Chapter 461: Those Who Left, Those Who Stayed(3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 461: Those Who Left, Those Who Stayed(3)
“I want to go home.”
At someone’s mutter, everyone’s face twisted into an expression of pure annoyance.
As if there was anyone here who didn't want to go home.
Everyone was holding it in, so why the hell did they have to say it out loud and remind everyone?
I was just starting to feel good after seeing those idol noonas.
By now, I’d grown used to my buzz cut, made some friends among the trainees, and gotten the hang of the schedule. It was the stage where you stopped worrying about the distant future and started worrying about the immediate present.
“Woo-jin, honestly, am I the only one nervous about the grenade training?”
At the question from Trainee 28, Kim Young-ho, I answered while opening my locker.
“What’s there to be nervous about? You just pull the pin and throw it, right?”
Rustle.
A cascade of internet letters spilled onto the floor.
It was only the second week, but the volume was becoming a bit of a problem. It wasn't like I could throw them away, nor did I want to, but I was genuinely worried about where I’d put them if they kept piling up like this.
Watching me scramble to gather the letters, Kim Young-ho let out a sigh.
“I know I can do it. It’s the guys around us I’m worried about. Who knows if some freak is going to pull the pin and then throw it toward us?”
“Where would you even find a dumbass like—”
I stopped mid-sentence.
It had only been two weeks. But in that short time, I had realized deep down in my bones that there were far more idiots in this world than I had ever imagined.
Take Trainee 11, for instance—the one who caused trouble right at the start. That guy was a textbook 'soldier of interest.' And he wasn't the only moron; there were several others. It was honestly shocking that these people had functioned in society without incident until now.
“Ah, fuck. Finally finished.”
Just then, Trainee 21 walked in, dragging his slippers. He was a big guy, and from what I’d seen in the shower, his entire body was covered in tattoos. He’d had a run-in with Number 11 at first, but the moment 11 saw the tattoos, he’d tucked his tail and backed down. It was a classic case of selective intermittent explosive disorder.
Trainee 21 always had a crowd of other trainees following him around; he was our squad leader. For the record, I was Trainee 29.
“Ugh, training again tomorrow. I’m sick of this.”
“Seriously, when does this end?”
“Ha, I’m exhausted.”
Complaints poured out in sync with Number 21. I’d heard he used to be a gangster on the outside. I wondered if he knew that bald guy I met before.
Whatever. Not my business.
I pulled out my 'Sonagi.'
'Sonagi' was an acronym for 'My Precious Barracks Diary.' I was diligent about keeping it, though I didn't just write at the end of the day; I scribbled in it whenever I was bored. Some days, I’d already written in it three times before dinner. I’d never even looked at a diary on the outside, but here, writing was actually fun. Probably because there was literally nothing else to do.
“Woo-jin, did you say it’s like this? Like this?”
Trainee 28, Kim Young-ho, started doing push-ups. Back in the real world, I was surrounded by monsters like Senior Ju-hee, Yoo Ah-rin, and Choi I-seo, so I hadn't realized it, but I was actually quite athletic compared to the average person here.
I’d received Grade 1 in every category of the first physical fitness test, and I’d even placed in the top five for the run. It turned out the body I’d built for sex was serving me quite well in defending the nation.
“Go a bit lower. You said you wanted to get Grade 1 next time.”
“I have to. No matter what.”
I gave a small smirk as I watched him practice earnestly, then I started scribbling in my diary.
[Month X, Day X, Sunday]
Went to church today.
Watched a ton of idol music videos.
Honestly, I don't remember much of what the pastor said.
Something about not doing bad things?
The idols' outfits were insane.
When I get out, I should ask the girls to wear stuff like that.
Going to watch a war movie in a bit.
Looking forward to it.
“Heh.”
It wasn't even anything special, but I felt strangely proud of it. Maybe this was the charm of a military diary. It felt a bit like a dopamine detox—
“1st Company, everyone get down on the ground!”
Ah, fuck.
Dopamine detox, my ass.
I guess the Mafia Game is starting again.
I wondered which bastard had caused us to get group punishment today. This was probably the biggest source of dopamine in the training center: finding the culprit.
* * *
“…….”
“…….”
“Ehehehe.”
Unlike Seo Ye-rin, who was humming excitedly, Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin stood frozen in silence.
“Do we really have to go this far?”
At Yoo Ah-rin’s question, Choi I-seo let out a long sigh.
“You guys were the ones who suggested it. I’m fine with not doing it.”
“No, if we’re doing it, we all have to do it together.”
The reason the two of them were so depressed was simple. It was because of the masks they were wearing. All three of them were wearing ridiculous tribal chief masks.
“I’m an actress! Ah-rin is a Neutuber! We have to hide our identities now!”
This was Seo Ye-rin’s 'brilliant' plan, born out of worry that Kim Woo-jin might get harassed in the military because of them.
“If people find out, it’ll be a disaster, I’m telling you!”
“Woo-jin was on TV before anyway. As the investigation team leader.”
Kim Woo-jin had indeed appeared in the media regarding the sniping of Oh Yun-ji. His face hadn't been the focus, but if anyone searched for the youngest son of Uju Group, his name would definitely pop up.
“How many people do you think actually searched for that?”
The other two had to concede to Ye-rin’s point. It was just a current affairs program. People might remember the story, but they wouldn't remember the face of the person involved.
“But do we really have to wear these masks?”
Yoo Ah-rin took off her mask and asked irritably. Seo Ye-rin replied while doing a primitive-looking dance.
“These were the only ones they had. Besides, they have personality! It’s great!”
“Ugh, just hurry up and do it.”
Jung Min-ji, who was holding the phone, finally snapped. She was waiting to film them, and their bickering was clearly getting on her nerves.
“Sigh, I guess there’s no choice.”
“Right?”
As the two of them put their masks back on, Choi I-seo tried to slip hers off.
“I’m not even a celebrity, so I can just leave mine off, right?”
“You’re just trying to make us look bad by comparison!”
“If we’re doing it, we’re all doing it, punk!”
“No, but if we send a greeting wearing these masks, will Woo-jin even like it? Won't he just get teased for having weird friends?”
Woo-jin wasn't the type to be bothered by teasing, but still.
“Just put it on. Don't try to save yourself.”
“Exactly! The three of us are one heart! Sex together! Pregnancy together!”
“Ugh, Ye-rin, please.”
“Fuck. Suddenly I don't want to do this anymore.”
“Seriously, when are we starting?!”
* * *
Monday.
“So they really don't let us throw real grenades anymore.”
I nodded at Trainee 28 Kim Young-ho’s mutter.
“It’s for the best.”
If one of the 'trash-tier' trainees did something stupid, we’d all be crossing the Jordan River together. Apparently, there had been so many grenade accidents that they only used models now. Thanks to that, we finished the training without incident and were now waiting in the shade for the other groups to finish.
The combat uniforms that felt so suffocating at first had become somewhat wearable, but I could never get used to the rifle and the gear.
It’s so damn heavy.
It didn't feel like much at first, but the longer I carried it, the more the weight seemed to multiply. I was scribbling in my diary with a sigh when the gangster, Trainee 21, sat down next to me and spoke with a grin.
“Hey, let’s each tell a dirty story.”
Give me a break.
I just wanted to sigh, but surprisingly, everyone else was on board. The first to step up was Trainee 3. He was supposedly a former model, though I couldn't really tell. Maybe it was the buzz cut, or maybe it was because I’d seen Jeong Chan-woo so often, but he just looked average to me. He was tall, though.
“When I was in middle school, these older guys suddenly told me to follow them. Then they gave me to some noonas as a birthday present, and then—”
I let out a sigh as I listened to them cackling. What was the point of listening to this?
“Shit, when I was in elementary school, there was this tall girl. You know how girls are taller than us back then? Well, at that time—”
God, this is awful.
I stood up to leave, but the gangster telling the story glared at me and gestured for me to sit back down.
“Hey, where are you going? You can't just listen to everyone else’s stories and not share yours.”
Seriously, fuck my life.
“I never said I’d do it.”
“Then you shouldn't have listened.”
“I’m only here because they told us to wait here. You guys are the ones who started talking.”
“…….”
The gangster stood up, his eyes bulging. The other squad members slowly stood up too, sensing the tension and trying to intervene.
I let out a sigh and spoke.
“I’ve never done it.”
“……I figured as much.”
“Haha, he probably tried to run away because he was embarrassed. Right?”
The model winked at me. I just nodded indifferently and went to get some water.
As I was drinking, Kim Young-ho followed me and laughed.
“Aren't those guys hilarious? Why would they even talk about that stuff?”
“How did you get out of it?”
“I told them I’ve never done it either. Because I actually haven't.”
“I didn't need to know that much.”
While I was drinking water, something came rolling toward my feet. It tapped against my combat boot and stopped.
“Hm?”
“Huh?”
At first, I thought someone had kicked a rock out of boredom. But it was too blue and too perfectly round to be a rock.
“…….”
“It’s a… model grenade?”
The moment Kim Young-ho said that.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!”
The Company Commander’s roar thundered from above.
“If that had been real, you’d all be dead! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!”
“W-We’re sorry!”
“What were you listening to during the briefing?! Everyone, front leaning rest! 1st Company, get down on the ground!”
Ah, fuck.