Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 012
Chapter Title: Dispatch
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The dawn bugle sounded right on schedule.
All the troops gathered in the training grounds of the Fifth District for the dispatch.
The units participating in this expedition were the Subdue Demon Corps, Justice Assault Corps, and Demon-Exterminating Corps.
Not every member of the Subdue Demon Corps and Justice Assault Corps was joining.
They'd drafted about half their ranks—250 men each—mostly veteran warriors and skilled experts whose martial prowess made the cut.
The Demon-Exterminating Corps, however, was going all in with every last member.
It wasn't like they had a huge force to begin with—only 250 anyway—so it wasn't much of a raw deal. Still, it felt unfair.
Something about committing the entire Demon-Exterminating Corps rubbed people the wrong way, numbers aside. It was like dumping everything in without holding back.
Seok Du-myeong's Squad 2 had been reassigned under Squad 3 for this expedition.
"Bro, it's been ages since I packed a kit bag. Feels pretty heavy."
Yeom-pal, lugging a bulging bundle on his back stuffed to the brim, remarked as much.
"You're the one making it heavy. What the hell did you pack to make it that big? You moving house or something?"
"Come on, don't be so stingy. I packed this bag nice and frugal, just the essentials."
"Yeah? And what's in that frugal little haul?"
When Seok Du-myeong asked, Yeom-pal glanced around quick to check for prying eyes, then sidled up close and whispered.
"Booze."
Yeom-pal had crammed five or six gourds of liquor into his bundle.
Liquor was heavy. It took up sneaky space too, turning his kit bag into this massive lump.
"...Fair enough. Frugal it is."
Seok Du-myeong nodded right away.
If the hassle Yeom-pal was going through was for booze, Seok Du-myeong had zero intention of stopping him. Not that he'd help carry it, either.
Wait, maybe one gourd? Nah. Yeom-pal's got strength to spare.
But seriously, how'd he snag that much liquor? And where from?
Procuring booze on a field op wasn't easy.
Stockpiling that much and hauling it along? That took some skill.
A moment later, Fifth District Commander Thunderbolt Sword Jin Seong-hu took the podium.
"In this time when the martial world is threatened by those wicked Demonic Cult hordes, your passion for justice and selfless devotion, sparing not your lives..."
Jin Seong-hu's speech dragged on for a good while.
Old man's got endless wind when he's yapping. Did all his inner energy go straight to his mouth?
Seok Du-myeong slouched, inwardly cursing as he waited for it to end.
The district commander wasn't joining this fight, either.
In the two years since he'd arrived, Jin Seong-hu hadn't once clashed with the enemy himself.
To Seok Du-myeong, he didn't fit the Fifth District at all.
His antics and personality screamed backroom geezer playing go for bets, not field commander.
Yet here he was, parked in a spot that didn't suit him, killing time.
Did the Murim Alliance bigwigs up top even realize how many lives hung on this political game?
"...Thus, I am confident in your victory, and I shall add just one more thing..."
Typical old fart. Proving it himself. 'One more thing'? You've been piling it on this whole time!
Jin Seong-hu's long, predictable speech finally wrapped up.
By the time the dawn-assembled expedition troops endured it all, the sun blazed red overhead.
What a prick.
The dispatch force began marching toward their objective.
Leading the column was Demon-Exterminating Corps Leader Wi Ji-hyeok at the helm of his corps, followed by the Assault Corps and Subdue Demon Corps.
Nearly eight hundred strong, the massive force snaked along the road.
The Fifth District had about two thousand total troops, so this was close to half committing to the fight.
Scouts reported the Demonic Cult outpost a day's march away.
Too close to call it a proper expedition. They advanced leisurely, in no rush.
Intel said the Cult's main force had crossed Song River already, leaving just three hundred stragglers behind barricades.
With more than double that heading their way, numbers were in their favor.
Around noon, as the sun climbed high, the marching force paused for a break.
Members of Seok Du-myeong's Squad 2 sat amid the weeds, gnawing on pre-packed jerky to stave off hunger.
No one had eaten breakfast amid the predawn scramble; everyone was starving.
"Bro, down a shot?"
A shot of water? Sounds off somehow.
Yeom-pal handed over booze.
"Bro, our district commander—that super-peak expert rumor. You ever see him swing a sword? Thunderbolt Sword oughta flash lightning with every strike, right?"
Yeom-pal tossed out the random question.
"You love that Thunderbolt Sword bit. Looks more like Thunderbolt Sheathed to me. You ever see him fight since he took command?"
Yeom-pal pondered, then replied.
"Come to think of it, never. The last commander jumped in against enemies sometimes."
"Obvious, right? Bribed his way in through Murim Alliance connections. A seventy-something geezer commanding a field op? Even regular sects retire guys that age to the back room. Fucking old bastards, all greed no shame. Ptui."
The more Seok Du-myeong thought, the angrier he got, spitting on the ground.
"Bro, at this pace, we'll hit the Cult by nightfall. Think we'll fight in the dark?"
"Why ask me? Brass'll handle it. We just follow orders."
"Night fights aren't my thing."
"Picky much? Assassins love slicing in the dark."
Seok Du-myeong ragged on Yeom-pal, then paused to think.
Hold up. Night slicing's not my jam either.
The expedition resumed march after the brief rest.
They picked up the pace now.
Seemed they wanted to reach the target before dark.
As dusk settled, they neared the Demonic Cult outpost.
Vast reed fields stretched ahead.
The reeds glowed blood-red in the sunset.
The fields sloped gently into low hills, blocking sight of the enemy camp.
Likely the outpost lay beyond. With Song River at its back, the expedition halted before the reeds.
Push through for a night raid, or camp here and strike at dawn? Unclear.
Either way, battle loomed soon enough.
Tension thickened among the troops.
"What say you, Demon-Exterminating Leader?"
Subdue Demon Corps Leader Jeong Gu-chu asked Wi Ji-hyeok.
The expedition, reeds ahead, held a meeting: camp here and attack at dawn, or press on for a night raid?
Jeong Gu-chu and Assault Corps Leader I Il-so favored camping till daylight.
Jeong Gu-chu turned to Wi Ji-hyeok, who sat silent without objection.
"Seems right enough. But these reeds bother me. Camping where visibility's zero feels off."
Wi Ji-hyeok's concern was valid.
"Can't cross reeds in the dark, though."
Jeong Gu-chu snapped, irritated at Wi Ji-hyeok's hesitation when his nod would seal it.
Damn ronin's got guts like a weasel.
Truth was, Jeong Gu-chu paled next to Wi Ji-hyeok's fame in the martial world.
He was a nobody by comparison.
Outside a battlefield, he'd never dare share a table.
Now past sixty, mellowed with age, but back in his prime? Talking like that would've cost his head.
The tamed, gentler Life-Reaping Blade swallowed his anger and replied.
"If we camp, pull way back beyond the reeds."
His words grew curt.
"What? Drag weary troops back the way we came?"
Jeong Gu-chu's long face twisted in annoyance.
"Assault Leader, your thoughts?"
"Same as Subdue Demon Leader. I get your worry, but scouts saw no ambush signs. Overkill, no? Retreating hurts morale and tires the men."
I Il-so backed Jeong Gu-chu openly.
"Then my Demon-Exterminating Corps will withdraw and camp back there."
Wi Ji-hyeok's ire showed— even his speech turned curt.
"Military law is strict. Enemy's right there— you defying orders?"
Jeong Gu-chu raised his voice, shoving his long face in Wi Ji-hyeok's, turning the air hostile.
"Orders? No one's here with authority over me."
Wi Ji-hyeok wasn't wrong.
The Demon-Exterminating Corps was mercenaries, bound by contract. His sole superior: Fifth District Commander Jin Seong-hu.
Neither Subdue Demon nor Assault Leader outranked him or could boss him around.
The vague district commander had botched the chain of command pre-dispatch, just saying "work it out," sparking this mess.
Unable to counter, Jeong Gu-chu pettily sniped.
"I'll report this to the commander. He'll handle it severely."
"Do what you want."
Wi Ji-hyeok cut him off and stormed off toward his corps.
Wi Ji-hyeok, you'll pay for this.
Jeong Gu-chu's eyes blazed after him.
In the end, the Demon-Exterminating Corps fell back five li to camp, while Subdue Demon and Assault Corps stayed put before the reeds.
The spring breeze blew sharp and cold today, not warm.
"Yeom-pal, I heard."
Yang Ho approached Yeom-pal with the out-of-nowhere line.
"Heard what?"
"You got some. Gimme."
"Some what?"
"You know."
Yang Ho's guts seemed as swollen as his head.
Jin Yeom-pal was grumbling but still asking for the precious booze he'd hauled.
Oddly, Yeom-pal readily pulled a gourd from his bundle and handed it over.
"Hey, don't get caught. Share with Yeom Se, don't hog it."
Seok Du-myeong rubbed his eyes.
Yeom-pal lost it? That's not like him.
"Yeom-pal, you sick?"
Seok Du-myeong eyed Jin Yeom-pal suspiciously.
They say acting out of character means death. What if Yeom-pal bites it this battle...
Nah, no way. Guy's obsessed with surviving. Clung to life with that tenacious vitality alone.
Not that Seok Du-myeong, the Undying Survivor, should talk—but he shook off the ill omen.
"Yeom-pal, hit me too."
Squad 2 members, thanks to Yeom-pal, warmed up with sneaky swigs against the chill and bedded down cozy.
Seok Du-myeong, who'd dozed off briefly, snapped awake.
From afar came the clash of weapons and shouts.