Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Lament Mingled with Tears
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"My baby's cute, right?"
Before I knew it, I was bragging about her like some proud parent.
"It's small."
"Tiny."
Unlike the straightforward responses from the other two, the staff officer grandpa's glasses glinted as he leaned in close.
"Ho ho... What did you feed it to make it this small?"
To the grandpas, she must've looked like a little ball of fluff.
"Baekseol, wanna say hi?"
Baekseol stretched out her tiny front paw toward them.
She was trying to do the fist bump she'd learned from Albert.
"This rabbit's smart. Super smart."
The staff officer grandpa cautiously extended a finger, and Baekseol tapped it with her paw.
"Ha hat. Goodness."
After giving a little paw wave to the other two as well, Baekseol scurried up onto my head.
"Anyway, I'm off to eat with Cheol. You three grandpas should grab some food too."
"Yeah, go eat."
"Yes. Enjoy your meals."
"Sir! We'll head out first."
I patted Cheol's arm, and he saluted the commander grandpa.
Only after the commander nodded did Cheol turn around.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sis."
As Cheol and I walked along, the people passing by grew even busier.
"But can I really eat at the soldiers' mess hall?"
"It's fine today."
With the event going on, the barracks cafeteria was open to civilians too.
"Oho. What's on the menu today?"
"Hmm, what was it again?"
"Steel, you're hopeless."
💬 Comments — ⚔️ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ — ⚔️ Damn, PTSD hitting hard "Sis, I'm a sergeant."
Seeing Kangcheol's baffled expression made me burst out laughing.
"If there's seafood bibim sauce and fried mackerel, you're eating it all."
"How'd you know that, sis?"
— ⚔️ She's got experience lol — ⚔️ ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Dying Cheol's face twisted in disbelief once more.
"If the side dishes suck today, let's hit the PX. They got one here?"
"Right there."
Where Cheol pointed, a container PX was swarming with people.
Looked like civilians could use it today too.
"Still, this is headquarters, and it's just a container?"
"It's the army."
Chatting amiably with Cheol, we reached the barracks cafeteria, hit by a strong wave of food smells.
The salty tang suggested soy sauce dishes.
Inside, multiple lines were set up to handle the crowd.
"That line's shorter."
Baekseol on my head started wriggling, probably catching the food scent.
"Baekseol wanna eat too?"
"Yeah!"
"Lots of people today, so eat on my lap."
"Okay!"
Cheol and I grabbed trays and lined up, drawing stares.
I was used to eyes on me wherever I went.
"I come here sometimes. Headquarters food's good."
"Yeah? Sounds tasty."
Today's menu was bulgogi and ssam veggies, dressed up for the guests.
We grabbed seats, and nearby soldiers' eyes locked on me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Flower purchased. Baekseol hopped down onto my lap.
"Eat up."
"Okay!"
I stroked her back, and she started munching the grass leaves right away.
"You eat up too, Cheol."
"Enjoy your meal, ma'am."
Cheol's tray was piled mountain-high.
Big guys didn't always eat big, but to maintain that build, he needed that much.
"Cheol eats well."
"This is basic."
He'd devoured the sandwich I'd packed him before too.
"I like a man who eats hearty."
— ⚔️ Room leader, I'd bring 5 ramen packs — ⚔️ Me 2 chickens no prob — Jingrang! Red Parade donated 1,000,000 won — ⚔️ Garlic chives and garlic too? Pls — ⚔️ Half-moon bear cub get to work lol — ⚔️ Chairman says busy but always here lol The lettuce was fresh and crisp—they'd put real effort in.
"Events like this must be hell for the soldiers."
"Right?"
Nearby soldiers, ears perked, nodded subtly.
"Scale like this, officers on edge for mistakes, soldiers work overtime."
"Everyone's working hard."
Soldiers nodded again.
Ignoring them, I loaded a big ssam leaf with meat and rice.
"Cheol, ahh."
Cheol glanced around sheepishly, then opened wide.
"Tasty?"
Too big maybe—he just nodded.
Soldiers who'd been peeking now glared with jealous fury.
— ⚔️ Fuuuuck life like steel — ⚔️ Gonna lose my mind gonna lose it — Jingrang! Red Parade donated 1,000,000 won — ⚔️ Half-moon chest bear possible too? Pls I eat well too pls Red was obsessed with that half-moon chest bear bit.
Thud!
As I fed Cheol another ssam amid the stares, someone slammed their tray down in front.
Thud! Thud!
Looking up, it was grandpa.
"Huh? Why eat here instead of the hall cafeteria?"
Grandpa sat, followed by the commander and staff officer grandpas.
The air turned icy.
Even quiet, a cafeteria was noisy—clinking utensils, kitchen clamor.
"Grandpa?"
"..."
Stars on their uniforms: six total. Wait, marshal's one more—seven.
Grandpas took seats, silencing the bustling hall.
"With you here, soldiers probably can't swallow properly—might go up their noses."
"Should've eaten with us then."
Men turn into kids with age—total brats.
"Hmph."
Grandpa huffed just loud enough. Ridiculous.
Soldiers' utensils hovered nose-high.
"Whew."
I shook a ssam leaf dry.
Topped with meat and rice, fed to grandpa.
"Ahh—"
Sulking hard, he turned away.
"I'm too old."
"Won't eat from your granddaughter?"
Finally, he relented and opened up.
"Better 'cause I made it?"
"...Yeah."
Chewed a few times, smirked late.
So childish.
Two more ssams for the other grandpas thawed the mood.
"Ga-eul, eat quick—sing soon after."
"Yes."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Grandpa was right—my turn came fast.
Backstage amid the crowd, staff kept announcing.
"Next, you're up."
"Yes, ready."
Staff nodded, left.
Broadcast made it pro-level.
— ⚔️ Room leader's outfit cute af — ⚔️ Wear it more! "Ah, rushed here—no post-meal smoke."
— ⚔️ Room leader not nervous? — ⚔️ Smoking after meal talk lol "Why nervous? Not hosting—just sing one and dip."
— ⚔️ Ah — ⚔️ Still impressive I'd be in the bathroom — ⚔️ Fr lol Downplayed it for viewers, but my body felt stiff.
Actual nerves, huh.
Good thing I wasn't main.
Pondering song choice, staff returned.
"Han Ga-eul, you're next."
"Yes. Who's on main stage?"
"Singer Bombaram closes."
"Ah, thanks."
— ⚔️ ㅋㅋㅋ Bombaram again — ⚔️ Bombaram everywhere — ⚔️ Agency pushing hard "Hmm, Bombaram."
Viewers right—she popped up often.
— ⚔️ We harass her so no gigs left "Still at it?"
— ⚔️ ㅇ — ⚔️ ㅇㅇㅇ — ⚔️ Our post-meal smoke — ⚔️ Fr lol Vicious bunch.
I knew viewers treated others colder than me, but this brutal?
"You said you'd protect me? Stop now."
— ⚔️ Attack stop! — ⚔️ ㅇ_ㅋ Not just petty jealousy—their antics pissed me off, but enough.
"I'll handle it."
— ⚔️ ???? — ⚔️ Room leader gonna slap? — ⚔️ Shit emergency! Jindo dog!! Ultra alert!!!!! — ⚔️ We'll do it — ⚔️ Room leader calm — ⚔️ Whoa whoa calm down Do they think I'm rabid? Treatment worsening.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Singing Lv.9 Vocal power explosively increased
>Sub-skill acquired
>Repeated purchases increase skill level.
[Price: 5.12 million won]
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ding! Ding! Ding! ... ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Singing Lv.15 Vocal power explosively increased [+++++]
>Sub-skills acquired
[Breathing Technique] [Vocal Technique] [Pitch] [Rhythm]
[Beat] [Phonation] [Emotion Conveyance]
◈ Melody of Harmony
Harmonizes singing sub-skills.
◈ Storm Song
Adds storm to the melody.
◈ Rhapsody of Fury
Lose yourself.
>Immerse yourself.
>Repeated purchases increase skill level.
[Price: 322.56 million won]
My unstoppable fingers melted money away.
Hadn't needed it much, left at 5 mil, but six buys smashed into hundreds of millions.
"Han Ga-eul, go on up."
Perfect timing—staff arrived.
"Baekseol, let's go."
"Okay!"
【Next up to grace the stage is Han Ga-eul! Give her a big hand!】
Stepping onstage, more people than expected awaited.
Spotlights bathed me.
Heart pounded.
Unnamed tension.
One certainty: my heart throbbed.
Endless song debates.
【Odd pick this time. Let's see it—Chunhyangga!】
MC cue, somber notes flowed.
"My tears I scatter forth." Not my show—planned simple, quick exit.
But voice gained power as time passed.
"Even the flask-tapping ladies think only of their lords—so why is my love absent from this place?" Anger built with time.
Why not come?
Why make me wait?
"Shall I paint your portrait with tears rotten as soy sauce?" ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 〔Rhapsody of Fury〕 "If I die unseen by you, trapped in prison's lonely torment, the stone before my grave shall become a gazing stele." Tears streamed from my eyes.
Teeth ground.
Love twisted to resentment.
Till when, not returning?
"When I die, the tree near my grave shall become a lovesick tree." Only at my death?
"Who in life or death will know this grudge?" Is this resentment love?
Why locked away, waiting alone?
Leftovers: love-hate, lingering regret.
Sis-picked pretty hanbok.
Dainty wear faded, worn.
"Who will hear my wail?" Chant or song ended in silence.
Chatting crowd.
Cameramen filming me.
PD tweaking broadcast.
Crowd noise absent—hushed.
Clap...
Quiet applause rippled once.
Then spread like water ripples.