WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 304: Greek Islands (4)

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The waiting period before redeployment or reorganization was practically a break, but the noncommissioned officers, including First Sergeant Merriweather, had no intention of letting the soldiers go slack.

“Be motivated!”

They needed motivation. In Korean terms, their discipline was slipping. Not a day went by without Merriweather getting an education and training plan approved. And that included physical training tougher than anything in basic. On the day the first plan was approved, the sergeant said this to Gyeoul.

“I think of physical strength on the battlefield the way you’d think of money in society.”

“Why?”

“They say having a lot of money won’t necessarily make you happy, but not having any usually makes you miserable, don’t they? Physical strength is the same. No bullet is going to avoid a sturdy man, but on most battlefields, a man without enough stamina is far more likely to die. So you build it up while you can.”

“That makes sense.”

Gyeoul smiled and agreed, and whenever complaints about dying from exhaustion started rising, he simply soothed them. In any case, since Gyeoul set the example as the unit commander, it did not happen often. Today, though, at dawn, as they prepared for the inevitable run, the first sergeant raised a concern.

“If you push your body that hard while you’re young, your joints will wear down and give you trouble later.”

Merriweather’s gaze jabbed at the heavy pack Gyeoul was carrying. With all the adjustments Gyeoul received, even running in full gear was not quite enough to make him spend stamina at the same rate as the soldiers. But to people who did not know the inside story, it would look like he was overdoing it to lead by example.

“Hmm, I’m fine. It’s manageable.”

Since he could not explain the details, Gyeoul tried to brush it off, but the sergeant shook his head seriously.

“That’s how every unit ends up with at least one walking injury case. They run wild when they’re at their physical peak, never realizing they’re wrecking their bodies, and once they pin on corporal and sergeant, they start whining about how much it hurts and spend every day getting medical certificates and going to the hospital. Of course, Company Commander, you’re different from those half-baked bastards, but the end result of damaging the body will probably be the same.”

Gyeoul smiled.

“Thank you for worrying about me, First Sergeant. But I really am fine. I think I’ll have fewer and fewer chances to use my body anyway. Whether I live or die, I won’t be doing this for long.”

Then he added.

“I’m an officer, after all. I’m different from NCOs, who are the real soldiers.”

First Sergeant Merriweather’s expression turned stern. Then the sound of another unit, which had started running a little ahead of them, drew closer with their synchronized footsteps and chorus.

「When we go to hell, Satan will ask.」

「“What did you bastards do to make a living?”」

「“What work did you get paid to do?”」

「Then we’ll stomp Satan’s face under our combat boots and answer.」

「“We made a living sending souls down here!”」

The singing Rangers passed close in front of the independent company, which was still getting ready. Everyone was lightly dressed, while the commander at the front was running with the unit flag in hand and a pack on their back. Gyeoul could tell the pack was not fake just from the weight in the way it swayed. The commander glanced at Gyeoul while passing by, face beaded with sweat and burning with clear competitive spirit. I can’t lose! Tremble, tremble! That sort of feeling.

‘They look really tired...’

Gyeoul felt sorry for the commander. Even so, the commander was working hard as the caller.

In truth, this was all Jin-seok’s fault.

Not long after they had changed garrisons, Jin-seok’s platoon and a Ranger platoon had apparently ended up running at the same time. At first, they kept their distance, but once Jin-seok identified the other side, he sped up and stuck close behind them. It was a provocation that said they still had plenty of stamina, but could not pass because the Rangers were too slow, or that they were holding back because overtaking them would hurt their pride.

The Rangers, their pride boiling over, sprinted one full lap at top speed and attached themselves behind Jin-seok’s platoon. They paid him back the same way.

It would have been nice if they had stopped there. Jin-seok just had to start a game of chicken. Falling behind, being overtaken, taking the lead again, and being overtaken again. A repeating vicious cycle.

And he lost.

The victorious Rangers supposedly passed in triumph in front of Jin-seok’s platoon while Jin-seok’s men collapsed or vomited. Of course, plenty of vomit had been smeared on the Rangers’ vests too. Neither side knew moderation.

Gyeoul heard the story later and let out an honest sigh. The Ranger company commander had clearly heard about the incident too. No wonder. When Gyeoul first came out for a run in full gear, the Ranger company commander’s gaze had been rather solemn. Looking back, that gaze had been asking, “Is this round two?”

Watching the Rangers’ backs recede, First Sergeant Merriweather said, “Well, until that side gives up, I suppose you’ll have a hard time putting down your pack too, Company Commander.”

“...”

Gyeoul shut his mouth. First Sergeant, you were being serious just a moment ago. No, the bigger problem was that Merriweather was still being serious. The stubbornness of soldiers was strangely connecting in all the wrong places. Ah, the future of the U.S. military was dark.

“Sir! We’re ready.”

It was the supply NCO, Corporal McArdle, reporting. Behind McArdle, the soldiers could be seen waiting in formation by platoon. Some of the officers who were not visible each had their own work to do. Gyeoul gave a slight nod.

“After the run today, gather the troops. I have information to pass on.”

“Uh, is it the next deployment area?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Understood.”

The corporal looked extremely curious, but McArdle was not so lacking in sense as to ask just because of wanting to know first.

The run began with a command. Then came today’s cadence.

「I know a girl who lived on a hill,」

「If she didn’t, her sister would,」

「Physical training! Physical training!」

「Good for you! Good for me!」

What connection was there between the girl, her sister, and physical training? But running cadences were usually like this. There were even lyrics like, 「MP! MP! Don’t arrest me! He stole whiskey! I stole wine! His crime is worse!」 It seemed the standard for weighing the severity of a crime was not price, but alcohol content.

Out of consideration for the soldiers recovered from Olema FOB, they tried to avoid cadences like, 「If I die, pin my medals to my coffin and send me to my mother.」

A little while later, standing in front of the company after the run, Gyeoul raised his voice.

“Today, or to be exact, late last night, the redeployment area for our independent company was decided.”

There was no murmuring. But within the limits of not moving or making a sound, the soldiers showed maximum interest. Were they going back to the battlefield, or returning to the refugee zone? Recently, that had been their biggest concern. Even if they understood the general mood, there was no way not to feel anxious until it became certain.

Today was the end of that anxiety. Gyeoul declared gently.

“In four days, we will return to Fort Roberts.”

Someone swallowed a short scream. But no one blamed them. Compared to Gyeoul, everyone else had been away for less time, but that did not mean it had been short. They had been deployed on rescue missions from the moment Operation Manifest Liberation ended in failure, so even though they had been near the base, they had been isolated from the alliance. In other words, they had spent about half a year taking part in multiple operations back to back. At this point, they had the experience to take pride in calling themselves veterans.

“One more thing.”

Gyeoul drew their attention again.

“For the time being, we will be operating the base there.”

Question marks appeared on faces still flushed with excitement.

“What that means is that the 160th Regiment troops originally stationed there will be leaving Fort Roberts through this redeployment. It would be a waste to keep well-trained National Guard forces tied down to refugee management, right? They’re going to replenish their strength and send them to the front. Ah, anyone with questions can ask. It’s fine.”

Ensign Cheon So-min, whose under-eyes had grown dark over the past few days, raised a hand.

“Sir, even before we left, the refugee zone’s capacity kept increasing. A lot of people were being moved in from elsewhere. Even if it was under capacity, can our unit handle the work two battalions were doing?”

Fort Roberts had the 3rd Battalion, stationed there from the start, and the 1st Battalion, which had joined around Christmas.

“Good question. Our company will be reorganized there into an Independent Battalion. But! We have to handle it ourselves starting from the stage of recruiting volunteers among the refugees. We’re not just sitting still and receiving new soldiers. They say they’ll support us with skilled instructors, but even so, it won’t be easy. The assignment period is fixed too.”

“...”

“After we fill out the battalion, a few more companies are scheduled to be created. Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino... I heard there’s a low chance refugees of other nationalities may join as well.”

It had been unexpected news even for Gyeoul when he first heard it. The refugee settlement at Fort Roberts seemed to have expanded a great deal. Its origins had grown just as diverse.

“I will also manage the companies created that way in the form of a joint task force. So I don’t think it will be quite that hard once some time has passed. Public order will be maintained by the police, and since the mainland has been retaken, the defensive burden should be lighter than before.”

In other words, even if they returned, they would only be moving away from the battlefield, not getting rest. The independent company’s trip to D.C. had not been confirmed yet.

Even so, the soldiers’ joy did not fade. If anything, they brightened further. The unit’s promotion was also something to be happy about. As Jin-seok had said, every fight they had fought had been a means of building stable footing. They had started as refugees with no tomorrow, and now they had come far enough to be acknowledged this much.

There was no need to worry in advance about the possibility of being sent back to the front after the reorganization.

Only one person, Yura, had a face as dark as twilight.

“That’s all I had to pass on. Any other questions?”

Gyeoul looked around, but no hands went up.

“Good. Dismissed.”

The cheers that had been held down burst out.

Among the scattering company members, Gyeoul called Yura over.

“Why are you the only one who doesn’t look happy?”

After hesitating, Yura answered honestly.

“Well, when I think about meeting the families of the kids who died or got hurt... I can’t exactly feel happy about going back. It feels too selfish to be glad. Honestly, this will probably be harder on you, Little Captain. Ahaha.”

He had not revealed it, but it was true that a joint funeral service had been scheduled. This time too, Gyeoul would probably fold the Stars and Stripes with a chaplain. Just as he had at Private Stan Page’s funeral. If they were to give the bereaved families comfort that their child, sibling, or relative had died meaningfully, Gyeoul was better suited than anyone else.

“Lieutenant Lee Yura.”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever thought about becoming a company commander?”

“Eck.”

The dark-faced Yura made a strange sound. Gyeoul explained.

“If our company is expanded into a battalion, there’s a high chance the newly joining companies will be organized as Japanese or Chinese companies. They’ll need to show that outwardly, so I think they’ll also choose company commanders to match those origins... It’s only my guess, but there are emotional issues between them too.”

“Yeees...”

Even if they created Chinese or Japanese units, their treatment would clearly be different from Gyeoul’s case. It was a question of whether they had the personnel and trust needed to entrust them with independent operations. Refugees of other nationalities still had some hope, but the Chinese did not. Their perception of them was still crawling along the floor.

In any case, creating new units took time. Even if they made one new Korean company, it meant they could not promote both of them at the same time.

‘Even if both of them end up becoming company commanders in the end, Lieutenant Park Jin-seok seems to care about who becomes senior...’

Concern for Yura was only a secondary matter. Jin-seok’s main motive was still his own ambition. The desire to be acknowledged by others and stand above them. He had the ability to match it too.

Creating a new Korean company was also a burden. There would certainly be many volunteers, but if they took away more manpower, it would become difficult to maintain the community’s productivity. It was a troublesome matter. In a later, stabilized America, economic strength would become important too.

Gyeoul continued.

“If it actually happens, there will be one Korean company commander position. The person to fill that seat will be one of two. You know who without me saying it, right?”

“Me and Lieutenant Park Jin-seok.”

Even as she said it herself, Yura looked deeply troubled.

“Would I be qualified?”

Gyeoul answered her question.

“The expression you had just now is qualification enough.”

“...”

“I’m only asking in advance because I’m worried it might be even harder on you than now. Whether you have the will to do it.”

“Who do you think would be better, Little Captain?”

“I think both of you would do well if entrusted with it.”

Yura fell into thought and let out a pained sound.

“Honestly, I’m not confident... But if that’s your opinion, Captain, I think it would be better for me to take it than Jin-seok... no, than Lieutenant Park Jin-seok.”

“Why?”

“If we become part of the same unit as refugees of other nationalities, wouldn’t getting along with them be just as important as not being looked down on? It would be bad if we couldn’t trust each other when it actually came time to fight.”

“That’s true.”

“I can get angry if I need to. Um, I mean, I can at least pretend to. But Lieutenant Park Jin-seok isn’t someone who will soften up when he needs to. No, in the first place, I feel like I’ve never even seen him smile... Have you seen it, Captain? Lieutenant Park Jin-seok smiling?”

“...”

“I knew it. Whew.”

Yura let out a deep sigh.

========== Author’s Note ==========

# When I get to heaven / I know a girl

These are the titles of the two cadences used in this chapter. If you’re curious, look them up and give them a listen. :)

#Q&A

Q. Iribless: @Tungurochen, huh... Personal desire?

A. There’s no way there would be anything like personal desire...

Q. Deathandeath: @Hmm... dying after the ending, huh........ So you’ll pass away when Earth’s lifespan runs out. Declaration of Earth’s strongest long-lived species. Understood.

A. I’m not going to keep serializing until Earth’s lifespan runs out!

Q. Calpis: @Tungurochen, huh... Was Author a woman... If not... the legendary T.S.?! If not that either... NO WAY..............

A. Crochen just needs to shoot one more feminization special.

Q. Hakuryu: @ Author! What do you mean you’ll die as an apology!!! These days, death is being used too lightly in politics... Author of childlike innocence, please don’t talk lightly about dying T_T

A. Uh... I’m sorry. I can’t do anything about the words I already said, so I’ll try to resurrect later.

Q. Ryujianne: @I hope the chat window increases by +9 within the margin of error... Is 9 a little much...?

A. Not a little, a lot... How much more would I even have to write then...

Q. awkawr: @Turn yourself in and Season 2

A. There’s already one more thing I need to turn myself in for. In the last chapter, I made the mistake of writing Jin-seok and Yura as ensigns, not just once, but a ridiculous number of times... I fixed it before anyone pointed it out, though...

Still, there’s no such thing as Ossuary Season 2.

Q. ParTll: @Then you’re going to steadily serialize twice a day for forty thousand years and leave at the same time as the ending, sob sob. I’ll miss you, Tunguska.

A. Twice a day?... Uh, I think you’ve confused me with another author. :)

Q. Bug: @Please write more chat window... If it’s 3 times, that means you’re going to end it in 3 chapters from now... Please write 10 more times.

A. No. It’s not 3 chapters. It’s because the time has come to fit together other parts of reality.

While I was writing the answers, the Naver update happened. I’ll stop today’s Q&A here.

Footnotes:

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