I Am Kim Si-jin!
Ooh. I've got a real knack for this. Maybe I should try being a rockstar someday.
The Dojin clan's cavalry had come to declare war. No idea why. Wars were something the higher-ups decided on a whim anyway. All us grunts down here could do was thrash around desperately to stay alive.
We lit the lighthouse beacon and fired off periodic signal shots from the cannons to alert the surroundings that we were under emergency status. I ordered test fires to check the firearms' condition while burning off any powder that had gotten damp from the humidity.
The enemy wasn't sitting idle either. The ships that had been taunting us as they drew near the fortress turned around and headed for the nearby pier—the one we used for resupply. They docked there, unloading soldiers and supplies as they prepared for battle.
But... what the hell were they unloading? The pier was about three ri from the fortress, so I could make out the general shapes but not the details.
Standing atop the fortress gate's wall, I scanned the surroundings. The soldiers, finished with their preparations, were hunkered down behind the wall, rifles braced in the embrasures. Every face peering out through the gunports was soaked in tension and fear.
"Huuuuh...!"
I wasn't exactly calm myself. My chest felt stuffed with hundreds of moths, my heart pounding huge and clear, hands slick with sweat. I checked the matchlock rifle slung over my shoulder and the pistol at my waist over and over. Swallowing down the rising nausea, I glanced at Lieutenant Na Se-hyeong.
"......"
The lieutenant was leaning back against the wall, sitting there with a blank stare fixed on the fortress interior. Ever since the cavalry had declared war and ridden off, he'd been like this. For a guy who'd been itching for real combat, he looked utterly drained. He'd gotten all hyped listening to other people's war stories, but now that it was his turn to make one, reality had hit him. The reality that he might die—or worse, endure agony beyond death.
Seeing him completely zoned out, I muttered softly. Even if I hated the bastard, with lives on the line, I didn't want to raise my voice.
"If you're gonna shit your pants, do it inside, not here. The men can see you."
I tried to say it gently as I took the binoculars from his limp hand.
"......"
No response. Like a corpse.
"Alright. Platoon leader KIA."
I knocked twice on the helmet of the comatose Na Se-hyeong, like rapping on a door. Confirming no reaction, I turned to Sergeant Won Hyeong-gyun nearby, who was trembling like a pudgy poodle.
"Deputy platoon leader. Mind if I take command?"
"C-c-command, sir?"
"Platoon command. I'll take it over?"
"Y-yes, sir...!"
Okay. Perfect. This platoon's mine now.
"Hey! Medics! You two down there! Yeah, you! Any other medics around besides you guys?!"
I called out to the medics spacing out in the open space below the wall. Their faces were just as pale as everyone else's. Pointing at the two casualties here, I yelled,
"Get up here and evac these two! Inside!"
Once I saw the medics climbing the stairs to the wall, I turned my gaze back outward. Using the binoculars I'd commandeered from the ex-platoon leader, I examined the enemy in detail.
What the hell is that?
Through the cylindrical lenses, I saw Japanese soldiers hauling bundles of bamboo. Multiple bundles lashed together like rafts. And there were dozens of them stacked on the pier.
What on earth? Trying to use those to loop around to our rear? But the rear's all cliffs.
Not taking my eyes off the binoculars, I scanned around the pier. They were standing the bamboo rafts up like walls, with soldiers fiddling underneath. As the soldiers pulled back, something was revealed at the base.
Only then did I realize what it was, watching them easily push and pull the things. Mobile barricades.
I had no idea if mere bundled bamboo could stop musket balls, but the Japanese weren't idiots. They'd tested it before bringing it to a real fight, and it passed muster.
Ah, shit. We're screwed.
Maybe I should just surrender.
"L-Lieutenant Kim, sir!"
A panting voice called out to me. I lowered the binoculars and turned. Two soldiers were hauling a log table, faces flushed beet red.
"J-just as you ordered, sir! We brought it!"
"Yeah, good. Set it down here."
I stepped aside to make room, but the soldiers hesitated to lower it.
"H-here, sir?"
"Yeah. Hurry up and set it down."
"B-but why put it here, sir?"
"Gonna eat here. Put it down already. Unless you want a smack."
With battle staring us down, my nerves were razor-sharp. Only after I glared did they finally set the table on the wall—right in front of the embrasure. They lay flat on it like it was a bed, clustering around the "dining table." Even lying on top, there was still a bit of distance to the gunport.
"Go grab some blankets. Two or three. Nah, just three."
"Yes, sir!"
Thankfully, they didn't question it this time and scurried off for blankets.
"One of you go! Why both?! One stay and hold position!"
My gut burned as both dashed off, but I hauled myself up onto the table, perching on the edge with my butt.
The overwhelming tension made it impossible even to glance beyond the wall.
"Huuuuh...!"
I sighed for the umpteenth time, trying to exhale some anxiety. No dice. Right now, my mind was full of our pretty Eori.
Ah. I miss Eori. Shouldn't have become an officer. Should've just stayed in Chaekho Village, living peacefully with Eori and our daughter. No clue about wars or battles.
Driving me nuts. What’s Eori doing right now? Almost 5 PM, so probably prepping dinner? Geum-ok helping her cook, I bet. But why'd Geum-ok wanna be my concubine? Even if I'm hot shit, still... Eh, whatever. In a spot like this, yeah, I miss her.
"Lieutenant Kim!"
A voice thick with tension rang out. I pushed up from the table and shouted,
"Call me platoon leader! I'm the platoon leader now!"
"P-platoon leader, sir! They're coming!"
Coming? Ah, yeah. They're really coming.
The bamboo rafts were advancing slowly like a wall, Japanese heads peeking over now and then. If four or five hid behind each...
At least over a hundred.
"Looks like more than a hundred, sir."
Ah, fuck. Nearly jumped out of my skin. Sergeant I Cheol-dong had appeared behind me without a sound. Even with battle breathing down our necks, his face was stoic as ever. Well, his hands trembled faintly.
"Yeah."
Leaning against the wall, chin in hand, I stared out. The uphill slope would buy us time before they arrived.
Ha, shit. No choice.
I couldn't hide the bursting grin as I turned to Sergeant I Cheol-dong.
"That's doable, right?"
"Yes, sir."
He nodded his stone face even as I beamed. But the nearby soldiers? Dead silent, but their eyes screamed he's lost it.
Whatever. If they see a madman, I'll be one. It's only natural.
I stepped a few paces from the wall, hands on hips, and bellowed loud enough to shake the fortress.
"Listen up, you fucks!!"
Every head snapped to me. Even the stoic sergeant behind me widened his eyes. I flashed him a grin, then roared at everyone.
"Hey! Who am I?!"
No answer. Soldiers hunkered in embrasures, medics waiting below, sentries peeking from the watchtower, officers awaiting orders. I swept my gaze over them and snarled.
"You little shits! When your superior asks, you answer! Who am I?!"
"Th-the platoon leader, sir...!"
Someone stammered it out. I glanced their way, shook my head, and bellowed,
"No! Not that! Who am I?!"
Starting with that one, answers trickled in.
"D-deputy platoon leader, sir?"
"Wrong! Wrong! Something else!"
"L-Lieutenant Kim Si-jin?"
"Yes! Right! Drop the rank?"
"K-Kim Si-jin?"
"That's it! Bingo!"
I pointed at the source before they spotted my shaking hand, slapping it back to my hip as I yelled,
"Yeah! I'm Kim Si-jin! Before coming here! Before becoming an officer! What was I?! Anyone know?! Before the military academy! What the hell was I?!"
Silence again. They eyed the distant Japanese; I gave my own intro.
"At 10 years old! I took down five bandits! Five of 'em! At 10!"
I splayed my fingers wide for emphasis, then jabbed at a nearby soldier.
"Hey! How many bandits did I drop?!"
He glanced at the embrasure but answered.
"F-five, sir?"
"Five what? Speak properly!"
"S-sorry, sir! Five captured!"
"How many bandits did I capture?!"
"Five captured!"
"Louder!"
"FIVE CAPTURED!!!"
"Good! Nice one!"
I clapped for the guy who'd nailed it, then announced my next feat to all.
"And at 15! I bagged a massive tiger! Head this big!"
I spread my arms wide. Feeling all eyes, I asked a nearby soldier casually.
"So how'd I take it down?"
"W-with, uh, b-bow and arrow, sir...?"
"Ooh? You know? Where you from?"
"Andong, Gyeongsang Province!"
My rep reached there? I grinned at him, flashed a peace sign with index and middle—no peace intended.
"That tiger! Two arrows! Just two! Right through nose and eye! Hey! How many arrows?!"
"T-two arrows, sir!"
"Tell everyone! How many?!"
"TWO ARROWS!!!"
"Yes!"
I pushed till he screamed, then moved on.
"And just past 16! Bandits hit near the village! Northern barbarians teaming with Joseon criminals! Total of a hundred! Hey, you!"
"A HUNDRED!!!"
"No. Fix that helmet or you're done."
"S-sorry!"
He straightened it. That soldier and others were smirking now. Atmosphere loosening, I checked the Japanese again—nearly at the hillcrest. Suppressing urgency, I finished.
"Those hundred barbarians! Fighting men in the village? Fifty? No, forty? Thirty! Exactly thirty! Me leading thirty against a hundred."
Bow-wielding women made near sixty, but not now. Hands on hips, shoulders slumped dramatically like an actor, I sighed and cursed for effect.
"Haa! Back then, fuck! We had jack shit! One musket—mine—with five bullets! Others had bows, spears—fuck! Total shitshow! But look!"
I locked eyes, pointing.
"You got a gun? You too? Everyone? Anyone without? Hands up. See? All armed. And hey. Look."
I pointed beyond the wall. Lead soldiers crested with bamboo walls. Choking sight, but I grinned through it.
"Those fucks? Nothing. Thinkin' bamboo stops bullets, huffing up the hill. Really? Bundled sticks block shots? No way."
Laughter crept onto tense faces. I seized it.
"When those barbarians charged! Zero casualties! Not one! For real! Don't believe? Visit my village!"
Side-eyeing Japanese—over half uphill now. Time to wrap. In the silent fortress, low voice:
"Won't say zero losses this time. But this:"
I slammed my palm to my chest for all to hear. Ignoring the sting, I roared,
"I'm Kim Si-jin! Took five bandits at 10! Tiger with two arrows at 15! Next year, rallied villagers, nabbed hundred barbarians! That guy's here! Right here!"
Pointed at our fortress.
"We lose?! Me! Kim Si-jin! The Kim Si-jin here! Lose?! Answer, you bastards!"
"""No, sir!"""
"What? Mosquito dicks? Louder! We lose?!"
"""NOOO!!!"""
"You fucks! Speak right! Bigger! We lose?!"
"""NOOOOOO!!!!"""
Our thirty roared louder than their hundred. Facing the crawling enemy, ears back, I said,
"Today! We fight to win! Why?! Who's here!"
"""KIM SI-JIINNNN!!!"""
"Yeah! 'Cause I'm here, we win! Scream it!"
"""WAAAAAHHHH!!!!"""
Ooh. I've got a real knack for this. Maybe I should try being a rockstar someday.
......If I survive this.