Chapter 8: Childish Thinking (3)
As time passed, Adam Hyung and I held high positions in the mercenary group.
No one could oppose our promotion.
We had made a lot of contributions to support this mercenary group.
As our position rose, we also moved away from the front lines of danger.
We were making good money as well.
It was to the point where I thought maybe it would be comfortable to live like this.
We also got to attend the officers’ meeting.
To be honest, it was more like a gathering because alcohol, food, and women were always together.
In fact, it could be called an entertainment party in reality.
"Berg! Adam! You've come. Have a seat."
The Lizardman ‘Malak’, who was the leader, welcomed us to the meeting with women on his both sides.
Other officers from various races had already taken their seats.
Greasy, sizzling meat, various side dishes, and expensive liquor were waiting for us.
Malak pretended to welcome us, but there was always a sense of caution in his eyes toward us.
Of course, we were highly valued for the support of the members, as we were able to secure this position with our skills.
As the leader, he might have felt threatened.
In addition to that, Hyung and I were closely tied together as we both were from the same human race, so it might have seemed like a faction.
Hyung and I took our seats.
“Oh my…I should play with this person. He's handsome..."
Then, naturally, a dark elf woman sat down next to me.
I stopped her from trying to cross our arms together.
“Don’t touch me.”
At that, Adam Hyung almost spat out the alcohol he was drinking while looking at her.
I didn't pay attention to the laughing Hyung or the startled Dark Elf woman.
All I could see was just free drinks in front of me.
The meeting proceeded well on its own.
I always attended the meetings just to drink.
Not many people talked to me. Because I never showed any particular reaction.
As I stayed like that, gossip and cursing dominated the space through laughter.
I didn't share laughter with them.
I drank alcohol while filling my stomach with meat.
Then, the leader Malak pointed to Adam Hyung and opened his mouth.
"Adam. By the way, there was a conflict with the vice-captain in the previous battle."
Hyung was flirting with the woman sitting next to him, and he shrugged at Malak’s words.
"A conflict? It was just a slight deviation from the plan."
"But the vice-captain said something else."
"What did the vice-captain say?"
"He said you didn't follow orders."
With Malak’s cold tone, the atmosphere of the meeting quickly turned cold.
It didn't take long to realize that Malak’s comment wasn't meant as a joke.
I pretend to drink the alcohol and read the atmosphere of the meeting.
It felt familiar.
It felt like we were the target.
Adam Hyung, reading the atmosphere, put down his glass first.
"...It's not that I didn't obey orders. The situation changed."
"So you acted on your own? Isn't that disobedience?"
"The situation changed, so I made the best choice. We got separated from the vice-captain. Are we supposed to wait for his orders and act? Didn't I explain properly before?"
"When I listened to the vice-captain in detail, it didn't seem like a simple situation."
“…”
Hyung’s expression, which was filled with laughter, gradually stiffened.
I also put down my glass following his lead.
Looking at Malak, Hyung said.
"...Anyway, all of my subordinates survived. I wish I could have given them some reward."
"Do you think I'm joking right now?"
Another short silence fell.
Malak was hanging by a thread.
It seemed like he was trying to properly restrain Hyung, who had risen to power this time.
Adam Hyung finally spoke.
"I apologize. I'll make sure to obey orders properly next time."
"That's not it, Adam. We've decided that this matter won't be easily overlooked. It's not just leaving our comrades in danger as disobedience on the battlefield. There will be consequences-"
"-Later."
– Thunk!
Adam slammed his fist on the table.
All the officers who were in their seats flinch in surprise and move back.
But Adam Hyung, who took action, looked at me.
“…Berg.”
“…”
"It seems like the time has come. Let's form our own mercenary corps now. We've been looking for an opportunity anyway."
As I nodded, Adam Hyung stood up from his seat.
I also stood up after him.
Hyung, once again putting on that smile, spoke to Malak.
"Captain, I appreciate everything so far. It feels like we'll keep clashing in the future too. In that case, I'll leave the mercenary corps."
Malak, after digesting Hyung's words for a moment, tried to draw his sword in anger.
"Where does this bastard-"
Countless officers place their hands on their swords, following his lead.
But I drew my sword faster than anyone else.
"-Captain, sit down."
I aimed my drawn sword at the captain's throat and warned him.
It was a very strange feeling to point a weapon at the neck of the captain I always followed.
Malak froze instantly. The other officers were the same.
There was a significant difference between us, who had forcefully obtained our officer positions, and the other officers who had climbed up through politics.
In addition to that, there was a clear gap between those who had distanced themselves from battles and only drank alcohol and ate meat, and us who still trained daily.
Everyone understood that fact. It was evident just by looking at our physiques.
Hyung left his seat first.
I stayed behind and spoke to them alone.
"Since we're breaking up anyway, let's not part messily, shall we?"
“…”
I waited for a moment, but no one raised any objections.
I put my sword away and followed Adam Hyung.
This was something that was bound to happen someday. I had anticipated it, so accepting it was quick.
Even though I would have to give up all the positions I had, it didn't matter.
I also had a desire to continue monitoring Hyung's actions.
In the first place, the current mercenary corps was not the place I wanted to be for the rest of my life.
Nevertheless, Hyung, without any military jargon, thanked me for following him and bid farewell.
“Thank you, Berg.”
I smirked.
"You're good at pretending."
And within a few months, we formed the mercenary corps.
We went through quite a hard time thinking of the name of the mercenary group.
Hyung's suggestions were always foolish.
"The Flames of Sword and Shield."
"Not a chance."
"Hey! Where else can you find a name like this...!"
"Please go with something ordinary. No one will come otherwise."
"Then should we just go with the Red Flames?"
“…It’s better than before.”
It was quite enjoyable to build the mercenary corps.
The biggest advantage was that we could operate according to the principles we established.
“Let’s only accept the human race.”
Adam Hyung decided.
“In the first place, when races are mixed, they just fight. We should be able to have each other’s backs.”
Even without him explaining, I understood his intention.
Closing the distance with other races was not easy.
Through years of experience, there were things I learned and felt.
In the end, it was more comforting to have our own kind by our side.
Because there are no cultural differences, there are fewer disputes.
Considering all aspects, there was no reason to accept members from other races.
Adam Hyung infused his warm personality into the principles of the mercenary corps.
He wanted to create a mercenary corps where fewer people died.
Instead of forming a mercenary corps that simply pushed back monsters with numbers, he wanted each member to become an expert.
According to this, we selected the members after careful consideration.
Physical fitness tests, medical examinations, intelligence assessments, and so on...
All the applicants who seemed to be defeated easily were knocked out.
Even the selected individuals had to undergo rigorous training.
He and I pushed the new recruits to their limits.
Especially me, to the extent that I was disliked by the members.
But I didn't care about their dislike.
I couldn’t help but feel strangely uncomfortable thinking that their lives were in my hands.
I wanted to fulfill my responsibility completely.
Swordsmanship training, tactical training, survival training—we didn't neglect anything.
I taught them the weaknesses and types of monsters, everything.
Adam Hyung naturally began to be called the captain, and I was called the vice-captain.
Since we managed the mercenary corps in Hyung's way, the number of casualties had decreased to a point where it was incomparable to the previous mercenary corps.
As we carefully considered and accepted applicants, it was difficult to expand the scale, but we established a solid foundation.
Apart from the training, the satisfaction of the members was high.
As the survival rate increased, the resentment towards me gradually turned into respect.
Because of this, our Red Flames crop, which had a slightly different reputation from ordinary mercenary corps, began to spread rumors here and there, and we steadily grew in size.
As the scale grew, the incoming contracts became more dangerous and the rewards increased.
We were able to continue growing steadily.
Watching the mercenary corps we built with our own hands grow, I couldn't help but feel an inevitable sense of pride.
When everyone moved as one and defeated monsters with a unified goal, camaraderie naturally formed.
I was happy, even if I didn’t show it, that I had colleagues I could truly rely on, not colleagues who would argue with me every day and change overnight.
Just like that, five more years passed.
I turned 24 years old.
Hyung was now 26 years old.
Our Red Flames Corp had gained considerable recognition.
Many people now knew the name of our mercenary group.
Even nobles occasionally approached us with contracts.
Adam Hyung's plan to establish a mercenary corps could be considered a success.
One day as I was drinking with Hyung, he smiled and said.
"I said my mercenary corps would be different, didn't I?"
In response to his words, I couldn't help but smile wryly.
– – – End of Chapter – – –
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