53: The Bandit Leader
Lee Eun-young remained silent as she regained her composure.
The sting in her heart hurt more than her swollen cheeks.
New Seoul's strongest fighter had been scratched.
'Did I lose?'
The bastard who'd slapped her was now sleeping peacefully inside the tent, looking utterly carefree.
"Haah."
Eun-young spent the night sleepless, consumed by resentment, shame, regret, irritation, humiliation, and rage.
She ran hundreds of mental simulations but found no solution.
'I can't win.'
He was strong.
Cheoldu was unlike any opponent she'd ever faced—a perfect convergence of strength she'd never encountered before.
"Fuck."
Her first defeat since arriving in Nova.
The girl who had always dominated.
The 20-year-old kendo prodigy who'd been fast-tracked into the military through sheer talent—now tasting defeat for the first time.
Cheoldu emerged from the tent, stretching as he noticed her.
"Hm? Couldn't sleep?"
"......"
Seeing her hollow expression, he offered consolation.
"Heh heh heh, cry if you need to. Defeat tempers a warrior."
"......"
She wanted to punch that smug mouth of his.
How could every word out of it be so infuriating?
"Heh heh, call me Oppa from now on."
"Just kill me instead!"
"Huh? You're not in any position to act up."
Eun-young clamped her mouth shut.
For a split second, she'd sensed killing intent.
Her superhuman reflexes had caught that fleeting moment.
'Was I about to die?'
A delayed chill prickled her arms with goosebumps.
"Let's eat!"
"Yes, boss."
Captain Choi, ten years Cheoldu's junior, served him with surprising deference.
Whoosh.
He stirred the campfire embers back to life, placed a cast-iron pan over the flames, and began cooking breakfast.
Eun-young stood apart until Kim Jin-tae brought her a bowl of food.
"Don't provoke Cheoldu needlessly."
"Huh?"
"Cheoldu's never lied or spoken empty words."
After Jin-tae's whispered warning, Eun-young stared blankly at the bowl.
'Ha, damn it.'
Right. The weak should submit.
Hadn't that always been her way?
Only now, she was the weak one.
'My subordinates must've hated me.'
An officer who bypassed the academy through special recruitment, demanding respect after a few promotions...
Captain Choi, who treated the 22-year-old Eun-young with unwavering courtesy, was actually just a decent person.
She'd resented the other junior officers for their half-hearted salutes and subtle dismissals—but were they any different from her?
'I'm the petty one.'
If she kept sulking, it'd only get worse.
She was starting to despise herself.
If you lose, you submit.
"Hah!"
Taking a sharp breath, Eun-young picked up her utensils and ate.
Chomp, chomp.
After wolfing down the food, she abruptly stood and approached Kang Cheoldu.
"Hm? What is it, lady?"
"Please stop teasing me."
"Huh?"
Without warning, she bowed deeply.
Captain Choi Jun-seop was the most shocked—he knew her fiery temperament best.
"I apologize for my insolence."
"Knowing your place is vital for survival."
"Understood."
"So? What do you want?"
"I wish to observe. Please let me accompany you."
"Hmm, fine."
"Thank you!"
At Cheoldu's easy agreement, she bowed again.
"I'll address you as 'Captain.' Please call me Lee Eun-young. 'Lieutenant Lee' would be preferable."
She couldn't bring herself to say 'Oppa.'
"Alright. Lieutenant Lee."
"Yes."
"Have another bowl! You're better than you look."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Heh heh, good."
Cheoldu heaped more meat onto her plate.
"Thank you."
"Eat well."
As Cheoldu looked after her, Eun-young felt something unfamiliar.
When had anyone last cared for her like this?
The strongest woman in New Seoul?
'This feels... new.'
Her heart tingled strangely.
For some reason, she missed her mother.
Lost in the unfamiliar emotion, she ate the stir-fried meat.
"Could use more rice, though."
Captain Choi chimed in.
"True. Rumor has it they found a grain similar to Korean rice in Germany. With teleportation circles, trade should be easier."
The rice in New Seoul was too dry for Cheoldu's taste—edible only as porridge.
"Heh heh, good news."
"Teleportation circles?"
"Lieutenant Lee isn't aware?"
"......?"
As she blinked blankly, Kim Jin-tae explained:
"We found one at the Cheongju portal. Sold the intel to the military, but I guess it's still classified."
"Hmm. That's explosive intel."
The corporate and government scramble to build a city in Cheongju would cause chaos.
"But why did you follow us?"
"To help. Bandits are tougher than reported."
"Oh?"
Surprisingly decent of her.
"My apologies for teasing you."
A real man owns his mistakes.
Eun-young smiled awkwardly at Cheoldu's apology.
Did he have this side to him?
"Thank you for apologizing."
"Heh heh, you've got promise."
Cheoldu took a liking to her.
Strong fighters were common; those who were strong and knew their place were rare.
Hadn't he been the same?
A little arrogance, and you became a tyrant.
Hence his mantra of calling himself a 'rookie.'
"Alright. Let's move."
After packing camp, Cheoldu took off running.
"Raaaah!"
His deafening war cry echoed as he charged ahead, leaving Eun-young bewildered.
"Just go with it."
"Haha, Lieutenant Lee. Let's catch up."
"Yes."
The three sprinted after him.
Eun-young glanced at Captain Choi running beside her.
Choi Jun-seop, de facto leader of the special task force.
How much had she resented him?
Just like Cheoldu yesterday.
"Sorry about before."
"Huh?"
"And... thank you."
"Wha—?!"
Choi Jun-seop gaped.
Flustered, Eun-young sped up to chase Cheoldu.
"Wasn't her nickname 'Ice Queen'?"
"Haha, yeah."
"The ice has melted."
"Hahaha."
At Jin-tae's joke, Choi Jun-seop smirked.
"Lately... unbelievable things keep happening."
Now that he thought about it, New Seoul had been in upheaval since meeting Cheoldu.
After half a day, Cheoldu reached the target zone—where the lizardman swamps ended.
A vast grassland dotted with small forests stretched out, teeming with monsters.
Gnolls, lizardmen, and wild beasts roamed freely.
"Hmm."
Cheoldu scanned the terrain and spotted a high point.
"There."
He scaled a hill where a towering tree stood like a sentinel.
"Hmm."
Squinting, he surveyed the area.
"Huff, huff... See anything, Cheoldu?"
"Just monsters."
"Ugh, exhausted. Let's cook first?"
"Sure. I'll keep scouting."
"Okay."
Jin-tae, Choi Jun-seop, and Eun-young started a fire for a late lunch.
"Here, let me."
"No, I'll help."
"Oh. Uh, sure."
"...Sorry about before."
"It's fine. That's military life."
Choi Jun-seop adjusted to Lieutenant Lee's sudden change. A superior taking initiative wasn't bad.
After a long scan, Cheoldu's eyes widened.
"Hm?"
A dust cloud rose in the distance.
Faint, but...
Worth investigating.
Whoosh!
The massive tree suddenly swayed violently, startling the group.
"Wh-what was that?"
"Huh? Cheoldu's over there!"
"Tch, I'll catch up."
Eun-young grabbed her sword and sprinted toward Cheoldu.
The bandits accelerated at the sight of prey.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
Twenty-five bandits.
"Charge! Gaechang!"
"Gaechang!"
The lizardmen horde was obliterated by the cavalry's lance charge.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
This wasn't skill—it was sheer, bulldozing force.
Even those dodging the lances were trampled or impaled by the next wave.
"Squeal!"
A few escaped, but—
Twang! Thud!
The mounted archers picked them off effortlessly.
"Huff, huff."
"Neigh!"
The ragged breaths of men and horses filled the air.
"Loot the bodies!"
"Yes!"
Half the bandits dismounted to collect coins and stat stones.
Whoooosh.
A sudden, overwhelming presence made the bandit leader turn—and freeze.
A giant was charging like a wild boar.
No—flying.
Cheoldu landed before them with a boom!
"Neigh!"
Horses reared as Cheoldu grinned and clapped.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Magnificent! That was incredible!"
His eyes shone with exhilaration.
Yes! This was what he'd wanted!
The horses were small, but Nova-bred steeds were tough.
A cavalry charge! Perfection!
"Who the hell are you?"
"Kang Cheoldu."
"......?"
"Hand over the horses."
"What nonsense is this?"
Kim Choon-bae shook his head.
"Kid, value your life. I'll spare you—scram."
Cheoldu tilted his head.
Weren't these guys supposed to be ruthless?
"No."
He pointed at the horses.
"Give them to me."
"Tch, a madman. Trying to rob us alone?"
"Hehehe. This isn't robbery—it's plunder."
The barbarian way!
"......What's the difference?"
"Why threaten? Just kill and take."
As Cheoldu prepared to charge, Lieutenant Lee burst through the bushes.
"W-wait!"
"Hm?"
Kim Choon-bae recognized her instantly, his expression hardening. She gave the bandits a conflicted look before pleading with Cheoldu:
"Please... spare their lives."
"Ah, right."
Did she have something to say?
Well, he needed them alive for interrogation anyway.
"Spare them, and I'll owe you any favor."
"Heh heh, fine."
Kim Choon-bae scoffed at their exchange.
"So you're the one who killed Jang Ho-cheol?"
"Yeah. Are you Jang Ho-cheol 2.0?"
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
"Tsk, you don't even know."
Cheoldu reached for his axe—then paused.
This would kill them in one swing...
'I miss my club.'
He'd get a blunt weapon later.
Sheathing the axe, he raised his fists.
"These'll do. Come at me."
Kim Choon-bae waved his men back.
"Stand down."
"Yes, boss."
"Teach me how to get horses, and I'll leave."
"Huh?"
"We've no reason to fight."
"Hmm."
This was getting strange.
