Chapter 107

The next day, I tossed a casual greeting to the squad members.

“I’m heading out!”

As expected, light responses came back.

“Yeah, alright. See you at training later.”

“Jin, don’t be late for external martial arts practice.”

“Seonwoo Gongja, you’re leaving now? You better bring back some souvenirs when you come back!”

“…Well, about that…”

I was just about to move to the Third Squad’s quarters.

Technically, it was a move, but since all I had was a single sword and a small pack with a few clothes, it felt more like a leisurely stroll.

Still, my mood wasn’t so light.

In my previous two lives, my quarters had always been with the Seventh Squad on the front lines.

So this was the first time in my two lives that I was relocating somewhere else.

It left me feeling unsettled.

Still, I was grateful that the squad members treated it as no big deal and spoke casually.

It helped lighten my mood a bit.

Like I was just going on a short trip and would be back here soon.

Smirking at the thought, I stepped outside—and suddenly noticed an unexpected figure standing there.

“Dang Sojeo?”

Dang Yeoeun, the leader of the Third Squad, was standing outside the Seventh Squad’s quarters.

She must have been waiting for me.

I had sensed someone outside, but never imagined it would be her.

When I looked at her with surprise, she shyly smiled and said,

“I thought maybe you’d need some help. But…”

She glanced at my belongings and looked a bit embarrassed.

Just a small pack and a single sword.

There was nothing to help with.

Seeing her awkward expression, I quickly said,

“Still, thanks for coming, Dang Sojeo.”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing. Of course…”

We both trailed off, unsure what to say next, our eyes darting around awkwardly.

Finally, I managed to break the silence.

“Sh-should we go then?”

“Ah, y-yeah, let’s.”

We walked on in silence.

It felt incredibly awkward.

I wanted to say something, but my mind went blank.

Swallowing hard, I thought,

‘That’s strange. I’m usually good at talking in front of Sojeo, so why now?’

Then, Dang Sojeo cautiously spoke first.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

Did she have something to apologize for?

I looked at her, puzzled.

She lowered her head deeply, avoiding my gaze.

“I asked to make you the Third Squad’s vice leader without consulting you first…”

“Oh.”

Only then did I understand what she meant.

It was definitely a sudden thing.

I nodded knowingly, and she hurriedly continued.

“At that time, Squad Leader Je Won-yeong suddenly said you and Sojeo Haecheong were at your peak. I had no choice but to request it suddenly. There was talk that if you were a master at your peak, you could be sent as a leader to another Biryong unit… I was going to tell you right away, but then you went on a scouting mission, and when you came back, you were gone…”

Listening to her rambling without meeting my eyes, I finally understood the situation fully.

And that it was an unavoidable circumstance.

Suddenly, I found her, all hunched over and apologizing to me, quite endearing.

Everyone else thought of her as cold and aloof.

It felt nice that I was the only one who knew this side of her.

I smiled warmly and said,

“Don’t apologize. I understand there wasn’t time to ask me. Besides… if you think about it, you stopped me from being sent to another Biryong unit, right? I should be the one thanking you.”

After that, she relaxed a bit and gave me a bright smile.

She must have been holding that in for a while.

She was truly a cute and beautiful person.

Feeling more at ease, she changed the subject.

“So, I heard you took down a Cheolgwi in Nagjang?”

“Oh, that? Yes, I actually encountered two of them.”

“What?! Two at once?! How did you manage that?”

“Well, at that time I…”

From there, we chatted comfortably as we walked to the Third Squad.

When we arrived, we saw all the squad members standing in front of the quarters, waiting for us.

Seven men and two women—nine in total.

It looked like they were putting on some kind of welcome ceremony.

Trying to keep a calm expression, Dang Sojeo and I stepped forward.

Among the two women, Song Yeong-yeong Sojeo, who had been following me around for a while, waved cutely.

‘Hmm, at least one person’s welcoming me.’

I scanned the others and thought,

‘The rest definitely aren’t.’

Though they were all here for the welcome, only Song Yeong-yeong Sojeo actually looked happy.

The rest, especially the men, had a very hostile vibe.

They all glared at me as if ready to devour me.

Then Dang Sojeo introduced me with a cold, icy expression completely different from earlier.

“As you already know, starting today, Seonwoo Jin Gongja, formerly of the Seventh Squad, will be joining us as our vice leader. Please welcome him.”

The Third Squad members clapped, their eyes still burning with hostility.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

It was a very formal, forced applause.

But I was paying more attention to Dang Sojeo standing beside me than their eyes or claps.

Right now, she looked like an ice statue—cold and radiating frost.

The change from the shy girl earlier was unbelievable. This was a true transformation.

It was fascinating.

Then she looked at me and said,

“Vice Leader Seonwoo Jin, please say a few words to the squad.”

I smirked at her cold tone and replied lightly,

“I’m Seonwoo Jin, now vice leader of the Third Squad. I still have a lot to learn, so I ask for everyone’s…”

At that moment, someone muttered.

“Good thing he’s not lacking.”

It was a man standing at the far left.

He spoke loudly, as if wanting me to hear.

I stopped and looked at him.

Another man chimed in.

“Not lacking? That’s just fake. If he was really lacking, do you think he’d dare come here?”

I stared at them with a dumbfounded expression.

But it wasn’t just those two.

Though only two spoke, the other men chuckled as if entertained by their words.

“Hah.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

I didn’t expect a warm welcome, but this was beyond what I imagined for hazing.

Just as I was about to step forward, Dang Sojeo suddenly exploded with energy.

Whoosh!

Her expression and voice turned icy cold, as if freezing everything around her.

She addressed them sharply.

“Gongja Kang, Gongja Mok, what do you think you’re doing?”

Her fierce presence immediately silenced the Third Squad members, who snapped to attention.

Even the two who had mocked me fell silent.

But Dang Sojeo wasn’t done.

Her voice, sharp as ice, rang out again.

“Kang So-cheol! Mok Gyeong-jin! Can’t you hear me?!”

Her piercing shout made the two stiffen and quickly respond.

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

“W-we were just—!”

But she cut them off, stepping closer and raising her voice.

“Seonwoo Gongja was originally a talent who might have been sent as a leader to another Biryong unit! I begged him to come as our vice leader! And you dare show such disrespect on your first meeting? Do you intend to embarrass me in front of the new vice leader?!”

Her cold intensity drained the color from their faces.

They hurriedly shouted,

“N-no! That’s not what we meant!”

“Exactly! We never thought that!”

She glared at them a moment longer, then lowered her voice.

“If that’s not what you thought, then what was it? What kind of shameful, foolish behavior is this?”

Her lowered tone, combined with her cold aura, felt as biting as a winter wind.

If I felt it just watching, imagine how the two must have felt.

They shivered and shouted loudly,

“We’re sorry, Squad Leader!”

“We won’t let this happen again, Squad Leader!”

But Dang Sojeo shook her head.

“You should apologize to the person you offended, not me. Isn’t that right?”

The two clenched their teeth and immediately turned to me.

“We apologize, Vice Leader!”

“Please forgive our rudeness!”

I whistled quietly in admiration.

“Wow! Impressive.”

Her commanding presence was undeniable.

The woman who had smiled so sweetly earlier was nowhere to be seen.

I thought to myself,

“No wonder no one would believe me if I said she’s actually a shy woman with a lot of scars. She’s a completely different person.”

Just then, someone came flying in fast from the forest.

I noticed first and looked over.

Soon, a man appeared, running along the branches.

I recognized his face and muttered,

“Squad Leader Je Won-yeong?”

He was Je Won-yeong, the newly appointed Fourth Squad leader, known as the Sword Hero.

He landed beside us with a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha! What’s this? Is this Seonwoo Jin’s vice leader initiation ceremony?”

He shook my hand warmly before turning to deliver a message to Deputy Commander Dang, whose expression remained as cold as ever.

“You look even colder than usual today. I don’t want to kill the mood, so I’ll get straight to the point. The unit leader asked me to tell you to come to headquarters. Apparently, there’s an urgent letter from your family home.”

Dang’s eyes flickered with surprise.

“My family home? What’s happened?”

Her family home was the Sachun Dang clan.

“I don’t know the details myself. I was just told to pass along the message. But rest assured, I delivered it clearly.”

With that, Je Won-young gave me a sly grin before swiftly disappearing.

He was always such a cheerful presence.

Sometimes I wondered if, as he aged, he might end up like the venerable Sword Saint.

Glancing at Deputy Commander Dang, I saw her deep in thought, her face serious.

It seemed that receiving a message from her family wasn’t an everyday occurrence.

I smiled and spoke gently.

“Deputy Commander Dang, you should go. I think that’s enough introductions for now.”

“But—”

“I’m fine. It sounds urgent, so please, go quickly.”

After I urged her again, she sighed and addressed the squad one last time.

“Let me remind you all: anyone who insults the deputy leader insults me as well. I expect this will never happen again.”

“Yes, understood, Commander!”

With that, she took off toward the Thirteenth Division headquarters.

Once she was far enough away, I grinned and turned to the squad.

“Alright, now it’s time for the real men’s moment.”

The men, who had been about to disperse, looked at me as if I’d lost my mind.

“What did you say?”

I smiled brightly and said, “We’re warriors, aren’t we? Is it enough to just exchange polite words? I’m so bored I’m about to yawn. Don’t you feel the same? Or… are you too scared to do anything else?”

Their eyes began to flash with a dangerous gleam.

The one who had mocked me earlier ground his teeth and said, “You’re going to regret that.”

I chuckled. “Oh? Regret, huh? Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be right to crush the squad on the very first day. Especially when you’re all scaredy-cats who won’t step up because you’re afraid to fight.”

That was the spark.

The men’s eyes flared with anger as they closed in on me.

“You bastard!”

“You’ll regret saying that!”

“We’ll make you understand why you’re the Seventh Squad and we’re the Third!”

Exactly the reaction I wanted.

I smiled with satisfaction and beckoned them on with a finger.

“Looking forward to it.”

In my previous life, Squad Leader Seolpung had tried his best to embrace every member of the Seventh Squad.

He was patient—very patient.

But he failed.

Because there was one among us who was no ordinary man: Joo Tae-kyung.

You treat humans like humans, but with someone who’s not even human, it’s pointless.

Back then, the leader didn’t realize this.

When I, Deputy Commander Na, was about to die, the leader finally lost patience and crushed Joo Tae-kyung with sheer force.

And then something incredible happened.

The man who had been brutally beaten suddenly became as meek as a lamb and from then on fully cooperated with the leader.

It was utterly baffling.

The very person who constantly stirred up trouble and obstructed the leader suddenly acted like a completely different man after being crushed by force…

That incident left not only the leader but me with a deep sense of emptiness.

“If only he’d done that sooner, I, Deputy Commander Na, might have…”

Anyway, the conclusion I drew was this:

Violence should be avoided whenever possible, but sometimes you have to be flexible.

Sometimes, a clear hierarchy must be established more decisively than through words.

Especially with those who don’t know fear.

I grinned fiercely and said to the Third Squad members, “Come on then. But be warned—you’re going to feel the pain.”