Chapter 63

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 5

Chapter Title: Huge Gap

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Arousal Points and Military Life Points.

The ultimate superpower helping me survive in this isekai army.

I can check in real-time how these points build up and predict the outcomes of my actions.

For example, if Military Life Points go up, it means I've left a good impression on the seniors, officers, or NCOs...

If Arousal Points rise, I can interpret it as my actions hitting just right with the women of this world.

But now's not the time to be chasing skirts.

One wrong move, and my daily life could spiral into the same mess as back at the training camp.

Besides, I still haven't sorted things out with Captain Yujin. If I get tangled up with women here, who knows what kind of hysterical bullshit she'll unleash next.

I spent a good seven hours crammed in a tiny vehicle like luggage because of that mess with Drill Sergeant Kate.

To have any chance at a normal unit life, I can't afford to piss off Yujin... no, the Company Commander.

"Ah, uht."

But the Platoon Leader's face is already flushed beet red.

"Uhn... Th-thank you... Hehe..."

Yeah, it's still fine for now.

No one's falling in love over something this small.

The Platoon Leader just felt a fleeting fondness from my unexpected words. She's not about to come onto me or anything.

If anything, she seems a bit burdened by me.

Or maybe not.

Her face is embarrassed, but it feels more like she's mortified with herself.

The Platoon Leader's shaky eyes can't even meet mine straight on.

She's just staring blankly at the food on her tray, trying to calm her own heart.

"A-anyway! Everyone, eat up quick...!"

Now she's shoveling her bread and stew like mad, her movements jerky and awkward, like a broken machine.

"We've gotta eat, wash up, and get ready for bed. You all had a long trip here—it's just gonna tire you out more if you're eating while watching the Platoon Leader's mood...?"

She's pitiful, inadequate, and pathetic in so many ways.

But at least she knows her place.

"You all must be busy adjusting too! The Platoon Leader gets it. Thanks for eating together like this."

She might actually be pretty decent deep down.

Yeah, I've known it since we first met.

This one's a good person at heart. Just lacks initiative and confidence.

"The Platoon Leader won't bug you all from now on."

She says it with a shy grin.

This time, it's not that sweaty, dopey smile—it's a genuinely nice one.

"Welcome to our unit once again! Let's get along from here on out."

Life at the unit doesn't seem half bad.

A few Arousal Points aren't the end of the world. I'll just play it a bit more carefully from now on.

As long as I do that, nothing major should crop up.

The army's still a place run by people, after all.

"That Platoon Leader's something else. Dragging a guy off like that right away just 'cause one showed up."

Back in Barracks 1, it's time with the seniors again.

Free time in the army usually fills up with short chats like this...

"Jeong-woo has to hang with me! Right?"

"Private Han Jeong-woo...! Yes, ma'am...!?"

My first gossip session on the first night isn't going smoothly.

Corporal Rachel has no intention of returning to her own bed. She's always glued to my side with Private First Class Clara.

"That's right, rookie. What'd the Platoon Leader say when she took ya?"

"She said to keep working hard from now on. And to come to her if anything tough comes up!"

"Jeez. Clara. Tell her to mind her own damn business first."

At the unit, evening roll call is at 2200.

That's a full hour later than at the training camp. Which also means an extra hour of chitchat with the barracks crew.

"Rachel!"

"Ack, I said stay away!"

Tonight, Barracks 1 is packed. Way too many visitors.

Seniors from other barracks have all come to see my face.

"Whoa, a real guy."

"Damn, he's hot...!"

They crowd around my bed with big smiles. Everywhere I look, nothing but women.

"Private Han Jeong-woo!"

It's overwhelming, but I play it cool.

I've already learned to handle women's stares back at the training camp. The curiosity and soft gazes in their eyes don't faze me anymore.

"Our Jeong-woo's gonna wear out, wear out! Scram, all of you!"

"This bitch is so unfair. You're with him all day every day anyway. Let us talk to the guy too."

"Rookie! Why'd you join the army? Couldn't a guy just do alternative service or something?"

The seniors fire questions one by one.

That puts me in the spot of answering a dozen or so women solo, but I keep a straight face and respond as manfully as possible.

"...I really wanted to join the army! Seeing soldiers serve the country was so cool—I wanted to be just like that!"

Ooh—

Admiration ripples through the women. Seems my answer hit the mark.

"Wow, you don't see guys like this often."

"Rachel, you bitch! You get to do daily routine with a guy like this? I can't forgive you...!"

"Shut ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up! Quit yapping and get out!"

In the noisy chaos, I glance at my wrist.

If I play nice like this...

Military Life Points and Arousal Points both climb at once.

...No idea why Arousal Points get the bigger boost, but whatever—it's not a bad thing.

Stockpiling Arousal Points has its perks. There's a skill for full stamina recovery, and Forced Climax works great for self-defense too.

Still, one nagging doubt won't go away.

The women gathered here gawk at me in awe, smile brightly, even make a huge fuss.

But honestly, isn't there another pretty decent guy right here who's even better?

Screech!

The door swings open. But everyone except me ignores the guy walking in.

They're too fixated on me. Everyone's hyped up, fawning over the new male rookie...

"What're you all doing?"

The second man strides through the corporal line with a warm, friendly smile.

"Jeong-woo, you're super popular, huh?"

"P-Private Han Jeong-woo!"

Only then do the women snap to attention and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠look at Private First Class Liv.

But their reactions are off. Unlike with me, they're gaping in shock or just frozen, staring at him speechless.

"Heard the commotion all the way in the hall. Gave me a start."

I pick up on this dissonance instantly.

The women here don't flirt or hit on Private First Class Liv wildly.

Instead, they shrink back intimidated, forcing awkward smiles.

"Uh, L-Liv..."

"You two seem like a good match. Liv, lucky you! Another guy's here now."

Private First Class Liv practically glows.

It's not some halo effect just 'cause he bailed me out—it's his raw presence, unmatched by anyone in this world.

"Yeah. We even chatted alone earlier. Right?"

"...Yes, sir!"

The moment he enters, a reverent hush falls over the barracks.

Even the flirty stares aimed at me vanish completely. No one dares act up in front of Liv.

"Let's get along. Welcome to the unit."

"Thank you! Looking forward to it...!"

Liv extends his hand for a shake in front of everyone. I grab the savior's hand politely with both of mine.

The corporals won't touch Liv...

Yet they shower me with this intense attention...

Probably 'cause Liv's on a whole other level.

I know this vibe all too well.

I saw it earlier with the Platoon Leader shrinking around me for no reason.

Unit members and Liv.

Platoon Leader and me.

We're in similar boats with each other.

Too far out of each other's league to casually chat or flirt.

"How was training camp?"

"Manageable, sir!"

"Still, not like here, right? Camp's brutal."

Liv chats with me amiably, steering the conversation.

The corporals, who had been hooting around me like monkeys, now watch us with teary-eyed emotion or mutter “Whoa…” in awe without even realizing it.

"Honestly, I don't think I could do it twice. The unit's way better."

"Haha! And you've barely been here a day?"

A world where men and women are oddly flipped.

The army, closest thing to a female-dominated society.

And within it, one man too intimidating to approach lightly.

"Jeong-woo looks like he'll excel at unit life no matter what. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Glad to have such a solid junior."

Wait a sec.

They leave Liv alone but swarm me like this—doesn't that mean they just see me as easy pickings?

I get it, kinda.

Even in college, no one dared talk to the goddess-level hotties.

But for a pretty decent girl...

All sorts of guys swarmed her.