23. Amazing Sora.

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Hoo….”

 

 

Gangnam Garrison rear unit.

Originally, Han Sarang was stationed at the Gangnam front lines for emergencies, but thanks to the President’s consideration-or lack thereof-she was immediately reassigned to the rear after the incident. And not just any rear, but all the way back to Incheon, the very last line of defense.

 

 

Of course, she wasn’t singled out; the entire regiment was reassigned.

 

 

She is a soldier.

A soldier who vowed to dedicate her life to the nation and its people.

 

 

Naturally, she wasn’t thrilled with this measure.

Even if the entire regiment was pulled back, how could she not know? She knew why she was reassigned to the rear.

 

 

This incident scratched her pride quite deeply, and even if it didn’t, it would stick to her like a label forever.

 

 

A soldier who was deployed to the front lines but hastily reassigned to the rear when the shit hit the fan… No disgrace could be greater.

 

 

 

As if that wasn’t bad enough, what pissed her off even more was that her lover, Yoo Eun, was in open rebellion against the state.

What the hell is she thinking? If I could, I’d drag her here and slap her silly.

 

 

If she were her old self, she probably would have cut all ties with her over this incident and become strangers… no, enemies…

 

 

But with Yoo Eun’s stamp already on her, she couldn’t bring herself to make that choice. Ah, the power of sex!

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, as a result, she’s currently on edge.

If it weren’t for her duties and mission as a soldier, she might have caused a ruckus.

 

 

In that state, she briefly stepped outside. She shook off all the officers who wanted to come with her and went out alone.

 

“…?”

Perhaps that’s why, in the distance, an officer who clearly made eye contact with her turned away without saluting.

How dare he. What an outrageous thing to do.

Isn’t it mandatory to salute a superior? Especially not just any officer, but a lieutenant colonel and regimental commander!

 

 

 

“…Major Eun Yul-ryung, where are you going?”

“….”

 

 

Halt.

The officer stopped walking.

 

 

Then, reluctantly, she turned around and raised her right hand.

 

 

“Chungsung! Lieutenant Colonel Han Sarang-nim, you’ve come out.”

 

A so-called fake salute.

It’s clearly not a proper salute to anyone.

 

 

Of course, she’s not a mere soldier, nor is she inexperienced, so she can’t make a big deal out of it…

 

 

Still, it’s infuriating.

 

Academy classmate and military enlistment buddy.

And rival.

 

 

That’s why it’s even more infuriating.

 

 

 

 

Step, step.

 

 

Han Sarang’s boots moved briskly towards Major Eun Yul-ryung.

Since she hasn’t accepted the salute yet, her right hand is still stuck somewhere near her head.

 

 

 

 

“I’m pretty sure you saw me and just pretended not to, but is it just my imagination?”

“It’s your imagination, -sibnida.”

“….”

 

 

How brazen.

We clearly made eye contact, so what’s with the excuses?

 

Still, since there’s no evidence, she accepted the salute.

Only then did Yul-ryung lower her hand, and their gazes intertwined-Yul-ryung’s openly reluctant gaze and Han Sarang’s resentful glare.

 

 

“What are the soldiers doing right now?”

“…They’re resting, of course.”

 

As if to say, “Work hours are over, why are you asking such a thing?”

 

Han Sarang was initially pissed off by the sullen answer, but she let it go.

They’re classmates, the same age, and there’s no significant difference in their achievements, yet Han Sarang is receiving special treatment as a lieutenant colonel and regimental commander, so perhaps it’s a natural reaction.

 

 

So she just let it go.

 

 

“We need to encourage the soldiers and officers. They can’t go home or take leave in this situation.”

 

Han Sarang asks if there’s anything she can do.

Even at this point, she genuinely wanted to do something for the soldiers.

 

 

Regardless of how pissed off she was about the situation, it was true that the soldiers were having a hard time.

 

 

However,

 

 

 

 

“…Just staying still is what’s best for the soldiers.”

“….”

 

 

She was pissed off for the second time by the blunt truth.

 

Of course, she knows.

For someone like her, a regimental commander and lieutenant colonel… no, practically a colonel, the best thing she can do for the soldiers and officers is to just stay put and do nothing.

 

 

There’s no need to hand out rations.

There’s no need to do soldier counseling.

There’s absolutely no need to send down encouragement.

 

 

Just stay still.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay. I’m annoyed, but I understand.

The best thing is to just stay still and do nothing.

 

 

Acceptance.

 

 

Han Sarang nodded and walked past Eun Yul-ryung. Then Eun Yul-ryung asked in a puzzled tone.

 

 

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going for a walk to clear my head.”

“…This is a military camp.”

“…So?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to do something for the soldiers?”

“I did.”

“Just go back inside.”

“….”

 

I understood what she meant.

If I wander around the military camp for a walk, I’ll definitely cause a lot of trouble.

The soldiers will be on high alert, and the officers might rush out too.

 

 

But couldn’t I just sneak around? It’s not like she has a sensor attached to me… If I quietly walk around and tell everyone I meet to keep quiet, there shouldn’t be any commotion.

 

 

 

This time, Han Sarang didn’t nod but simply uttered one word.

 

 

“You’re coming with me.”

“….”

 

 

Eun Yul-ryung’s face contorted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Ah, fuck, this is boring.”

After work hours, the soldiers often engage in physical activities like soccer. Soccer, in particular, is so popular that it’s even called the Military League, with many people playing and enjoying it.

 

 

And now, after a match.

The tired soldiers with seniority casually found a place to lie down, while those with less seniority wandered around, fetching water and such.

 

 

 

“Ah, isn’t there anything fun to do?”

 

 

One of the most influential soldiers, recently promoted to sergeant, was bored and complained, then suddenly remembered something.

 

 

“Heh heh.”

 

 

A smile naturally appeared!

The victims might be filled with annoyance, but he doesn’t give a damn about that.

 

 

 

He jumped up.

 

 

Then, he spread his arms wide to the sides, as if to make the parade ground tremble,

 

 

“O incarnation of Ifrit, who governs ten thousand fires!”

 

 

He started doing some random bullshit.

 

 

He drew a circle with his arms spread to the sides, then brought them together in front of his chest and wiggled his hands as if he were touching something.

 

 

By this point, the soldiers nearby were already watching him with extreme tension.

 

 

“Grant my small wish and obliterate the enemy before my eyes!!”

 

 

He took a big step back with his left leg, lowered his stance, and brought his hands to his waist.

The already exhausted soldiers quickly gathered in front of him, muttering ‘shit’ under their breath.

 

 

“Fireball!!”

“Kyak!”

“Aak!”

 

As he stretched forward and chanted the spell, the gathered soldiers fell away with skills that rivaled Hollywood action.

 

 

Of course, nothing actually came out. It’s just the bullshit of a bored sergeant…

 

 

“Heh heh heh. Magic is truly great.”

 

 

He wasn’t satisfied with just that.

He didn’t care about the appearance of his juniors, who were sprawled on the ground covered in sand.

 

 

“Pika…”

 

He curled up his body and touched the ground like a four-legged beast,

 

 

“Pika…”

 

 

He started making the most terrifying sound.

 

 

It was truly the legendary Pika-x-chu….

Since he happened to be a rat-bastard that emits electricity, if the sergeant does this kind of thing, all the soldiers nearby have to act like they’re being electrocuted.

 

 

And this is a parade ground full of sand.

 

 

 

 

“Pika…!”

 

After repeating it several times, he finally,

 

 

 

 

“CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!”

 

 

 

He grimaced and shouted as if to make the parade ground tremble.

Now the juniors will freak out and play along-,

 

 

 

 

He smirked, but then,

 

 

 

 

“Heop…!”

 

 

The juniors, who had been lying down nervously, didn’t do the expected freak-out but stood up at the speed of light.

 

 

“Hey, what the hell are you guys doi-”

“What are you doing?”

“…?”

 

 

A woman’s voice, colder than ice.

He slowly turned his stiff neck.

 

 

 

 

 

“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

 

 

A terrifying situation that even a scream couldn’t escape.

 

It was clearly hazing, and he happened to get caught in the act by none other than the regimental commander.

 

 

No, why is the regimental commander wandering around alone… well, not exactly, but still, without making a sound!!!

Why?!

 

 

“Oh? You’re not even saluting?”

“Chu, Chung! Sung!”

 

When he hurriedly saluted, Han Sarang smacked him on the head.

 

“Ser, Sergeant Lee! Se! Min!”

 

Rank and name, in a state of great tension.

But Han Sarang didn’t stop there.

 

 

She was already pissed off because of Yoo Eun, and on top of that, she had been pissed off by Eun Yul-ryung for the first and second time, so seeing this ridiculous behavior made her explode.

 

 

“What are you doing right now?”

“I, I was doing combat training…!”

 

Thwack!

 

 

“Keuk…!”

 

He was struck in the shin with a boot that could be mistaken for a weapon.

Terrible pain.

He hadn’t been hit like this since he was a private, and now he’s getting beaten up after becoming a sergeant.

 

 

Of course, an officer assaulting a soldier is a big deal that could shake up the entire society.

 

 

But Han Sarang didn’t have time to worry about that right now.

 

“Answer properly.”

“I, I’m sorry!”

“Sorry? Is that an answer?”

“…I’m sorry!”

 

 

That’s all he can say.

 

“Regimental Commander-nim, stop there and leave it to the guys below. This could really turn into something.”

 

 

Seeing that the situation was getting serious, Eun Yul-ryung whispered urgently.

But Han Sarang didn’t back down.

 

 

“Pika-x-chu.”

“Yes… Yes?”

“Oh? Pika-x.”

 

An eye for an eye.

A tooth for a tooth.

Pika-x for Pika-x-chu.

 

 

“X-katchu. Are you deaf?”

 

Even though she’s said it for the third time, the sergeant is rolling his eyes and looking at his juniors behind him.

They all have smug expressions, but they can’t do it openly.

 

 

‘You bastards!! Are you laughing? Are you laughing???!’

 

 

He was burning with anger inside, but no matter how wild a sergeant he was, he didn’t have the guts to defy the regimental commander.

 

 

“In front of, in front of the juniors… Please, just that…”

 

Han Sarang was laughing in disbelief, so Eun Yul-ryung, who was next to her, slapped the sergeant across the face.

 

 

No matter how much of a rival and senior she didn’t want to acknowledge, how could he ignore the regimental commander’s words? This was no different from ignoring the entire officer corps.

 

 

If he doesn’t listen to the words of the highest-ranking officer, the regimental commander, would he listen to her words, who is below her? This was also a matter of her pride.

 

 

“This bastard is completely insane. Juniors? So what. Are you embarrassed? Hey, you guys, all turn around.”

“”Turn! Around!””

“Is that better now?”

“N, no….”

 

The sergeant still hesitated.

Han Sarang, who was now furious, took drastic measures.

 

 

“All corporals and above, including officers, assemble.”