NOVEL WEB Chapter 733
It was not unusual for there to be “special entities” in North Korean territories.
Of course, if people from other countries heard this, they would retort, “What kind of nonsense is this? We’re living on Earth, not hell. How can such things roam around freely?” But that was a common sense more applicable outside of Korea.
Well, that’s just how it is.
Just as cultures differ from country to country, common sense may vary as well, right?
It might even be something expected.
After all, the puppet group that illegally occupied that region… called itself North Korea from the get-go, and didn’t it already lack common sense?
Unlike other neighborhoods that used gunpowder and metals to create grenades, there were even absurd rumors of someone called “Supreme Leader” transforming pine cones into grenades. Not to mention the bizarre claims of crossing rivers using a technique as if they were floating on water, despite not being castaways or anything…
Moreover, North Koreans seriously believed in such things.
It was impossible unless North Korea operated under an entirely different set of common sense.
Perhaps because of that, the country bordering that “land governed by a different common sense”—a land not unlike another world—had to be aware of those peculiarities, even though they couldn’t rationally accept them. Otherwise, they might find themselves forced to comply with that strange logic.
However, it’s a universal truth that things close to black will turn black, and things close to red will change to red; sadly, the Republic of Korea also became slightly estranged from common sense due to the influence of those beings existing outside its standard.
Every day, missiles and nuclear provocations were part of life, and society kept moving along without batting an eye. It was as though questioning whether it was common sense to deploy troops along the border was a thing.
This might actually be an easily understandable phenomenon.
After all, hadn’t I mentioned earlier that the Republic of Korea was like an island nation?
In isolated environments—like an island—unique ecosystems and cultures thrived differently than in contiguous landmasses.
Considering that, it makes sense.
Thus, the Republic of Korea observing the land left in disarray by these “existences outside common sense” and having ghosts roam as a consequence of the Great Ritual of Magic isn’t strange at all, nor is it odd that memories of the old North Korean people have evolved into “evil ghosts” or “evil spirits” to actively reduce the overpopulation they found unbearably dense.
Nothing is weird about it.
But still…
“What on earth is that doing?”
Even those who had jammed the unbelievable notion of “many special entities existing in North Korea” into their heads would find this newly emerged “special entity” odd.
First and foremost, it appeared suddenly.
Usually, there are some signs before such entities manifest, right?
Like a sudden inexplicability in the magnetic field of a region, an increase in electromagnetic waves, detection by surveillance devices strewn all over North Korea, or perhaps those devices malfunctioning… some indication should be there.
Even if not that, other ghostly movements should get noticed.
If it were an entity forming a military shape, the other ghosts should be seen moving like they were being sucked into a black hole, and if it’s the kind that harms others, one should observe them fleeing to avoid that entity.
Yet, this suspected evil spirit just popped up without any of those signs.
As if someone deliberately placed it there.
Well… alright.
If we’re being generous, this could be plausible.
It might have sprung from a hard-to-observe area, let’s say the depths of a cave or underwater.
Places like deep caves or underground hideaways beyond their scan range, or thick bunkers covered in concrete and metal, would be unknown locations, not easily observable by them.
Such occurrences are not common, but they are not unattainable either.
Weren’t there numerous bunkers dug by the Supreme Leader of the puppet group?
However… to that extent, fine.
The problem lay with what that evil spirit was doing.
“Why is it cleaning up trash?”
It was like scooping up trash and tossing it into the sea!
What on earth was that supposed to be?
Even when maximally zoomed in and checked with all sorts of devices, it was trash—nothing more, nothing less. No special divine object, no unprocessed bombs or biological weapons, no living organisms either.
It was trash, plain and simple.
Sure, metal was included as a common trait, but…
Considering they were presumed to be items from households, it wouldn’t be too suspicious.
Old kitchen knives.
Worn-out pots.
Ladles.
Spoons.
Chopsticks, etc.
Wouldn’t these be things you could find anywhere?
“Of course, digging deeper, it’s odd that they’re all metal, though.”
Given North Korea’s extreme poverty, metal does raise suspicion…
Yet, it’s not like we’re in the midst of a historic crisis where every household wouldn’t have a scrap of metal, right?
Wasn’t there metal from every house, worn down to the last scrap and every tree cut to make oil during those times?
So, metal isn’t strange.
It shouldn’t be strange, but…
“Why is this nagging at me so much?”
Why indeed?
Why does that common feature of “metal” weigh so heavily on my mind?
This behavior of discarding trash, or tossing metal into the sea—why does it concern me so?
Thus, the commander of the unit that first discovered this “special entity” could only fret and reflect endlessly.
His instincts had bidding him to decipher that oddity.
If he failed to notice this peculiarity, his promotion might bear great problems, and his instincts were cautioning him fiercely!
‘This won’t do.’
That’s why the commander decided to employ the best method.
The best way.
The most excellent method.
“…A shaman. I’ll consult a shaman.”
Leveraging his connections.
—
The severing of ties doesn’t only signify loss.
It also implies that it has become a weakness in itself, contrary to the saying “knowledge is power.”
If knowledge is power, then ignorance equals weakness.
That ignorance, in itself, often turns into a vulnerability.
Thus, the Republic of Korea longed to somehow fill the void of the shattered magic, wishing for someone to appear who could bridge their deficiencies—much like those lacking specific nutrients yearn for food to replenish said nutrients… No, like a bodily part that has been lost craving to be restored.
And finally, their wish was fulfilled—a shaman appeared.
Not just any foreign shaman, but a native Korean shaman.
Park Jinseong.
Despite having grown up in a wealthy family, he chose to tread on a thorny path as a young man.
“Thank you for accepting my call, Shaman Park Jinseong.”
“Haha. Not at all. As a citizen of Korea, how could I easily turn down a request deemed a risk to national security?”
“Oh my, this is quite humbling indeed.”
Of course, many sought to forge ties with someone like Park Jinseong.
Even just being a shaman could provoke a desperate cling to make a connection; having direct ties to a conglomerate, being young and handsome, even making headlines to gain fame—his achievements at such a young age were astonishing, providing ample evidence of his worth.
Naturally, he would be popular.
And thus, the commander couldn’t help but feel overjoyed that Park Jinseong accepted his invitation to meet.
Forming even a slight relationship with someone he had only shared a mere glance with at a party felt like a heavenly golden rope dropping from the sky.
Given the value of Park Jinseong himself and considering the connections linked with him…
Maintaining a good relationship with Shaman Park Jinseong would greatly increase the chances of expanding their network!
“Alright. The reason I called Shaman Park Jinseong here is for this special entity.”
Could that be it?
Even though he had summoned him due to the sudden emergence of the evil spirit in the ex-North Korean region, the commander couldn’t help but focus more on other matters.
After all, it’s only human to gravitate more towards the shiny gold near him than a crisis that feels distant!
Therefore, the commander aimed to strengthen his bond with Shaman Park Jinseong, using the topic of the “special entity” as a foundation.
“Hmm. This is troubling.”
…Until the ominous words spilled from Shaman Park Jinseong’s lips.