“Sigh. I’m dead tired.”
Current time: 11:30 AM.
Upon arrival at the guerrilla camp, the first task was to unpack at the accommodations.
Park Jinsung was the one drenched in sweat, but surprisingly, it was the principal who seemed more flustered.
‘What’s with that refreshed expression? Shouldn’t he be carried off in an ambulance?’
The principal didn’t even realize his jaw had dropped at the sight of Park Jinsung walking away leisurely.
“Oh dear. You’ve worked hard.”
Park Jinsung nonchalantly returned the backpack and casually headed to the accommodations. He even kept his own backpack on while returning the others.
“Huff, puff!”
“Argh!”
The other company members couldn’t control their dripping sweat and failed to manage their expressions. They were long engulfed in an inescapable tiredness.
That’s the norm.
‘What kind of person is he…!’
Even the principal, who did nothing, complained about his potbelly simply because of the weather.
“Hehe.”
But look at that F-grade loser’s smile. Where on earth does such absurd stamina come from?
Beep.
<Ministry of Public Administration and Security Safety Alert>
Heat advisory as of 10:00 AM today.
Heat warning expected at 1:00 PM,
Temperatures to exceed 35 degrees.
Avoid outdoor activities, drink plenty of water, and take care of your health.
The principal’s smartphone alerted him to the current heat advisory and the impending heat warning.
The message from the Ministry of Public Administration and Security added an extra layer of legend to Park Jinsung’s already legendary march.
“Hehehe. I feel like I’m under some sort of spell.”
Exhausted from the constant surprises, the principal trudged toward the officers’ accommodations.
“Oh my. Why are the facilities like this?”
Park Jinsung, briefly catching his breath, sighed at the state of the accommodations in the guerrilla camp.
The camp was divided into two buildings, presumably to separate men and women for sleeping arrangements.
Though all guerrilla training was co-ed, it was necessary to separate by gender due to physiological needs.
Each room accommodated about 30 people.
Each room was structured with six military-style bunk beds. It was an outdated form of accommodation where each person was allotted one locker.
“Well… as long as there’s a place to sleep….”
Rooms were assigned based on combat capability, with five rooms each for men and women.
Kim Seyun and Byun Kiyoung proudly took the first room, while Park Jinsung almost seemed cast aside into the fifth room.
Each locker had a name tag attached for convenience.
“Hmm.”
There were also number tags for the combat uniforms and bulletproof helmets to be used during training. From now on, everyone would be identified by the numbers on their head and chest.
<Trainee No. 367>
Park Jinsung’s number was the very last among the 367 members of the 2nd Company,
“Sigh.”
The much-anticipated number 367.
-…Announcement to each barracks.
The speaker attached to the ceiling, addressing the weary and confused company members, spoke.
-Current time: meal assembly. Assemble at the guerrilla drill ground for meals. Wear your bulletproof helmets and assemble promptly.
“Huh? Corporal Ahn Sungho? Is that his voice?”
It was a familiar voice, not just to Park Jinsung but also to other company members.
“Whoa. So, it’s true that Corporal Ahn Sungho is in charge.”
“Is this for real? I don’t think I can last even half a day.”
The fifth room, where Park Jinsung was, naturally consisted only of the weakest members of the 2nd Company.
From the 1st to the 10th Squad, it was an elite group of the weakest, carefully selected for their lack of strength.
Naturally, they were the ones pushed out of the competitive rankings.
“…….”
Everyone moved to assemble, but their expressions were already heavy with a sense of defeat.
“…Current time: 12:00 PM. Finish eating by 1:00 PM and rest until 2:00 PM. Got it?”
On the stage at the drill ground, the instructor was present, and below him were ten assistant instructors waiting.
“Yes, sirrrrrrrrrr!”
Indeed, the authority of Instructor Ahn Sungho was immense.
Even with a not-so-loud voice, everyone quieted down on their own, and the responses were automatically made in a booming decibel.
The assistant instructors, standing at ease in front of the 2nd Company members, were also impressive.
Their unwavering stance made one doubt whether there was really only a year’s difference in age.
“The assistant instructors will guide you to the dining area. The first room will now be called Squad 1. Squad 1 will start eating. Commence.”
“Commenceeeeeeeeeee!!!”
Following Ahn Sungho’s command, they started moving to eat in numerical order.
Gobble, gobble, gobble!
Nom…! Yum…!
The members with lower numbers achieved both eating voraciously and slowly at the same time. They took a lot of time and ate a lot.
‘Wow… that’s harsh.’
By the time Squad 5 got to eat, there was almost nothing but leftovers. The lack of consideration was blatantly obvious.
“What are you looking at!”
“You got a problem?!”
There were even those who blatantly sneered at Squad 5.
“…….”
But Squad 5, seemingly very accustomed to such attitudes, couldn’t even lift their heads.
The situation where they couldn’t even eat properly was indeed harsh. To think that their meal was replaced with insults!
‘It’s meant to be eaten by everyone!’
Frustrated alone, Park Jinsung secretly approached Instructor Ahn Sungho.
* * *
“I really… can’t handle this training…”
Returning to their accommodation, everyone in Squad 5 repeated their grievances.
“How can we get injured in a way that’s not painful?”
“We can’t even afford to get hurt… because of the military doctor…”
To them, it was an unavoidable reality.
There was no Edeya to help, nor anything else to fill in its place.
As always, wherever, whenever.
They just waited for these humiliations to pass while being pointed at and scorned by others.
“Hehe. Everyone, have some of these.”
Whoosh!
Park Jinsung, who had returned to the accommodation unnoticed, spilled a pile of snacks onto the floor.
“What’s this!”
“You’re Park Jinsung, right! Where did all these come from?!”
It was enough for about 30 people to have a meal. The inclusion of drinks only added to Park Jinsung’s charm.
“How did you bring all this alone, no, where did you bring it from?!”
“Oh, don’t worry about where it came from. Just think of this as the last time, and eat to your heart’s content. And don’t forget, it’s a total secret.”
The snacks, of course, had come from Ahn Sungho.
[What is it, Park Jinsung?]
Ahn Sungho, always a proponent of diligent effort, had not been much interested in Squad 5, who had abandoned their efforts.
[I’m hungry!]
But the problem was, as always, Park Jinsung.
The legend of carrying two backpacks and a steel ball had already spread enthusiastically among the assistant instructors.
As the leader of the HT, Ahn Sungho could hardly hide his delight. When Park Jinsung came to him, he almost embraced him without realizing it.
[Oh, Sergeant.]
[Hmm. Call me ‘instructor’, Trainee No. 367.]
[Squad 5 didn’t get much to eat! I’d like to fill my stomach properly before the training starts!]
[Hehe. I’ve heard about the march. That must have been quite the warm-up.]
[Hehe. Just fill my stomach, and I’m ready anytime.]
A madman who did a crazy march and another who took it casually.
[Haha…]
[Ahem.]
The assistant instructors listening to the conversation seriously wondered if these two were insane.
Ahn Sungho scraped together all the snacks from the instructor’s room and gave them to Park Jinsung. The instructors were painfully aware that just then, Ju Ye happened to be at the female soldiers’ accommodation.
“Hehe.”
Park Jinsung watched Squad 5 eagerly filling their stomachs with a contented smile.
“Sob. I never knew the snacks I ate yesterday could taste this good.”
“Filling up on snacks and it doesn’t feel wrong at all.”
“Hehe. Did everyone enjoy the snacks?”
Park Jinsung sat down amiably among the members of Squad 5.
“Can we call you Jinsung now?!”
“Jinsung, you’re our hero.”
“Why are you all like this over some snacks? I’m embarrassed.”
“The guys with the lower numbers couldn’t have eaten this many snacks, right? It’s all thanks to you.”
“Oh? If you’re that grateful, can you promise me one thing?”
Park Jinsung, who had been smiling all this while, suddenly switched to a cold expression.
Although his face was stern, to Squad 5, it felt more reassuring than anything else.
“It might be funny to react like this over some snacks, but somehow, I feel like I can trust you right now.”
“Me too!”
“You’re our Squad 5 Leader, Jinsung.”
Park Jinsung, now elevated to the status of Squad 5 Leader, looked around at his squad members.
Despite being weak, they were all Private First Classes. There was no one else without rank insignia except for Park Jinsung himself.
The irony of the situation was palpable, with Private First Classes eagerly awaiting the words of a trainee.
“During this training period, never give up. That’s the only promise I ask from you.”
“But how?”
“We have poor Edeya and can’t do much…”
“Is there anyone here who wants to become stronger? Or is that a silly question?”
A brief silence followed.
Who wouldn’t want to be stronger? It’s just that they lacked confidence in themselves, the vision for the future, or a method to achieve it.
“Remember this: there is no hierarchy in souls. As long as you don’t give up, I will make you stronger.”
“Really…? But you’re also…”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t believe that. How are you going to do it? You’re the F-grade two-time champion.”
These were the doubts that naturally surfaced.
Park Jinsung’s combat capability was the lowest in the 2nd Company and even among all the first years. Despite rumors of his monstrous scores recently, officially, nothing had changed.
“You will change, and so will I. The question is whether you can follow me or not.”
“I want to follow! I’m tired of being beaten up all the time!”
“Yes! I saw our Squad Leader fight a 3rd-year corporal! The Leader must know something for sure!”
“Of course, I want to be stronger. Who doesn’t? But still…”
Half doubted, half believed and followed.
“You can doubt as much as you want. Just don’t give up during these four nights and five days.”
Suddenly, Park Jinsung took a position as if sitting in an invisible chair.
It hadn’t even been two hours since he finished the march. No one else in the 2nd Company could hold that position at that moment.
Despite everything, Park Jinsung continued silently with the invisible chair exercise. It almost seemed as if there was an actual chair beneath him.
“…….”
The silent exhibition of the invisible chair and its observance by others extended for several minutes.
The invisible chair silently communicated to Squad 5, who had always led an extra existence, that this was their chance to follow along.
This was an opportunity. Opportunities don’t exist in the past or the future.
Nod.
Nod nod.
Eventually, Squad 5, having reached an unspoken consensus, began to emulate Park Jinsung, one by one.
Naturally, their legs wobbled, and some collapsed as soon as they attempted to sit in the invisible chair.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you fall. Just keep trying to follow.”
Wobble, thud. Wobble, thud.
Room 5 was the quietest compared to the earlier groups, except for the constant sounds of bodies hitting the floor.
Eyes full of vitality in contrast to their exhausted bodies.
Private First Classes kept falling around the trainee, who was steadfast in his invisible chair.
Glare!!
The stares of the Private First Classes at the trainee resembled a kind of fanaticism.
* * *
“Trainee No. 1, what do you think is the reason for physical training in this era dominated by Edeya?”
“Hmph…”
Kim Seyun, who was asked by Instructor Ahn Sungho, made a subtly displeased face. She thought she could easily surpass Ahn Sungho.
However, the difference between an instructor and a trainee was not something even Kim Seyun could easily dismiss.
Current time: 3:05 PM.
All trainees were assembled at the drill ground.
Thanks to Ahn Sungho’s consideration, they had an extra hour of rest, but considering the morning’s march, it was still a forced march. Without the excellent medical officer, this schedule would have been impossible.
“Trainee No. 1, your answer?”
“Physical strength is fundamental for basic movements…”
“That’s enough. From now on, responses will be limited to ‘Ack!’”
Ahn Sungho abruptly cut off Kim Seyun’s response.
Even considering it was Ahn Sungho, it was an absurd way of communicating. But with his sheer presence, he managed to suppress any dissent.
‘Hmph! He asks me a question and then cuts me off like that? No wonder our trainee is getting weirder, it’s because of him!’
“Trainee No. 1… your response?”
“Ah, Ack!!”
“Your response?”
“Kyaaaaaaaack!!”
“Excellent. If the response had been quieter, I might have changed your position to No. 368.”
‘Crazy man!’
Even the indomitable Kim Seyun felt the urge to curse but somehow managed to hold back.
“Now, we will begin PT exercises. Even if you foam at the mouth and faint, or your heart stops from the strain, don’t worry too much.”
“Oh… don’t overwork me too much…”
Where Ahn Sungho’s firm finger pointed stood the battalion’s beauty, the medical officer.
Her white coat fit like a sleek coat, accentuating her figure splendidly. However, naturally, no one in the company could afford to pay attention to that.
“It’s just a taste today, so don’t worry too much.”
Ahn Sungho spoke quietly to the medical officer, but the whole company was silent with fear.
Except for one person.
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