After raising hell at the Cheongryongdae, the place I headed to was naturally my quarters.
It was late at night, and my physical condition wasn't good either.
Since I also had some things to discuss with Song Hojeong, I was in the midst of moving out with the men.
“What?”
While walking and leading the members, I noticed something strange.
I looked around and heightened my senses.
Even so, I couldn't feel anything.
The lanterns lit against the dark night, and the presence of bugs felt from the surroundings.
Just that much.
Then what was strange?
I found this quietness strange.
“Why is no one here?”
Clearly, until just a moment ago, members had been stationed at various points along the path.
Since it was time to prepare for the night watch, personnel should be visible here and there. Yet, for some reason, I couldn't see anyone on the way.
Sensing something subtle, I looked back and asked.
“Hey.”
At my call, the people behind flinched. I just called out, why are they shrinking back?
Wondering who to look at, I stared at Song Hojeong, who was closest.
“Why is no one here?”
“I, I'm not sure.... I'll find out immediately.”
Song Hojeong had a troubled face, as if he truly didn't know. Well, he came out with the guy from the Cheongryongdae, so he wouldn't know.
As he tried to move as if to check the situation, I stopped him with my hand.
“Seriously, what is this. Where did they all go.”
Where did they all go instead of working? Frowning at the absurd situation, I walked.
As I continued walking toward the quarters like that.
“...Hmm?”
A presence I hadn't felt before was caught by my senses. It was a changed sensation as I got closer to the quarters.
‘They're all gathered.’
The presences I had wondered where they went were all at the quarters.
‘What the hell really.’
What the hell are these bastards doing there.
Moreover, it wasn't just any quarters. To be exact, it was the quarters I was staying in.
What the hell were they plotting to create this situation.
‘Please let it be nothing serious.’
I was scared.
Because it might be something so trivial that I'd get annoyed and explode. That was what I was scared of.
Repeating deep breaths as I walked, I finally reached the front of the quarters.
I carefully observed beyond the door. However.
“Umm...?”
At the scene unfolding before me, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
It was unexpected. I hoped it wouldn't be a big deal, but it was a very big deal.
“...Crazy, what is this.”
Since it was so different from what I expected, was the surprise greater than the annoyance?
As I unknowingly stiffened at such a scene, Song Hojeong, who was behind me, approached wondering what was going on.
“Daejunim. What's the mat...Hup?”
Song Hojeong also saw the situation inside and couldn't finish his words.
Let alone the other members, it was the same.
They were all showing the same reaction as me.
Because.
“Why are they doing that?”
“I... don't know either.”
It was because the personnel who should have been standing the night watch were all prostrating themselves with their heads on the ground in front of my quarters.
Trembling violently, yet somehow maintaining their posture.
At the incredibly bizarre situation, I let out a dumbfounded breath and approached.
-Ugh....
-Groan....
They must have been like this for quite a while, as they looked terrible. Not only were groans heard here and there, but they were also soaked in sweat.
“What are you guys doing?”
When I asked, the guy at the very front jumped up.
“Sir...!”
“...Sir, my ass. I'm asking what this is?”
“As you ordered, Daejunim, we gathered and have been waiting...!”
Huh?
“Order? When did I give an order...”
I stopped mid-sentence and looked at the face of the guy reporting to me.
Familiar. Naturally, since he's a member of the Seongryongdae, it's a face I know, but...
‘...This guy.’
Where did I see him? It was the guy who had informed me that Song Hojeong went to the Cheongryongdae.
‘Wait a minute.... Then?’
Recalling up to that point, a memory flashed through my mind. There was an order I had given this guy back then.
It was surely....
‘...Did I tell all the guys outside to gather in front of my quarters?’
I remember saying that to teach them a lesson because I didn't like how they were acting.
So the order this guy mentioned must mean that....
Then why.
“...Why the hell are you bowing your heads?”
Why were they smashing their heads into the dirt. I couldn't understand this.
If I told them to gather, they should have just gathered. Why did they create such a shitty spectacle.
Looking at him with that implicit question,
“...That... last time, Daejunim... you said that if you tell us to gather, we should wait in this position...”
“...”
At the words mixed with a slight sense of grievance, I had to sweep my hand up my forehead.
‘...I did say that.’
Because I remembered that it was actually a word I had spat out.
The time was probably when we were coming to Sichuan. Back then, there was also a problem related to the night watch, and it was when I flipped out once.
I think I said it to the members at that time.
-If you're going to keep doing this shit, and you don't want to die, then from now on, when I tell you to gather, keep your skulls shoved in the dirt. I'm not saying this for nothing, so burn it into your skulls.
It seemed that what I had growled out had made things turn out like this.
‘Fuck, they sure listen well.’
It was something even I had forgotten, but come to think of it, it was my fault.
“Hoo...”
Sighing, I added.
“...Rise.”
At a single word, the guys who were bowed down stood up all at once.
They were all soaked in sweat, looking utterly exhausted.
“...Um...”
Originally, I was going to crush their spirits a bit regarding the Vice-Commander matter. But seeing their pathetic state, I didn't even feel like it.
“...Forget it. I checked, so disperse for now and do what you need to do.”
“What about what you were going to say...”
“Why? You want to hear it even though I'm letting you go? Then get back down on the ground.”
“...N, no sir...! Sir!”
When I gestured with my hand, they all moved and disappeared.
What remained was the thick smell of sweat and the damp floor. And my changed thoughts.
‘I should watch my mouth from now on.’
Words thrown out in anger go round and round and end up like this.
Seeing this, I felt the need to watch what I say.
The situation became somewhat quiet.
From the dispersing presences, it seemed they were returning to their respective positions.
After confirming up to this point, I turned my head and looked at Song Hojeong.
“The remaining guys are also going to their positions...”
After sending off the members who followed me as well.
I said to the Vice-Commanders, Song Hojeong and Mun Dohyeok.
“You two, come inside.”
I had a lot to ask.
******************
After coming into the quarters, I sat down and kept the two guys standing.
I didn't even offer tea. Keeping only one lantern lit, I opened my mouth.
“Song Hojeong.”
“...Yes. Daejunim.”
“Explain the situation.”
No long words were necessary. The guy would also know the reason for being called.
As if my expectation was correct, Song Hojeong calmly opened his lips.
“At first.... it was a communication from the Cheongryongdae.”
“The reason?”
“They proposed sharing information....”
“Sharing?”
“Yes.”
I nodded at Song Hojeong's words.
Information sharing; just hearing the words, it didn't sound like a big problem.
The Cheongryongdae was a support unit, and right now they were in the middle of carrying out a mission, so it seemed even less of a problem, but....
“If that's the reason, why did you head to the Cheongryongdae for that?”
What I was curious about wasn't that.
Everything else was fine. But why did you go there on your own two feet. That was more important to me.
“...”
Song Hojeong couldn't answer. At that sight, I asked one more thing.
“You. You were going to refuse. Right?”
“...That's correct.”
The guy was going to refuse the Cheongryongdae's proposal. This was something that could be fully understood just by hearing the short conversation earlier.
So I was more curious.
“Then why did you go.”
When I asked bluntly, Song Hojeong pondered for a long time before answering me.
“...It was to refuse.”
He headed to the Cheongryongdae in order to refuse.
Those words were so ridiculous I let out a laugh without realizing it.
“They were the ones who talked about information sharing. And you went there yourself to refuse it?”
“...Yes.”
“Are you a fucking idiot?”
“...!”
At the distinctly rough words, Song Hojeong's eyes shook.
It was enough to be heard as an insult, but I didn't stop.
“It's sharing in name only; the Cheongryongdae side probably said they wouldn't hand over their information. Right?”
“...”
Not only shaking, he swallowed a dry spit.
It meant it was the correct answer.
“This wasn't sharing, it was an offering. And you, hearing this, would naturally try to refuse. Yes or no?”
“That's... true.... But.”
“Shut up. I'm still talking.”
Song Hojeong swallowed his saliva and closed his mouth.
“Make your excuses later if you can. Understand?”
“...Yes.”
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
“Looking at your state, I can tell the Cheongryongdae said some bullshit about how they are superior and higher in rank. And that you have to follow their orders. Just hearing it, it sounds like fucking bullshit.”
I could tell without even seeing it.
It was something that couldn't be missed just by looking at their actions a little.
“Moreover, telling you to come to them or whatever.... I completely understand they were looking down on you. Fine. Your action wasn't welcome, but I'll let that pass. But. Do you know what really pisses me off?”
The most infuriating part here was something else.
“Why am I only finding out about this now. Why do I only find out after everything has already blown up. This is what pisses me off the most. You know?”
I, the master of a whole unit, only now find out the whole story.
This part was the most incomprehensible and infuriating.
“Now make your excuse. Why didn't you report it to me?”
I asked while glaring, but Song Hojeong only moved his lips and couldn't easily spit it out.
“Speak. Your excuse.”
I asked continuously as if pressing him. Only then did the hesitating Song Hojeong barely open his mouth.
“Receiving the proposal was a day ago....”
“Speak straight. It wasn't a proposal, it was a demand.”
“...They made the demand a day ago. It was when Daejunim was away.”
“Yeah, and?”
“So, I thought it was right to handle it on my end first....”
“Wait.”
I cut off Song Hojeong's excuse. There was something I had to make clear.
“Why would you handle that on your end? No, why are you the one making the choice in the first place?”
“Pardon?”
“If I was away, shouldn't you have waited, reported it, and then proceeded? Why are you acting on your own. Are you a higher rank than me?”
“...No.”
“Then you should report to me and get permission first, fuck, why are you doing whatever you want?”
“I'm sor... My thinking was short at the time. Please punish me.”
“Not punishment... Hah...”
Eventually, I rubbed my brow. Looking at the flow of the conversation, it seemed there was something I had to say after all.
“Song Hojeong.”
“Yes.”
“It wasn't that your thinking was short. You knew everything.”
“N, no.... I, I really...”
“Don't wag your tongue uselessly, you just didn't trust me.”
“...!”
At my words, Song Hojeong's eyes grew as wide as lanterns.