Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Leave Training Camp Matters in the Training Camp
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Kate stands confidently in front of the three of us and speaks.
"You three, follow me."
For Mino and Hayes beside me, this isn't great news. Staying back in the training camp with the instructor to wait around feels awkward and inconvenient.
"No need to be so stiff. Training's all over now. I'll let you relax, as long as you don't cause any trouble."
But toward the end of training, even instructors turn human.
Especially Kate, who used to be so prickly—she's showing a pretty lenient side now.
"...But if you fight in front of me, I'll kill you all."
A model instructor.
She loosens up when it's time, but she never tolerates anyone crossing the line. A true leader.
"That just means no fighting. Got it? We're parting ways tomorrow—no need to ruin each other's faces."
"Yes, understood!"
"Speak casually. No need to yell."
In the chaotic training camp interior, Kate's the only one actually working properly.
She caused some headaches because of sleeping with me, but right up to this point, she's the excellent instructor maintaining discipline.
"...Nyaang."
But whenever her gaze lingers on me, it pauses for a moment. Then it’s not just her tail swaying—her hips twitch as well, recalling last night’s intense pounding.
I figured we'd spend the last day until assignment calmly preparing our goodbyes.
But Kate keeps sending me signals.
Sultry eyes. Lewd eyes meant just for me.
Hesitant lips and tiny gestures.
Blatant sex appeal even a total virgin could spot.
Hayes and Mino right next to me pick up on it easily too.
...Looks like we'll squeeze in one more round before free time ends.
Our farewell will be sealed with sticky sex.
An honest exchange of bodies, one to remember for life.
But first—
"If there's anything you want to eat, grab as much as you like."
Kate takes us to the PX and loads us up with all sorts of snacks and instant foods.
For trainees who've been through hell, this is pure luxury. Inside the training camp, the PX is basically a treasure chest reserved for a select few.
"Really?"
Even Mino lights up. A flush creeps into her stoic face.
"Thank you."
Among us, Mino charges ahead first, scanning the shelves. Then she starts grabbing everything in sight...
"...S-Slow down. Only take what you can eat."
"Yes."
The sheer volume even flusters Kate. With both arms overflowing, it's easily enough for ten people.
"Monster bitch."
Hayes watches the scene and sticks out her tongue in disbelief.
But the truly scary part? Mino isn't even being greedy.
She just really wants to eat it all.
Enough to feed the whole squad at a party—but for Mino, it's what she needs to maintain that insane strength and physique.
How the hell did she hold out this long? The camp rations must've been a joke for her.
Anyway, we gather in the empty 2-2 barracks for an impromptu party.
Free time courtesy of the instructor's discretion.
"I'll eat well."
Mino barely finishes her thanks before shoving food into her mouth.
That's not eating—that's combat.
A snack pouch stuffed to the brim vanishes in seconds. It's as big as my face, but to her, it's just a quick bite gone in a minute.
"Impressive."
Anyone next to her is just background noise.
Even all three of us combined can't keep up. We're chowing down diligently, but Mino's steady pace is untouchable.
"I'm a beastkin too, but you're the first I've seen eat like that. And you're way bigger than average."
Kate pauses mid-bite, tilting her head.
Different species or not, both Kate and Mino fall under the beastkin umbrella.
"Are cow beastkin just built different?"
If she stands out even to isekai folks, it's even more mind-blowing from my perspective.
How tough is that stomach to pack away that much? If she'd been born on Earth, she'd be a mukbang YouTube god.
"I don't know—"
And she doesn't even eat like a glutton. She sits primly, just steadily stuffing her mouth—chewing neatly and swallowing like a proper lady.
What a mysterious girl. Word is she's some kind of adventurer, but watching her, she doesn't fit the rough mercenary vibe at all.
"Ah, got it. You're not just a cow beastkin—you're Tau tribe, right?"
A new term pops from Kate's mouth.
"That explains everything. Yeah?"
"Mm. Yes."
Hayes and Kate both nod. I have no clue what Tau tribe means, but if that's Mino, it apparently ties up all her weird quirks.
But from the perspective of the [otherworlder] watching from the sidelines...
"Yes."
I suspect Mino's just brushing it off.
Others might find her hard to read, but I've started to get her a little.
So I can say this for sure.
Tau tribe or whatever—she's hiding something even bigger.
But.
I have no plans to dig into it.
"Ah, right. Jeong-woo, I need you for something real quick."
"Yes?"
No room to dig anyway.
"If you're done eating, let's go."
...I haven't even finished yet.
Kate calls me over.
No wonder she'd been sneaking glances at her watch.
"Ah, y-yeahhh..."
"Come on quick. Yeah? Quick...!"
We still have plenty of free time left, but just like Mino's eyeing the food, Kate's greedy for every second with me.
Three hours should be plenty, no...?
"Well, you see... He's the only male trainee in our camp, so the Company Commander wants to see him separately. Since you're staying here anyway, might as well do it now?"
Kate's usual sharpness vanishes as she stammers excuses to Hayes and Mino.
"So I'll take him along? N-No complaints?"
"Go ahead."
Hayes clicks her tongue in annoyance and turns away. Mino's too busy stuffing her face to care.
"Ah, just in case—no fighting. I'll really kill you both—"
"No fighting. I got no more balls to tangle with a Tau."
Trouble seems unlikely.
Hayes looks worn out now.
"At least let me smoke."
"Smoke? Ah, uh... sure. Fine. But go with him. Battle buddies together. Got it?"
"Ah... sigh... yes, ma'am."
Even handing a trainee cigarettes and a lighter.
Everyone's in such a rush. Kate's already fidgeting her hips, brimming with anticipation.
"Hey! How long you gonna pig out? Pause for a smoke at least?"
But I can't just leave Mino and Hayes hanging like this.
"No."
"...Fucking bitch. Watch your back so we don't cross paths later. I'll kill you for real."
Their fights are partly my fault if you trace it back.
So I pause, trudging over to the two of them.
"Hayes, ease up."
I ignore Kate nagging at my back for a sec. Sex is sex, but we need to tie up loose ends here first.
If Hayes is really in some crime syndicate, Mino could be at risk later. No matter how tough you are, a knife in your sleep ends it quick.
"What's your problem? Just get along."
"Hah?"
Right after graduation, she was shaking at Mino—now she has to act all tough.
We're all in the same boat, suffering together.
"You're a trainee, I'm a trainee, Mino's a trainee—just poor saps stuck in the army working our asses off. Making enemies here—doesn't that suck for you?"
So I lay it out.
I share the one real truth I've gained from my service with Hayes too.
"We might not vibe. Might hate each other's guts. But no need to go picking fights. It won't stroke your ego, and it won't fix whatever shit's eating you."
If you're doing this army gig once, better leave with good memories.
...Of course, the army isn't some picnic. It cherry-picks the shittiest events just for you.
But you can't spend two years obsessing over that crap, bitching nonstop.
"What the hell did that bitch do to me! You see this bruise? That monster—"
"You started shit first! You were a bitch to me, so Mino handled it for me."
"Oh yeah? Then keep your head down from now on. Stay outta my way."
In the end, none of it matters.
Once service ends, it'll all fade to vague memories.
"If you wanna play tough guy to the end, go ahead."
"Tough guy? You little shit...! I'm in Black Rose! Trash like you would get wrecked by our sisters in a heartbeat...!"
"So what? You keep name-dropping your gang to act hard—it just makes you look weaker."
I probably won't cross paths with Hayes again anyway.
So someone has to say it. I don't hate her anymore, and I want her to avoid stirring up shit once she hits her unit.
"Whatever you did out in the world, it means jack in the army."
Love it or hate it—this is my second rodeo in the army.
Time to play nosy senior fixing up a wayward junior.
"You're just strutting around cause you hate being looked down on. Right?"
Hayes can't take it anymore and shoots to her feet.
"You fucker!"
But she can't swing at me. Mino and Kate are right there.
"What do you know about me? Some punk-ass guy backtalking...! You wanna die!?"
The mood turns ugly.
Mino and Kate start to step in to hold Hayes back, but...
I gesture for them to hold off.
Don't interfere—this is between me and Hayes.
"Don't wanna be looked down on? Just live straight. Quit picking thug fights to act cool."
Not sure if it lands with Hayes, but this is my unfiltered truth.
"Forget name-dropping crime syndicates—show you're putting in the work. That's plenty."
I bury those groping hands and the shower harassment deep in my mind.
"We're all suffering together—that's the army. Especially us with no family showing up. Please, no more fighting. Let's just focus on surviving."
Army life tip number one.
Leave training camp bullshit in the training camp.
"What kinda lives we led outside don't matter. It's how we act here, in this army. At least while we're serving."
That's enough.
No matter how tangled the bad blood, no law says you gotta drag it to your unit.
Hayes might turn out a solid senior—or a beloved junior.
Gangster or whatever,
Just nail the service.
In the army, service is what counts.
Past crap? Irrelevant.
"Live well at your unit. I'll even pray you run into good people."
"..."
Hayes hesitates for a long beat.
Looks like she wants to say something, but no words come out.
Then, as time drags on, she slumps back to her spot like she's over it.
And then...
She quietly resumes munching her snacks.
"...Looks like everyone's settled down."
Kate—who'd been nagging me to hurry up for sex—wags her tail gently, taking in the subtle shift in our trio's vibe.
No more fights brewing.
If anything, Hayes stares hard at Mino, pouting as she sizes her up and down.
"Why didn't your family show?"
"..."
"Sigh, whatever."
These women can be as rough and fiery as any guy...
But surprisingly, they cool off quick after a blowout.
"Belly's full—eat the rest yourself."
"Yeah."
"...But come smoke with me. Battle buddies, remember."
"Yeah."
Trainees left stranded in camp without family.
Maybe realizing that shared loneliness hits nice.
"You smoke?"
"No."
"Fuck. You look like some pure-hearted farm boy."
A month's worth of bad blood wraps up in this scant time—too little for full closure, but that's exactly why Hayes drops the antagonism.
"Ah—fuck. Army's such bullshit. Ugh."
She sits there, jiggling her leg nervously for no reason.
"Just wanna get the hell out already."
But her voice lacks its old bite.
No matter personality, looks, race—everyone misses home sometimes.
Craves a parent's hug.
"Annoying."
Especially in the army.
Trainees with nowhere to lean just swallow tears and lament their fate.
"...Really annoying."
No telling Hayes's backstory. No need to pry.
But she probably didn't have it easy.
Her dampening eyes tug at me unexpectedly.
She can't erase the injustices done to me either. But training camp shit stays buried in camp.
Hayes too—
I hope she can leave the outside world's baggage outside.