The past two days.
We had it rough.
What the hell that damn star was about.
Of all things, because of a mistake I made, all the trainees had to endure an excruciating time.
“Enough. That day was fucking bullshit!”
After returning, the trainees were run ragged for two days straight.
The reasons were simple.
Incorrect movements. Voices too quiet. Form not looking right, and so on.
“Hurry up and end this. Please!”
All the trainees, wearing their dress uniforms, were waiting at the Nonsan Training Center parade ground.
Senior instructor Master Sergeant Yi Jun-ho entered with a fierce gaze.
Everyone clamped their mouths shut, held their posture, and came to attention.
“Good. That’s the posture. Just so you know, any dumbass who screws up the movements or can’t tell left foot from right foot, I’ll lock you up here and make you serve for life.”
At his words, everyone broke out in cold sweat.
He looked at the trainees with a smile.
“It’s going to be veeery fun, right?”
“N-no, sir!”
“Good. That’s the spirit! Shout it out!”
The senior instructor checked the ceremony venue and gestured.
“First row, enter!”
At the command, they began to enter with machine-like, razor-sharp precision.
As they headed toward the parade ground, they heard the crowd cheering.
At the same time, the instructor’s subtle pressure from behind was immediately felt.
“Any dumbass who turns their head will be executed on the spot.”
Everyone strained their necks and headed toward the parade ground.
“Now, now, please remain silent. We will now begin the 61st class Army Awakened NCO Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony.”
The trainees lined up in order on the parade ground, and Captain Gim Chan-yeol ascended the podium. With nervous eyes, he glanced at Brigadier General Yi Gang-yeol, who was seated beside him.
He merely sat there, maintaining his position impassively.
*Gulp.*
Captain Gim Chan-yeol, the most nervous of all, shouted in a powerful voice.
“All units, attention!”
Everyone snapped their hands behind their backs in perfect unison. He nearly let out a sigh of relief at the perfectly matched timing but swallowed it down.
“*Ahem*, we will now begin the graduation ceremony. Salute to the national flag.”
A song played, and after briefly singing the national anthem, the next sequence began.
“Next will be the awards for outstanding achievers. Trainees whose names are called, please ascend the podium.”
Among the lined-up trainees, two were nervous; Sin-hyeok was annoyed.
*Please, hurry up. I’m sweating.*
“Trainees Bu Sin-hyeok, Baek A-rin, and Hong I-chan, please come to the front of the podium.”
When the three names were called, the gathered crowd focused on one person.
“He’s the one from Gunsan this time……”
Sin-hyeok heard some muttering but ignored it.
Then he saw camera flashes burst.
*Damn, my eyes!*
He held it back with effort.
Because Captain Gim Chan-yeol was glaring at them, eyes wide, signaling them to endure it.
When he went up, the battalion commander presented the award.
“The trainee has achieved excellent results in this training, and is hereby presented with this award.”
“Sergeant Bu Sin-hyeok!”
Sin-hyeok received the award with razor-sharp posture and waited behind.
Baek A-rin and Hong I-chan received their awards in turn.
“Then we shall proceed with the commissioning ceremony for the trainees.”
As he went down below, he could see Captain Gim Chan-yeol’s expression slowly coming back to life.
*It’s almost over.*
The end of this boring, bothersome ceremony was near.
“Next will be the rank insignia presentation.”
*Hurry, hurry.*
The battalion commander stood up and headed toward the representative candidates.
Of course, there were three representative candidates.
Bu Sin-hyeok, Baek A-rin, Hong I-chan.
“Battalion Commander, if it’s alright, may I do it instead?”
Brigadier General Yi Gang-yeol, who had been watching quietly, stood up.
“Sir? Ah. Yes, sir!”
Captain Gim Chan-yeol hurriedly stepped back.
As he stood up, the waiting reporters flashed their cameras like crazy.
“What the!”
“What’s their deal?”
“This batch is totally different! That Yi Gang-yeol is participating in the ceremony himself.”
Sin-hyeok was fed up by the clamor around him.
*Ah, I want to go home.*
While they stood waiting, Yi Gang-yeol approached, holding the rank insignia.
When he saw Sin-hyeok, a smile graced his lips.
“You’ve worked hard.”
He pinned the rank insignia onto him.
Sin-hyeok smiled and spoke quietly.
“It was an interesting four weeks, thanks to you.”
“*Pfft.*”
Yi Gang-yeol also pinned the rank insignia on the other two.
And only after the commissioning oath did the ceremony finally end.
“Then, trainees are to meet with your visitors individually and return to base by 9 PM.”
With that brief notice, the real graduation ceremony came to an end.
“Auugh! I’m so stiff.”
Sin-hyeok was stretching wide when reporters swarmed around him like crazy.
“Sergeant Bu Sin-hyeok! Wait!”
“Are you the soldier who distinguished himself at Gunsan!”
“Just one word, please!”
“What is your relationship with Yi Gang-yeol, Korea’s S-rank Awakener!”
“Oh, come on!”
Sin-hyeok bolted.
“I don’t really know!”
As he tried to flee, Yi Gang-yeol grabbed him.
“Come here.”
As Yi Gang-yeol grabbed him, the reporters let out sighs.
“Ah, there goes the interview.”
“Reporters, let’s do the interview next time.”
“Tsk.”
Everyone sighed and gave up.
Sin-hyeok felt relieved seeing them retreat.
“Wow, I survived thanks to you, Battalion Commander.”
“It’s nothing. More importantly, your uniform fits quite well. You look sharp.”
“Hah, now I’m feeling shy for nothing.”
“How about I treat you to a meal?”
“Ah, just a moment.”
I-chan was jumping up and down, waving his hand.
“Hyung! Where are you going!?”
Next to him, A-rin was looking at Yi Gang-yeol with nervous anticipation.
“What’s she expecting?”
Yi Gang-yeol smirked at the two of them.
“If it’s okay, let’s eat together.”
“Yes, sir!”
“We’d love to!”
At their spirited replies, Yi Gang-yeol wore a satisfied expression.
“You’ve all worked hard, so I’ll treat you to something expensive.”
He took the three to a high-end traditional Korean restaurant that served expensive Hanwoo beef.
“Oh, General, is your bank account okay? Feels like it’s going to take a huge hit.”
“It won’t break from just this.”
He answered nonchalantly and ordered expensive Hanwoo without restraint.
“Keep bringing it without pause.”
“Yes, sir.”
At his bold order, I-chan and Sin-hyeok exclaimed in admiration.
“Wow, talk about the dignity of someone with money.”
“General, you’re so cool.”
“Haha.”
At their amusing reactions, Brigadier General Yi Gang-yeol broke into a smile.
“Eat to your hearts’ content. You too, Sergeant Baek A-rin, eat well.”
“Yes, sir!”
Baek A-rin looked at Yi Gang-yeol with sparkling eyes.
She quietly pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen.
“If it’s okay, could I have your autograph?”
He laughed at the quietly proffered paper.
“Haha. Of course I’ll do this much. We’ll be in the same unit starting tomorrow.”
At his words, I-chan and A-rin’s expressions brightened greatly.
“That’s right!”
“We’re looking forward to it too!”
“I’ll look forward to it as well. Since it’s been a while since we’ve had reinforcements, the others are happy too.”
Although Hongik had produced several classes, it had not reinforced its battalion members.
Because it had truly been a long time since a Hongik battalion member was produced, the media’s attention was somewhat focused.
After a hearty meal, Brigadier General Yi Gang-yeol sent the three back to the unit.
“See you tomorrow, then.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir!”
When they returned, trainees who had arrived ahead of them swarmed in.
“Hey, mister! What’s your relationship with the General!?”
“Don’t tell me you’re the General’s son!?”
“Crazy! The son of a god!?”
“Why did you even join the army!?”
“Why suffer voluntarily!?”
At the barrage of words, Sin-hyeok waved them off.
“Shut up. What kind of bullshit is that, saying I’m his son? Get lost!”
“Hey! It’s the last night, spill the story!”
“Booo! The old man doesn’t know how to have fun!”
“Yeah, booo!”
At their endless, familiar remarks, Sin-hyeok let out a wry smile.
“I’m going to sleep.”
“Hey, the old man’s going to bed! Let’s hang out by ourselves!”
“Okay!”
Since freedom had been specially permitted, everyone rushed to the PX.
Sin-hyeok returned to his room and packed his bags.
“Back to Hongik. I’m both nervous and scared.”
*I might get my ass kicked when I get there.*
He spent the night awake with worry.
* * *
The next day, a familiar gentleman came as the escort to take them to Hongik.
“Major, you’re here again?”
“Yes. The personnel chief is busy. I came as a substitute because the Battalion Commander assigned me. Now get in.”
He took the three and headed toward the Hongik base.
Major Baek Seok-hun looked at Sin-hyeok, who had gotten in the back, and smiled wickedly.
“You just wait.”
At that crazy smile, Sin-hyeok became anxious for no reason.
“Ah, come on, don’t do that. You’re making me nervous.”
“Kuhihihi, you should be anxious. Considering the mess you made before you left.”
“……… Tsk.”
A-rin and I-chan secretly smirked and quietly cheered him on.
“Mister, try not to die.”
“Hyung, they’ll let you live, at least.”
The major in the passenger seat smirked at their encouragement.
“Doubt it. It’ll be hard to let you live.”
Sin-hyeok rested his head against the window, dreading the Hongik Battalion that kept drawing closer.
“Should I just go home now?”
The slowly driving vehicle had already approached the base.
When the guard post came into view, Sin-hyeok’s expression became bewildered.
“Sin-hyeok, how do you feel?”
“I’m not sure. I both like it and hate it.”
The major rolled down the window as he listened.
“Operations chief. I escorted the kids here on behalf of the personnel chief.”
“Loyalty!”
The gate immediately swung wide open.
When they entered, there were an unusual number of people gathered outside.
“Now get out.”
When they got out of the car, there were many people around.
Every single one of them was looking at only one person.
“*Sigh.*”
Sin-hyeok let out a deep sigh and set down his military duffel bag.
“Operations chief, isn’t this too warm of a welcome?”
“Haha. Well, who knows~”
Cadre of at least Staff Sergeant and Captain rank shouted all at once.
“It’s a deserter! Catch him!”
At that shout, Sin-hyeok scrunched his face and hurled his duffel bag forward.
“Ah, come on!”
Sin-hyeok bolted.
“Catch him! The deserter is getting away!”
“H-huh!?”
Sergeants and Second Lieutenants who didn’t know Sin-hyeok chased after the fleeing Sin-hyeok with bewildered expressions.
“Ah, please don’t come!”
“Why, why!?”
Junior Second Lieutenants and Sergeants chased him without knowing what was going on either.
Sin-hyeok ran straight into the main building.
“He’s here!”
“Ah, seriously! Please stop! Ugh, really!”
Without hesitation, Sin-hyeok knocked on the battalion commander’s office.
Knock, knock!
“Sergeant Bu Sin-hyeok has come to see the Battalion Commander on business!”
“Ahhh! Hey! No! Catch him!”
Slam.
The door closed, and from behind it, disappointed voices could be heard.
“Ah~ cheap shot. Hey, ‘Yu Sin-hyeok’! Welcome back!”
“That’s why you should’ve come earlier!”
“Who told you to come so late!”
“Our necks were about to break waiting, man!”
At the sounds coming from behind the door, Sin-hyeok let out a hollow laugh.
“These crazy bastards.”
“They’ve all been secretly waiting.”
Battalion Commander Yi Gang-yeol, who had been sitting on the sofa, welcomed Sin-hyeok with a smile.
“Welcome back.”
Sin-hyeok turned around and looked at the Battalion Commander with complicated feelings.
His hand automatically rose to his forehead.
“Loyalty! Sergeant Bu Sin-hyeok, having received orders to transfer to Hongik Battalion, reports as instructed. Loyalty.”
“Very well.”
Brigadier General Yi Gang-yeol stood up and spoke, gazing at Sin-hyeok.
“Welcome back to Hongik Battalion, the frontline of the Republic of Korea.”
Sin-hyeok looked out the window at the scenery of Hongik.
“So I came back after all.”
The people outside the window were laughing and continuously hurling taunts.
“Yu Sin-hyeok! You’re deeead!”
“Didn’t you miss your hyungs!”
“You got a bit older!?”