We’ll expand the scale of the guild.  

“And after I’ve gathered the number of people you mentioned, what should I do next?”  

“Next…”  

After a brief moment of consideration, I replied.  

“We should move on to the next stage.”  

***  

Two weeks have passed since then.  

During that time, our unit has not been idle either.  

We have been regularly patrolling and cleaning the path between the bunker and the ammunition depot.  

By hunting monsters, we have been growing in strength and securing the safety around our base.  

A visitor came to find me, when I was sitting in the battalion commander’s office of the ammunition depot.  

“Greeee.”  

“Oh, Blackie is here.”  

In the previous battle, this creature, mac, was very helpful.  

Not only did it create a hole in the bunker that was difficult for our firepower to penetrate, but it also fought against several vampires at the same time, even in its weakened state.  

As a result of this recognition of its contributions, it has been allowed to make the supply warehouse its home and freely roam the outside as well.  

“Greeee!”  

Perhaps because it’s a territorial animal, it hasn’t left the ammunition depot and has been moving around freely inside.  

It has become quite friendly with the other unit members as well.  

But when it’s bored, it tends to come find me first.  

The creature rubbing its head against my feet, it’s like a cat.  

“…Hey, Blackie.”  

“Gree?”  

As I stroked its head, I said,  

“You don’t have any strange commands, or anything stuck in your head, do you?”  

“???”  

“Never mind, what am I even asking.”  

After my suspicion had turned into conviction not long ago,  

I was in a rather troubled state.  

‘There exists a malevolent force that is hostile to humanity.’  

And this will, by manipulating the monsters, has first eliminated human military power.  

The suddenly appearing monsters in the once-normal world have destroyed civilization.  

The ‘Doomsday’ as well is likely related to that malevolence.  

My goal is the survival of myself and my unit members.  

I have various other objectives, such as checking on the well-being of my family back home.  

But the current ultimate goal is survival.  

However, now that the existence of this malevolent force hostile to humanity is certain, I’ve come to the conclusion that we must confront this malevolence in order to survive.  

The entity that has embedded irrefutable commands into those powerful monsters,  

an entity that can be called a god without it being strange.  

We must confront that malevolence.  

“The path ahead is long…”  

I can only sigh.  

Even though I’ve caught on to the existence of this malevolence,  

I honestly have no idea how to deal with such a transcendent being.  

The only thing I can do right now is well, I guess it’s to follow the path suggested by the system.  

This mysterious system.  

Unlike the monsters trying to kill us, the system has at least granted us the power to survive.  

When we discovered the dungeon, I was even angry at its existence, in a way.  

I don’t know where it’s trying to lead us, but for now, we have no choice but to follow its guidance.  

As I was stroking the Blackie while thinking these thoughts, a soldier opened the door to the battalion commander’s office and asked,  

“May I come in for a moment?”  

“Hm? What’s the matter?”  

The person who entered was Soo-ah.  

She was the soldier tasked with the important duty of monitoring our unit’s situation through her Spirit Vision.  

“I’ve heard some talk about the unit’s organization recently.”  

“Ah, yes, it is a bit loose. Were you assigned to the Magic Squad?”  

After pondering for a moment, I added,  

“Considering your abilities, the Magic Squad would be a bit strange. We should create a separate reconnaissance corps or something-”  

“No, that’s not what I wanted to ask about.”  

“Hm?”  

“The battalion commander doesn’t have a direct subordinate unit under his command.”  

The Warrior Squad leader, Jeon Gwang-il.  

The Mage Squad leader, Lee Min-jae.  

The Marksmen Squad leader, Seo Su-hyeok.  

The production Squad leader, Lee Sang-ah,   

The Engineer Squad leader, Lee Gong-woo, and Grandpa Park.  

They’re all under my command.  

But I don’t have a direct subordinate unit.  

I, as the battalion commander, am involved, but I try to respect the authority of the squad leaders.  

“Considering the battalion commander’s position and importance, I believe a personal guard unit, a royal guard, would be necessary.”  

“Hmm.”  

“If we recruit volunteers, I believe many would join.”  

As she finished speaking, there were some people raising their heads.  

“I would be one of them as well.”  

Soo-ah, who calls me her benefactor, was looking at me with passionate eyes.  

It seemed she wanted to join my royal guard, my personal guard unit.  

Glancing behind her,  

I could see the figures of several soldiers standing outside the door.  

“Are those soldiers out there of the same opinion as you?”  

“Yes.”  

Actually, there were not many unit members who had been with me since the 423rd Battalion days.  

‘When talk of a royal guard comes up, it’s usually the people who are personally close to me that apply first. This is a bit unexpected.’  

Upon examining the people outside,  

I found that there were many whom I had not even exchanged a single word with.  

Most of them seemed to be survivors who had joined us on the surface.  

The one thing they had in common was…  

Many of them had been captured by plunderers or vampires and then rescued.  

‘…Is this just a coincidence?’  

The admiring gazes they were sending my way were almost uncomfortably intense.  

A royal guard unit, huh.  

It’s not a bad idea, but…  

“I don’t think I need one, right now.”  

“Why is that so?”  

Soo-ah, who always showed me excessive deference, now seemed to be rebelling against this decision.  

“But there is already a royal guard unit in place.”  

“…Pardon?”  

I shifted my gaze to the shadow at my feet.  

“Just keep that in mind.”  

That ordinary black shadow.  

From within it, I felt like I could sense the silhouette of a woman bowing to me.  

‘These creatures are enough.’  

While they are not officially part of a guild yet,  

I plan to formally enlist them in a guild once any resentment or hostility toward them has subsided over time.  

A force of 100 soldiers who have pledged their absolute loyalty to me is already ready.  

“For now, it’s not necessary.”  

“But…”  

“Your abilities are more suited for intelligence operations. After Sergeant Park Taejun, who is guarding the mountain range, returns, we can consider it, but not now. We will proceed with creating a separate reconnaissance unit, but you’ll have to hold off on the royal guard idea.”  

“…Understood.”  

The disappointed figures withdrew.  

The forces within the shadow do have some shortcomings.  

I may be able to reinforce them someday, but that’s a matter for the future.  

“Oh, right. Since you’re here, let me tell you one thing.”  

“Yes? What is it?”  

“It seems things will get busy soon, so prepare in advance.”  

“Busy, you say?”  

The forces I had ordered Ariella to gather have assembled.  

So now,  

“It’s time to move on to the next stage.”  

“The next stage…?”  

In this devastated world, with the mysterious malevolence seemingly wishing for humanity’s extinction, there are many things that worry me.  

But I don’t have a clear solution to resolve that.  

The only thing I can do now is to follow the guidance of the system.  

And the “next stage” that can be considered as such is obviously just one thing.  

“Occupation.”  

[Occupation battle is in progress!]  

[Steel Legion]  

[Occupied area – Mountain Range (3%)]  

“Come to think of it, it’s taken an annoyingly long time.”  

It’s time to bring this area under control.