Mine Collapse Incident

A national disaster eventually occurred.

The largest magic stone mine in the country collapsed.

The ‘Core’ was destroyed, and along with it, many workers operating inside were trapped in a situation where they could not escape; however, the most critical issue that emerged was that only 21 hours remained until the Gate vanished due to the destruction of the Core.

“Has it been determined how many people are buried?”

“It is estimated to be slightly over 4,000 people, and it has been reported that three out of the four tunnels have collapsed, while the remaining one is also in a precarious state. It is presumed that someone intentionally caused the collapse.”

“…I expected as much looking at the situation, but it is more serious than I imagined. What is the response plan?”

“We have dispatched mages from the Magic Tower capable of earth magic, and we are currently breaking through the collapsed tunnels by sending all available ability users and physical Awakeners.”

“The matter is not easy.”

Kim Dae-san developed a headache due to the sudden disaster.

It was a situation where not just one or two, but thousands of people could die.

Research on what happens to personnel inside when a Gate disappears was still ongoing.

Experiments continued from various angles, such as whether they merge when a new Gate opens after machines were pushed in for research purposes, or if they move to a completely different world, or if they literally vanish and then reorganize; however, no information had been obtained yet.

Thus, although it was technically handled as ‘missing,’ in reality, measures close to ‘death’ were being taken; since thousands of people were on the verge of dying in a single incident, the public’s gaze toward the government was beyond sharp—it was bone-chilling.

“Is that all the personnel that can be mobilized?”

“There are additional personnel that can be mobilized, but…”

Kim Dae-san pressed his forehead at the words of the State Council member who swallowed his words.

The reason was simple. It was because he knew what kind of group the personnel the State Council member mentioned belonged to.

A group whose ability alone was unrivaled. Therefore, it was a group that could not be trusted.

It was because they were too outstanding.

“And excluding them?”

“It would be deploying the regular army, but if confusion arises or additional problems occur, the aftermath will not be easy to handle.”

Among the 4,000 workers currently deployed in the Gate, the number of Awakeners, including managers, was less than 20—literally a civilian group.

Compared to the national power, they were an insignificant category, but if an accident occurred among the deployed personnel and they were isolated or disappeared due to the Gate closure, that loss would exceed simple numerical values.

‘Damn it, for such a thing to happen. Could it be… the work of those Chinese bastards?’

There was information he had recently received in an emergency report from An Sang-ik.

It said that a Chinese special operations unit had secretly infiltrated the country.

They had been tracking their whereabouts, and in fact, they were spreading to various regions and performing diversions that made tracking difficult.

It had been confirmed that Wang Sun was also included among them.

Therefore, he had issued an emergency alert to strengthen the security of various important facilities until all personnel were sought out, but in the end, trouble had occurred.

The biggest problem was indeed that the mine’s Core had been destroyed, but because the ways to handle it were limited, he began to get a headache.

“Is the Magic Tower supporting with high-level mages?”

“Two 7th Circle mages have been dispatched, and additional support from 5th to 6th Circle mages is scheduled. They are showing a cautious attitude, likely due to the fact that it will be closed.”

“What about Pi Jin-hyeok?”

“He expressed his regret but has shown no significant movement.”

“Damn it…. What about the Black Mage Association side?”

“There is no word from that side. Isn’t it likely because of the long-standing, old relationship that has piled up?”

All of the current government’s State Council members and staff knew.

They knew the fact that Kim Dae-san was ostracizing black mages, and just as much, that the black mages did not view Kim Dae-san very favorably either…

“Connect the hotline.”

“Whom shall I connect you with?”

“Contact that old man, Han Sang-gil.”

The staff became busy, and Kim Dae-san merely looked out the window to cool his complicated head.

“The government’s response is insufficient.”

The situation was being broadcast live on the news.

Since it was such an urgent situation and the number of personnel isolated inside was not just one or two, it was right to assume that perhaps the entire country was in an uproar.

“Even if they want to do their best, it will be difficult due to the limited space. Moreover, no matter how sturdy the mine was, if the Core was destroyed, the internal tunnels would have also weakened significantly and begun to collapse together. Perhaps the tunnels won’t even be able to withstand the small movements of people.”

Go Yu-jin asked after hearing my calm words.

“How would you respond to that situation, Seong-chan?”

“Hmm, if it were me, I would first release mana to grasp the internal terrain and find the places that need reinforcement first. Then, I would reinforce the gaps between fissures with ‘Bone’ type magic and create a path.”

“If you do that, can all the people be rescued?”

“The probability would not even be 40%.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the Core was destroyed, and the space itself will continue to cause collapses for closure. Therefore, to perfectly rescue the people, there would need to be one more black mage at a similar level to me.”

“Ah, so one person continuously attends to the fissures, and one person rescues them?”

“Yes, that method is the best.”

“In that case, can’t it be resolved if high-level mages from the Magic Tower step forward?”

As Go Yu-jin said, if high-level mages stepped forward, they might be able to stabilize the situation to some extent. However, I thought that the bastards of the White Tower, whose mana penetration was not as good as black mages, would not be able to find and adjust the fissures one by one in detail.

Occasionally, unusual fellows existed and performed miracles, but such cases almost never occurred, and even if they did, they would not want to step forward for such a dangerous task.

If they succeed, it is taken for granted; if they fail, they are a traitor.

“Black mages who are used to living as a scapegoat have fewer penalties even if they fail, but it’s not the same for the others. In the end, the decent ones will watch their own backs. Even looking at Pi Jin-hyeok, he expressed regret but is not appearing in public.”

I spoke to Go Yu-jin, who brought up the topic of how it would be if people thought for the public interest more beneficially rather than individual prosperity, saying it was tiresome.

“It’s an illusion. Such a dream-like world will not come.”

“If one has power, could they create it?”

“It would clash against a greater power and break it, leading to chaos in another direction. Or it would simply break apart.”

“That’s too pessimistic.”

“It’s the coldness of reality.”

Seeing Go Yu-jin’s melancholy expression, I felt strangely complicated, and at that moment, a call came from Han Sang-gil.

“What business do you have, old man?”

-It’s not a time for jokes, I want you to provide some support. -

“It’s Kim Dae-san’s request, I see?”

-Tsk, it seems the fellow doesn’t want to be driven into a corner either; he promised to increase the amount committed to support for black mages. He asked for support. -

“Even so, it will only be a few percent; why do you go out of your way to act as a scapegoat?”

-Because we’re human; is there a reason for a human to save another human? -

A chuckle escaped me. I thought the world was turning quite well, given that the group identified as ‘evil’ by the world was actually performing ‘good’ deeds, while the group claiming to be good was weighing this and that no less than villains; Han Sang-gil then asked.

-Even so, will you help or not? -

“Are you stepping forward yourself, old man?”

-I’d like to loosen up my body for the first time in a while, but I cannot. -

Because he was trying to back out like this, I also spoke.

“Then I won’t do it either. Why should I go and suffer?”

-I asked Gil-sun. He readily agreed. -

I saw it as him naturally agreeing because the most government subsidies flowed that way.

There was the money I had left there, and since I couldn’t just stand by and watch one way or another, I spoke after giving it a short moment of thought.

“Could you arrange a meeting so I can talk to Kim Dae-san separately?”

-Is that the condition? -

“Yes, tell him that if that condition is met, I will provide help.”

-Wait a moment. -

‘It seems he’s talking over the hotline….’

I thought I had used a shallow trick, when Han Sang-gil’s voice was heard at that moment.

-He says he understands; as for the appointment…. -

“Please convey that I will be the one to schedule the time. If they say they’ll schedule the time and contact me, I won’t do it.”

-Why are you being so stubborn? -

“Just say it’s a hell of distrust.”

-Heh, you absurd fellow, don’t even say things that don’t sound like a joke; anyway, I’ll convey it like that. Trust me and depart. -

In the end, the call ended with an answer of understanding, and Go Yu-jin, who had learned of the whole situation, asked.

“You’ll be able to save all those people, won’t you?”

“One never knows. It’s clear that some fellow played a trick. I’ll have to go inside to find out, but if the hiding bastards are at work, in the end, no one will be able to be saved.”

“…Will it be dangerous?”

It was Go Yu-jin worrying about me. So, I moved my face to try and show the brightest smile possible, and An So-mi, who was watching that, made a comment.

“I told you not to think about using your face that way!”

“I’m smiling to reassure you.”

“At least practice a bit!”

Unlike the shouting An So-mi, Go Yu-jin spoke to me as if she had relaxed a little.

“Um…. At least you, Seong-chan, please come out safely. Don’t push yourself too hard. Okay?”

“I understand. I’ll be back.”

I ended up leaving the company.

Afterward, I began moving rapidly to Seongnam, and after traveling for about 30 minutes, I arrived in front of the mine Gate and encountered Jeong Gil-sun and Jeong Do-bin, who were waiting.

“I’m seeing you often lately.”

“Tsk, I’m glad to see you too, you brat.”

“Welcome. I was listening to the briefing, and the situation is quite serious.”

It was Jeong Do-bin showing the materials. Jeong Gil-sun, who seemed to have already finished grasping the situation, cautiously made a proposal to me.

“Even if I want to look at the fissures, my mana control isn’t as detailed as yours, so I’ll take the role of saving the people; you try to prevent the collapse as much as possible.”

“You’re making me do the difficult task?”

“They say you should seek out hardships when you’re young! You brat!”

“Isn’t that a story for when one is incompetent?”

“Are you two fighting again?”

As soon as Jeong Do-bin stepped in and said a word, Jeong Gil-sun whipped his head away.

They say you become a child when you get old, and Jeong Gil-sun was showing behavior that fit that saying exactly. However, it was not particularly incorrect.

The success or failure of this operation depended on preventing the collapse as much as possible. That was why he was asking me, who was capable of more detailed control, for the important task.

“Are you also being deployed, Jeong Do-bin?”

“Since Grandfather focuses on destruction. I know a fair bit about terrain modification, so I plan to enter together.”

“If it collapses, the Black Mage Association will be finished, won’t it?”

It was Jeong Do-bin nodding with a stiff expression.

‘Is she so nervous she can’t even take a joke?’

It was a crisis where too many lives were about to be buried. I thought I should discard my light-heartedness a bit, and after asking the government officials to control the surrounding personnel well, we headed toward the Gate.

‘It’s clear there will be interference whether from the inside or the outside; if so… it would be right to prepare.’

There were signs that it would be a difficult task in many ways.