Observing the frightened trainees, Ahn Sungho began to move his body in precise, energetic motions.
Guerrilla exercises.
Strength training exercises developed by the U.S. Army.
“Hut!”
Known as PT exercises, comprising 14 different movements designed to train the entire body. Even a single round could cause widespread muscle pain, earning it the nickname of ‘devil’s exercise’.
“Hut! Hut!”
Originally meant as a warm-up for basic and mountain obstacle training, the purpose had long been distorted.
Far from being a motivational tool to confront one’s physical and mental limits in extreme situations, these exercises were so demanding that they often rendered trainees incapable of participating in subsequent training.
Most South Korean men experience their peak muscle soreness from these guerrilla exercises.
“Hut! Hut! Hut!”
The truly terrifying aspect of guerrilla exercises lies in their variety. They are never taught kindly or step-by-step.
“Phew. That should be enough.”
Ahn Sungho’s demonstration ended. The trainees, who had been blankly watching, didn’t realize they were expected to memorize the routine immediately.
Ahn Sungho, deeply pulling down his combat cap, abruptly demanded they perform the guerrilla exercises.
“…Prepare for the fourth squat-thrust.”
“Sir, Sergeant! Could you show us one more time?”
“Come out.”
Trainee No. 114, like a pig being dragged to slaughter, was pulled out in front of the platform.
The assistant instructors, with their combat caps obscuring their eyes, exuded maximum charisma. The tense atmosphere heightened the apprehension among the trainees.
Snap!
An instructor silently pointed to the ground, and No. 114 performed a burpee without a word.
“I’ll show it one last time. Demonstration instructor, front and center.”
At the instructor’s command, one of the assistant instructors stepped forward to demonstrate the correct stance.
Showing the movements once more doesn’t mean the trainees can memorize all fourteen actions instantly. Obviously, this was designed for them to fail.
Although some trainees desperately tried to memorize, if even one person made a mistake, it was all for naught.
“Execute the fourth squat-thrust.”
This cursed repetitive exercise was nothing but a pretext for the regiment’s responsibility.
“Ughhhhhh.”
“I can’t… do this anymore…”
Trainees started collapsing everywhere. Relatively weaker female trainees were already half decimated.
Following the march under a heat advisory, now PT exercises under a heat warning. For these trainees who had never trained for endurance, it was a miracle they had lasted this long.
“Hmph. I can handle this.”
“Damn it! I can’t! I won’t!”
Kim Seyun and Byun Kiyoung, assigned as No. 1 and No. 2, noticeably slowed down.
“Oh…, it’s too hot, isn’t it?”
Even the medical officer, running around, felt immense pressure from the heat alone.
“Hmm…”
Ahn Sungho let out a heavy sigh of contemplation.
It might have been early, but the objective of knocking down the trainees was achieved. Just as he was about to end the exercise,
“Hehe.”
He noticed Park Jinsung and Squad 5 behind him.
Drenched in sweat, Park Jinsung’s smile was the epitome of ease. He grinned, showing off his well-brushed teeth even to Ahn Sungho and the assistant instructors.
‘Is that… Park Jinsung?! Smiling so brightly?!’
Ju Ye and the other instructors noticed Squad 5 a step later.
Not just the grinning Park Jinsung, but the rest struggling behind him were remarkable.
The trainees of Squad 5 weren’t looking at the instructors or the instructor at all.
Thud, shake. Thud, shake. Thud, shake.
They only kept glaring at Park Jinsung, falling and getting up again and again.
Their eyes were completely glazed over, as if they would perish if they lost sight of Park Jinsung for even a moment.
“Hmm. As expected from our HT.”
‘Insane… Everyone’s crazy, but Ahn Sungho, you really are something else.’
Ju Ye shook her head in disbelief, observing Ahn Sungho who seemed quite pleased. As the number of incomprehensible beings increased, she felt a throbbing headache.
“Everyone, wake up. Get up.”
Ahn Sungho personally entered among the trainees to help them stand.
“Uweeek.”
“Water… give me water…”
“Get up.”
Though some trainees were throwing up, and others seemed to be seeing things, fortunately, they seemed to hear Ahn Sungho’s words.
Ahn Sungho checked on the staggering trainees and returned to the stage.
“You’ve done well. That’s enough for today. I’ll post the list for sentry duty and guard duty, so make sure to follow the schedule. And Trainee No. 367.”
“Ack!!”
Park Jinsung’s response echoed throughout the drill ground.
“Is that all you can respond with?”
“Aaaaaaaaack!!!”
“Excellent. Judging by responses alone, Trainee No. 367 is fully qualified to be No. 1.”
“Ack?! Ack! Ack! Aaaaaaaaack!!”
Translation: Really?! Yes! Yes! Let’s gooooooack!!
“Good. I’ll make an announcement to all of you. During this guerrilla training, the ranking will be determined by the numbers. And these numbers will be subject to change by the instructors, assistant instructors, and battalion officers until the return march.”
“Aaaaaaaaack!!”
Once again, only Park Jinsung responded loudly to Ahn Sungho.
“Of course, if we only score this way, it would be too unfair. So, the rankings from other trainings will also be considered. Any questions?”
“Aaaaaaaaack!!”
Everyone had a mountain of questions but lacked the energy to ask. Park Jinsung didn’t even seem to think of questioning.
“Training for today is over. Dismissed.”
The trainees, barely able to stand, were nudged back to their accommodations by the assistant instructors. There was about an hour left before dinner time.
All rooms, except for Squad 5, hurried to shower and rest as quickly as possible.
“Sigh. Everyone can rest for tonight.”
“Huff, huff. Didn’t you say not to give up…”
“I’ll continue exercising until an hour before bedtime. Can you keep up?”
Only Squad 5 still hadn’t gotten rid of their sweat.
Their resolve was far greater than Park Jinsung had anticipated. They were pushing themselves to move despite their exhausted bodies.
It took a full 30 minutes for Park Jinsung to calm down the fervor of Squad 5.
“Rest for tonight. If you don’t want to rest, then firmly ingrain in your mind what I’m about to teach you.”
Park Jinsung passed on the physical training methods he had learned from Ahn Sungho to Squad 5.
There were various exercises to do, but only a few ways to push the body to its limits without overdoing it.
Know-how, training methods, essence.
“My goal is to get you all into HT.”
“Us? In Sergeant Ahn Sungho’s club?”
“Someone like us?”
“Just follow along well.”
After dinner, Park Jinsung started training again. All thirty Private First Classes watched the intense scene without missing a beat.
Ssshhh.
The silence of Squad 5 was notable, but the other rooms, exhausted, had fallen asleep, unaware of what Squad 5 was up to.
Time moved into the late night.
A duty roster, made by who knows whom, had Kim Seyun and Park Jinsung paired for guard duty.
As Park Jinsung stepped out to the entrance of the accommodations, Kim Seyun was waiting with a sour expression.
“Hmph. Does a Senior Private need to come out first?”
“Hehe. Sorry. The previous guard was a bit slow.”
“Well, it doesn’t really matter to me. Anyway, what’s the password for tonight?”
“The password is ‘secret love’, right.”
“Secret love? Whose sense of humor was that?”
“Why are you stammering all of a sudden? A strong senior like you can’t be sick.”
“…Shut up.”
The lone streetlamp seemed like a spotlight meant just for the two of them. However, unfortunately, the person feeling like they were in the spotlight was still only one.
“Hey, trainee.”
“Yes, Senior Private.”
“When do you plan to be the same rank as me?”
“Hehe. Very soon. Just you wait.”
“Hmph. There seem to be a lot of obstacles in your way… Shall I clear some for you?”
“Nah, I don’t want any shortcuts.”
“What does a rankless guy know. But, you know… when we’re… the same rank… will you speak informally to me?”
“Should I keep calling you ‘Senior Private’ then?”
“…No. Just, Seyun.”
‘I was hoping you’d drop the formalities and just call me by my first name.’
Kim Seyun started to say something but then bowed her head.
“Why has your voice suddenly gone so quiet? Did you swallow a worm or something?”
“Shut up… shut up shut up shut upppp!”
“Hey. Keep it down. You’ll wake up the others.”
“If that happens, I’ll kill you first.”
“Sigh. You’re the one raising your voice, why am I the one getting threatened?”
Their bickering seemed to speed up the passage of time.
Once the next guards came down, their duty for the night would be over.
Looking at their overlapping shadows, Kim Seyun spoke just before parting with Park Jinsung.
“How about it… think you can handle it?”
“Hehe… look forward to it.”
* * *
The second day of guerrilla training.
The trainees had to start running around the parade ground in circles as soon as they woke up at six.
“Only the rooms that complete seven laps can go to breakfast. Commence.”
Under Ahn Sungho’s strict supervision, no trainee dared to cheat the count.
Even the usually fierce Byun Kiyoung was jogging while spewing curses.
Thanks to the medical officer’s late-night efforts, everyone was able to run on time. But even the best medical officer couldn’t fully alleviate the muscle pain of all 367 trainees.
“Haack.”
“Huff, huff, huff.”
The 367 trainees running with muscle soreness resembled zombies.
Flailing their limbs, they desperately tried to complete the seven laps.
But even among these zombie-like runners, there were those who stood out.
‘Again?! Park Jinsung, again?!’
Ju Ye was shocked, adjusting her combat cap while observing closely.
“Hehe.”
Among the 367, only Park Jinsung was running with an effortlessly comfortable face. His steps were so light that it seemed he could finish at any moment.
What truly surprised Ju Ye this time wasn’t just Park Jinsung leading in the first place.
It was Squad 5, positioned right behind Park Jinsung.
Flash!
Squad 5, handpicked for being the weakest, was now leading the jog, with Park Jinsung at their helm.
Zombies, but faster zombies. Zombies, but with much fiercer eyes.
Crazy zombies desperately following Park Jinsung.
“Mad Zombies…”
One of the assistant instructors muttered under their breath.
Amidst the astonishment of all the assistant instructors, only Ahn Sungho wore an expression of utmost delight. It was a moment when Ju Ye’s perception of Ahn Sungho was renewed once again.
The medical officer, with weary eyes, approached Ju Ye.
“You’re Ju Ye, right? Is this spot okay?”
“Medical Officer…?”
“Oh. You seemed the calmest, so I came over. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not here to tease you.”
“No, it’s not that. I’m quite shocked too. My perception of the trainees’ value is changing.”
“It was really tough yesterday…. Sungho is surprisingly good at managing people. I suddenly got emotional thinking about you guys, you know?”
The medical officer spoke while covering her face.
Eventually, Park Jinsung finished first, with Kim Seyun following closely, signaling the end of the morning run.
However, what was more important wasn’t their results.
From the third to the thirty-second position, thirty members.
A collective of weaklings, who originally wouldn’t even have been considered for supporting roles.
“Uwaaaah!”
“We did it!!”
Squad 5, essentially forsaken, was the first to be allowed to move to breakfast.
The medical officer, looking at Ju Ye’s gaping mouth, laughed.
“Heh, there’s one more surprising thing left. Should I tell you?”
“What is it?”
“Remember yesterday during the first PT exercise? Only they didn’t collapse. Do you recall?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“All 31 members of Squad 5 haven’t received any treatment since yesterday. Not even basic recovery. Oh… do you realize how significant that is, Ju Ye?”
“…….”
Ju Ye, still speechless, felt a lump in her throat and looked towards Ahn Sungho.
“Heh. That’s your response, then.”
Ahn Sungho looked at Park Jinsung as if watching a son who had succeeded.
Park Jinsung, elated about the meal, teased Kim Seyun and the other trainees.
“Hehe! Senior Private! I’m going to eat first!”
“Hmph. You better leave some side dishes, or you’re dead.”
“That trash kid…!”
Byun Kiyoung, the next fastest, was a whole lap behind Squad 5.
It was the beginning of an unexpected and dramatic turn of events that no one had foreseen.
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