Chapter 102 – Yeongdo (1)

Though called the Nakdong Front Line because they used the Nakdong River as a defensive line like during the Korean War, the defense line’s area was much smaller than back then.

This was partly because there were fewer survivors, and partly because the government had already fled to Jeju Island.

While the west used the Nakdong River as a defense line like in the past, the northern defense line had moved much further south than the historical one.

Since the enemy wasn’t human, the Korean army had set up defensive lines using the rugged mountains of the Taebaek Mountain Range.

Thanks to this, our truck could quickly reach Busan after passing through the ruins of Gimhae City and Gimhae Airport.

Along both sides of the road to Busan were abandoned self-propelled artillery and cannons.

Though heat could still be felt from the gun barrels from recent firing, there were no signs of people around the self-propelled and howitzer artillery lining the road.

Everyone had withdrawn.

“Seems other reconnaissance teams also reported the front line was breached. They escaped just in time.”

Though the artillery soldiers had abandoned their weapons and fled first, the other soldiers were rather relieved.

Well, once the front line was breached, staying behind to keep firing would only lead to pointless death, so their actions were understandable.

After passing these abandoned guns and crossing the lower Nakdong River flowing beside Busan, we entered Busan city.

There was a checkpoint made of sandbags at the end of the bridge entering Busan, but no one was visible at the checkpoint.

I frowned looking at the checkpoint and bridge we’d crossed.

“They should cut the bridge… Don’t tell me they’ve withdrawn from here too.”

“The river’s too narrow – cutting it would be useless. Those things would just walk across the riverbed. Plus, we don’t have enough troops to set up a defense line here.”

The Korean army officer who had come to trust my background somewhat explained the situation after hearing my words.

Though it was more of an excuse that couldn’t explain the empty checkpoint, I nodded at his explanation.

After all, I had no reason to question him, and unlike what he said, everyone knew there were problems in Busan.

After passing the empty checkpoint and entering Busan, I could understand why the officer had said those things.

Busan had already become an anarchic zone with no law enforcement.

All low-rise buildings had broken windows, and every store had been looted and destroyed.

Still, it hadn’t turned into ruins like Gimhae City.

Though few in number, motorcycles and cars still moved on the streets, and people with backpacks walked along the sides.

However, whether riding motorcycles, driving cars, or walking in groups, everyone carried weapons.

From simple pipes to kitchen knives and handmade spears, even illegal guns were visible.

Glimpses down alleys showed people stabbing others with spears to steal their belongings, while in other alleys loosely dressed women negotiated with men.

“Looks like the back alleys of the city.”

Though the civilization level was different, as Hoffman said, this city resembled the back alleys and slums of that world where law enforcement couldn’t reach.

The difference from there was the presence of undead on the streets.

*Bang!*

A zombie crawling along the roadside without legs stopped moving after being hit by Zahina’s gun.

People walking on the street looked at the truck where the gunshot came from with surprised faces.

Even the soldiers in the truck stared blankly at Zahina who had fired.

The officer pointed at Zahina’s gun with a surprised expression.

“That’s amazing. Taking down a zombie with one shot. Even with fist-sized holes in their heads they keep moving. That’s why we just cut off their legs and left them.”

Fortunately, the officer, the platoon leader, wasn’t just mesmerized by Zahina’s beauty.

“The city is worse than expected.”

When I clicked my tongue, the officer made excuses again.

“It wasn’t this bad… We had no choice. Not many survivors remained, and what military we had left needed to stop the zombie hordes. Communication was difficult without landlines, and in the end, we didn’t have enough people to maintain order across all of Busan.”

It was a decent excuse, but unfortunately for him, he had a subordinate who challenged his excuses.

As soon as the platoon leader finished speaking, a sergeant grumbled.

“Why make excuses? The government abandoned law enforcement anyway. After the high-ups fled to Jeju Island, Busan was just a base to protect the port and industrial facilities.”

A soldier next to the sergeant nodded and continued.

“That’s right. Only Yeongdo maintains order now. That’s why people made survivor bases to survive on their own. That’s how the Haeundae base and New Port base formed.”

“You guys. Save the complaints for when we’re alone. Why trip me up when I’m trying to work for once?”

At the platoon leader’s words, the sergeant glanced at Zahina.

“You’re acting unlike yourself trying to look good, so we can’t help but point it out. If you acted normally, we wouldn’t say anything.”

Thanks to the banter between the officer and sergeant, the darkened mood lightened somewhat.

The truck passed through the crime-ridden downtown, heading toward Yeongdo at Busan’s southeastern tip.

A large island at the end of Busan that was called Yeongdo-gu in my previous life.

We stopped in front of Yeongdo Bridge connecting the island to the mainland.

In front of Yeongdo Bridge was the first traffic chaos I’d seen in this world.

Dozens, hundreds of vehicles were lined up at the checkpoint in front of Yeongdo Bridge.

Military vehicles, passenger cars, even buses – countless vehicles trying to cross the bridge, and beside them huge crowds of people carrying luggage had gathered.

All were people trying to enter Yeongdo.

Though it looked like a riot could break out, in reality everyone watched the checkpoint with frightened faces.

For good reason, as soldiers with guns and armored vehicles with mounted machine guns were lined up at the checkpoint and bridge.

The soldiers’ guns and armored vehicles’ heavy machine guns were all aimed at the people.

They looked ready to shoot at the slightest disturbance.

After parking the truck behind the gathered vehicles, the officer stood and asked me:

“We plan to head to Yeongdo like this. Would it be alright if you came along?”

He was asking if it was okay to report us to his superiors.

Having come together, it was natural for him as a soldier to report, but he asked me first.

Charitably, he was being considerate of us; less charitably, discipline had broken down.

Either way, this wasn’t my decision to make.

I turned to look at the State Department employee.

When I looked at him, David spoke.

“I just contacted the company- no, headquarters back home.”

“You contacted America? Communication still works?”

All the Korean soldiers widened their eyes at David’s words.

“Thanks to a satellite phone using special frequencies.”

David showed us a large phone.

After the zombie outbreak, wireless communication naturally all stopped.

With power down and relays all stopped, mobile phones couldn’t possibly work.

Landline phones could still be used then, but not many homes had them.

Soon after, when telephone exchange workers evacuated, landlines became unusable too.

Moreover, amateur radio, radio broadcasts, and satellite communications became unusable not long after.

This was because chi and mana spreading everywhere interfered with radio waves.

While U.S. forces could see us through satellite cameras without issue, I thought separate communication with America would be impossible.

Yet they found radio waves that could penetrate mana and chi to succeed in communication.

Indeed, America and science shouldn’t be underestimated.

“Unfortunately, they can’t send helicopters because of what caused our helicopter to crash.”

Both I and the U.S. forces nodded at David’s words.

We hadn’t thought there would still be undead who could control the pigeons after Rich died.

Rich wasn’t the only one, and we should have considered there could be other liches.

Well, to command the undead remaining at the Nakdong front line, there had to be a lich or other demon lord’s subordinate who could control undead forces, even if not as strong as the lich I defeated.

Though the undead controlling the pigeon flocks probably wasn’t as strong as the lich I defeated, it would be difficult to find them through the pouring undead now.

Unlike the defeated lich, we didn’t know what kind of undead it was or how it controlled them.

No, it didn’t care about control or anything, just pouring undead into Busan.

Finding it in this situation would be difficult even for me who defeated the lich.

“Fortunately, a fleet is near Japan so they can send ships to Busan separately. However, it will take over 24 hours to reach Busan.”

A fleet – surely they don’t mean an aircraft carrier fleet?

More importantly, 24 hours until ships arrive…

We could return to Daejeon by ourselves, taking a roundabout route while leaving the U.S. forces here.

Of course, it would be incredibly difficult with such a long and rough journey.

Still, there was no reason to abandon the U.S. forces we came with and endure such hardship.

“We’ll go together. We need to talk with the Korean military anyway.”

If the Korean government had collapsed, we wouldn’t need to worry, but if the government remained on Jeju Island, the expeditionary force that came to Korea would need to deal with them.

Of course, there was no reason for that person to be me, but since I was the only one here now, I had to step up.

After hearing me, the Korean officer headed to the checkpoint, and I asked David:

“You can contact Daejeon too? Could you contact our side?”

Two U.S. soldiers with satellite phones like David’s had remained in Daejeon.

With mages capable of interpretation in the expeditionary force, communication was certainly possible.

As expected, I could talk to the commander through the U.S. forces.

After hearing the situation from me, the commander gave orders exactly as I expected.

[This country’s government still exists? Good. Your party can meet them. Add this to the reconnaissance mission. Confirm the Korean government and check on U.S. forces too.]

The Nakdong reconnaissance seemed just an excuse.

Rather, our party seemed like bait the expeditionary force was sending to the U.S. forces.

[In exchange, I’ll give proper leave when reconnaissance is complete. I have high expectations for you and your party.]

He threw me the big bait of immediate leave.

With that, I couldn’t refuse.

As I sighed at the commander’s words, the Korean officer returned to the truck with another officer.

“U.S. forces… elves, knights. It wasn’t a lie.”

The officer who came together looked at the U.S. forces, me, and Zahina, then waved toward the checkpoint.

“Let them through first!”

At his words, soldiers rushed out to push aside cars, and our truck passed through the checkpoint first, past surprised people.

After passing the checkpoint, we immediately crossed Yeongdo Bridge’s famous drawbridge.

Soon after, as we nearly finished crossing the bridge after the drawbridge…

*Boom! Bang! Bang!*

We saw bridges collapsing in the distance with tremendous explosions.

All were bridges connecting Yeongdo to the mainland.

At the same time, the Yeongdo Bridge drawbridge we had just crossed began rising.

Surprised people screamed, and even the checkpoint soldiers watched the rising drawbridge with shocked eyes.

Cars rushing onto the bridge after breaking through the checkpoint fell into the sea, and crowds of people fell in too.

The soldiers guarding the checkpoint fell into the sea with the rushing people.

We saw the officer who let us pass fall under the drawbridge.

It was a hellish scene, but having already crossed the bridge, there was nothing we could do.

Thus, with us as the last, Busan’s Yeongdo district, which hadn’t seemed like an island, was cut off from the mainland.