Chapter 48: The Mercenary Corps
Director Park Jun-pil found it increasingly difficult to suppress the smile creeping up his lips these days.
“Heh heh heh.”
“Director, please maintain your composure.”
“Ahem.”
At the supply officer’s remark, he awkwardly straightened his expression and asked,
“Why has the hero who resolved our town’s longstanding issue not yet arrived?”
At Director Park Jun-pil’s stern tone, all officers gathered in the operations command room wore faces as if they’d swallowed something foul.
Tormenting juniors while roleplaying as a magistrate had its limits, but on days when he was in high spirits, his commitment to the act intensified.
‘This bastard’s at it again.’
‘Just play along properly.’
‘You greenhorns better humor him.’
The officers’ silent battle of glares and shifting responsibility dragged on until Defense Commander Park Jun-pil fully embodied the magistrate ruling over New Seoul.
“Ahem! Do you ignore my questions?”
“Magistrate, Captain Park of the Special Operations Unit has left to retrieve him. He’ll arrive shortly.”
Director Park’s eyebrows twitched.
“Captain?”
Gasp!
That clueless moron.
If we’re doing this, let’s go all in.
The quick-witted supply officer stepped forward.
“Magistrate! It seems the fool lost his mind shortly after being assigned to New Seoul’s office.”
“Tsk. Brew him some medicinal herbs.”
“Yessir…”
The lieutenant’s feeble reply was drowned out as the supply officer stoked the jovial mood.
“With so many prisoners detained, perhaps you’d like to inspect them before the hero’s arrival?”
“Well said, Deputy. Let us go see.”
“At once, Magistrate.”
As the supply officer scurried after Director Park, the remaining officers in the command room erupted in complaints.
“God, fuck. This is so vile I should just desert.”
“My toes are curling into oblivion.”
“Is that lunatic serious? He won’t approve permits unless it’s a damn tavern. I’ll puke if I smell budae-jjigae one more time.”
“Ugh, fuck. Whatever. Hey, Jeong-jin!”
“Lieutenant Kim Jeong-jin!”
“Fuck, get your shit together! If Captain Ahn hadn’t covered for us, we’d all be screwed!”
“My apologies, sir.”
“Ugh. Let’s just… do better.”
“Understood.”
“Christ, fuck. We can’t even quit this cringefest now.”
Ten years had passed since this wretched magistrate roleplay infected the city.
New Seoul had become a historical drama set plopped into the wasteland of Nova.
As the seniors left, a single tear rolled down Lieutenant Kim Jeong-jin’s cheek.
“I… I wanna discharge so bad.”
Of all postings, why here…?
That bastard Director Park kept getting promoted, making retaliation impossible.
The thought of enduring three and a half more years as a deputy magistrate filled him with despair.
“Jeong-jin! You coming or not?!”
“Lieutenant Kim Jeong-jin! Moving out!”
Kim Jeong-jin bolted outside, his magistrate robes fluttering behind him.
Ah, how I miss my uniform.
Outside, rows of bound bandits were being hauled into the government courtyard.
“Separate the prisoners by severity of crimes.”
“Yes, Magistrate.”
Under the officers’ orders, NCOs swiftly sorted the captives based on investigation records.
“Where is the inspector?”
“Huh? Who do you mean…?”
Supply Officer Captain Ahn cautiously inquired.
“Tsk tsk. You call yourself a deputy yet don’t know the inspector? I speak of Inspector Lee Eun-young!”
“Ah! She’ll arrive shortly!”
Captain Ahn cursed internally:
‘Fuck, yesterday she was “Special Envoy.”’
If you’re gonna LARP historical dramas, at least study properly. Learning history from period dramas just lets him rename titles on a whim.
This seniority-obsessed prick.
At that moment, Major Lee Eun-young sighed heavily while climbing the stairs.
“Aren’t you tired of this?”
“Ahem! An inspector should mind her tongue.”
“Whatever. When’s he arriving?”
“Who?”
“Kang Cheol-du or whatever.”
“Soon.”
Captain Ahn exhaled in relief at the exchange between Major Lee and Director Park.
Few could resist this absurd roleplay—Major Lee being one of them.
“Hm.”
“Confident?”
“Doubt it.”
“Has the mighty Major Lee grown timid?”
“Hmph. Dream on.”
Lee Eun-young snorted.
“He’s here.”
“Huh? You see him?”
“Can’t you feel that aura?”
Lee Eun-young frowned at Commander Park.
“You should move around more. Do some swordsmanship drills. Look at that gut.”
“Ahem! A noble needs only archery to master both civil and martial arts!”
“Tsk. Quit the act. Who’ll follow a commander who just barks orders from his chair?”
“Hahaha! Does our inspector plot rebellion?”
Lee Eun-young’s face darkened.
“I’m going out.”
“Where?”
“To greet him.”
“Oh? Our ice queen initiating contact?”
“Keep mocking me and I’ll rip off your rank insignia for a duel.”
“Fuck. No respect for your elders.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Lee Eun-young half-heartedly acknowledged before pushing open the main gate.
Creeeak.
“Huh? Automatic doors?”
Cheol-du chuckled as the doors slid open before he could touch them.
Beyond stood a petite beauty.
While all soldiers wore flowing magistrate robes, the woman before him sported form-fitting combat gear with armor protecting vital points.
“You’re Kang Cheol-du?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmph.”
Lee Eun-young’s brow furrowed.
“Where’s your courtesy?”
“Heh. You first.”
“Wow. It’s been ages since I felt this annoyed.”
Lee Eun-young smirked.
Who in New Seoul dared provoke her?
She perpetually topped combat power rankings.
Bandits and raiders dared not challenge New Seoul while she stood guard.
In Nova, elite warriors outweighed sheer numbers—some claimed she alone comprised 30% of the city’s military strength.
“Refreshing. Pleasure to meet you. I’m Major Lee Eun-young.”
Cheol-du shook her outstretched hand.
“Kang Cheol-du.”
“I hear I’m your noonim?”
“And?”
“I was swept into Paju at 20. Lived 10 years in Nova—that’s 30 years of life experience.”
“Aren’t you physically 22?”
“You lack respect for elders.”
“Heh. Fine.”
The K-barbarian raised in the land of Eastern courtesy demonstrated flexibility.
“I’m 19. Should I call you ajumma?”
“……”
Lee Eun-young momentarily froze as surrounding soldiers gaped.
Who’s he challenging now?
“Provoking me?”
“I don’t bully weaklings.”
“Ha!”
More insulting than “ajumma.”
“You stand by those words?”
“What consequences?”
Sparks flew from Lee Eun-young’s eyes.
“Hey now! We’ll be seeing each other often. Let’s head inside, shall we?”
Director Park intervened.
“Who’re you, old man?”
“Hahaha! I govern New Seoul as chief magistrate!”
“Oh! The tribal chief of New Seoul.”
“Hm? Tribal chief?”
Director Park’s eyes lit up.
Could this punk… share my interests?
“We’ll get along splendidly! Kekeke!”
“Heh. You summoned me as a ‘tribal chief’?”
“Exactly! Come in!”
Director Park practically glowed with delight as they entered the courtyard.
“Do you know the power dynamics around New Seoul?”
“Nope.”
“We started as one force, but dissenters split us into three factions. Well, two now.”
Director Park grinned at Cheol-du.
“You eliminated one. Hahaha! I called you here to discuss compensation.”
“Rewards? Don’t mind if I do.”
“Hahaha! We’ll get along! Let’s handle business before feasting.”
Passing through the courtyard crammed with captured bandits, they ascended the government office steps.
When Director Park plopped onto the stairs, Cheol-du sat beside him.
“Kekeke! You’ve no decorum.”
“……?”
“‘Tis a jest.”
Having reviewed all reports on Cheol-du, Director Park cut to the chase:
“The government army won’t pressure you to enlist or swear allegiance.”
“Heh. Music to my ears.”
“See those bandits? Clearing them alone fulfills your duty.”
“Heh.”
The barbarian’s patience dwindled.
Fortunately, Director Park continued:
“You aim to build a tribe, yes?”
“Oh?”
“As I thought—we’re alike!”
Director Park smirked.
“Your tribe will consist solely of warriors?”
“Obviously.”
Weaklings had no place.
“Know of mercenary groups? Private military companies. Form one.”
“You’re taking credit for my plans?”
“Hahaha! How many governments recognize PMCs? New Seoul will endorse yours.”
“What’s the difference?”
Cheol-du didn’t grasp the fuss. Why did official recognition matter when he could just establish a group?
“Heh. Bandits and raiders are PMCs too—but we don’t recognize them. Bounties prevent them from entering New Seoul.”
“Hm.”
“Your mercenary corps will differ. We’ll grant full access to city infrastructure—meals, workshops, supplies.”
“Oh?”
This piqued his interest.
As Cheol-du pondered, Kim Jin-tae nudged him.
“Just accept.”
“Heh. Should I?”
“It’s what we wanted anyway.”
“Deal!”
“Splendid!”
Director Park slapped his knee.
When orthodox methods failed, improvisation sufficed.
This separated desk-bound bureaucrats from frontline commanders.
‘Direct command would’ve been ideal, but hiring works too.’
Instead of absorbing Cheol-du’s force into the military, they’d remain external mercenaries.
A pocketed asset moved to an outer pocket—missions delivered as requests rather than orders.
“Now then—will you take these men into your corps?”
“Hm?”
Cheol-du finally understood why hundreds of bandits filled the courtyard.
“125 total. Executed the worst offenders—these are the ambiguous cases.”
Novices were superhumans among civilians. Returning them to Earth for trial?
Impossible to imprison.
“Fine.”
Cheol-du stood.
“But I’ll only take those I want.”
“Excellent!”
Director Park grinned.
Refreshingly decisive.
This mercenary commander would be easy to work with.
Cheol-du scanned the nervous bandits—all having witnessed his rampage at the mountain stronghold.
“Cut their bonds.”
“……?”
Petty officers hesitated until Director Park nodded.
Let’s see how he recruits.
