. This will conclude the incident, though I suppose the NIS will now have to be shared with her.”

Cha Jae-kyun asked nonchalantly.

“Does it look like I’m cutting off loose ends?”

“Isn’t it?”

“Believe it or not, I knew nothing about this. At least not until the emergency report yesterday evening at 8 PM.”

Politics is hardest in moments like these—when you can’t tell the truth from the lies.

Cha Jae-kyun casually picked up some documents, tilting his glasses as he reviewed them.

“One: Conduct human experimentation on South Korea’s worst criminals.
Two: Now that the experiment has succeeded, dispose of the criminals.”

“…”

“Those were the only two orders I gave. I couldn’t focus solely on this. Besides, the field operatives wouldn’t report their mistakes to me to cover up their own faults.”

“…”

“I’m not trying to avoid responsibility. If you must resent someone, feel free to blame me. I also issued the order to terminate the civilians who had turned into monsters to cover up the evidence. I’ve already paid a hefty price in the political arena and will continue to do so.”

“…”

“You don’t seem convinced. As I’ve said many times, I’m not someone with the luxury to micromanage the field.”

Cha Jae-kyun spoke calmly, as if recounting his daily tasks.

No—he genuinely recounted them as if they were part of his routine.

“The flying monsters disrupted existing rescue plans. And there are monsters immune to firearms, which has been a persistent headache.”

“…”

“Do you know what’s fascinating? A monster that withstood the bombardment of five self-propelled guns melted when sprayed with water from a firetruck. That’s why field commanders are dying. This isn’t conventional warfare.”

“…”

“Sometimes, a 32-meter-tall giant monster appears. Other times, swarms of 2-centimeter-long killer bugs overwhelm refugees. Flying monsters suicide-bomb helicopters, and sea monsters emerge off the coast of Busan.”

“No matter how many we kill, they don’t decrease in number. Even if we push the frontlines to the gate, there’s no way to close it, so the war of attrition has no end.”

Cha Jae-kyun raised two fingers.

“Ammo and fuel.”

And he delivered a chilling prediction.

“The moment we run out of either, South Korea will fall.”

“…”

“We need sustainable combat. A way to fight that can last. You, Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon, already understand this, don’t you?”

I responded flatly.

“…Hunters.”

“Precisely. We need to deploy as many Hunters as possible to the battlefield. Ultimately, the goal is to have Hunters handle the monsters alone.”

“So, that’s why you resorted to human experimentation? To increase the number of Hunters?”

Cha Jae-kyun gave me a cold, expressionless look.

“Sex offenders, serial killers, parricides—they weren’t exactly difficult pieces of flesh to cut away. Although unfortunate incidents occurred among the operatives, it’s something I must bear. Personally.”

“…Are you pretending to be a hypocrite?”

“As I said earlier, no one is more patriotic than I am. I am the only power-holder capable of objectively devising efficient measures without being swayed by power or prestige. From my perspective, this is the only way South Korea can survive.”

I pressed him further.

“Not the way to kill more monsters?”

He replied without hesitation.

“Is there a difference?”

“No.”

“As expected, you’re perceptive.”

Cha Jae-kyun shifted his gaze back to the documents and continued speaking without looking at me.

“To achieve strategic objectives, we killed 514 heinous criminals. In the process, 48 innocent lives were lost. Consequently, two people took responsibility for those deaths and were executed.”

He gestured casually with the hand holding a fountain pen, as if to say, “What more is needed?”

“Five hundred and sixty-four deaths.”

“…”

“Do I have anything else to explain?”

There wasn’t, and I didn’t want to hear it.

—

In a nation destined for destruction, there exists only one answer.

To find that answer, the rotten flesh was cut away. Some healthy blood spilled as well—precisely 48 lives’ worth.

Standing at a crossroads.

Walking on the red Han River or pushing through the tunnels of the Shinbundang Line.

I stood there, endlessly torn, and attempted to run away, unable to face that path.

“…For now, I suppose I must do what needs to be done. Let’s start by addressing this situation.”

“Acting Director Won Ok-bun has already resolved it.”

But there was nowhere to retreat.

“This situation will be officially declared a terrorist act by North Korea.”

“…Will North Korea accept that?”

Even if we protected them from the monsters through airstrikes, there was always a line in politics.

Usually, people stayed within that line.

“The new North Korean regime will accept it.”

Sometimes, they crossed it.

“There seems to be internal unrest in North Korea. Forced conscription, abandoning defense lines, nuclear strikes on civilian safe zones, fallout damage, and so on.”

Cha Jae-kyun spoke indifferently, holding a pen in one hand and a cup of barley tea in the other.

“In truth, the chaos in their country likely sparked thoughts of power. Minister of People’s Armed Forces Ri Yong-su has given us the coordinates of the bunker where the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission is hiding.”

“…”

“The bombers heading to attack the North Korean monsters will also be carrying bunker busters.”

Cha Jae-kyun offered no further explanation, but I could easily predict what would happen next.

Our government, enraged by North Korea’s alleged terrorism, would eliminate the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, bolstering national prestige.

The Minister of People’s Armed Forces would, in turn, feign outrage over South Korea’s assassination while filling the power vacuum.

Both nations would propagate hostile narratives about each other, stabilizing their respective political landscapes amidst the chaos.

Cha Jae-kyun had bought South Korea more time with the blood price of hundreds of criminals and dozens of innocents. The rest would benefit from their political gains.

“…”

There was nothing for me to do.

As I remained silent, my expression blank, Cha Jae-kyun’s even voice broke the stillness.

“I have no intention of antagonizing you, Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon.”

“…”

“We can maintain a very constructive symbiotic relationship. In fact, we already are. Most importantly, you hold what I desire most.”

He was referring to the Awakeners.

“I have no intention of taking it from you. Nor could I, even if I wanted to.”

The golden badge on my chest felt like an unyielding shield. After all, the Eleven-Member Parliament, led by Yang Pan-seok, was protecting me.

“I’ll give you a piece of the cake.”

“…”

“I’d like you to declare in your press conference that this was an act of terrorism by North Korea.”

As always, he smiled politely, yet coldly.

“You enjoy politics, don’t you?”

He was inviting me to become an accomplice.

—

Cha Jae-kyun seized all the evidence held by both Gam Chul and me.

Even the recording device disguised as a tie clip.

Gam Chul had never intended to reveal this information. Chun Hwa-ran and Gam Ji-yoon were residing in a research facility near the Martial Law Command headquarters, leaving him with no choice.

In the end, he tried to use me to expose the truth, but… here we were.

Hong Seon-ah had been detained. If she harbored anger over the death of her friend who had defended Apgujeong, then Cha Jae-kyun, who had allowed the rescue to fail, was also a murderer in her eyes.

And so, the day of the press conference arrived.

I rode in a vehicle provided by the military, carrying a script written by a civil servant, escorted by soldiers to the venue.

It felt as though strings were tied to my hands and feet. Was this how a marionette felt?

I got out of the car, desperately repeating Yeo Do-yeon’s name in my mind.

The flashes of countless cameras poured down on me. By now, I was almost used to it.

The distant podium came into view.

I walked along the red carpet,

No.

This wasn’t an awards ceremony, so why was I imagining a red carpet? I glanced down in confusion.

There was no carpet.

Just my imagination.

I was standing on the red Han River.

Blood swirled around my ankles.

Step by step, I moved forward.

Red hands reached out to grab my ankles. I shook them off and kept walking.

Journalists bombarded me with questions.

Questions about death. Why people died, how many died, who died, how they died, and how to prevent more deaths.

All their questions followed the same grim theme. Black pupils gleamed from the camera lenses, and yellow tears seemed to flow from them.

Leaning on my cane, I limped toward the podium.

Yang Pan-seok whispered in my ear to endure it. This was the burden of being a politician.

Wading through the red Han River,

I finally,

Reached the bloodstained podium.

I looked around at the audience for a long moment.

Grasped the microphone.

“…Good evening, citizens of Korea. This is Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon.”

I began, my voice heavy with grief.

“First, I offer my condolences to the 11 victims who lost their lives in this attack.”

A brief moment of silence. By now, I was accustomed to feigning teary eyes.

“This incident…”

I clenched my eyes shut.

“The monsterization incident…”

And thought about countless things.

“This is…”

All the strings entangling me in this web.

The safety nets I had arranged and the psyches I couldn’t fathom.

As always, my judgment was swift.

“…A terrorist act by North Korea,”

The dice of politics had been cast.

“I have come here to incite the public to believe this is a terrorist attack by North Korea.”