Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Pragmatist
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Of course, this was the stage of the past where I had to reenact my active-duty days.
As long as I followed my past actions exactly, everything would proceed unchanged along the predetermined rails.
"Ya crazy bastard!!!"
Just like back then, another sergeant from the barracks came charging at me.
"Don't get worked up, sir."
My response was the same as well. I knocked out the sergeant charging straight at me with the same method, then tripped the corporal who came at me late from the side by hooking his leg.
"Resolving something that could be settled through conversation with violence is a bad habit."
The corporal got back up and lunged again, but I grabbed his left arm, twisted him around behind me, and wrenched it until he let out a grunt and went limp, losing the will to fight.
"Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok and one other don't need to worry. Choking the carotid artery knocks someone out in under five seconds, so there's no major pain, and they'll wake up in a few minutes."
I released the arm of the nameless corporal. No one else came at me.
"Ugh, you still haven't unpacked your duffel bag?"
At that moment, the company clerk returned.
"Seung-hoon, just live in a different barracks, got it?"
"Yes, sir, understood."
"Alright, let's go."
Before leaving, the company clerk wrinkled his nose at the lingering cigarette smell, then clicked his tongue at the sight of the passed-out Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok.
"This guy's smoking in the barracks again... Ugh, whatever, keep spreading it around."
'A place full of memories.'
The barracks the company clerk mentioned was a tiny makeshift one.
"Hey? You're the new guy, right? I'm Yoo Min-ho, a corporal and transport soldier."
"Private Lee Seung-hoon, nice to meet you."
"Yeah, let's unpack your gear first. I'll help."
The small barracks could barely fit four people. Two of the lockers now had owners.
"This used to be a storage room. But a while back, Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok got caught screwing around outside and came down with scabies. They cleared it out completely to isolate him and made this place."
"I heard scabies is highly contagious. Didn't it spread to anyone else?"
"About four guys? The company clerk had us disinfect everything hardcore with bleach. Lucky it didn't get worse."
Pretending to know nothing, I led the exact same conversation as before.
"Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok was smoking in the barracks earlier. And he assaulted other squad members and even used violence."
"Yeah, kinda. I got beat a lot myself up until I was a private first class. It wasn't as bad in other barracks, but during group punishments, he'd full-swing slap us in the laundry room."
Yoo Min-ho the corporal's face even carried a hint of a smile, as if reminiscing about fond memories.
"Why? What'd that guy say to you?"
"There was a bit of a commotion. But something odd caught my attention—no one said anything to the company clerk about the lingering cigarette smoke in the barracks, even though he knew it was Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok who smoked."
"Oh, that. Actually..."
The smile faded slightly from Yoo Min-ho the corporal's face.
"That guy's uncle is a colonel in Military Intelligence. Word is, on his first day here, the colonel from Military Intelligence came by and asked everyone to take good care of his nephew. Who in the world would touch a guy like that?"
"So no one touches him no matter what he does because his uncle's a Military Intelligence colonel?"
"The second Military Intelligence shows up for an inspection, promotions are toast. If they decide to dig, there's nothing they can't uncover. Especially since the battalion commander, regiment commander, and division commander are all in their last shot at promotion—they're being extra careful."
"I see."
"Plus, with all the North Korean defectors lately, the atmosphere's tense. One wrong move and you're done, so everyone's on their toes."
The division commander, regiment commander, and battalion commander's final promotion chances.
The unstable situation near the armistice line lately.
A powerful backer in the form of a Military Intelligence colonel.
"He's basically the king around here."
Those were the reasons Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok could get away with his behavior.
"But hey, it's not all bad. He's discharging in a month anyway. With end-of-service leave and extra reward leave, you just gotta tough it out for two weeks effectively."
"You're not reporting it?"
The mood suddenly grew heavy. Yoo Min-ho the corporal dropped his voice, his smile completely gone.
"What? You gonna report it to the MPs?"
"Didn't you get assaulted and mistreated?"
"Ha, newbie, newbie?"
"Yes, sir."
"You gotta give your full name and rank, right? Let's do this properly when I'm being nice?"
"Private Lee Seung-hoon."
"Hey, you're way too naive."
He'd just said moments ago that he'd been on the receiving end from Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok too.
"Report to the MPs because it's tough, because the seniors are harassing you? Why not write a grievance letter too? The army's always been like this. Sure, they say it's gotten softer lately, but that's rear units. Up front, who knows when the North Koreans might charge in? Can't have lax discipline then, right?"
What does discipline have to do with abuse? I wanted to ask that now, but back then, I didn't.
"It's all necessary. Our unit was like this even before that Lee guy showed up. He's just worse. Those internet posts saying 'no abuse nowadays, no yelling or beatings'—that's rear units."
That's why I found Yoo Min-ho the corporal's attitude so intriguing back then.
"But it's better these days, so don't freak out too much. Just watch out for Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok. Back in my day, before private first class, you couldn't even drink water freely, go to the PX, or smoke. Oh, you smoke?"
"Yes, sir, I do."
"Let's step out for one. I'll give you a smoke."
He was clearly a victim.
"But that stuff doesn't happen now. At worst, doing seniors' laundry? How's that abuse? And for night duty, wake up 30 minutes early, rouse the senior 15 minutes before shift change."
Yet here he was, defending the abusers despite being a victim himself.
"Memorizing the menu's basic, right? Everyone did that in school too. Memorize the duty roster ahead and write it on the temporary barracks schedule—that's the maknae job, so do it well. Oh, and the cleaning board? Gotta memorize all the barracks seniors' names too—that's basic. You said your specialty's 1111, right? Means you'll pull outpost duty. For outposts, grab a bag noodle from the PX ahead of time."
It was like witnessing Stockholm syndrome, something I'd only known from books.
"Ask the senior you're pulling duty with ahead if they want bag noodles. If yes, buy it at the PX in advance. Tell the PX clerk it's for a superior soldier—no hassle. Use your own money. It sucks now, but when juniors come, do the same. How much is it anyway? Don't be cheap."
Yoo Min-ho the corporal probably wasn't like this from the start. Humans adapt to survive, and once adapted, they grow numb to the harsh environment.
"Any more questions?"
"Yes, I do."
"What?"
"I'm curious about the seniors in the other barracks too."
"Hmm, the maknae's got a lot of questions. No assignments today, so I'm bored—I'll tell you!"
That first night in the barracks.
"......"
After confirming Yoo Min-ho the corporal was asleep beside me, I pulled out my notebook.
[Military Human Rights Center XXX-XXX-XXXX]
[Ministry of National Defense XXX-XXX-XXXX]
[MPs XXX-XXX-XXXX]
One phone call could expose the unit's true state. Even without evidence, even if victims like Yoo Min-ho had grown numb and wouldn't testify, the atmosphere would have to change.
'I wanted to try this route too......'
Unfortunately, back then, I didn't choose it.
'I have to do that one, right?'
Because I was a pragmatist at the time.
'Knowledge learned through words fades, but knowledge ingrained through the body lasts longer and sticks deeper.'
I preferred handling things myself over relying on others—a true hands-on pragmatist.
"This is transport, this is storage, this is PX......"
A few days passed. With Yoo Min-ho the corporal's help, I'd mapped out all the unit facilities.
"See this photo? It's the roster of each barracks sorted by rank. Memorize it before going to other barracks."
"Got it."
"Memorize the company commander, platoon leaders, and squad leaders ASAP. Mess up the reporting format or forget a name, and they won't go easy just 'cause you're the maknae. Especially the company commander and up—they're all Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok's batchmates with similar personalities. You get what I mean?"
There was no retaliation from Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok or the guys in Barracks 1. I didn't know it then, but with my enhanced senses, I'd overheard them, so I knew why.
『Discharge soon anyway. Tell your uncle during end-of-service leave.』
『Yeah? Then inspections will come.』
『Yeah, if they call while I'm here, it's awkward. After I discharge? Don't want the hassle before then, so we'll smash 'em after. No need for me to get my hands dirty in my final days. Gotta watch out even for falling leaves.』
『Right, play it safe. Man, the battalion commander and regiment commander were kissing your ass hard. Pathetic.』
『Let 'em feel pathetic. Honestly, two fails already? No hope. Greedy bastards.』
So that's how it was. A dream that never came true.
Five peaceful days passed like that.
"Ah, gotta do futsal... Ah! Seung-hoon!"
"Private Lee Seung-hoon."
"Go to transport and wake Sergeant Yeom Sung-su. He has to drive to regiment, but he's sleeping now."
"Got it."
Already that day?
I quietly entered the darkened transport barracks.
"Private Lee Seung-hoon, entering Barracks 5 for assignment relay."
The barracks, empty during duty hours, had one person sleeping in gym clothes.
'Booze smell.'
Yeom Sung-su, Sergeant Lee Hyung-seok's batchmate and transport sergeant—the top dog there—was passed out drunk.
'Drinking on duty hours, ignoring an assignment.'
Word was he had a habit of foisting wake-up calls onto juniors for his own runs.
'They probably sent me knowing that.'
If he came himself, he'd have to take the run instead.
"Sergeant Yeom Sung-su, assignment time."
"......"
"Sergeant Yeom Sung-su, assignment time."
"......"
"Sergeant Yeom Sung..."
"Hey."
He cracked his eyes open and glared at me.
"You deaf, fucker? Who the hell are you?"
"Private Lee Seung-hoon."
"Ah, fuck, you? Hey, I don't know, fuck off and handle the assignment yourself."
"Sergeant Yeom Sung-su, the assignment..."
"I said handle it yourself. Find someone else or drive it your damn self, whatever."
With that, Sergeant Yeom Sung-su tossed me the keys.
"Don't wake me."
Petty bullshit. He was deliberately putting me in a tough spot.
"Private Lee Seung-hoon, mission complete in Barracks 5. Leaving."
I gripped the keys as I exited the barracks.
"This is the commanders' problem."
The division commander, regiment commander, and battalion commander's strategy was flawed. If promotions were urgent, they should've nipped problems in the bud instead of sweeping them under the rug, letting the unit rot.
"It's the officers' problem."
If commanders wouldn't fix it, the NCOs should've stepped up—but fear of Military Intelligence and the independent company's quirks kept everyone passive.
"It's the soldiers' problem."
The unit could've changed anytime. One call could've done it, but they feared change, resigned themselves, and chose to become part of the abuse.
"Change always brings great pain."
That's what I said back then.
"I'll become that pain."
True to my pragmatist nature, I took the keys and climbed into the K-511, the two-and-a-half-ton truck. I'd gotten my license before enlistment in case I became a driver and learned via YouTube right away, so I had the knowledge.
'Finally, this day.'
I turned the ignition, anticipation building.
'I definitely drove it right.'
My plan back then: A lone enlisted man—not even a driver—showing up at regiment in a vehicle to jolt the unit awake.
'Why did it end up like that?'
Time to find out this time.
Second Lieutenant Lee Il-pyo, serving in the 15th Infantry Regiment, yawned hugely while slouching in the command post chair on Friday night duty.
'Ah, shit, why Friday of all days.'
Stuck pulling duty on this fun Friday at base.
"Duty officer, got anything fun?"
"Wanna check the intranet? Someone's posting erotic stories there lately."
"Yeah? Show me. That stuff rots your bones."
Yawning nonstop, he muttered.
"Wish something fun would happen, like a defector."
"Pfft, don't jinx it. A defector getting here would have to punch through the whole GOP—that'd make 'em a infiltration agent, not a defector."
"Joking, man."
Then the radio crackled.
『This is Outpost 5! This is Outpost 5! Suspicious vehicle approaching! High speed, charging! Can't identify! Argh!』
"W-What! What's going on!"
『Two-and-a-half-ton truck ignored stop order, smashed through barricade!』
"What bullshit!"
Rumors were flying about surprise inspections from higher-ups, so they'd piled up every barricade imaginable.
"Caltrops, Type A, drums—barricades everywhere! Not one or two, how's a two-and-a-half-ton bust straight through!"
『But it did! Argh! Two-and-a-half-ton's climbing the mountain path!』
"What!?"
At that moment, the duty soldier called him.
"D-Duty commander! CCTV! CCTV!"
"What!?"
The CCTV screen he turned to naturally.
The moment he saw the feed covering all key facilities and roads, Second Lieutenant Lee Il-pyo was speechless.
"Fuck...... what the......?"
He couldn't tell if it was CCTV footage or an action movie.
『Actual situation! Actual situation!』
And the traces left by the mystery vehicle were straight out of an action flick.
"5-Minute Ready Team, deploy!!!"