IGMB 02

Chapter 02

‘What the heck is this?’

Maybe it’s because I met a grim reaper, actually went back to the past, and enlisted again, but when I saw the status window I wasn’t all that surprised.

If anything, I felt more like, Yeah, I figured as much.

I reached out toward the empty air.

To anyone else it would look like I was just waving my hand around, but in reality I was poking and swiping through the translucent status screen.

When I tapped the “Confirm” button, the details of the quest “Re-enlist and Earn Ten Billion Won” unfolded.

[If you complete service and are discharged as a Sergeant, you will receive all accumulated prize money.]
[However, discharge for personal or medical reasons will be considered a quest failure.]

‘Well, I expected that.’

It’s not like we’re talking about pocket change. They’re offering ten billion won—of course they wouldn’t allow an early discharge on a technicality.

Still, I found myself smacking my lips in faint disappointment.

I kept reading.

[You can accumulate prize money by clearing additional quests that will appear.]
[Quests are divided into four grades: Normal, Rare, Special, and Legendary.]
[The higher the grade, the greater the prize money.]

‘This feels just like an online game.’

Before I started my business, I’d been into gaming to relieve stress. Memories from that time came flooding back.

[Quests appear randomly once certain conditions are met. Those conditions cannot be checked in advance.]

So it’s a blind system to prevent people from targeting specific quests.

‘That grim reaper… she was fussier than she looked.’

She had acted generous, but on closer inspection, not so much.

Anyway, to summarize: wait for a quest to pop up at any time, don’t miss the chance, and clear it.

‘How big is the difference in rewards between the lowest and highest grades?’

I couldn’t tell exactly, but I did figure out that even quests of the same grade can pay different amounts.

‘Doesn’t sound too hard…’
Though, since I hadn’t actually seen any quest details yet, it was too soon to call it easy.

I was still fiddling with the half-transparent window when I heard heavy boots approaching from the hallway.

My body reacted before I thought.

Snap! I jumped to my feet, while a few lazy guys were still lying down.

I cleared my throat loudly to draw attention, then silently pointed toward the hall. The others quickly sat up, startled.

Just as the last man sat upright, a drill instructor entered right on cue.

By now everyone probably had cold sweat on their backs.

“Attention, everyone.”

“Attention!”

“Meal time is scheduled. Assemble outside the barracks immediately. Understood?”

“Yes, understood!”

Their voices were tense and stiff.

Of course. It hadn’t even been half a day since orientation. Adjusting to the cursed army atmosphere would take time.

‘Not that I’m any different.’

I was less afraid than the rest only because I’d been through enlistment before.

Still, the whole thing felt twice as miserable—maybe because I already knew what was coming.

Following the instructor’s orders, we headed toward the front of the barracks.

For now we were still in civilian clothes, which was a small comfort.

‘Uniforms probably get issued tomorrow, right?’

It had been nearly twenty years, so my memory was fuzzy.

The instructors began lining us up.

“Align ranks and files!”

“Match shoulders with the person next to you. Understood?”

“Yes!”

Maybe because it was the first day, tension still filled everyone’s voices.

I, on the other hand, felt more a hollow disbelief than nerves.

‘Still, they’re offering ten billion…’

Not exactly free money, but I couldn’t pass it up.

I steeled myself with thoughts of that fortune and quickened my pace toward the mess hall with the others.

The military base scenery after twenty years felt strangely nostalgic. Old memories surfaced.

‘I think the PX was around there…’

Not that we were allowed to use it.

Back when I served, smartphones were out of the question, and shared living spaces like this were just dreams. Service was a full two years then. Soon after I discharged, they started shortening it bit by bit.

Compared to today’s army, the old days were definitely tougher—though still easier than my father’s generation.

We arrived at the plain, rugged entrance of the mess hall.

The instructor pointed to the sign above the door.

“When entering the mess or barracks, always shout the unit motto. Got it?”

“Yes, understood!”

The motto of this training camp was:

“Today as well—Love! Respect! Consideration! Aja, aja, aja!”

Ugh. Saying it gave me goosebumps.

Never thought I’d shout a unit motto again in this lifetime.

Just as we were about to step inside, another instructor came out and stopped us.

“Hold for a moment!”

“Hold!”

We froze in place.

Maybe there was a problem with the kitchen? That was my first guess.

But no.

“The TV station is coming to film. Drill instructors, gather for a quick meeting.”

“Yes, understood.”

At the word TV station, murmurs broke out.

“A TV station? Out of nowhere?”

“Are we going to be on TV like this?”

“No way…”

Suddenly, an old memory resurfaced.

‘Oh right. That did happen.’

A documentary team once visited to film the first day of new recruits. It had been so long I’d forgotten, but the instructor’s words cleared the fog.

The instructors received quick instructions, nodded, and returned to keep us under control.

“Company, attention!”

“Attention!”

“All eyes front. The TV crew might shove cameras at you during the meal and ask questions. Don’t panic—answer well. Understood?”

“Yes, yes, understood!”

The thought of being interviewed clearly rattled the recruits. Not everyone likes being on camera.

But in the army, even if you hate it, you have no choice.

“If they ask how you feel about enlisting, you must answer positively. Any squad that disobeys will get extra drills.”

Classic military—ordering us to give canned answers.

‘Not that it concerns me.’

The odds of me getting interviewed among all these people were slim. It hadn’t happened the first time either.

Knowing the future made it easy to stay calm.

But…

Ding!

A foreboding chime rang in my head.

[Normal Quest Generated.]
[Give an interview as the recruits’ representative.]
[Reward: 2,000,000 won will be added.]

I nearly swore out loud.

Two million won for one interview—pretty lucrative.

Still, the idea of volunteering annoyed me. Especially after the instructor basically demanded we praise the army.

Complimenting the military is one of the things I hate most.

But I knew the truth: I didn’t have the right to refuse.

The instructor asked, “Anyone confident they can give a good interview? Good talker? Raise your hand.”

“……”

“……”

Silence. I could practically hear eyeballs rolling.

Of course no one volunteered.

Normally the instructor would just pick someone at random.

And that’s when—

I let out a deep sigh and raised my hand.

Every eye turned to me, most of them saying, Is he crazy?

The instructor looked intrigued. “Recruit number 156. Confident you can handle the interview?”

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

I wasn’t some kid anymore. I’d done countless presentations in front of large crowds while running my business.

Twenty years ago I couldn’t have imagined it, but now? No problem.

Though, of course, I was doing it for the money.

I sat at a table with two other randomly selected recruits.

When the TV crew entered the mess hall, the instructor pointed us out.

“Interview those soldiers over there.”

“You’ve already chosen them?”

“Yes. Please take good care of them.”

“Don’t worry, we’ve already spoken with the battalion commander.”

“Good. Just stick to the script.”

“Of course.”

But there’s a reason people call them ‘TV station punks.’

From what I remember, even with a script, they’d toss in unexpected questions to throw off the instructors and recruits alike.

‘It’ll probably be the same this time.’

The PD, cameraman, and staff began filming the recruits as they ate.

The PD called out, “Please act natural. Don’t stare into the camera—it looks too staged. Okay?”

“Yes, understood!”

Even on day one, everyone answered like well-trained soldiers.

I could feel myself—and everyone here—gradually being dyed army green.

It’s a feeling I absolutely hate.

END