episode_0060

“…So you want me to do that?”

“Uh. Can I ask you a favor?”

“Ah… .”

Shin Ye-bin, who was serving as a corporal in a certain unit, let out a sigh at the company commander’s words.

“Why, you don’t like it?”

“…no.”

I hate it. I really, really hated it.

‘Ugh, if you want to be picky, you have to be picky… .’

The mission she had just been given was simple: to manage a new comfort unit that was being formed nearby.

In reality, it was like being their servants, listening to their suggestions, bringing them food, and doing all sorts of other things…

Seriously, I wish I was at least handsome. That way, this shitty military life would be a little more bearable.

“Yes, ask the 1st Platoon Leader for more details.”

“Okay.”

Still, the officer seemed to be giving it to her. That meant she didn’t necessarily have to take full responsibility. Shin Ye-bin let out a sigh of relief, saluted, and went out the door.

I went straight to the administrative office and saw the 1st Platoon Leader sitting in front of the computer typing absentmindedly.

“Uh… Captain?”

“Huh? What, what’s going on?”

“The… Captain gave me a mission… .”

“Oh, that?”

The platoon leader yawned and waved his hands.

“Do it yourself.”

“…Did I mishear you?”

“You heard me right.”

The 1st Platoon Leader responded with an annoyed tone. It wasn’t just his words; his annoyance and irritation were clearly evident from his expression.

‘Ah, shit….’

If a retired lieutenant, who is said to be unable to keep up with even a sergeant major or a sergeant with some experience when it comes to sucking up honey, reacts like that, it means that it is quite a bother.

Shin Ye-bin, who realized that she was in quite a difficult situation, immediately started to think.

“I, platoon leader.”

“Huh?”

“Then, can I take a few kids with me? I guess I can’t do it alone… .”

“What… Okay.”

“Thank you.”

Okay, Shin Ye-bin, who had been saluting, walked out of the administrative office with somewhat angry steps.

“Hey.”

“Private Han Seung-ah, what’s going on?”

“You and some kids, let’s do something together.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Do you hate it?”

“No!”

Why did this normally cheerful girl start acting like she didn’t need to when work came up? Shin Ye-bin sighed at the fact that there was no other girl she could trust.

“Gather everyone together. It’s for the comfort unit.”

“Okay, good luck!”

It’s such a beggarly greeting no matter when I hear it. Shin Ye-bin nodded vaguely and turned her back.

‘… went?’

Han Seung-ah, who confirmed that Shin Ye-bin had completely left, shook her head and went out to the smoking room at the back of the barracks.

“Sigh… .”

“Oh, you’re having a hard time!”

“Good luck!”

A beggarly greeting heard while smoking a cigarette. Han Seung-ah, who felt disgusted without realizing it, shook her hand and took out a pack of cigarettes from her bosom.

Chick, chick–.

After a while, Han Seung-ah stopped smoking a cigarette as she was about to blow out the smoke.

“…Hey, let’s do something.”

“What are you talking about…?”

The installation of comfort units in the front lines, gate management, and security units seemed to be proceeding smoothly.

***

“…is it here?”

“Yes. A soldier will come to guide you shortly.”

“Really? Then… .”

One of my sisters grabbed my cheeks and rubbed them.

“Do-yoon, your sisters have to go now… Can you be okay on your own?”

“Yes.”

I’m not a kid or anything.

“Okay… See you later tonight.”

“Yes.”

A desert so devastated that I couldn’t believe it was the Korea I knew. A rough sandy wind blew and brushed my cheek.

‘If you work in a place like this, you’ll probably develop a mental illness you never had before… .’

I heard that it’s because of magic. They say that places that were originally deserts can become jungles, and lush forests can dry up and die overnight.

They said I only had to stay until the war ended, but I already felt like everything was going dark because I had to live in a place like this.

“This way.”

“Ah, yes…!”

As we walked a little following Yang Geum-hee’s instructions, we came across structures that looked like rows of container boxes.

“……?”

“It looks like a pretty good place. The heating is also good.”

I guess it’s not as great as the spacious penthouse I was living in until just now, but that’s to be expected.

“Those who arrived first will also be waiting. You can hear the detailed explanation there.”

“Yes.”

The building that Yang Geum-hee walked into was occupied by men with exotic faces, each of whom seemed to be from a different country.

“Ah, you’re here?”

“Oh… What is this kid?”

“Haha! Nice to meet you, buddy!”

“… … .”

What is this? I want to go back…

After a very small commotion, I was able to at least communicate with the men inside.

First, the name of the man with the bright blond hair that stands out and his unusually cheerful personality is Liam. He said that he came from a poor country in Southern Europe and came here for money.

I heard that most men from the same country sell their bodies for money like Liam, but it was information I didn’t necessarily want to know.

“Hahaha, I guess I should just sit here too? Look, I can speak Korean to some extent now.”

Well, I’m using a translator right now…

It was amazing. I could understand everything these people were saying just by putting them in my ears.

The second was a black-haired man with a slender build and calm features. His name was Wheeler, and again, for similar reasons to Liam.

He was from a country in Eastern Europe that was not doing well, and as soon as he saw the job posting put out by the Korean government, he came without any hesitation.

“I would like to live here like that person, but… it’s not easy to obtain Korean citizenship.”

…Korean citizenship? Why?

I’ll have to look into it separately next time. No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t seem like a joke…

The last one is a boy who is about 1-2cm taller than me, with dark reddish brown hair and green eyes.

He was the loudest and the friendliest guy I’ve ever met.

“Percy, from Ireland. Age is a secret.”

Percy waved his hand with a smile. I don’t know why he’s so tense, but it’s fortunate that he doesn’t seem to have a bad personality.

“Have you all finished greeting each other?”

Ahem, Yang Geum-hee coughed in vain, approached the wall, and touched something.

Phew! A screen began to appear on the wall, as if it had been projected onto the wall by a beam projector.

“…Oh.”

Percy’s quiet exclamation. The others didn’t say anything, but they seemed quite curious. Of course, I was too.

“You’ve probably heard the explanation before, but there’s only one thing you have to do here.”

The words ‘Comfort Unit Progress Plan’ appeared on the screen.

“Mental health care for soldiers serving in the unit. That’s why we hired you.”

Well, that’s something I already knew. But the question is what to do about it.

“Can I ask you a question?!”

“Yes, feel free to do so.”

Percy, wearing glasses that he couldn’t figure out where he got them from, raised his hand and asked brightly.

“How should I take care of my mental health?”

“Um… .”

Instead of answering, Yang Geum-hee tapped the screen twice.

1. Comforting performance operation

2. Comforting counseling operation

“?”

I rubbed my eyes a few times and looked again, thinking I might have read it wrong, but no matter how much I looked at it, the written content was the same.

“What is that… consolation performance operation?”

“Just go up on the specially prepared stage and show something you prepared in advance. It can be a song, a dance, or even a talent show.”

“Then the comfort counseling operation is… .”

“This is literally a consultation. You can talk to the soldier who requested the consultation one-on-one.”

Don’t you usually just call it a performance or a consultation?

‘Why do you insist on adding the word ‘operation’ at the end?’

In every world, the armies looked the same.

“Excuse me, can I ask you a question?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Percy raised his hand and tilted his head.

“Do you decide in advance what to do for a performance or something like that? Or do we have to prepare it separately?”

“Ah… .”

Yang Geum-hee’s expression changed to one of slight embarrassment.

“We will probably prepare it for you. Do you have a specific direction in mind?”

“Um… No!”

“Okay, I understand. If anyone else has any questions or suggestions, please feel free to let me know.”

“Yes.”

After that, there were a few more presentations, a few knocks on the door, and a few women in military uniforms came in and saluted.

“Loyalty. This is Private Shin Ye-bin.”

“Oh, okay.”

Yang Geum-hee nodded toward us after receiving their brief salute.

“These are the new comfort women. Take good care of them.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, I’ll be going now.”

Yang Geum-hee nodded slightly at us and walked out the door, seemingly receiving a salute from the soldiers.

“Then this way… .”

The female soldier, who introduced herself as Corporal Shin Ye-bin, began to guide the way, hesitantly.

‘…Is that okay?’

Hey, no, right?