Chapter 13

Chapter 13

The three Vice-Captains doubted their own ears.

‘A Captain position!’

The meaning carried by the Captain of a combat unit under the Five Flags of Northern Heaven was immense.

It meant one was a powerful master representing the Northern Heaven Alliance, someone who would not fall short no matter where he was placed.

It was truly an exceptional proposal.

‘I thought perhaps, but…… they are truly offering him a Captain position?!’

‘Insane!’

Even Dokgo Jin’s face showed an unexpected expression.

‘I did not think they would offer me a Captain position.’

The Captain of the Dragon Fang Unit continued with an even more relaxed expression.

“I don't know if you are aware, but the position of Captain of the Dragon Wing Unit under the Blue Dragon Flag is vacant. We intend to give that position to you.”

A heavy shock spread through the room.

Unable to endure it, Jin So opened his mouth.

“No, no matter how you look at it, you are saying you will entrust a Captain position to a newcomer who has only just entered our alliance?”

“It means we are that desperate to obtain the Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder. Unlike you people.”

Jin So’s face twisted on its own.

‘I knew the Blue Dragon Flag Master was greedy, but…….’

Not long ago, the previous Captain of the Dragon Wing Unit had stepped down. According to principle, the Vice-Captain should have inherited that position, but for some reason, the Vice-Captain had become only an acting Captain.

Of course, Jin So could guess the reason.

The Blue Dragon Flag Master had judged that the Vice-Captain of the Dragon Wing Unit lacked the martial arts to take on the position of Captain.

The Vice-Captain was also a promising talent, so given time, he would be able to attain combat strength worthy of a Captain, but the Blue Dragon Flag Master could not wait for that.

He could not endure the Blue Dragon Flag falling behind the other four Northern Heaven Flags in strength, even for a short while.

The Captain of the Dragon Fang Unit did not doubt that Dokgo Jin would choose the Blue Dragon Flag. That was how immense the value of a Captain position was.

Even the other three thought the same.

“…….”

Yet strangely, Dokgo Jin did not answer and instead stared at Yu Seol-ah.

She had half given up and was hanging her head.

‘She gives up faster than I expected. But that will not do.’

Only if they competed as fiercely as possible would his own value rise higher.

Dokgo Jin asked her.

“Vice-Captain Yu, do you have nothing to say?”

“……What?”

“Did you not come all the way here to recruit me?”

“I-I did.”

Yu Seol-ah bit her lip and said.

“We…… cannot promise you a Captain position, let alone even a squad leader position. That is a position that must be acknowledged by all the unit members.”

The Captain of the Dragon Fang Unit let out a hollow laugh.

“Hah! I even doubt whether you have any intention of recruiting the Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder.”

“But one thing is certain.”

Yu Seol-ah slowly raised her head. The sense of defeat that had weighed her down just a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

Her eyes were once again emitting a bright, fierce light.

“Our Captain is the strongest among the many Captains of the Five Flags of Northern Heaven. There is nowhere in this Northern Heaven Alliance more reliable than his back.”

She paused briefly to steady her breath, then looked straight at Dokgo Jin and continued.

“And the unit members. Yes, they are somewhat rough and ignorant bastards. But the only ones I can entrust my back to without hesitation in the middle of a battlefield are those bastards. We are united by that single bond of trust.”

Hot pride began to fill her voice.

“That is why I am proud. The strongest combat unit in the Northern Heaven Alliance is none other than our Iron Soul Unit.”

She clenched her fist tightly.

“If we simply compare the highs and lows of martial arts, perhaps that may not be true. But we don't abandon our comrades even in the face of death, and we stay together until the very end. That is why we are the strongest.”

“……!”

A strange silence settled over the room.

Even if they did not agree with Yu Seol-ah’s opinion, they had no choice but to acknowledge that the trust and pride she carried were genuine.

Everyone’s gaze naturally turned toward one man.

“Hmm.”

Dokgo Jin rested his chin on his hand and opened his mouth very slowly.

“Certainly…….”

The sound of someone swallowing dryly was unusually loud.

“Compared to the other places, the conditions are terrible.”

At Dokgo Jin’s cold assessment, Yu Seol-ah’s shoulders visibly flinched.

On the other hand, subtle relief and anticipation spread across the faces of her competitors.

However, Dokgo Jin did not finish speaking. With the corners of his mouth curling upward in interest, he slowly looked around at everyone present.

“…….”

When that brief moment began to feel like an eternity.

“But, strangely…….”

Dokgo Jin’s gaze stopped on Yu Seol-ah.

“It attracts me the most.”

“……!”

“I have decided. I will go to the Iron Soul Unit.”

***

The next morning.

Yu Seol-ah spoke with an excited expression.

“Thank you for choosing our unit.”

Dokgo Jin shook his head.

“It is not something you need to thank me for. I merely chose the place that attracted me.”

“That is why I am thanking you. Ah, now I will have some face in front of the Captain.”

Unable to hide her excitement, Yu Seol-ah moved forward.

“I guarantee it. You will never regret this choice.”

“I hope so.”

Dokgo Jin followed Yu Seol-ah toward the lodging of the Iron Soul Unit.

From the outside, it looked as though he had chosen the Iron Soul Unit because he had been swayed by Yu Seol-ah’s words, but that was not the truth.

From the beginning, Dokgo Jin had kept the Iron Soul Unit as his first priority.

There were several reasons for that.

Although he had come to the Northern Heaven Alliance intentionally, he could not catch the culprit’s tail if he continued to remain there.

It would be fortunate if the Northern Heaven Alliance was involved, but if not, he would be wasting time in vain.

Among the various combat units, the Iron Soul Unit was famous for having many dangerous external missions. Naturally, by engaging in outside activities with them, he would be able to gather information.

In that respect, the Flying Shadow Flag was the same, but secrecy was the basis of their special missions, so his freedom of movement would be narrow.

The second reason was Yeom Baek.

It was in a slightly different sense from Yu Seol-ah, but Dokgo Jin valued his reputation highly.

Yu Seol-ah’s statement that he was the strongest among the Captains was true.

His overwhelming martial prowess, his lack of grudges, and his detached character were enough to make him an object of admiration among the martial artists of the Northern Heaven Alliance.

If Dokgo Jin made use of Yeom Baek’s reputation, it would be more advantageous for him to rise to a high position within the Northern Heaven Alliance.

The final reason was none other than Vice-Captain Yu Seol-ah.

It was an open secret, but Yu Seol-ah was the only daughter of the Master of Clear Mirror Pavilion. If he used her, it would become much easier to access Clear Mirror Pavilion’s information.

It would be disappointing for Yu Seol-ah, but the charm of the Iron Soul Unit she had spoken of was not something Dokgo Jin had considered at all.

‘To think they would offer me a Captain position.’

Honestly, the Blue Dragon Flag’s offer was also worth considering. Since the starting point itself would be different, it would be far easier.

However, Dokgo Jin could not trust the Blue Dragon Flag Master.

They said they would give him the position of Captain of the Dragon Wing Unit, but they might make him a Captain in name only and use him as a puppet.

Rather, there was a high chance that numerous restrictions would prevent him from moving properly.

At the very least, Yeom Baek was a far more trustworthy person.

‘If I distinguish myself in the Iron Soul Unit, rising to Captain will not be very difficult.’

Following Yu Seol-ah, Dokgo Jin left the center of the Northern Heaven Alliance and moved east.

As they walked, the scenery changed rapidly.

The well-tended gardens and antique pavilions disappeared, and desolate buildings made of crude earth floors and rough stone appeared.

“…….”

Dokgo Jin intuitively realized that he had entered the territory of the White Tiger Flag.

Even the air was different.

If the air of the Cloud Guest Pavilion carried the subtle fragrance of tea, the air here was filled with the fishy smell of iron, the scent of sweat, and hot heat.

CLANG! CLANG! CRASH—!

From afar came the sound of metal breaking apart and the rough shouts of men.

By the time those sounds began to strike his eardrums more and more sharply, an enormous stone gate blocked the path ahead.

On the stone, the two characters “White Tiger” were carved in a rough yet powerful hand, and above it was planted a large White Tiger Flag identical to the one he had seen at the main gate of Northern Heaven Castle.

“This is the White Tiger Camp.”

Yu Seol-ah gestured inside with her chin.

“It has no refined charm, right? It smells a little too. But this is the true scent of martial artists.”

Dokgo Jin silently nodded and stepped inside. At that moment, a wave of hot heat wrapped around his entire body.

A vast training ground.

Hundreds of men had stripped off their upper garments and were devoting themselves to training while sweating as if rain were pouring from them.

Not a single person was unfolding fixed forms according to a set mold.

They rolled through the mud and grabbed each other by the collars, swung wooden swords until they broke, and tangled together while shouting as if they were in real combat.

It was less like training and closer to “struggle.”

“Uaaaaah! Die!”

“Block it! If they break through, you die!”

Shouts and killing intent burst out from every direction. As Dokgo Jin watched that rough scene, a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

A primal world of power without artificial etiquette or complicated political maneuvering.

To Dokgo Jin, who had survived the land of death, the Forest of the Dead, the scent of sweat instead felt fragrant.

‘They called it a tiger’s den, and they were not wrong.’

“There are more than you expected, right? But these fellows are not official unit members. If we had to define them, they would be reserve members.”

They trained together under the White Tiger Flag, and the combat units under it came and selected the martial artists they needed.

“Did I tell you? The White Tiger Flag in particular often has vacancies.”

“I did not hear it directly from you, Vice-Captain Yu. I heard rumors instead.”

“D-Did you?”

Yu Seol-ah, looking awkward, quickly said.

“Still, our Iron Soul Unit has the fewest vacancies!”

“I heard that has been true recently. However…… I also heard that sometimes several vacancies appear at once.”

“Because if we die, we die together, and if we live, we live together…… Still, don't worry. If a talent at your level falls into danger, the Captain will save you somehow.”

That was not exactly comforting.

It was then.

With a strange smile, Yu Seol-ah strode onto the platform of the training ground and shouted in a ringing voice.

“Everyone, attention!”

In an instant, the noise in the training ground cut off.

Hundreds of eyes simultaneously turned toward the platform. Every one of them carried warlike madness in their gazes.

Yu Seol-ah pointed to Dokgo Jin standing beside her and grinned.

“This is the fellow who will become part of our family starting today. Dokgo Jin, the owner of the Dragon-Tiger Tablet!”

“Ooooooh!”

The roars of the rough men filled the training ground.

“Welcome, Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder!”

“I knew you would choose our White Tiger Flag!”

“Of course. We are the true men!”

Dokgo Jin passed through the training ground while receiving a fervent welcome.

After following Yu Seol-ah deeper into the White Tiger Camp, a three-story pavilion appeared, old but sturdily built.

On the entrance signboard, “Iron Heart Hall” was written in rough handwriting.

“This is the home of our Iron Soul Unit.”

Yu Seol-ah tapped an old pillar.

“How is it? Pretty good, right?”

“It is.”

“It may look old on the outside, but it is built quite sturdily, so don't worry. You will get used to it soon.”

Noisy commotion flowed from inside the building.

It was a simple and rough place that could not even be compared to the luxurious Cloud Guest Pavilion.

Yet within that roughness, there was a strange warmth.

“Let us go in. The Captain is waiting.”

***

This time as well, Yeom Baek was in the underground practice chamber.

Inside the practice chamber filled with scorching heat, he had stripped off his upper garment and was slowly swinging his iron spear.

“…….”

Facing Yeom Baek, Dokgo Jin intuitively knew that he usually lived in the practice chamber.

‘He is already the strongest among the Captains, and yet he does not neglect his training.’

Perhaps he was aiming even higher than that.

‘As expected, choosing the Iron Soul Unit was the right decision.’

Yu Seol-ah shook her head as she looked at him.

“Captain, it is the day the new recruit arrives. Could you not at least dress properly and greet him in the Captain’s office?”

“Do you not know that I came to the White Tiger Flag because I dislike such empty formalities?”

“Still…….”

“Besides, it is not as if this is our first meeting.”

THUD.

Yeom Baek planted the iron spear upright and smiled at Dokgo Jin.

“Welcome, Dokgo Jin. Ah, should I call you Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder?”

Dokgo Jin shook his head.

“I have already decided to enter the Iron Soul Unit, so please speak comfortably.”

Yeom Baek burst into laughter.

“Ha ha ha, hearing polite speech from you, who were like a sheet of ice, somehow feels strange.”

“…….”

“How does it feel to enter the White Tiger Camp?”

“It is good.”

“Then that is fortunate.”

Yeom Baek’s smile deepened.

“I believed in you. I knew you would surely enter our unit.”

Yu Seol-ah pouted.

“It was thanks to me persuading him, you know?”

“Yes, yes. I will not forget our Vice-Captain’s contribution.”

“You need to assign him. Which squad will you put him in?”

Yeom Baek’s expression turned serious.

“About that…… I have been thinking it over since last night.”

“The First Squad, of course?”

At Yu Seol-ah’s words, Yeom Baek’s eyes widened.

“Oh? How did you know?”

“Reading your thoughts is easy, Captain. I have watched you from beside you for five years, so how could I not know?”

Dokgo Jin had already expected that as well.

At present, the Iron Soul Unit had ninety-nine members in all and was made up of ten squads.

Each squad had ten members, and only the First Squad had nine.

“The First Squad is the elite among elites of our Iron Soul Unit, so it is perfect for the Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder to belong there.”

“don't be disappointed that you are an ordinary unit member. In our unit, whether it is a squad leader, a Vice-Captain, or even the Captain, no one can take the position unless the unit members acknowledge them.”

Dokgo Jin shook his head.

“That is fine.”

Simply having a high position was not everything.

Only by building trust thoroughly and rising upward could he receive proper acknowledgment.

‘That may seem slow for now, but it is the fastest path.’

At least, Dokgo Jin believed so.

“Good. Then shall we go greet your squadmates?”

The place he entered while following Yu Seol-ah was a large table in the innermost corner of the first floor of Iron Heart Hall.

Nine fierce-looking men were sitting around it.

Every one of them had bodies covered in scars, and the killing intent of the battlefield was embedded in their eyes.

They were the elites of the Iron Soul Unit, the members of the First Squad.

“Now, attention. Everyone stop what you are doing and say hello.”

Yu Seol-ah struck the table with a bang and shouted.

“You heard the Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder was coming, right? We have decided to assign him to the First Squad.”

At that moment, nine pairs of eyes fixed on Dokgo Jin.

“…….”

Amid a short silence and a strange tension.

THUD!

The solidly built man sitting at the seat of honor sprang to his feet and strode over.

He was an impressive man with a thick sword scar crossing one eye.

He was Gwak Hyo, the Black Wolf and the squad leader of the First Squad.

Gwak Hyo came right up before Dokgo Jin’s nose and breathed roughly.

“Are you the one?”

Gwak Hyo’s gravelly voice rang out.

“The crazy bastard who kicked away the sweet offers from the Black Tortoise Flag and the Flying Shadow Flag, and even the Captain position from the Blue Dragon Flag, to choose being an ordinary member of the Iron Soul Unit?”

Dokgo Jin chuckled and answered.

“That is right.”

“Why?”

“Because the Iron Soul Unit attracted me the most. Do I need another reason?”

After hearing that answer, Gwak Hyo’s eyes widened roundly, and then.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

He burst into a hearty laugh loud enough to shake Iron Heart Hall.

That was the signal.

The other eight members, who had been acting heavy and serious, all relaxed their tension at once and chuckled.

“Hey! Did you hear that? It attracted him the most, he says.”

“Judging by his face, he is no ordinary man. His eyes are completely alive!”

Gwak Hyo clapped Dokgo Jin’s shoulder with a hand as large as a pot lid.

“That is right. If a man is a man, he should do what his heart tells him, not his head. Of course!”

Gwak Hyo filled an old chipped bowl with cloudy rice wine.

He held out the cup, brimming as though it might overflow, to Dokgo Jin.

“I don't care whether you are the Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder or whatever else. As long as you firmly protect my back on the battlefield, I will protect your life as if it were my own. That is the one and only rule of our First Squad.”

The surrounding unit members also began to rise one by one while holding their cups.

“Welcome, new recruit!”

“They say you are the Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder, right? We gained an amazing comrade!”

Rather than respect for him as the Dragon-Tiger Tablet Holder, it was pure joy at the fact that they had gained a “brother” who would share life and death with them.

Dokgo Jin accepted the cup Gwak Hyo handed him. The smell of cheap cloudy rice wine stung his nose.

“…….”

Dokgo Jin drained the wine in one breath. At that, the unit members burst into cheers.

‘Yes, this is the Iron Soul Unit.’

Yu Seol-ah crossed her arms and watched the scene with satisfaction.