Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Cookies, and Cup Ramen
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Rachel Corporal fixed her eyes on me, staring intently for a long while.
She seemed offended by my suggestion to share the snacks she'd bought with others.
"Th-then, can I just store the leftovers in my locker—"
"Sure, that's fine. As long as only our Jeong-woo eats them."
But she accepted my proposal anyway. Guess she's not a total lost cause.
However.
"But you have to finish that one you opened."
She laid down one condition.
It wasn't all that tough or anything. I just had to polish off the single bag I'd already torn into.
And honestly, it was the bare minimum courtesy to her.
She'd bought so much, so generously...
Just taking a bite and stashing the rest away wouldn't look good at all.
"Got it!"
I knew it. I knew full well.
She shelled out cash for these, and if I left them all behind, who'd blame her for being pissed?
I had to show some gratitude, prove I appreciated the gesture...
But damn, my mouth just wouldn't cooperate.
I shoved a cookie right up to my lips, but my tongue rebelled at the taste.
Even forcing my teeth to chew mechanically brought up nausea from my gut. I was scared I'd puke it all up.
"Hah?"
Rachel Corporal's expression darkened in real time.
Fuck. I really had to eat this.
But these cookies were huge and hefty—one bite and it felt like my soul was getting slammed into hell.
"Jeong-woo, do you hate it?"
"P-Private Han Jeong-woo! No! Absolutely not!"
Now Rachel Corporal was starting to doubt my attitude.
"Then why? What's the problem?"
"Uh, w-well, I ate too much lunch..."
"No way that makes sense. Even a random five-year-old passing by could finish this much."
No excuse held water.
So I steeled myself and squeezed my eyes shut.
Vowing to somehow devour the entire bag.
I had to do this. At least this much...
"...I ate a lot at lunch, but it's so tasty it just keeps going down!"
I crammed my mouth full and chomped away.
When saliva ran low, I cracked open a drink and poured it down my throat.
"For real?"
Only then did Rachel Corporal's stiff expression soften. A smile crept back onto her lips.
"Yeah, that makes sense! Back in basic, you'd devour anything. Right?!"
She beamed at my voracious eating, ripping open another snack bag and handing it over.
"Here, have one more! You've gotta eat at least two to build strength!"
For a split second, my mind blanked and my vision went dark...
"Got it! Thank you!"
But I powered through on sheer willpower.
"Urk—"
Forcing down those snacks left my stomach bloated as hell.
Every time that sweet scent wafted back up my esophagus, I had to clamp my mouth shut to stifle the dry heaves.
This otherworldly aroma creeping up from inside me.
It wasn't lacking or repulsive by any means, but right now, my body...
Was filled only with longing for my homeland.
The everyday routine I'd taken for granted, the freedoms I'd enjoyed so casually.
I'd discharged from the army, partied hard for two months straight, then lounged like a bum for the last one.
Life had been perfect.
But now...
"Private, what's with all the stuff you're hauling around?"
Someone calls my name, and I jump, rattling off my rank and serial like a reflex.
No freedom, just two endless years of hellish routine stretching ahead.
"Private Han Jeong-woo!"
In all that, my one ray of hope was just this.
"...It's me, bro."
The people who knew how to get me home.
The ones who believed I came from another world.
"Once you've stashed all that in your locker, mind having a quick chat?"
I turned to see Corporal Liv standing there behind me.
His eyes full of pity...
"Homesick?"
Corporal Liv nodded, seeming to get my situation on some level.
"It happens. People are like that. Go on a week-long trip and you miss home—imagine doing military service all over again. Not easy."
We leaned against the barracks building's outer wall, chatting just the two of us.
Couldn't talk long. Stray too far during newbie protection period, and the whole unit would lose its shit.
"Oh, wait!"
Even in that brief moment, Liv came up with a fix for me.
"Wouldn't a vacation help?"
"Vacation...?"
I'd never even considered it. But it also felt ridiculously unrealistic.
Vacation? Dragged to another world—how the hell was I supposed to take one?
"No way. I don't even know how to get back home..."
"Of course you don't, bro."
But Liv nailed the key point.
"One of the two does, though. Whoever shows you the status window, or the Company Commander who dragged you here."
He was like he showed up just to help me.
Maybe that's why I always felt this weird disconnect looking at him.
"...Did I ever mention the status window to you?"
"C'mon, bro! I'm digging around to help you out."
Still, he was the only one I could trust and rely on.
The only guy actively helping me get back home was Liv.
Maybe Mino at best, but she's just a buddy trainee...
For getting home, I needed Liv's help.
"You'll probably meet the Company Commander soon. Greetings, counseling, that kinda thing..."
He plotted seriously, like it was his own problem. Wild how much he cared.
Even your best bro doesn't agonize like that over your shit.
"Time that meeting right!"
"How?"
"You two aren't on great terms right now, but ease into making up and cash in your first furlough. The Commander's probably dying to reconcile with you all day anyway."
"She wants to make up with me...? Nah, doubt it."
"Nah, she definitely wants to patch things up before first leave. Why? She had plans for how you'd use vacations, how you'd live together—stuff like that. So we use it."
Liv racked his brain for me.
He knew this world's military inside out, better than me, so he advised on regs and culture too.
"Bro, vacations are huge here too. You think the Commander dragged you without thinking about that?"
Liv's face turned dead serious.
His hand on my shoulder, he said,
"To follow army regs, she has to let you take leave somehow. Block that, and problems erupt. Your existence leaks to the whole world. Then neither she nor I can contain it."
That helped big time.
"Plus, your first one's newbie consolation leave. Most important of all. Two months from now, you gotta go home. Get it?"
Why hadn't I thought of that?
Too busy getting hassled by seniors, adapting here—my head was fried.
"Let's use it right."
"...Okay."
I decided not to suspect Liv anymore.
Even if he had shady motives, the massive help he gave now didn't change.
"Thanks."
So I offered a handshake first.
Liv grinned and grabbed it without hesitation.
"No prob."
But his face showed more pity than pride.
He always looked at me with sorrow.
"...Someone's gotta help."
Like he owned this whole tragedy.
Weird guy. None of it tied to him...
"Who else would step up if not me?"
Just knowing my past made him hustle this hard.
True to Liv's word, just days later, Mino and I got hauled to the Company Commander's office for counseling...
But two wrinkles popped up.
"Adapt to unit life quick. In my eyes, you're both top talent—no issues."
First one.
The Company Commander...
No, Yujin wouldn't give me an inch to even mention newbie leave.
"Right? Private Han Jeong-woo, Private Mino?"
"Yes, ma'am...!"
She'd smile warmly at others, show mercy sometimes...
But to me and Mino? Ice cold, every time.
Tough to bring it up.
And second issue.
Right in front of us, lined up neatly in the office...
"Sorry 'bout this. Commander's swamped, hasn't eaten yet. You two already had lunch?"
"...Yes, ma'am."
Cup ramen.
Gulp!
I swallowed without thinking.
Sure, I'd stuffed myself sick on cookies...
But that spicy, tantalizing aroma was driving me insane.
How the hell did that bastard even have cup ramen?
Not even at the PX...