The chapter opens on the southern korean peninsula, where the battle is about to begin. The narrator tells us that he has been following General Ayamine into the battle on the mainland, and that he does not want to retreat either. If the peninsula falls, he says, Japan will be next. He tells us about the battle of Gwangju, in which he was injured and sent home with the injury. This event later became known as the "tragedy of gwangjin" . He says that he was prepared for it all along, like his "punishment ment" , but now he is the one who has to be the "devil" in this battle. He explains that the age of the empire will be one of the most difficult in its history, and what they need now is a "smart politician" like himself, not a "capable military man" like him. He wonders where they are supposed to run, and wonders if they will be able to hold off the attack. He remembers his home, the streets he walked every day, and everything he loved about it. He thinks that the current government is under "standable" because of its recent actions, and he worries that the country will fall into the hands of the devil. He feels that it is up to the devil to protect the country, and the devil should do what the country can do for the people.