I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 23

“Company Commander, why are you here at this late hour?”

“Why do you think? I was waiting for a certain lieutenant who wanders around late at night.”

A stiff atmosphere and expression.

It felt like I was facing a completely different person.

‘What’s this? So scary.’

He only had one light on in front of him, making it almost like a haunted house.

“I was having some time to communicate with the soldiers, so I’m a bit late. Is there something you need me to do?”

“If there’s something to do, there’s plenty. So much that it’s hard to prioritize.”

He walked toward me and sat on the edge of the desk.

‘Don’t tell me this is discipline enforcement?’

It’s an uncivilized culture, but in the military, it’s entirely possible.

“Tsk, no.”

The Lieutenant who approached me seemed to contemplate something, then clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“I saw you fumbling around at the defense line today. Do you know how to handle a sword?”

“I learned at the Training Camp, but I’m not at a very skilled level.”

“You can’t be a Squad Leader in the Vanguard Company without knowing how to handle a sword.”

“Ha… haha.”

Even I can see that doesn’t make sense.

‘Whether it’s today or tomorrow, if the enemy really starts attacking, I’m definitely dead.’

Even if I’m branded as a criminal of the Empire, deserting would have a higher survival rate.

“There’s a training ground behind the company that no one uses anymore. Come there after duty hours, I’ll teach you a little.”

“I feel so sorry about this.”

I’m grateful in my heart, but honestly, it’s not such a welcome proposal.

‘It would probably be faster to buy a decent swordsmanship manual and study from that.’

I was planning to start personal training starting tomorrow evening… well, not tonight, but from tomorrow.

“If the Squad Leader fumbles around, I’ll have to suffer, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

I couldn’t help but admire the Lieutenant’s words.

‘The Battalion Commander was right, there really aren’t any bad people here.’

I was scared at first because the atmosphere was frightening, but I guess I just misunderstood.

‘If he’s offering to teach me this much, I can’t refuse.’

Learning is always beneficial, so there’s no need to think of it negatively.

“Thank you!”

“Go get some rest without being late. Tomorrow will be busy too.”

“Yes, please rest comfortably.”

The Lieutenant waved his hand in response to my greeting and left the building.

Now the office was truly empty, just me alone.

It was a bit chilly, but well, this much I could endure through the maze of solitude.

As long as I don’t hear any ghostly footsteps from somewhere.

“First, I think memorizing the surrounding geography and action protocols for different situations is the priority.”

The PX I stopped by earlier, or more precisely, the Courage Shop.

‘What a terrible name.’

Anyway, on the way back, I had a conversation with the Assistant Instructor, and he said situations break out about once a day.

‘Today was my first day so I just followed along, but from tomorrow I need to be more proactive.’

To somehow survive as a Squad Leader, I read, summarized, and memorized materials as thick as an encyclopedia.

“In Combat Readiness Level 1, you wear combat uniform and only bring weapons. In Level 2, helmet and…”

Perhaps it was thanks to studying hard at the Training Camp.

Still, there were quite a few things I knew, so I could make quick progress.

‘Whatever you do, it’s useful someday.’

Old sayings are never wrong.

“Ugh, that’s enough for today. I’m dying.”

Late in the early morning hours, feeling my head getting foggy, I got up from my seat.

‘I wonder if they’ll wake me up at 6:30 like at the Training Camp.’

If they wake me up at 6:30 when work starts at 8, I might really lose it.

“It’s quiet.”

Walking down the corridor to leave the building, the scenery visible through the windows was darkness itself.

“Just like my future. Sigh, let me endure just one month, just one month.”

Sighing, I entered my assigned Infantry Battalion Officer Dormitory Room 203.

“I expected it, but it’s even smaller than that.”

A studio apartment just big enough for a bed and desk.

‘Still, the soldiers seem to use 6-person rooms, so compared to those guys, this would be heaven, right?’

Isn’t life originally about finding comfort and satisfaction through comparison with others?

Of course, thinking about my worthless brothers who are probably lounging around in a mansion just makes me angry.

‘I’ll definitely make those bastards live in a place like this.’

Extreme environments only make my desire for revenge stronger and more solid.

“At least the bed is soft.”

They must have washed the covers too, as they were clean without any bad smell or foreign substances.

‘Let me just do this roughly and sleep. How much luxury am I going to enjoy here anyway.’

I threw off my military uniform like shedding skin and closed my eyes.

And so, a day that felt like a week miraculously came to an end.

*    *    *

-Combat Readiness Level 2 cancelled!

“Is today some special day or something? Why all this commotion?”

“Sigh, let’s go back.”

Soldiers climbing onto the wagon with tired bodies.

I was among them too.

‘Ah, I’m dying.’

It’s already been a week since I started as Squad Leader.

I thought it would be fine as long as no actual combat occurred, but that wasn’t the case at all.

‘Those bastards, if they’re not even going to fight, why do they make a fuss every day?’

They just run their mouths from exactly 300 meters away and then leave.

Deploying just to listen to that bullshit is really not something a human should do.

And you know what’s even more infuriating?

These vicious bastards don’t distinguish between day and night when making a fuss.

“I couldn’t sleep last night, so I really feel like dying.”

“Yawn, let’s go in and sleep. They just made a fuss, so it’ll be quiet for eight hours. Squad Leader, may we go to the barracks?”

“Go ahead. We can’t leave everything completely empty, so those who can manage, please stay behind.”

“Thank you.”

I gave flexible orders and returned to the company.

‘Let me rest a bit too.’

As if I’d become a zombie.

I sat down in the chair with drooping shoulders as if collapsing.

“Are you okay?”

The 3rd Squad Leader, Lieutenant Ramon, looked at me with worried eyes.

“I can still manage. But 3rd Squad Leader, your stamina is amazing. You don’t show any signs of fatigue at all.”

“It’s thanks to exercising regularly. Lieutenant, you should try exercising whenever you have time too.”

“Ha… haha.”

When just working is already at my limit, exercise.

It was no different from telling me to just die from overwork.

“What are you chattering about?”

Lieutenant Alpen, the company commander who had returned from the battalion meeting, spoke as he entered the office.

“Lieutenant Paran seemed tired, so I was giving him some exercise advice.”

“Of course he’s tired when he’s being called out day and night. What exercise advice.”

I was unexpectedly moved by such reasonable words that were hard to hear in the military.

“Still, this is basic physical fitness for the body.”

“Enough. Today there’s a special order from the regiment commander for rest, so spread the word to the squad members and let them go home.”

“Is that really true?”

“We can go home right now?!”

At this unbelievable news, the squad leaders including myself jumped up from our seats.

“Don’t want to go home?”

“N…No sir. I’ll spread the word immediately.”

Worried he might say it was a lie, I rushed to relay what I had just heard.

“Amazing…!”

“See you tomorrow!”

“Futsal?”

“I’d rather die. I’m going inside to sleep until tomorrow morning, so don’t wake me.”

The squad members headed to the barracks with smiles for the first time in a while, and I too went home after reporting to the company commander.

‘It feels strange to rest during the time I should be running drills.’

How should I put this.

My body and mind are comfortable, but I feel slightly anxious – it’s not easy to express in words.

“You deserve to rest, you’ve suffered so much this past week.”

I suffered so much that the investigation about the battalion commander…

“Oh, right.”

I had completely forgotten about it.

‘But really, no matter how I look at it, he’s not a traitor.’

He always takes the lead when situations arise, and he’s a GOAT who cares for soldiers and officers until late at night.

If he had been my battalion commander during my military service in the Republic of Korea, I would have lived comfortably without suffering any injustices.

‘They should at least give me some guidelines so I can decide whether to investigate or not. The Intelligence Agency guys are the real problem.’

And fundamentally, I don’t have the time or energy to dig into someone’s background right now.

‘Next time I meet him, I’ll have no choice but to really use the Eyes of Truth.’

Actually, it’s not that I had forgotten about using the Eyes of Truth.

I was just hesitating because this damn skill is too expensive to use each time.

‘These fraudulent military boots cost 25 points, but 20 points just to get some information about one person? What nonsense.’

It’s really too precious, but since I haven’t gained any results so far, I really have no choice now.

Knock knock!

While I was browsing items I could buy with 20 points, someone knocked on my door.

‘Who is it when I’m trying to rest.’

Coming to visit just when I’m about to fall asleep – the timing is annoyingly unpleasant.

“Should I just sleep.”

After a brief internal conflict, I recognized that I’m just a lieutenant and got up from bed.

“Coming.”

I put on a cardigan and opened the door to find Lieutenant Alpen in his utility uniform.

“Loyalty! Company Commander, what brings you here.”

“It’s nothing major, but I was thinking that I promised to teach you swordsmanship but haven’t been able to because I’ve been busy.”

“Ah… yes.”

Just from hearing this much, I could tell what this guy’s intention was in knocking on my door.

‘Damn, I shouldn’t have opened it.’

Deep regret washed over me, but it was already too late.

“How about we start now? Do you have any plans?”

Not “are you okay” but “do you have plans” – that question.

This means he’s definitely going to drag me along no matter what.

Nobody would have made plans for this suddenly granted holiday.

“I’m… fine with it, but aren’t you spending too much time on me, Company Commander? You must be tired.”

“I’m used to this lifestyle, so tiredness is nothing. And as I said before, if a squad leader can’t pull their weight on the battlefield, the entire company falls apart.”

“Is… is that so?”

It seems a bit exaggerated, but what can I do.

If a superior says so, then that’s how it is.

“Get dressed and come down. I’ll be waiting.”

“Understood.”

In the end, I had no choice but to put back on the clothes I had thrown off.

‘Damn! Just when I want to rest for once, they can’t stand to see me not being devoured.’

This damn military can’t stand to see people resting.

“Good thing no one’s here. Yesterday there were some soldiers playing foot volleyball, so I just went back.”

The company commander pushed through an unmanaged path and went deep inside, revealing a small clearing.

‘What is this, some secret space.’

Since the base area is large, there’s all sorts of stuff here.

“This used to be the company training ground. Now it’s the sergeants’ hideout, but today, well, they’ve all gone to sleep so no one will come.”

“I see.”

“We’ll be training here from now on, so just come this way according to the schedule.”

Words that implied today wouldn’t be the last time.

Well, it’s not that bad.

Learning swordsmanship is something I should pay money to ask for.

“First, let’s check what level you’re at. Pick up that wooden sword over there.”

At his words suggesting we spar, I picked up a wooden sword lying on the ground and took the stance I learned at the Training Camp.

“Hmm.”

Lieutenant Alpen’s reaction to seeing my Training Camp-style stance was… clearly the worst by anyone’s standards.

“Is there some problem?”

“Didn’t you say you definitely learned this?”

“Yes, this is the stance I learned at the Training Camp.”

“Has the world gotten better? How did someone of that level get second place.”

The lieutenant shook his head as if he couldn’t understand and picked up a wooden sword, taking the same…? stance.

“Do you feel the difference?”

“Uh… yes.”

I couldn’t say I didn’t feel it.

Just looking at it, the balance was stable with no visible openings.

He hadn’t frowned at me for no reason.

“Come at me first.”

“Then… excuse me!”

Even if my stance was lacking, the cutting motion was what I had gotten perfect scores on at the Training Camp.

‘I need to show that I’m not a complete beginner.’

It was a matter of male pride, so I quickly moved both feet to close the distance and raised my sword above my head.

“Sigh.”

The lieutenant sighed even before my movement was finished.

‘You’re underestimating me too much right now.’

Training Camp second place, almost went to the Eastern Coast Guard Battalion, an Intelligence Agency agent active on the front lines!

That’s me, Paran Oclo…

Thud!

Just before the wooden sword reached the lieutenant’s head.

Painful pressure that made it hard to breathe surged from my abdomen as my body was thrown to the ground.

“Sigh, what a useless bastard they sent me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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