“Sergeant Gang. Hold up.”
“Hold.”
“All personnel, fall back twenty meters from current position.”
“Falling back twenty meters.”
We were carrying out a security operation.
An area where rebel forces frequently appeared.
We had come out on a border patrol.
But the Team Leader, who had been standing around the middle, stopped Sergeant Gang, who was at the very front.
And had our team fall back.
The Team Leader must have noticed something off.
“Sergeant Im.”
“Yes, sir!”
“This way.”
The Team Leader and Demolitions One, Sergeant Im Deoksu, were talking about something between the two of them,
and we watched them from twenty meters away.
“Doesn’t this side look strange?”
Sergeant Im looked carefully at where the Team Leader pointed.
“It definitely looks strange, sir. You wouldn’t know just looking at it, but looking closely, something feels off.”
“What does it look like?”
“It looks like a booby trap, sir.”
The Team Leader and Sergeant Im Deoksu returned.
“Dongcheol.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You see that spot sticking up slightly over there?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Blow it away with a grenade.”
“With a grenade, sir?”
“Yeah.”
Gunner 2, Sergeant Gang Dongcheol, picked up his grenade launcher and accurately struck the point the Team Leader had indicated.
Thump~~~~
.....
Boom, boom, boom, rattle, boom, boom.
The grenade round exploded,
and moments later, an explosion far beyond imagination roared out.
“What the fuck.”
“They laid a fucking booby trap?”
“Those crazy rebel bastards are out of their minds.”
“Fuck. How many bombs did they plant?”
“They could’ve killed their own rebel guys with that, but they planted it there?”
“Completely insane bastards.”
The explosion was far larger than expected, and our entire team was thrown into confusion.
“Oseong, you contact HQ right now and tell them we found a booby trap—that every team needs to exercise extreme caution.”
“Yes, sir.”
But the communication that came from HQ shortly after was:
“Withdraw from the security operation and return.”
“Roger. All personnel, withdraw.”
“Withdrawing.”
Due to the booby traps laid by the rebels, all security operations and mobile hospital operations of the defense unit were cancelled.
*******
Knock, knock.
“Team Leader, you called fo—”
“You’re here? Let’s go.”
“Where to, sir?”
“The Commander is looking for us.”
“The Commander, sir?”
“Yeah. He said to bring you with me.”
.
.
.
“Don’t just stand there, sit down.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the Team Leader and I sat on the sofa,
the Commander began to speak.
“We received contact from the Congolese government.”
The moment he heard those words, the Team Leader’s expression hardened.
The Commander seemed to notice that expression.
“Not that. Even those Congolese bastards have some shame—how could they do that? They’d be happy if we stayed, but they can’t ask us to remain.”
“Then what?”
“This time, the Congolese government has officially invited Inbae.”
“Yes, sir? Me, sir?”
I was really surprised.
Why would the Congolese government invite me?
If they were going to invite someone, it should be our team, not me.
“Yeah. You alone were invited, Inbae. That’s correct.”
“I don’t understand the reason, sir.”
“I don’t really know the reason either. That’s simply how the invitation came.”
“Might I refuse, by any chance?”
The Commander glanced at me.
“Do you think you can?”
“......”
“What I’m about to say is off the record. I didn’t hear it through official channels either; I heard it from a close government contact. I’m telling you because I thought it might help you understand the situation. Listen with a grain of salt.”
“Yes, sir.”
“As Okapi Sting’s achievements have grown, it seems Congo wants to keep them here by any means. But they already used that chance a year ago. Now... the deployment date is...”
“Two months away, sir.”
“Right. There are only two months left until the end of deployment, but all security operations have been halted because of the booby traps. From Congo’s standpoint, they’re anxious. They think that if Uvira falls here, it’s only a matter of time before the entire country is overrun. But right then, there are Korean companies looking to advance into Congo? It seems they’ve come to a good agreement with the government. There was talk of dispatching Inbae as a special forces instructor for Congo.”
“Inbae, as an instructor?”
“Yeah. You guys wouldn’t do it anyway even if asked. Aren’t you all returning?”
The Commander was right about that.
This time, we had already decided we would return no matter what.
“Inbae, too, will return.”
The Team Leader answered in my stead.
“But... it seems the government side has also figured out that Inbae doesn’t get along with his family. The reason they called for Inbae alone this time is probably that they think if Inbae comes alone, they might be able to persuade him. Inbae still has some mandatory service time left, and he doesn’t necessarily have a reason to return to Korea. They think they can probably persuade him with guarantees of employment from corporations later, or bonus points for extended service from the government, or maybe a bump in his pay grade. This isn’t certain either. That’s just what I’ve heard.”
“.....”
I couldn’t say anything.
Honestly, it wasn’t a bad deal.
A job at a major corporation.
A raise in pay grade.
Normally, if they had offered even one of those two,
I would have jumped at it.
But.
I didn’t want to receive those things on the condition of leaving this team.
I still wanted to be with this team.
I wanted to stick it out here together.
I resented the Commander for trying to send me away like that.
“Anyway, you’re the one who decides. So don’t make a decision just from hearing my story; go and listen to what they have to say. Think of it as going on a week-long vacation and come back. Departure is the day after tomorrow at 0900 hours.”
“........”
“Yes. Understood.”
I didn’t say a word with my face deeply scrunched up, and the Team Leader answered in my place as we left the Commander’s office.
The Team Leader took me to a secluded place where no one was around.
“Inbae.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The Commander was speaking to you, and you didn’t even answer. What kind of attitude is that? You made it completely obvious you didn’t want to go.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I really don’t want to go.”
A severe scolding from the Team Leader that I had never seen before.
His voice had changed.
“Did you think the army was a place where you go if you want to and don’t go if you don’t feel like it? Since when did our army have such a culture? Wasn’t ‘Make it happen, no matter what’ the motto of our Black Berets?”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“The Commander told you all that ahead of time out of consideration for you, and you scrunch up your face like that and don’t even answer in front of him? Is that what you should do?”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“In our team’s operations, too, are you going to not go if you don’t feel like it, and throw away the missions you’re given?”
“No, sir.”
Had my repeated apologies had an effect?
The Team Leader’s voice softened slightly.
“Inbae, I know you cherish the team right now. But this is no problem at all. And anyway, once we return, our team will be torn apart. Some will be discharged, and some will transfer to other units.”
“Don’t think too deeply about it. As the Commander said, the decision is yours. For now, just go clear your head and eat some good food while you’re there.”
“I’m sorry for acting the way I did.”
“If you’re that sorry, bring back something tasty when you come back.”
“I’ll prepare a full course, sir.”
“I’m kidding, you idiot.”
“I was joking too, sir.”
“This bastard, totally into it now, hehehe.”
The Team Leader, who had been angry, returned to the Team Leader I knew,
and I, too, returned to the usual Gong Inbae.
Looking back,
I don’t know why I acted like that.
I threw a tantrum.
A tantrum?
I had done something completely unthinkable in front of the Commander.
Still, the Commander didn’t scold me,
and the Team Leader only pointed out that attitude of mine.
They all seemed to understand why I was like that.
So I was grateful.
And ashamed.
.
.
.
“Assemble. Sergeant Gong Inbae has been ordered to attend a Congolese military conference. Reporting as such.”
“Alright. Go and come back safely.”
I headed to Kinshasa, the capital of Congo.
From Uvira, where our unit was stationed, to the capital, Kinshasa, was 1,500 kilometers in a straight line.
Didn’t I tell you?
That it’s the second-largest country in Africa.
Twenty-three times the size of South Korea.
Moving by land is nearly impossible.
The roads are bad,
and there are many rebels along the way.
So we moved by plane from N’djili International Airport.
.
.
.
After the event held in Congo concluded,
a man who was about to head to his lodgings greeted me.
“Pleasure to meet you. I am First Secretary Seong Junhui, working at the Congolese Embassy.”
“Sergeant Gong Inbae.”
“We invited you rather urgently, so thank you for coming.”
“Not at all. I must answer when the nation calls.”
“Thank you. There are some people here I would like to introduce to you. May I introduce them briefly?”
I didn’t particularly want to be introduced,
but my refusal didn’t carry much weight.
“This is Director Hong Hyeonyoung of the Korea Mineral Resources Corporation. This is Director Yeo Taeseong of LY Electronics, and CEO O Gijeong of DL Mining.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Gong Inbae.”
“We are very pleased as well. We had heard that Okapi Sting was incredible, but now that we’ve met you in Congo, you are even more remarkable than the rumors.”
“I had also wished to meet Okapi Sting, so it is an honor to meet you like this.”
“I also spoke briefly with the locals at the event venue, and all they did was praise Okapi Sting.”
“They said the rebels can’t operate because of Okapi Sting.”
“Not at all. That is excessive praise. It is our team’s achievement, not mine.”
“Shall we move somewhere else to talk rather than stand here?”
“Shall we?”
We moved and began our conversation.
“Sergeant Gong Inbae. Do you happen to know what coltan is?”
“Yes. Isn’t it one of the underground minerals produced in Congo?”
“That is correct. Do you also know what it is used for?”
“I don’t know precisely, but I’ve heard it is used to make things like smartphones or laptops.”
“You are well informed. Coltan is essential for manufacturing modern electronics. Naturally, our Republic of Korea also requires large quantities.”
“Is that so?”
“The problem is that the majority of coltan production comes from Congo. Our Republic of Korea has also held numerous negotiations with Congo regarding coltan development, but without good results. However, the Congolese side made an interesting proposal.”
“An interesting proposal?”
“They said if we allowed Okapi Sting to remain, they would grant us coltan development rights.”
“We have already agreed to return once the deployment period ends.”
“Yes. We confirmed that part. However, they said it was fine even if not everyone remained. They said they wished to use you as an instructor and have you take charge of educating the Congolese military. They want to learn the know-how gained on the battlefield.”
“That is...”
“We checked this with the Ministry of National Defense, and dispatching you to the Congolese military in an advisory capacity is no problem at all.”
First Secretary Seong Junhui answered instead.
“You would take on the role of training Congolese special forces members from the rear, rather than the battlefield.”
“I do not have the skill to teach anyone.”
“We checked with various people on that as well, and everyone unanimously praised Sergeant Gong Inbae as the best when it comes to skill alone. They said you would be more than sufficient as an instructor. On top of that, you are fluent in English and able to communicate to some degree in French, Congo’s official language. With abundant field experience, you are the perfect fit for an instructor in every way.”
“Even so... I wish to remain with my team...”
“We have also heard that you are very attached to your team. However, we were told that the team will be disbanded upon returning from deployment. We are asking you to take on the instructor role here in Congo after the team is disbanded. The period is one year.”
Director Yeo Taeseong of LY Electronics, who was beside him, added.
“This may not be of great help in your decision, but if you permit us to have you as an instructor, LY Electronics will guarantee Sergeant Gong Inbae’s employment after discharge. If you wish to continue military life rather than take employment, we will pay one hundred million won in cash.”
“DL Mining will also offer you an advisory role and pay one hundred million won as compensation. Separate from LY.”
“You will continue to receive your current salary and allowances, and though it is not much, you will also receive your instructor salary from Congo.”
Is this even allowed?
The conditions were too good.
I would have agonized even if they simply told me to be an instructor.
A job at LY Electronics.
It’s a major corporation that is difficult to enter even with a university degree.
But LY Electronics has no place in my life.
What could I possibly do even if I got a job at LY Electronics?
A nobody with just a high school diploma.
Instead, the one hundred million won in cash was extremely tempting.
One hundred million from LY Electronics, one hundred million from DL Mining.
A total of two hundred million.
Receiving my salary as is.
I wanted to be with my team, but the team would be disbanded anyway.
“Might I think it over before giving you my answer?”
“By all means.”
It was then.
First Secretary Seong Junhui took a phone call and his face turned deathly pale.
All eyes turned to First Secretary Seong Junhui.
“What happened?”
“Okapi Sting... has been in an accident.”