Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Internal Affairs (3), Camp Roberts
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The efficiency of 「Instruction」 increases the fewer the subjects. That was why Winter kept drilling Yura even on weekends. She gritted her teeth and endured the training that tested her limits both physically and mentally.
Right now, it was shooting practice. Eight large targets lined up at ten meters. Each target had ten numbers marked on it. She had to shoot the multiples of seven. It was shooting on the move, and she couldn't stay in one spot for more than three seconds.
Multiples of seven, multiples of seven. Yura muttered it endlessly under her breath.
Winter pressed the stopwatch and blew the whistle.
"You fucking whore! Bitches like you were a mistake from the day you were born! Fuck, why were you even born? Don't you feel sorry for your parents?! Or was your mom a whore too?!"
A middle-aged man stuck close to Yura, hurling every insult in the book. He even shoved her roughly. Yura bit her lip. Bang! The first shot missed. She fired again right away, again, again. Four shots before three seconds were up, then two steps and aim again. Her sights wavered. The man kept yelling. His breath reeked. Yura felt disoriented. Was 42 a multiple of seven? Her overheated mind went blank, thoughts grinding to a halt. She fired. With uncertain aftertaste lingering, she moved on.
Next target. Her shaky eyes quickly scanned the whole thing.
19? No. 25? No. 63?... Seven times nine. Yes. Shoot. Did I? Miss. Again... Ah, three seconds!
Winter moved in step with her, scoring. Starting at 100 points and deducting. Misses cost points. A point per second over three stopped. Wrong numbers cost points. Skipping right ones cost points. By the second target, her score was down to 79.
Click. She was out of ammo. Yura yanked the magazine with one hand and pulled a spare with the other.
"Ah!"
She dropped it. Yura made a miserable face. Winter deducted five points. As she scrambled to pick up the magazine, the foul-breathed man's abuse poured down like a waterfall.
Dazed, she ended up skipping two numbers she should have hit and rushed to the next target.
Still, she was improving bit by bit. If she'd kept up the start, her final score would've been zero.
"47 points?"
"Yes. 47 points in one minute nineteen seconds. You did well."
"Haa..."
Yura covered her face and squatted down. Her shoulders trembled faintly. Sniff. She wiped tears with her fingertips. The man who'd been showering her with abuse now looked deeply sorry.
"Uh... sorry, Miss Yura. You know that's not how I really feel, right?"
"I know. It's just tough. It'll be fine soon. Not the first time."
Winter plopped down beside her. He offered her a handkerchief. She took it silently. She pressed it firmly to her eyes. The middle-aged man who'd helped with training glanced around awkwardly before sitting next to Winter. Ahem, ahem! He cleared his throat. Winter smiled and rummaged in his pocket. Out came a pack of cigarettes. He tapped the bottom, then offered it to the older man. The middle-aged man sighed and took one. He asked for a light; Winter lit it.
Suck—! The cigarette tip glowed bright as it burned down visibly. The man held the smoke in, pausing his breath until he looked worried, then exhaled with a whoosh. Then he grumbled.
"They said I could smoke, so I came thinking it'd be nice, but without this, I couldn't do it. They told me to prepare a ton of insults, so I wondered what the hell... The toughest is you, Miss Yura, though. Honestly, I was scared you'd shoot me."
Half joke, half serious. The cigarette burned away steadily. Winter didn't reply. What was needed was quiet time. After a few minutes, with her tears dried, Yura asked.
"Why do we do this drill?"
She quickly added.
"I don't hate it at all, really. Just curious... Isn't hitting from far away more important with guns...?"
Then she coughed. Cough cough. Blame the shifting wind carrying the smoke wrong. The middle-aged man shifted his butt with an embarrassed look.
Winter formed a gentle smile and said.
"It's training to keep calm and judgment under pressure. You're the combat squad leader, Yura. Once platoons form, you'll be squad leader. If you panic in real combat, it won't just be you at risk—the whole squad will be. This prevents that."
"I see..."
Yura rubbed her dry face. She pocketed the handkerchief, saying she'd wash and return it, then stood with renewed resolve. She slapped her own cheeks. Slap! Then winced alone for a bit. A pair of eyes glistening, but for a different reason now. The middle-aged man burst out laughing. Yura pretended not to notice, acting prim, and said.
"I'll work harder. What's next?"
She ran and rolled hard. Shooting practice repeated several times. She endured well. Part her potential Winter had 「Discerned」, part desire to meet expectations, part reduced fatigue from 「Instruction」.
By dusk, Yura was completely wiped out. Winter offered to help her walk, but she refused. Didn't want to show weakness around. She minded eyes from other groups more than allies. Proof she understood her future role well.
"Huh, looks like something happened."
The middle-aged man walking ahead exclaimed in surprise.
A crowd had gathered near the Winter Alliance base. Split into sides, pointing fingers and shouting at each other. Winter handed Yura to the middle-aged man.
"Come slowly. I'll go ahead."
As he approached, the mood shifted sharply.
One side: Winter Alliance folks. Familiar faces lit up fast. Cheers erupted.
The other: Damul Prosperity Society people. Winter recognized shoulders with Im Hwasu. Eyes met; all showed clear fear. The group murmured and backed off. Not just them—the women, kids, elders with them looked terrified too.
Why bring non-combatants?
Two section chiefs stuck in the crowd approached.
"Perfect timing, boss. Was just about to send for you..."
Jang Yeoncheol welcomed Winter warmly. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Min Wangi acted calm, but his hands trembled faintly. They'd stood at the front as section chiefs. Not easy for a typical scholar facing burly types. Both showed responsibility.
Winter asked.
"What's going on? Mind explaining?"
As Jang Yeoncheol opened his mouth, a boy burst from the Damul side nearby.
"That uncle took our Mongi!"
About ten years old? His small eyes filled with tears and hate. A woman, likely the mom, rushed out. She hugged the boy and bowed repeatedly to Winter.
"Sorry, sorry."
Winter stopped her retreating. She flinched at his touch. Winter let go right away, signaling reassurance.
"Wait. I want to hear your side. No harm. Promise."
She didn't seem to trust the promise. Just couldn't defy Winter, rooted in place. She'd heard only bad rumors about the boy. Makes sense; Damul Prosperity Society.
The boy broke free from mom's arms. Winter knelt on one knee to match his eye level.
"My bad, I don't know much. What's Mongi? A puppy?"
"It's a puppy! Mom said it's my little brother!"
Winter got the picture. He asked again.
"Got it. So who took Mongi?"
"That uncle!"
The direction he pointed: a man with a bewildered face. Crowd scattered around him. Winter beckoned the man.
"Come here."
The man approached with a wronged look. Winter checked his name.
"Not sure if I remember right, but you're Yu Jaehung... right?"
The man's face brightened.
"Yes, Little Boss. You remember."
Nothing special. Just Winter trying to memorize alliance members' names. Part of good leadership. Anyway, the man took it as a good sign. Winter questioned.
"I'll ask: did you take this kid's puppy?"
Expected yes or no. Got a rambling flood instead.
"Ah, well, see, it's a misunderstanding between us..."
People who need self-justification ramble. Winter resisted frowning, endured. Else it'd drag longer.
"In short, summarized."
After listening, Winter cut the fluff.
"You took it thinking no owner, right?"
Yu Jaehung nodded eagerly.
"Yes. Puppy wandering alone, no one around..."
The boy shrieked.
"Liar! I had Mongi! You stole it! You bastard!"
"Hey! Calling an adult 'bastard'? Where'd you learn manners like that!"
Yu Jaehung bellowed. He pointed at the mom.
"Teach your kid right! Shitty home training means can't even watch one dog, that's the mess! Leaky jar inside leaks outside. Got it?!"
Murmurs of discontent from Damul side. But tiny. Winter was their anchor. Yu Jaehung ramped up, voice big means win. Winter grabbed his pointing finger.
"Huh? Little Boss?"
Yu Jaehung checked his vibe, rampage halted. Winter pulled his hand down, then calmly asked with cool face.
"Confirming again. No one around when you took the puppy, right?"
"Yes! So then I..."
"Stop. From now, answer short as possible."
Jaehung looked miffed at being cut off, but nodded. Winter asked the mom to cover the boy's ears. Knew the answer to come. Had to ask anyway. To press.
"So what'd you do with the puppy?"
"Uh... I tried finding owner, but, you know. We're all poor..."
"Short."
"...I ate it."
Mumbled small. How the kid must've wailed hearing pet eaten. Mom squeezed eyes shut. Calling puppy little brother meant her attachment too.
"Yu Jaehung. You know your words don't add up, right?"
Winter tilted head. Voice lowering.
"Been weird from start. If no one around when you took it, how'd the kid finger you? Kid doesn't know details, blindly accuses—how likely you really dog thief?"
"Dog thief? Too harsh!"
"Then liar? Scammer? Both I hate as much as thieves. Pick."
Dog thief looked frustrated. Hand on hip, stared ground long silent. Finally, sigh-like words.
"Little Boss, this ain't right."
"What'd I do wrong?"
"We're on same side!"
He pounded chest, gut spilling.
"I ain't that dumb. I bullshitted light, so back me light! Huh? Everyone watching, embarrassing. No good for you either!"
"How's it bad for me?"
"Who follows boss not backing own side? Huh? Over one dog, push like this—later big stuff, who trusts you... Like that—"
He snapped fingers, ranting fervent.
"Speaking of, who keeps dogs now? Food short for people, dog food? People born before dogs, dogs before people? Decent folk can't stand it. Makes everyone look bad. Gotta tolerate that!"
"..."
"Yeah, I messed up some. But world's changed. Be flexible, right? Draw line—'this far my people'—protect firm, then bam! 'That's my boss!' Loyalty flows. Right? So, boss, shoo them rough, we talk private. Huh? Face matters."
"Enough."
Winter cut him off.
Kid was crying. Missed eaten part, but sensed. Why mom cover ears. Why faces like that.
Winter knelt to kid and mom.
"I'm sorry."
Low cries spread across sides.
Ignored. Winter bowed head near ground.
"Apologize on his behalf. Truly sorry."
Crazy, fucking crazy. That was Yu Jaehung muttering nearby. Don't, saves face, he tried pulling Winter up. Pointless.
Held pose long. From murmuring Damul side, a man stepped up.
"Ahem, uh, enough. Get up."
Winter replied.
"I'm apologizing to Mongi's mom and brother, not Damul Prosperity Society."
"I'm Mongi's dad."
"..."
Winter stood, brushed knees. No eye contact, to cause.
"Yu Jaehung."
"W-what?"
"Giving you choice."
"Choice...?"
"Yes."
Next words loud for all.
"Leave Winter Alliance, or take a beating from me. Pick one."
Blinking, doubting ears, Yu Jaehung looked baffled.
"What?"
"Want to just say leave, but you'd get killed quick. So options. Pick. No pick in 10 seconds, means leave."
"No, wait! Hold on! Boss! Little Boss!"
Panicked dog thief clung, but Winter eyed his watch. PX buy since officer.
As Winter said, exile meant hard survival. Other groups watching.
10 seconds. Short to start, felt shorter. As Winter looked up, Yu Jaehung screamed choice.
"I'll take it! Beat me...!"
Winter struck instant. Blood with teeth flew.
Made brutal as possible. Goal: make example. Not kill, so held back. Real hit kills one blow. Moderate—week hard walk/eat. 10-grade 「Close Combat」 and 「Insight」 calculated perfect force, hits.
Three minutes pummeled, Yu Jaehung bawled like kid.
"F-forgive! Didn't know! Won't again!"
Whew. Winter caught breath. Chest stone cooled. Wanted rage. Suppressed, to dazed Jang Yeoncheol.
"Take him, get care. Meds needed, tell later."
"Huh? Oh, yes!"
Jang Yeoncheol rushed. His pals, climbers, helped quick.
Yura, late arrival watching, hesitated close, eyed Winter.
"Still mad?"
"Look like it?"
Calm reply eased her; she beamed.
"Kneeling earlier? Cool. 'That's Little Boss.' Ignored that weirdo's our-side crap. Felt good when you hit. Everyone same?"
"Thanks. Go rest."
Heading in, she thumbs-upped Winter.
Cooling in evening breeze, Min Wangi stood beside.
"You lost face."
"No. Necessary once. Hope it builds cohesion."
"Still remember your inauguration speech. Told Jang too."
Pause, then Min Wangi said.
"Not intended, but helped them too."
In dog thief's crap, one meaningful.
Keeping dogs now? Absurd.
Yes. Not anyone can. Feeding pets luxury. So 'Mongi family' high rank in Damul.
Why dad last? Mom first.
Staged to share 'wronged victim' feel. Damul wanted cohesion too. Winter's hostile rep high, more desperate.
Yu Jaehung bait fish. His greed cause, no mercy.
Thought to 「Teletype」 string.
Winter judged.
"Boring play. Hope no more after today."
"Watch. You beat so well, they'll self-restrain. Ah, smoke okay?"
Min Wangi lit cigarette. Winter lit it.