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In the airport, a person possessed by an evil spirit appeared.

Depending on the region, this entity is referred to by various names such as a possessed person, Majnun, or a curse bearer.

The ramifications of this being’s appearance were anything but trivial.

If it had manifested in an empty area, that might have gone unnoticed, but it erupted chaos in a bustling airport. And not quietly either; they went as far as breaking down partitions and firing guns… the eyewitness accounts from people at the airport were simply countless.

And what kind of era are we living in?

Isn’t it an age where everyone carries a smartphone with a camera?

Photos and videos capturing the incident at the airport began to overflow and spread across the internet in the blink of an eye, even before anyone could respond effectively. Sure, there were attempts to censor or control it afterwards, but…

Would that have worked properly?

It’s an era where even a single nation’s network is hard to control.

Let alone the content spreading throughout the world.

Thus, the incident at the airport became widely known.

From the hands of the initial distributors, it found its way to netizens seeking sensational content.

It circulated among journalists scouring the internet for stories.

From online news to broadcast and radio.

In no time at all, the happenings at the airport spread like wildfire.

In an instant…

* * *

The events at the airport turned into a spectacle.

One among the countless incidents happening worldwide, and a gossipy tidbit.

Like a sort of snack for people that lets them consume the emotion of ‘fear.’

It was inevitable.

Fear is a sensation that’s perfectly consumable when felt only on your skin.

Roller coasters elicit terror, yet everyone enjoys them precisely because safety is guaranteed.

It’s the kind of fear that poses no threat to me; safe fear is exactly that.

Just like how someone can sit in their living room, watching a horror movie, and jump at ghosts or murderers, yet afterwards nonchalantly comment, “That movie was fun,” or “Aside from the jump scare, it wasn’t much.”

There might be aftereffects like losing a night’s sleep, leaving the lights on, or needing to sleep with someone else, but it’s hard for it to leave a traumatic imprint.

That’s all it is.

Just someone else’s business.

In that sense, the ruckus at the airport could be deemed quite appropriate.

Instead of your run-of-the-mill psychopath or terrorist, it was a ‘ghost’ — a supernatural being. It’s true that they exist, but they’re not easily seen or felt outside of specific regions or environments.

Hence, it falls into the category of ‘familiar fear’ often used in entertainment or media, even more so than shamans.

For those who hadn’t directly experienced the fear and confusion at the airport, it was unlikely to resonate as a ‘seriously grave situation.’ It likely felt closer to a found-footage horror movie or a dangerously absurd fake documentary.

Perhaps this reflects a kind of safety inattentiveness.

A stark contrast to the safety indifference that Korea possesses, where it’s adjacent to the lair of evil spirits and specters.

Here, people have gotten so used to living under the shadow of malevolent spirits that they no longer take them seriously. Yet, in Unified Korea, those who seldom encounter such things can perceive them as someone else’s problem and thus feel no fear.

Of course.

It makes sense.

Just as fear of ‘terror’ isn’t as heightened in Korea, it wouldn’t be strange for America not to feel a significant fear of ‘ghosts.’

But not everyone felt that way.

Some took this incident quite seriously as a threat.

Starting with the Federal Government of the United States.

Especially those involved with national security.

They raised their voices, asserting that this incident was far from a one-off occurrence. If steps weren’t taken, it could evolve into another method of terror that terrorists might utilize to target America.

There would surely be many terror organizations deriving inspiration from this event, sending members infused with ghosts into America to commit acts of terror through more evolved means.

“This is a method of terror more threatening than bombs or gun violence.

Bombs and gun violence can often be sufficiently filtered out through experience, and even if prevention fails, the damage usually remains in the dozens or hundreds.

However, terror using ghosts would present a persistent threat.

In vast America, there are remote areas where administrative power struggles to reach, and many places where strong public authority fails to function properly. Only when you venture into the suburbs might you find that it takes police several hours to respond, often hopelessly awaiting help from neighbors.

Plus, we must consider those who don’t settle in one place, living in RVs, and even hippies, gypsies, and the homeless.

Ghosts that infiltrate America disguised in human shells would hide in these blind spots, devouring people and growing stronger, becoming an unknown fear that would intimidate everyone. Moreover, if these wicked spirits evolve into evil ghosts or spirits, let alone into great spirits of evil, they would unleash damage and terror exponentially worse than bomb terror.”

“We must stop this now. If we don’t, we’ll pay the price in lives, administrative power, time, and money.

The cost will be far too great for us to bear.”

They said.

It’s a much graver threat than anyone feels right now.

As serious as a gun barrel pointed at one’s forehead.

But…

“America is a land forged by the spirit of exploration.

No one fears something as trivial as a ghost.”

“Ghosts? That’s easily dealt with using rock salt shells.

Didn’t we fend off the spirits at the airport just with salt and holy water?

Our American citizens can do it too!

If they can effortlessly subdue robbers with firearms, then dealing with mere shadows of ghosts won’t be a challenge at all.”

“I do agree that someone possessed by a ghost poses a danger. However, the budget required to counter that threat is far too grand. Ridiculously so, in fact. Besides, this isn’t something that has occurred repeatedly; it’s just happened once. Aren’t we overreacting?”

“Responding adequately to something that has happened just once… it’s not a bad concept, but… hmm. If you look at the necessary sums… well, investing in this doesn’t guarantee we’ll capture the spirit perfectly, nor that we’ll demonstrate tangible results.”

“I’d like to ask one thing. If you utilize this budget and get called to a hearing, do you think you’ll receive applause?

I don’t think so.”

Unfortunately, those who sensed it as a threat weren’t alone.

Many shook their heads, claiming the budget required was exorbitant; others argued that instead of spending more money, it would make more sense to develop rock salt shells effective against ghosts and sell them at gun shops from a capitalist perspective, while some neocons ridiculed whether they were genuinely American citizens, fearing a ghost. They could also foresee a future where they’d be thoroughly grilled during hearings, so they opposed this stance…

By some means, it could be considered a splendid chaos.

And there were others who felt a different sort of threat — the airport authorities.

But the threat they felt was somewhat distinct from that of the government.

Rather than the inherent danger of the ghost itself, they were more threatened by the tarnished image of the airport due to this incident and the potential loss of the heads of those responsible. It was a form of fear truly fitting capitalism.

As a result, they united with one heart and stepped up to respond proactively.

“In America, even ghosts can’t wield power!”

“Our cutting-edge technology can tackle any threat!”

They began crafting advertisements as if to seize this incident as an opportunity.

They boasted that no casualties occurred aside from the perpetrators and rolled out catchphrases or promotional materials themed around the ‘bravery and strength’ adored by Americans, ensuring the incident didn’t feel threatening.

They even connected with firms that primarily manipulate online public opinion, whimsically mocking the event.

Creating all sorts of memes, they aimed to make this incident feel familiar while diluting fear, filling it with an entertainment element.

This accelerated the transformation of fear from a serious threat into something to be enjoyed.

Besides, didn’t they say that you should row your boat when the tide is high?

The companies making salt walls seized the opportunity, paid extra, and rapidly promoted ads proclaiming, “We are safe from any threat!”

In some ways, they could be seen as wise, while on the other hand, it could be construed as those perceiving this incident as a threat being made to look foolish.

And…

“Old seagull, old seagull, as I offer my prayer, hear my voice from above;

Tell me the answer for the tormented soul that wanders, devoid of pure, bright hues.”

Amidst a forest filled with nameless trees.

A person leaned against the half-collapsed wall of a house overgrown with ivy and moss, eyes closed as they raised their prayer.

They inquired.

“Did the tomb to cradle the soul arrive in the form of clouds? Will the ominous, gray blade rain down upon me like raindrops?”

If they were tied to this uproar.

 

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