Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Taming the Squad
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“Sergeant, Lian! I’ve safely completed my leave and returned to report to the Company Commander!”
A crisp salute.
Raymond nodded at the sight.
“Did you rest well?”
“Yes, sir. And thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to resolve everything smoothly.”
It was about the incident that occurred during Hilterson’s arrest.
The Company Commander smiled warmly.
“You don’t need to thank me for that. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. You raised the honor of the platoon even during your leave.”
“I only did what I had to do, sir.”
“Heh, I see. Go ahead and rest then.”
“Yes, sir!”
After leaving the Company Commander’s office, Lian headed straight to the barracks.
‘The squad assignments are done, right?’
This part had been handled by Tyler, the 6th Platoon Leader.
He had left the selection of everyone except Isaac to the 6th Platoon Leader from the start.
Lian entered the barracks where the 6th Platoon members were gathered and made his way to their living quarters.
“Is this the 6th Squad?”
“Squad Leader!”
As Lian stepped inside, Isaac, who was there, greeted him warmly.
Lian grinned at Isaac before turning to the other squad members.
“Nice to meet you all. I’m your Squad Leader, Lian.”
“…”
“Yes, nice to meet you, sir.”
“You’re the Squad Leader.”
But for some reason, the atmosphere felt a bit off.
Isaac looked a little troubled at how the other soldiers addressed Lian.
At that moment, a man sitting in the left corner of the living quarters spoke up.
“Squad Leader, if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
“Fourteen. Why do you ask?”
A snicker.
“A punk who’s not even been in for four months at fourteen years old is our Squad Leader.”
“Kekeke, maybe I should just grab a bow and shoot from afar? If I get lucky, I might even hit the enemy captain’s arm once.”
“Sigh, damn it. I should just discharge or something. This is too pathetic to stick around for.”
A few soldiers lay back down and turned away.
‘What?’
Lian immediately understood why they were acting this way.
Isaac couldn’t hide his flustered expression at their behavior.
Soon, Isaac looked at them and said,
“Hey, you guys…!”
But before Isaac could finish,
“Everyone, on your feet—!”
A shout that echoed through the entire living quarters.
They jumped up in surprise at the thunderous voice, straightening their upper bodies.
It was a command so forceful that they reacted instinctively.
By now, Lian’s gaze had turned icy cold as he looked at them. But conversely, the corners of his mouth lifted.
“6th Squad, assemble at the training ground.”
With that, Lian turned and walked out.
Yeah, this was to be expected.
‘A fourteen-year-old kid Squad Leader with just four months of service.’
It wasn’t strange for them to react this way.
Rebellion was only natural.
But that didn’t mean he could let it slide.
It was a problem that needed to be nipped in the bud anyway.
“No beating around the bush. Anyone with complaints, step forward.”
He then looked toward the weapon rack on the left and said,
“Those who need weapons, grab one.”
“Ha, what a joke. Can’t even beat the Squad Leader senseless.”
“What if he punishes us for mutiny later?”
“People change their minds after getting hit, don’t they?”
Those three.
Two big burly guys and one who looked fairly agile.
‘The rest…’
Isaac seemed to be on his side, and the other five appeared neutral.
Like they were watching and waiting.
Thud.
Lian ripped off the squad leader insignia from his left chest and tossed it to the ground.
“Whoever beats me becomes the 6th Squad Leader on the spot. No retaliation, no matter what. I swear it on the honor of Eagle Company.”
At Lian’s words, the sneering trio’s expressions hardened. Soon, the biggest one cracked his knuckles and stepped forward.
“You wouldn’t disregard a soldier’s honor just because you’re young, right?”
“I keep my word. But if you lose to me, you respect your superiors properly from then on, as befits a soldier’s honor.”
With that, Lian clenched his fist.
The big guy then grinned widely.
“You’re fighting without a weapon? Our young Squad Leader’s got some guts!”
“What’s your name?”
“The soon-to-be 6th Squad Leader, Kyle!”
With that, the guy charged at Lian like a wild beast.
Leaping forward, it felt like a boar charging.
The onlookers jeered at the sight of the guy, who looked at least twice Lian’s size. But then—thwack!
Lian easily sidestepped Kyle’s punch with a single step back and drove his fist straight into the guy’s solar plexus.
“Guhk!”
Kyle’s body lurched forward from the completely unexpected blow.
His breath must have caught in his throat instantly.
“There are plenty of places to hit, but if I just wail on you, I’ll get tired.”
Sorry about this.
Lian grabbed Kyle by the hair, yanked his head up, and then kicked him square in the groin with the top of his foot.
Thud!
“Grrrk!”
Needless to say, Kyle’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the floor.
It was such a powerful strike that one might wonder if one or both were actually ruptured.
“Ugh!”
“Ow!”
“Mm…”
The spectators winced unanimously, hands instinctively covering their own crotches.
Just watching made it sting.
Lian looked at the remaining two and said,
“Next.”
“Brandt here.”
Perhaps spooked by Kyle’s pathetic collapse, the guy grabbed a wooden sword from the rack.
Lian said to him,
“Come on.”
“You should take a weapon too. I don’t want to use one against an unarmed opponent.”
Not a bad excuse.
Lian smirked at Brandt.
“Don’t get cocky. Come at me and land a hit first, then talk.”
“What?”
“Come on.”
“Don’t regret getting hurt!”
Unlike Kyle, this one looked fairly agile.
As expected, he rushed at Lian quickly, swinging the wooden sword.
Whoosh—!
He had decent basics. But,
Thud!
Lian dodged with minimal movement and kicked Brandt in the shin.
“Khk!”
“Your balance is too forward. And you’re not even thinking about defense?”
Brandt’s attack had seemed threatening for a simple reason.
He was solely focused on offense, with overly large motions.
Brandt grimaced at Lian’s words and swung the wooden sword widely from the side.
Whoosh—!
He definitely had speed.
But such an obvious attack couldn’t even graze him.
Lian was already a step back, watching Brandt.
“It’s not over yet, right?”
“Of course not!”
Brandt began swinging the wooden sword in earnest, attacking Lian.
Swish—!
No more reckless charges like the first.
That one hit had clearly sharpened Brandt’s alertness, and he followed up with concise, rapid strikes.
‘He’s decently usable.’
Now it was clear why he’d picked a sword over a spear.
‘But.’
Still just beginner level.
He seemed to have learned a bit from watching others, but his combos were clumsy and untrained.
Slash!
Lian twisted his waist to dodge the thrust aimed at his chest.
As he evaded by contorting his body, he raised his hand blade and slid it along the wooden sword, thrusting forward.
“Guhk—!”
The moment Lian’s hand blade struck Brandt’s throat, the guy’s body crumpled.
Thud.
“Whoa… badass.”
“That kid… no, Squad Leader, what’s his deal? How’s a fourteen-year-old that vicious?”
The neutrals’ hearts tilted toward Lian in an instant.
Lian glanced at the passed-out Brandt and turned to the last one.
“Next.”
“Ah, I… I’m good. I acknowledge you, Squad Leader.”
The guy bowed his head. Lian then turned to the others.
“We acknowledged the Squad Leader from the start.”
“Soldiers follow rank. I tried to stop those guys, but they wouldn’t listen.”
“You’re amazing, sir!”
Lian smirked at their words. His eyes then met Isaac’s, who had been watching him.
A hint of surprise in his gaze. But soon, Isaac looked at Lian seriously and placed his right fist over his left chest.
“Please take care of us from now on, Squad Leader Lian!”
Snap!
“Please take care of us!”
Following Isaac’s shout, the entire squad on the training ground saluted and called out.
Lian looked at them and said,
“Likewise.”
* * *
It seemed like a very eventful first day back from leave.
That night after sunset, Lian left the barracks to use the Company Commander’s private training hall.
He could use it when the Company Commander wasn’t, but daytime drew too many prying eyes.
‘Better to do it when everyone’s asleep.’
He had the Company Commander’s permission, so no issue.
As Lian stepped out, someone called from behind.
“Squad Leader.”
“...?”
Turning around, he saw Isaac there.
A serious atmosphere.
Lian felt puzzled by Isaac’s intense gaze but stopped and asked,
“Something you want to say?”
“…How do you get that strong?”
“What?”
For a moment, Lian doubted his own ears.
What did that guy just say?
“Pfft!”
Lian couldn’t hold back the laugh that burst out.
Isaac’s face stiffened at the laughter.
“Why are you mocking me?”
“Ah, sorry for laughing. But I’m not mocking you. It’s just… weird hearing that from a genius like you.”
“Huh? Genius?”
“Hmm…”
This was tricky.
How could he tell him that in a dozen years or so, this guy would be an unparalleled general devouring the entire kingdom?
After a brief ponder, Lian smirked and said,
“Just show me.”
“Show you…?”
“Yeah. From what I know, no one in our company—no, the whole battalion—trains harder than you. You’re heading out now for training, aren’t you?”
“Well…”
“It’s just that neither of us has fully matured yet. You’ll get really strong in the future.”
“Ha, but Squad Leader, you’re only a year older than me and already so strong.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Or was what I saw on the training ground a lie?”
“…That’s strong?”
Lian placed a hand on Isaac’s shoulder with an incredulous look.
“Look, Isaac. That wasn’t strength. Just catching careless guys off guard.”
If they were truly strong, they wouldn’t have been fine after a solid punch to the solar plexus.
Lian was just appearing a bit stronger thanks to twenty years of military experience.
‘They’re recruits who haven’t even grown pubes yet.’
They’d mocked him for being young, but the oldest among them was eighteen.
Tyler had assigned them out of consideration for Lian’s age.
His squad might be the weakest in all of Eagle Company.
‘But since they’re a fun bunch to train up… that’s fine.’
Besides,
‘Yeah… time to start preparing.’
In four years, the kingdom’s power struggle would end, ushering in an era of great wars.
A time of endless conflict as they marched on the continent.
Thinking of that, starting now wasn’t too early.
Lian approached Isaac and patted his shoulder.
Tap tap.
“Avoid night training from now on. Rest is crucial during growth spurts.”
“…Huh?”
“You want to get strong, right?”
“Huh? Yes!”
“Then go sleep. Tough training starts tomorrow.”
He’d been wondering when to start, but Isaac gave him the perfect excuse.
Plenty of justification to drill the soldiers crushed by their fourteen-year-old Squad Leader.
“It’s gonna be rough starting tomorrow.”
A thick smile played on Lian’s lips as he turned away.