“On the march~ We sing the military song! The military song is the torch of the anti-imperialism!”
“Beautiful! We protect this beautiful land- us!”
“Blood-splattered gymnastics, Twenty-four times!”
“Urg!”
Ho Cheon-an carefully observed the panting trainees. The trainees also took in Ho Cheon-an with their eyes.
The change in stamina and strength over the past four weeks was felt more vividly. That feeble body, which could only do blood-splattered gymnastics and collapse afterward, and vomit all sorts of bile after the mountain runs, had been reborn into a strong physique capable of completing mountain runs and singing military songs without pause.
Was that all? They had also mastered a new martial art called stealth techniques while developing that stamina.
Based on those stealth techniques and stamina, they overcame the disadvantage of having fewer numbers and confidently earned their qualifications.
“This is where my training with all of you ends.”
“Urg!”
“To be precise, the training period ends today, but as your instructor, I have the obligation to observe the serious battle of the three successful squads. The trainees will have the day for self-directed activities. Understood?”
“Urg!”
“Then, I will say everything that needs to be said.”
“Urg!”
Ho Cheon-an said.
“I am proud of all of you.”
“Ahhhh!!”
“However, the reason I am proud of you is not that you passed the selection test, nor because you earned your belts, nor because you presented me with your Hero Badges.”
“Urg!”
“It is because of the potential you have embraced. That you have blossomed is what I am proud of.”
“Urg!”
Ho Cheon-an smiled at the trainees. Surprised by the smile shown by Ho Cheon-an, the trainees smiled back.
“Dear trainees, my guidance ends here. From now on, you will carve out your own paths. Do not forget. The trainees have already overcome themselves.”
“Ahhh!!”
The trainees looked at Ho Cheon-an with fiery eyes. Even at the last moment, the fact that they had gained recognition from the instructor excited them. That stoic instructor was actually praising them.
Everyone focused on Ho Cheon-an’s words. More, more praises, please!
“Now, I will announce next week’s schedule.”
What the heck.
Jae Sang-hae could no longer hold it in and raised his hand.
“What is it? Jae Sang-hae trainee.”
“Is that it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean we worked hard for a month! And all we get is ‘I’m proud of you’! No more than that?”
“Correct!”
“Isn’t that a bit much!!!”
The tension of the Twelfth Squad felt like it was going to ignite a riot! Well, they had every right to be upset! For a whole month, they ate nothing but tiny rice balls with chicken breast and eggs. Enough to make anyone want to vomit! And they tried to end it all with a single compliment?
“Didn’t we help you get your Hero Badge too! Give us some more praise!”
“Correct! Correct!”
Ho Cheon-an burst into laughter at the trainees of the Twelfth Squad.
“Get down.”
“Urg!”
Rumble!!!
“Roll left, roll right, go to sleep.”
“Urg! Urg! Urg!”
Rumble! Crash!! Boom!!
“Wake up!”
“Urg!”
The trainees, fully alert, raised their voices. They were out of their minds. After all they’d been through this past month, they were actually crawling at the end!
“Under normal circumstances, I would have to say I’m disappointed with you all, but I won’t.”
“Urg!”
“It’s because I respect your choices. Of course, respecting your autonomy does not mean I’m neglecting you. There are costs associated with choices. Understood?”
“Urg!!”
“Now, I will announce next week’s schedule.”
“Ahhh!!”
Ho Cheon-an heartlessly crushed the trainees’ hopes for a touching conclusion while wrapping up the schedule for the final day.
* *
Dawn.
Jo Ga-ju opened his eyes wide, then closed them again.
“Huff.”
It was the time for the morning mountain runs and blood-splattered gymnastics that had been ingrained in his body over the past month. However, now that the official schedule was over as of yesterday, the obligation to continue training had disappeared.
‘Hmm…’
Feeling somewhat reluctant, Jo Ga-ju tossed and turned on his bed.
Blood-splattered gymnastics and mountain runs had been the driving force behind his physical transformation. Jo Ga-ju believed that continuing blood-splattered gymnastics and mountain runs every morning was the key to establishing the Twelfth Squad.
But.
The blood-splattered gymnastics were truly gymnastics stained with blood. Rolling around on the ground, palms, knees, and shins would often scrape and bleed. After the workday, he found himself sewing up his torn training clothes with a needle and thread on a daily basis.
“I can’t force the morning training on my comrades.”
Once the work hours began, he decided to stretch his body on his own. Just as Jo Ga-ju tried to calm his mind and close his eyes again…
“Cough.”
“Hmm.”
Rustle, rustle.
Jo Ga-ju could sense the movements of his comrades tossing and turning and listened carefully. At first, he thought it was just coincidence, but upon closer inspection, it seemed all the trainees of the Twelfth Squad were awake.
Jo Ga-ju chuckled and sat up.
“What’s up? Get moving. We need to do our morning training.”
“Cough. Hmm…”
“Well, um, the instructor is absent, isn’t he?”
“What are you saying? The captain can take on the role of the instructor.”
“Is that so? Hmm.”
“Somehow, my body feels sluggish…”
The trainees, uncomfortable with self-directed training, made various excuses as they rose one by one. Jo Ga-ju silently smiled when he saw Jae Sang-hae heading outside.
“Twelfth Squad! Mountain runs commence!”
“Urg!”
The Twelfth Squad began the first day of their waiting period with mountain runs and blood-splattered training.
* *
“Huuff..!”
Jo Ga-ju retracted his spear and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Taking a moment to pause, he looked around.
The trainees from the six eliminated squads were gradually packing their things and leaving the Golden Guards training ground. Although they could stay for a maximum of one week, no one wanted to remain among the winners after becoming a loser.
Those who returned their training uniforms and changed into casual clothes departed from the training facility.
Jo Ga-ju felt that their shoulders looked particularly slumped.
“This atmosphere is rather unpleasant.”
When Jo Ga-ju looked back, he found Jae Sang-hae standing there.
“Aren’t you tired of this? Practicing even on a day like today.”
“Haha, I can’t help it now that I’ve changed my weapon.”
“Right! Let’s say that’s true. If you’ve filled your practice quota for today, let’s go out!”
“Hmm.”
The successful trainees, including the Twelfth Squad, were currently in a waiting state, but realistically, about 90% of them could be considered part of the Golden Guards.
Even though the final hurdle, the Golden Guards apprenticeship exam, remained, it could be expected that fewer than 10% would be eliminated through that process. Unless a critical mistake or significant flaw was found, most would be reassigned to other divisions even if they did not achieve significant results in that practical training.
The waiting trainees were allowed to go out freely. They only needed to return by curfew.
“In this environment, how can we train! Today, we should celebrate a bit! We have to!”
“Yeah. Understood.”
“And! I must see the mysterious beauty of the Inn of Dragons! That brat Kang Chumo-ru talks about it all the time! Anyone who hasn’t seen her would feel wronged to live!”
Jo Ga-ju made a wry smile. Indeed, Kang Chumo-ru’s tales of her were excessive. He often boasted about having seen the Black Cat, so it was quite impressive that Jae Sang-hae had managed to endure as long as he had.
For Jae Sang-hae, seeing the mysterious beauty would likely be more important than even seeing the Black Cat’s beauty.
Jo Ga-ju found it quite amusing that Jae Sang-hae intended to go to the Inn of Dragons just to see that mysterious beauty, as if he was being dragged around.
“Ha ha… you have big aspirations. Have you thought about what will happen if you get caught by the instructor?”
“What are you talking about? This is the perfect opportunity. It’s Sunday, so the instructor has to take a break, and he might be at the inn, but what day is it today? It’s a weekday! If I just see the mysterious beauty for a moment, I won’t run into the instructor!”
“Ha, well, go ahead.”
“Bwahahaha! Well thought out!”
Even though Jo Ga-ju intended to hang out with other comrades on the way, Jae Sang-hae shook his head and explained that all the other trainees had turned him down.
‘Looks like I’m stuck.’
Shaking his head, Jo Ga-ju was practically dragged along by Jae Sang-hae to the Inn of Dragons.
“Ugh! To eat something this delicious just the three of us!”
Jo Ga-ju exploded with frustration at the taste of the food at the Inn of Dragons. The first week they took leave, Jo Ga-ju and his group had run into Ho Cheon-an and then the remaining vacationers were banned from the Inn of Dragons.
“Here, have a drink.”
Jo Ga-ju and Jae Sang-hae clinked their cups.
“Yeah. Must have been tough.”
“Ha. You’re the one who changed the weapons and had a tough time. Did you decide on a spear as your main weapon now?”
“Probably. Using a sword for at least a year would be stronger… But I’ve already challenged it.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll cheer you on.”
Just as the two were laughing and drinking, suddenly…
Boom!!
“Come out! Show yourself!”
The door to the Inn of Dragons crashed open, and loud shouts erupted. Jo Ga-ju and Jae Sang-hae turned their attention to that direction.
A flushed face. Staggering steps. A man who looked completely drunk shouted loudly.
“That author…”
Jo Ga-ju furrowed his brow at the familiar face.
Jang Il-sak, the Peak Expert from the Seventh Squad, was causing a scene at the Inn of Dragons.
“Hey you! Why don’t you show yourself!”
Jo Ga-ju realized that Jang Il-sak was looking for the Black Cat and stood up.
“What is this ruckus! Jang Il-sak!”
Recognizing Jo Ga-ju, Jang Il-sak began to cackle.
“Who do we have here! The renowned spear wielder of the Twelfth Squad! Hehehe!”
“This is not a place for you to create a commotion! Get out of here!”
As a light argument broke out, it was clearly a different situation than when they had a light quarrel by the door. The guards of the inn appeared to suppress Jang Il-sak, who had crashed through the door.
“Just as I guessed! You are one of them! Hahaha! There’s no way I’d lose to some pathetic fool like you! Hahaha!”
Seeing the laughing Jang Il-sak, Jo Ga-ju frowned. He seemed to have drunk himself senseless. If a Peak Expert were to become that drunk, it looked like he was intent on revenge for the humiliation from the first week of leave.
“Look, I understand you’re upset, but making a scene like this won’t do you any good.”
“Shut up! Who do you think you’re talking to, you weakling!!”
Jang Il-sak spat in Jo Ga-ju’s direction.
“Did you change your main weapon hoping to get into the Golden Guards? Do you think you can achieve that by just talking like this?”
“I have given up a sword and taken a spear. I’m not just using a spear to get through the group test.”
“Ha! Nonsense! Did you ever show a quality befitting a Peak Expert just because you wielded a spear? You were nothing more than a clown with a pole! I’m embarrassed to have lost to someone like you!”
“This guy really thinks he owns the place now, doesn’t he!”
Jo Ga-ju struggled to restrain Jae Sang-hae, who was trying to charge forward. As the two of them grappled, Jang Il-sak laughed maniacally.
“Haha! Come at me! Just try holding onto that proud spear! Hahaha! Try it! But it won’t do you any good!”
“Catch him!”
“Subdue him!!”
The guards of the inn brought ropes and tried to subdue Jang Il-sak. Though he twisted his body and resisted, he was in a drunken stupor, and with more than ten guards quickly overwhelming him, he was subdued shortly.
“Haha!”
Jang Il-sak was dragged out while laughing like a madman, and Jae Sang-hae frowned.
“Ugh, that guy ruined my drink. Jo Ga-ju! Don’t let it get to you! Paying attention to a loser’s grumbling is pointless.”
“…You’re right.”
Jo Ga-ju and Jae Sang-hae had no choice but to exit the Inn of Dragons. Although they hadn’t caused the commotion, they couldn’t just stay seated amidst the chaos.
“Phew! I hope I won’t get banned from the Inn of Dragons! It’s so hard to catch a glimpse of that place! I will definitely witness the mysterious beauty with my own eyes!”
“….”
“Are you still worried about what he said? Let it go! You can easily subdue someone like him in just a few months of training! I can admit that your talent with a spear is beyond my level!”
“Haha. Thanks.”
“Besides! If you got rejected by a woman, you should know that it’s shameful! What kind of scumbag comes to an inn for revenge? That guy should just –!”
