Chapter 56
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Long Journey
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The car races on. Without any sign of stopping, it barrels forward relentlessly.
Chasing the lengthening shadows and the fading sun, we drive like this for what feels like ages...
"...Company Commander. How about a quick break, ma'am?"
"Why? You tired?"
"I've been driving for so long, my eyes are a bit dry."
Only after Corporal Liv—who seems like such a good-natured guy—glances back at us in the rear seat and voices his concern does she finally pull over.
It's not because he's tired himself.
He's stopping to give us a break—we three crammed in the back, enduring hours of nonstop driving.
"Go ahead~"
"You heard her. Everyone, stretch a bit and get some fresh air. I'll rest for a minute. But don't wander too far, okay?"
Only after Captain Yujin's permission do we get our ten minutes or so of rest.
Hayes and I are so exhausted that we have to arch our backs and groan as we straighten up. No joke—we nearly died back there.
The car isn't that small. But cramming three adults in? That's just cruel.
"Fuck..."
The moment we climb out, Hayes and I let loose a string of curses. No way this isn't torture.
Captain Yujin must be screwing with us on purpose. Hayes is just along for the ride, clueless and getting punished right alongside me...
"Hey, who's that guy?"
Even through all this misery, she can't stop fixating on the man at the wheel.
She's carrying on like she just spotted a celebrity. I get it, though—I feel the same.
"...No idea."
"But earlier, it looked like you two knew each other."
"I'll ask later. I seriously don't remember him."
But I really don't know the guy.
Looks like I'll have to talk to him alone sometime.
"Jeez. Playing dumb, huh."
Hayes snorts and shakes her head. She thinks I'm deliberately hiding my connection to Liv.
"I won't pry, so relax. Not like I could anyway."
Anyway, I really don't know him, but Hayes elbows my arm and grins.
"Guys like that? Touch 'em wrong, and your life's over."
"...Sounds like you're saying it's fine to mess with a loser like me."
"In times like these, any guy who enlists as a regular soldier has to be nuts. That's why I figured I'd give it a shot."
A few words grate on me, but I have to admit Hayes has a point.
Liv—that man—is just too impressive in a way that's almost suspicious. Like he's from another world or something.
...Come to think of it, this is another world. Anyway, the guy is insanely handsome. Even another dude like me is thrown off.
If it were just good looks, fine—but he has no flaws. He's so otherworldly perfect that I don't even feel envy or inferiority.
But the really scary part? He knows me.
How does he know me?
Have we met somewhere?
No matter how hard I rack my brain, nothing comes up.
"Anyway, he's in your unit, right?"
"Yeah."
"Lucky bastards. I should've gone there."
As we chat, we gaze out over the vast plains.
Pitiful trainees who know so little, but at least nature treats us equally, dragged along as we are.
The open hills leave a strong impression.
There are more mountains and trees than buildings around. A city faintly visible in the distance has been landscaped so beautifully it doesn't disrupt the natural scenery.
Even the road we're on has no asphalt—just dirt paths worn by people coming and going.
This world's cars handle off-road like it's nothing. Forest animals even approach the car, acting cute.
Liv tears off a piece of his snack and shares it with them.
They look like rabbits. A few hop around together—kinda adorable.
Pfft-pfft—
Birds soar freely overhead.
"Pew-reut—pew-reut—"
...Hold up.
What kind of bird cries "pew-reut pew-reut"?
This place is full of incomprehensible shit.
But the most baffling of all...
"..."
...has to be Mino. Crammed in the middle for five straight hours, and she doesn't show a hint of fatigue.
Her body's so big she was basically folded in half, yet no issues at all.
"Almost there now."
Mino does a quick stretch and speaks to us.
"Oh, yeah? Thank god."
"Where the hell are we even going...? This feels like human trafficking at this point."
But the conversation doesn't continue.
Mino doesn't respond to the remark thrown her way. She just tilts her head.
"...Right?"
"Yeah."
"Fuck it. What was I even expecting from you."
She's a fascinating woman in every way.
It's not that she's taciturn and hates talking... more like she doesn't know how to respond.
Yeah. No need for chit-chat anyway.
We just stand there, watching the sunset in the distance.
Our military life has only just begun. No need to mark the occasion or put on a talk show.
Just quietly take in how the day is winding down.
Where are we headed next?
Who will we meet?
Leaving the training center after thirty days feels strangely poignant. Like departing a familiar home...
"Alright, everyone, time to load up. Gotta keep moving."
Corporal Liv calls from the driver's seat.
"We need to arrive before dinner, so let's push a bit more?"
"Yes, sir!"
No time for more sunset-gazing—we rush back to the car.
Cram into the hellishly cramped rear seat for a few more hours, no doubt.
Right now, anywhere's fine—just get there fast.
I never want to ride in a car again.
Yeah, that's the vague feeling settling in...
(2:20 PM)
We pull up briefly in front of a nearby unit.
"Looks like the welcome party's here."
They're escorts come to pick up Hayes. Three or four stand together, all breaking into wide smiles the moment they spot our car.
Captain Yujin pulls up, hops out first, and exchanges brief greetings with them.
A woman who looks like an officer welcomes Yujin especially warmly. Yujin really does hold a high position in this military.
Knock-knock-knock—
Then she lightly raps on the door where Hayes is sitting. Only then does Hayes step out, face tense...
"Unity...!"
"Yeah. You're our new recruit, huh?"
She salutes her seniors and officers for the first time.
The terrifying demeanor from training camp is gone—now she's just a wide-eyed rookie in front of me.
She nervously scans their faces...
"Good work getting here. Let's go."
But surprisingly, they all look pretty friendly.
Makes me jealous. Nice faces, all of them.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Hayes follows them, pauses to glance back at us stragglers...
And raises a hand in a quick farewell.
An awkward goodbye, but it's enough.
"You'll probably see her again during joint training or something."
According to Corporal Liv, our unit interacts with theirs pretty often.
Yeah, we might cross paths someday.
Until then, bury all those training camp connections.
I'm worried about whatever punishment Instructor Kate is getting, and whether that thug Hayes will adapt to military life...
But first, my own problems.
At least they won't be living with Yujin.
Me? Dragged to the ass-end of nowhere to bunk with that psycho.
The worries won't stop. No telling how bad things will get with Yujin...
"..."
And then,
my eyes drift to Liv peeking at me in the rearview mirror.
Looks like he has something to say. Ever since we met, he's been sending me these silent signals.
But with Yujin right there, he doesn't speak up.
He glances between us,
keeping an eye out, just driving on...
...After dropping Hayes, we drive several more hours...
Current time: 4:41 PM.
We finally arrive at our destination.
"Unity!"
"Yeah. Good work on duty."
The car stops briefly at the guard post near the entrance. A military cop strides over, snaps a crisp salute to Yujin, then checks IDs on Liv and us recruits.
"Newbies?"
"Yep. Recruits for Barracks 1. What do you think?"
"They look sharp, ma'am. Tough drive—nice work, sir!"
No issues. The cop's thrilled just to chat with Liv.
But that glance he shoots my way? Same suspicious vibe as back at camp.
Women always give me that once-over, head to toe.
...Eh, doesn't bother me anymore.
Just accept it.
"Have a good one, unity!"
"Yep~"
Yujin returns the salute, and we roll forward again.
Mino and I peer out our windows, taking in the base facilities one by one.
It's bigger than you'd expect for a frontier outpost.
Feels solidly military. Difference from Korean bases? The buildings are built with actual care.
First impressions are surprisingly good.
Facilities aren't bad—better than where I served in Korea, even.
...Separate from that, doing two more years of this is driving me insane.
Two years.
A whole two years.
"For check-in, come back in thirty. Till then, show 'em around the base."
"Got it."
And Yujin's head games with me? Headache on top of headache. No clue how her brain works.
She acts casual, but that creepy half-smile when she looks at me is unsettling as hell.
"Whew. Good work, everyone."
One silver lining: one of the seniors we'll be living with is a decent guy.
"Crammed back there must've sucked, huh?"
"No, sir! We're fine!"
Corporal Liv.
He looks back and forth between Mino and me, grinning amiably.
"I'll go with you for company check-in and paperwork at admin. But first..."
But then his smile vanishes.
"Mind a quick word?"
Impressive emotional switch.
He leads us behind a building, face turning desperate...
"Bro, what the hell are you doing here...!?"
he asks me.
Music to my ears—the first time I've heard that since arriving.
I wanna know too.
Why the fuck am I here?
"You remember who I am, right?"
"Uh, not really...?"
"Yeah, figures. That'd be the real problem. Ah— this is bad."
Liv scratches his head, looking troubled.
His head must be spinning. Almost as bad as mine, stuck with two extra years.
But then.
"You wanna get back to Earth, right? I'll help however I can."
Liv suddenly brings up Earth. Makes sense—if he knows about me, he knows my world too...
"I can go back!?"
His words hit like divine salvation.
"There's a chance. First, we need to assess—show me your wrist?"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Uncertain or not, someone understanding my pain is huge comfort.
Feels like I'm about to burst into tears. Bros gotta help bros!
But why the wrist?
"Hmm. This tattoo—did you get it back on Earth?"
"No, sir. It appeared after I got here...!"
I spill it all honestly. He clearly knows something.
If he can help, maybe I can get home before slogging through two full years!
"I see."
Liv nods.
"...Then you're stuck here. Sorry."
And drives the final nail into my miserable life.