It had been a week since I began my training in the art of combat. Today, I slept until evening to prepare for my first Nightwatch.
After meeting with the unit I'd be joining, we boarded a helicopter heading to the Seongwan-gu district. By the time we were airborne, night had already fallen — the perfect time for demons to strike.
There were ten of us in the unit, including myself — four Hunters of A- and B-rank, and five soldiers armed with high-powered anti-material rifles.
The incessant hum of the rotor blades made conversation impossible without specialized headsets. I sat alongside the others, glancing at my new black uniform.
"Hunter Lee, it's an honor to serve with you. Honestly, I was shocked to see your name listed under our division."
"Yes, I'm happy to be working with all of you as well."
"May I call you Kihyun, if that's alright? My name's Jung Tae-hwan."
Tae-hwan struck me as both naïve and determined. Something about him reminded me of Junho — optimistic and resilient, even in the face of danger.
"Don't forget," said another teammate, "once we touch ground, we go by code names only."
"There you go again, Minjae. Stubborn and loud as always."
"What did you say?! Say it again!"
"I'm joking, I'm joking!"
According to the Association's data, Minjae wasn't new to the field either. Despite his rough exterior, he had been serving with Tae-hwan and another girl for two years straight.
"Come on, you two, stop arguing in front of everyone," the girl said with a polite wave. "People will get the wrong impression."
"Ah, apologies for my idiot friend!"
"Taehwan, shut it or I'll deck you."
There was a clear camaraderie between the three of them — one forged on the battlefield, no doubt. The five soldiers sat opposite us, their expressions hidden beneath their helmets, exchanging grim glances.
Another Hunter sat near them, visibly tense, his eyes trembling with silent fear.
"Still, we really should get to know one another before the raid begins," the girl continued. "I'm Ha-rin — codename Hawk. I know it might feel strange having a young girl as your teammate, but I hope you'll respect and value me all the same…!"
Her expression shifted between nervousness and pride. A bright spirit, cheerful — perhaps even younger than me. What brought someone like her into this bloody world?
B-rank, huh? I remembered her file. Came from a poor family, became a Hunter out of necessity. Three younger sisters, a single mother... Amazing what people will endure for their families.
Family...
My brooding thoughts were interrupted by a sharp male voice across from me.
"Han Min-jae. Codename: Sabertooth."
Sabertooth, huh? That explains the savage look in your eyes.
"Oh, and me," added Taehwan. "Call me Elephant!"
The five soldiers burst into laughter. Though dressed in the same black gear, they'd been eyeing us with subtle disdain from the start.
"Elephant?" one of them snorted. "You're a damn clown. No offense, but with your build, you look more like a mutt than an elephant. Don't know what kind of circus your Kenketsu Hunters came from, but from where I'm sitting, you're just a bunch of misfits."
Their mocking tone made Minjae bristle, but Taehwan only smiled and replied:
"No need for taunts — we're on the same team, after all. Why not share your codenames so we can communicate better during operations?"
"Huh? Oh, right. We've already decided — we'll be supporting from the rear. So don't worry about us. Live however you like."
"But that's not—"
Sabertooth suddenly stood up.
"How dare you speak like that, soldiers?! Do you not understand the gravity of our situation?"
"Oh, we do," one of them replied coolly. "That's exactly why we're not risking our backs for a bunch of demon-powered freaks."
Their cutting words soured the atmosphere. Minjae sat back down with a snort of frustration.
I'd heard before that many in the military despised Hunters. They viewed our powers as unnatural — the very essence of the enemy. Even among those sworn to fight the same war, there were rifts.
Especially considering that Nightwatch assignments were only given to elite, battle-hardened soldiers. Compared to them, we were just green recruits — straight out of training.
Maybe that's why Master Nam kept reminding me not to rely solely on my demonic powers... Before I could wield them openly, I had to prove they weren't a threat — that I could control them. That's why he wants me to grow stronger on my own.
"Then I demand your obedience!" declared Elephant, rising to his feet. "I am your squad leader — Jung Tae-hwan, commander of the 3rd Squad, of the 3rd Division of Seongwan-gu! I have faced hundreds of demons in battle! Do not mistake us for naïve rookies. I carry the burden of leading nine lives. If you disobey me, you'll be dooming this operation to failure!"
He pressed his hand to his chest and lifted his chin high, standing tall.
Minjae and Ha-rin were stunned, even a little impressed. And the soldiers — for once — were speechless. They hadn't expected such resolve from our commander.
I couldn't help but smile, proud to be standing beside someone who defended his team with such dignity.
"At ease," one soldier finally said. "You've still got milk on your lips, kid — but you've got guts. You're our commander, and we'll follow your orders. Just don't expect more. We're soldiers from the Demon Extermination Corps. Our codenames: Snake-1, Snake-2, Shark-1, Shark-2. I go by Dolphin."
That explained the beast emblems sewn onto their chests, each with a code beneath. Dolphin, I assumed, was their captain.
"Understood. I appreciate your cooperation."
Taehwan's two teammates sighed in relief. Could his words really have changed the atmosphere so quickly? So this is what it means to be a leader.
"Our unit may have been hastily assembled," he continued, "but we've already figured out our roles. We're not weak — and we've even got an SSS-rank Hunter among us!"
I still couldn't get used to that title. Unsure how to respond to his glowing gaze, I just shook my head.
"By the way, what should we call you?" Taehwan asked the silent guy beside me, who flinched slightly under the attention.
"Oh! Me..? Salez Ronald... Codename: Glaz."
"Salez, huh?" one soldier muttered. "So that explains the blond hair. You look like a German. I don't trust Europeans either — living all cozy inland, no clue what demons really are!"
"Enough, Dolphin. Let's not judge a man by the color of his hair."
"Then what is your order, commander? We've got two snipers: a girl, and a foreigner. Who do we send on recon?"
"We'll figure it out. Our priority is reaching the base. What about you, Kihyun? What's your codename?"
"My... codename?"
***
Thirty minutes later.
The helicopter landed, and we disembarked at the base. Platoon commanders awaited us, assembling us into ranks beneath pale white floodlights.
Among the officers standing before us, I recognized one towering figure — Minho. Most likely the commander of his platoon.
To avoid disrupting the veterans already deployed, over five hundred fresh recruits had been summoned today. We all wore the same Nightwatch uniform, holding black helmets on our left arms.
One of the officers — tall, thick-necked — stepped forward and placed a hand over his heart.
"Comrades! May the moon light our path and bear witness to those gathered under this roof! Nightwatch is more than an operation — it's a regiment of three full battalions! Each of you is now more than a fellow soldier — you are family, worthy of dying for!"
I stood in the front row, glancing around. Among the crowd, I noticed a girl with glasses and short white hair, staring ahead solemnly. She stood in the front row too — perhaps she was strong as well.
My gaze also fell on a guy with massive muscles and long hair. Must've taken the staff ages to stitch a suit for him.
"I'll keep this short — our veterans are already conducting reconnaissance across all three sectors. Yes, you were assembled hastily. Yes, you were brought from different corps. All you need to know is this: somewhere out there, demons await, eager to kill us. Their current target — Lee Ki-hyun, codename: Prodigy. We don't know why they're after him, but ever since his appearance, we've confirmed multiple severe demon-related crimes!"
All eyes turned to me. But this time, their gazes didn't scream hatred — they looked at me not as a threat, but as a comrade they were ready to fight beside.
"Perhaps this operation will bring us closer to understanding the demons. Perhaps we'll uncover the truth behind their nature. So fight! Fight for yourselves! Fight for your comrades on this bloody field! Fight for your families! Fight for our shared goal — to wipe demons from the face of the Earth!"
"Yes!!" everyone shouted in unison, electrified by the colonel's speech.
The entire base thundered with resolve. We were ready to overcome anything in our path.
"Platoon commanders, it's your turn now. Assign roles, show your troops the map, and commence reconnaissance."
"Yes, sir!"
As he turned to leave, the colonel cast one last glance toward the lake beside us. The base was built in a port.
"From this night forward begins a new era for humanity. The counteroffensive against the demons. So — what will you do now, having heard my declaration? If Park Ji-sun's hunch is correct… among us, be they rookie or veteran — there may be a double agent."