The Final Bluff and Reinforcements
Now for the biggest one! Stab one bastard with the bayonet, and another comes charging in. Stab that one, and yet another tries to snatch my matchlock. When I yanked the bayonet free with all my strength, that fucker's finger came off with it.
"Aaaagh! My hand! My haaaand!"
"You! Go! We! Die!"
"*%#$%^&*!!! $%^&**&^%!!!"
These barbarian bastards fought like proper prisoners of war—pulling back the wounded and sending in reinforcements. Just when I thought I'd beaten one off, another would rush in, leaving no time to breathe.
"Uwaaaah! Get the hell out!"
"Scram! Die, you shits!"
"You fucking bastard! Eat something before you fight! We're starving here!"
We weren't just sitting ducks either. We jabbed spears through the gaps in the barricade and punched holes through the chests of any who tried to climb over. The battle, which had kicked off in the late afternoon, dragged on until sunset. The barbarians, foaming at the mouth with rage, charged with eyes bloodshot, and we held firm, covered head to toe in gore, refusing to fall.
"Fall back! Fall back!"
*&^%$#!!
"@#$%^&!!"
That's when the barbarian bastards started pulling back. I figured they were taking a breather to prep for round two, but then a hulking brute as big as Eori's father lumbered out, changing everything.
"Waaaaaagh!"
The giant bellowed as he barreled toward the barricade, clearly planning to smash right through it with a body slam.
"Ah! Shit! That crazy fucker!"
No more holding back. I flipped open the powder pan lid and squeezed the trigger.
Boom!
"Guh?!"
The brute with a hole blasted through his chest lost his momentum, tumbling to the ground. But seeing that only fired up the other barbarians—they charged even harder, fearless.
"No bullets! None left!"
"The only thing missing is your moms, you motherless shits!"
"Block them!"
Just one shot left. One uncertain shot. While the uncles held the barricade, I fell back to reload. No powder left for the main charge, so I dumped priming powder down the muzzle instead. Of course, I saved enough for the pan. I rammed it down with the ramrod, then scanned the ground. Spotted a few pebbles a bit smaller than my thumbnail, scooped them up, and shoved them in. Shorten the barrel's life? Tough shit—mine was on the line first.
Next, a paper pouch of glass shards, rammed home. Reload complete, I checked the surroundings. Things were dicey everywhere. Fewer than at the fiercest north gate, but every barricade had a few barbarians swarming. And more were vaulting the walls into the open ground—getting thicker by the second?!
"Iyaaaaah!"
"Son of a bitch!"
One vaulted the wall and charged straight at our uncles. I had to use my last powder.
Boom!
"Guh?!"
The bastard veered sideways and crumpled. Like all the others who'd eaten my matchlock rounds, he didn't get back up.
"N-no bullets! For real! None!"
The ones behind the barricade couldn't have missed my shot. I forced a grin at them and pretended to reload.
"What do you mean none? Now for the biggest one!"
No priming powder left—not even a handful. But enough for the pan. I slammed the lid shut and rushed back to the line.
"Who wants it first? You? You? Speak up! This one's the biggest! Come on out! I'm dying to fire this thing!"
Everything but the "dying to" part was bullshit. But these barbarians, burned one too many times already, flinched and backed off.
"N-no! D-don't push!"
"I-it's empty! Fake! No bullets!"
"Then you go!"
"Hurry up! Can't you see I'm waiting?!"
That bought our uncles a few seconds' breather. To stretch it into minutes, I bluffed harder.
"Ahahaha! Just kidding! Come on! Hurry! I'll drill a pretty hole right in your skull! Come on in! It's a bluff, see? Hurry! I'm curious what face you'll make with a hole in your head!"
I laughed like I was genuinely thrilled, and their faces went ghost-white. Egged on, I swung the muzzle around wildly.
"Uwaaaagh!"
Then a racket from the side. Another barbarian had hopped the wall and was charging us.
"Damn it, for real!"
Too late for the uncles to react—I swung the barrel his way, closed in, and pulled the trigger.
Click!
"!"
Pssshhh...
The bastard froze in terror the instant I fired, but no bullet—just the pan flashed. While he stood there clueless, I bayonet-thrusted.
"Told you it was a bluff, you fucking bastard."
Stab!
"Hurk!"
The barbarian clutched his gut wound with both hands. Before he could grab my gun, I yanked the bayonet free and twisted it 45 degrees into his throat, just like I'd been taught.
Squelch!
"Guhk! Puh—kehuk!"
The feel was worlds apart from the gut stab, transmitted straight through the gun. Must've nicked his windpipe—he spewed blood with coughs and collapsed.
"......!"
Until now, I'd only killed with the matchlock. Even at the barricade, I'd just subdued, not slain. This was my first time staring straight into a man's eyes and stabbing him dead face-to-face.
"Kraaagh!"
No time for reflection. I snapped back and rejoined the barricade.
"No bullets! Fake!"
"Yeah! Fake! You dumb fuck! Who's the idiot who fell for the fake earlier? Puhaha! Buncha morons!"
Talk tough, but my body was draining fast. The fight wouldn't end, and I felt like I'd die of exhaustion before any blade found me.
Why won't these bastards back off? What's their deal?
Honestly, I'd figured they'd probe a bit then retreat. Hit-and-run for loot, right? But now they were charging like they just wanted us dead.
Ah, shit—did I kill their leader or something? Maybe no one left to order a pullback, so they kept attacking. No regrets, though. He was dead, and now enemies swarmed us.
"Kyaaaagh!"
A woman's scream pierced the bayonet jabs. I glanced back—a barbarian approaching with a plank shield.
"Sh-shoot him! Hurry!"
"Can't! He keeps blocking...!"
"Shoot his legs!"
Arrows rained, but the plank blocked them all. Leaving the line, I took a running start and hurled my bayonet with everything I had.
"Hraaagh!"
It arced gently and—
"Guh?!"
—thunked into the barbarian's back. The strap snapped under the impact; the matchlock tumbled free from the hilt. I didn't wait to see him fall—turned to grab a shovel from the bastard I'd just bayoneted.
Thwack!
"Kehuk!"
A blow slammed my side, sending me sprawling. Another barbarian had snuck up with the shovel raised to smash down.
"*&^%$#!!"
Thinking he'd finish me, he swung high. Ass planted on the dirt, I rolled toward him and hugged his leg.
Imanari—no, Si-jin roll! Eat shit, bastard!
He couldn't handle the sudden leg lock and toppled. But I wasn't done. Wedged his ankle in my armpit and wrenched hard.
Crack!
"Aaaaaghh...!"
The snap of bone echoed from my pit. He convulsed in agony, and I snatched the shovel he'd swung at me, rising.
"You goddamn dog!"
Wham!
I cursed and dug the spade into his neck like plowing earth. The sharp edge sliced like a guillotine, carving flesh.
"Kehuk! Guh—grrrk!"
Yanked it halfway out, and like the bayonet victim, he vomited blood and died.
Leaving that behind, I raced back yelling.
"Everyone, hold on just a bit longer! The government troops are coming soon! The troops are here! Shout it! The troops are coming!"
"Uwaaaah! Government troops! The troops! The troops are driving out the barbarians!"
"Troops coming soon! Hold on! Troops are coming! Troops are cooooming!"
The villagers echoed it all. Some parroted blindly, others with real hope. But reality sucked. Barricades half-down, barbarians over walls, some even reaching the women. Any second now, we'd break.
Then—
Boom! Boom-boom! Boom!
Gunfire erupted beyond the barbarians. Recognizing the signal, I grinned and bellowed for real.
"The troops are here!"
"Government troops! They're here! They're here!"
"Surrender now, you bastards!"
Exhausted uncles started grinning too. Joy flooded their shouts.
"Wh-whoa! Run! Get out!"
"Fuck! Kill! Joseon! Kill!"
"@#$%^&^%$%^&*!!"
The barbarians panicked. Some yelling to flee despite knowing backup was behind, others berserking to take one more down, rest gibbering nonsense.
Boom-boom! Boom! Boom!
Gunfire unrelenting. Within minutes, every barbarian dropped weapons, hands up in surrender. They hit the dirt, and beyond, paper-armored soldiers approached.
Strength gone, I collapsed, panting and muttering.
"Hah! Hah! Hah! Ah, fuck. It's over. Over. Hah! Hah! Hah! Ngh, grrgh!"
Suddenly, blood surged reverse through my body, pain flooding my skull. Felt like someone clocked my head, but only village uncles around—all alive.
"Krrk, agh, ughhh!"
No strength to twitch a finger, yet pain wracked me. Body twisted wildly, vision blurring.
"......! ......!"
Someone rushed up shouting urgently, but my mind floated—couldn't make out words. Darkness swallowed my sight. I shut my eyes, praying for the pain to end.
"Doctor, sir. Is my son Si-jin alright?"
"He's fine. Overexcited and exhausted, tension snapped—he just fainted. Nothing serious, don't worry. Rest up, and he'll come to."
"Thank you. Thank you, Doctor."
"Heh heh. I didn't do much. But really, Si-jin pulled off that ploy? Incredible. Boy's no doctor or investigator material, that's for sure."