The Weight of Death
The bandits were nothing but bandits no matter what they did. If one of their own died, shouldn't everyone mourn together? Yet they didn't. It seemed the weight I placed on death was completely different from what these people felt.
Ision spoke again, his voice cold and formal. “If you must, do it quietly among your squad members. If you've said everything you need to say, get out. You're in the way.”
Oh, is that how it is?
In an instant, all strength drained from my body. Marcus grabbed me by the back of my collar and dragged me out. We trudged back to the 15th squad's barracks, and curses spilled from my lips without restraint.
“Fucking hell. What a pathetic bunch of petty thieves.”
“I understand how you feel, but that's just how we've always been. When a member dies, only the few closest to them grieve. The whole unit doesn't come together for a funeral.”
“Why not? People who lived and ate together every day in the Elk Bandits died. Isn't it only natural for everyone to cry and mourn together?”
“Mourn, huh...” Marcus let out a dry chuckle. “That's a word I'd forgotten.”
He added, “In a lawless, orderless jungle like a bandit group, the only ones who receive comfort are those who return alive. The strong ones.”
Marcus was right. As we walked back to the barracks, every person we encountered didn't mourn Phelton and Harry. Instead, they just grinned at me and Marcus, saying things like, Oh, you two made it back alive, huh?
“What? Only you two came back? What about Phelton and Harry? They're dead? Heh heh. Idiots, I knew it would turn out like this.”
“Ooh~ Newbie, not bad at all~ Phelton and Harry both died, but you survived. What insane luck.”
“Look at old man Marcus limping like that. He's just going to be dead weight from now on. An old cripple—now he's a perfect piece of trash. Trash. Hahaha. Someone should just throw that away.”
It was disgusting. Everything inside this bandit group. All I could think was that they were a hopeless bunch who deserved to be treated like insects. What angered me even more was the female leader. She could have set down laws and order, cherished each and every member. So why was she just sitting back and doing nothing? Because they were all the same kind? Because this was nothing but a gathering of garbage?
“You're back?”
When we entered the 15th squad barracks that had been left abandoned for three days, Nancy was sitting on Phelton's bed, greeting us with a bright smile. The moment I saw her beaming face, my expression hardened. What the hell is this bitch scheming now?
“What are you doing here?” Marcus asked.
She turned her gaze toward me. “I came to see Hyun-woo. I heard he made it back alive and wanted to check on him.”
“Are you two dating?”
The ridiculous question made me jump in immediately with a strong denial. “Are you crazy? Me, dating her? Even as a joke, that's disgusting.”
“Hyun-woo seems to be quite shy.”
“Cut the nonsense and get lost. We're busy.”
“I came to congratulate you, and you're kicking me out so coldly?”
Ugh, this crazy bitch. Why was she acting all friendly and sticking to me? What was she trying to get out of me this time? She'd have better luck sucking the blood out of a flea.
Marcus, who had been looking around the barracks, tilted his head. “Huh? It looks like some things are missing?”
Realizing what must have happened, he immediately frowned. “Those damn bastards.”
Looking around, it was clear a few items were gone. Chairs, blankets, daily necessities—there were clear signs that someone had looted the place. Nancy spoke with a smile still plastered on her face.
“Once word spread that the 15th squad had been wiped out, a few people came by saying that since you were all probably dead, they might as well take what they wanted.”
So that's how it was. Hearing Nancy's explanation only deepened my disgust and disappointment toward this bandit group. Instead of thinking about saving their comrades, they stole the belongings of the fallen. This was truly the lowest of the low. A complete and utter pile of garbage.
“I wrote down a list. Everything that was taken and by whom is written here.”
Nancy pulled a note from between her deeply exposed cleavage and handed it to Marcus. He unfolded it, clicked his tongue, and scowled. “I need to go get our stuff back. I'm going to smash those sons of bitches.”
Marcus stormed out, clearly furious.
“Want me to give you a blowjob while the squad leader's gone? As a celebration for coming back alive.”
Nancy giggled as she casually spat out the obscene suggestion. Her words grated on my already frayed nerves even more.
“Why do you keep sticking to me like this? Weren't you the one who said we should never associate with each other?”
“I did say that.”
She just rubbed her chin and smiled without denying it. That brazen attitude made me think Nancy really was one strange woman.
“Back then, I had to force myself to suck on something as tasteless as plain water just to win your favor. But now, if I get to suck on yours, it'll probably feel like eating a delicious, high-class meal.”
I burst into laughter at how absurd it was. “Why did mine suddenly become delicious? I didn't even put cream or cheese on it.”
“Maybe because you now look like the best male in this place? When you were in prison, you seemed like a total pushover. But now you've changed into someone quite attractive. You look strong. Before, you seemed kind and naive, so I thought you wouldn't last long here. I figured you'd either die within a few days or become a total pushover who gets endlessly bullied.”
Well, well. So she'd completely written me off.
“I'm not strong. You misjudged me.”
“Solving the counterfeit money case and coming back alive from the city—you're definitely strong. Or incredibly lucky. Either way, that's my read on you.”
It was at least refreshing that she wasn't hiding her true thoughts like before and was saying them outright. It made it easier to just kick this crazy bitch out without overthinking.
“So if I fall down once, you'll abandon me right away, right?”
“Hmm… I wonder? I'll have to see when the time comes.”
She smiled sweetly while looking me in the eyes. Damn woman.
“Hyun-woo!”
I turned toward the entrance at the sound of my name. Freyr was standing there with a wide grin.
“I heard you almost died in the city!”
In this godforsaken bandit group, this was the most welcome face I could see. I ran over and hugged him tightly.
“I'm so glad you're alive! It must have been really tough!”
“It was incredibly tough. There weren't just one or two soldiers chasing us. I really thought I was going to die.”
We chatted happily about this and that, but I noticed Freyr looked thinner than before. There were dark circles under his eyes too. Had things been that hard for him? His face overall looked dark and haggard, as if he were sick somewhere. Especially mentally.
“Hyu-Hyun-woo…”
“Yeah?”
He hesitated for a long time, as if struggling to say something.
“What is it? Just say it already.”
“Um, you know our squad leader? He says he wants to see you and told me to bring you. Can we… go together?”
“The 4th squad leader? Why me?”
“I think he has a lot of things he wants to ask you.”
I'd only seen the 4th squad leader from afar a few times and had never spoken to him directly. Maybe he wanted to ask about Phelton and Harry? Thinking that he might want to hear about their final moments, mourn with me, and remember them, I quickly headed toward the 4th squad barracks. No matter how much of a garbage group this was, there had to be at least one decent person, right?
Around the 4th squad barracks, as expected from a plundering unit, there were dangerous weapons scattered all over the ground. Most of them were chipped or broken. Noisy chatter could be heard nearby. Following Freyr behind the barracks, I saw four men sitting on wooden crates, drinking in the middle of the day.
“I brought him.”
The moment I appeared with Freyr, all eyes turned to me. Among them, one man caught my attention—he was practically lying down in an arrogant posture. He wore a hood and a sleeveless vest. He looked to be in his late thirties. That must be the 4th squad leader. He grinned at me.
“Nice to meet you, 15th squad brat.”
“Yes, hello.”
As soon as I greeted him, one of the squad members stood up, picked up a tree branch, and drew a large circle on the ground. After finishing, he brushed off his hands and smiled at us.
“Since the honor of the 4th and 15th squads is on the line, make it a good fight, yeah?”
The 4th squad leader then spoke. “From now on, you and Freyr will go inside there and fight.”
I was dumbfounded. What the hell was I hearing? The other members chimed in one after another.
“If you step outside the line, you get slapped as a penalty!”
“This is getting interesting. Ahahaha!”
“Let's see if the 15th squad brat is stronger or if our brat is stronger!”
Freyr, who seemed to have known from the beginning, fidgeted nervously and kept glancing at me.
“S-sorry, Hyun-woo. I told them no, but they kept pressuring me. I couldn't help it…”
So that's what happened. I'd been tricked. And there was clearly no mourning for Phelton and Harry in this damn garbage group.
“What are you waiting for! Get inside the circle already!”
One of the members shouted menacingly. Freyr flinched and quickly stepped into the circle. I just stood there frozen in place.
“I'm betting on that Hyun-woo guy.”
“I'm on our Freyr. That bastard can put up a fight when he wants to.”
I couldn't help but laugh.
“Heh heh heh…”
It grew louder.
“Hahaha.”
I was genuinely curious just how much more these pieces of garbage would act like vermin. Living in the city, I'd thought of this place as home and only wanted to return. Now I regretted it so deeply it ached in my bones. My laughter grew even bigger.
“Ahahahahaha!”
“What the hell? Why is this bastard laughing like that? Has he lost his mind?”
“Why am I laughing? Because you bastards are making me do something so fucking ridiculous that I can't help but laugh.”
“What did you just say?”
My sudden outburst left them all wide-eyed. Without hesitation, I walked forward. And then…
Ptui!
I spat right in the 4th squad leader's face. Now I was really leaving this place.