Ch.244Chapter 10. I’m Not a Dine-and-Dasher (4)

When I was first possessed, there was a meme that had spread like a trend.

“You bastard… ATTENTION!”

Some people had actually experienced it firsthand, while others knew someone who had suffered from it.

It was something that emerged from the unique environment of the military—an element that made even veterans say “This is too much” among all the various incidents that occurred within the military.

The so-called “Marine literature.”

It spread like a trend, and although I didn’t want to know about it, I ended up learning a little.

“Why does this person keep saying ‘attention’ when they’re not even a Marine?”

“What kind of meme is this… ugh.”

The content was quite hardcore.

It could be described as black comedy itself, and when it became “Marine essays,” I couldn’t help but feel horror and shock.

So what about this world?

In this world where General Akrang’s coup in Thailand was resolved by just a few dozen 17-year-old high school girls, how does the military operate?

“Is the military any different?”

“Surprisingly, it is.”

“No, why would it be different…?”

The military in this world has changed tremendously.

“Our country has become the greatest in the world! But should we still be using canteens from the Korean War? Let’s change the canteens first!”

“Tae Chae-jin! Tae Chae-jin! Tae Chae-jin!”

Perhaps it’s because it became the world’s strongest country.

“If I become a member of the National Assembly, I will propose a bill to raise soldiers’ salaries to at least the level of entry-level civil servants!”

“Tae Chae-jin! Tae Chae-jin! Tae Chae-jin!”

“I said that, but I wouldn’t actually do it. Sigh, even getting 800,000 won would be… wait, what?”

“Tae Chae-jin! Tae Chae-jin! Tae Chae-jin!”

Perhaps it’s because as the country became wealthy, a man who shouted promises to attract soldiers’ votes actually committed the act of fulfilling those promises.

“If I become president, we will no longer face the threat of North Korean nuclear weapons! That’s right! Go ahead and try launching a nuclear missile! Once Lord of Radiant Wings deploys, it’s over!”

“Tae Chae-jin! Tae Chae-jin! Tae Chae-jin!”

Perhaps it’s because they could deploy ability users against North Korea, so they no longer had to fear nuclear missiles.

“Mr. President, why are you putting so much effort into changing the military?”

“If ability users become demons while in the military, could we handle that?”

“Couldn’t we just stash ability users somewhere else and give them cushy duties?”

“Don’t ability users have friends? Don’t they have peers around them? What would happen to their mental state if they suddenly heard that someone they knew died or got injured in a military accident?”

Or perhaps it’s because they couldn’t help but pay attention to the factor of “ability users.”

“We absolutely cannot allow ability users to become demons due to bad practices in the military.”

“If we just cover it up like before…”

“Can it really be covered up? Who would people involved in such accidents turn to with their grievances? What if they hold a one-person protest and a hero happens to see it? What then?”

“That’s…”

“The old ways no longer work! Change your thinking! We now live in a world where we must strive for a society that is ‘just’ by social standards!”

It’s an era where one must never upset ability users.

It’s a world where one must help manage the unstable psychology of ability users when they witness the dark shadows of society they never knew about and experience shock and fear.

As a result, surprisingly, the military in this world has changed tremendously.

Just listing three ways in which Korea’s military in this world differs from the original world shows how much it has changed.

First: Transition to a volunteer military system.

Second: Treating enlisted soldiers like entry-level civil servants.

Reading the novel, one might think, “Is this just the unpublished author’s fantasy of how the military should be when he has to serve?” It has improved that much.

Of course, this improvement is just what’s shown in the author’s novel.

“Back in my day…”

No matter how much the military changes, it’s still the military, and military generals are at least 40 or 50 years old.

Even though those who had just completed their service or were students during the Great Cataclysm began to rise to key positions in the military, changing the most rigid organization is not easy.

The transition to a volunteer system was only seriously discussed and implemented after North Korea’s collapse.

Anyway, the military in this world changed significantly after the Great Cataclysm.

Its role remains the same, but at least its outward appearance has changed considerably.

Perhaps it’s because of the third factor.

“I will create places where E-class and D-class ability users can normally enter society! I will prepare an environment where these young adults in their early twenties can easily integrate into our society!”

This too is related to ability users.

“Female E-class and D-class ability users in their early twenties who volunteer will become non-commissioned officers in each military branch!”

It’s because the military is one of the places where one can have the closest and most frequent contact with ability users.

Ah.

Really.

Where is the limit to the madness of a nationalist light novel?

Even the military was somehow made to look good with all sorts of settings attached, and at its foundation was a single word.

“Sigh. I wish I could go to the military and meet an E-class female non-commissioned officer and start something.”

“Come on. My friend who was discharged said that the civilian workers there hit on them every day.”

“Still, where else would we meet female ability users? We have to go there.”

“…Challenge? Think of it as earning 40 million won a year, want to try?”

That word is:

“Hehe. Just having a girlfriend in her early twenties who’s an ability user would be amazing, but if you marry her and have kids, wouldn’t that be a life-changing opportunity?”

“Patriotism.”

All roads lead to patriotism.

“Assay! According to our long tradition, we will now implement camaraderie…”

“Camaraderie?! Shut up!! We should be focusing on patriotism, not camaraderie! Do you want to create demons?!”

“Ah, no. It’s just… that arrogant bastard…”

“You’re going to do that to someone whose little sister is an ability user? Do you want to be dishonorably discharged?!”

“Gasp…!!”

“If you understand, don’t mess with my brother-in-law!”

And because one must be patriotic, Marine literature no longer exists in this world, remaining only as a classic of history.

* * *

At Phuket Airport in Thailand, a crowd has gathered.

It’s natural for an international airport to always be busy, but the crowd gathered at the airport was quite different from usual.

There were many journalists who came to cover the large-scale incident in Phuket, and many who came to see what would happen next.

But most gathered at the airport to see the people arriving from far away by plane.

“Hoo…”

“Are you nervous, Nguyen Ong Bac?”

“Yes.”

Now the undisputed A-class No. 1 in Thailand, Nguyen Ong Bac, who showed heroic qualities in resolving the recent large-scale disturbance, came to the airport dressed in a black suit.

Just a few days ago, he wore the most ordinary clothes when he came here, but now he had to wear a luxury brand suit brought directly from the association.

The A-class No. 1 is the face of the country.

Now that Laplace has defiled Thailand’s national flag, a hero’s face that anyone can sympathize with is needed.

Nguyen is someone who can fully satisfy that condition.

After all, Nguyen himself uncovered Laplace’s identity with that determination.

“…Those people will be arriving soon.”

“Yes. You’re amazing, Nguyen. How did you come up with the necessary measures for these children so quickly?”

Nguyen felt unnecessarily nervous at the casual remark from the association employee.

The feeling that the remark seemed to say, “Was it a method suggested by The Syndicate behind you?” was clearly paranoia.

All of Thailand is making Nguyen a hero.

But if people found out that Nguyen’s heroic actions were staged by The Syndicate, his image would plummet.

He must not be discovered.

The moment he is discovered, The Syndicate will attack Nguyen, claiming they have no relationship with him.

Because they swore not to be discovered, Nguyen always had to be careful, extremely careful.

“…I once saw a documentary about Korea. Do you know PD Special Forces?”

“Of course I know. Isn’t it uploaded on the internet?”

“Among the content, there was a place that conducts so-called ‘mental education’ for children. A video about those who teach the importance of unity in society and groups.”

Clunk.

The waiting room door opened.

Soon, a group of people came out from inside pulling their carriers, and camera flashes began to burst.

“Kyaaaah!”

The women gathered in the waiting room screamed like pterodactyls.

Just as they had cheered for Armored Taejo in the competition in Korea between two S-class heroes, many cheered for those who passed through the gate and entered the waiting room.

“Thank you for coming such a long way, Red Brassard. I am Nguyen Ong Bac.”

“Thank you for coming all the way to the airport. You can just call me ‘Red Tag’.”

The muscular young man who called himself “Red Tag” smiled innocently.

“Official hero name Red Brassard, Jung Sang-in. I’m an A-class hero affiliated with the Hero Association, and currently a captain in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps.”

“…It seems a bit much to call someone like you ‘Red Tag’.”

“Haha. Everyone calls me that. Red tag. It’s originally an armband, but calling it a red armband sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it?”

He speaks with a gentle smile and looks kind, but his true nature is on par with or greater than Nguyen’s.

“Anyway, let’s go straight to where the children are. That’s all I could think about on the plane.”

Jung Sang-in.

21 years old.

Classified as A+ class in Korea, but if he were to immigrate to Thailand right now, he would be hailed as S-class.

“…To prevent them from becoming villains or demons, and thus to prevent them from being killed by executioners or anyone else. I will instill an unwavering strong mentality. I will show you the full power of the ghost-hunting Marines.”

Flutter.

Jung Sang-in took something out from his chest.

It was a hat that was entirely red, unlike regular digital patterns, and its angular shape formed an octagon.

A man who is both a Marine and a hero.

A man who chose the path of a Marine on his own while being an A+ class ability user and a hero due to his father’s influence.

Click.

The moment Jung Sang-in put on the red octagonal hat as if donning a steel helmet, the atmosphere at the airport instantly sank.

“…Well then, shall we go?”

Red Brassard’s eyes shone brightly.

“I will thoroughly straighten out the minds of Laplace’s children. I will thoroughly beat out the ghost of Laplace that has taken root in their heads.”

Phuket.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong. Although our environments were different, they are all ability users just like us.”

Ten ability users from the Korean Marine Corps arrived in Phuket by plane.

“I will teach them the spirit of unity clearly.”

For the “resocialization” of the brainwashed children.

* * *

“An ability user choosing to become a soldier. Korea has too many crazy guys.”

“Crazy guys? Come on, brother. There are plenty of crazy women too. Those female officers following behind, I think there’s a mix of E-class and D-class among them.”

“…Korea has too many crazy heroes.”

Too many people crazy about justice.

“Who in the world would volunteer for military service to serve their country, especially an ability user, and an A-class at that?”

Even fiction has its limits.

“That’s what makes them heroes.”

“……”

One who serves the country and volunteers for military service to protect the citizens.

Such people, we call heroes.