Chapter 24: Steel Legion
When the suggestion of abandoning the unit and descending the mountains came up, as expected, there were voices of concern about leaving the safety of the unit for the dangers of the surface.
Some soldiers showed signs of anxiety, even if they didn’t voice their objections.
“Let’s just go for it!”
“Yeah!”
Thankfully, after serving them courage-infused dishes, they showed more enthusiasm than anyone else.
It’s inevitable.
“Before we leave the unit, let’s tidy up first.”
After preparations for the expedition to the surface were somewhat completed, we gathered all the unit members and survivors for a final meeting.
“First off, everyone’s aware that our awakened members have grown to a guild of 100, right? It’s the first in the country. Let’s give them a round of applause.”
“Woww.”
*Clap clap clap. *
After the small applause passed…
“And, as we’ve grown into a guild, we now have the option to appoint Vice Guild Masters.”
“Vice Guild Masters… you mean?”
Nodding, I opened the system window to access the guild information.
[Vice Guild Masters: 0 (0/5)]
“Vice Guild Master assist the Guild Master in managing the guild.”
“When appointed as a Vice Guild Master, the buff effect of the [Token] skill increases. Vice Guild Master and above can also use the messaging function.”
The increase in the buff effect of the Token skill is something I already enjoy.
The amount of buff granted by the Token skill varies depending on the wearer’s rank.
As the leader, I already had a higher buff than others, and it increased further when I became the Guild Master.
Vice Guild Master would also experience such an increase in their buff.
“What’s more, those appointed as Vice Guild Master can communicate remotely with other Vice Guild Master or with me, the Guild Master.”
“Remote communication…”
As people began to murmur, I continued.
With the appearance of monsters, all conventional forms of communication, like phones or radios, had been cut off.
The fact that long-distance communication was now possible again meant that our capabilities would expand accordingly.
“So, we’re planning to appoint Vice Guild Master here.”
When we were all together in the unit, overseeing a hundred people wasn’t too difficult. But once we left the unit and went out to the monster-infested surface, it would be challenging to keep a hundred people together in one place.
That’s where the role of Vice Guild Master, who could command divided units, would become crucial.
“First, Sergeant Lee Min-jae.”
“Yes.”
Although he’s older than me and we usually speak informally to each other, Min-jae hyung maintained a respectful tone, recognizing the formality of the occasion.
“Sergeant Lee Min-jae will assist me in managing the unit and will command divided units if necessary.”
Min-jae hyung is known for being smart and competent.
Despite his somewhat picky personality, he has shown dedication and hard work even after the monsters appeared.
Thanks to that, his reputation in the unit improved considerably.
The unit members also nodded as if they recognized Sergeant Lee Min-jae.
“Next, Corporal Jeon Gwang-il, Corporal Seo Su-hyeok.”
“Yes!”
“Yup.”
They had previously served as leaders of the assault and sniper teams, respectively.
As the top warriors in their respective groups, they were expected to perform well as Vice Guild Master too.
“Next, Ms. Lee Sang-ah.”
“Yes.”
Ms. Lee Sang-ah, the leader of the recently joined survivor group.
Now that even the survivors were slowly becoming awakened, their role was becoming increasingly important.
“Ms. Lee Sang-ah… This way of addressing doesn’t fit you anymore. From now on, I will treat you the same as other unit members. “Do you have any objections?”
“…None!”
Now that Ms. Lee Sang-ah and the survivors had become part of the unit, there was no need to address them formally.
She seemed to sense this, as she answered with more determination, as if reaffirming her status as a unit member.
Ms. Lee Sang-ah, who had led the largest survivor group, naturally took on the role of a Vice Guild Master.
Considering that other survivor groups might join us once we go to the surface, she would be adept at coordinating with them.
And so, four Vice Guild Masters were selected.
Since the reasons were clear, the unit members seemed to accept them without much complaint.
And finally, the fifth officer.
“Lastly, Sergeant Park Taejun.”
“Yes.”
The moment that name was called.
Murmurs arose among the troops.
“Sergeant Park Taejun?”
“He’s a good guy, but can we really make someone who can’t even walk properly an officer?”
In truth, it was a natural reaction.
Being an officer meant commanding the unit in place of the guild master and sometimes fighting on the front lines.
Despite Taejun’s good reputation among his comrades, there were doubts about whether someone with a leg injury could properly fulfill the role of an officer on the ground.
However, the reason I chose Taejun as an officer was simple.
“Sergeant Park Taejun will not leave this base unit.”
“… What?”
Murmurs.
For the first time among the soldiers who had been listening without any objections, there was a stir.
We were going to leave our base unit and move to the surface. But a few members of the unit, including Taejun, would remain here.
“These mountains are our only stronghold. If all unit members leave, the occupation effect will also disappear.”
“Ah…”
When we first gained control of these mountains, a message appeared:
[You can acquire ‘Occupation* Points’ while maintaining territorial control]
[Points obtained by dominating territories. The longer and the more territories you dominate, the more points you can obtain]
At this point, we don’t know what these Occupation points are used for.
“But this game seems to take the form of territorial warfare for some reason.”
There’s no way the points obtained by maintaining occupation wouldn’t have any meaning.
So, we can’t give up our only stronghold, the mountains.
But that’s not the only reason.
“…As you all know, my profession is that of an astrologer. It’s easier for me to use my abilities where the stars are visible. There are few places with clear visibility of stars like our unit.”
Taejun continued his explanation.
“I’ll stay on this mountain to maintain its occupation and relay information obtained through my abilities.”
The top of the radar team, Park Taejun.
He would ensure that there were no problems on the path we would take to the surface.
Thus, Taejun and seven radar team soldiers who were close to him decided to stay in the unit.
It would be easy for them to continue managing the unit while maintaining the occupation and relaying information obtained through Taejun’s abilities.
And the food situation could be solved with the combat rations and emergency rations remaining in the unit.
‘Even if the enemies invade, there shouldn’t be any problems.’
Leaving only seven troops on the mountains wouldn’t be much of a threat.
In a small-scale skirmish like the current situation, we might manage, but we’d be powerless against a large-scale invasion.
However, with Taejun’s astrological abilities, we could detect the invasion beforehand and request support from our main base on the ground.
That’s why Taejun was appointed as the Vice Guild Master.
“If there are no other opinions, let’s settle for five Vice Guild Masters. Now, for the last matter…”
The next thing to decide.
Arguably the most important aspect.
[The guild name hasn’t been determined yet. Please specify the guild name.]
“The guild name. Any suggestions?”
When we were in small units like parties or clans, we couldn’t decide on a name. But now, with 100 awakened individuals gathered and grown into a guild-level entity, we could choose a guild name to represent us externally.
“Do we really need to change it? Using 423rd Battalion as it shouldn’t be a problem…”
One soldier said so, but his opinion was rejected.
“Maybe it would’ve been fine a few days ago. But new people have joined recently, right?”
“Ah, true.”
Earlier, our entire group consisted of all the soldiers and officers of the 423rd Battalion.
If that was the current scenario, using the battalion name would have sufficed for us.
But now, with survivors like Lee Sang-ah having joined the unit, the name 423rd Battalion might feel like a barrier to those who joined later.
“Especially since we’ve decided to operate on the ground, there’s a high possibility that more people will join us in the future. We need a new name that represents us, not just a battalion name.”
A name that won’t make future recruits feel excluded while showcasing our uniqueness.
“How about ‘Gangwon Province Human Liberation Front’?”
“But we’re not going to stay only in Gangwon Province, right? Besides, there are fewer people from Gangwon Province among the unit members.”
“The Knights of the Round Table!”
“Lieutenant Kim… that’s a bit…”
Various opinions were exchanged among the soldiers, but a guild name that seemed perfect didn’t emerge.
“If it’s unclear, how about deciding on keywords?”
“Keywords?”
After contemplating for a while, Min-jae suggested.
“If deciding on a group name is difficult, then let’s do it step by step. Start with keywords that can reveal our identity and won’t feel awkward when others join.”
“Something unique…”
What could be considered our uniqueness?
“Our military background?”
“Background, you say. Well, we’re all still soldiers.”
True.
We’re still soldiers, and we are just leaving our military base unit; we haven’t received discharge orders yet. In that case, something military-related would be better.
Military…
“Steel…”
“Steel?”
A word muttered without much thought.
The word elicited reactions from others.
“Well, when I think of the military, that’s what comes to mind. Guns and armored vehicles, you know. It’s all about steel, isn’t it?”
I’m not entirely sure, but they might actually use synthetic metals instead of actual steel. But perhaps it’s the image of toughness associated with steel.
When I think of the military, steel is the image that comes to mind.
“Steel, huh… Not bad.”
“Huh? Really?”
I just thought it was the word that came to mind when I thought of the military, but it seemed like it was okay to decide on it.
“The image of steel also conveys resilience.”
“The first monster we encountered was a Steel Lizard, right?”
The reactions of the unit members seemed to already have settled on this.
“Above all, the fact that our leader, you, thought of it first carries significant symbolic meaning.”
“…Is that so?”
Glancing around, there seemed to be no one with objections.
“Alright. Let’s go with steel as the keyword. Now, what should we name the organization?”
Again, there were various opinions.
Knights… Brotherhood… Comradeship… Fraternity…
“How about Steel Corps?”
“…No, let’s not go with that.”
“Huh, really? Why not?”
It’s not that it’s a bad name, but somehow it just doesn’t feel right.
After a brief discussion,
The name decided by majority vote was this.
[Steel Legion]
“We are a legion.”
“For a legion, we seem rather small.”
A soldier’s voice from the corner elicited a small chuckle.
[A guild system has been established]
[Guild: Steel Legion]
[Legion Commander: Shin Young-joon]
[Deputies: Lee Min-jae, Park Taejun, Gwang-il Jeon, Seo Su-hyeok, Lee Sang-ah]
[Legion Members: 100]
[Description]
[ROK. Area 17, an armed group that originated from deep within the ‘Mountains’.]
[After a brief competition for dominance with the Steel Lizard tribe over the ‘Mountain Range,’ victory was attained in a large-scale battle instigated by commanding-level entities]
[After driving out the lizard forces, they established themselves as the undisputed rulers of the Mountain Range. Leveraging the geographical advantages of the Mountain Range, they steadily expanded their influence, culminating in the formation of a legion]
[Rooted in a military unit, they possess numerous military-grade weapons and have rapidly grown into a powerful group of awakened individuals. Initially stemming from a national military unit, they have since re-established their identity with the inclusion of civilian survivor groups, aiming to expand their influence]
“Huh. Get into position.”
It feels like text straight out of a game explaining the faction.
Despite a bit of awkwardness, there’s also a sense of pride in how far we’ve come.
Especially the last sentence.
Now, we’re leaving the Mountain Range to expand our influence externally.
“The question is, where to?”
Our unit is situated within the vast mountain range spanning Gangwon Province.
If we’re leaving the unit, then we have two options: east or west.
To the west, in the Yeongseo region, there are large cities like Chuncheon, and the land is expansive.
With such a vast area, there are many other military units, and our headquarters are also located to the west.
On the other hand, to the east, in the Yeongdong region, there are cities like Gangneung, and the sea is nearby.
It’s also where the 12th Division, our higher headquarters, is located.
“Should we venture into the vast region or head towards the location of the higher headquarters to join forces?”
“Each option has its advantages and disadvantages…”
In that case…
“Shall we leave it to the fortune teller?”
“…It’s not a fortune teller, it’s an astrologer.”
A few days later…
In the depths of the mist-covered mountains, a small military unit is located.
The long-closed main gate of the unit…
Finally opened.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter 24: Steel Legion
When the suggestion of abandoning the unit and descending the mountains came up, as expected, there were voices of concern about leaving the safety of the unit for the dangers of the surface.
Some soldiers showed signs of anxiety, even if they didn’t voice their objections.
“Let’s just go for it!”
“Yeah!”
Thankfully, after serving them courage-infused dishes, they showed more enthusiasm than anyone else.
It’s inevitable.
“Before we leave the unit, let’s tidy up first.”
After preparations for the expedition to the surface were somewhat completed, we gathered all the unit members and survivors for a final meeting.
“First off, everyone’s aware that our awakened members have grown to a guild of 100, right? It’s the first in the country. Let’s give them a round of applause.”
“Woww.”
*Clap clap clap. *
After the small applause passed…
“And, as we’ve grown into a guild, we now have the option to appoint Vice Guild Masters.”
“Vice Guild Masters… you mean?”
Nodding, I opened the system window to access the guild information.
[Vice Guild Masters: 0 (0/5)]
“Vice Guild Master assist the Guild Master in managing the guild.”
“When appointed as a Vice Guild Master, the buff effect of the [Token] skill increases. Vice Guild Master and above can also use the messaging function.”
The increase in the buff effect of the Token skill is something I already enjoy.
The amount of buff granted by the Token skill varies depending on the wearer’s rank.
As the leader, I already had a higher buff than others, and it increased further when I became the Guild Master.
Vice Guild Master would also experience such an increase in their buff.
“What’s more, those appointed as Vice Guild Master can communicate remotely with other Vice Guild Master or with me, the Guild Master.”
“Remote communication…”
As people began to murmur, I continued.
With the appearance of monsters, all conventional forms of communication, like phones or radios, had been cut off.
The fact that long-distance communication was now possible again meant that our capabilities would expand accordingly.
“So, we’re planning to appoint Vice Guild Master here.”
When we were all together in the unit, overseeing a hundred people wasn’t too difficult. But once we left the unit and went out to the monster-infested surface, it would be challenging to keep a hundred people together in one place.
That’s where the role of Vice Guild Master, who could command divided units, would become crucial.
“First, Sergeant Lee Min-jae.”
“Yes.”
Although he’s older than me and we usually speak informally to each other, Min-jae hyung maintained a respectful tone, recognizing the formality of the occasion.
“Sergeant Lee Min-jae will assist me in managing the unit and will command divided units if necessary.”
Min-jae hyung is known for being smart and competent.
Despite his somewhat picky personality, he has shown dedication and hard work even after the monsters appeared.
Thanks to that, his reputation in the unit improved considerably.
The unit members also nodded as if they recognized Sergeant Lee Min-jae.
“Next, Corporal Jeon Gwang-il, Corporal Seo Su-hyeok.”
“Yes!”
“Yup.”
They had previously served as leaders of the assault and sniper teams, respectively.
As the top warriors in their respective groups, they were expected to perform well as Vice Guild Master too.
“Next, Ms. Lee Sang-ah.”
“Yes.”
Ms. Lee Sang-ah, the leader of the recently joined survivor group.
Now that even the survivors were slowly becoming awakened, their role was becoming increasingly important.
“Ms. Lee Sang-ah… This way of addressing doesn’t fit you anymore. From now on, I will treat you the same as other unit members. “Do you have any objections?”
“…None!”
Now that Ms. Lee Sang-ah and the survivors had become part of the unit, there was no need to address them formally.
She seemed to sense this, as she answered with more determination, as if reaffirming her status as a unit member.
Ms. Lee Sang-ah, who had led the largest survivor group, naturally took on the role of a Vice Guild Master.
Considering that other survivor groups might join us once we go to the surface, she would be adept at coordinating with them.
And so, four Vice Guild Masters were selected.
Since the reasons were clear, the unit members seemed to accept them without much complaint.
And finally, the fifth officer.
“Lastly, Sergeant Park Taejun.”
“Yes.”
The moment that name was called.
Murmurs arose among the troops.
“Sergeant Park Taejun?”
“He’s a good guy, but can we really make someone who can’t even walk properly an officer?”
In truth, it was a natural reaction.
Being an officer meant commanding the unit in place of the guild master and sometimes fighting on the front lines.
Despite Taejun’s good reputation among his comrades, there were doubts about whether someone with a leg injury could properly fulfill the role of an officer on the ground.
However, the reason I chose Taejun as an officer was simple.
“Sergeant Park Taejun will not leave this base unit.”
“… What?”
Murmurs.
For the first time among the soldiers who had been listening without any objections, there was a stir.
We were going to leave our base unit and move to the surface. But a few members of the unit, including Taejun, would remain here.
“These mountains are our only stronghold. If all unit members leave, the occupation effect will also disappear.”
“Ah…”
When we first gained control of these mountains, a message appeared:
[You can acquire ‘Occupation* Points’ while maintaining territorial control]
[Points obtained by dominating territories. The longer and the more territories you dominate, the more points you can obtain]
At this point, we don’t know what these Occupation points are used for.
“But this game seems to take the form of territorial warfare for some reason.”
There’s no way the points obtained by maintaining occupation wouldn’t have any meaning.
So, we can’t give up our only stronghold, the mountains.
But that’s not the only reason.
“…As you all know, my profession is that of an astrologer. It’s easier for me to use my abilities where the stars are visible. There are few places with clear visibility of stars like our unit.”
Taejun continued his explanation.
“I’ll stay on this mountain to maintain its occupation and relay information obtained through my abilities.”
The top of the radar team, Park Taejun.
He would ensure that there were no problems on the path we would take to the surface.
Thus, Taejun and seven radar team soldiers who were close to him decided to stay in the unit.
It would be easy for them to continue managing the unit while maintaining the occupation and relaying information obtained through Taejun’s abilities.
And the food situation could be solved with the combat rations and emergency rations remaining in the unit.
‘Even if the enemies invade, there shouldn’t be any problems.’
Leaving only seven troops on the mountains wouldn’t be much of a threat.
In a small-scale skirmish like the current situation, we might manage, but we’d be powerless against a large-scale invasion.
However, with Taejun’s astrological abilities, we could detect the invasion beforehand and request support from our main base on the ground.
That’s why Taejun was appointed as the Vice Guild Master.
“If there are no other opinions, let’s settle for five Vice Guild Masters. Now, for the last matter…”
The next thing to decide.
Arguably the most important aspect.
[The guild name hasn’t been determined yet. Please specify the guild name.]
“The guild name. Any suggestions?”
When we were in small units like parties or clans, we couldn’t decide on a name. But now, with 100 awakened individuals gathered and grown into a guild-level entity, we could choose a guild name to represent us externally.
“Do we really need to change it? Using 423rd Battalion as it shouldn’t be a problem…”
One soldier said so, but his opinion was rejected.
“Maybe it would’ve been fine a few days ago. But new people have joined recently, right?”
“Ah, true.”
Earlier, our entire group consisted of all the soldiers and officers of the 423rd Battalion.
If that was the current scenario, using the battalion name would have sufficed for us.
But now, with survivors like Lee Sang-ah having joined the unit, the name 423rd Battalion might feel like a barrier to those who joined later.
“Especially since we’ve decided to operate on the ground, there’s a high possibility that more people will join us in the future. We need a new name that represents us, not just a battalion name.”
A name that won’t make future recruits feel excluded while showcasing our uniqueness.
“How about ‘Gangwon Province Human Liberation Front’?”
“But we’re not going to stay only in Gangwon Province, right? Besides, there are fewer people from Gangwon Province among the unit members.”
“The Knights of the Round Table!”
“Lieutenant Kim… that’s a bit…”
Various opinions were exchanged among the soldiers, but a guild name that seemed perfect didn’t emerge.
“If it’s unclear, how about deciding on keywords?”
“Keywords?”
After contemplating for a while, Min-jae suggested.
“If deciding on a group name is difficult, then let’s do it step by step. Start with keywords that can reveal our identity and won’t feel awkward when others join.”
“Something unique…”
What could be considered our uniqueness?
“Our military background?”
“Background, you say. Well, we’re all still soldiers.”
True.
We’re still soldiers, and we are just leaving our military base unit; we haven’t received discharge orders yet. In that case, something military-related would be better.
Military…
“Steel…”
“Steel?”
A word muttered without much thought.
The word elicited reactions from others.
“Well, when I think of the military, that’s what comes to mind. Guns and armored vehicles, you know. It’s all about steel, isn’t it?”
I’m not entirely sure, but they might actually use synthetic metals instead of actual steel. But perhaps it’s the image of toughness associated with steel.
When I think of the military, steel is the image that comes to mind.
“Steel, huh… Not bad.”
“Huh? Really?”
I just thought it was the word that came to mind when I thought of the military, but it seemed like it was okay to decide on it.
“The image of steel also conveys resilience.”
“The first monster we encountered was a Steel Lizard, right?”
The reactions of the unit members seemed to already have settled on this.
“Above all, the fact that our leader, you, thought of it first carries significant symbolic meaning.”
“…Is that so?”
Glancing around, there seemed to be no one with objections.
“Alright. Let’s go with steel as the keyword. Now, what should we name the organization?”
Again, there were various opinions.
Knights… Brotherhood… Comradeship… Fraternity…
“How about Steel Corps?”
“…No, let’s not go with that.”
“Huh, really? Why not?”
It’s not that it’s a bad name, but somehow it just doesn’t feel right.
After a brief discussion,
The name decided by majority vote was this.
[Steel Legion]
“We are a legion.”
“For a legion, we seem rather small.”
A soldier’s voice from the corner elicited a small chuckle.
[A guild system has been established]
[Guild: Steel Legion]
[Legion Commander: Shin Young-joon]
[Deputies: Lee Min-jae, Park Taejun, Gwang-il Jeon, Seo Su-hyeok, Lee Sang-ah]
[Legion Members: 100]
[Description]
[ROK. Area 17, an armed group that originated from deep within the ‘Mountains’.]
[After a brief competition for dominance with the Steel Lizard tribe over the ‘Mountain Range,’ victory was attained in a large-scale battle instigated by commanding-level entities]
[After driving out the lizard forces, they established themselves as the undisputed rulers of the Mountain Range. Leveraging the geographical advantages of the Mountain Range, they steadily expanded their influence, culminating in the formation of a legion]
[Rooted in a military unit, they possess numerous military-grade weapons and have rapidly grown into a powerful group of awakened individuals. Initially stemming from a national military unit, they have since re-established their identity with the inclusion of civilian survivor groups, aiming to expand their influence]
“Huh. Get into position.”
It feels like text straight out of a game explaining the faction.
Despite a bit of awkwardness, there’s also a sense of pride in how far we’ve come.
Especially the last sentence.
Now, we’re leaving the Mountain Range to expand our influence externally.
“The question is, where to?”
Our unit is situated within the vast mountain range spanning Gangwon Province.
If we’re leaving the unit, then we have two options: east or west.
To the west, in the Yeongseo region, there are large cities like Chuncheon, and the land is expansive.
With such a vast area, there are many other military units, and our headquarters are also located to the west.
On the other hand, to the east, in the Yeongdong region, there are cities like Gangneung, and the sea is nearby.
It’s also where the 12th Division, our higher headquarters, is located.
“Should we venture into the vast region or head towards the location of the higher headquarters to join forces?”
“Each option has its advantages and disadvantages…”
In that case…
“Shall we leave it to the fortune teller?”
“…It’s not a fortune teller, it’s an astrologer.”
A few days later…
In the depths of the mist-covered mountains, a small military unit is located.
The long-closed main gate of the unit…
Finally opened.
“Let’s go.”
