The Rookie's Debt, a Hero's Generosity, and a Stubborn Senior's Headlock

< p>Byeori. Did I hear that right? Debt? Debt?

< p>Yes, ma'am. Just so you know, I heard correctly. It's in the tens of millions. The debt.

< p>Why? What did you do?

< p>I told you. I lost it all in gambling.

< p>That thing you've been clinging to all the time?

< p>Yes, ma'am.

< p>Whoa, you're insane.

< p>Han Jihye said.

< p>I was afraid of what she'd say next, yet I also wanted to hear it. But she didn't continue.

< p>Wh-what are you going to say?

< p>Byeori asked directly, surprised I wasn't reacting.

< p>Why would I say anything? It's your life.

< p>You said you'd let me handle it myself, right? You told me I'd manage it properly.

< p>Ah—that? I did say that. Honestly, why would you listen to me if I said something? I was just talking.

< p>Han Jihye waved her hand dismissively. She must have thought I'd take her words so seriously.

< p>So? How much did you lose? Over a hundred million?

< p>Yes, ma'am. If I go out on a few sorties and save here and there, I can pay it off.

< p>But you haven't fixed it yet, right? I saw you gripping your phone again just now.

< p>Harang helped me, and that's why it's decreased.

< p>Han Jihye looked at me. It seemed like she was plotting something.

< p>Plotting? I didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have any interest to begin with.

< p>Hey, Seo Harang.

< p>Superhuman Seo Harang.

< p>Her tone was the same as usual. But somehow my body trembled slightly. It felt like I'd be scolded for sure.

< p>You did well.

< p>Eh... what did you mean?

< p>You did well. I'm praising you.

< p>Han Jihye's smiling face. If the sincerity was real, that was just my imagination, wasn't it?

< p>Because I was the kind of person who knew how sweet genuine praise from someone who always found faults was, I felt even better.

< p>But the work isn't done yet. Make Byeori completely drop her side, and repay the debt too—

< p>Repay the debt? What are you talking about? You?

< p>Superhuman Seo Harang, what are you saying?

< p>Why should you repay the debt I created through my own foolishness?

< p>Yeah, Harang. There's no need to worry about the debt. Once it's gone, I'll figure it out.

< p>But if I end it like that, it'll feel weird. It's better to finish the work at once.

< p>You're not some dummy. The debt caused by your mistakes should be paid by you.

< p>But hearing that, I thought Han Jihye's words made sense.

< p>Yeah, the debt issue should be settled at Byeori's level.

< p>Look at your expression, you brat!

< p>Ack! Aah!!

< p>Don't you know how to speak in front of seniors!? A senior's headlocking you!?

< p>Superhuman Seo Harang! I'm sorry! I'll practice controlling my expression!

< p>What!? Did I just say "Han Jihye is a damn woman, practice controlling your expression so she leaves me alone"!?

< p>No! I didn't say that! I've never thought that even once!

< p>After a few more times, Han Jihye released the headlock.

< p>Despite being someone who just lay around doing nothing, her strength was strangely strong and her hand hurt. She was ridiculously fast.

< p>So, Byeori, how much debt do you have? Can you show it to me?

< p>Well... I already spilled everything, what's there left to hide? Just a sec... here.

< p>Byeori showed her phone screen to Han Jihye. The number of digits would be jaw-dropping.

< p>Han Jihye stared at it for a moment, then scratched her head.

< p>I'll give it to you?

< p>Huh.

< p>...Why are you surprised?

< p>No, it's just that without saying anything else, you're giving me that amount...

< p>You know. I'm your rich sister.

< p>That being said...

< p>Moreover, we're living in the same barracks, so you have to lend me a hand, right?

< p>You don't have to.

< p>Whoa, you're really stingy. But I already decided, so no choice.

< p>Then why did you ask? Besides, even Hero Han Jihye can't just give that much, can she?

< p>Hey! You were acting so cool just now, what now!

< p>No, I thought it was cool enough already. Having money and being willing to spend it are two different things. This was a level of cool I couldn't follow.

< p>And you would have preferred this, right? Not having interest is better.

< p>That is... yes.

< p>Then I'll just gratefully accept it... Ah! It's not completely fixed yet, is it?

< p>Byeori nodded.

< p>Then tell me when it improves a bit. I'll cover it then.

< p>...Thank you.

< p>Why thank me? This much I can do.

< p>Thanks to Byeori accepting Han Jihye's offer, the mood ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brightened a lot.

< p>Byeori put her phone back in and casually said,

< p>It seems it'll be fixed soon enough. I'll find something I like more than gambling.

< p>Find something you like more? What?

< p>Byeori looked at me and gave a soft smile.

< p>I never knew she had that kind of relaxed look, but when she smiled, she looked incredibly beautiful.

< p>Anyway, since she was smiling because of me, I smiled back.

< p>And a short while later,

< p>Return is complete! Situation concluded!

< p>Jeong Seung-ah ran around everywhere delivering the news. She was a source that could jump like a hero's news in history books.

< p>...Thank you.

< p>What are you thanking for? We'll get it all back anyway.

< p>Harang too.

< p>Superhuman Seo Harang?

< p>Thank you.

< p>Me? I didn't do anything...

< p>Thanks to you, I decided to tell the others. Once I said it, there was nothing to it.

< p>Superhuman Byeori, were you scared?

< p>A little?

< p>Yes. Once I actually said it, it wasn't that big of a deal. Aha ha! I wanted to laugh loudly, but I didn't. Byeori must have had her own worries.

< p>Let's drop the awkward atmosphere and get going.

< p>Understood. I'll go return the supplies then.

< p>Ah—okay.

< p>I'll go help Harang.

< p>Help? If you do everything for me, your habits will get bad.

< p>I'm over twenty years old, an adult!

< p>...I made up an age-related excuse, but honestly, doing it alone was better.

< p>Somehow, the strange atmosphere with Byeori felt a bit awkward.

< p>There was also the reason of being busy with cleanup.

< p>After returning the supplies, I had to bring back the personal items the seniors left behind into the living quarters. Only then could I really relax.

< p>The life of a rookie was always busy. Thinking that the quicker I finish, the quicker I can rest, I headed toward the situation room after returning the supplies. The personal items were gathered there.

< p>I approached it. A person carrying a huge bundle of supplies full on their body was moving. The face wasn't visible, but I could tell who it was from the atmosphere.

< p>Superhuman Kim Heejin!

< p>Eh? Harang?

< p>The person with the backpack bundle turned around. It was indeed Kim Heejin.

< p>I'll carry it quickly! Please give me half!

< p>Half? Where did you learn that way of speaking? By me? Anyway, it's not that heavy, so don't worry. It's because I want to.

< p>I'm the one who should be burdened!

< p>The gazes from other seniors looking at me like I was daring to hit on a senior made my bones ache. "Senior barracks" was a phrase that couldn't remove deeply rooted perceptions.

< p>I'll carry it! Please!

< p>Eh... well, then okay. I'll give you half. It's right in front of me anyway.

< p>I accepted it with difficulty. Besides the weight of the heavy bundle, my heart felt lighter.

< p>Hey! Harang! Wait!

< p>I was about to head back to the living quarters when a voice calling me from the situation room came from afar.

< p>Did you call me?

< p>The person with the heavy, massive bag turned around—

< p>Ah.

< p>Thud!

< p>I fell over.

< p>Eh!? Hey! Seo Harang!

< p>I suddenly got a sharp pain in my calf and was startled into falling.

< p>Kim Heejin, who was equally startled, threw the bag and came toward me.

< p>My heart was really grateful, but it was too embarrassing, so I wished she'd just pretend she didn't notice.

< p>Are you okay!? What happened suddenly?

< p>Ah—there are so many ants on the floor— Ah! Superhuman Kim Heejin? It's nothing. Just a lot of ants on the floor.

< p>Don't make up a weird reason. Are you really okay? You?

< p>Actually, I misstepped a bit. It's really nothing. It's embarrassing, so please... stop...

< p>People were gathering sneakily. Since I, who usually received a lot of attention from seniors, was rolling on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the ground, it made sense.

< p>Did Superhuman Kim Heejin eventually hit a junior? Even as an officer, she's not enough?

< p>I didn't hit her! Crazy woman!

< p>If you do this again, you might be demoted instead of expelled. No, you might even be sent straight to prison?

< p>Superhuman Kim Heejin... looks like it might be worth watching.

< p>No! Hey, Harang. Are you okay?

< p>Kim Heejin grabbed my hand. First, she shouted "I misstepped on my foot!" to clear the misunderstanding, then put strength into her legs—

< p>Are you really okay?

< p>I'm fine.

< p>...I got up anyway.

< p>I said I was fine, but it was a bit strange. The sharp sensation from my calf didn't seem like something I could just ignore.

< p>Anyway, I was fine now. Maybe I changed direction too suddenly? I had to be careful.

< p>After telling the officer I'd go soon, I carried the supplies together with Kim Heejin. Grateful for her constant concern, I quickly moved them.

< p>...

< p>Eh! Here! Come this way!

< p>When I entered the situation room where the supplies were still scattered, the officer waved for me to come over.

< p>Did you call me?

< p>Yeah. I just received new instructions from above.

< p>New instructions? Did they come to me separately?

< p>Yes.

< p>Instructions to a private? Did I accidentally get connected to a higher-ups?

< p>While I was thinking of everyone I passed before coming to the unit, the officer answered first.

< p>There will be a physical examination.

< p>Physical examination?

< p>Yeah. Once every three to six months. Because many have their abilities change.

< p>Ah, so you're just checking the abilities?

< p>No? We'll check body measurements, blood pressure, bone density... all of that. Of course, it's rough, but.

< p>How perfectly timed! It was good timing. I could just go check my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠condition.

< p>Anyway, can I go right away tomorrow? Harang, you're in the 1st living quarter now... so the resting barracks?

< p>Yes. I can go right away.

< p>Then I'll tell them you'll go tomorrow? They'll probably take the bus.

< p>Is it because of just me that the bus is moving?

< p>No. They'll take people from other units too. People with the same check date as you.

< p>Ah, I see? It was a bit disappointing. I thought having a whole bus moving was because of me.

< p>Anyway. A physical examination event came at the perfect timing, as if rigged. While praying my calf's throbbing wasn't serious, I finished the day.