14 – 13 Squad (3)
I followed Abakusha. After a simple breakfast, Elliott Mutt immediately organized us.
“We’re heading to the workshop. Squad 13 is scheduled for serious work today.”
Even Abakusha, who was so rugged, didn’t protest any of his words. Maybe because his life was on the line.
Elliott Mutt, literally just guiding us, left all the command to Abakusha. Abakusha himself seemed used to it and handed me a shovel.
“Work. You son of a b*tch.”
“What should I do?”
“You’ll see. Clean up the trenches. It’s a mess inside due to recent rain. We also need to rebuild the broken parts.”
I worked alongside Abakusha. The intensity of the work was just right, not too difficult.
Maybe it’s because he’s in perfect physical shape. As I easily followed Abakusha’s work pace, words burst out from behind.
“…That bastard. Seriously.”
“What’s that about?”
“Only half a day to adapt to a task you’ve never done before… And now trying to keep up with his work pace, brother?”
Abakusha staggered. He cursed as if he had stepped on a rock.
“Damn. It hurts like hell.”
It was where I partially broke it yesterday.
Of course, I didn’t feel guilty at all.
“I should have been cautious from the beginning.”
“You bastard. If I don’t talk, my dignity crumbles. It was necessary procedure.”
“Such a pain in the ass. You little sh*t.”
“That’s why rookies are like this. Do you see over there?”
Due to the considerable height I had reached, most of the terrain lay beneath me. A rugged mountainous area. However, among them, there was still something that stood out.
Plateau… I guess that’s what it’s called.
It’s probably relatively flat inside. But the location is incredibly high. If we were to establish a base there, we could surely gain a strategic advantage.
“What’s that?”
“It’s Ascal Plateau. Our main stronghold. I’ve climbed up and down that place at least eight times. And as a result, I realized the importance of dignity.”
“…Did someone take it away?”
“In the first place, it’s so rare that you can count on one hand how many times we’ve brought it back. You bastard. The moment you think it’s been taken away, that’s when you lose that plateau.”
Abakusa muttered discontentedly.
“Beyond that lies the human city. Those damn bastards. Not only did they occupy the plateau, but they also constantly swarm around here like a colony of insects.”
“So, is that why we’re doing serious construction?”
“Humans have an abundance of firearms and explosives. There are no natural disasters here. Even if you don’t know where it comes from, bullets are rolling around all the time. Some people… To buy proper ammunition, you have to go all the way to the black market… Hey! Stack those properly over there!”
“Yes, sir!”
Abakusa unloaded the logs he had been carrying.
“As you know, humans possess superior technology. Especially in the field of warfare, they are overwhelming. Even if we bring ten elf guns, we can’t trade them for a single human gun. Those bastards keep shooting without rest… It’s strange that nothing collapses.”
Abakusa lowered his voice.
“You bastard. Here’s a useful tip. Unit 13 only works at designated times. When the time is up, we immediately return to the unit.”
“…So?”
“When you return to the unit, go straight to the market first. It’s essential because the food here is tasteless garbage.”
“Market?”
“It’s a mobile shop, you idiot. Even if you had looked this morning, you should have known, right? Soup like sh*t and stale bread… They at least give us some wages, so no riots happen.”
I expressed my doubt.
“We heard that we’re forced conscripts, right?”
“Forced conscripts are also people, you little sh*t. Of course, the pay is much less, but we should receive compensation for our work.”
“…Why did you come here?”
“I got caught blowing the heads of scumbags like you. Got it?”
This guy is definitely not normal either.
“Of course, the people here are all the same as you. This includes illegal immigrants and war prisoners, and sometimes I heard they even bring kids from orphanages. Of course, I don’t know the details.”
“…What is the criteria for illegal immigration?”
“If you cross the border without a permit, you
Elliot Moot nodded at me.
“In the 13th division, there is an unwritten rule to follow. No matter what the situation, do not cause a noticeable accident. If you do,…”
Elliot Moot gave me a cold look.
“You will die at my hands.”
“Yes, Lieutenant.”
“Gear up. We’re dismissed.”
That’s how the first task ended.
The market following Abacusa was crowded with people to the point of being dizzy.
“Give it to me!”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Damn it! My snacks!”
“Hey! Kid! Ring up the coffee!”
“Yes!”
I didn’t feel like buying anything. I didn’t even have a taste for it.
Abacusa eagerly looked at the unbelievably frozen meat. A growling few people gave me a menacing stare.
“This is mine. **hole. If you ask for it, I’ll kill you.”
“Eat a lot by yourself.”
All of it was uncooked frozen meat. The quality seemed really low.
But Abacusa embraced the frozen meat as if they were treasures.
“There’s hardly any food to supplement here. To maintain my physique, I have to eat heartily.”
“Do you spend most of your salary on food?”
“Of course. You have to eat a lot to fight well. Stupid kids use it to buy items, but I’m different from those fickle people…”
A soldier who had bought alcohol walked past.
Abacusa, who had been staring blankly, turned to look at me.
“What were you saying?”
“Wipe the drool from your mouth.”
Salary.
The adaptation fee that Elliot Moot had given me was ten small silver coins.
10 silver.
In modern terms, about a hundred thousand won.
Is it to buy simple necessities? Come to think of it, even though we’re called the resistance army, we haven’t received a single supply.
The only things I have been given are these loose-fitting clothes and a knife.
I glanced back at Abakusa.
“When does the market come?”
“Every day.”
“The prices?”
“On the expensive side.”
“But I still have to buy, right?”
“Why are you even asking the obvious, you little sh*t.”
“…Hey, how many clothes do you have?”
“Me?”
Abakusa looked puzzled.
“You… Do you really plan on…?”
“I’ll tear your mouth apart.”
“Five sets.”
“Did you buy them all?”
“Why ask the obvious?”
So they’re deliberately using money to buy things that should have been given as provisions.
…It feels suffocating.
Just pretending to give provisions, but it’s no different from intentionally buying things that should have been free.
Free labor. That’s exactly what it looks like.
…Well, considering that everyone in this punishment unit is either a criminal or a war prisoner, it may be inevitable.
I looked around the market and sorted out the items I needed to buy. It seems like I’ll have to live with just one combat uniform for a while.
It was incredibly frustrating, but there was no other choice. First, I chose a loose-fitting garment hastily.
There was nothing that couldn’t be found in the market. Sewing supplies were also in several vehicles.
“Fit the clothes to my body.”
The tailor quickly scanned my body.
“It’s a simple request.”
The old man’s craftsmanship was exceptional. Altering military uniforms to fit perfectly was done in an instant.
“Did you come from Albian?”
“…Yes.”
“You must be troubled. It shows mourning.”
Albion’s story seemed to have spread far and wide. But I didn’t really want to share those words.
When I thought of the city, she also came to mind. Unknowingly, I became melancholic and looked down at the ground.
Let’s try not to think about it as much as possible.
Until I become free.
“It’s over.”
“I’m here.”
Four out of ten silver coins had disappeared. Only six remained.
As Avakusa had said, the evening was also fruitless. I quickly finished eating and went outside.
Avakusa, who had been waiting, revealed it.
“Since you kept your promise, you son of a b*tch, keep your promise too.”
“There is one thing I want to ask before beating the crap out of you.”
“What is it?”
“Why is it that even though we belong to the Resistance, we are not allowed to use guns?”
“There was a riot.”
“A riot?”
“As you know, our quality is poor. We can count the good ones on one hand. Despite putting explosive collars directly on us to manage us, there have been times when brainless idiots caused riots.”
“……. “
“After that, the use of firearms was prohibited for punishment units like us. Only high-ranking elves were allowed to use guns.”
“… Then victory in the war itself would be impossible, right?”
“Of course, we will die off. But other units except for our punishment unit use guns. When we go to the front lines, we join them. If we dare to run away, they shoot us from behind. That’s it.”
“This is madness.”
“Criminals don’t have rights, right? Anyway, you have a loose tongue, you bastard. Are you scared?”
Instead of answering, I raised my arm. Avakusa revealed it.
“Tear him apart!”
I sighed.
I extended my fist.
. . .
During the day, I worked, and at night, I beat up Avakusa.
“This son of a b*tch!”
Abakusha clung persistently, even as he was hurt. Every evening free time, he looked for me to keep his promise.
I sincerely helped him out. As promised, I didn’t forget to fix his crumpled posture in a few places.
I was pretty worn out, but it was better that way. If my body was tired, I could stop thinking about anything.
More than anything, my vague martial arts skills were improving as I faced real battles repeatedly. Perhaps gaining experience made me understand how to handle my body more efficiently.
“Are you really 16 years old?”
“Almost 17.”
“… Ah, sh*t. Come to think of it, winter is coming. It’s going to get cold.”
Abakusha trembled. It’s my third week here.
Some familiar faces sometimes subtly teased me.
“Drakan. Are other dragon species like you?”
“You must have heard of the guy, Red Fang Einherjar. He’s also a dragon species, right?”
“I don’t know.”
“Such a cool guy.”
Maybe they realized that I won’t say anything unless provoked first.
The 13 squad members who subtly closed the distance also watched Abakusha and me spar.
“Captain! It’s on the right!”
“Do you see it?”
“No. But it’s better than the left one.”
Abakusha, who received the blow, rolled on the ground.
“Dammit! Who said it’s on the right?”
“It’s me! Captain!”
Including Abakusha, there were 9 squad members, including me.
Compared to other squads, the number was small. But that didn’t mean the quality was lacking.
Each member was skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Among them, a noticeable one was a crow humanoid with a height to rival Abakusha.
“Benzens.”
There were some gray feathers among the hair covering one eye.
He was silent. Although everyone stood out in a larger physique, no one took him lightly.
He didn’t seem to be a fighter like Abakusha. But that didn’t mean he was inferior to Abakusha.
“……”
If Abakusa is openly assertive, Benzens feels more focused on skill.
As a result of getting involved through Abakusa’s arbitration, it was definitely faster. The movements optimized for knife fighting were very sharp.
“…I learned to survive. That’s all.”
It didn’t seem like he had received professional education. When I asked Abakusa separately, he clicked his tongue.
“You bastard… Now you even lay your hands on Benzens too!”
“I’ll kill him.”
“It’s a joke. Idiot. Benzens is also from another city. Well, I heard that things weren’t so good there either. I heard he had a younger sister. It’s high-quality information obtained while drunk.”
“…And?”
“They say his younger sister died during an illegal immigration attempt. Benzens is in his last year. I heard he’ll be discharged soon. He’s the bastard who survived the longest after me.”
I felt a strange affinity with him – such thoughts crossed my mind.
The rest of the squad members were similar. Whether it was exerting force or lack of quality, they all seemed the same.
“Hyung-nim. That thing today…”
“Didn’t I clearly tell you not to involve me?”
Abakusa, who was exercising alone and exhaling rough breaths, growled. I also continued my muscle training during my spare time.
A squad member who passed by came back and whispered something to me.
“Dracon.”
What was his name…?
His shaggy hair briefly fluttered. Was it Edan?
“Why.”
“Aren’t you interested?”
“What kind of interest?”
“From now on…”
Edan chuckled.
“I’m going to meet a girl.”
A girl…?
There’s a girl in this unit? I’ve never seen one before.
“Do you want to come along?”