Change – 1
When we returned to Squad Thirteen with the corpse of the Iron Ogre, an emergency meeting of the squad leaders was convened immediately.
Originally, the meeting had been scheduled for tomorrow morning, in honor of Seol Pung's return today. But given the urgency of the matter, it couldn't be postponed.
And when Seol Pung attended the meeting, he was startled to see the face of one of the gathered squad leaders.
"…My squad leader?!"
The man burst into hearty laughter and reached out his hand toward Seol Pung.
"Hahaha! We meet again! Didn't I tell you we'd be seeing each other soon?! Hahahaha!"
It was none other than Je Won-yeong, the Sword Tiger of Jeomchang, who had fought alongside him at Mountain Sword Sect against the Justice Alliance.
Formerly the First Squad Leader of the Eleventh Division, here he was, attending the meeting of Squad Thirteen's leaders.
Staring at him blankly, Seol Pung asked,
"How…how are you here?"
"Hahaha! I applied to transfer to Squad Thirteen as soon as I returned. The transfer hasn't been officially approved yet, but it will be, so why wait? That's why I came right away. Hahaha!"
Seol Pung's jaw dropped.
"Wait, so the reason you rushed back so quickly was…?"
"That's right. This was the reason. From now on, call me the Fourth Squad Leader of Squad Thirteen! Hahaha!"
Seol Pung could only let out a helpless laugh.
After the battle against the Justice Alliance, while Squad Thirteen had waited for Seonu Jin and Bi Sa-yeong, Je Won-yeong had hurried back to the Eleventh Division.
And it seemed it had been for the purpose of applying for a transfer.
But even so, to have arrived in Squad Thirteen before the Seventh Squad members had even returned—
That was just like him: bold, decisive, and impossible to pin down.
Je Won-yeong clapped the shoulder of another leader standing beside him—Jeomchang Dragon, Sa Gun-il of Squad Two—and said,
"I'd always wanted to serve alongside this fellow Gun-il. I hadn't come before only because that bastard Ma Yu-gyeom was here. But now that Ma Yu-gyeom is gone, and I have another very important reason to be here, I couldn't delay even a moment longer."
"…An important reason?"
While they were speaking, Vice Commander Heon Yeong-bo cleared his throat and said,
"Now then, let's begin. I was going to introduce the new Fourth Squad Leader to Squad Seven's leader, but it seems there's no need now."
Then, turning toward Commander Pung Yang, he asked,
"Before we begin discussing the new demon, may I first brief Squad Leader Seol Pung on the personnel changes?"
At his question, Pung Yang gave a silent nod.
Heon Yeong-bo looked back at Seol Pung and continued,
"While you were away, thanks to the Sword Saint, many changes occurred. We can discuss the rest later, but one thing you should know immediately: a large-scale personnel reinforcement took place. All other squads were filled to the full complement of ten members."
Casting a brief glance at Squad Leader Dok Su-gwang of Squad Five, he continued,
"Though, admittedly, heavy losses occurred again this time. Hmph. Anyway, during the reinforcement, two recruits insisted they absolutely must be assigned to Squad Seven. We held off placing them in any squad until now."
Seol Pung looked puzzled.
"They insisted on being assigned specifically to Squad Seven?"
"That's right."
"Who in the world are they?"
Heon Yeong-bo turned toward the door and called,
"Enter!"
And in came two figures—one a young man pretty enough to be mistaken for a woman, the other a beautiful woman with a languid expression.
Seol Pung's eyes widened the instant he saw them.
"Ah, you…?"
The pretty youth smiled brightly and ran up to him.
"Squad Leader Seol Pung! How have you been?!"
That youth was none other than Ma Maeng-un, son of Ma Jong-hwan, the necromancer of Saegwi whom Seonu Jin had once persuaded (or tricked) into helping during their leave.
Recognizing him, Seol Pung smiled warmly, though with some surprise, and asked,
"Maeng-un! What are you doing here? What about your father, Elder Gwei?"
"I got his permission to join the Flying Dragon Division. He told me to repay the kindness of my benefactors—and that I also needed to become more manly."
"Ha, I see. You've done well to come."
Seol Pung welcomed him with a beaming smile.
Though Maeng-un's martial arts were still lacking, his inherited medical knowledge from Elder Gwei would be of immense help.
After exchanging greetings with him, Seol Pung turned to the other newcomer—the woman who stood languidly to the side, watching him.
She was not someone Seol Pung recalled.
But then again, Seol Pung was never one to remember women to begin with.
He had spoken to so few in his life he could count them on one hand.
Yet she clearly knew him.
With her characteristic drowsy expression and dreamy gaze, she looked at Seol Pung and said,
"At last, I've found you. Gale Flying Dragon, Seol Pung."
The words threw him into confusion.
She found me? Me?
Hesitantly, Seol Pung asked,
"You know…me?"
And suddenly, a memory from the past surfaced in his mind.
That languid, dreamy face—swinging a whip as dark as a black dragon….
He gasped in shock.
"No way?!"
The woman smiled faintly and asked,
"Now you remember?"
Her drowsy face was now crystal clear in his memory.
She was indeed the very one he had fought at the Black Chamber Sect—
Ya Un-hyang.
Known among the Black Path as one of the absolute masters, the Blood Whip Goddess, Ya Un-hyang.
The woman Seol Pung had spared when he smashed open the dungeons of the Black Chamber Sect.
Stammering in surprise, he asked,
"Y-you—how are you here?"
Ya Un-hyang gave a languid smile and replied,
"I came here to find you, Seol Pung."
That lazy smile was so bewitching that even Vice Commander Heon Yeong-bo swallowed hard.
But Seol Pung, who had gone pale at her sudden appearance, had no idea—
That this was far from the last surprise awaiting him in this meeting….
***
We gathered in the Squad Seven waiting room, awaiting Squad Leader Seol Pung's return from the meeting.
While we waited, I explained the Iron Ogre to the members.
The squad members responded at once.
"This is troubling. The increase in Zhu Ogres was already dangerous enough, but now there's a monster impervious even to blade aura? Everyone, be careful. When moving through the forest, stick close to the Squad Leader, to Young Master Seonu, or to Cheong Yeon."
As expected, it was Na So-jeo who immediately worried about others upon hearing of the Iron Ogre.
"Incredible! A hide impervious even to blade aura—amazing! It's practically indestructible!"
Despite the topic being about our enemies, Bae Jong-gwan was the one who got excited about its tough skin.
Lady Cheon Ju-eun and Bi Sa-yeong, on the other hand, wore anxious looks, clearly unsettled by the Iron Ogre's existence.
To reassure them, I said,
"But it's fortunate that we now know how to deal with it. If we prepare properly, we can handle it without much loss. So don't worry too much."
Bi Sa-yeong let out a sigh and muttered,
"Meeting Old Man Seok really was a stroke of heaven's fortune. If I'd known, I would have at least shown him more respect."
I could only give an awkward laugh and nod at his words.
"…Right."
I had told everyone that learning the Iron Ogre's weakness was thanks to Old Man Seok Gyeong-dal.
Of course, I couldn't say it was due to my past life's memories, but the problem was that Squad Leader Seol Pung, Lady Cheong Yeon, and Bi Sa-yeong had all been with me when we met Old Man Seok.
So, I had claimed that while the Squad Leader and Lady Cheong Yeon were fighting the enemies, and Bi Sa-yeong was still cultivating, I had woken up first and heard the information….
But really, that explanation made no sense.
Simple-minded Bi Sa-yeong might not think too deeply about it, but anyone could realize how absurd it was if they thought about it for even a moment.
In such a dire situation, how could I have just happened to learn precisely the method for dealing with the Iron Ogre?
So while Bi Sa-yeong might accept it, there was no way Lady Cheong Yeon wouldn't find it strange.
I glanced at her cautiously—
But Lady Cheong Yeon seemed lost in her own thoughts.
Someone who absolutely wouldn't have missed the strangeness was staying silent…
Which meant she was probably choosing to act as if she didn't know.
I was newly grateful for her consideration.
Just then, Squad Leader Seol Pung opened the door and entered.
"Squad Leader!"
"How was the meeting?"
"Any new developments?"
Seol Pung nodded, his expression strangely complicated.
And in that moment, I felt his gaze brush over me and Lady Cheong Yeon with a faint bitterness.
I frowned slightly in puzzlement.
"Yes, there was much to discuss. Some good news, and some disappointing news."
Everyone focused on him, sensing the weight in his tone.
He began,
"First of all, the information about the Iron Ogre has been urgently sent to the other Flying Dragon Divisions. It seems there have been no reports from the others yet. If we were the first to encounter it, that would be good, but we can't know for certain. In any case, within our division, we've decided to secure Huogolsan as quickly as possible and form search parties centered on the squad leaders. Once I've finished relaying the meeting's contents to you all, I'll immediately join the sortie myself."
I silently nodded.
In my past life as well, the Iron Ogre had first appeared in our Squad Thirteen.
So, unless things had changed, we might be able to stop it this time with far fewer sacrifices.
After a pause, Seol Pung continued,
"And… there was also some good news."
"Good news?"
"Yes. For the first time in a while, after Jin, Lady Hae, and Lady Cheon, we've received new recruits. Two of them, in fact."
The unexpected announcement made the squad members cheer.
"Kyaa! New recruits?!"
"Wow! At last, we're increasing our numbers! What kind of people are they?"
"Are they men or women?"
Smiling faintly at their enthusiasm, Seol Pung replied,
"One man and one woman. And among them, the man is someone some of us have already met."
"Huh?"
"Someone we've met?"
"Who is it?"
But Seol Pung didn't answer.
"You'll find out directly when you meet them."
Watching him fail to show a smile even while delivering good news, I couldn't help but ask,
"Squad Leader… you didn't bring them here right away?"
Normally, new members were introduced to their squad as soon as their assignment was decided.
When I first joined, I too had been brought straight in.
So for him to simply mention their arrival without bringing them along was strange.
And his heavy expression from earlier seemed tied to the reason.
At last, Seol Pung let out a small sigh and nodded.
"Yes. There's something we must decide among ourselves first, so their introduction will be a little delayed."
Then he looked at me and Lady Cheong Yeon.
"Right now, Je Won-yeong—the Sword Tiger of Jeomchang—has come to us as the new Fourth Squad Leader of Squad Thirteen."
The words were so sudden and unexpected that we were left stunned.
"…What?"
"Who came, did you say?"
"Je Won-yeong?! That Je Squad Leader?!"
Seeing our bewildered reactions, Seol Pung gave a wry nod.
"Yes, the very same Squad Leader Je who fought alongside us at Mountain Sword Sect. He applied for a transfer the moment he returned. And…"
His gaze shifted toward the expressionless Lady Cheong Yeon.
"He requested Lady Hae as his vice squad leader."
"…What?!"
"You can't be serious?!"
That news shocked us even more than Je Won-yeong's transfer itself.
For him to request Lady Cheong Yeon as his vice leader—
That meant she would have to leave our squad for Squad Four.
But the surprises weren't over.
Seol Pung continued,
"And… Miss Tang requested Jin as her new vice squad leader for Squad Three."
"…Whaaat?!"
I was so stunned that my mouth fell open.
Miss Tang requesting me as her vice leader—
Did that mean I too would be transferred to another squad?
Bi Sa-yeong quickly asked,
"Do we have to comply with these requests?"
Seol Pung let out a long sigh and replied,
"No, not necessarily. But it's also true that we have no grounds to refuse. We can't deny that our Squad Seven has become overly concentrated in power. Not to mention Jin and Lady Hae, who have already reached the peak realm—even you, Lady Na, and you, Sa-yeong, have more than enough ability to serve as squad leaders yourselves. And even Jong-gwan and Lady Cheon could easily serve as vice leaders in other squads."
"Ah…"
We couldn't refute his words.
He was right.
"Chances are, whether it's Jin or Lady Hae, even if they don't go as vice leaders now, they may soon be appointed squad leaders of other teams—or even transferred to another Flying Dragon Division. After all, reaching the peak realm is rare indeed."
At his words, all of us exchanged blank, uneasy looks.
I, too, stared at Seol Pung with a troubled expression—
Then, involuntarily, I glanced at Lady Na.
The thought of being separated from my benefactor and spiritual pillar, Squad Leader Seol Pung,
And from Lady Na, whom I had quietly loved since my past life…
The weight in my heart grew unbearably heavy.
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