Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Eye of the Typhoon
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Friendship.
A human-to-human bond that's impossible to explain lightly.
"Hey, Jeong-woo."
"Yeah?"
It was an old memory.
Trainee Han Jeong-woo could hardly recall the events of that day.
Like a dusty novel abandoned in an attic, his happy childhood friendship with his playmate was quietly buried somewhere deep in Trainee Han Jeong-woo's heart.
"When we grow up into adults someday, we'll still hang out just like this, right?"
In their pure and innocent elementary school days,
what kind of future had those two kids dreamed of?
"Of course!"
Trainee Han Jeong-woo,
no,
the seven-year-old boy flashed a bright smile as he said it.
Kids that age are usually cute and lovable enough as it is, but these two stood out especially.
They say you can spot a promising seedling early on.
"Good."
The nameless child smiled brightly in response too. Sunlight seemed to sparkle in her white, silky hair.
She was too beautiful and otherworldly to just pass by without notice. Even the other kids, let alone the adults, couldn't help stealing glances at her.
It wasn't just because she was mixed-race.
Everyone who saw her couldn't help but look forward to what she'd become in the distant future.
"Then promise me one thing?"
She held out her small, delicate hand.
"You absolutely can't forget me, okay?"
For a promise between two seven-year-olds, it carried a mystical weight.
She stuck out her pinky right in front of the boy's face...
"Because someday, we'll definitely meet again."
"Yeah. But can we hurry up and go play games? There's an event today..."
Compared to the spoiled brats of 21st-century Korea, he seemed surprisingly mature.
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"...Gasp!?"
Damn, my head's throbbing.
I'm already sleep-deprived from training camp life, and now I'm waking up in the middle of the night like this.
I had a weird dream. Fragmented images from it are still flickering in my mind, but the harder I try to remember, nothing comes up.
Sweat trickles down my back and temples. Who knows if it's the hot weather or if the dream tensed me up.
"Mmph-"
Or maybe it's just Mino's body heat.
Two soft, squishy water balloons are pressing hard against the back of my head. On top of that, her arms are wrapped tightly around my face and upper body, so I can't even speak or move.
"Mmmph...?"
I wriggle a bit,
but Mino sleeps peacefully like she's dead to the world.
She must be sleeping soundly using my body as a body pillow. She doesn't even sleep-talk anymore or call for mom or dad.
I stop resisting too and obediently close my eyes again, nestled in her embrace.
Struggling won't make her let go anyway, and I can't push her off with my strength, so it's better to just go back to sleep.
Well, if anything, I'm not exactly losing out here. Getting a tight hug from a girl like Mino is more like a reward.
"..."
In that warm embrace, I feel some inexplicable comfort.
Tonight is truly peaceful. Maybe it's because of the chaos with Hayes earlier, but somehow, my mind settles like the raging winds have finally calmed.
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Getting closer to Mino is huge good news for me too. In this otherworld, I'd been physically outmatched by the girls, but now I'm on the same side as the strongest one of all.
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So yeah, my mind's more at ease. Hayes, who used to lurk by my side hunting for chances to grope me, is laid up in the infirmary now, so tonight I can really sleep easy.
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And fuck!
No fire watch duty tonight either!
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This long-awaited leisure.
A warm embrace.
Squishy breasts.
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And yet, the reason I can't fall asleep easily is...
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What is it?
I don't even know.
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I close my eyes, but sleep won't come. We're worked to the bone every day, and fire watch leaves me perpetually short on sleep...
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But still, I can't drift off again.
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“You okay? Really, nothing happened, right? Huh? Right?”
“I told you, nothing did...”
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I've gotten used to these tussles with Kate by now.
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Her red eyes fussing over every inch of my body, her cat tail stiff and upright the whole time—it all feels pretty routine.
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“G-Good... I'm so glad...”
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Kate hugs me tight, even tearing up.
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Her cat ears twitch right in front of my eyes. A nice scent wafts past my nose too.
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“But you can't come meet me like this anymore. If another instructor or the Company Commander catches you, it'll be real trouble.”
“...I know.”
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Nothing's been properly resolved,
but somehow I'm making it through day by day.
"That crazy bitch! How the hell is showering together with you guys supposed to prevent sexual assault? She says living together builds camaraderie and cuts down on assaults. What kind of insane bullshit is that!?"
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Once the day's duties end, the tug-of-war with Kate begins right away. No telling when it'll end or who'll win—it's this weird psychological standoff...
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“I don't need the Company Commander or anyone anymore! As long as I have you, Jeong-woo. For real...!”
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Kate comes at me relentlessly. The moment there's even a brief gap, she sticks right to me, whispering her love and begging for equally big, pretty love from me in return.
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“W-We’re dating now, right? Huh?”
“Well, strictly speaking, we're not quite there yet...”
“What?”
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With our meeting time cut short, Kate's gotten even clingier.
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She puts her all into capturing my heart during those fleeting moments we have together.
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“You fucking piece of trash... Ah, no...! I-I mean...!”
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Watching her sends chills down my spine and throbs in my head.
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“Y-You know how much I love you, right...? Huh? J-Jeong-woo! Did I disappoint you somehow? I can fix it. We can adjust to each other...!!!”
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Every time she clings to my leg with her face beet red, tears and snot streaming down, it chokes the breath out of me. Hell, I've never even touched a cigarette, but suddenly I crave one. It's that fucked up.
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Okay, but it's not that fucked up. Kate's undeniably gorgeous looks-wise, and her aggressive pursuit is kinda cute sometimes...
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But I just can't open my heart to her.
Some inexplicable aversion wells up from deep inside.
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“Can you stop crying first? My pants are soaked again.”
“Sniff, nyaaat... Hic... O-Okay...”
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Week 2 of training camp is over,
and now the real Week 3 schedule kicks in.
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Anyone who's done military service knows,
but starting Week 3, it's not just the training intensity ramping up that's key...
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[Interviews] begin.
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Trainees get assigned to units based on military specialties, but there are a few special positions and roles filled solely by interview.
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Things aren't much different in this otherworld. To get into those special spots, you have to prove your worth in front of the interviewers.
"Anyway, you know I really love you, right? If you start getting ideas or messing around with other girls... I'll really kill you. For real..."
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Everything's spinning busily around me.
"What do I have to do for you to accept my feelings? Huh? Tell me what I need to do so you'll say you love me...?"
"Sigh. I don't even know anymore. If you'd just stayed quiet, I might've gone for it just because of your face."
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Even so, Kate forces me into even more chaotic days.
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Too much to worry about,
and as a trainee, I can't tell right from wrong.
But the time for choices keeps coming.
That's how the military works.
At first, time crawls by so slowly,
but look back, and farewell's suddenly right there.
"How about we both get discharged first, then meet up seriously after?"
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That's why I'm trying to be more cautious.
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Kate does weigh on my mind, it's true. No girl's ever liked me this much before.
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So I do want to develop this misunderstanding-born relationship into something more serious.
"Discharged?"
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But Kate has no intention of that.
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She's so dead set on it already that we can't even communicate.
"You fucking bastard! How am I supposed to know if you'll fool around with other girls for 23 months in some other unit?! Sticking it in other bitches' pussies nonstop...!"
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The foulest words fly out.
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But contrary to her aggressive words and actions, Kate's face is a tear-streaked mess now, sobbing uncontrollably.
"What am I lacking...!? Nyaaang... Hic..."
"That's not what I mean! I just want some time. Honestly, living here with you doesn't sound bad, but I can't throw away my chance to return to my original world either."
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Still, I hold my ground.
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In isekai stories, they usually blow off leftover family and friends for harem life, but I can't let the people I left behind suffer because of me.
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Who knows, maybe right now my mom and dad,
my friends,
are desperately searching for their missing son and friend.
"I'll head out for now."
"B-Before you go, can you just say you love me one more time? Please..."
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So I leave Kate behind again and return to my squadmates.
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I need to train hard. The shop opened at 50 Arousal Points, so maybe at 50 Military Life Points, another one unlocks.
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Arousal Points had sex-related skills, so perhaps the Military Life Points shop offers...
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phone calls,
leave,
overnight passes?
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"From now on, additional PT after evening chow! Weeks 3 and 4 training demand tougher stamina. Of course, all this will greatly help your unit life. Always keep the soldier's spirit in your hearts!"
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On the 15th day since arriving at training camp, evening,
I stand before 2-2 Platoon, listening to the Company Commander's speech.
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Countless eyes are still on me.
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Kate's clingy gaze,
Mino's gaze of unknown intent,
and Hayes's venomous glare ever since returning from the infirmary...
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"Starting tomorrow, interviews for special billets. Those interested, apply through your squad leaders. Dismissed!"
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In the midst of it all, I break out in cold sweat just holding on.
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It's not because of those piercing stares.
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For some reason, ever since that weird dream, I've been getting fevers and cold sweats like this often.
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It feels like someone's watching me.
A sticky gaze that makes me forget all the other girls' looks.
But I stand firm on my two legs.
I steel my mind with the small wish to make one call to my family.
Mom, Dad.
You have to be doing okay.
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Chapter 2 - Training Camp (Part 1)
end.
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"...Yes, ma'am. You're doing well, right?"
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On a summer night where cicadas chirp relentlessly,
the moment when viewpoints and settings start slowly converging.
"Oh, really? That sounds great just hearing it. Yes, yes. Ma'am, call me right away if there's any inconvenience."
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Captain Yujin's voice transmits over the smartphone, which doesn't quite fit this otherworld.
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This is the Albatross Union Recruit Training Center,
where everything connects.