16. Lovely Mr. Love.

“Yes. I’m on vacation for a week starting today.”

 

I didn’t really need that much detail. Is he a surprisingly nice guy?

 

 

“Ohora. Well, since we’ve met like this, how about we spend the day together?”

“Wh-what are you saying! What are you trying to do to the Lieutenant Colonel-nim!”

 

Nam-gun is freaking out.

Seeing him overreact like this, he must be pretty smitten.

 

 

In times like these… forcing it isn’t much fun.

I need to make Han Sarang choose me herself, so that annoying Nam-gun feels self-loathing and despair. Keu keu. Isn’t that the true taste of ntl?

 

 

“Well… the owner who governs this city, and the leader-nim of the military unit stationed here for maintaining public order and suppressing armed forces in case of emergency, regardless of ability, should definitely meet and talk. Don’t you think so? I don’t know what your rank is, but I wish the jjamjji would get lost.”

“Jja, jjamjji?? A guy who hasn’t even been to the army!”

 

Of course, that’s right. But you see,

 

 

“Nwan…I don’t go, originally. Yellow is…Dwaelli.”

“…What?”

“Why I…don’t go to the army…you know? I became…an adventurer instead of a soilder back then.”

“Wait, is that a Mr. Sunshine impression?”

 

 

The secretary-ssi retreats in shock.

Hmm. Is it not similar?

 

 

“You bastard! Making fun of people-!”

“Enough. It would be best if you return now.”

“Lieutenant Colonel-nim!”

“Shall we have a cup of keophi? Don’t-refuse.”

“…I’ll consider it if you drop that 말투.”

 

 

Tch. Too bad. It was fun.

 

 

“It’s a bit of an ambiguous time, but how about we have a meal together?”

“Who would with a guy like you-.”

“Captain Im Hak-bong, I’ve said it twice already. Are you ignoring me because I’m a woman?”

“N-no! I’ll return!”

 

His name is Hak-bong? What a strange name.

 

 

“I mean, I don’t mind if that person comes along too?”

 

 

It’s actually better to have him around.

 

 

“I’m a soldier. I must be faithful to my duty.”

“Hmm. You’re quite rigid.”

“It’s common sense.”

 

Are the secretary-ssi and I a surprisingly good match?

 

 

“Where shall I take you?”

“Before that, let’s stop by my house. I can’t really take Mallang-i with me.”

“Ah.”

 

That’s right. You can’t take a dog everywhere you go.

 

 

“Do you only raise one? I heard that’s not good.”

“I have two. Mullang-i and Mallang-i. Mullang-i is in the hospital.”

“Aha.”

 

Fortunately, the house is nearby.

I can drop her off and pick her up again.

What should we eat? Should we have coffee first and then eat?

 

“I’ll give you a ride. Lieutenant Colonel-nim.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Keu…that bastard…what is he thinking?”

 

 

Captain Im Hak-bong, who had been walking back to his unit after being scolded by Lieutenant Colonel Han Sarang.

But soon, his steps came to a halt.

 

He absolutely couldn’t leave Han Sarang with such a piece of trash.

He was already famous for being a pervert, and recently, he became a hot topic for supposedly hiring maids.

 

 

“Absolutely…I can’t just let it go!”

 

 

A bad person even has power. Han Sarang may have become a high-ranking officer, but in the end, without soldiers and weapons to assist her, she’s just a woman who knows some martial arts. If he lures her to a secluded place and has bad intentions, Han Sarang is done for.

 

 

“Kuaaaaa!”

 

 

In the end, he made a serious decision.

 

 

“I have to follow…I’m going to follow!!”

 

 

He ran back to where Yoo-eun and Han Sarang were likely to be.

By a stroke of luck, they were just about to leave.

Han Sarang was getting into Yoo-eun’s sports car.

 

 

Pudeuk.

 

 

“Why does trash like that have so much money!!”

 

 

He hurriedly hailed a taxi.

 

“Follow that car. The Lamborghini.”

“Yes?”

 

 

The taxi driver turned his head and scanned Im Hak-bong up and down.

 

 

“Hey…do you have money?”

“Ah. I have plenty of money, so hurry! I’m going to lose them!”

“Geez….”

 

 

The driver reluctantly started following Yoo-eun’s car.

 

 

‘Wait for me! Lieutenant Colonel-nim!’

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought it would be better to eat first, so I drove Aheuk-i to a meat restaurant.

 

 

“Do you like steak? There’s a delicious place in Incheon.”

“I do. But I’m uncomfortable with places that are too expensive. I’m a soldier with no money.”

“Eyy. I’ll pay for that much. The Lieutenant Colonel-nim can at least buy me coffee.”

“Wouldn’t that be too unbalanced?”

“Then give me something else.”

 

Like motel fees.

 

 

Once we roughly decided, the secretary-ssi in the passenger seat made a phone call and made a reservation in advance.

 

 

“By the way, are you dating that guy from earlier?”

“…? I don’t understand the question.”

“I mean…are you in a relationship with that male soldier from earlier…something like that.”

“I understood the question itself. I don’t understand why you’re asking that question.”

“Well….”

 

 

What. Did she not notice? Does she not know at all? He’s being so obvious, though?

 

 

“Captain Im Hak-bong is a capable soldier. He is loyal to the country, risking everything for his mission. Not having a girlfriend at his age shows how strong his convictions are as a soldier.”

 

No…that guy likes you. You blockhead.

 

 

“I…see. They seemed to be on pretty good terms.”

“He’s been my adjutant since I was a Major.”

“Adjutant? Do Majors have adjutants?”

 

 

I thought that was only for generals…

 

 

“As a special case, adjutants are assigned to battalion commanders or higher in the Dungeon Security Force.”

“Aha….”

 

 

In the police force, being in a neighborhood in Dungeon City is almost like being demoted, but it’s different in the military…it means you’re quite influential.

 

 

“When a man and a woman are that close, it’s natural to think there might be some feelings involved, but isn’t it actually the Lieutenant Colonel-nim who likes him? Hehe.”

“….”

 

 

Han Sarang-ssi glanced back at me.

 

 

Ah. That expression with no possibility whatsoever. It’s like she’s saying, ‘Stop talking nonsense.’

 

 

“Hehe. Never mind. That was a really definitive expression.”

“He’s just a comrade.”

“I see.”

 

 

I feel so bad for him. Kuk kuk.

 

 

“Rather than that, now that we’ve met like this, I’d like to talk about some more practical matters.”

“Practical matters! Sounds good. But shouldn’t we eat first? It’s still work, after all.”

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Shibal…!”

 

 

The place Yoo-eun and Han Sarang went into.

It was a high-class restaurant from the entrance.

 

 

No matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t a place a soldier could casually enter.

 

 

“Wh-what should I do….”

 

He doesn’t have much money saved up, is it okay to waste money in a place like this???

Besides, he just paid over 40,000 won for the taxi??

 

 

He was conflicted like that, but only for a moment, before he opened the door and entered with the confident stride of a soldier.

 

 

“Welcome.”

 

A staff member greets him with a bright smile.

 

“Um…eueum….”

 

 

Even the clothes the waiter is wearing look expensive.

He shrinks back involuntarily.

 

 

“How many people are in your party, sir?”

 

 

A young woman approaches with a smile.

Ah. She’s pretty.

 

 

“O-one…person.”

“Ah…one person…? Excuse me, but are you a soldier?”

“Yes.”

“Eueum..”

 

She makes a slightly troubled expression.

Then she radios somewhere, with a not-so-good expression.

 

 

‘What…are they ignoring me…!’

 

 

He feels bad.

What’s wrong with being a soldier!

 

 

“Um…sir…I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’d be comfortable using our restaurant.”

“Yes??”

 

I mean, how expensive can it be to say something like that…!

 

 

 

“I’ll pay for him.”

 

 

While he was burning with anger,

Someone approached from the side.

 

 

“Heok…!”

“….”

 

 

It’s Yoo-eun and Lieutenant Colonel Han Sarang.

Yoo-eun is smiling with his signature sly expression, and Lieutenant Colonel Han Sarang is staring at Captain Im Hak-bong with a truly cold expression.

 

 

“Insubordination and desertion…I’m curious to know what the Captain’s liver looks like.”

“A-ah, this is….”

“Well, it doesn’t matter, does it. Haha. The highest-ranking officer is here. It’s up to the Lieutenant Colonel-nim to condone it, right? Let’s just play together on a day like today.”

“….”

 

 

He’s glaring at him as if to say, ‘Just you wait,’ and he’s sweating bullets.

 

 

‘I’m dead….’

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

“The price…isn’t written…here…?”

 

The Captain is cautiously looking around, unsure whether to use formal or informal speech.

The hand holding the menu is trembling.

 

 

Hehe. This is fun in its own way. That expression overwhelmed by money, hehehe.

 

 

“Expensive places don’t usually have price tags.”

“Heut. You don’t have to worry about that, so just order whatever. You can even order everything if you want. Or take it to go.”

 

 

At the slightly dismissive remark, he glared at me.

What are you going to do if you glare?

 

 

“Isn’t this…going to get us in trouble? Lieutenant Colonel-nim.”

“Well…I don’t think it’s something you need to worry about. You’re going to die anyway.”

“Hi, hiik?”

 

Woah. When Han Sarang-ssi says something like that, it definitely doesn’t sound like a joke?

 

“What on earth were you thinking doing something like this….”

 

 

Han Sarang-ssi is glaring at the Captain, who is sitting next to her with a displeased face.

She really seems angry.

 

 

But what happens in a situation like this? Is it execution?