Before he knew it, the bus had arrived near his home. He got off and went to report his awakening according to procedure.
Awakening reports were filed at the Military Manpower Administration.
The reason was that all management of awakened individuals was handled jointly by the Ministry of National Defense and the National Intelligence Service.
That was why reporting an awakened ability was mandatory.
“I’m here to report my awakening.”
When he came to the Military Manpower Administration to file the report, an employee looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“If you need your awakened ID reissued, you can go to the Association.”
She seemed to have roughly guessed his age and assumed he was here to report again.
“I know. I said I’m here to report.”
“It’ll take longer if you get it reissued here.”
Holding back his anger, Sinhyeok called up his status window.
[Status Window]
Name: Bu Sinhyeok (LV.1)
Class: Alchemist
Strength: 15
Agility: 20
Stamina: 19
Mana: 99
Trait: Mana Condensate
The female employee’s expression changed in all sorts of ways when she saw the status window.
Surprise → reading the room → pity → holding back laughter.
At that variety of shifting expressions, Sinhyeok spat out his annoyance and held out his ID.
“Enough. Just hurry up and file the report.”
“Yes, pfft, yes.”
The female employee took his ID and was entering the information when she made a strange face.
“Hmm? Why is there a lock on this?”
Even when she started over from the beginning, it stopped again with a warning message, so she hurriedly stood up and called for the section chief.
“Section Chief! Please take a look at this!”
Sinhyeok glanced at the screen and sighed first.
“Haa.”
The section chief came over, saw the message, and looked surprised.
“Excuse me, did you happen to serve in some special unit?”
“Yes. It’s probably classified, so my identity’s locked. Please report it up the chain, wherever you need to.”
The section chief hurriedly made several calls and finally got the lock released. When she saw Sinhyeok’s service record, she looked shocked.
“You served in Hongik? That first awakened unit in the Republic of Korea?”
“Yes.”
“The one commanded by the number one awakened in Korea?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right, so please hurry it up.”
With an irritated look, Sinhyeok waved his hand dismissively.
She and the section chief simultaneously held out his ID with astonished expressions.
“Holy cow.”
Sinhyeok took his ID and left.
The female employee left at the desk was still staring in shock at Sinhyeok’s service record.
“Section Chief, was it possible for an ordinary person to serve in Hongik?”
“Of course not. How could that be possible? But, hmm? What is this?”
After submitting the simple paperwork, he soon underwent a potential grade evaluation.
It was a simple test.
It evaluated the amount of mana in the body to determine one’s maximum potential—in other words, how far one could grow.
All awakened individuals started at combat rank F.
Their rank rose gradually based on level and gate-clearing data, and they had to undergo a test each time it increased.
“Your mana value is right up against the upper limit. With this, your potential is A-rank. You’ll be making a name for yourself soon, won’t you?”
Despite the examiner’s praise, Sinhyeok’s expression was rotten.
“Yes, as long as I don’t get drafted again.”
“……”
At Sinhyeok’s subtle reaction, the examiner fell silent. Reading the mood, he quietly said,
“Um, the test is complete.”
Without any lingering attachment, Sinhyeok left the examination room.
After leaving the room, he went to the convenience store, his heart full of emptiness.
“Sinhyeok, you said you had reserve training today, didn’t you? Why are you back so early?”
Sinhyeok spoke with his heart full of desolation and emptiness.
“I awakened.”
“Ooh! Congratulations. Hey! But why do you look like you’re going to die?”
At the question of why he looked like death warmed over, Sinhyeok mentioned the news that had come out the day before yesterday.
“Why else? If you awaken now, you have to enlist again. Waaah.”
The owner started to congratulate him, then froze.
“I-is that so?”
“That’s what I’m saying! Aaaaaaagh! That damned bastard! It’s because of that bastard! What the hell did he do to make me suddenly awaken?!”
The convenience store owner didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the sight of Sinhyeok despairing despite having awakened.
A little while later, after calming down, Sinhyeok spoke with sorrowful eyes.
“I’ll come back in six months. They say re-enlistment is six months.”
“Uh, yeah. Go home and rest today. No, just keep resting until right before you re-enlist.”
Sinhyeok nodded, then cursed at the suddenly refreshing sky.
“Damn it! Khaaak, ptooey! If you turned me into a wreck, you should’ve just left me alone! Why again?! Why won’t you let me live in peace, whyyyy!”
The people passing by slowly edged away at the sight of Sinhyeok suddenly having a fit.
“Ah, let’s give up. Just give up.”
* * *
A few days later, Sinhyeok tidied up his home and headed for the Nonsan Training Center with a lonely heart.
“Where was it again?”
He looked around. He opened his smartphone and checked the location he had been given.
‘Find the guide for the 99th Regiment at the entrance?’
The explanation was strange. So he craned his neck and looked around, and found someone holding a paper sign.
— Re-enlistees this way.
It was an extremely shabby sign, but its effect was certain.
“So it’s just me?”
He went over to the staff sergeant holding the sign.
“Excuse me.”
“Mr. Bu Sinhyeok?”
He recognized him right away.
Bu Sinhyeok checked the name tag that read Staff Sergeant Jeong Jinsu.
“That’s me.”
“I’ll guide you.”
He led Sinhyeok inside. Looking at the fresh young sprouts, Sinhyeok reminisced about the past, then grimaced.
“Ugh, damn. Even thinking back on it, it was fucking awful.”
Staff Sergeant Jeong Jinsu brought Sinhyeok to the PX inside the Nonsan Training Center.
“Hmm? What is this?”
“Ah, they’ll explain once you go inside.”
When he entered, a captain was waiting while picking out various things.
“Ah! Hello. I’m Captain Kim Chanyeol. Have you eaten?”
“More or less, but why here?”
He smiled and handed him a drink first.
“There are things I need to explain and ask your understanding about in advance, so we decided to meet here for now. Please sit.”
With an awkward expression, Sinhyeok sat down for the time being.
“This is being implemented for the first time, so many things haven’t been decided yet. A lot may feel absurd.”
“Yes. Rather than absurdity, I feel hatred.”
Captain Kim Chanyeol laughed awkwardly and continued.
“First, I’ll address you as Mr. Bu Sinhyeok. Since you were discharged previously as a sergeant, you have two options upon re-enlistment.”
At the words “two options,” Sinhyeok’s ears perked up.
“Enlisting as an NCO, or going in as a soldier.”
“……”
He smiled brightly with an ambiguous expression.
“Yes, I’m sure it feels ambiguous. Normally, the NCO training period is a bit longer.”
“I suppose so.”
“However, you can join midway. The higher-ups reviewed your past record and determined that you’d have no difficulty continuing from the middle.”
At those words, Sinhyeok gave a snort.
“How very grateful I am.”
“Or there’s also the path of going in as an awakened soldier. You can maintain your sergeant rank. However, you’ll have to undergo soldier-level training from the beginning.”
Sinhyeok simply asked about the duration.
“So how much difference is there?”
“For NCO level, you only need to receive four weeks as of now. For soldier level, it’s eight weeks.”
Sinhyeok answered without hesitation.
“I’ll go in as an NCO. Please, send me there.”
Captain Kim Chanyeol smiled at how smoothly things had gone and stood up.
“Good. Then let’s go right away.”
Sinhyeok stood and followed the direction he was going.
He followed along the path Kim Chanyeol led him. They walked down a quiet road and headed toward an unused building.
“Please don’t lose sight of me. Follow closely.”
He opened the door and went in. When Sinhyeok followed, instead of going inside, he found himself in a completely different outdoors.
— Welcome to the 99th Regiment.
Looking at the fluttering banner, his heart felt newly pained and wronged.
“Why is this happening to me?”
Captain Kim Chanyeol, who was walking ahead, said with a smile,
“Still, there are some fairly good benefits. It’ll probably pop up now.”
[You are within a barrier accompanied by Yggdrasil’s blessing.]
[In exchange for restricting level increases, the growth efficiency of all skill and class proficiency increases by 200%.]
“Whoa~”
At Sinhyeok’s exclamation, Captain Kim Chanyeol and Staff Sergeant Jeong Jinsu chuckled.
“Please think of it as a national reward given to re-enlistees.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.”
Sinhyeok laughed awkwardly.
“What a tremendously huge reward.”
It was something other civilian awakened could not even imagine.
Marveling at the World Tree’s extraordinary service, Sinhyeok followed Captain Kim Chanyeol.
Captain Kim Chanyeol felt relieved as he watched Sinhyeok follow obediently.
‘I’m saved. I’m saved!’
* * *
A few days earlier, in the battalion commander’s office of the 99th Regiment.
A very burdensome situation had unfolded there.
Because of the re-enlistee, the battalion commander was receiving a general.
“D-does the coffee suit your taste?”
“Yeah, coffee’s best when it’s Maxim.”
A brigadier general with one star and the name tag “Lee Gangyeol” looked at him with a relaxed air.
“Wh-what brings you here?”
“A re-enlistee will probably be coming in a few days.”
At the brigadier general’s words, the captain tilted his head.
“Pardon?”
“Anyway, that’s how it is.”
At the mention of a re-enlistee, Captain Kim Chanyeol hesitated.
“Wouldn’t he proceed with soldier-level training?”
“Right, normally. But I’d like it to be a little different.”
He emphasized the word “different” especially hard and glared at the captain.
Under that grave, wordless pressure, Captain Kim Chanyeol broke out in a cold sweat.
“But those bastards at the Ministry of National Defense.”
At the sight of Brigadier General Lee Gangyeol openly cursing the higher-ups, Captain Kim Chanyeol laughed awkwardly.
“They said to let him choose.”
He stared intently at the captain and spoke.
“So when he comes, make sure you explain it so he can choose well. Got it?”
“……”
“Answer.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Brigadier General Lee Gangyeol smiled and rose from his seat.
“Good. If you fail, you’re discharged as is.”
“Yes? Yes, sir?! Ah?! W-wait!”
He hurriedly brought up something that needed to be considered.
“The NCO training has already progressed quite a lot……”
“I know, so just put him in. If you tell him it’s shorter instead, he’ll probably like it.”
Captain Kim Chanyeol nevertheless tried to appeal one more time.
“Um, the thing is, if we put him in now, the existing trainees will probably object.”
“Just put him in. He’s the kind of guy who can handle that much.”
“Ah.”
At that powerful will, Captain Kim Chanyeol’s expression died.
‘I’m screwed.’
Brigadier General Lee Gangyeol sprang up and left the battalion commander’s office.
“Then do your best.”
“Yes, sir! Salute!”
* * *
The dining hall of the 1st Battalion, 99th Regiment.
Those eating in the dining hall heard the news about the “re-enlistee” and began murmuring.
Among them, people were gathered around a woman with especially striking beauty.
Strangely enough, however, everyone was seated one table away from her.
“Arin, what are you going to do about that guy?”
“What do you mean, what am I going to do? We have to follow our superior’s judgment.”
Though she said that, the spoon in her hand bent in a grotesque way.
The woman called Arin wore an unpleasant expression as she thought of the parachute appointment who would soon arrive.
‘He dares to parachute his way in here?!’
Everyone felt the same. Their insides were boiling.
“Hey, are you all just going to sit and watch?! Some soldier-level awakened chick is going to parachute in starting from week five!”
At the shouted words that burst out, everyone nodded and sprang to their feet.
Being a trainee from the 1st Battalion of the 99th Regiment was a major career credential in Korea’s awakened world.
It was the fastest path to recognition in the awakened world.
Not just anyone could come here, and not just anyone could complete the training.
That was why finishing the fifth week meant they had passed through one gateway.
“Do you know what we went through to get in here?!”
“That’s right!”
The dining hall was already growing noisy.
At that moment, Bu Sinhyeok, who had received his supplies and changed, entered the noisy dining hall.
Of course, he was with Battalion Commander Captain Kim Chanyeol.
The atmosphere suddenly sank flat. Everyone glared at him in unison.
At those insane laser-like stares, Bu Sinhyeok gave a snort.
“Battalion Commander, I think I’m about to get sliced up.”
“Ha ha. Well, um, good luck.”
At the battalion commander’s words of surrender, the back of Bu Sinhyeok’s neck stiffened.
“Battalion Commander! Isn’t this going too far?!”
“That’s right! How can a soldier-level awakened come here?!”
As the disturbance grew more and more heated, the captain watched with a troubled expression.
Bu Sinhyeok let out deep sighs and lightly spoke to the noisy crowd.
“Hey…… you bastards. You think I came here because I wanted to? If you’re that pissed off, then come at me.”
With that one remark from an old hand who had been forcibly discharged after serving his full term on active duty, a bomb went off in the dining hall.
“Hey! Everyone, get him!”
One trainee responded hotly to Sinhyeok’s words. As everyone sprang up and really looked ready to charge, the battalion commander stopped them.
“Trainees, halt.”
Screeech.
Everyone stopped.
Trainee Baek Arin also hesitated for a moment.
Looking at Sinhyeok standing beside the battalion commander, he seemed somehow familiar.
‘No way…… is he my mister?’
She had experienced a gate break when she was young.
About eight years ago, at that time, one soldier had saved her—one who strangely, no, unfairly, no! unpleasantly resembled him just a little.
Ever since then, soldiers had become both her romance and her goal in life.
‘Damn it! My mister would never be like that!’
Of course it wasn’t him, but for some reason, irritation surged up inside her. The parachute appointment plus the unpleasant feeling overlapped and made her choke with anger.
She abruptly stood up. Seeing her rise, the battalion commander groaned and said,
“Ugh, Trainee Company Commander Baek Arin, do you have something to say?”
“It is our natural duty to obey a superior’s orders. However, this is unreasonable. We climbed to this position through effort. That man did not, did he?”
Her tone seemed gentle, but it was sharp. The battalion commander tried to explain with a troubled expression.
“This is how things turned out. There are various reasons, but……”
Unable to accept the absurd reality of being treated like some tagalong, Bu Sinhyeok stepped forward despite the discourtesy.
“Battalion Commander, may I say one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
When he stepped forward, the battalion commander smiled faintly.
“Hey, you half-grown little sprouts. Are you scared?”