Prologue

The unexpected eruption of the second Civil War on the Korean Peninsula swiftly led to the collapse of North Korea within a year. However, it took a grueling five years to eliminate the remaining tunnels and hidden North Korean soldiers.

As fate would have it, my military service coincided with this tumultuous period, robbing me of half of my twenties. A 21-year-old soldier with dreams of discharge and returning to school at 22, I found myself navigating the treacherous tunnels of North Korea for five long years—a far cry from my aspirations.

Could anyone believe such a wretched reality? I certainly couldn't.

But amidst the chaos, a truth more surreal than fiction emerged. Despite the relative safety of the metropolitan area, my parents, inexplicably, fell victim to the conflict. Their names were etched into the national memorial, their lives claimed while I fought obliviously on the battlefield. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

Standing before their memorial, I pondered the cruel irony of it all. What had I been doing during the national funeral? Had I been fighting on the front lines, oblivious to the tragedy unfolding back home?

As I grappled with these questions, a facility manager interrupted my thoughts, reminding me to wear a mask in the public space. But after enduring five years of warfare, the last thing on my mind was a face covering.

I vented my frustration, railing against the absurdity of a world where war had ceased, yet an epidemic persisted, forcing everyone to don masks for six years. It seemed ludicrous that my efforts on the battlefield had led to this outcome.

Dismissively, I left the memorial hall, disillusioned with society's indifference to my plight. Returning to civilian life after five years, I found myself with nothing but the inheritance my parents had left behind—a stark reminder of their absence.

Disenchanted with the military and government, I harbored no illusions of justice or fairness. Instead, I sought solace in solitude, retreating to the southern region with my newfound wealth, leaving behind the burdens of inheritance tax.

I had envisioned a peaceful retirement in the countryside, free from the horrors of war. But that dream was shattered by breaking news of a mutated global epidemic, plunging society back into chaos.

Retirement seemed like a distant memory as martial law was declared once again. Exhausted and disillusioned, I realized that my duty had ended with my military service. Now, all I desired was peace and rest.