I am not assuming a perfect short circuit at all.
I am assuming a symmetrical ground fault.
Take one ungrounded conductor to a mud puddle on the north side of the building and the other ungrounded conductor to a mud puddle on the south side of the building.
Say that both have a resistance from the main panel to their respective points of 25 ohms.
Energize the circuit.
Current flows indefinitely.
Please don't tell me that this is not a ground fault condition.
(It is a contrived scenario. But clearly a ground fault.)
