WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 296: Sacramento (11)

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Even after that, the war situation beyond his own field of experience kept improving. One week before Labor Day, the leaders of the boar hunters finally crossed the former Mexico border. That day, photos of the 89th Cavalry Regiment, the first to reach the Tijuana River, filled the front pages of newspapers everywhere.

The 3rd Battalion of the 89th received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for it. It was a unit-level decoration, an honor that allowed every member to add a decoration ribbon. On an individual level, it was roughly equivalent to the Bronze Star Gyeoul had received.

Compared to the symbolism of recovering the mainland, the award felt somewhat modest, but given the difficulty of Boar Hunt, it was actually generous. Anything higher would have left the other units feeling slighted.

Most of all, fighting was still ongoing in many cities.

Civil society was in a festive mood, but the soldiers stationed in Sacramento were sighing noticeably more often.

If there was any comfort, it was the end of summer approaching alongside Labor Day. The mornings and evenings had grown cool. There was not a single cloud in the sky outside the window, but it no longer had that white-hot glare from before. The blue grew deeper by the day, and it made Gyeoul think of his older sister.

But he did not have much time to give himself over to longing.

Two sets of footsteps approached from the corridor, echoing closer. They had arrived at the scheduled time. The ones who had jointly requested an interview were the independent company’s 3rd and 4th platoon leaders. Gyeoul wondered what business the two might have, since they seemed more uneasy around him than Yura or Jin-seok did.

A male and a female Ensign entered the company commander’s office together and saluted sharply. Gyeoul greeted them gently.

“Welcome, Ensign Seonwoo Joseph. Ensign Cheon. You both worked hard on today’s mission.”

“Yes!” “Yes, sir!”

They answered almost at the same time, as if they had practiced it. He had heard they were fairly close in private as well. Since Yura and Jin-seok were treated as separate cases, the two probably had no one else reliable to lean on. Ensign Song Jeong-hun had only recently taken Yura’s place.

“It’s unfortunate that we had wounded, but we should be glad neither platoon has had any deaths since we took over the Capitol. I’m satisfied. Both of you are doing well.”

Gyeoul did not hold back his praise. Even Ensign Song, who had officer experience, complained about the pressure, so how much worse must it be for them? On top of that, Ensign Cheon had been one of the original members of Yura’s platoon, so adapting must have been harder for her than for Seonwoo Joseph, who had at least completed military service as a soldier in Korea.

‘Personally, I thought Han-byul was more suited to it.’

But though he had only confirmed it later, Han-byul had refused flatly. Wearing an “ugh” expression, she had declined like this.

“Uh, I’m grateful you think so highly of me, but leading other people is kind of not my thing... No, it’s not that I just don’t want to! When I start shooting, I get too absorbed! I sometimes miss what people are saying to me, so I don’t think I can take care of others while fighting too... Ha, haha... hahahaha!”

It was convincing to a point. Her nickname was Miss Triggerhappy, or Trigger Witch, after all. Some soldiers had even begun edging away from her because she named her guns and talked to them. But to Gyeoul, that attachment was something to pity.

Gyeoul had not given up on persuading her right away back then.

“It’s hard to find anyone as bold in battle as Ensign Park Jin-seok or Ensign Lee Yura. Sergeant Jang is one of those hard-to-find people. Couldn’t judgment be made up for through education and training?”

At that, Han-byul slowly let her troubled smile fade and answered seriously.

“I’m not trying to dismiss your eye for people, Little Captain, but I think the person who knows me best is me. It’s not like I don’t have ambition. If I go back wearing an officer’s rank, people will treat me differently right away. It would be better for my future too.”

“...”

“But I don’t want to become irresponsible. I could somehow manage being a squad leader, but platoon leader is honestly too much. Being responsible for the lives of thirty or forty people... That’s too much. I’ve only just stopped having nightmares. I’m sure I’d start losing sleep again, you know?”

“Are you sleeping well these days?”

At the question, Han-byul lifted her gun with a gentle air.

“I’m with this girl even in my dreams.”

“...I see.”

“Anyway, I can barely take responsibility for myself. If I wear a rank that’s too much for me, I’ll either break, or become irresponsible, or both... I’m sure that’s what will happen. I’m sorry. I’d rather stay at a level where it’s enough for me to just fight hard. You’ll need NCOs like me in the future too.”

“I understand.”

“But.”

“...?”

“If there really, really, truly-truly isn’t anyone else, then order me to do it. If it’s your order, Little Captain, I’ll somehow try.”

“You said it would be hard.”

When Gyeoul asked, Han-byul smiled like Yura.

“The person having the hardest time is you, Little Captain. I’d feel too bad if I were the only one taking it easy. It’s hard to feel it most of the time, but if we’re only talking age, you’re young enough to be my little brother. A person can really go that far. A person can really care that much... I think that often.”

“Thank you.”

“Come on, there’s nothing to thank me for. It’s only natural. Now I’m embarrassed.”

Yura must have felt the same way. Han-byul waved her hands and changed the mood.

“Since we’re talking about this, there’s something I want to ask. Could you pay a little more attention to Yura?”

When Gyeoul tilted his head, Han-byul quickly added an explanation.

“Ah, I don’t mean anything weird. It just feels like Yura overdoes it every time. Whatever she does, her standard is you, Little Captain, so maybe I should say she doesn’t know how to be satisfied? I don’t know if she’s directly comparing herself to you, or if she drew some line on her own for what would satisfy you... She always says she’s fine, and if I ask, she snaps at me for no reason, so I don’t know exactly.”

“I think I know what you mean. I’ll remember it. Is there anything else?”

“No. Thank you for listening.”

That was how the conversation ended that day.

Around the time the independent company was formed, Gyeoul had been away because of the San Francisco matter, so the existing platoon leaders, Jin-seok and Yura, had recommended candidates for the new platoon leader positions.

As the story went, 3rd Platoon Leader Seonwoo Joseph was selected on Jin-seok’s recommendation, while 4th Platoon Leader Ensign Cheon So-min was selected on Yura’s. Both had safely passed the exam, which had become far stricter than when Gyeoul was commissioned.

He had heard that Yura had actually considered Han-byul first too. But Han-byul had declined as well, and Yura seemed to have remembered the thoughts that had tormented her at first. In the end, the two who were selected had carried out their roles well enough. Aside from a few minor problems.

At the end of his recollection, Gyeoul spoke.

“Relax, both of you. Why are you so stiff?”

The praise had no effect at all. Both platoon leaders maintained a rigid, statue-like posture.

“If this is going to be a long story, let’s sit down and talk.”

Seonwoo Joseph reacted to Gyeoul’s suggestion at once.

“No, sir. I’ll remain as I am.”

“Mm... Well, do whatever’s comfortable. So what’s the matter?”

This time, the answer came late. Wondering how difficult the subject must be for them to act like this, Gyeoul quietly showed patience and gave them time. The Ensigns exchanged looks, and once again, the one who spoke was Seonwoo Joseph.

“Sir. First, please promise me one thing.”

“A promise? What kind?”

“No matter how absurd what I’m about to say is, will you hear me out to the end?”

“...What on earth is this about?”

“I think it’s a proposal you may get angry over once you hear it. I’m prepared to be disciplined. But first, I hope you’ll hear me out fully.”

Looking closely, there seemed to be fear mixed into their tension. After letting the silence hang for a moment, Gyeoul agreed.

“All right. I promise.”

He nodded once and watched, and the Ensign finally got to the point.

“You should know there’s a bank inside our task force’s area of responsibility. Right near the pit Valor No. 3 fell into.”

“Is there some problem with that bank?”

“I’d like to rob the vault.”

What was this... Gyeoul felt genuinely baffled.

“I promised, so I’ll listen to your explanation for now. Why would you say that?”

“Because we need money.”

“...”

“You know this from the news and the papers, but isolationism is spreading in this country right now. The idea is that once the mainland is recovered, there’s no more need to fight. I understand it. Everyone is tired. They may go as far as Panama because they need to, but after that, it’s hard to guarantee anything.”

“And?”

“If that happens, won’t the refugees be worse off than they are now?”

The Ensign cleared his tightening throat and continued.

“They will be worse off. Hounds that have finished their work are expensive to feed, after all. Some people seem to expect refugees to be used in reconstruction projects, but that’s absurd. How can anyone say something that carefree when there are so many American citizens who have become disaster refugees?”

“Are you saying that while knowing about the refugee leader support policy?”

“Of course. Isn’t that ultimately a move to reduce the budget spent on refugees? They say even the western disaster refugee relief budget is stretched thin. On top of that, as I mentioned briefly earlier, they now have to prepare a reconstruction budget too. That means there are realistic limits, even if the presidential election results are favorable.”

“You mean the leader support payments will gradually be reduced too?”

“Yes.”

The Ensign hesitated slightly before his next words.

“It’ll be fine for a few years. But that’s how people are. How long will your popularity stay the way it is now, Company Commander? How long can one person named Han Gyeoul remain a reason to justify a huge budget? People naturally care more about their own hunger than someone else starving to death. And even if it’s nominally a refugee leader budget, there’s no rule saying it won’t be spent somewhere ridiculous in practice. I saw far too much of that in Korea. Barracks where even after spending seven trillion won, not a single bed came in. Company Commander... I’m sorry to say this, but you would become a figurehead... or a puppet president.”

“What if a territory is created?”

He mentioned it openly because, with the presidential election drawing near, it had practically become a matter of public discussion. Since it was even appearing in news articles, anyone sensitive to current affairs would know about it. As expected, the Ensign nodded.

“That’s uncertain too. There’s no guarantee it will definitely go well. To be blunt, there’s also a chance they’ll fence off some empty wasteland near the border like an Indian reservation and tell us they gave us land, so live well on your own. While still guarding the border as a border.”

It was a prediction he could not simply call wrong.

‘Depending on the election results.’

Gyeoul shifted his eyes slightly. Ensign Cheon flinched when his gaze landed on her. It seemed Seonwoo Joseph had not come alone because he wanted to show that someone agreed with him.

“I may be looking at this too pessimistically. In reality, there’s a chance it will be much better.”

Seonwoo Joseph’s forehead shone. He looked to be suffering quite a bit, maybe because sweat had gotten into his eyes and stung them. Even so, he maintained his rigid posture as he spoke.

“But I believe we must prepare for the worst.”

Gyeoul let out a sigh.

“So you want to rob a bank?”

“If we have money, we can do something, whether that means starting businesses or buying agricultural machinery. At the very least, they won’t drive us out of America. This is a kind of insurance.”

“...”

“Most of all... I’ve heard this is happening openly in other units too. Stealing valuables from abandoned buildings, I mean. Everyone knows and looks the other way. Our unit is unusually clean because you’re here, Company Commander.”

He could not say there were no such accusations against the U.S. military. It had happened in Iraq too. There had even been scoundrels who enjoyed hunting people, so how much more common would lesser crimes be? If caught, they were punished, but if not, that was the end of it.

“Let’s say you’re right about all of it.”

Gyeoul shook his head.

“How much do you think would be in that bank?”

At that, Ensign Cheon grabbed Seonwoo Joseph’s shoulder just as he was about to open his mouth. It meant she would speak.

“I know there usually isn’t a large amount of money in a bank vau... ahem. In a bank vault. But this is the center of the city. There are many government offices, companies, and shopping malls. Large sums must have moved in and out often. The infection spread suddenly. So wouldn’t there be at least hundreds of thousands of dollars? At most, several million...”

“Only several million dollars.”

Gyeoul’s single sentence flustered both Ensigns.

========== Author’s Note ==========

#Chapter 295

I plan to edit the part in the last uploaded chapter where DEVGRU dies by electrocution. It will probably be sometime today or tomorrow. This is because I received feedback from one reader.

At the time I wrote it, I thought it was natural for combat boots to get wet or leak unless they were brand-new, and that ankle-height flooding would be enough... But I decided it would be better to simply delete it rather than add more explanation.

#Consecutive Updates

In response to Qvex’s comment asking me to cheer for the CSAT, I replied that if they got a perfect score on the CSAT, I would do consecutive updates. Then Nyar gave this opinion.

@Leaving a comment for the first time in a while. I’m enjoying the story. / I feel this every time I see it, but author’s promises of consecutive updates are kind of cheap... A perfect score on the CSAT... And Lee Yeongdo’s work last time too... Is there no such thing as a feasible promise for consecutive updates? (I’m sorry for making one person’s chance of a perfect score become 0 like this.)

(Well, I don’t actually want consecutive updates that badly, but I’m writing this because I’m annoyed at the author for making absurd promises of consecutive updates.)

...!!!

I feel wronged.

If you are a reader of this novel, you must have studied for at least forty thousand years... The CSAT is an inferior test meant for humans who walk on two legs, so it might be difficult from the standpoint of higher life-forms like you readers, but still, if you prepared for forty thousand years, a perfect score might be possible...

And yet you say I’m annoying...

There is no way I would fall for this kind of provocation. Hmph.

I’ll change the conditions.

0. If the sum of Qvex’s Language, Math, and Foreign Language grades is 6 or below, 1 consecutive update.

1. If you achieve Grade 1 in all three of Language, Math, and Foreign Language, 2 consecutive updates.

2. If even the inquiry section and second foreign language are all Grade 1, 3 consecutive updates.

3. If you get a perfect score on the CSAT, 5 consecutive updates.

4. If you meet even one of the above conditions and verify college acceptance, additional consecutive update + shipment of signed books for Volumes 1 and 2.

5. If you also verify passing the Higher Civil Service Examination, I’ll do another consecutive update.

Since Qvex is someone who has steadily left comments too, I can do this much.

Since the condition is that you do well on the CSAT, it feels a bit wrong to set anything below item 0.

For verification, please take a photo of your report card together with a monitor showing the login screen in the background, then send it by private message or to the email listed in the notice.

However, since I write at a certain speed, I’m informing you in advance that I’ll need at least ten days and up to one month of preparation time. You don’t want to read something written sloppily. :)

Great old readers. Now you can all join your hearts and pray for Qvex to do amazingly on the CSAT.

#Q&A... I was going to omit it, but... sob sob

Q. no name: @I’m enjoying the story, but I’m enlisting next Monday. This is a small wish, but would I be able to read it before I enter on Monday?

A. I’m sorry... I saw your comment too late. You won’t be able to see it right away, but I’m replying so you can see it later... / But at first, this comment wasn’t like this... I think there was just the number 1... sob sob

Footnotes:

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