“Kim Iljeong….”
Lee Shin and Kim Iljeong had a secret meeting under a pavilion to the west of Panmunjom.
Both were unarmed, yet the atmosphere surrounding them was tense as if they were capable of lethal force.
Lee Shin, standing 190 centimeters tall with a large build and a generally majestic appearance.
Kim Iljeong, shorter than Lee Shin, looked solid and crafty like a cunning snake.
Each time their gazes collided, it created a suffocating tension.
“You’ve found me well, old man.”
“State your business quickly. I can end your life right away.”
“Huh! Is there a need to speak so harshly? It saddens me to think of our past fondness.”
Who would imagine that individuals representing North and South Korea would meet in such a secluded place?
Being spotted for even a second could lead to a situation with global ramifications.
“Kim Iljeong, you provoked me… didn’t you?”
“If you say I provoked you, wouldn’t that shake my position a bit? Hehe.”
“Stop talking nonsense. You dare forget my existence and induce a maritime landing by Pest? No, that’s not it.”
“Huh… Which madman in the world would dare to ignore the old man like that?”
According to information spread by Lee Shin, those suspected to be Pest were moving north.
Currently scattered about the north, but inevitably, they would converge at a certain place when the time comes.
Due to Lee Shin’s overwhelming spatial dominance, it was impossible to use the seas around the Korean Peninsula to move north.
With Kim Iljeong acknowledged as a member of Pest, routes through China or Russia were also blocked.
North Korea was completely isolated internationally, leaving a forceful breakthrough on land as the only option.
Lee Shin was all ears, predicting when Pest would break through to another area.
“I just wanted to have a chat with the old man after a long time. How about it? Huh! Aren’t you a bit pleased?”
In the meantime, Kim Iljeong had brazenly sent a ship to South Korea through the East Sea.
It was a quite powerful guerrilla unit with A-class comprehensive combat ability onboard.
Riding on what was almost junk, it somehow escaped detection by other countries.
Lee Shin instantly destroyed them and sank them to the bottom of the East Sea, erasing even the existence of the ship before neighboring countries could notice.
Any anomaly in the Korean Peninsula would lead to an international tug-of-war for interests.
“Don’t try to be funny. Do you want to be sunk?”
Lee Shin also wanted to flip Kim Iljeong right away.
But if a war broke out now, international aid could not be avoided. Hyenas were eyeing the Korean Peninsula from all sides.
South Korea was not yet fully independent.
Even if they won, the outcome would be similar to a loss.
It was better to show movements pressuring from all sides and gain practical benefits.
“Did you sacrifice your troops just to convey a few jokes?”
The A-class troops that Lee Shin sunk died by drowning, successfully carrying out the orders given by their leader.
-Comrade Lee Shin, the Leader called for you. Come to Panmunjom at dawn.
It was quite an expensive gesture just to convey a few words.
The act of secretly sending troops southward is naturally considered a local provocation.
Moreover, if the method is a maritime landing, they would have no excuse not to be retaliated against immediately by Lee Shin.
‘What are you planning, Kim Iljeong.’
But the story changes a bit if the content involves A-class combat ability.
Sending such talent to certain death?
Knowing they would surely die?
“Doesn’t the old man lift his heavy butt unless the gold traded is heavy?”
“Right… what’s the reason you went to the trouble of calling me out with an A-class?”
“Ah! Didn’t I say I just wanted to talk about our ancestors? Do you have to be so angry to listen?!”
“……”
“Old man… This time, I went on a trip to South Korea and saw some really interesting guys, you know?”
“…Are you talking about Haeun High?”
Lee Shin clenched his fist slightly.
Of course, Lee Shin had heard about the contact between Kim Iljeong and the Haeun High Brigade.
There were several points he couldn’t understand, which frustrated him. If it were the Kim Iljeong he knew, the entire street should have been in chaos.
Especially when he heard that there were no casualties from Haeun High or other schools, he wanted to verify it himself, putting all other work aside.
There seemed to have been some disturbance during guerrilla training, but he hadn’t yet reviewed the data, busy observing other countries’ reactions.
“I heard the old man was raising kids, huh, so I rushed over in a flash. When I went to visit and got kicked in the butt, it was more than just a surprise.”
“What…? What are you talking about? Don’t tell me, Kim Iljeong, you fled on your own?!”
“Huh?”
Kim Iljeong and Lee Shin’s gazes quietly penetrated each other.
It was a somewhat desperate attempt to understand each other’s intentions.
Crackle!
Suddenly, a spark seemed to ignite in the deputy of Pest’s ears alone.
The synapse’s chemical reaction exploded, making Kim Iljeong’s face beam with delight.
“Hehehe… So it was… Our old man didn’t know, huh?”
“What don’t I know?”
“I know the old man’s expressions since I was young. The old man can’t lie. Hehe! Could it be that the old man let slip a gold nugget that rolled to his feet!”
‘A gold nugget? At my feet?’
Lee Shin’s synapses also actively reacted, but unfortunately, they didn’t yield the information he desired.
“If the old man doesn’t know, then I guess I have to make the first move, right?”
“……”
“Hehehe. I only called to chat after a long time. But this unexpected gain makes me smile.”
“Could it be… about a member of the Haeun High team?”
“Huh! Too late, old man! This area is our Pest’s specialty, isn’t it?!”
Kim Iljeong said with a disgustingly confident tone.
* * *
On the 5th evening of guerrilla training.
“Ugh. This is…”
“Hmph. Did you finally wake up? I wish you’d tell me how long you plan to sleep next time.”
The place Park Jinsung woke up to was unnecessarily soft.
“Deputy..? But why is your face so close? Am I still dreaming?”
“……”
Kim Seyun was providing Park Jinsung her lap as a pillow. Her ash-colored combat uniform made her pretty face shine like the moon.
Squish squish squish squish.
In a half-awake state, Park Jinsung fumbled with Kim Seyun’s face.
“Hehehe.”
Since it was a dream anyway, he was almost like kneading clay with the attitude that this was his last chance, as if he couldn’t touch her again if not now.
“St, stop it. You’re awake, aren’t you?!”
“Yum yum. Soft.”
“You are awake! Dude!”
Thunk!
Kim Seyun elbowed Park Jinsung on the forehead.
“Cough! Deputy! My forehead is too hot! Where, where are we?!”
“Take it easy, will you…”
Realizing she might have been a bit harsh, Kim Seyun gently rubbed Park Jinsung’s forehead.
“Is Deputy my manager? Why do I see you every time I wake up?”
“Not manager… ah, wife…”
“Deputy, your voice keeps cracking lately. Did you swallow a worm again? I’ve eaten a beetle before, and it’s full of poison, so you shouldn’t eat them.”
“Pfft. What are you, a comedian? You’re getting funnier by the day.”
Kim Seyun blushed slightly and laughed.
‘Wow… she’s pretty… Aack! Get a hold of yourself. It’s me. She’s not laughing because she likes it! She’s setting up to make fun of me!’
Kim Seyun’s gently curving eyes melted the heart of a social misfit. It was the moment when a wall that even the school nurse, known for her unparalleled beauty, couldn’t break, crumbled down.
The place where the two were was an abandoned room at the end of the officers’ quarters.
The ceiling, caked with layers of white paint, the musty wooden bed, and the slightly worn lockers.
Except for the jade-like beautiful Kim Seyun, there seemed to be nothing clean about the place.
“Hey, look at you. Wanna marry me?”
“Ah, I’d respectfully decline marriage. You’re going to make me change my surname to Kim, aren’t you?”
“Hmph. What’s so good about the surname Park? Don’t be like that, let’s take care of sons and daughters alike and live well together. How about it?”
“Ah! Stop joking around! If I say I understand, you’ll just tease me with that!”
“…Maybe I won’t tease you.”
“What? I can’t hear you! Did you eat worms again and again? Stop eating bugs!”
“Yeah. Got it. Just go die.”
Crunch!
Kim Seyun squeezed Park Jinsung’s forehead hard with her elbow and thigh.
“Aargh!!”
“If I can’t have it, I’d rather destroy it.”
“I’ll give it to you! Whether it’s me or sons and daughters, anything, just please sto… Aaargh!”
Kim Seyun struck him in the ribs with her remaining hand. The level of attack on both the forehead and ribs was indeed worthy of Kim Seyun.
“Hey, but Jinsung. Aren’t you curious about the situation outside?”
“Hee… Ah… What did you say, Deputy?”
“The medical officer had a hard time.”
Kim Seyun seriously described the situation Park Jinsung was in.
Nearly 200 members of the company had fallen ill, leaving the school nurse to endure a terrible time.
That was precisely why they were still at the guerrilla training ground on the fifth day.
Park Jinsung then realized that the hole that had been pierced through his right hand was neatly filled.
“Hehe. Did I overdo it too much?”
“No. It was far from enough. If you’re going to do something, you should have made it bigger, man.”
Every time the curtain flapped in the wind, the beautifully setting sun drenched the room.
Right after the trench fight, a commotion, thanks to ‘my connections’, ensued. Everyone was rushing to meet Park Jinsung.
If it weren’t for Ahn Sungho and Kim Seyun, an untimely interview might have been held by now.
“Is the nurse still treating the other kids?”
“It should be ending soon. Phew. Make sure to apologize when you see her. Her dark circles went down to her collarbones and layered up.”
“Thank you for taking care of me all this time, Deputy. I should get up now.”
“No. Stay like this a bit longer.”
Kim Seyun said with a goblin-like twisted face.
Park Jinsung felt his sphincter tighten as he quietly bent his leg again.
“How about the training score?”
“You should have done this from the beginning… Huh? Oh, I forgot for a moment. Congratulations.”
Kim Seyun took out a commendation with a blue decoration from her biscuit pouch.
“Huh? What’s that?”
“The commendation itself will be given by our platoon leader later.”
“A commendation? A commendation certificate? Eh?”
“Ta-da, you ranked first in this guerrilla training.”
“Ah….”
Park Jinsung carefully accepted the commendation. Kim Seyun’s face, overlapping with the commendation, had an immensely pleased expression.
First place in all the marches over four days.
First place in all the obstacle training on the second day.
First place in rock-breaking checked on the third day, tied with Kim Seyun.
Best PT gymnastics player, unanimously agreed by all instructors and teaching assistants.
The last survivor in the trench fighting ring on the fourth day.
The principal’s ‘my connections’ made it impossible to change the ranking. ‘My connections’ acted almost like witnesses, making any further coercion or manipulation impossible.
“Heheh. Our dear Jinsung should have seen the battalion commander’s expression. Do you know how awkward it was?”
‘My connections’, having heard about Park Jinsung’s Edeya class, especially a director from a famous magazine, blatantly showed interest in Park Jinsung.
An F-class who knocked down 200 men.
An F-class who immediately upgraded his soul on the spot.
In reality, he was no longer an F-class, but such a title was just right for a sensational article.
As the principal wished, the Haeun High Special Education Battalion would once again attract attention, regardless of the desired direction.
“Ah, right. Jinsung, do you know what the others call you?”
The director gave Park Jinsung a dreadful nickname for high views.
F Killer.
“Pffft! What’s with F Killer! F Killer!”
“F Killer? Why F Killer? Oh, please stop laughing!”
The name was given after seeing an F-class rampaging like a killer, but it turned out to be a title that a pest control company might like.
“Ah, and congratulations on your double promotion.”
“Eh? Double promotion? Isn’t it to corporal? I even made a promise with the officers?”
“Promise? Hmph… I thought you were working hard for some reason.”
All members of the ‘zombie squad’ were promoted to corporal.
Private Park Jinsung was double-promoted to private first class.
“What! The zombie squad members were promoted to corporal too? And the person becoming a captain is a private first class?!”
“It’s weirder for a private first class to command trainees than for a corporal to command a private, dummy. Just be satisfied with what you have now.”
“Oh! I promised to promote them to corporal!”
“Look at you, so full of yourself. You got a double promotion without even dying in the line of duty. Can’t you be a bit less greedy?”
“You said it was a meritocracy! Now you’re changing your story?!”
“Why are you throwing a tantrum at your innocent wife? Was it me? I’ll just hit you, okay?!”
“Sob! Don’t tease me about not having a woman around! I’ll have a wonderful wife someday!”
“No! That’s what I’m saying, I’ll become your wife, you fool?!”
Park Jinsung’s leap to private first class was quite a bold move. If things continued smoothly, he would soon be able to stand at the same rank as Kim Seyun.
“Always threatening to hit! Where would that get you properly married?!”
“Did my words just fly past your ears?! Fool, I keep telling you to marry me!”
“That’s teasing! If I say I’ll go, you’d tease me even on my gravestone! And how can I, being male, get married in the first place!”
For a while, a childish tit-for-tat ensued. They continued to fight while still on a lap pillow position, making it seem somewhat like a sitcom.
“Humph, you die and you die today!”
“Eek! Why am I the one dying twice?!”
Eventually, the two continued this bizarre argument until the dinner call rang.
Leave a Reply