Chapter 35: It’s Raining Today

About a week had passed since they redefined patriotism in that dark meeting room. The day of reckoning had arrived.

It wasn’t a meticulously planned coup. They intended to overturn the regime in one swift, decisive stroke.

Before unwelcome guests like the U.S. or South Korea caught wind of it. Before the president could catch on and end it before it began.

They moved under the shroud of darkness, just before dawn— at the hour when only the sound of insects filled the air.

For true patriotism.

***

At the same time, Republic of Korea. Seoul.

“Mr. President!”

The NIS Director burst into the presidential residence, out of breath.

The president was already awake, having been alerted by phone.

He was torn between irritation at being awakened at such an hour, and anxiety at what could be important enough to warrant it.

“Huff… huff… It’s the North—something’s happening in the North!”

The North? What on earth had happened?

“A coup is underway!”

What…?

“A… a coup?”

“Yes, sir.”

Was this some kind of joke in the middle of the night? A coup?

A young democracy like the Republic of Joseon was dangerously vulnerable to a coup. History had proven that, time and again—with soldiers writing it in blood.

“Who’s leading it?”

The worst-case scenario would be a remnant faction of the former Workers’ Party of Korea.

But that seemed unlikely. That party had been completely dismantled. And even if remnants did remain, they’d be easy enough to crush.

The second possibility—

The military was behind it.

But why?

“Which faction is leading the charge?”

“The military. It appears the top-ranking Chief of Staff is taking the lead, and several high-ranking officers are following.”

Those bastards. What the hell were they dissatisfied with?

Wait—Chief of Staff? Who was that again?

Ah.

The 120th (maybe?) dimensional returnee.

An individual under special NIS monitoring.

In an age when people could cast magic, exert force like armored vehicles, and unleash firepower rivaling tanks—
anyone with exceptional abilities was monitored.

Not under constant surveillance, but listed—flagged.

A precaution.

And that returnee? She wasn’t just flagged—she was a high-priority subject. Immensely powerful, with a distinguished and violent past.

They said she was like a walking nuclear bomb, who’d left one battlefield just to enter another. What country wouldn’t be wary?

Still, there hadn’t been any suspicious movement lately. Reports even mentioned she was cohabiting with another elf. That was reassuring.

So then why? What could she possibly be lacking that she’d resort to a coup?

“What’s the reason?”

“On the surface, she’s calling it ‘patriotism.’ Claims President Hwang Seonju is ruining the country and must be stopped.”

“And the real reason?”

“We believe it’s the Democratic Party administration’s attempt at military downsizing. This is a fight over their rice bowls.”

“F*ck… When is it happening?”

“That… we haven’t been able to determine yet.”

“What do you mean you haven’t?! So we’re just going to sit here and wait for them to decide when to start?!”

“Perhaps we should warn Pyongyang. If we do, they might be able to preempt it.”

“…Alright. Do it.”

The President picked up the secure hotline between Seoul and Pyongyang.

He called.

No answer.

He called again.

Still no answer.

Something wasn’t right.

“…Contact our personnel currently stationed in Pyongyang.”

“Yes, sir.”

The connection tone was suffocatingly long. But eventually, someone picked up.

“This is Kim speaking…”

A sleepy voice—clearly woken from bed. It should have been comforting.

“Advisor Kim, is everything alright over there?”

“Ah, Mr. President? Yes, all’s qui—”

But Kim’s voice cut off.

– Bang!

A gunshot. Loud and clear through the line.

“Holy sh*t!”

“What’s going on?!”

“I’m not sure… kshhh—“

The call ended in static.

A moment of silence. Then, swift decision.

“Convene the NSC. Now.”

***

A coup d’état is, in reality, a highly political act.

Storming in with boots and bullets could blow up in your face.

Everything in this world follows procedure. Even a regime change.

Fride and her allies had resolved to end it quickly.

The key players:

Yakovlena El Fride, Chief of Staff — the mastermind. And her co-conspirators:

Army Commander

Air Force Commander

Director of the Military Security Bureau

Commander of Special Forces — Ion

Capital Defense Commander

And the commanders of various infantry and armored units.

Rather than using the General Staff HQ, they established their command post inside the Military Security Bureau.

“The operation is as follows.”

The Army Commander, in charge of this ‘revolution,’ began the briefing.

“First, rear units—24th and 27th Divisions, including the 40th, 56th, and 57th Regiments—will completely encircle Pyongyang. They’re already en route…”

He glanced at his watch.

“They’ll arrive within five minutes and block every major access point within ten.”

“Have we cut all external communications? Phone lines, internet, everything?”

Fride asked.

“Yes. All already dealt with. We’ve also reactivated old jamming devices to block wireless communications completely.”

“Good. Continue.”

“As soon as the rear units secure the perimeter, the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Brigade under the Capital Defense Command will seize the Presidential Palace. The 3rd Battalion will occupy the Mansudae Assembly Hall.

The 1st Battalion will take over the broadcasting stations, press agencies, and government offices inside Pyongyang.”

It was a textbook coup.

If you’re going to seize power, you paralyze the capital—

no, the entire nation.

Take out the head of state and the legislature, and half the battle is won.

“After that, we detain the president and install an acting authority.”

The Army Commander sipped water.

“Then we detain the Minister of Defense to eliminate any resistance. And we’re done.”

Once complete, the military would form a Temporary National Administration Committee to govern briefly.

How long?

Until a ‘trustworthy, conscientious civilian politician’ could take over.

At a pitch-black hour before dawn, when not even the moon lit the ground—

A convoy of military trucks rolled down the highway.

The road was empty.

No cars. No people.

Only the chirping of insects and the rumble of engines.

Their destination: The Presidential Palace.

– Vrrrrrrr… screeech!

“Disembark!”

Heavily armed soldiers jumped out of the trucks.

“Stop! Wh-Who goes there?!”

The guards didn’t even have time to react—

– Ratatatatat!

Flames erupted from the ‘revolutionaries’ rifles.

“Go! Breach!”

They stormed the executive office with the speed of lightning.

– Bang!

The lead soldier kicked open the door.

“Hands up! Move and we shoot!”

There sat President Hwang Seonju.

“What the hell is this?! Are you threatening the head of state with a gun?!”

Once the situation was secured, the 2nd Battalion Commander entered.

He saluted, then placed a single document on the desk.

An appointment form—naming a temporary acting authority.

“Sign here, Mrs. President.”

“…”

“It would be wise to comply—for your sake and for the country’s.”

“You think democracy will fall just because you’ve pointed a gun at me?! The people fought and bled for this! You can’t take that away!”

“The people want you to step down. They want rice and potatoes more than flowery talk of democracy. They want a government that feeds them—not one that lectures them.”

“Nonsense!”

When Hwang refused, the commander gave a hand signal.

Dozens of gun barrels surrounded her. Dozens of cold, metallic eyes stared herdown.

“Even if you kill me, democracy in this country will not die!”

“Is that so? Let’s see.”

She spoke into a radio—

– Bang!

“H-Hahh…!”

“Consider yourself lucky. The General said not to kill you.”

The bullet had struck just beside her head.

Hwang Seonju collapsed to the floor.

“Take her.”

“”Yes, sir!””

She was dragged away by both arms.

And she wouldn’t see daylight again for a long, long time.

***

Inside the CP at the Military Security Bureau, they monitored the progress.

A communications officer spoke urgently.

“Reporting in! The president is refusing to accept the acting role and sign the document!”

“Chief of Staff, just as we predicted.”

“I figured as much. That woman, Hwang Seonju…”

They’d expected it.

Hwang was a notoriously stubborn figure.

Even as approval ratings plummeted and protests broke out, she had refused to back down—pushing reforms harder instead.

She never yielded or compromised when she believed she was right.

Which is why Fride’s faction had prepared a backup plan in advance.

Occupy the Assembly Hall, bang the gavel, and vote to impeach her.

Once passed, all presidential powers would be revoked, and full authority would transfer to the acting president.

And according to the Joseon Constitution, the Assembly had the power to appoint said acting authority.

But there was a problem—

the ruling party still held just enough seats to block constitutional change.

That had to be solved.

The solution? Simple.

Replace the lawmakers with soldiers in suits. Have them vote.

Problem solved.

A thought truly befitting of warmongering generals.