Seoul Object Story

While admiring the fireworks made of missiles and bullets that catch the eye, before I knew it, the sun had already risen.

The acrid smell from the explosions was getting stronger too, and the flames from the shells exploding didn’t really stand out much under the sunlight.

I was starting to get tired of the shell explosions.

Since I’ve enjoyed the show enough, it was time to head into the Dobong-gu barrier.

The road towards Dobong-gu was untouched snow.

Stepping on fresh snow feels good.

Hop hop.

Leaving footprints on the untouched snowy field as I entered the barrier.

Tiny footprints trailing behind me didn’t match the war atmosphere at all.

***

Dobong-gu, which has been free from human hands for 10 years, felt refreshingly different in its own way.

With buildings persistently being demolished by Ice Soldiers, collapsed concrete ruins everywhere, plants disappearing due to fierce cold and blizzards…

All these elements combined to give Dobong-gu a post-apocalyptic city vibe, frozen in harsh winter.

And there were quite a few strange animals I saw for the first time, but they were probably Objects rather than actual animals.

In a place where the central temperature is -100°C like Dobong-gu, normal creatures shouldn’t exist.

If there’s a place with -100°C, the surrounding environment or climate should be completely ruined, but since it seems fine, is this also one of Object’s mysteries?

Even from the perspective of Objects, this part is unclear.

Actually, isn’t Ghosting also kind of suspicious?

In fact, Ghosting is as physically bizarre an ability as Time Stop.

Even if Ghosting ignores physical forces, what about gravity? Inertia?

It was a skill that made doubts spring up endlessly even for amateurs like me.

Well, scientists are surely diligently researching this at the research institute.

***

Inside the transport vehicle heading towards Dobong-gu’s barrier was shrouded in silence.

Looking around at the employees inside the transport vehicle, their tense expressions were clear.

The more you know about Objects, the greater the fear grows; it’s inevitable.

We are anti-Object agents, after all, the experts who know Objects best.

I looked around at the employees and said,

“Everyone, snap out of it!”

At my loud shout, the agents inside the vehicle lifted their heads that were deeply bowed.

“The war against Dobong-gu has begun.”

“It’s a far better situation than the Dobong-gu infiltration scenario we’ve simulated countless times.”

“Since it started with Ice Throne’s attack, most of the Ice Throne soldiers are outside anyway.”

“Besides, the most threatening temperature has dispersed and diluted around the area.”

“All the bombardment and missile attacks happening now are merely decoy offensives for us.”

“We are the main force.”

“If we follow our usual training, we can achieve our objective.”

“Remember, our failure means the nation’s failure. Straighten your backs and act confidently.”

“If it’s burdensome, trust. Trust the Object data humanity has accumulated so far and the training you’ve done.”

“We will definitely destroy the Ice Throne and return!”

Listening to the employees’ resounding replies, I closed my eyes.

There wasn’t much time left until the operation began.

***

Using the distant Ice Throne as a landmark, I trudged forward step by step.

The Ice Throne, towering at about 20 meters high, could be seen clearly from afar.

Actually, it wasn’t tall enough to be visible from a distance, but thanks to the Ice Soldiers flattening all the surrounding buildings, it stood out well.

On the journey towards the throne, I discovered a peculiar space.

Walking straight towards the throne, the space that appeared resembled a baseball field.

A round, flat snowy field surrounded by shattered glass-like mirrors.

Inside those mirrors, a giant pole figure about 5 meters tall existed.

Except for one thing.

Totem Pole.

The enormous Totem Pole only existed inside the mirrors while not present in the actual snowy field.

The Totem Pole had a horror movie feature where it turned its head to track any moving objects.

Whenever something moved, it would turn its head and freeze it with a cold beam if it was a living creature.

However, it reacted to rocks and small animals but ignored me.

No matter how fast I ran or slowly walked across the snowy field, there was no reaction.

Rather, it seemed to avoid me.

Even when I got close to where the face should be, it refused to look at me.

You’re playing with everyone except me.

As much as I tried to grab its attention, it stubbornly evaded me, making me want to smash it.

But upon checking the destruction conditions, my motivation disappeared instantly.

The conditions looked long and tedious.

It might take several days with bad luck, so I decided to ignore it and move on.

***

Our swift advance was halted by an unexpected ambush.

An agent was hit by a beam that came flying from somewhere.

“!”

One member froze to death instantly with his face frozen solid.

From the distant snowy field, an unexpected beam flew and hit an agent.

I gritted my teeth.

Each of their lives represented Korea’s future.

Losing them here pointlessly was unacceptable.

I threw a beacon toward the source of the attack and warned the agents.

“Everyone, pay attention! The enemy’s attack seems to occur after identifying the target. Take cover thoroughly! The precise attack source is about 5 meters above the installed beacon!”

You won’t get hit by the beam if you don’t expose yourself.

Everyone quickly moved from cover to cover, rushing toward the hostile Object’s location.

The place we arrived at was a circular snowy field.

Plenty of mirrors were arranged there.

“Everyone, look at the mirrors! The Object is a Totem Pole. It seems to shoot beams with its gaze!”

To fight an Object, you must observe it.

If you don’t observe, you die.

A snowy field with plenty of mirrors arranged.

Inside the mirrors, there was an unidentified Totem Pole standing.

Its head-turning speed wasn’t very fast but not slow enough to break through this open snowy field without cover.

Bang.

As part of the established Object encounter procedures, the agents threw grenades to check if the Totem Pole and mirrors could be destroyed.

There was no effect on the Totem Pole.

It seemed to have no physical substance.

The mirror broke but regenerated instantly.

This was an Object type that couldn’t be handled with physical attacks.

Headache.

Should we bypass the Totem Pole?

That would cause too much time loss.

Moreover, there’s no guarantee that there aren’t other Objects on alternative routes.

Should I have requested the Yellow Detective for this mission?

Although I thought he relied too much on intuition and wasn’t suitable for this mission, now that I need him, he comes to mind.

His intuition alone was Object-class, top-tier in uncertain choices like route selection.

After pondering repeatedly, it seemed there was no other way but to deal with this Object.

If we can’t handle such Objects, destroying the Ice Throne beyond would be even harder.

Observation is the priority when facing Objects.

There must be some clue.

Objects arranged with some regularity often require puzzle-like solutions.

In the middle of an empty lot, there’s a non-material Totem Pole.

Surrounding it are many mirrors arranged like broken glass shards, preventing a full view of the Totem Pole.

I circled around while taking cover, checking the Totem Pole’s reflection in the mirrors.

There must be a reason for the mirrors’ arrangement.

***

Pained gasps could be heard.

“Huff… Huff… Huff…”

Another agent was hit by the beam.

A fellow agent thrashing about in agony, screaming—there’s no chance of survival.

Even though it just hit the leg, the freezing spreads throughout the body, claiming life within minutes.

Already how many times? The sacrifices of agents in this open snowy field kept increasing.

Fortunately, meaningful information was obtained from the agents’ sacrifices.

There was exactly one spot where the entire Totem Pole could be seen.

Where the broken mirrors converged into one image.

However, seeing the whole Totem Pole didn’t change anything.

Three more agents fell victim to this Object while finding this location.

We had to solve it before more casualties occurred.

Since we needed at least five people to carry the bomb to destroy the Ice Throne, we didn’t have much room to spare.

Mirrors, Totem Pole, and Mirror Images.

Ah, mirrors.

While examining the mirrors, I noticed something odd.

There were mirrors where the Totem Pole didn’t appear.

How could I overlook those unused mirrors!

It was clear that those unused mirrors should be utilized.

***

Wow, a massive chair came into view.

The gigantic Ice Throne, reaching 20 meters in height, was carried like a sedan chair by four massive Ice Soldiers.

It felt like if the path was cleared, the soldiers would immediately rise and dash down the path carrying the sedan chair.

Only now it just loomed there without moving, showcasing its bulk.

I came here to destroy the Ice Throne and liberate Dobong-gu, but a problem arose.

It wasn’t because breaking it was difficult.

Rather, it was too easy.

Right now, even a pebble could break it.

If the Ice Throne isn’t an “Object,” then what am I supposed to deal with?

Could it be that Totem Pole from before?

The destruction condition I checked back then seemed tough.

[Reflect the entire image of the Totem Pole in one mirror.] Wasn’t it?

Should I go back to where the Totem Pole was?

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