Chapter 15: Army Recruitment

“So, what are you asking me to do…?”

“Will you lend your strength to the Pyongyang Reconstruction Government?”

Why on earth…?

A few hours earlier

“Welcome, Ms. Yakovlena El Fride.”

After a short drive, we arrived at the Pyongyang Reconstruction Government building. These guys weren’t lying.

Following their guidance, I entered an office bearing the grand name ‘Chairman’s Office’.

Slightly overweight, with sharp eyes, the man resembling a bulldog is the head of the Pyongyang Reconstruction Government, Chairman Kim Pyongjin.

“Welcome, I am Yakovlena El Fride. You can call me El Fride.”

“I, we, called for Ms. El Fride because we wish to seek your help.”

“Me, help you? Why should I? Besides, I don’t even know what you need help with.”

“The South Korean government constantly demands that we reclaim the entire former North Korean territory. But we lack the capacity to do so.”

“Most soldiers only escaped malnutrition a few years ago, morale is rock bottom, and the command structure is on the verge of collapse as most high-ranking officers are imprisoned.

Equipment is outdated, and the former People’s Army north of Pyongyang does not follow our control.”

“I heard that Ms. El Fride, as a soldier in the world you returned from, achieved heroic victories repeatedly through great military might and strategy. Of course, I’ve also seen you use magic myself.”

“So, what you want from me is…”

“Please help us reclaim the entire former North Korean territory. We will grant whatever you desire to the best of our ability. Be it money or honor.”

“Well… I don’t particularly need money. Could you give me a moment to think?”

Hmm, this is quite perplexing.

Honestly, it’s what I used to do, so it probably won’t be too burdensome.

What I desire…

Securing vested rights for elves, the superior race.

Currently, elves from all over the world are gathering in Pyongyang.

Because of the commonality of the World Tree for elves.

As far as I know, 5% or perhaps 10% of Pyongyang’s population is elven.

And reclaiming the entire former North Korean territory would require control over the military.

“Alright, but only if you agree to my demands.”

“Please state them.”

“First, establish an air defense network around the World Tree, ensuring no aircraft or missile can pass over it. Second, establish an autonomous elven region in Pyongyang, including the World Tree area.

And finally, hand over command authority over the entire military.”

“Establishing an air defense network around the World Tree is possible. We will gather the remaining air defense forces and deploy them.

The autonomous zone shall be established around the World Tree area, proportional to the population. As for the command authority over the entire military, we practically have no air force or navy right now anyway.

We’ll try to bypass this by establishing a new command headquarters at the highest level of the army and grant it to you.”

“However, controlling the subordinate commanders will be Ms. El Fride’s responsibility. Even I cannot control the hearts of men.”

“I’ll handle that myself, but I’ll do it my way.”

“Do as you please.”

Chairman Kim Pyongjin accepted all of Fride’s casually thrown demands. What was he thinking, promising to grant such requests?

Of course, he didn’t agree to the proposal because he was a pushover. The brain he’d used just to survive as a side branch of the Baekdu bloodline had circled the globe twenty times.

His mind was practically a high-performance calculator geared for survival.

“Establish an air defense network around the World Tree and…”

‘Insolent bich, wanting so much.’

Fride’s demands were outrageous. And Chairman Kim Pyongjin had no intention of properly granting them.

First, building the air defense network was something he couldn’t just do.

North Korea’s already weak air defenses were cut in half, no, reduced to a mere handful by the Republic of Korea government’s Pyongyang recapture operation.

It wasn’t much of a burden for him.

The autonomous zone could be eliminated later.

He figured the South Joseon folks would inevitably demand “liberal democracy” once the Pyongyang Reconstruction Government reclaimed the entire North Korean territory.

What is South Korean-style liberal democracy?

The South Korean-style liberal democracy he knew was a kind of mob rule pushed by population numbers.

How many elves could there possibly be in North Korean territory?

It was an autonomous zone destined to disappear automatically.

‘And there’s no chance that I, with the Baekdu bloodline, won’t be elected.’

He was right.

The North Korean people, brainwashed for decades, were highly likely to fall hook, line, and sinker for an election campaign flaunting Chairman Kim Pyongjin’s lineage if an election were held right now.

As for the command authority over the entire military…

‘No matter what, would the descendants of the heroic People’s Army listen to orders from some pointy-ear who came from who knows where?’

And the Pyongyang Reconstruction Government lacked proper laws and regulations. A bogus headquarters created by a flimsy administrative order could be eliminated with just his signature.

His survival calculator quickly finished its computations.

Chairman Kim Pyongjin was thrilled at the thought of reclaiming the entire territory with her magic and becoming the leader through “South Korean liberal democracy.”

Meanwhile, Fride, what was she thinking?

‘To think he agreed to all this. Of course, it’s doubtful he’ll actually follow through properly.’

‘Ah, if the commanders don’t obey control, maybe I should deal with them Albheim-style.’

For reference, the Albheim-style method involved causing an explosion within the body using magic, creating fireworks of blood.

…How ominous.

About a week later, at the ‘Pyongyang Defense Force All Commanders Meeting’ held in an auditorium.

As the term “All Commanders Meeting” suggests, it was a meeting where all commander-level officers of the Pyongyang Defense Force, meaning company commanders and above, gathered.

There, Fride was scheduled to hold her inauguration ceremony as the commander of the so-called ‘Territory Reclamation Command’.

Of course, it was a bogus command created by Chairman Kim Pyongjin’s rushed administrative order.

Fride, standing on the platform, speaks.

“As the commander of the Territory Reclamation Command, as the ultimate commander of the Pyongyang Defense Force, I will thoroughly eliminate all threats to order and stability, including enemies north of Pyongyang, subversive elements, and other rioters. Furthermore…”

Before Fride’s speech even finished, murmurs began.

This was because the attending commanders had not received prior notice, and also because an elf who appeared out of nowhere was saying, ‘I’m your superior from now on.’

The murmuring soon turned into disorder.

People shouting, people trying to leave their seats, people snickering.

And the few stars who survived the purge stared at her disapprovingly.

“It seems everyone has quite a few complaints.”

Fride slowly steps down from the platform.

She then asks anyone with complaints to raise their hand.

More than half raise their hands.

“This is based on Chairman Kim Pyongjin’s orders.”

Half of them lower their hands.

Fride points to a man standing closest among those with their hands raised.

He looked quite young, likely having just become a company commander.

Probably commissioned after the Pyongyang recapture operation.

“Yes, you. Shall we hear the reason you raised your hand?”

“I was commissioned to protect the citizens of Pyongyang, not to take orders from some bi*ch who crawled out from who knows where.”

His standard Pyongyang accent was impressive.

“Haha, is that so? Then are you refusing to obey a superior’s order? That’s insubordination, you know.”

“How can insubordination be established when I don’t recognize you as my superior?”

“There were always guys like this back in my homeland, Albheim. Do you know how they were punished?”

<innrįspřengiņ>

-Thump!

With that sound, the body of the man she pointed at literally ‘exploded’.

Magic effects lingering on her hand, she speaks.

“Next.”

A moment of silence, followed by horror.

“Aaaack!!”

“A person exploded, exploded and died!”

“Someone call a doctor, a doctor!!”

But the situation looked like it required an undertaker, not a doctor.

“Quiet!”

A booming voice echoes through the auditorium.

“I’ll ask again. Those with complaints, raise your hand.”

Naturally, no one could raise their hand. It wasn’t like being threatened with a knife; a person turned into minced meat with just a word.

“Good, I’ll assume no one has any complaints.”

Of course, many harbored ill feelings even if they couldn’t raise their hands. Unless they were fools, would they openly say, ‘I harbor ill feelings’?

Fride knew this too.

Therefore…

“I’m saying this just in case. Don’t even dream of carrying out any subversive plans.”

Saying so, she pulls a pistol from her pocket.

Then fires it into her other hand.

-Bang!

A hole is pierced, and blood splatters.

But within a few short seconds, the wound seals up, returning to a state as if nothing had happened.

It was a feat of strength possible only for her.

“Follow me, or die. What will you do?”

Her authority, enhanced by the magic feat show, felt to them

“”We will serve you!””

Quite similar to that of the Supreme Leader.

Ten minutes before the meeting started

I was busy preparing, chanting several incantations.

This one is rapid healing, this one prevents excessive bleeding, and this one prevents excessive shock…

Me, pre-casting three or four spells.

I’m making good use of the first aid magic I learned back when I was a Second Lieutenant.

[Child, why are you using so much mana for this?]

I explained my plan to the World Tree.

[Are you insane…]

Why not?

It feels like the World Tree is looking at me with pitying eyes.

[I told you before, live an ordinary life, didn’t I?]

Isn’t this ordinary enough?

Don’t look at me like that.

[Sigh…]

Hee.

Anyway, all preparations are complete. Shall we begin now?

Naturally, the resistance was fierce.

So I picked one guy and blew up his heart. The reaction was quite artistic.

Obvious, though.

Such coercive actions are bound to provoke resistance.

Need to nip it in the bud early.

Quickly wrap things up before the duration of the spells I cast earlier expires.

I exit amidst the booming response.

A perfect conclusion, by anyone’s standards.

Using magic for this kind of strength show?

Not just anyone can do it. It’s only possible for an elf like me.

Pathetic?

Shut up.