Heart-Pounding Collab (7)
It took a full 30 minutes just to gear up. Every time we tried to set out, something was missing. We needed this, we had to do that... Wait a sec, just let me do this one thing... It was total chaos, a ragtag bunch if there ever was one. Me as the leader of this party...? Can I really pull this off? Even if I screw up, I'm doing it...! When have I ever gotten to be the leader? I've always been the side character, and now I'm in charge! How could I pass this up?! I have to do it. Even if I can't, I'll work my butt off. Yeah, I have to.
"Is everyone ready?" I cleared my throat and asked.
"All set, Commander."
"Hey... Moteok. What do you mean 'all set'? Wanna get hit?"
Raming was already deep into the roleplay. No respect for rank anymore—straight to casual speech. Impressive. Something I'd never dream of...
"Sorry, sir."
"Sorry for what?"
"Dunno, sir."
"Don't know what? I told you to service the vehicle earlier, right? And you said you did! Did you or didn't you?"
"I did, sir."
"Then why isn't it done?"
"Sorry, sir."
"Sorry doesn't cut it. Does 'sorry' end your service? You little private!"
"...Sorry, sir."
"Stick out your shin. Your shin."
"Sorry, sir."
"No need to be sorry—just stick out your shin."
What the heck are these two doing? Roleplay's fine and all, but we still need to get stuff done.
"So, are you two ready now?" I cut in, and Raming stepped forward, grabbing her gun.
"Sir! Corporal Raming reporting—it's done."
"Ah... good job. So we can head out now?"
"Yes, sir. Departing immediately."
No sooner had I finished than Raming turned to Moteok. "Hey, start the engine."
"Didn't hear that, sir."
"You bitch. Start the damn engine."
"Which one, sir?"
"Which one? This fucker... Fine. Forget the shin—present your cheek. No, a slap it is."
I was shocked. What kind of army is this where they slap you for messing up...?
"Raming! Raming!! That's harassment. Where'd you even learn that...?"
"Isn't this how it's done?"
"Wha—no? You learned it wrong. That's not it. Who told you? This isn't the '80s... You'd get in deep shit these days. Straight to the brig."
"Ah, sorry."
Raming slunk back and whispered to Moteok. "Hey, Moteok—meet me after."
"Ah!!!! No, hold up! Raming, demoted."
"Pardon?"
"Demoted. You're a trainee now. I'm the commander, right?"
"Heh~ Right you are. Happy times over, Raming? Now grab the wheel, bitch. Engine still off? I'll smack you."
"...Roger that."
Raming meekly took the driver's seat. "Engine's on."
"Fuel topped off? Need me to check?"
"...All done."
"For real? Sure? Or else...?"
"...Yes."
Deflated Raming. But no choice—she does that bad girl ASMR, so she's too good at this. Gave me chills. More importantly, when's Maru getting here?
"Maru... Maru..."
"Ah, I'm heading out now."
Maru was still inside the house. What on earth was she doing...?
"Ha. I'm here. Sorry. No, there were too many items, had to sort 'em... Let's go."
"No, Sergeant Maru, that's not how you talk to the commander."
"Huh...? Oh."
"For the record, I'm a private, that one's a trainee, this here's the commander... four stars."
"Why's the rank system like this?"
"Who else but the one-of-a-kind Untouchable Zombie Slayer, No-Death Genius Player to lead us?"
Moteok... you're too good at this. Just listening makes my shoulders puff up with pride. That's me she's talking about. That one-liner summing me up...
"We've been waiting for you, Commander."
Moteok suddenly dropped her voice, dead serious. Felt so good... No, all this praise is making me squirm.
"I've been waiting too."
"This trainee—adults are talking. Who said you could butt in?"
"Sorry..."
"But... is this right for me? I'm a noob too."
Me, a noob... Yeah, newbie. Can't say I'm good. I mess up a lot... Is this big responsibility right for me? And I'm bad at roleplay too...
"The heavens choose the leader. They picked Jjang as commander. You gotta do it."
Moteok's words blanked my mind. Beyond logic—this was a heart thing. I swallowed hard and replied.
"O-okay! I'll... I'll be commander! So, let's drop the formalities now. I'm in charge, after all..."
Sensitive about Confucian hierarchy, but even more about rank—especially in the military. Rank trumps all there. I'm a boot camp grad myself. Instructors talk casual to older trainees. That's the army.
"Heh. Got it."
"Yeah. Let's do this. But when do we roll out?"
The roleplay felt awkward at first, but after 10 minutes, it clicked.
"So, what's our unit name gonna be, Commander?" Raming asked.
Oh crap—this was bad. One of my many flaws: trash naming sense.
The chat... oh no. It was dead quiet earlier, now it's blowing up.
"Uh... First-Class Unit?"
"Pardon? Didn't hear that. First-Class? Sir?"
Moteok's response stabbed my heart. I thought hard about that name.
"That's mine. Everyone, suggestions? Maru Sergeant—no, Trainee Raming first."
"Huh?"
Caught her off-guard? Shoulda given time... "Eeng Unit! Eeng Unit—how's that? Great, right? What do you think, Commander?"
Eeng... Unit? My eeng...?
"N-no! What's 'eeng' mean?"
"Your signature, right, Commander Jjang?"
"H-how'd you know?"
"I'm a huge Jjang Commander fan, sir. Binge-watched VODs like a beast. I watch it all. Eeeeeng. Eeng~ Jjang Commander."
"Moteok... Private Moteok! Stars effective immediately!!! Major general today!!! I'll find you that vaccine!"
"Kieeeek! Thank you! Sir!"
Promoting loyal retainers is skill too.
"No... Major General... your tongue's a weapon."
"Ahem, trainee—that's envy."
"But look at this rank mess. Commander. Major General. Sergeant. Trainee... This right?"
Maru's doubt—yeah, makes sense. Stars are precious.
"Private Moteok... sorry, but yeah. Start from lieutenant."
"Huh? No. No way."
"Congrats on the promotion, Lieutenant Moteok."
"Trainee... that's envy..."
Suddenly teary Moteok. But gotta curb power creep.
"So, Eeng Unit it is?"
"Sounds good? Let's go! Eeng Unit—eeeeeng, launch!!"
Not bad. And it's not that important anyway.
After that, we hunted zombies but swung by the bookstore—tons of unlooted books, essential stuff.
"How long we staying at the bookstore? I'm about to puke now. Commander? Commander?"
Sorry Moteok, but farming mattered more.
"We'll find it. Hang on. Raming, all packed?"
"Yup! All set."
"Then let's roll. Oh, Sergeant Maru—strip all the vehicles here."
"Sure~ Got it."
"No way... I turn zombie? Zombie and bite everyone? Vaccine, now."
"Just wait. I'll get it."
Now I'm half-assing replies. Do everything else first—won't be late. Zombie? Kill and fridge the body. Game mechanics say it's safe.
"Farming done!" Raming bellowed.
"No... I'm one bite from zombifying."
"Humans don't die easy."
"Agh... Not your problem... Try getting bit."
Moteok's freakouts are world-class. Non-stop drama.
"Nobody threatened with a knife to bite, right?"
"What?"
"Inner thoughts—my bad."
"Ugh... you bitch."
"Time to go. Loading up. Everyone aboard."
I nipped the fight pre-emptively. All boarded, Raming drove. We cruised roads for a bit. Hunting specifics? Nah—drive aimless, snag what you find.
"Vaccine zombie! Vaccine sighted—that's it, right? Right?!"
Moteok ditched roleplay in panic.
"Looks like it."
"Yes! Stop. Out."
"Here? Zombies everywhere?"
"Bolt back, check chamber, forward bolt, single-shot selector, fire, cycle bolt... safety on. Kills 'em all."
Moteok recited gun safety as she hopped out. I hacked forward with my axe; rear guns blazed.
"Vaccine and bail. Too many. Way too many."
"Uh... I'll grab it."
Maru called the shot; I dashed.
"Huh? Ah..."
"None? Retreat anyway. No vax? Retreat. We'll all die."
It's here. Got it—a 3% vaccine. Angel appears: Hide it. Hide it. Devil yells: No, give it! Now! Tough call, but devil wins. No vax, no stream end. Plus, death means re-hunt... overlooked that. Just give it.
"Hunt again? Agh... total noob."
I stopped Raming prepping another trek.
"No, home. Got vaccine. Moteok lives."
"Ooh!! Thanks, Commander Jjang!! I won't die now. For real. Phew~ Saved. Thanks! Alive. For real."
Handed the vaccine; Moteok gulped it without looking back. We headed home quiet—everyone streamed long, beat.
Back home, Maru said tiredly, "So, call it here for today?"
Music to my ears. "Yes! Save it for tomorrow."
"See ya tomorrow!"
"Yeah~ Good work, everyone."
"You too."
"Tomorrow 7?"
"Yup."
"Bye-bye."
Team wrapped super quick. Ding. Ding. Ding. Group chat exits were speedy too.