Chapter 91: Going to the Assigned Base (1)

Chapter 91: Going to the Assigned Base (1)

The trucks meant to take the recruits away to their assigned bases only showed up and crowded the training ground the day after the graduation ceremony.

“Wow, so it really is over,” Ju Yeong-Gi muttered in a half-bitter, half-glad tone, his eyes scanning the parked military trucks.

His friends tapped him on the shoulder. “We're gonna miss you, Yeong-Gi.”

“You guys...” Ju Yeong-Gi sheepishly wiped his nose. He had grown quite close to these recruits after living with them under one roof for a month. "Hey, give me a call when you get your hundred-day leave, okay "

“Huh Why should we call each other during our precious leave?”

“C'mon, man. We ain't some random strangers anymore now, are we?! We should definitely see each other at least once.”

With that, the recruits began exchanging phone numbers.

“Hey, Jin-Ho!”

A few recruits also approached Kang Jin-Ho with a pen and an open notebook. He didn't refuse any of them and jotted down his contact number.

“Jin-Ho, I'll definitely call you.”

“Alright,” Kang Jin-Ho replied with a nod.

Ju Yeong-Gi observed the exchange, then tutted loudly. “Dude, do you really think they'll call you?”

“Probably not.”

“Why did you bother to give them your number, then?”

Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders. “Because they asked me to...”

“Tsk, tsk.” Ju Yeong-Gi shook his head disapprovingly. “Anyway, why did you reject the offer to become an assistant instructor here? I heard the higher-ups wanted to recruit you.”

"Mm This is the first time I'm hearing about that."

“Eh Really? That's weird. I heard that First Sergeant Choi was trying to recruit you as an assistant here?”

Kang Jin-Ho smiled wryly at that. First Sergeant Choi probably did try to get him assigned as an assistant instructor here. However, that plan most likely fell through all thanks to how often Kang Jin-Ho got tangled up in various incidents.

‘The Battalion Commander chatting with Chairman Hwang should have influenced that decision, too.'

If having Kang Jin-Ho around the base led to Hwang Jeong-Hu offering special 'benefits,’ then Kang Jin-Ho would have been assigned here. However, Chairman Hwang was known for being strictly against greasing palms, and keeping an acquaintance of someone like that near you would surely prove tricky.

Kang Jin-Ho could make an educated guess, but that was about it. Even he couldn't exactly tell what went down. If the circumstantial evidence were removed from the picture, then perhaps the higher-ups thought someone prone to getting involved in various incidents wasn't suitable as an assistant instructor. Beside, Kang Jin-Ho would've declined the offer even if they had made it, anyway.

'I've learned everything this place has to offer.'

What he desired now was to go to a new place and learn new things.

“Oh, hey. I think that's our ride,” said Ju Yeong-Gi while pointing in a direction. Kang Jin-Ho glanced there and spotted a massive military truck ambling up to their position.

The co-driver climbed out of the truck's cab and scanned the waiting recruits disinterestedly. He began the headcount of all twenty waiting recruits to ensure everyone was accounted for before pointing at the back of the truck. "Get in."

“Sir!”

The recruits, including Ju Yeong-Gi and Kang Jin-Ho, obediently climbed into the truck's cargo bay.

The co-driver, a high-ranking officer, warned the recruits. “Do not peek your head outside the truck. Got that?”

“Sir, yessir!”

The officer climbed back inside the passenger seat of the truck. That was the signal for the vehicle's engine to come to life.

"Guys, you did good!"

“Once you get your leave, don't forget to call, okay!”

The fellow recruits still waiting for their rides waved enthusiastically to bid Kang Jin-Ho's group goodbye.

Ju Yeong-Gi waved back and shouted at them, “You brats! Call me later, okay! This hyung of yours will buy a round for all of you!”

“Definitely!”

The truck took off, and Ju Yeong-Gi settled down with a rueful face. He placed his duffel bag in front, then sighed at length. “Even though we just became friends...”

“C'mon, Yeong-Gi. We can always catch up later, right?”

“That's not gonna be as easy as you say, dude.”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Ju Yeong-Gi whining away, then shifted his attention to the mountainous scenery zipping by next to the truck.

'We're now in a civilian-restricted area...'

He didn't like this scenery at all. It reminded him of the ancient environment he didn't want to remember. The sight of mother nature untouched by human hands resembled too closely that of Zhongyuan's.

Yun Tae-Yeong couldn't help but smirk at that. No matter what he would say, these two recruits wouldn't be able to 'hear' him, and they wouldn’t understand his intentions either. The two new saplings didn't have the concept of being in a corps yet, after all.

Ju Yeong-Gi and Kang Jin-Ho followed Yun Tae-Yeong to a residence hall, then they changed into casual clothes. Afterward, they were taken to a smoking area by the corporal.

Yun Tae-Yeong asked the two, “You smoke?”

“Yes...”

“Yes, sir. I do.”

Kang Jin-Ho replied briefly, while Ju Yeong-Gi replied with a deep nod.

Yun Tae-Yeong provided them with cigarettes. “Here, have a smoke. Your seniors will take care of such things for you once you get to your assigned base. However, I'll help you with that as long as you're here.”

Ju Yeong-Gi was taken aback. “Sir? I thought this was our base?”

"No, ahjussis. Your assigned base is still a bit of travel away. Alpha and Bravo are located right here in the HQ, but Charlie is a separate artillery unit. Although you were supposed to go there today, they told us that's gonna happen tomorrow. Sounds like they don't have anyone to dispatch for the time being."

Ju Yeong-Gi tilted his head. What the corporal said sounded like Korean, but some parts sounded more like indecipherable gibberish.

Yun Tae-Yeong grinned. “Just know that you'll be taken to a different base tomorrow.”

“I see.” Whatever happens, it happens; to Ju Yeong-Gi, his attention was more focused on the cigarette before his eyes, not the matter of having different bases.

Yun Tae-Yeong lit the cigarettes up for Ju Yeong-Gi and Kang Jin-Ho. “Ahjussis, you two are in for a rough ride from tomorrow onward, so at the very least, relax as much as possible today.”

Ju Yeong-Gi was taken aback once more. “Huh Is it that bad?”

"Hmm, how should I describe Charlie... It's a separate artillery unit, and it’s pretty infamous for being a bit rough around the edges. Looks like you two have pretty good physiques. That’s probably why you got assigned there."

Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly listened while sucking on his cigarette. He mused inwardly.

'I thought I'd be quitting, so this...'

Who knew he would get to smoke this frequently after joining the military

Yun Tae-Yeong continued, “It'll soon be dinnertime, ahjussis. Enjoy our meal and get some good rest tonight. The vehicle that’ll fetch you should come tomorrow morning.”

“Understood.”

Once the smoke break was over, Yun Tae-Yeong guided the two back to the residence hall. “Please enjoy your stay here. You can also watch TV if you want.”

Before leaving, Yun Tae-Yeong showed them where the TV remote was. Once he left, Ju Yeong-Gi scanned the hall where only he and Kang Jin-Ho were present. He tilted his head and said loudly, “Wow. Isn't this a heck of a lot nicer than what we thought?”

“It seems that way,” Kang Jin-Ho replied flatly.

“I figured we'd be hazed like crazy and chewed on by the seniors as they cry, Welcome to hell, rookies! Well... I heard the military had changed a lot over the years, and I guess it's all true. That corporal was so friendly, wasn't he "

"Mmhm. However, it's still too early to be sure."

“You think so?”

As the two chatted away, the hall's doorway opened. Soldiers finishing up their daily duties rushed inside before noticing the duo. “Hmm New recruits?”

Kang Jin-Ho and Ju Yeong-Gi hesitated, not knowing how to respond. Thankfully, though, someone else behind the entering soldiers replied for them, “Nah, not ours. These ahjussis are destined for Charlie.”

"Aaah, they are those ahjussis, eh " A soldier sporting a sergeant's insignia approached the duo and smiled brightly. "Wow, ahjussis. You guys are heading to Charlie, eh. You have my sympathy. You two are gonna have a hard time there. Oh, hey. Have you smoked yet "

“Yes, sir...”

“Well, if you wish to smoke some more, don't hesitate and talk to me. Relax as much as you can and enjoy your stay. I mean, you'll be jumping into hell tomorrow, so might as well get as much rest here as possible, right?”

Ju Yeong-Gi's and Kang Jin-Ho's expressions stiffened a little. Ever since their arrival here, people had been implying that Charlie was like hell itself. Was it just a running joke to intimidate the new recruits? Or was the people's perception of Charlie that poor? It was hard to tell.

Kang Jin-Ho and Ju Yeong-Gi followed the other soldiers to the mess hall and had dinner while ignoring being called 'ahjussis' for some reason. After dinner, they meandered around until bedtime.

After taking up a couple of unoccupied bunks in the corner of the residence hall, they listened to the other soldiers addressing them in sympathetic voices.

“Ahjussis, have a good rest tonight.”

"Yes. Sleep well, you poor ahjussis."

Ju Yeong-Gi grew increasingly nervous. He couldn’t help but ask Kang Jin-Ho in a quiet voice, "H-hey. Don't you think something's weird here "

"Mm..." Kang Jin-Ho grunted while also feeling a little confused. This situation was quite different from what he had heard about the experiences of the other new recruits. "We'll be in our assigned base tomorrow. We'll find out once we get there."

"Well, that's true, but..." Ju Yeong-Gi couldn't finish his sentence and simply groaned deeply. "...Eiii, I don't care anymore. You're right! We'll see when we get there, won't we?!"

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Ju Yeong-Gi and saw the latter closing his eyes to sleep. He then followed suit. Whatever the case might be, he should get some idea of what was in store for them come tomorrow.

1. “Hyung” or “Hyeong” is a noun used by Korean males to address another male older than them who they are close to, according to MacMillan Dictionary. Hyung literally means “older brother.”

2. “Ahjussi” or “Ajeossi” refers to an older man, usually someone unfamiliar. It can be translated into various English alternatives like “mister” or “uncle” depending on the context.