Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: He's My Boyfriend
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After baseless rumors about Trainee Han Jeong-woo began to spread...
Inside the company commander's office, which had been turned upside down...
"Oh, Captain Yujin!"
The two women met once again.
The current time was 08:38 a.m.,
Day 18 of training camp.
Looking at the now spotlessly cleaned company commander's office, it was hard to believe that just a day ago, ashtrays had been flying and angry shouts had echoed through the room.
"Did you sleep well at the lodging? It's the cleanest one around here..."
"Thanks to your consideration, I got a good rest."
Captain Yujin smiled brightly and sat down gracefully. The black sofa prepared for guests wasn't made of particularly luxurious material, but somehow, with her sitting there, it looked like an expensive treasure.
"Phew... That's a relief!"
The company commander fawned over her, constantly watching Captain Yujin's expression. One might wonder what kind of history could make her grovel like this before a much younger junior officer...
"Sis, I told you not to do that."
Captain Yujin's gentle smile brimmed with an unmistakable generosity and composure.
It wasn't the demeanor one would expect from a mere captain. Of course, a captain would typically hold a position around company commander in any unit, but in the military, it was a fairly common rank.
"Is it because of my mother? You don't have to. This is our unit's business."
Captain Yujin subtly probed, guessing that the company commander's fawning attitude might be due to her mother. Hearing this, the company commander jumped in surprise and waved her hands frantically.
"Oh, what are you saying...! I'm just happy to see our junior who's been working hard on the front lines after so long!"
Sweat beaded on the company commander's wrinkled forehead.
She seemed desperate to score points with Captain Yujin and her mother.
But unfortunately,
Just a day earlier, an enormous scandal had erupted at the recruit training center.
The scandal between Trainee Han Jeong-woo and Drill Sergeant Kate.
It's natural for salacious vibes to arise when men and women mix, but in the military—in the Albatross Union Recruit Training Center—at least, such things were absolutely unacceptable.
"Anyway! Starting today, you're picking friends to take with you, right? Yeah?"
"That's right. I'll be extra careful not to interfere with training, so don't worry too much."
The company commander racked her brains, sweat pouring down her face.
She wasn't a particularly kind or good person,
nor was she especially clever or intelligent,
but she was sharp-eyed and quick-witted enough to hold her position here.
"You should take the top ace with you! Of course! Shall we take a look around together?"
She seemed to have already noticed Captain Yujin's interest in Trainee Han Jeong-woo.
That's why the company commander was trying her best to cover up the truth.
Even though lewd rumors about Trainee Han Jeong-woo were already circulating among the trainees, she was determined that those vulgar tales wouldn't reach Captain Yujin's ears.
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Dust rose in clouds,
and the summer sun beat down mercilessly.
The trainees underwent grueling training to prepare for their unit assignments.
"All eyes on me! This is a mana artifact with lethal power, so you need perfect mastery before using it."
Not only were they refining the combat training from week two in finer detail, but they were also pushing their physical limits with endurance drills and three full hours daily of mana artifact usage instruction.
The trainees had almost no time to rest anymore. They spent their days grinding through packed training schedules, barely squeezing in sleep time. Even that was cut short by night watch duty, and after a brief nap, the morning sun rose again.
"I'll demonstrate. Watch closely."
That's why they endured on sheer grit and spite.
In training camp, enduring this exhaustion was seen as training in itself, so the instructors pushed the trainees even harder.
"My, everyone's got that spark in their eyes."
"Mm, by week three, they start looking like soldiers."
Of course, this stress was solely for the trainees and the term soldiers.
It had nothing to do with the two women observing from a distance, chatting idly.
They stood silently at the back of the trainee group, watching them, their eyes particularly on the few aces standing out.
"Grip it like this, aim at your target..."
Today was mana grenade throwing training.
On Earth, it was called a hand grenade,
but in this world, modified with mana, it boasted even greater lethality.
"Throw! Then drop low immediately."
The instructor in charge of throwing mana artifacts demonstrated flawlessly.
"Everyone, clap!"
Clap clap clap—
After the perfunctory applause, the instructors pointed at one trainee and called them forward...
"Trainee No. 158, front and center."
"...Trainee No. 158, Han Jeong-woo."
"Throw it."
They made them mimic the motions.
But since it had to be him of all people, whistles and laughter erupted from the trainees.
"Quiet down! You lot better shape up..."
The instructor bellowed, and only then did the mood settle.
"If you keep this up, you'll get wrecked in your units? This place is paradise! Learn it right while it's easy."
By week three, a bit of camaraderie naturally formed between trainees and instructors, so the atmosphere wasn't as brutal as before.
Especially when handling dangerous mana artifacts...
The instructors got surprisingly nice.
"Alright, 158. Don't tense up—just practice throw."
"Yes, sir."
It was quite the amusing sight.
One guy stepped out to demonstrate in front of all the women, but most were too busy ogling him up and down to watch his form.
The company commander was dying inside.
"Ugh, those little shits..."
She fidgeted anxiously, glancing at Captain Yujin, terrified of leaving a bad impression.
"Wait a sec? Let me restore some discipline real quick—"
"No need. Seeing them like this, all natural, is even better."
But Captain Yujin was surprisingly calm.
She didn't get angry or show any discomfort.
The company commander caught a glimpse of an incredibly beautiful emotion in Captain Yujin's eyes as she watched Trainee Han Jeong-woo.
Pure and clear. Untainted faith, trust directed at him...
"Nice. Really nice."
It was an emotion utterly foreign to the company commander. She had long discarded such childish purity as she aged.
Yet here it was, rediscovered in her much younger junior.
A day passed,
two days passed,
but Captain Yujin only had eyes for one man.
At first, she had tried to hide her relationship with him, but now that she saw him with her own eyes, her heart fluttered too much to contain.
"Um, Captain Yujin. Do you know that guy?"
"Huh?"
When the company commander probed for facts, Captain Yujin startled, her cheeks flushing adorably.
"...Was it obvious?"
Like a girl still cherishing the shyness of first love.
A lovely heart that loved purely, unscathed by the world's harsh winds.
"Oh, come on, I could tell at a glance! We've known each other for years—think I can't spot that? I nailed it last time too!"
Seeing that fresh emotional line, the company commander reminisced about her own youth with nostalgia, while frantically scheming how to resolve this dangerous situation.
Trainee Han Jeong-woo and Captain Yujin clearly didn't have a [normal relationship]. And Drill Sergeant Kate had slept with him outright, turning the whole training center into a gossip fest.
She'd thought it was just one guy, but things had snowballed.
Men were supposed to just eat well and get hard—that was enough. But why were all the recent male trainees like this...? The company commander couldn't fathom it.
"Two cute, pretty boys? And talented too! Well, someone like you deserves a truckload of guys like that. Of course."
"Two? Ah..."
Captain Yujin wore a subtle expression.
Even the shrewd company commander couldn't easily read the jumble of emotions.
"Something like that, maybe."
But Captain Yujin's gaze lingered solely on Trainee Han Jeong-woo.
Wistful,
content,
chaste...
"Sorry for keeping it secret. I didn't want to put you in a tough spot."
"Hey~ What spot between us!"
"No. You might even get summoned by my mother over nothing."
"Huh?"
And yet, her eyes held an unwavering clarity.
"My mother and I have a promise."
"Oh, r-right...? Then pretend I didn't hear! I won't ask more. Doesn't seem like my place!"
The company commander couldn't quite understand Captain Yujin.
But,
she did her utmost not to disturb that lovely smile, as if gazing at a lover.
"J-just do whatever you want..."
"It's fine. You've already figured it out, so no issue."
Captain Yujin gazed endlessly at the man skillfully hurling the grenade from afar.
"He's my boyfriend."
A man suddenly summoned to this other world,
dragged into the military, enduring all sorts of hardships.
As she watched him,
Captain Yujin openly confessed that they were lovers.