Chapter 153: [Gaiden] Boiled Life (4)

Chapter 153: [Gaiden] Boiled Life (4)

My biggest achievement wasnt that I found just a single edible plant.

It was the fact that I succeeded in removing the soldiers fear of eating it raw before they reached a critical point of starvation. Lieutenant Colonel King had thanked me, saying that if this had continued for just a few more days, then the soldiers might have been completely blinded by their hunger and died by eating something poisonous.

First of all, when the food problem was solved, the guard troops, which had been rotating on one-hour shifts from hunger and lack of stamina that made it impossible to concentrate for prolonged periods, started to change shifts in three-hour increments, so there were now troops left over.

With those extra troops, we scoured around the jungle, collecting any plant that looked edible and setting up traps on whatever ground we set foot on using wines and tree branches. It wasnt for the already extinct source of wild animals in the area, but the enemy.

After coming back to the barracks, the plants and roots were all poured out onto the ground, then were each tested for edibility. First, I would place them against sensitive parts of the skin like the lips or cheek to check for a reaction, then cut off a pinch of the plant and submerge it in water for 24 hours, then drink a couple of drops of that water, and if its fine even then, bite off a tiny piece.

[DAY-17]

Every single member of the unit experienced an extreme fever or excruciating stomachache and diarrhea at least once. Still, as a result, our unit was able to attain several more edible plants Ive seen some time on TV before, like the cassava, jackfruit, and wild sugarcane. Of course, this was only an assumption made from the fact that we knew cassava tasted like potatoes and sweet potatoes, and sugarcane had a sweet liquid contained in its stem. We didnt know exactly what we were eating. But what was important was that we were now full and content, and there was enough food for everyone to eat that there was now a pile of these plants in the corner of every single squads barracks.

[DAY-74]

Its been over two months since Ive been here, five more operations I participated in, with fourteen dead and twenty new transferred here. The higher-ups must not have liked that we survived because one day, they gave the 14 Special Ops a ridiculous command to raid the enemys air defense observation point while also reclaiming the civilian area that the enemy was occupying. Squad 1 and Squad 2, who went ahead in the helicopter, which was our only means of reinforcement, returned with only half of them alive after the two-week operation. It felt like the good people died especially quickly. Rather than mourning, I used that time to put more effort into my training.

Managing to survive this long, I came to learn that their saying, one time of real experience is better than a hundred times of training, was indeed true, and at some point reached a level of skill in shooting and combat where I can work together with John.

Watching the soldiers come to me with an armful of plants and fruit every single day to ask me whether each of them was edible or not, the new people started calling me the supplies soldier, and since it wasnt completely wrong, I was treated as a supply soldier from then on. That was because, around that time, I succeeded in growing cassava.

While I had been trimming the cassava roots, one of the squad members who was walking by mentioned that these have one hell of a stubborn life, the leftover stems we threw away rooted down again in the soil, and without much thought, I had the idea that it would be possible to plant them and regrow them. I replanted several of them in the corner of the base.

After close to a month, I dug up a little bit of the soil to find that there was a new cluster of roots, which made the other squad members yell out cheers, and even Lieutenant Colonel King, famous for his ability to stay calm, said he was thankful that Maditch sent me to them.

A few days later.

On the day when a wetland snake we thought went completely extinct in the area was caught in our tactical ambush ankle trap for humans

Lieutenant Colonel King stood in front of the expanded cassava farm and officially announced that the 14 Special Ops Unit no longer had a food shortage.

[DAY-81]

When the daily radio calls from the 14 Special Ops that requested supplies, or even just food, stopped coming, a few soldiers from the higher-rank units came to check if we were all dead.

Since we had already evolved beyond just allied troops into Tarzans, we greeted them warmly, and as a meaning of gratitude to the high-ranking units for worrying about us, we showed them our traditions. The newest grade of military uniforms were squeaky clean, and sturdy, and the military rations they brought almost made us faint from how good it was.

With that, we had completely recovered our vitality, and I knew that our unit was ready to move on to the next stage.

Hey, Luwil. You busy?

Day 89.

Luwil, who was plowing the field with a plow (made by tying a barrel of a gun mangled up by a grenade to a tree branch), stopped what he was doing and straightened up to face me.

I dunno not really?

Then come with me for a sec.

Oh, did you find something new again?

To Luwils question, I just nodded instead of answering.

Yesterday, something was dropped off at the supplies area by a transport plane. Not another soldier, but real provisions.

I opened up the crate, grateful that they even sent us anything

What? This is it?

They never leave out those damned beans, do they.

Its contents made it hard to believe that the provisions were for a unit that was combating the enemy on the battlefield.

Two boxes of canned beans.

One box of canned herring with some of them oddly swollen up.

Ten varying, ununified rifles. Four of them were unusable because they werent compatible with the ammo given to them.

Two bundles of grenades, 16 in total.

Three portable anti-tank firearms, nine cartridges.

Twenty bulletproof vests.

And the most important one, ammo. 900 rounds.

We just need to expand the reason why were alive a little more.

Before I came to Luwil, I barged into Lieutenant Colonels tent after he finished talking on the radio and told him my idea.

The reason why we werent already executed was because the public had an opinion positive enough about us that they couldnt remove us right away.

If we expanded on that to the point where everyone knew the 14 Special Ops, then they might not be able to throw us out like trash.

There are some like Maditch, but some of the commanders are normal ones who see war as just war. If we show them enough skill and achievements, then theyll definitely get interested. Thats the only way we can get out of this damned situation. To make the 14 Special Ops Unit too valuable to throw away. Well spread our fame wide enough so that it becomes an obviously stupid choice to use the 14 Special Ops Unit as mere bait.

It wasnt actually that grand of a plan. Just like how were not being executed right now because of the other soldiers, lets try to get noticed by the commanders this time. It was doing the same exact thing.

Hearing that, after a long moment of thinking, Lieutenant Colonel agreed to my suggestion, and aside from Luwil, who had been out on patrol, he called the Squad Leaders for Squad 1, 3, and me, who proposed the idea and spent all night coming up with a plan.

Making a name for us with just a few anti-tank firearms, not enough bullets for a full magazine, and around thirty troops against a division-level army Is that even possible?

Not like this, no. Thats why I called you. Were making another squad with you, me, Shepherd, and a few other aces from the 14 Special Ops Unit. Before fighting the enemy, we have something we need to do.

Gyosu pulled the blueprint that the Lieutenant Colonel completed last night through immense contemplation and continued to talk to Luwil.

For the operation commencing three days later, the main unit already took out their equipment from the base and is taking a long way around. Since theres only a limited number of paths through the jungle with heavy equipment, they probably have the idea to take a far detour to close in some distance without the enemy noticing. Naturally, that means both the operating and maintenance personnel went with them too. But all of the supplies piled up at the headquarters. They wouldnt have had time to move all of that, right? It isnt like their dirt poor like us either.

No dont tell me.

Luwil said as he saw a big red X drawn over our allys storage building on the Lieutenant Colonels map.

Were infiltrating our troops and stealing?

Dont call it stealing. Its just a little enthusiastic means of requesting provisions. Even if we are their bait, our bio codes still identify us as an ally, so we wont be swiss cheesed by the stationary turrets.

Gyosu handed Luwil a poncho and a mask with 14 Special Ops Squad embroidered largely onto it, which Marti made last night.

No matter what happens, you cant kill the Allied troops. We have to stop at whats considered embezzlement of supplies according to military law so we dont give any sort of justification to the people who want to kill us. Were going to proudly announce that were the 14 Special Ops Squad and enter the allys base. Then, after righteously and violently seizing the provisions, we will run back to our home before we get punished. Got it?

Hah, hahahahah

Luwil took the mask that looked like one a bank robber would wear and laughed at how ridiculous how this all was. Theyll confidently reveal their identity and go into the allys base to rob them.

Its so brilliant!

Putting on the mask that had a bad stench, it must have been made from torn uniforms. Luwil put on a smile that perfectly fit the role of a robber.

Kid, fess up. Lieutenant Colonel didnt think this up on his own, did he? His Majesty the King cant think of something as crazy as this.

Mmm Lieutenant Colonel planned everything except for this. Like sending a false surrendering document to the enemy and telling them all of the allys ambushing locations so they lose interest in us.

Then what about this?

Pwahah! The supplies are obviously the supply soldiers responsibility!

John, who came out of the tent with his mask on at some point, chimed in. Behind him, several more people wearing the same mask with the 14 Special Ops Unit embroidered on it followed him out.

Our sides all readied up. Kid, are you ready? Well die if were unlucky.

Well just have to pray that the guys up in headquarters were living under a rock long enough to think bio codes are everything.

No, not that. Even if we manage to rob them and arm ourselves up with those epic military shields, electronic firearms, and plasma grenades, were only one infantry company. The enemy is a battalion-sized unit with all that, if not more. Even if they lose interest in us, when a battle eventually breaks out, troops over 10 times our number are going to turn their guns to us.

I know.

They managed to create a plan where theyll survive somehow. A plan they created, screaming curses all night at and with the Lieutenant Colonel and Squad Leaders.

No matter what they did, there wasnt a way for everyone to survive. But

At least the people that survived will be honored in the name of the 14 Special Ops Unit. If were all going to be crushed down like trash anyway, shouldnt we try to save at least some of the people?

And so the squad set off boldly towards the main gate of the 394th Armored Regiment, the only path without mines throughout the entire minefield behind their base.

That night, one of the operators that had been watching over the bases perimeters opened the door to eight soldiers from an advancing unit who were clearly identified as friendly forces according to the bio code, without even a single reaction from the metal sensor. And that night, the brigade was robbed of all their advanced equipment and supplies by several masked men yelling out, Were from 14 Special Ops! and Were taking some provisions! When the confused operator reported to the commander that Allied soldiers are causing a commotion in the supply depot, the commander, who had left the headquarters with the tanks, figured out what was going on and gave permission to open fire, it was already after two vehicles each loaded with two 2.5 ton trucks worth of supplies blasted open the main gate with plasma guns and were long gone.

Three days later, the main forces faced the enemy in a total war as anticipated. However, the enemy had no interest in the 14 Special Ops Units direction but was instead fully prepared for the total war against the main units, and the battle had ended with a dramatic victory of one side when a small infantry unit that succeeded in breaking through the enemys rear sacrificed themselves.

Later, when Sergeant Gyosu Park stood before a military court, he claimed, It was simply an embezzlement of provisions, and we just stole it because we thought wed be much better at using them than those useless bastards.

At the end of the trial, the command decided that instead of punishment, they would cancel the awarding of medals and special promotions that had been planned to be awarded to the three survivors of the 14 Special Operations Unit, including Gyosu Park, Luwil Batross and Doris Rishach, was concluded that the 14 Special Operations Unit will now be operated as a unit specializing in enemy sabotaging and infiltration from the rear with the allocation of special forces personnel under the command of Sergeant Gyosu Park, who continued to emphasize that the attack on Tarel Ground was a defensive battle for some reason.

Later, the 14 Special Ops Squad records their name in history as legends.

Gaiden (End)