00042 --- The Little Prince in the Ossuary ---
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#Public Service Advertisement, Second Half of 2042
A shining world, a landscape where all four seasons blend together. In the idyllic appearance of his younger days, a retired elder strolls along a forest path. Spring haze gives way to summer blooms, while autumn's fallen leaves drift on babbling streams. Fully bloomed cherry tree branches are covered with the downy first snow. It was a paradise crafted by the illusion of digital signals.
69-year-old Kim Sang-soon reaches out a gentle hand to pick a nameless fruit. Taking a bite, she savors the sensation of its sweetness melting on her tongue. A cool breeze grazes her white dress, and her long black hair wafts fragrantly.
In this moment of perfection, the elder gazes up at the high sky with a worried expression.
「I am so happy, but I wonder if Seok-hoon is doing well... They say the economy is in a downturn lately; if only there were a way I could help...」
She approaches a tree. From a low spot near the trunk, a sprout appears and quickly grows thick. The elder sits neatly on the newly grown branch and lets out a long sigh.
A female narrator empathizes with the elder's concern.
"Even two years after entering into posthumous insurance, Kim Sang-soon remains worried about the grandson she left in reality. After her son and his wife suffered a car accident, it was Kim Sang-soon who raised her grandson, Joo Seok-hoon. With no one else to care for him, her worries are unending. She wonders if he's doing well at work, if he's healthy, or if she'll need to wait longer for news of a wedding. Not being able to visit often suggests circumstances aren't favorable. How noble is the love that continues for family even after passing?"
The screen shifts focus to a man with a somber gaze. Subtitles appear: 27-year-old Joo Seok-hoon, butcher. The shop was quiet, devoid of customers. His ledger bore many entries in red ink as the narrator explained his situation.
"Recently, Joo Seok-hoon's butcher shop has struggled to make a profit. With the advent of virtual reality, eating habits have shifted dramatically. Consuming meat in reality has become a luxury. It's far more economical to taste sumptuous meals in virtual reality while only consuming essential nutrients in the real world."
Subsequent footage illustrates the point with statistics showing energy packs occupying 86% of the food market. Energy packs, in gel form, contain the recommended daily intake of all nutrients and require no additional preparation. Consumer interviews followed.
「Jung Bo-kyung (23 years old, student): Am I satisfied with this? Honestly, the taste isn't great. The artificial flavors—'strawberry', 'apple', 'grape'—are too strong. But, since the nutritional balance is perfect, it's good for your health, right? Most tasty things are bad for health, so I eat them in virtual reality without negative effects. Plus, they're unnecessarily expensive.」
「Park Han-soo (35, office worker): Honestly, it's a bother to prepare real meals. The food in virtual reality is so delicious that real meals feel like a chore, a bit of a letdown. I can't wait to retire and avail posthumous insurance benefits.」
「Reyakkana Sotorut (29, foreign worker, Cambodia): Ah, Korea, eating rice, food in virtual reality, I like. Korean Cambodians, they don't go to restaurants. They don't eat meat. Always eating virtual reality meals. I want to keep eating, eat more and more. I joined insurance with friends. Family members will join too. Korea, so cool.」
「Jang Yoo-sun (40, housewife): Gosh, about 10 years ago, I used to make stews and braise fish. Now I've forgotten it all, can't remember a thing, haha. In wealthier areas, they still dine out and cook well, but honestly, doesn't it feel like a waste of money? Even if you make food in reality, it's more inconvenient compared to virtual reality. You also end up using the bathroom more frequently. Those people, they just want to show off how different they are. It's ridiculous, isn't it?」
As these comments scroll by, the butcher's ledger from earlier is seen faintly overlaying the background. The focus returns to the somber shop owner amidst the emptiness of his store. The butcher, Joo Seok-hoon, confides his plight.
「The difficulty with my family background kept me from pursuing a university degree. This is all I know, so if I close the shop, I'll have to join a factory. Work with foreign laborers... There's no hope. If only I could set up shop in an affluent neighborhood... maybe Gangnam or Seongbuk, but I lack the money. I just need another 10 million won. Haaa.」
Suddenly, the screen brightens to show the very same flower path Kim Sang-soon had walked on.
"Do not worry."
The narrator kindly elaborates.
"For individuals like Ms. Kim Sang-soon and Mr. Joo Seok-hoon, posthumous insurance policy loans are now extended. Previously accessible only before entering insurance... but not anymore. Now, even those like Grandma Kim Sang-soon, who are already covered, can secure loans using their remaining coverage period."
Hopeful music plays as a warm-toned filtered image of the grandmother and grandson fills the center of the screen.
"The feeling of being forgotten by family after entering insurance... it resonates with every elderly individual under posthumous care. Have you considered your family's economic difficulties? Policy loans don't just help your family. When money circulates, the economy revives, and when the economy revives, so does the nation. As the nation rises, every citizen finds happiness. Show your familial love and patriotism. The Korea Posthumous Insurance is here to assist you."
Like any public service advertisement, as the ad concludes, the waving Korean flag fills the screen.
"This campaign is brought to you by the Council of Public Service Advertisements, National Pension Service, and Korea Postmortem Insurance Agency."
Thereafter, a mandatory disclaimer in the policy loan advertisement was rapidly read out by the narrator at a speed rivalling any seasoned rapper—difficult for even young people to understand. Amidst this, the message contained:
"... Should the debtor default on repayment for more than three times, the member's posthumous insurance service may be suspended, and the preservation of the member's body may transition to a standby state. In the event of more than five defaults, preservation will be terminated."
#Journal, page 71, Camp Roberts
Refugees from around the world continued to flock to the United States.
Although not a recent phenomenon, the influx grew more severe. The media declared that the seas were no longer visible, filled as they were with seafaring refugees clogging the American coasts. Reports suggested that there were over 10,000 vessels of medium size and above, with countless smaller craft and fishing boats contributing to the overwhelming numbers. It was astonishing how they managed to cross the ocean in such diminutive boats.
On the US West Coast, major refugee shelters emerged in the San Francisco Bay and the Georgia Strait near the US-Canada border. The San Diego harbor remained closed, reserved for American citizens and kept clear to avoid interfering with military base operations and fleet maneuvers.
Among these, San Francisco harbor was the most sought-after destination, mainly to endure the winter. Despite being the origin of North American Western contamination, safety remained ensured as long as landfall wasn't made. The mutants were incapable of swimming, after all.
Remarkably, the refugees over the sea didn't suffer from hunger due to supplies sourced from fishing boats. The US provided them with the bare minimum of fuel and food. Even America prioritized securing its citizens isolated within contaminated zones.
Skirmishes occasionally erupted amongst the refugee vessels. When larger vessels were involved, the scale could escalate into outright war.
Such an event unfolded this very morning. An overhead broadcast helicopter caught a naval skirmish between Chinese and Japanese destroyers. It stemmed from competition over positioning. A reporter solemnly explained that attempts to claim slightly more space for their refugees led to bloodshed. Even after a nation's downfall, some soldiers continued striving to protect their countrymen, only for the end to remain tragic.
Troubles were also reported near the Mexican border. It wasn't possible to fully stem the tide of illegal entrants given the vast borders. Hundreds of infections simultaneously broke out in border towns like El Paso and Laredo. Were it not for America's preemptive measures, a second San Francisco-like disaster could have unfolded.
Building barriers along the borders and enhancing aerial reconnaissance proved ineffective. Tunnels once used for drug trafficking were now escape routes for Mexican citizens. Even submarines were employed. Smuggling submarines by the drug cartels existed without official registration.
The White House issued stern warnings to the Mexican government, threatening to bomb cities should illegal migration remain unchecked. However, with a vast portion of territory out of its control, the Mexican government lacked the means to comply. Perhaps the administration merely needed a positive spin to end the news coverage?
#Journal, page 72, Camp Roberts
Yura's training program for the reserve troops had come to an end. With assistance from US officers, tactical training sessions were held. Over 50% dropped out within three weeks—a commendable result, considering the training intensity.
Those who endured deserved rewards. Though exceeding the initial quota, all would be officially integrated as members.
Some who seemed destined for elimination persisted. Among them was the woman who had previously broken down in a field exercise, named Jang Han-byul. She surprised everyone with her remarkable aptitude.
The formal issuance of personal equipment marked the occasion. The newly assigned firearms required zeroing—a process of aligning shots with a target.
Han-byul seemed at ease during shooting. After concluding her rounds and inspecting the target sheet, she sighed deeply and commented.
"Huuu... Not a single shot hit."
I asked if I could see it, and she reluctantly handed over the paper.
She had shot incredibly well. Out of five rounds, every hole landed within a finger's length, all straying leftward. Her natural ability was evident. Even the US gunnery instructors whistled at her target sheet. I candidly praised her, stating she shot very well.
She seemed skeptical.
"No need to console me."
The truth was that her shooting was exceptional. It was odd, especially since I had explicitly explained the importance of zeroing. I asked if she recalled that, to which Han-byul responded sheepishly.
"I was tense back then..."
In other words, she hadn't listened properly—which was understandable. I patiently reiterated that individual retinal refraction varied, so even when aiming identically, shots would land differently. While not an issue at close range, it meant adjusting the sights became crucial for accuracy at greater distances.
Once she grasped her own skill, Han-byul beamed with pride.
I showed everyone how to adjust the sight screws, reminding them to remember precisely how many turns were needed. This way, even if they received a new weapon, re-zeroing wouldn't be necessary unless the model changed significantly.
In the next round of firing, Han-byul had neatly cratered the target's center, as repeated successful shots culminated in a notably large hole.
"No need to designate a separate marksman, I see."
That was Sergeant Pierce's assessment.
The recruits cherished their newly acquired equipment immensely. It exceeded their previous shared solutions in quality but also represented the means to protect themselves.
The recruits were accorded uniforms equivalent to US Private Soldiers (PV2), a higher status than my initial auxiliary rank. They would receive formal pay. It was a pinnacle moment for the 「Gyeo-ul Alliance」.
Everyone was awarded citizenship certificates. Though revocable upon failure to complete enlistee service, many cried regardless of gender. Their accumulated fears and grievances found release. Some tears represented regret at relinquishing their Korean nationality.
Captain Capston officiated the oath ceremony in place of a judge. Though ceremonial, the US military viewed it differently. He had everyone lift their right hands as he read the oath.
"I hereby solemnly swear, and I renounce completely and faithfully all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of which I have hitherto been a subject or citizen."
"I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
"I will..."
The captain asked me to take the oath as well. Given the haste of my commissioning and citizenship acquisition, formality was deemed necessary. He believed spirit trumped procedure. His character was evident even here.
---------------------------= Afterword ---------------------------=
1. The shooting training Yura received in the previous chapter was extraordinarily challenging. Slightly intensifying it would elevate it to the level of advanced training like that undertaken by Russia's formidable trainees.
2. If you become kind readers, I will soon unveil a short story based on the Cthulhu Mythos to nurture your childhood innocence.
Clacky's Corner:
Hmm, the Postmortem Insurance Agency feels dodgy.