Where Did That Bastard's Head Go?
Eh? Where'd that bastard's head go? Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! The bell from the watchtower rang out four times in quick succession. It meant the enemy had closed within four hundred paces.
Just moments ago, everyone would've been panicking, breaking out in cold sweats. But now? They were grinning ear to ear, waiting for the enemy like it was a party.
Kuh. My leadership. It's killer. As expected, I'm the man.
“Platoon leader!”
The soldier who'd gone to fetch the blankets earlier called out to me as he climbed up onto the wall. He approached with three tightly rolled blankets clutched to his chest.
“Blankets! Got 'em!”
“Hey, shit. Why'd you take so damn long?”
“My apologies! What do we do with these?!”
Looked like my speech had hit him hard with that motivational high. The soldier was so pumped his face was flushed red. Not the same blush Eori gave me when she looked at me, of course.
“Right here, under the firing slit. Stack 'em at an angle.”
“Yes, sir! Right away!”
The soldier did as I said, propping the blankets under the table beneath the firing slit. That raised the table just right for perfect height.
“Give me that last one.”
I set the final one under the firing slit. Then I sprawled prone over the table, getting into position. Using the rolled blanket as a makeshift bipod, I mounted the rifle and aimed through the slit at the Japanese troops coming into view.
Perfect. This'll do.
With my setup complete, I sent the soldier back to his post. I stood up, sat on the table, and bellowed to everyone.
“Hey! What're you doing? Can't you see the guests have arrived? They've come all this way! Let's sing 'em a song! What should it be? Requests welcome!”
“How about Handsome Man?”
A voice laced with glee called out from somewhere.
“Hell yeah!”
I clenched my fist, pumping it to the beat as I called it out.
“In the middle of battle! We sing a military tune! The military tune! Handsome Man! One! Two! Three! Four!”
“““Handsome man! Strong and tough!”””
The fortress rang with the hearty chorus of the military song. Hearing it, the approaching Japanese tried to counter with their trumpets. Not nearly as good as us Joseon troops, though.
Dong! Dong! Dong! The bell signaling the enemy within three hundred paces rang out.
I rose to my knees on the table and peered over the wall. Through the gaps between the steadily advancing bamboo rafts, I spotted riders at the rear. Like the cavalry I'd seen before, they were clad head to toe in armor—but the flashy colors and oversized helmet crests marked them as commanders and their aides.
Those fucking bastards. Their men are struggling up front, grunting away. And these pricks ride in easy on horseback. Cursing the shits who'd ruined my peaceful days, I calmly gauged the distance.
The commanders were just over four hundred meters out. Not impossible, but not a gimme either. And firing now was too early. The real payoff for a sniper shot comes mid-battle, when the enemy falters.
Dong! Dong!Dong! Dong!Dong!
The soldiers were already belting out other military tunes without me prompting. Hearing the two hundred pace bell, I called for Sergeant I Cheol-dong.
“Sergeant I! First Squad Leader! Over here!”
“Yes, sir! Platoon Leader!”
Even the usually stoic Sergeant I was buzzing with excitement now. His stern face flushed as he hurried over.
I pointed at the lead bamboo raft approaching and gave orders.
“When they hit one hundred paces, First Squad opens volley fire on that! Tell your men!”
“Yes, sir! Consider it done!”
“Also! There might be times I can't give orders. When that happens, you take over as acting platoon leader! Call out priority targets! With this!”
I tapped the signal horn at his waist.
Joseon troops mainly used firearms, but they didn't shun traditional weapons like bows entirely. Squad leaders often used arrows to mark targets.
“Yes, sir! On it now!”
Yelling his acknowledgment, Sergeant I headed to his squad. He halted the singing, nocked an arrow, and loosed it at the incoming raft. The red-flagged shaft arced gracefully and struck dead center—like you'd expect from the Land of the Bow, Joseon.
Sergeant I pointed at the flagged lead raft, and his men nodded, mounting their rifles at the slits.
I called over Second and Third Squad Leaders in turn, issuing the same orders. By then, the Japanese had closed to one hundred paces.
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
“Huuuuh……”
I let out a sigh at the sharp bell peals. Then I raised my hand toward First Squad's section.
“One! Ready to fire!”
“““Ready to fire!”””
First Squad echoed me, sighting down their barrels at the enemy.
Praying that bamboo raft would shred, I called the next.
“Hammers back!”
“““Hammers back!”””
The metallic clicks cut faintly through the roaring song.
“Aim!”
No echo this time. First Squad tilted their heads to their stocks, silently acquiring targets.
I had no idea how tough those rafts were. But one hundred paces was within effective range for ball ammo and Neuller bullets. No letting them get closer.
Ha, please.
“Firing detail, on my mark!”
Hoping it'd punch through, I slammed my hand down.
“Fire! Commence!”
The song cut off abruptly at my command. Awkward silence blanketed the fortress for mere seconds before the volley crashed out.
Bang! Boom! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ten rifles firing as one. Ignoring the ringing ears and gunsmoke filling my right vision, I checked the raft.
Bamboo bundles exploded on impact. The raft halted like a struck tank, and two Japanese soldiers bolted to another.
“Shit!”
Worried for nothing! Relieved, I ordered Second Squad.
“Two! Ready to fire! Hammers back! Firing detail, on my mark! Fire, commence!”
Boom! Boom-boom! Bang! Boom!
Second Squad's target fared the same—bamboo bursting everywhere. The difference? This one toppled forward, exposing the soldiers who'd been hiding behind it.
“Target that raft! Don't shoot the men! The raft!”
Our goal wasn't total slaughter—it was to force retreat. Show those Japanese that the bamboo rafts they'd trusted were nothing but hell on water.
“Fire! Commence!”
Bang! Boom-boom! Boom!
Third Squad from the watchtower joined in. More bamboo shredded, and the enemy pulled back.
The relentlessly advancing rafts slowed.
Now.
“Sergeant I! You're in command! Sergeant I!”
“Yes, sir! Got it!”
With his firm reply, I dropped prone over the table again. Auto-hunt mode engaged—it was time to snipe an enemy commander.
“Haaa, huuuuuh……”
Long, deep breaths to steady my shaking hands. Rifle up, stock to shoulder. Unfolded the flip sight, zeroed at two hundred paces.
“Huuuuuh……”
Exhaled again, cocking the hammer. The metallic click rang clear amid the surrounding gunfire.
Gripped steady, I lined up on the flashiest-armored, biggest-headed commander.
Index finger on the trigger, eased it back slow, like stroking a lover.
Very... slowly...
BOOM!
The rifle bucked hard, white smoke blasting from the muzzle. I held position perfectly, waiting for it to clear.
……Eh? Where'd that bastard's head go?
The commander I'd targeted? His head was gone. No fancy helmet, no face—just nothing above the shoulders.
“……!”
“……!”
The other commanders panicked, whipping their horses around, scanning wildly. Like they couldn't believe a shot from here had connected.
To spread the good news, I sprang up yelling.
“Sub-lieutenant Kim Si-jin! Enemy commander down!”
The troops, busy reloading and aiming, erupted in cheers.
Too good to keep to ourselves, I waved both arms at the enemy.
“I did it, you fucks! Me! You're next! Any one of you assholes! Ahahahaha! Whoa, shit!”
Forgot I'd jury-rigged the table with blankets. Nearly lost my balance mid-cheer, looking like an idiot—but my shot still counted.
Bwooooo!
A trumpet blared from the crumbling Japanese formation. Soldiers crouched behind rafts fled rearward. Looked like the retreat signal.
But...
“Hey! You fuckers! Clean up your shit before you go!”
They ditched the rafts they'd dragged all the way.
“These pricks! Telling us to clean up after 'em?!”
“Ahahaha! Damn Japs are quick to run, huh!”
“Yeehaw! We won!”
The Joseon troops cheered at the litterbugs.
“Heh.”
Even Sergeant I cracked a pleased smile.
“Haa, fucking hell.”
Relief at surviving, joy at victory—my lips curled up. But it was too soon to relax fully.
I hopped off the table and called the squad leaders.
“Squad leaders! Report squad status! Squad leaders, come report!”
Through the cheers, the captains approached.
“First Squad: No casualties!”
“Second Squad: None!”
“Third Squad! All safe!”
Out of thirty-three combatants—minus Lieutenant Na Se-hyeong and Sergeant Won Hyeong-gyun—thirty-one unscathed. Only then did I truly relax.
Body aching like it might collapse any second, I scanned outside the wall. Amid the abandoned rafts, over ten Japanese lay still. Accounting for blind spots, double that at least.
Thirty-one Joseon troops repelled over a hundred without a scratch. Unreal results—I let out a hollow laugh.
Even now, the dinner bell clanged: claaang.
“Hey, Sergeant I.”
“Yes. Upper Captain I Cheol-dong.”
“Know what's for dinner tonight?”
“……Pardon?”
The iron man frowned, flustered. Seeing him crack made my grin widen.
I looked at these captains who'd followed a nineteen-year-old sub-lieutenant—not even a proper officer.
Surveying the victory-drunk cheering troops, I said,
“Dinner. We cheated death, and now I'm starving.”
“Resupply incoming shortly.”
“Join me? Oh, but Third Squad eats last. Keep watch on the perimeter. Especially those rafts—stragglers might be hiding.”
Still on edge, I issued orders.
“Hm?”
My gaze drifted to the headquarters building inside the fortress. Through the half-open window, Lieutenant Na Se-hyeong was glaring at me.
Ugh, that moron. I saved his ass—least he could do is be grateful.