Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Rewarding Merits
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Ten days flew by in the blink of an eye after our return.
During that time, the families of the fallen held funerals.
For those without families, their respective halls organized joint funeral services.
The warriors of the Silver Dragon Hall, of course, had been busy retrieving the bodies.
After things had settled down to some extent, the Outer Hall became a flurry of activity.
It couldn't be helped.
We were short-handed, having lost half our members in the war.
Thanks to that, not only me but even Ga Rip was put on duty.
It was a measure to prepare for any unforeseen incidents.
For that reason, I found myself on patrol duty on Taeryong Road with the former members of the Seventeenth Squad for the first time in a while.
The familiar sight, like a hometown scene, warmed my heart… or not.
“Aah! A thief!”
“I’ll kill you all!”
“Come at me, you bastards!”
All sorts of incidents were breaking out everywhere, leaving me no time to breathe.
Drawing on old memories, I immediately issued orders.
“Dang-pal, Yang Gang, and Jin-hyeong, go that way. So-pyeong and I will take this side.”
We split into two groups, catching thieves, beating down robbers, and arresting drunkards.
After midnight, the streets noticeably quieted down. The other squad members who had gone the opposite way rejoined us.
“Let’s grab a bite before we go.”
“Are you buying, Squad Leader?”
“Of course we’re all paying for ourselves.”
“How come you haven’t changed a bit, even after your promotion, Squad Leader?”
“They say a man who changes is a man who’s about to die.”
And so, we headed to the Misan Inn.
Perhaps because we hadn’t been there in a while, Gwak Sam greeted us with great enthusiasm.
“Well, well! If it isn’t the heroes of the Outer Hall! I’ve been hearing the news. If only my leg were sound, I’d have gone and lent a hand myself… Aish!”
For the record, this fellow had broken his leg in an accident a while back, which allowed him to avoid the mobilization order.
Seeing how his post-retirement inn was thriving and how he even managed to avoid a war, he was undoubtedly a lucky man in many ways.
“Come on in. It’s on the house today, so eat your fill before you go!”
“Making a big deal out of it when all you have is boiled pork.”
“Hey! Who do you take this Gwak Sam for? I’ve developed a new dish, just you wait and see.”
With that, he headed to the kitchen, and we ordered some rice wine from the attendant and began to drink.
“Ahh, that’s good.”
“Come on, let’s just drink.”
“Being together after so long inspires poetry.”
“Hehe, it tastes even better with you here, Squad Leader.”
“…Mmm… Tastes…”
Yang Gang, Yu So-pyeong, Ha Jin-hyeong, and Lee Dang-pal spoke in turn.
It was a moment that strongly revealed each of their characters.
“Anyway, how did you all manage to survive? No injuries, either.”
Yu So-pyeong answered my question with a slight smile.
“The experience we gained with you saved us, Squad Leader.”
“Experience?”
“Remember the mission to rescue Lady Cheong from the Ten Demon Alliance’s Gansu branch? We survived using the formations you taught us back then.”
Before the Cheong So-so rescue mission, I had taught them Formations A and B.
It was nothing special, just a way to utilize their strengths to protect each other’s backs. Hearing that they had used it to survive filled me with a sense of pride.
“Hmph! We survived because we fought hard. What’s a formation got to do with it?”
“…”
That is, until I heard our problem child, that bastard Yang Gang, run his mouth.
I really don’t know why that guy has to be so cynical about everything.
I’d known him long enough to let it slide, but one day he was bound to run into a true master and get beaten to a pulp.
No, maybe he’ll get that beating from me first?
I shook my head and raised my cup.
“Let’s all have a drink.”
We shared drinks, calling out the names of our fallen comrades one by one.
I don’t know how others did it, but this was how we dealt with the sorrow of losing our comrades.
* * *
A week later.
While not exactly the same, the atmosphere in the Outer Hall returned to how it used to be.
Duties were still demanding due to the lack of personnel, but we managed to adapt. Whenever something amusing happened, we’d chatter boisterously and share in the fun.
I was diligently focused on my work when it happened.
“There you are.”
Ga Rip had come to find me.
“Vice Hall Master.”
“I came to tell you that there’s going to be a merit award ceremony soon.”
“I see.”
Ga Rip tilted his head at my calm reaction.
“Aren’t you surprised? It’s the first merit award ceremony in thirty years.”
“Well, I pretty much expected it. It’s the only way to change the current atmosphere in the fortress, isn’t it?”
In fact, it was only natural.
The only ways to lift the somber mood left by war were to start another war or hold a festival.
“Ahem, I didn’t take you for one, but you have a sharp side to you.”
What did he take me for?
In my past life, I was the shot-caller in the MOBA games I played, a person of outstanding insight.
Though, I never made it to Platinum because I was always stuck with bad teams.
As I gave him a cold stare, Ga Rip said with a triumphant expression.
“But I bet you didn’t know this.”
“?”
“The Hall Master is first on the list of honorees, and your name is third. I’m fifth.”
“?”
“That’s not all.”
Ga Rip spoke as if there was much more to tell.
“The entire Outer Hall has been honored as the tenth recipient. We’re the only hall to be honored in its entirety. Hehe, there’ll probably be a flood of prize money.”
“That is indeed something incredible.”
Now *that* was worth acknowledging.
In any line of work, the best rewards were promotions and bonuses.
This was joyous news, enough to make the guys lounging outside throw their hands up and go wild.
“So, the Lord has decided to pay a visit in a little while.”
“What?”
“…Didn’t you hear me? I said the Lord will be visiting in a little while.”
“Why are you telling me this now?!”
*Bam. Crack.*
I must have put too much force into it without realizing, because the desk my fist struck split in two.
“I was just trying to surprise you, First Squad Leader… Wait, why are you so worked up all of a sudden?”
In response to Ga Rip’s question, I pointed to the Outer Hall warriors lounging outside.
They were sprawled about haphazardly, soaked in exhaustion from the grueling shifts.
Along with them, our headquarters was a complete mess, having not been cleaned for some time.
Seeing the scene, Ga Rip’s eyes widened like saucers as he finally realized his mistake.
That’s right.
We had just become a front-line unit awaiting a visit from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
And in a state of utter chaos, no less!
We needed to get the interior and exterior in order as quickly as possible, so I shot up from my seat.
“Vice Hall Master, go to the Two Immortals Gang right now and ask them to send people. They’ll cooperate if you use my name. I’ll take care of the headquarters starting now.”
“Ah, understood.”
* * *
I woke up the sleeping men and had them wash their faces and change their clothes first.
It was the Lord’s first visit, after all; we couldn’t show ourselves looking like beggars.
Just then, twenty members sent by the Two Immortals Gang arrived.
“My apologies. I called you here because of an urgent situation. If we can get through this, I will reward you handsomely through your leader.”
Feeling apologetic, I promised them a reward and put them in charge of cleaning the headquarters.
Perhaps because it was paid labor, they moved with brisk efficiency.
But would a reward of one silver tael be enough? Is that too much? Maybe half a tael?
As I pondered this for a moment, the men who had gone to change and wash up returned in a group.
I called over Ha Jin-hyeong, the fastest among them.
“Go to my house right now and bring Myo Hyang. Tell her there’s an occasion that requires her pipa, and she’ll know what to bring.”
A moment later.
The members of the Two Immortals Gang finished cleaning and left.
Not long after, Myo Hyang and Ha Jin-hyeong arrived.
As if she had perfectly understood my request, she had come dressed in vibrant, flowing clothes.
“What is it? I’m terribly busy.”
“Sister, please save me!”
As soon as I finished my plea to Myo Hyang, I immediately began lining everyone up.
“You! Your angle is off! Can’t you move to the left?!”
“Hey! Don’t you know arm’s length? What? You’re standing like that because your arms are short? Is that your excuse? You want to die?!”
“Hah… Third Squad Leader! Take one step back. You think you can stand there sloppily just because you have some seniority? The Lord is coming!”
“The same goes for you, Fifteenth Squad Leader. Do you think you can get away with it just because you’re pretty?”
“Oh my!”
“And Seventh Squad Leader, why are you glaring at me all of a sudden? Instead of helping, are you going to give a hard time to someone who’s working diligently?”
Just as I finally succeeded in getting them into razor-sharp formation.
The Lord, the Grand Chancellor, and their escorts crossed the main gate, exuding a terrifying aura. Overwhelmed by their presence, everyone in the Outer Hall fell silent.
*Gulp.*
The silence was so profound that when someone swallowed, the sound from their throat was clearly audible.
Snapped back to my senses by the sound, I guided the Lord and his party onto the hastily prepared platform.
“Hehe, right this way, please.”
The moment he stepped onto the platform, I infused my voice with internal energy and shouted.
“All units, attention!”
*Shck.*
“Salute the Lord!”
Nine—! Dragons—!
At the same time, the sound of Myo Hyang’s pipa rang out.
A flourish of vibrant notes filled the air.
I would have loved to request a formal salute theme, but time was short, so I had asked for the shortest, most impactful piece she knew.
The Lord’s entourage furrowed their brows at the unexpected performance and turned their gazes, but it wasn’t long before they were all staring at Myo Hyang, completely captivated.
As expected of Myo Hyang, hailed as the finest pipa player in the Nine Dragons Fortress.
After a short while, as soon as the performance ended, I shouted once more.
“At ease!”
*Shck.*
Perfection itself.
For something prepared in such a short time, the drill was flawless.
I couldn’t know for sure, but the Lord must have been satisfied as well.
He wasn’t showing it, but he was probably deeply moved on the inside.
And just as I thought.
“Quite impressive.”
The Lord did not spare his praise.
The Grand Chancellor at his side even chimed in.
“Hmm, their discipline seems to be exceptionally high.”
Hearing their conversation, Ga Rip nodded in satisfaction.
It was a picture of everyone being pleased.
“If you have something to give, give it quickly and go. We’re tired.”
Except for Bukgung Baek, who lived as if there were no tomorrow.
“…You never change, even as you age.”
“Don’t they say a son takes after his father?”
“When you put it that way, it does seem like you’re living right.”
“I think so too.”
Wait, there’s someone even more of a mess than him?
‘Could it be that Bukgung Baek’s father was the previous generation’s demonic leader?’
I was genuinely curious what kind of life he led to be able to say such things.
As the conversation dragged on, the Grand Chancellor interjected.
“My Lord, the warriors are waiting.”
“Right.”
And so, the awards ceremony began.
Well, it was the usual, predictable stuff.
To put it briefly, it was about how we had rendered great service to the fortress and were being commended for it.
The truly important part wasn’t that, but…
“…and so, each of you is awarded one hundred silver taels.”
…the prize money.
The moment the Lord’s words fell, I blinked, sending the prearranged signal.
At that, everyone in the Outer Hall raised their arms and cheered.
Waaah—!
The giver feels good only when the receiver is happy.
The good news didn’t end there.
“…To Vice Hall Master Ga Rip, I bestow a Class-C martial art from the Nine Dragons Treasury.”
Vice Hall Master Ga Rip, fifth on the list of honorees, received prize money and a first-rate martial art.
“…To Hall Master Bukgung Baek, I award a Class-A martial art from the Nine Dragons Treasury and a Class-A weapon from the Nine Dragons Armory.”
Bukgung Baek was given a divine technique and a legendary weapon.
“…First Squad Leader Jin Mujeon, your reward will be given separately. Come to the Lord’s Hall tomorrow.”
He gave me nothing.
“…Huh?”
Wait, why?