Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Shower Room (1)
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In the 21st century, if I had to pick the topic that started grabbing everyone's attention, I'd obviously go with issues related to sex.
Conflicts between genders, transgender rights, political correctness, feminism...
All sorts of terms flooded the discourse, and no one could escape the debates. Anyone living in that era had no choice but to reevaluate their values and perceptions.
Among them, a few expressions stick out particularly in my memory.
Ones that are probably familiar to everyone else too.
Expressions that anyone living on Earth—especially in Korea—must have heard at least once.
[Potential Perpetrator].
[Gaze Rape].
I have no idea why these thoughts are suddenly popping into my head. Depending on how you look at it, the ones who should be flustered right now are the female trainees who've already been showering.
If this were Korea, my life would be over for sure. A "[20-something male intrudes into women's bath]" headline would make national news, blowing up into a massive scandal.
But the atmosphere here is entirely different.
"..."
It's frigid. The shower room is filled with warm steam from the hot water, but for some reason, goosebumps prickle across my skin.
This is no small anomaly. Even if I can feel those sticky, cloying gazes, they're just from the girls—nothing dangerous. So why is my body reacting like this?
It's not a risky situation at all. If anything, it's a feast for the eyes.
Korean bathhouses might have saggy-breasted grannies or aunties lurking around, but through the open door crack, all I see are sleek, toned female bodies that border on overwhelming.
Everywhere I look, it's a stunning display of isekai beauty. This is the kind of fortune you could only earn by accumulating virtue across lifetimes.
...Yeah,
That's exactly what it should be.
Fwoosh—
But in this heart-pounding moment, I duck behind the door. It's not fear of getting dragged off by cops or MPs. Some primal [instinct] screams that I shouldn't step unprotected into the shower room depths, dominating my mind and body.
"Ask the instructors if you can shower alone after personal maintenance time ends."
Mino leaves me like that and strides into the shower room.
Creeeak—
Voices from the women filter through the slowly closing door gap.
Some giggle,
others tsk in disappointment,
and a few cheerful ones...
"Hey, hey, why be like that between trainees? I'm hurt. Not gonna shower together? We won't bite, come on in~"
"Pfft! You crazy bitch."
They toss teasing jabs like they're mocking me, then burst into laughter among themselves. Not from our squad—probably the one next door.
This is truly an incomprehensible moment. My burning face, those mocking women—none of it makes sense.
"..."
And the weirdest part?
Even in this chaos, my tattoo and status window blare with achievement completion chimes and lights.
Fwoosh—!
Shy Guy
A mocking phrase,
yet it analyzes my current predicament in its own way.
[Achievement: Shy Guy]
[A blushing face is always a plus! The girls think you're cute.]
But this achievement has zero relation to Military Life Points. Until now, completing achievements boosted those points, accelerating the countdown on my wrist tattoo...
Not this time.
The status window tints pink,
vibrating right in front of my eyes to display another message.
Arousal Points: +13
Overall: Just standing there draws eyes. What girl would turn down a cute, handsome guy?
Right now,
the status window hands me yet another piece of info.
"What?"
I can only gape in shock at this absurd screen.
Live and learn—Arousal Points? First I've heard of it. And why the hell am I even getting scored on something like that?
"What the fuck is this?"
My head's already spinning from the naked bodies in the shower room, and now the status window's screwing with me too. Feels like my skull might explode.
And why's it already at 13?
Military Life Points hit 9 after all that suffering, but Arousal Points reach double digits without me lifting a finger.
Sure, the women here are way more aggressive and bold than in Korea. But still, drawing this much attention feels off.
It's been like this since day one. No clue where it went wrong, but these women treat men like...
Cocks.
Yeah, that phrase fits perfectly.
Not just flipped gender perceptions—men's rights feel weirdly suppressed here.
Or are the women just insanely slutty?
"Trainee Han Jeong-woo, what are you doing here?"
No. That's hasty generalization.
Look at Drill Sergeant Kate approaching me now. I thought she was a nasty bitch at first, but she shows real leniency when I work hard.
Can't judge prematurely. I'm viewing this isekai through colored lenses.
I need to shed that rigid gaze.
To adapt, survive here,
and get home safely,
understanding this world comes first.
"Trainee No. 158 Han Jeong-woo! Waiting to shower, ma'am!"
"...Ah, I see."
Drill Sergeant Kate pats my shoulder softly in reassurance.
"Unfortunately, this training center has no men's showers or restrooms. Must be unsettling sharing with the women. I get it."
She's prickly as hell,
but show effort and she turns angelic.
"...I'll let you shower separately for the first week. I'll report to the platoon leader, so wait in the barracks."
See?
Not all isekai women are dumb and aggressive?
Some are reasonable, communicate well.
Hard to believe it's Kate—who punished me day one—but right now, she's helping.
Group showers can wait.
For now,
better play it safe.
Reason's unclear. Just a hunch.
...A man's intuition, I guess.
Thanks to Drill Sergeant Kate's swift handling, I get a solo shower slot.
Being the training center's sole male opens doors. Company commander, platoon leader, instructors—they visibly accommodate me.
"Hoo..."
Warm water cascades from the shower hose, soaking my hair and face before seeping into my body.
Military facilities here beat Korea's hands down. Back home, late showers meant cold water from shortages; no such misery here.
Behave straight, and two years is a breeze. Hell, early 2000s Korean guys endured worse for their service.
My gripes sound like a full belly whining.
Food's solid,
water's hot,
facilities decent.
Honestly, Korean army survival rates might be lower. Casual soldier deaths in the news? That's Korea. Not here, at least.
"..."
Hold up.
Does that even make sense?
This is isekai.
Aren't monsters, dragons rampaging? Soldiers dispatched to handle the chaos?
Suddenly, my heart sinks.
Life-or-death unresolved, and I'm cowering from girls? What an idiot move.
Yeah, no more chickening out tomorrow. Even if they prank me, how bad could it be?
"..."
But the stares drilling into my lower legs won't quit.
Can't redirect my thoughts.
Drill Sergeant Kate's eyes never leave me.
Instead of solo privacy,
she stands inside the shower room, arms crossed, watching.
For potential incidents, she says. But what emergencies is she prepping for?
Can't meet her beet-red gaze. One slip and boom—disaster.
And atop that,
her cat tail, fully bristled.
"Nyaa..."
...Should've showered with the trainees.
This feels riskier...