Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“The Elite Guard getting trashed by an applicant? You moron!”

Bedric kicked the subordinate violently.

There were many other members nearby, but no one stopped Bedric.

It was because losing to a General Guard applicant in front of hundreds of people was an unprecedented disgrace for the Elite Guard.

Even if it was just the youngest recruit who had just been assigned, it was an unforgivable mistake.

‘Damn it.’

Bedric ran his hand roughly through his disheveled hair.

In a test where scores were simply based on how long one could hold out, the applicant had actually beaten an Elite Guard member.

This couldn’t be undone. He had to be selected for the Elite Guard.

The problem was that this intake was already full.

The entrance ceremony was the day after tomorrow. It made no sense to add one more person now.

Things had gotten messy because of one piece of trash.

Just then, someone grabbed Bedric’s fist.

It was Celine, the subordinate Bedric favored. Celine said with an expressionless face.

“I think you should handle the situation first.”

“How am I supposed to handle this? The Elite Guard quota is already full.”

“There is one squad that is understaffed, isn’t there?”

“A squad that’s understaffed?”

Bedric asked, looking at Celine with a scowl. Celine nodded nonchalantly.

“Yes, Squad 42.”

“Squad 42? That trash bin?”

Bedric wrinkled his nose in disgust.

Squad 42 was the so-called trash bin, composed of the guys Bedric hated the most.

It wasn’t just Bedric who disliked Squad 42. Every guard member, excluding those in Squad 42, avoided them. It was because they were all troublemakers.

“Yes, there is one spot open in Squad 42.”

Originally, one squad of the Elite Guard consisted of seven people. However, Squad 42 currently had six.

One member of Squad 42 had disappeared during a mission, but the squad leader insisted on keeping the position vacant, claiming the member wasn’t dead but missing.

“That crazy drunkard won’t accept him-. Ah, right. He won’t take him.”

“Yes, the Squad 42 leader won’t accept him.”

“Even though I filled the spot legally.”

“Yes.”

The reason the Squad 42 leader could act so recklessly was that the Elite Guard captain was particularly protective of him. However, due to recent events, the captain’s position was also in jeopardy.

On top of that, the entrance ceremony was the day after tomorrow. All the high-ranking school officials were on edge.

If Squad 42 caused trouble in this situation-.

“Good, as expected of Celine.”

Bedric smiled brightly, as if he hadn’t been angry just a moment ago.

“What about that one?”

Celine asked, pointing to the youngest recruit who had collapsed. Bedric’s gaze turned cold.

“Get rid of him. Somewhere out of my sight.”

As soon as Bedric’s order ended, members came out and dragged the bloodied youngest recruit away like luggage.

Watching that scene with indifferent eyes, Celine suddenly became curious.

Between the youngest recruit who was marked by Bedric and the guy who would be thrown into Squad 42, whose future was more screwed up?

‘The latter, I suppose.’

Celine nodded without hesitation.

“Hyung-ssi! That was absolutely killer!”

Kelin even teared up as if he were the one who had won. It was quite burdensome.

“Did you see Bedric’s flustered face? I never thought I’d see Bedric’s face crumble like that! He blabbered about internal meetings or whatever, but he has no choice but to pick you for the Elite Guard. Even Bedric can’t undo a test that’s already been taken!”

Thinking it would stay noisy if I left it like this, I subtly changed the subject.

“So, are you going to give up this year too?”

Kelin’s noisy mouth stopped abruptly. Kelin smiled bitterly.

“I realized it after seeing you, Hyung-ssi. In the end, it was my ability that was lacking. I’m going to go for the General Guard.”

“Are you giving up?”

“No, there are cases where people get promoted from the General Guard, too. I don’t know about anything else, but I’m truly diligent. I think this path actually has a higher possibility for me.”

Kelin grinned. His face was bruised, but he looked relieved somehow.

“I see.”

“Don’t people usually say things like, ‘It’ll work out well’ at times like this?”

“I’m not good at empty words.”

“You’re an interesting Hyung-ssi.”

Kelin chuckled.

Just then, the Elite Guard members who had disappeared returned. The goat-bearded man, who had been scowling like a demon earlier, was now wearing a somewhat sinister smile.

“Looks like they’re up to something, Hyung-ssi?”

Kelin said worriedly, but I didn’t really care.

How dangerous could a scheme cooked up by a guard member be?

“Grave! Congratulations on passing into the Elite Guard.”

The goat-bearded man unexpectedly accepted the pass easily. But that sinister smile only deepened.

“Come to think of it, there happens to be a squad with an open spot. I’ll assign your squad right away. You’re in Squad 42.”

Squad 42-.

The goat-bearded man waved his hand as if he had nothing more to say, and the rest of the guard members began to clean up the test site.

Kelin burst out in anger.

“Shit! Squad 42? That vicious bastard! He’s being petty until the very end!”

“Is Squad 42 a bad place?”

“It’s not just bad! There’s a saying in the Elite Guard that if you get assigned to Squad 42, you’re better off quitting!”

“Quitting? Why?”

At my question, Kelin let out a long sigh.

“Usually, the Elite Guard is composed of seven people per squad, but Squad 42 has been six for a long time. The Squad 42 leader insisted that the missing member would return.”

“Does that work just because he insists?”

“It doesn’t. There have been several attempts to fill the spot in the meantime. Every new recruit assigned to Squad 42 couldn’t even last a week and quit voluntarily. You should be careful too, Hyung-ssi.”

Kelin warned me seriously.

However, I wasn’t worried.

I’m someone who survived on the front lines. Whatever these guys do, it can’t be worse than the guys on the front lines.

Just then, rough cursing erupted from one side.

“Damn it, a new recruit? What kind of bullshit is that.”

When I turned my head, a rough-looking man with blonde hair and a buzz cut was glaring at Bedric. He had the look of a thug or a gangster rather than a guard.

“Milo, show some respect.”

“Respect? Bullshit. Ptooey. Can you handle it? Our squad leader won’t just sit still, will you?”

At the man named Milo’s sneer, the corners of Bedric’s mouth twitched.

“I only filled the spot according to regulations.”

“Our squad leader won’t like the regulations very much.”

“The Squad 42 leader is a leader, after all. He can’t break the Elite Guard’s rules.”

“Is that your last will? You should write it down in advance.”

Milo grinned, showing his teeth.

Bedric’s face turned slightly pale, and he ignored Milo without dealing with him any further.

“Ugh, Mad Dog Milo! Damn it! Hyung-ssi! Quit now! There are people who were crippled after getting caught by that guy!”

Kelin shouted with a terrified face.

‘Mad Dog, huh.’

Milo seemed to enjoy the title of Mad Dog, as he was even wearing a metal dog collar around his neck.

Mad Dog was a nickname used quite often on the front lines. In fact, the number of Mad Dogs I’ve met is in the double digits. They all boasted that they were Mad Dogs.

But none of them were actually real Mad Dogs. They were just guys bluffing by pretending to be crazy.

‘I wonder about this guy.’

I suddenly became curious.

“Who’s the bastard named Grave?”

Milo asked, looking around with fierce eyes.

Kelin looked at me urgently. I ignored Kelin’s signal and raised my hand.

Milo, who saw me, twisted his face completely. There was a clear look of anger. It was so vicious that I wondered if we had a grudge.

“Follow me.”

Milo said shortly and turned around immediately. Kelin grabbed me and whispered.

“Hyung-ssi! Mad Dog Milo is a truly dangerous guy! Run away now!”

Kelin warned me seriously again. We had just met, but I could feel the sincerity in his voice.

He’s a rare good guy. So, I also said something rare—empty words.

“I’ll be waiting in the Elite Guard.”

Then, Kelin’s eyes welled up. As I walked away, Kelin hurriedly saluted me. He was a funny guy.

“Bullshit. Hurry up.”

Milo spat out a rough curse. I followed Milo.

Milo seemed to have a short temper, as his stride was short, and he kept muttering to himself. He even looked truly crazy.

The place we arrived at after following Milo was, by anyone’s standards, a warehouse that was no longer in use. Even at a glance, the atmosphere was chilling.

‘An initiation ceremony, huh.’

Initiation ceremonies were common everywhere.

I’ve experienced them a few times, but this was the first time I’d seen one start without any explanation.

“Get in.”

Milo went straight into the warehouse. There were no lights inside, so it was dark. It was quite eerie, but I followed him in without hesitation.

The inside of the warehouse was unexpectedly comfortable. There were liquor bottles here and there, and even a bed. It seemed they used it as a hideout.

Thud! The door closed with a heavy sound. Milo locked the warehouse door.

Milo looked at me and loosened his shoulders. Crack, a chilling sound was heard.

“This is a warehouse that isn’t used anymore because the materials rot due to humidity. No one uses it, and it’s a place where no one would notice even if someone died.”

A place where no one would notice even if someone died, huh-.

“It’s a good place.”

“Yeah, it’s a good place.”

Milo pulled out a wooden club from somewhere. It was a very impure club with dark red stains all over it.

“Squad 42 has an old tradition.”

Milo said, swinging the club lightly in the air.

“What kind of tradition is it?”

“The tradition of beating the shit out of someone until they quit.”

Since it was what I had expected, I nodded lightly.

“It’s an initiation ceremony.”

Then, the corners of Milo’s sharp eyes twitched.

I was used to initiation ceremonies, but I had one question.

“Why are you angry?”

“Why am I angry? Ha-.”

Milo bared his teeth like a dog with rabies.

“You’re not a blonde beauty.”

Not a blonde beauty? My brow naturally furrowed at the bizarre reason.

Milo spat on his palm.

“The only ones who can be my subordinates are blonde, puppy-faced beauties who are cold on the outside but warm on the inside!!”

Milo shouted in a voice filled with rage.

That’s a uselessly specific requirement.

However, the guy was serious. Milo was genuinely angry that I wasn’t a blonde beauty.

‘He’s a waste of space.’

It was actually a relief. It was more comfortable for me if he acted like this.

“Perfect timing. I had something to educate you on, too.”

“What, education? What kind of education?”

“Senior education.”

“Senior education? What kind of bullshit is that.”

“Alright, I’ll count to three. If you lie flat on the ground before that, I’ll let you off. One.”

“What-.”

“Three.”

My foot slammed into Milo’s abdomen. Milo couldn’t even scream and rolled on the floor.

If it were a normal guy, he would have passed out immediately, but Milo tried to get up somehow, even while staggering.

He seemed to have good durability.

There’s going to be some fun in hitting him.

“Alright, Milo. Let’s start the senior education.”

I whispered, grabbing Milo by the hair.

There is a famous saying that if you want to know a person’s true nature, give them power.

Because a person’s true nature comes out when they hold power.

That was the reason there were many bad seniors in the world.

However, it is rare for a bad senior to be a bad person from the start.

They just hadn’t been educated.

No matter how bad a senior is, they become kind if they receive education.

If you conduct senior education, even a piece of trash who wants a blonde beauty as a subordinate can become an excellent senior.

“Right, Milo?”

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

Milo had become kind.