Chapter 18: Zero Civilian Casualities

-Kugugugu

-Kririririk

-Thump thump thump

The army I lead enters the Gaechon city center, making the same roar as when it arrived.

Large loudspeakers continuously broadcast messages.

-“Citizens of Gaechon, please rest assured. Citizens of Gaechon, please rest assured. Major city facilities are being protected by the Defense Force…”

–“Attention citizens of Gaechon. The Defense Force has just conducted an operation to suppress the People’s Army within Gaechon city. Regardless of identity or mission, it is dangerous, so please do not come outside.”

–“Citizens, do not be alarmed. Citizens, do not come out onto the streets. Citizens, do not open your doors. Citizens, do not hide People’s Army soldiers. Citizens, please cooperate with the military operation.”

-“To the remnants of the People’s Army. Throw down your guns and surrender. It is not too late. Throw down your guns and surrender.”

Fortunately, the epicenter of the explosion was some distance from the city center.

In an ordinary city, there wouldn’t have been much damage.

If it were an ordinary city, that is.

Nearly half of the shoddy concrete buildings, hastily built through speed battles, collapsed. Wooden buildings are already gone without a trace.

The Workers’ Party of Korea Gaechon City Committee building, a building that serves a role similar to our city hall.
Meaning we need to capture that place.

I had commandeered a tank commander’s seat and was riding in it.

Even in Albheim, I occasionally rode tanks directly into battle. Well, the war ended shortly after tanks appeared, though.

Anyway, we are dividing our forces and occupying major city facilities.

Broadcasting station, newspaper office, police station, and the government building I’m heading towards.

“Commander Comrade! It’s dangerous to stand up there!”

Me? You must be joking…

The short-lived species worrying about me is just cute.

-Ratatat!

“Ambush!”

“Fire!”

Enemies ambushing near the government building and in the hospital right next to it begin firing.

I can’t just blow up the government building… Tsk.

Decided to blow up the hospital first.

Will this cause problems…?

It’s the fault of those guys ambushing in the hospital. Yes, absolutely.

Through a short incantation, I blew up the hospital.

Of course, since allies were nearby, I couldn’t actually blow it up completely, merely making a mess inside.

“There might be survivors inside! Enter and wipe them all out!”

About 10 soldiers quickly move into the hospital building.

“Commander Comrade! There are no survivors inside the hospital! However…”

“However what?”

“There are several corpses that appear to be patients.”

“Did you bring what I told you to bring?”

“Yes! We will take action immediately!”

What I had them prepare before deployment were several spare uniforms and firearms remaining as reserve supplies.

Strip off the patient gowns, change them into uniforms, and place guns next to the corpses…

Zero civilian casualties!

Cases involving patients are particularly sensitive. `So I need to take measures to ensure no problems arise.

Now, I need to deal with the government building side.

Since we even gave advance notice of our arrival, the enemy wasn’t completely unprepared either.

“The heroic Korean People’s Army does not surrender!!”

-Boom!

The tank fires.

The flimsy defensive positions they built collapse.

The machine guns they brought fall silent.

“Did we get them?”

Hey you…

“Which bastard was that?”

No sooner were the words spoken than an RPG rocket flew and hit an allied tank.

Sigh…

I’ll have to rely on you, World Tree.

[Child, please…]

-<Logi eins og reiði!>
(Flames like wrath!)

The entire enemy position is engulfed in flames.

The enemy soldier who just fired the rocket is cooked whole.

Mmm, the smell of burning protein.

Thus, we blew off the main gate of the government building and entered inside.

After dealing with the few remaining remnants inside, we reached the front of the Responsible Secretary’s office, which is like our mayor’s office.

–Bang!

Kicking the door open.

“Surrender, we surrender.”

“Tie him up.”

Fortunately, the Responsible Secretary surrendered without much resistance. Perhaps he thought he’d be spared if he surrendered.

Not a chance.

The Responsible Secretary and key party and military cadres dragged out like dogs.

“Augh… W-Wait, what are you doing?”

“Treat us as prisoners of war according to the Geneva Convention!”

“Geneva Convention? Don’t make me laugh. I don’t know anything like that.”

I need to set an example.

For the regions that still refuse incorporation into Pyongyang, and for those who have ostensibly joined but harbor other intentions.

‘Fruit’ grew on the lampposts in front of the government building.

Hanging heavily.

Now that the People’s Army remnants within the city center are mostly dealt with, what’s left to do?

Declare victory.

Using broadcasts and our troops, I gathered all the citizens (survivors) in the city center into the square.

Then I climbed onto a tank.

“Today! Gaechon has achieved complete liberation from the reactionary conservative forces of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the military gangsters of the Korean People’s Army who exploit the people.

Our heroic Pyongyang Defense Force refused to stand by and watch the people’s exploitation by the reactionary conservative forces and took action.

As a result! As shown by the heads of the reactionary conservative forces and military gangster group hanging from the lampposts, the iron hammer of justice has crushed those bastards, and I firmly promise that what remains now is for the people to enjoy freedom and peace.

As the Supreme Commander of the Territory Reclamation Command, I will inflict thorough fire and fury as retribution upon anyone who rejects the leadership of the Pyongyang Reconstruction Government, the sole legitimate government on the northern Korean Peninsula.

As the people here have witnessed, my military power is equivalent to that of nuclear force. Furthermore, I declare here and now.

That I will absolutely not hesitate to use such force against our enemies as I did just now. Our enemies will die without even leaving corpses behind. Painfully regretting having antagonized us.

Those who do not follow me! Their end will ultimately be death!”

The soldiers shout.

“”Let us uphold with arms! Our Supreme Commander!””

***

Most of the deployed troops returned. Leaving behind the minimum force necessary for maintaining public order.

I remained in Gaechon for a while. Because I had work to do.

Pyongyang sent bureaucrats to manage Gaechon City. Because someone had to run the city.

“…Thus, allied casualties are 20 dead, 83 wounded. Enemy casualties are 770 dead, 86 wounded. Additionally, 30 surrendered. Most enemy dead were troops stationed at the garrison, killed by the Commander Comrade’s magic.”

“Civilian casualties?”

“Civilian casualties… a total of 440 civilians died directly or indirectly due to the magic, such as being caught in the explosion or collapsed buildings. 60 were injured and are mostly receiving treatment. Casualties due to friendly fire, etc., are 10 dead, 23 injured.”

“I see.”

I drew lines through the civilian death toll number on the report with a pen.

Then wrote down 0.

“Process them as having left the city before the battle. Missing.”

“It will be done.”

“The bodies?”

“All cremated, and the remains buried in the ground.”

“Well done. Will the harvest be abundant in Gaechon this year?”

“Haha, yes.”

The reporting staff officer speaks with an awkward laugh.

Why is he acting like that?

After reclaiming Gaechon, all regions that had opposed Pyongyang voluntarily tucked their tails and chose subjugation.

Good grief… If they were going to do this, they should have submitted from the beginning. Truly shameful behavior.

Anyway, as most of the former Korean People’s Army was reorganized into the Pyongyang Defense Force, the number of troops increased significantly.

Which means my work also increased. Especially administrative tasks.

Ever since my time in Albheim, I’ve truly… detested administrative work.

It’s not fun, not rewarding, and just needlessly complicated.

But I had a lot to do. The Territory Reclamation Command is a temporary command set to be dismantled once all former North Korean territory is reclaimed.

As they say, the hunting dog is eaten after the hunt is over; it will be dismantled 100%. Of course, I won’t be the one getting eaten.

Therefore, I need to prepare in advance.

If I don’t want to end up doing a bunch of work for others and then becoming unemployed.

Ultimately, preparation requires an administrative foundation.

Meaning I have to do the damned paperwork!

I pondered deeply about who to dump this paperwork on.

The old geezers remaining in the Pyongyang Defense Force? Absolutely not. Who knows what tricks those cunning old men might pull.

Ion? She’d collapse within a day crying ‘Hieeeng General… it’s too hard… waah’. Ion’s main duty was combat, not administration.

Someone who has run a large unit, is proficient in administrative processing, must not harbor ulterior motives at the same time, and shouldn’t have held too high a position either.

Hmm…

Right, there’s one guy.

Major Kim.

He runs a large unit and should be proficient in administrative processing. Seeing his characteristic self-preservationist nature, it was clear he would be loyal once he gained confidence in me.

Within the limits of his own safety, of course.

Well, I’m not entrusting my back to him, just my paperwork, so it doesn’t matter.

***

Meanwhile, Major Kim…

“What is this…? A sudden chill…”

His keenly honed self-preservation detector sent a danger signal.

***

[Cheerful march music Announcement from the Territory Reclamation Command. ]

As of 6 o’clock, here are the results of the operation. There were no civilian casualties. Rebel casualties are 770 dead, 30 captured. This has been an announcement from the Territory Reclamation Command.

‘No civilian casualties’, utter nonsense.

The crematoriums not only near Gaechon but also in surrounding cities were operating non-stop.

The vicinity was filled with smoke emitted by the crematoriums.

The sight of smoke from burning people filling the city center was quite a spectacle.

Well, it was also quite a sight to behold, but in a bad way.