READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 240
The rolling wheels eventually left the highway and entered a regular road.
For a human holding onto a chilling memory that’s impossible to forget, this area isn’t exactly welcoming.
At the entrance where we exited the highway, there was a strange sense of unfamiliarity, as if thinking, “Was there a place like this?” But as we went deeper, the scenery from my memories unfolded before my eyes.
A dumb-looking tiger mascot, lodging facilities and restaurants perfectly designed to rip off soldiers.
It wasn’t near the military base from my past life, but there was definitely a similar vibe.
That shameless atmosphere where they suck the life out of soldiers without a hint of guilt.
Leaning my elbow on the slightly protruding, blunt hill under the window, I rested my chin and thought.
‘This town really doesn’t change at all.’
I casually glanced back, shifting my gaze from the front and side windows.
Of course, Siyeon’s car, which was right behind us when we left home, was nowhere to be seen.
It’s confirmed that we’re heading to Gangwon-do, but I wonder which unit Siyeon went to.
Curious, I suddenly threw a question into the quiet car.
“Do you know where the car behind us went?”
“That one? Probably Gyeonggi-do.”
“Huh?”
When the answer came back as Gyeonggi-do, near home, I let out a flustered exclamation.
Gyeonggi-do is still Gyeonggi-do, but it’s usually close to Incheon.
Wait, so Siyeon didn’t go that far? Am I the only one going to Gangwon-do?
I shouldn’t have asked. Now I just feel unfairly treated.
It’s not necessarily bad news that Siyeon didn’t go far, but…
‘This feels weird.’
A strange mix of unfairness and relief.
Regardless, the car kept rolling and rolling until we reached an alley lined with franchise stores and various restaurants.
The square-patterned military uniforms of soldiers on leave reminded me that we were indeed near a military base.
Even so, the car didn’t stop, continuing to roll somewhere, searching for the way.
Passing various restaurants and cafes, we eventually found ourselves back on a quiet road.
“We’re almost there.”
At the uncle’s words, I looked up and saw a worn-out sign indicating a military base ahead.
Beyond that, we passed a brick bus stop that looked like it hadn’t been used in years, exuding an eerie vibe…
Driving down a road surrounded by nothing but grass and trees, with hardly any other cars in sight, we finally arrived at the military base.
A yellow and black barricade at the entrance.
[WARNING]
[USE OF FORCE AUTHORIZED]
[INCLUDING FIREARMS]
The message on the barricade and the spiky iron spikes sticking out.
Seeing these military-specific items that could haunt my dreams, I couldn’t help but make a disgusted face.
Somehow, it felt like I had become a soldier returning from leave.
‘Whew, at least I don’t have to go through this in this life.’
I sighed deeply in relief, watching as the car slowly entered the base.
As the soldier guarding the entrance approached, the uncle in the driver’s seat casually spoke up.
“Shouldn’t you transform now?”
“Oh, right.”
I had completely forgotten.
Thanking the uncle in my mind for reminding me before the window opened, I muttered the transformation spell.
“Sun.”
The uncle didn’t open the window for the approaching soldier until after my transformation was complete.
A sergeant came over, checked something like an ID from the uncle in the driver’s seat, and we entered the base, which was already wide open.
Following behind a few soldiers, we slowly drove at a walking pace toward the parade ground.
After somehow parking the car on the shoulder where vehicles rarely go, I finally stepped out of the car.
In this hot weather, countless soldiers were running around the dirt path surrounding the parade ground.
As expected, it seemed like they were conducting a physical fitness test or selecting elite soldiers.
As I got out of the car, a two-star general with a friendly smile approached, hands behind his back.
Two stars? Must be a division commander.
“Ah, welcome. Is this young lady next to you the magician?”
‘Magician…?’
The division commander called me a magician, not a Magical Girl.
Did he mean to say Magical Girl but forgot?
‘What can you expect from people who can’t even turn on their own computers?’
Facing the grim reality of the military, I let out a frustrated snort, but the uncle corrected him.
“Not a magician, but a Magical Girl.”
“Ah! Right, Magical Girl! My apologies, I’m not too familiar with things outside the base… Hehe.”
The division commander, looking embarrassed, scratched the back of his head under his beret.
It’s not that he doesn’t know, he just doesn’t care… whatever.
As the adults continued their work-related conversation, I started running around the parade ground as requested.
A run deliberately meant to show the gap in physical strength, as per the official request.
Honestly, no matter how great a soldier is, pitting them against a monster-slaying monster-human in a physical contest…
It’s fundamentally nonsensical.
A physical contest where losing is practically guaranteed.
The fact that they’re pushing through with this just shows that the military is still the military, no matter how much time passes.
“One lap—”
And so, one lap.
After completing a round trip to the starting line, I heard the quiet cheers of the soldier uncles.
A soldier in a gray short-sleeved workout uniform sat on a bench, timing the records at the starting line.
Because he was wearing workout clothes instead of his uniform during duty hours to time the records, he seemed a bit happier.
Outside the parade ground, far away, soldiers in uniform pants and workout tops were digging drainage ditches with plastic shovels.
It’s probably because of comrades like them that sitting here timing records feels precious.
Time passed, and the officers who met the records and those who didn’t.
The soldiers who pushed through with sheer willpower to meet the elite soldier criteria and the ordinary soldiers who ended up just walking in the last few minutes.
No matter how much time passed, I maintained a steady pace, running without losing speed.
The parade ground was filled with the sound of heavy breathing.
“Ah, you’ve worked hard. Could you come over here for a moment?”
When I was the only one left running, the division commander hurriedly called me to wrap things up.
A two-star general whom even the soldiers and officers dared not stand beside.
With a tiny kid who looked like an elementary school student standing next to him, it probably looked like a grandfather and his cosplaying granddaughter to onlookers.
“Look here, this small-bodied Magical Girl is outrunning all of you! Battalion commander, don’t you feel anything?”
The battalion commander, an older man, bowed his head deeply, seemingly at a loss for words, before cautiously speaking.
“Yes, it seems our physical strength is severely lacking…”
“Exactly, this person is so small yet runs so hard, while much larger soldiers and officers are exhausted and walking. It breaks my heart.”
The division commander, pretending to be heartbroken, slapped his chest with an open palm.
I’m not sure if this old man’s words are sincere or if he’s just scheming to increase the soldiers’ and officers’ physical training time.
But in the military, if a star-ranked person says “move a mountain,” you have to move it.
The officers and soldiers… especially the officers who’ll bury their bones in the military, had shadows cast over their faces.
At this level of rank, even jokes can’t be taken lightly.
This is a place where if something is pointed out, it *must* be changed.
As the atmosphere grew heavy around the officers, the division commander continued.
“So, what should we do about it?”
“We’ll increase the physical training time…”
Increasing the physical training time.
With that one answer, the division commander seemed satisfied, smiling at the battalion commander’s response.
I felt a renewed sense of futility, realizing I was invited just for those few words.
“Yes, that’s right.”
As the division commander nodded in satisfaction, there were others who weren’t pleased.
Namely, the soldiers with hostile expressions, compared to the officers who looked like they’d aged ten years.
The soldiers’ faces were wrinkled with frustration, their brows furrowed.
Even while panting heavily, they struggled to lift their heads, glaring at the division commander with eyes full of curses.
‘Has this old man lost his mind? How are we supposed to beat a monster-slaying girl in physical strength?’
‘Stupid bastard, can’t even win himself.’
‘Ugh, f***ing bastard, piece of s***.’
‘The soldier’s enemy is the officer, the soldier’s enemy is the officer.’
‘If a real war breaks out, I’ll shoot that bastard first.’
‘I really want to desert, for real.’
Even without asking or hearing directly, their thoughts were practically readable.
I get it. When they make you stand in front of the flagpole in full gear under the scorching sun on the 1st of every month, saluting dozens of times, it’s only natural to think like that.