Chapter 13

The Wizard in the Poncho Raincoat (1)

Honestly, even after martial law mobilization was declared, it didn't really feel real to me.

To begin with, the government had brushed everything off as merely the Seoul riots and never revealed the details. The only thing I knew was that monsters called Amalgams were running rampant.

The fate that had befallen Han Myeongun, with his gentle and easygoing appearance, still sent chills down my spine. But how should I put it? My encounter with the monster known as an Amalgam had been so intense and so brief that it felt more like a scene from a horror movie lodged in my memory.

After about four days had passed, a hazy feeling began to seep into my memories, making me wonder if it had all just been a nightmare.

Ironically, in a situation like this, it wasn't the hordes of monsters that impressed the severity of the situation upon me.

It was the people.

As soon as we got off the two-and-a-half-ton truck at Suwon Station, what greeted us were soldiers running frantically around the ground-level platforms.

Some of them were signal corpsmen, wiping cold sweat from their brows as they set down their radios and checked their batteries.

Following Lieutenant Shin Hangi, we overheard some of their radio traffic.

"Hwaseong One, this is Paldal Two. Conducting communications check. One, two, three, four, five. Confirm signal strength and respond."

[... This is Hwaseong One. Signal strength five. Paldal Two, report situation.]

"Fog near Paldal Two reducing visibility to under 300 meters. Shall we conduct signal checks with the other stations as well?"

[Received. Complete signal checks and verify fog visibility, then report again. Maintain radio network at all times. Over.]

Watching soldiers bustle about through the damp fog that had somehow settled over everything finally made the reality of it sink in.

Only then did I realize it.

Seeing them unload ammunition crates from military trucks and haul them away with strained grunts.

Seeing fuel drums being loaded onto armored vehicles.

Seeing soldiers adjust crooked helmets and inspect magazines loaded with live ammunition using slightly trembling hands.

Ah.

We're in the middle of a disaster.

As only footsteps and faint breathing echoed loudly through the air, Lieutenant Shin Hangi led us toward a pile of ammunition crates.

But it wasn't just ammunition stacked there.

K2 rifles, M16s, grenades, gas masks, and even poncho raincoats were piled up together.

A sergeant managing the supplies glared irritably at Lieutenant Shin Hangi before sighing and adjusting his helmet.

"You'll have to use whatever firearms are left, even if they're in rough condition."

"What about NBC protective suits?"

"Nothing left. Everything went to the blockade line and the forward stations. The gas masks were distributed there first too. Just wear the ponchos."

"You heard him. At least put on the ponchos, operators."

And so I found myself wearing a poncho raincoat again—the very thing I'd never worn during my military service, preferring to get soaked in the rain instead.

Back then I either wore a coat-style rain jacket or simply used an umbrella.

The poncho they handed out here was the classic kind everyone imagined.

It reeked like it had been soaked by rain, never properly dried, and left to rot in some warehouse for years.

The smell was so stale it felt like it could pickle not only my combat uniform but my skin as well.

The moment that smell hit me, my shoulders felt unbearably heavy.

Those days when fatigue accumulated simply from breathing had suddenly come rushing back.

Staff Sergeant Lee Sejun and Corporal Park Sehyeok seemed to feel the same way.

"I didn't even wear a poncho during reserve training."

"... Can't we just use umbrellas?"

Only Shin Nain remained relatively serious, carefully putting on the poncho while inspecting his weapon and checking his magazines.

"Chamber inspection complete. No issues. Jesus, please guide us."

I found myself inspecting my rifle as well.

When I fumbled a little due to the structural differences between the M16 and K2, Shin Nain kindly approached and demonstrated the procedure, allowing me to manage it safely.

"Be careful not to pinch your fingers in the hinge."

"Mr. Shin Nain, you're an ace."

"I just try my best at everything."

To someone like me, who'd often been called useless except when doing manual labor in the army, Shin Nain looked like a complete superstar.

Looking at him now, even the fact that he'd spend nearly twenty minutes in the bathroom listening to hymns or church songs seemed perfectly fitting for the flawless ace known as Shin Nain.

***

Tap. Tap.

As we descended the stone platform stairs, I noticed soldiers inspecting blast doors.

"The command's assessment is that surface rail lines can probably be blocked through artillery strikes or similar means. But subway lines require extensive demolition preparations, so immediate closure would be difficult. Besides..."

Lieutenant Shin Hangi hesitated briefly.

"...They probably want to gather information from inside Seoul. And they can avoid criticism that the operation is inhumane."

Several soldiers saluted him as they passed.

He waved them off and continued speaking.

"The doctrinal magic possessed by Geulmun Bodhisattva is believed to be Spiritual Sight."

"Spiritual Sight?"

"She can visually distinguish the spiritual differences between ordinary humans and cephalomorphic fusion mimics... Amalgams."

At someone's casual question, Geulmun Bodhisattva crossed her arms, wearing an arrogant and dignified smile.

"Those stubborn monster bastards don't have souls shaped like humans. People don't say they can neither go to heaven, nor reincarnate, nor descend into hell for nothing. Even the grandmother I serve can't stand them."

"If that's true, shouldn't every shaman in the country be drafted?"

That was probably what all four of us Alteration-type mages were thinking.

Even Corporal Park Sehyeok, who usually spent his time grumbling, nodded ever so slightly in agreement.

Of course, the proud Republic of Korea Army was moving with unusual thoroughness this time.

"That's exactly why the military considers Geulmun Bodhisattva's case important. We've been respectfully requesting cooperation from shamans. Unfortunately, every shaman reputed to have genuine spiritual power has either run away or disappeared. Military police are currently searching for them."

So there really was such a thing as a shaman outrunning the army.

Apparently the truly capable shamans had already foreseen the military coming for them and vanished beforehand.

Honestly, they deserved their reputations.

"However, detecting Amalgams through Spiritual Sight provokes their aggression. To use Spiritual Sight, Geulmun Bodhisattva must look directly at them without lenses or filters. During that process, the Amalgams exhibit intense hostility toward her."

"How do you know that?"

"Six Republic of Korea soldiers died during negotiations with Geulmun Bodhisattva, when the military agreed to help her escape a restricted zone in exchange for cooperation."

Now I understood why Geulmun Bodhisattva was so prickly and irritable.

As a gifted shaman, she'd probably prefer to run away.

But she'd made a promise, and apparently she couldn't stand by while ordinary soldiers died around her.

She was far more upright than I'd expected.

"Now then, I'll explain the abilities of the Alteration-type mages as well. Since we're already in the field, there's no need to worry about information contamination anymore."

And so, at last, the abilities of our group of four Alteration-type mages were revealed.

Shin Nain possessed Alteration Magic—Ear Type.

Fitting for someone who constantly listened to hymns, he could randomly hear the inner voices of people. If he concentrated intensely, he could even hear a strange cracking sound that allowed him to distinguish truth from lies.

"Honesty is especially important in times like these."

Smiling, Shin Nain tapped his earphones.

Corporal Park Sehyeok also possessed Ear-Type Alteration Magic.

Instead of hearing voices, however, he could hear heartbeats.

He could identify the heart sounds of less experienced Amalgams that were still imperfect at mimicking human reactions. Recently, however, Amalgams had become far more skilled at impersonation, making the ability increasingly obsolete.

"Corporal Park Sehyeok will assist Geulmun Bodhisattva with screening operations."

"Why don't we just shoot them all dead... Fucking hell... they're all goddamn monsters anyway..."

Despite Lieutenant Shin Hangi's calm explanation, Park Sehyeok continued muttering.

Staff Sergeant Lee Sejun poked my shoulder and whispered:

"I looked into him. He was stationed under the Capital Defense Command. Near Geomdan, apparently. That unit has already collapsed, and headquarters is basically treating them as wiped out. I think he's one of the survivors."

"How do you know?"

"I told you I have connections at the blockade line. These days they just shoot everything on sight, but that guy probably got brought here because he can use magic."

Lee Sejun possessed Alteration Magic—Heart.

It was determined that even after sprinting at full speed for nearly thirty seconds or pumping himself full of adrenaline, he could continue operating without fatigue and perform dramatically for about ten minutes.

Among us, he possessed the greatest practical combat ability.

The doctrinal mages who hadn't known this before suddenly looked at him differently.

Father Jeong Yonghwan, who had awakened thermal detection, seemed especially interested.

And so everyone finally knew everyone else's magic...

Or so it seemed.

Lieutenant Shin Hangi suddenly looked around and frowned.

"Wait. Where's Hamza?"

"Huh?"

"Look at that. The army didn't keep me for long-term service, but now they're calling for me."

Lee Sejun still clearly held a grudge against the military.

Lastly came me.

Baek Jemin.

"Mr. Baek Jemin can see approximately ten seconds into the future through footprints."

"Oh? Wait. Where did he actually go?"

Only then did we realize that Hamza—the turban-wearing honorary Korean—was nowhere to be seen.

Lieutenant Shin Hangi sighed heavily, his irritation obvious even through the gas mask, and headed toward the subway platform.

"We don't have time for this. We'll find Mr. Hamza later."

Hearing that, a strange emotion stirred within me.

Resentment toward Hamza?

Hatred?

Anger?

Of course not.

My thought was much simpler.

I should've run away too.

***

The Line 1 subway station at Suwon Station was gripped by a strange tension.

Seventy-two soldiers had been deployed on the platform where trains arrived.

Every one of them wore either ponchos or gas masks and stood armed, hauling benches and obstacles toward the screen doors.

Metal objects were already being stacked across the tracks.

Everyone looked as though they were anxiously waiting for a train to come crashing through at any moment.

The officer commanding the scene was Captain Bae Seolgi.

He was the only one not wearing a gas mask, checking radio communications with a face drenched in sweat.

"Attention. Captain Bae Seolgi, sir. Lieutenant Shin Hangi reporting. I've brought the civilian operators specializing in localized infiltration-type alterations. Transferring operational authority."

"The civilian advisors? The ones who use magic?"

"Yes, sir."

"You can definitely tell those Amalgam monsters apart, right?"

Captain Bae didn't even turn around.

Still crouched beside the radio, he was busy checking cables alongside a signal corpsman.

But nobody could miss the firmness in his voice.

"If you can't tell them apart, people die. The seventy-two soldiers here—most were dragged here against their will. But they stayed instead of running away. If you get those bastards killed for nothing, you won't rest easy even after you die. Understand?"

"Yes, sir. Understood."

"Hoo... You're staying here too?"

"No, sir. I need to continue recruiting civilian operators. If things remain stable on the surface platforms, I plan to gather people who can read magical script."

"Fine. Go."

"Attention!"

As Lieutenant Shin Hangi departed, command authority over us mages passed to Captain Bae Seolgi.

After patting the signal corpsman's shoulder, Captain Bae stood up, put on his gas mask, and checked his watch.

"Current time: 3:21 PM. The first train that departed Yongsan Station has reportedly broken through the southern Seoul area. Operators, stay near the radios with me. Listen to updates from the front. Once the train stops, identify the refugees."

"No need to worry. You've already coordinated with the train operators, right?"

At Geulmun Bodhisattva's question, Captain Bae nodded tiredly.

"The military changed its policy and decided to screen people instead of eliminating them. The train crews agreed to cooperate. They'll stop on military orders."

"If people can be saved, then they should be saved. Everyone will gladly welcome the military's wise decision."

To save those who could still be saved—that, after all, was the right thing to do.

"It would be nice if that's how things turn out."

After that came the waiting.

A spectacular, nerve-wracking wait.

We could roughly guess the situation at the front through the radio traffic. The signalman checked communications every two or three minutes.

Whenever he listened through the crackling static, he would relay the information to Captain Bae Seolgi in a slightly hoarse voice.

"They've successfully blown up the Gyeongchun Line tracks. The eastern blockade line held them off, and they're fortifying a position at Gapyeong."

"What about the trains coming down toward Suwon?"

"No reports yet."

Tick. Tock.

The sound of the second hand on Captain Bae Seolgi's wristwatch had somehow become the entirety of this underground platform.

Then the signalman listened to another transmission before shouting in a voice tangled with joy, shock, and disgust.

"They've begun shelling the track junction near Hwaseo Station! The lead train has broken through!"

"Everyone, battle stations! Anyone who disembarks without authorization is to be shot on sight!"

Gulp.

Someone swallowed hard.

I could see the tension on the faces of Geulmun Bodhisattva and Corporal Park Sehyeok, who would play the most important roles in this screening operation.

The soldiers taping up the screen doors to prevent anyone from forcing them open and taking positions behind benches as cover with their rifles trained forward was enough to make my knees weak.

In that strange silence, the automated station announcement began to play.

["A train is arriving. Passengers are requested to stand behind the safety line..."]

The sound of metal echoed through the station.

Captain Bae Seolgi gestured rapidly toward the soldiers.

"Signalman, the moment they refuse inspection and try to break through, notify headquarters immediately. We need artillery ready."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"Operators, provide cover for the personnel conducting the screening."

At last, we mages also gripped our weapons and prepared to sort through the refugees.

Father Jeong Yonghwan and Pastor Park Yohan took the left side.

Monk Cheonghwi stood quietly behind them with his palms pressed together in prayer.

The four Alteration-type mages stood behind Park Sehyeok, rifles shouldered and breathing heavily.

Huff...

Huff...

Screeeech—

Whether because of the obstacles placed on the tracks or because of the military's grim warning, the train driver chose to stop.

The sound of breathing filtered through gas mask filters filled our ears.

The moment of fate had arrived.

Would it break through?

Or would it stop?

Faced with that crossroads, what choice would the first train make?

My hands were slick with sweat as I raised my rifle.

I fought the urge to inch my finger closer and closer to the trigger.

Fortunately, the train began slowing down.

As it gradually came to a halt and the appearance of the refugees became visible beyond the screen doors, I sensed both tension and pity spreading among the soldiers.

Geulmun Bodhisattva was already staring wide-eyed through the windows.

"I'm ready. Let them come out one car at a time."

"Fuck... if even one monster is mixed in, we're screwed..."

After confirming that Geulmun Bodhisattva and Corporal Park Sehyeok were prepared, Captain Bae contacted the train driver by phone.

"Tell them to disembark only through Car 4-3. Anyone refusing military orders will be shot immediately. They have been warned. Martial law has already been declared in Seoul, and it may soon be expanded throughout southern Gyeonggi Province. We ask for the cooperation of all citizens in maintaining order."

The declaration of mobilization without an actual war had left the citizens, government, and military equally uncertain.

Still, it seemed the passengers understood the severity of the warning.

A disturbance broke out inside the train before gradually settling down.

Instead, crowds began squeezing toward Car 4-3.

Watching this, Captain Bae contacted the driver again.

"Tell them not to bunch together. It makes them vulnerable to cephalomorphic fusion mimics. Headquarters has authorized us to kill everyone present if they fail to evacuate in an orderly manner."

[Y-Yes. I'll relay it...]

The refugees could be heard shouting and murmuring through the windows, but order gradually emerged.

Eventually, under the watchful aim of dozens of rifles, the evacuation began through an emergency opening of the screen doors.

A few people initially tried to rush out, but quickly retreated when soldiers leveled their weapons at them.

"Load live rounds."

With Captain Bae's cold declaration, the military prepared for slaughter.

Only after the sounds of magazines being inserted and bolts being racked filled the station did one section of the screen door finally slide open.

Car 4-3.

The refugees who disembarked in small groups looked like ordinary people.

The horrors they had endured had left their pupils unnaturally dilated, but they still trembled with the desperate desire to survive, clutching their families as they stepped onto the marble platform.

Geulmun Bodhisattva and Corporal Park Sehyeok stared at them as though trying to kill them with their eyes before finally letting out relieved sighs.

"These five are clear. Pass."

"Tch."

Unable even to thank anyone, the refugees shuffled away under the soldiers' harsh scrutiny.

Some collapsed onto the stairs, their legs giving out beneath them as they silently sobbed.

"Next five."

And the moment Captain Bae gave that dry command—

An urgent voice burst from the signalman's radio.

[Following train has broken through Hwaseo Station! Ignoring orders to slow down!]

[Derailment attempt failed... it's heading for Suwon Station!]

[Paldal Zero, Paldal Zero!]

"T-This is Paldal Zero."

[Fall back!]

Ding-ding-ding-ding—

The station announcement sounded once more.

Instinctively, I looked up at the electronic display board.

A train was racing toward the station at a terrifying speed.

["A train is arriving. Passengers are requested to..."]

At that moment, Captain Bae Seolgi gave the most urgent order of his life.

"Get down!"

The floor was shaking.

As the stone floor trembled, it felt as though my heart were vibrating with it.

A heavy hum coursed through my entire body.

And before I knew it, I was staring toward the tracks.

Then I saw it.

Fog.

Slowly creeping upward from below.

And then came the roar of a metallic beast shaking the entire tunnel, rushing toward the refugees beyond the screen doors who had yet to understand what was happening.

BOOM!

At first, it was simply a collision.

Though one powerful enough to rattle my eardrums and shake my brain.

But the sound quickly transformed into something horrific.

Sharper and thinner than fingernails scraping a chalkboard.

The sound of tearing metal mixed with the sounds of human bodies bursting apart, carrying a nauseating scent as it swept across the tracks.

For an instant, I saw people disappearing between crushed train cars like flashes in a dream.

Naturally, the screen doors were nowhere near strong enough to withstand such an impact.

The mangled train cars continued pushing into the platform, blue sparks exploding everywhere.

Without realizing it, I had thrown myself to the ground with my poncho pulled over my head.

I watched people around me get crushed beneath twisted train cars or hurled through the air.

Even that lasted only an instant.

The platform's stone tiles ground apart, throwing up massive clouds of concrete dust.

The filters of my gas mask clogged almost immediately, forcing me to gasp for breath.

Beyond the mask, the world became nothing but gray dust and fog.

Before long, I could no longer hear properly.

Kiiiiiiing—

A strange ringing filled my ears.

Metallic noises echoed endlessly in place of human voices.

Only faint gunshots could still be heard.

Bang! Bang-bang-bang!

A violent wave of dizziness struck me.

Something sticky trickled from my ear.

When I touched it and brought my hand close enough to see through the gas mask, I realized it was blood.

Fortunately, my hearing gradually returned.

But in exchange, I began seeing shadows twisting together beyond the dust clouds.

[... Retreat! Retreat!]

The static-filled radio transmission reached me just as I managed to stand.

Only one thought entered my mind.

Run.

I was about to turn toward the stairs when the sprinklers activated, drenching everything.

My eyes burned fiercely.

I stared through the fog.

And then the fog parted, revealing strange footprints.

Ten seconds into the future.

Waiting there was Father Jeong Yonghwan.

I sprinted without hesitation.

Fighting in this dust-choked hell would be suicide.

When I rushed toward the stairs, Father Jeong Yonghwan was already there, struggling to his feet while emitting a strange radiance.

"Mr. Baek Jemin, behind me!"

The moment I saw the light pouring from his arms, I understood.

Holy Communion.

Trusting in that magic, I ran up the stairs, moved behind him, and immediately aimed my rifle over his shoulder.

The sleeves of his cassock had been torn away.

From his exposed forearms, human faces were pouring out and spilling downward.

The sight was enough to make my skin crawl.

Yet Father Jeong Yonghwan crossed his arms and forced the faces back.

But ten seconds in the future, those faces would split open lengthwise and attempt to devour him.

However, the more they stretched, the less mass they would possess.

I fired toward the exact points where the fog would part.

The places where the faces would split apart and strike.

The locations I could clearly see even through the fog and dust.

Bang! Bang-bang!

The heavy recoil slammed into my shoulder.

Against those damned monsters, the damage was minimal.

Seeing ten seconds into the future and accounting for a ten-second delay before firing was insanely difficult.

But to the Amalgam, it must have been terrifying.

One side of its face was struck.

The creature unleashed a unified scream from its countless voices and fled into the fog.

WAAAAAAAHHHH—!!!

When all those vocal cords cried out as one, it sounded like a brass instrument.

Like a massive horn sustaining a deep note.

Its collective voice faded into the fog, carrying a miserable shriek as it disappeared.

"What about the others?"

"Over there! They're pouring in!"

I didn't need anyone to explain what "they" were.

Then the full aftermath of the collision began sweeping across the platform.

The flickering lights went dark.

Red emergency lights activated in their place.

Even those looked destined to disappear beneath the fog rising from below.

Feeling the heat radiating from my rifle barrel, I followed Father Jeong Yonghwan.

At that moment, the station alarm began blaring.

Yet somehow, both Father Jeong Yonghwan and I survived.

Even the acrid gun smoke vanished into the fog and gray dust clouds.

Father Jeong Yonghwan turned toward me and began scrambling up the stairs.

"Let's get somewhere without all this dust first!"

["Underground platform breached. Underground platform breached. Prepare full containment. All survivors are to proceed to the surface as quickly as possible..."]