Becoming a Squad Leader
I set the vegetable salad and the pitifully small portion of boiled rabbit meat—served for breakfast—down on the freshly cleaned desk inside the 15th Squad barracks and lit a candle. When I bowed once toward it, Marcus, who had been smoking after his meal, stared at me with a strange look.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m bowing.”
“Bowing?”
“Yes, bowing. It’s a bow.”
“Is bowing some kind of birthday ritual in your culture?”
“Today is my mother’s birthday. Since I can’t visit her from so far away, I’m doing this instead.”
May 12th. If the calendar here matched Earth’s, then it really was Mom’s birthday. If not, I was just making a fool of myself.
“Your mother would like that. She must be proud to have such a good son.”
At Marcus’s words, I gave a gentle smile and silently sent my regards to my parents before blowing out the candle on the desk.
I used the knightess’s famous sword to split the rabbit meat on the plate in half and held one portion out to Marcus. He looked bewildered.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“In my country, we share birthday meals with everyone.”
“There’s barely enough here to call it a meal. Who shares something the size of a rat dropping? Forget it. I already ate. You eat it all.”
“Come on, just take one bite. My mother would be happy if you did.”
When I kept insisting, Marcus reluctantly picked up the rabbit meat with his fingers and tossed it into his mouth. He chewed thoroughly, then a smile crept across his lips as he muttered to himself.
“Well I’ll be damned. Never seen a guy give away his own food before.”
“When is your birthday, Squad Leader?”
“Why the hell would you need to know my birthday?”
“What do you mean, why? So I can celebrate it for you.”
Marcus exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke, then paused and stared at me intently. He looked genuinely surprised.
“You really aren’t cut out to be a bandit.”
“Why not?”
“Your personality’s way too nice. Never seen anyone in this bandit group offer to celebrate my birthday before. Come to think of it, everything about you is a first. Sharing food, remembering someone’s birthday… all firsts.”
Then, as if overcome with emotion, his voice cracked. He wiped the corner of his eye with a trembling finger.
“A guy like you, who can move people’s hearts… you’re the one who truly deserves to be a leader. Damn, you really know how to tug at someone’s heartstrings. My birthday’s in winter. December 6th.”
A warm smile finally bloomed on Marcus’s face. Seeing him so happy, like family, made my own chest swell with quiet pride.
“I’ll remember it for sure.”
I’d have to prepare a proper Korean-style birthday spread and surprise him.
I opened the drawer, pulled out my notebook, and wrote down Marcus’s birthday. As I did, he sat there deep in thought before suddenly standing up with a determined expression.
“Come with me somewhere.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see when we get there. Hurry up and grab your coat.”
“But I have to practice setting traps this morning. And aren’t we supposed to attend the squad leaders’ meeting?”
When I tilted my head in confusion, he frowned as if to say stop talking and just follow me.
“It won’t take long. Just come on.”
I quickly threw on my coat and followed Marcus as he limped out of the barracks with his cane. For an old man, he walked faster than I did. I had no idea where we were headed.
We eventually arrived at the Great Squad Leader’s barracks. I looked at Marcus with complete confusion.
“Why are we here?”
“You’re coming to the squad leaders’ meeting with me.”
This was completely out of left field. Absurd, even.
“Why would I go in there?”
“Because from now on, you’re the 15th Squad Leader. Today’s your first lesson.”
“I heard it was put on hold. I shouldn’t be here, right?”
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Doesn’t matter. I heard the 4th Squad Leader opposed it, so it was postponed.”
Marcus frowned deeply.
“Shut up and follow me. There’s no one else who can do it. Even if that rotten 4th Squad Leader throws a tantrum.”
He spoke firmly and strode ahead. I stared at his back and muttered under my breath.
“Is it really okay for me to go…?”
After a moment of hesitation, I clenched my jaw and tightened my fists.
If I hadn’t already started down this path, maybe I could hesitate. But since I’ve already begun, and I’ve decided to change this bandit group from a bunch of petty thieves into something more, I should charge forward without fear. This is an opportunity. Marcus is offering me a ride on his back.
The spacious interior was thick with cigarette smoke. It felt more like a gambling den. The dim atmosphere, the stench of stale alcohol, the acrid mix of tobacco and moldy dampness.
Around the long table, the squad leaders sat in various states of laziness or slovenliness. If someone tossed a deck of cards on the table, it would look exactly like a gambling table.
When Marcus and I entered, everyone turned to look at us with puzzled eyes. Not at Marcus, but at me.
“Who’s that guy?”
“I’m going to teach him how to be a squad leader starting today.”
Marcus answered someone’s question simply and took his seat. I stood a step behind him and waited quietly.
Not everyone had arrived yet. Several seats were still empty, including the head seat reserved for Bernhardt.
“Well, Marcus can’t fight anymore. It’s about time he stepped down.”
“That kid’s lucky. How long has he even been here? Already getting the squad leader title.”
“But once Marcus steps down, what’s the kid going to do alone? The 15th Squad has no people left. He’ll probably just tag along with other squads as a hanger-on.”
The squad leaders glanced at me, snickering and whispering among themselves, but none of them seemed particularly upset that a rookie had shown up at the meeting. Except for one.
“Why the hell is that bastard here?!”
The moment the 4th Squad Leader, Vick, entered the barracks and spotted me, he exploded.
“Get the hell out! Stop loitering around here and disappear!”
He glared at me and shouted, but I simply stood there with a calm expression. The other squad leaders just watched with amused grins. No one backed up Vick.
“I’m the one who brought him. Why are you telling him to leave?”
A shouting match broke out between Marcus and Vick. Both of them raised their voices, veins bulging in their necks.
“I’m telling him to leave because you brought someone who doesn’t deserve to be here! Have you lost your mind, old man?”
“You know damn well what happened to the 15th Squad! Holding a grudge over that incident and acting like this is pathetic! He’s the official next squad leader, attending in that capacity. You have no right to interfere! Stop meddling in other people’s business and worry about your own damn squad!”
“I’m just following the rules! What kind of bullshit is that? Promoting a green rookie who just got here to squad leader? Are we some neighborhood gang of thugs? What does that kid even know? Can he even lead his men properly?!”
From what I’d seen, the current Elk Bandits were exactly like a neighborhood gang of thugs. Actually, they might be even worse.
“You don’t need to worry about that. He’ll handle it just fine. Shut your mouth with that nonsense!”
“You fucking old bastard!”
When Vick realized he couldn’t win against Marcus, his anger swung toward me. He pointed his finger directly at me.
“What are you standing there for?! I said get out—!”
He suddenly froze while looking toward the entrance. I turned my head and saw Bernhardt and the 8th Squad Leader, Gladia, walking in.
Bernhardt was still half-asleep, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
“What’s all this noise about?”
“Huh? Isn’t that…?”
Gladia, who usually harassed me with sexual advances, spotted me and waved cheerfully. I bowed politely in response.
“Alright, everyone take your seats. We’re starting the meeting.”
Bernhardt spoke in a tired voice as he sat down at the head of the table. Gladia took her seat as well. The instigator of the chaos, Vick, scurried over like a child tattling to his mother and immediately began complaining to Bernhardt.
“Great Squad Leader! Before the meeting starts, can we kick this guy out first?”
“Who?”
“That guy. Him.”
Vick pointed at me. I really wanted to break that annoying finger.
Bernhardt looked at me standing behind Marcus and only then seemed to notice my presence.
“Hmm? He’s here too.”
“He doesn’t qualify. Let’s send him out.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
Vick’s eyes widened at Bernhardt’s lukewarm reaction.
“He’s not a squad leader! This meeting is only for squad leaders!”
“I told you, he’s the next squad leader!”
Marcus jumped in with a loud voice.
“The kid standing behind me is going to be the 15th Squad Leader from now on!”
“Why are you getting so worked up, old man? It’s too loud in the morning. Speak quietly. My ears hurt.”
Bernhardt frowned slightly and looked at Vick.
“You go sit in your seat too.”
“What about him? Aren’t you going to kick him out?”
“Didn’t you hear the old man? He said the kid’s going to be the 15th Squad Leader.”
“But we didn’t get unanimous approval from the squad leaders! That means he’s not a squad leader yet!”
Vick kept pestering him, which seemed to irritate Bernhardt. His expression suddenly turned serious and his voice dropped low.
“Shut up and sit down before I beat the shit out of you.”
At those words, Vick could only fume in silence. Like a chick that had swallowed honey, he returned to his seat without another word.
Watching the scene, I was impressed. As expected from a group where the words of the strong were law. One threatening gesture and he immediately tucked his tail between his legs.
Back on Earth, even if you were the chairman, if you acted like that toward your employees there would be an uproar. Haha.
Anyway, this was all good for me.