Chapter 106

<The Erection (3)>

***

The waterway construction was in full swing, but the guardhouse construction was completed.

Son Kwang-yeon invited SSS to his house.

After pondering over what to call them—SSS, Triple S, S-S-S, or S Bong—he decided to just call each of them by their names.

“Thanks to the eight of you, I’ve been living peacefully. There’s plenty of food, so eat to your heart’s content.”

Among the tall and impressive group, one person stood out.

He looked as strong as a bear, almost as if he were a direct descendant of the legendary bear woman.

The man introduced himself as Team Leader Yang.

Son Kwang-yeon looked at him and smiled with satisfaction.

“My son will be home from school soon. Once we finish eating, let’s take a walk together.”

***

Yang Gang-wook was a top student who graduated from the Korea Military Academy with excellent grades.

He wasn’t from a difficult family background, nor was he particularly ambitious. Yet, his life began with the question of why he chose the path of a soldier. However, no one ever heard his answer after he became an adult.

Because no one ever asked.

He was not only good at academics but also excelled in Taekwondo and Judo, which he had practiced since childhood. His Judo skills were so outstanding that he was a national reserve team member in high school. Combining Taekwondo and Judo in real combat, he became known for his fists in the neighborhood.

“Yang Gang-wook from Jungnang-gu is fighting someone at some high school!” Just that one sentence was enough to make the entire school rush to watch.

As for academics, he consistently ranked within the top 10 in his school. A friend who didn’t perform as well as Yang Gang-wook even got into Korea University, so the praise of being a genius became almost tiresome.

Given this reality, Yang Gang-wook lived expecting questions like, “Why did you apply to the Korea Military Academy? Why did you choose the path of a soldier?” Of course, he always had an answer ready.

‘But no one ever asks.’

After being commissioned as a second lieutenant and serving at a forward outpost, he was promoted to first lieutenant. As part of the support and consideration for outstanding officers, an interview was conducted.

“I want to become the commander of the Special Warfare Brigade.”

Now, the question of “why” will come. They’ll ask why an elite like me would choose a difficult path instead of an easy one. Then, I’ll answer without hesitation. Go ahead, ask, you three-star general.

“Alright. I think you’ll do well. Anyway, eight out of the Korea Military Academy graduates are assigned to the Special Forces, so thanks for volunteering. As expected from a model student.”

Huh?

In a daze, Yang Gang-wook shook hands with the colonel and was sent to the Black Unit.

After being assigned to the Special Forces, he was quickly promoted to captain and became a company commander, referred to as a team leader. He became the first among his Korea Military Academy classmates to be promoted to captain.

He got to meet the Special Forces Commander.

“You are—”

Yes, go ahead and ask.

I’ll tell you why I chose the path of a soldier, why I wanted the Special Warfare Command. Go ahead, ask, you three-star general.

“—very impressive.”

“Thank you!”

“Keep up the good work.”

“Unity!”

Yang Gang-wook once again shook hands with the three-star general and returned to his unit.

‘This is strange?’

During school days and even as a cadet, he and his friends would discuss their dreams and share their aspirations. But in the military, no one asks.

Yang Gang-wook missed the days when he shared dreams and ideals with his friends, burning with passion together.

Whether it was during mountain runs, long marches, or high-altitude parachute training, Yang Gang-wook felt lonely.

‘No one understands the heart of a warrior.’

Still, he planned to stay in the military.

It was the only organization where he could cultivate his spirit and sharpen his skills.

But then, someone contacted him.

A young man in business attire, but from the way he carried himself, it was clear he had a beast hidden beneath his clothes.

“I have a proposal.”

The man, handing over a business card from Sain Chemical, showed him some documents.

It was information about young and capable special forces members. There were members from the Navy Special Warfare Flotilla, the Maritime Rescue Team, the Special Mission Battalion, and even from special units under the Army Intelligence Command that he had never heard of before.

Without even explaining the purpose, Yang Gang-wook excitedly asked.

“Are we going to Pyongyang? Is that why you called me, Team Leader? If so, I’ll join immediately—”

“No.”

“Ah…”

Yang Gang-wook’s enthusiasm was dampened once again.

The man introduced himself as a founding member of SSS, a security company in the process of being established.

“It might be an even more important task. Protecting a VIP.”

“A VIP?”

“If it’s a VIP, it’s classified, right?”

“Ah, I see. But why did you call me?”

“We need a commander. Of course, you’ll be a civilian bodyguard, so we’ll call you a team leader. If you’re prepared for it.”

Team leader—it wasn’t an unfamiliar title.

Even in the unit Yang Gang-wook was part of, they used the title of team leader.

But for a VIP protection unit commander, they’d usually be called a director or chief. He figured the civilian world must be different.

Yang Gang-wook skimmed through the documents again.

Physical fitness tests, shooting, martial arts—basic combat skills were recorded in detail, along with personality and mission performance.

‘Beasts.’

Yang Gang-wook’s heart raced.

The reason he turned down Korea University and applied to the Korea Military Academy, the motivation for joining the Special Forces—it was all there in the documents, shining brightly.

‘Ah, but I’ll have to take off the uniform.’

Was it reluctance? Yang Gang-wook’s eyes wavered.

Then, the beast in a suit spoke.

“We’re offering four times your current salary.”

“I’ll do it.”

It was too much money to stick to the military uniform.

Three months’ salary would equal a year’s pay. Yang Gang-wook, who was also good at math, quickly calculated.

Yang Gang-wook’s team would be in charge of VIP protection. They demanded stricter protection than even the president, and all legal responsibilities for any issues would be covered by the parent company. They even signed a contract stating that the company would take lifelong responsibility for the welfare of the family in case of death during protection.

‘Hmph. All I have to do is protect well.’

The rule was simple: anyone threatening the VIP had to be rendered combat ineffective by any means necessary. It was a privilege usually reserved for presidential bodyguards.

But.

Yang Gang-wook found himself in a strange world.

‘Protecting some old man in the countryside.’

The working environment wasn’t great either.

It was no better than training with special forces in the mountains.

They set up an office in town, shared four cars among four people, and commuted to the countryside. When the shift car arrived, they’d return to their homes in town to rest—a two-shift duty.

There wasn’t even a proper workplace.

They hid their cars in secluded spots, concealed themselves in grass or trees, or even in abandoned houses, just to watch over the old man in the countryside.

‘They said he’s a VIP, but his behavior is certainly unusual.’

The old man would brush his dog’s fur, sweep the yard, suddenly start dancing, or carry his daughter on his back and run around. But when his spouse appeared, he’d stiffen up and act solemn.

‘A beast.’

He had an incredible poker face.

When alone, he’d go back to his strange behavior, but he still had the manners and romance of a gentleman.

“Ahhh—! I’m coming! Go!”

Announcing his attack—it was a spirit that no ordinary person could imitate.

Yang Gang-wook hid in the narrow reeds of the waterway, unfazed by the warm water cannon flying over his head, and kept an eye on the VIP.

‘Oooooh, beast!’

What caught his eye more than the VIP was the son, who woke up earlier than anyone else, ran around with the dog, did push-ups, and pull-ups.

‘How can he do 100 pull-ups without stopping?’

And without using momentum, just pure arm strength.

Yang Gang-wook’s vision would blur after 60, but this kid did it every morning and evening. The son was the real beast. It was fun to watch.

But when the son went to school, he had to observe the strange old man.

When Yang Gang-wook felt bored or tired, he’d look at his comrades hiding in the distance.

Their unwavering gaze.

‘Beasts.’

His blood boiled again.

If eight highly paid bodyguards had to secretly watch over—no, protect—this person, then he must be incredibly important.

A sense of mission he had never felt before began to rise.

Occasionally, someone with malicious intent and a weapon would appear, and they’d scare them off appropriately. Here, “appropriately” meant making them drool and wear diapers for about a month.

Once, a fat guy showed up, and the beast’s son grabbed him by the collar and threw him.

‘Oh! Definitely a beast.’

According to the information, he was 13 years old, but that couldn’t be right.

He was as tall as the fat guy, too big to be called a kid.

Anyway, he was told to record everything in detail, so Yang Gang-wook kept a record.

「199104XX △△City □□ Minute. Two unidentified adult males approached. Single, fat build (approximately 170 cm, 85 kg estimated), assaulted the VIP’s son and narrowly escaped being strangled. Directed the Doraji Team to track. Took measures to intimidate to prevent reapproach.」

The year the Olympics were held, they changed to “습니다,” but it wasn’t easy to change a habit that had been ingrained longer than military training.

It was a continuous cycle of boring, mosquito-bitten, rain-soaked, shivering, and dozing-off missions. They dug pits in the countryside, made hideouts in trees, disguised themselves as fishermen, real estate agents, bushes, or rocks, and worked for nearly two years.

‘Should I quit?’

Yang Gang-wook checked his bank account.

‘Beast.’

His bank account was properly filled. His annual salary had surpassed that of a professional baseball player. Excluding the high earners.

There were generous bonuses for no accidents and longevity allowances.

His wife was also satisfied with life in town. After all, she was a soldier’s wife, used to living in remote areas, so it felt like moving to the city.

His comrades also checked their bank accounts and their eyes lit up.

The SSS team members exchanged glances and nodded silently.

They had the eyes of beasts.

With so many members, they could take ample vacations.

But there was a small complaint among the team members: even though they were discharged, they couldn’t visit their parents during holidays. So, they strongly requested holiday vacations from their employer. It was probably when they were assigned to clean up gangsters.

‘The response was positive.’

Then, they received intelligence.

The employer left a secret message under a rock.

In summary:

– VIP plans to travel to Hawaii during Chuseok holiday. The entire protection team can spend the holiday with their families.

Excited for the Chuseok holiday, Yang Gang-wook and his team raced down the farm road in their cars. Driving in a tight line, it felt like a real convoy. It was a sense of liberation they never felt during regular work.

Not long after the Chuseok holiday, they were finally told that SSS would be officially established. They were also told that a new guardhouse would be built so they could protect openly without hiding.

‘Finally.’

Yang Gang-wook felt like he was being properly rewarded for two years of hard work.

Filled with pride, he inspected the guardhouse under construction and the VIP’s house. The VIP invited the bodyguards into his home, served them food, and offered tea.

Whoever said mom’s cooking is the best—Yang Gang-wook almost called the VIP’s wife “mom.” As for her beauty, she was truly a stunning beauty.

‘Beauty and the Beast.’

He ran into the beast’s son, who had just returned home from school.

The son smiled brightly at Yang Gang-wook.

‘This is strange, I’ve never seen him smile like that.’

Seeing the son, whom he thought of as a beast, smile gave him an eerie feeling. Surely, he’s not a cannibal.

But then, the boy’s words melted Yang Gang-wook’s heart.

Words as warm as his smile, like sunlight melting a frozen heart.

“It must be reassuring to have strong warriors by your side.”

Yang Gang-wook’s eyes embarrassingly welled up with tears.

But Yang Gang-wook was happy.

For the first time, someone had told him the reason he chose the path of a soldier.

***

He almost shouted “Unity!” and saluted.

Jin Hyuk remembers Yang Gang-wook.

‘The battalion commander is young.’

How could he not recognize him?

This bear-like soldier.