Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Appearance Vote (2)
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Sergeant Rachel and Corporal Clara, the two corporals in charge of Barracks 1.
"So you're saying I'm gonna come out ugly, huh?"
"Did I say that? I was just tellin' ya to eat comfortably without worryin'!"
The two women refuse to back down, each defending their pride to the bitter end.
"What, you lack confidence? That's why you're pulling this crap. Aaaang?"
"Oh come on~ As if. Let's be real here. If we vote like this, the rookies are just gonna peek at Sergeant Rachel and vote for her anyway!"
"You're writing fanfic, you crazy bitch...!"
Sergeant Rachel can't hold back her anger and shoots up from her seat.
Her fiery red hair sways with the motion. That vivid crimson hue perfectly matches her competitive spirit, passion, and burning drive to win...
"I absolutely cannot tolerate this. Even if the military's gotten softer these days, talking back to a senior like this is just unacceptable!"
She stomps over to me in her slippers, then stares right into my face, trying to corner me...
"Rookie, say it straight. Who's the prettiest here?"
She grits her teeth as she speaks.
Damn it.
The mood's gone south fast.
Normally, when rookies are roped into appearance votes, you pick the ugliest one or someone who looks like they'd win a street fight...
But here, I have to pick the prettiest woman. And since all four seniors are stunners, they're all getting antsy, secretly hoping to be chosen.
If it was picking the ugliest, I'd just go for the one who seems nicest.
This situation is a total mess.
"Hang on, but if we're talkin' time served together in the barracks, ain't I the one with the most?"
Private First Class Kanna, with her bunny ears, jumps into the absurd argument.
It's ridiculous for the baby PFC to butt into a corporal-level spat, but she's got an undeniable point.
"I'm your direct senior as a rookie, after all..."
She gazes at me softly. A faint smile colors her slightly flushed cheeks.
"Yeah, well... rookies are guys too, so can't be helped..."
She seems convinced she'll be picked.
Alright, honestly speaking, you can't ignore the explosive curves flowing from under those pristine white bunny ears.
Breasts so magnificent they warp the lettering printed across her chest.
Love her or hate her, that size demands at least one glance.
The other seniors aren't exactly small, but Kanna's feminine assets stand out especially bold.
She holds her own even against Mino. That alone says it all about her caliber.
"What nonsense."
But that very confidence earns her hate.
Her direct senior, Private First Class Sika with her striking brown skin, glares at Kanna like a predator...
"These days, girls with just big dumb tits aren't popular."
"Ehh... B-but mine are pretty big, right...?"
"Idiot! You think pretty is enough? Guys like special charm like mine."
She demonstrates her lightly tanned skin's appeal firsthand.
Mmm. Gotta agree to some extent.
Smooth, pale skin is great, but that subtle big-sis tan vibe ain't bad either.
It's different from Hayes back at training camp. Hayes was thuggy; Sika here's got that sports club vibe...
Wait, hold up.
This isn't the time to leisurely admire.
Can't just sit here grinning like an idiot surrounded by hotties. I'm the rookie here, and I gotta pick the prettiest senior...
"So who's the prettiest?!"
Sergeant Rachel presses me. The smile's completely vanished from her face.
The longer this drags, the darker the other seniors' expressions get.
In times like this,
no choice but to...
"S-Sergeant Rachel is the prettiest!"
Pick the top senior.
A chill settles over the barracks.
The only one who can smile in the midst of it...
"Me?"
Is Sergeant Rachel.
"Kyahaha! Yeah, of course~"
She's thrilled and starts kneading my shoulders.
"Did we even need a vote? Anyone can see I'm the hottest from a guy's perspective, right?"
Now fully triumphant, Sergeant Rachel struts and brags to Corporal Clara, Private First Class Sika, Private First Class Kanna, and even Mino.
"Even a fresh-faced rookie says so. Guess I still got it with the guys. Right?"
"Y-Yes!"
I swallow hard and glance at the other seniors.
Not a happy face in the bunch. The one softening the harsh mood a bit...
"Ah, ugh... Y-Yeah, that's right. Sergeant Rachel it is."
Private First Class Sika.
She'd been buzzing with hope of being picked moments ago, but now she reads the room perfectly and acts accordingly.
But her efforts go to waste...
"This is total rigged!"
Her junior, Private First Class Kanna, shrieks.
Tears even welling up as she bounces in place at her spot.
"How is Sergeant Rachel number one?! Makes no sense!"
Each jump makes those heavy breasts jiggle up and down, drawing my eyes unwittingly. But right now, lumps of fat don't matter.
"No matter what, ain't I prettier than Sergeant Rachel?!"
"What the fuck?"
Time to shut that mouth.
The others seem to half-understand my choice of top senior, but bunny-eared Kanna can't grasp the hidden meaning.
"The rookie's lying! Right...!?"
"Drop and give me push-ups."
She gets properly chewed out by Sergeant Rachel for it.
"Huh?"
"I said drop. Deaf?"
"D-Dropping!"
Private First Class Kanna gets dragged to the center of the barracks for punishment.
It's billed as light discipline for military decorum, but it's laced with real emotion.
"Ugh, this bitch."
"Eek...!"
Sergeant Rachel plops down on Kanna's back and grabs her ear like a handle, twisting tight.
"Not shaping up? Think I'm a pushover 'cause I'm playing nice?"
"N-No, ma'am...!"
Only then does Kanna get the vibe and starts sniffling.
"Time for some PT. One, focus your mind! Two, get it together!"
"One..."
Every time Sergeant Rachel barks, Kanna has to stretch down till her breasts touch the floor.
Push-ups with a full person on your back ain't easy.
"One!"
"F-Focus my..."
"Two!"
"M-Mind..."
"Good. Auto mode till I say stop. Go."
"Focus my... mind..."
Kanna's face is a picture of misery. But Sergeant Rachel, perched on her back, beams with smiles.
"Jeong-woo, c'mere~"
"Private First Class Han Jeong-woo!"
She babies me while sitting on Kanna's back.
"Our Jeong-woo's got good taste. Yup! Anyone can see I'm the best. Right?"
"Yes, ma'am...!"
But while Sergeant Rachel and I share this cozy moment, Corporal Clara glaring our way looks far from pleased.
Her brow's furrowed tight, lips twisted in irritation, aimed right at me.
"...Unbelievable."
She drops the dialect entirely.
She's pissed, so her tone turns ice-cold.
Her eyes are dead, but one corner of her mouth twitches up. Scary as hell.
"Clara, chill~! Can't help it if I'm prettier."
"I'm not mad."
But I had no choice.
In this scenario, you gotta pick the top senior.
This is proven data from my accumulated military life: when forced to pick just one senior, go for the highest rank first.
Even if the others get sulky or mad, smooth things over later with good behavior and clear up misunderstandings or grudges.
Seniors usually understand a rookie's position. That poor rookie's gotta pick the top sergeant no matter what...
"Hey, enough! Anyone gives our Jeong-woo shit over this, you're messing with me. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Anyway, rookie pranks always end the same.
Top senior's thrilled, others plot payback later...
"Aww, our Jeong-woo's so smart! Huh? Adorable! Wanna live with sis?"
"P-Private First Class Han Jeong-woo...!"
"Gonna take you when I ETS. Yup, that's the plan!"
The newest rookie's the one in trouble.
"Jeong-woo, don't worry. This sis'll make your service a breeze from now on!"
Sergeant Rachel's promise doesn't help.
Nope, it backfires for me.
"Just trust me, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am...!"
Would be better if she just left me alone.
"Um, Sergeant Rachel?"
This always spirals like this.
"R-Rookies gotta at least do mop duty..."
"Nah, Platoon Leader!"
Sergeant Rachel firmly holds out her hand to stop the platoon leader.
"Our Jeong-woo's in protected rookie status. Even if we're short-handed, this ain't right."
"But rookies still clean..."
"Our girls'll work harder. Kanna! Front and center!"
She calls over me and Mino's direct senior.
"You'll cover the rookies' share at triple speed, right?"
"Huh???"
Ah, damn.
So that's the play.