TGMBS 06

Chapter 06

**Blood and Flag (1)**

After the match ended.

A modest party for my undefeated promotion was held at my senior’s house.

My senior’s wife and So-yeon, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, welcomed me warmly.

“Taemin, why has it been so long? Have you been well?”

“Ah, ma’am. I felt bad coming empty-handed, so my feet wouldn’t move. I was in a hurry and forgot.”

“Oh, what gifts? I heard you were suffering in that rough place in Africa? Seeing you healthy like this is the biggest gift.”

She smiled brightly and patted my shoulder.

For reference, she was one of the few people who knew that I had served in the 9th Ducal Guard during my military service and had been working as a mercenary since.

But the peaceful greetings didn’t last long.

As she set down the spoon and chopsticks on the table, she immediately cut to the chase.

“So, Taemin, when are you going to get married?”

“Uh… marriage? I, well, I need someone first. There’s no suitable person yet.”

“What about kids? You’re not thinking of not having any, are you?”

“Haha, I haven’t even thought that far yet…”

At my lukewarm response, she adjusted her apron and settled in for a serious talk.

“Isn’t it about time you started thinking about it? You’re not going to marry someone after a day or two of dating. You’d need at least a year or two to date and get to know each other.”

“R-right.”

“Do you think kids just happen right away? After marriage, you’d want to enjoy the honeymoon for a while. That means at the earliest, you’d have a kid two years later. Have you calculated how old you’d be then?”

A barrage of nagging.

Under her logically organized pressure, I quickly pulled out my wallet and redirected the arrow toward So-yeon, who was staring at me from the side.

“Haha. So-yeon, hello! Have you been well? Here, Uncle’s giving you allowance!”

“Waaah, Uncle! I missed you! But Uncle, do you still make hamburgers with pork belly?”

I nearly choked at the unexpected question.

“…Huh? So-yeon, what do you mean?”

“Daddy said so! When we go eat meat with Uncle, he’s so embarrassed he wants to pretend he doesn’t know him. He puts meat between lettuce and covers it with bread to make a hamburger, and he laughs like it’s so good — Daddy says it’s really pathetic!”

“Haha, Daddy said that?”

I smiled at So-yeon while subtly glaring at my senior.

This guy…

“What, did I say something wrong? I doubted my own eyes last time when I saw you putting garlic in there like pickles, man.”

He shrugged annoyingly and filled his soju glass.

Ugh. I shouldn’t say anything.

Even so, my hands were already carefully wrapping a piece of well-cooked pork belly between two slices of bread I’d prepared.

“Here, So-yeon, say ahh.”

“Aaah.”

I neatly popped the carefully made pork belly hamburger into So-yeon’s mouth.

“How is it? The hamburger Uncle made, is it good?”

So-yeon mumbled with her cheeks puffed out.

“…It’s not good.”

“Pfft.”

The wife, who had been watching from the side, finally burst out laughing.

It was the moment my recipe, which I had prided myself on being perfect, crumbled before a seven-year-old niece’s taste buds.

This won’t do. If I stay like this, I’ll just keep getting nagged.

I grilled the pork belly very, very diligently to shut So-yeon and the wife up.

“Here, here! Ma’am, please eat some meat first. This came up from Jeju this morning, you know? So-yeon, you like eating it with kimchi, right? Here, say ahh.”

Sizzle-.

The sound of pork belly cooking on the grill filled the gaps in the conversation.

But the wife’s radar wouldn’t turn off.

“Taemin, shall I set you up on a blind date? A new employee joined our office recently, and she’s really nice and pretty.”

“Ma’am, the meat will get cold. Please eat first and then we can talk…”

“Is meat the issue right now? It’s such a waste to let your handsome face rot, and now that you’re back in Korea, you should start thinking about settling down. My husband says you’re doing some kind of game these days?”

Game…?

I subtly glanced at my senior.

He was now openly pretending not to hear, fiddling with his soju glass and acting busy.

“It’s not just a game, it has some business potential…”

“Ugh, men are all the same. Always business or dreams. So-yeon, if Uncle only plays computer games in the corner of his room every day, can he become a cool adult?”

So-yeon, taking over the baton, mumbled with her cheeks puffed out.

“No.”

“How do you become a cool adult?”

“You have to not be a picky eater, sleep early, and wake up early! If you only eat bread like Uncle, you’ll get fat and won’t be able to get married!”

“…”

“Pfft, pffft—-!”

I put down the tongs with trembling hands and looked at my senior.

He now had his head buried on the table, shoulders shaking as he choked trying to hold back laughter.

…Just what kind of idiot have you been making me out to be?

—

“Uncle. You have to go home today, okay? Got it?”

The situation settled down once the atmosphere had warmed up a bit and So-yeon started stumbling, saying she was sleepy.

The wife went into the master bedroom to put So-yeon to sleep, and finally only my senior and I were left in the living room.

What remained in the wake of the storm was just empty soju bottles and a cooled grill.

My senior poured the remaining alcohol into his glass and spoke.

“You seem more flustered than usual today?”

“It’s hectic. More than Africa.”

He let out a smirk at my answer.

“It’s noisy, but this is what it means to be human. It’s a hundred times better than rolling around where bullets fly.”

“That’s true.”

I nodded, fiddling with my empty glass.

Certainly, this place is peaceful.

Even if I have to listen to nagging until I finish a whole bag of bread, I don’t have to risk my life staying up all night.

‘You look happy.’

My senior was a person without family or a home to return to.

Seeing him finally finding his place and living an ordinary daily life put my mind at ease.

After staring at the bedroom door So-yeon had gone into for a moment, my senior cleared his throat and set down his glass.

“Anyway, congratulations. I got goosebumps watching you strike in at the end. How did you see that brief opening?”

“Wasn’t it decent?”

“Decent? The community is in an uproar right now?”

“Well, you’ve got an eye for it.”

We laughed loudly and slapped each other’s arms — whack!

Actually, I still couldn’t quite believe it.

That I had really succeeded in an undefeated promotion.

Especially the final scene where I dug into the Ninja’s arms and drove a strike into his chest — honestly, even I thought it was pretty cool.

“I knew you’d do well, but I didn’t think you’d move up to the pro league this fast.”

“I guess it’s only a matter of time before I make big money, right?”

“Of course. I looked into it, and the first fight money for people who promote undefeated usually starts at ten million won.”

I brought my soju glass to my lips and then furrowed my brow.

“But I heard I can’t fight whenever I want. Then isn’t it not much different from the amateur league?”

“Hey, the pro league is way better. From here on, what’s attached is different.”

“What else is attached?”

“Allowances and sponsors.”

My senior held up two fingers.

“Victory allowances are basic, and the advertising sponsorships attached based on your video views and popularity are enormous. With a title like undefeated promotion, companies won’t leave you alone. And there are bonuses too.”

“Ah, I heard about that too. Fight of the Arena, Performance of the Arena, was it?”

“Right. They give 100 million each, I think?”

I was momentarily speechless and stared at my senior.

“They give 100 million won as a bonus?”

“That’s why everyone bets their lives on main cards and high numbering. Just winning pays decently, and if you get bonuses on top of that, you can earn hundreds of millions in a single match.”

Listening to him, I smiled and downed my drink.

So that’s how it is.

The alcohol going down my throat felt much sweeter than before.

Kreuu, good.

Hundreds of millions per match…

“I should aim for the bonuses too.”

“You can definitely do it. Seeing you today, your movements are better than during your active duty days?”

“Really?”

We laughed and slapped each other’s arms — whack! whack!

Maybe because I was in a good mood, it kept feeling like we’d gone back to those days when we moved together.

Just then, my senior’s smartwatch went ding! with an alarm.

“Oh, hey. It’s here. The contract.”

Since he had handled everything from application to registration, the alarm was set on his end too.

We headed to the monitor, leaving the drinking session behind.

And the moment we checked the contents with excitement.

“Hmm.”

“…?”

Both of our brows furrowed deeply at the same time.

—

『To the esteemed Participant No. 2,749.

On behalf of Nova Company, we sincerely congratulate you on your undefeated promotion in the Japan Amateur League and your acquisition of a Pro License.

Nova Arena has watched the challenges of countless Warriors since its founding.

Among them, the record and performance you have shown can be called a particularly impressive case.

In particular, your undefeated promotion achieved in a short time is an achievement that will be recorded in Nova Arena’s history.

Accordingly, we once again inform you that you have been formally granted the qualifications to participate in the Pro League.

■ Pro League Participation Information

It has been confirmed that you are currently not affiliated with any Legion.

According to regulations, a Warrior not affiliated with a Legion will be registered as belonging to their respective country when participating in the Pro League and will compete in matches.

For this, the following procedures are required:

· Signing a direct contract with Nova Japan Arena

· Guidance on detailed clauses related to Pro League participation

· Explanation of fight money and bonus structure

· Assignment of a manager to serve as your Second

· Briefing on future schedules and matching

The above procedures are conducted only in person, and the contract will also be written on-site.

■ Security and Identity Matters

Nova Arena is making great efforts to protect participants’ identities.

Currently, among Nova Arena employees, there is no one who knows your real name, nationality, past history, or identity.

The employee in charge of this matter is also a dispatched employee belonging to NJA (Nova Japan Arena) and will handle only the minimum information necessary for the contract and operations.

Nova Arena promises that the anonymity and safety of Warriors are its top priority values.

■ Regarding Visit Schedule

For the contract process, a staff member from Nova Japan Arena will visit you in person.

We apologize for the inconvenience, but please reply with the date, place, and time you are available for a visit.

We will coordinate to match your schedule as much as possible.

Once again, we express our deep respect for your brilliant achievement, and we look forward to your performance in the Pro League as well.

Thank you.

From the Nova Arena Operations Division

(Nova Arena Operations Division)』

To summarize the contents, it was roughly this:

They congratulated me on my promotion, and since I had no Legion, I would need to compete under Nova Japan Arena to participate in the Pro League, and for that, I needed to sign a contract in person.

For reference, my manager would be from NJA, no one among current Nova Arena employees knew my information, and they asked when would be a good time to visit.

I rubbed my chin and furrowed my brow.

“So I need a Legion. Where should I join…”

At my muttering, my senior scolded me as if dumbfounded.

“Hey, you idiot. You’re frowning over something as trivial as which Legion to join?”

“What else would I be worried about? This is the biggest problem right now.”

I looked at my senior with a genuinely clueless expression.

“Hey man. You wore a mask to hide your identity when you competed. Don’t you remember?”

“Oh, right.”

That’s right, of course.

I had momentarily forgotten in the joy of the undefeated promotion and the hundreds of millions in fight money.

There were still guys in Africa targeting me, and if I carelessly joined a famous Legion, it would only be a matter of time before my identity was exposed.

“What should I do?”

When I asked, my senior let out a long sigh.

Ugh, this guy is already drunk. The alcohol smell is overwhelming.

After a moment, my senior opened his mouth with a slurred voice.

“I’ll handle it for you.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll just make a fake Legion and stick you in as a member. That should work, right?”

“You’re going to make a Legion? Is that so easy?”

“Who do you think I am? Making a document or two is nothing.”

Thinking over his words, I nodded.

As things stood, that was the best option.

My senior was not only a capable information broker but also served as a fixer who cleaned up troublesome matters using information.

“What about the cost?”

“Forget it. I’ll do it for free, kid.”

“Come on, this bloodless, tearless guy… Just tell me how much.”

At my distrustful words, my senior raised his voice as if wronged.

“I’m serious! Hey, would I extort money from you too?”

“Given what you usually do, you’re more than capable of that and more.”

“Is this really how you treat my sincerity…! Fine, I won’t take it. When you get to the Pro League and receive a bonus, treat me to a nice Hanwoo beef meal then.”

“Really? I’m recording this conversation. No going back on your word!”

“…What sin did I commit in a past life to have a junior like you? Fine, just drink, man!”

He grumbled and gulped down his soju.

It was an unprecedentedly generous condition that the usual him would never offer, but seeing that attitude, it seemed like he might be sincere this time.

Well, the sun does rise from the west sometimes.

I subtly slipped my phone into my pocket.

‘I’ll have to cleverly edit out just the Hanwoo part.’

There was not a shred of doubt that Hanwoo was the world’s finest meat, grown with the spirit of the Korean Peninsula.

But my wallet was too light to handle that great Hanwoo.