IGMB 04

Chapter 04

The Journey to Earn Ten Billion Won (3)

It was around 11:45 p.m. when I heard someone calling.

“Hey, sir. Sir.”

Someone was waking me up.

I remember that the first time I enlisted, I couldn’t sleep at all because of my restless mind.
But maybe because it’s been so long since I last set foot in the army, the first night of my second enlistment started off with a blissful, deep sleep.

When I opened my eyes, the man who had stood the previous watch was shining a flashlight directly on my face as he woke me again.

“Wake up. Time for your shift.”

This guy… if he shines a flashlight in a senior’s face like that after we’re assigned to a unit, he’ll get chewed out.
But I didn’t bother saying anything—someone else will teach him soon enough. I just quietly got up.

The man next to me, who was on night watch duty with me, also got up, looking half-asleep.
At least we were still in civilian clothes, so we didn’t need to change before heading out for sentry duty. That was convenient.

Together with the previous shift, we left the barracks and headed straight for the admin office.
Our drill instructor personally oversaw the shift change.

“The instructors will be making regular rounds, so stand your post properly.
If you’re caught slacking off, no excuses—you’ll be punished on the spot.
Remember what I just said. Understood?”

“Yes, understood!”

With that half-threat, my first night-watch duty—well, not my first ever, but the first since returning to the past—began.

“Sir, which post do you want to take?” my partner asked first.

Did I even need to think?

“I’ll take the barracks.”

“Oh, I was going to take the barracks too. Guess we overlapped.”

That was a little troublesome.

Of course, anyone asked that question would pick the barracks.
The hallway is in plain view from the admin office and you have to stay standing the whole time.
Inside the barracks, you can sit and you’re far less likely to get caught.

Even a first-timer would know that.

He looked like the stubborn type—not someone who’d easily give up the indoor post.

Well then.

‘I have my ways.’

I lowered my voice slightly, as if I didn’t want others to hear.

“Actually, I chose indoors on purpose so I could give you the better spot.”

“What? You mean the hallway is better?”

I nodded. He looked at me like I was talking nonsense.

Time to break down that suspicion.

“Indoor watch means you have to check the temperature, go back and forth to the bathroom to sprinkle water on the floor to maintain humidity, and if anyone snores you have to wake them.
If that person wakes up angry, it’s a hassle, right?”

“Well… that’s true.”

“Outside watch is easier. You just stand there. That’s it.”

“Now that you mention it…”

Good. Almost there.

I just needed one more push to prove I was generously giving him the better position.

“You woke me up earlier in the auditorium when I was dozing off, remember?”

“That’s right, I did.”

He was the one who warned me not to fall asleep just after I returned to the past.

“I’m just repaying the favor.”

“Ah… I didn’t realize. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. A favor deserves a favor.”

“You’re right. Okay, I’ll take the hallway.”

“Just give me a heads-up if you think the instructor’s coming, so I can be ready.”

“Of course. You can count on me.”

After decades of wheeling and dealing in the business world, persuading tough buyers, tricking a newbie like this was nothing.

With that little hiccup handled by my years of experience, I walked back into the barracks and sat right where I’d been sleeping.

The instructor had ordered both indoor and outdoor watch to stay standing but—

‘Yeah, right.’

In the army, as long as you don’t get caught, it doesn’t matter.

‘Let’s see… there’s even some water left.’

Apparently the previous watch was too lazy to fetch more, leaving the jug half full.
I’d noticed it when I got up—my eyes hadn’t deceived me.

‘I can just copy the earlier temperature notes and fudge the numbers.’

In all my service, I’d never seen a duty officer actually check whether the recorded indoor or outdoor temperatures were accurate.

This place would be no different.

‘I can just sit here for an hour, swap shifts, and be done.’

I sat down and opened the quest window.

A new notification caught my eye.

When I tapped the big letter N, a freshly updated quest list appeared.

‘Must’ve popped up while I was asleep.’

It was simple:

[A Normal Quest has been generated.]
[Pass the enlistment physical exam and become a trainee without incident.]
[Reward: 5 million won will be added to your total.]

I was planning to pass the physical anyway.
To win the grand prize of ten billion won, I have to finish my full term as a sergeant.
An early discharge for personal reasons wouldn’t count.

‘Still, these normal quests add up to decent money.’

By the time I entered boot camp, I’d already earned close to 8 million won.

I couldn’t help thinking: making money has never felt this easy.

Though enlisting twice is still a bit much.

‘First, let’s clear the physical exam quest.’

Step by step.
Save and save until I hit ten billion and start fresh.

With this second life, I want to erase the word “failure” from my dictionary.

Exactly 6:00 a.m.

The old speaker on the barracks ceiling blared the wake-up bugle.

Ba-ba ba-ba-ba~ ba-ba-ra-ba-ba ba-ba-ra-ba-ba!

‘Damn, same as ever.’

My thoughts hadn’t changed one bit since the old days.

Usually when you relive something from long ago, you feel nostalgia or fondness.
Not in the army.
Everything here is just miserable.

A drill instructor burst in and barked at the sluggish soldiers.

“Fall in at the parade ground in 15 minutes! Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

Bodies heavy, minds heavier, we had no choice but to get moving for morning formation.

Maybe because it was January, the sun hadn’t even thought about rising yet.

The duty soldier saluted the instructor on the platform and began the headcount.

When that was done, the instructor asked, “Anyone sick overnight?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Everyone just glanced around.
No one dared raise a hand.

Everyone knew it: even if you were sick, you couldn’t just say so.

They wouldn’t actually excuse you, nor guarantee proper treatment.
At best, you’d get a cursory check and a few pills.

I knew this all too well.

“If no one’s sick, we’ll continue with roll call.”

Even though we weren’t officially trainees yet, roll call followed regulations to the letter.

It was only our second day, so everyone looked clumsy during the ROK Army calisthenics.

I thought I’d be the same, but—
even after twenty years, my body remembered the moves.
As soon as the music played, my arms and legs moved on their own.

‘Unbelievable.’

The mystery of the human body struck me again.

Noticing how smoothly I moved, the instructor called me out.

“Number 156. Did you learn these exercises before enlisting?”

“Well… yes! A senior from my university once showed me a video as a joke before I enlisted!”

Of course, that was a lie.
But I needed some explanation, so I improvised.

“Anyone would think you’re re-enlisting,” the instructor said.

A few soldiers chuckled.

I flinched inside.

‘Sharp eyes.’

I didn’t expect the instructor to be that observant.

The day’s schedule included the physical exam and basic drill training.

But the most important event was supply issuance.

The instructor handed each of us a small slip of paper and shouted,

“On this paper is a list of supplies you’ll receive. Check each item as you get it. Understood?”

“Yes!”

“When receiving uniforms, boots, training clothes, shoes, or underwear, call out your size loud and clear and take what fits you. Choose the correct size. Front row, enter!”

“Enter!”

One by one, we lined up to receive our gear.

‘Wow, damn…’

Holding the olive-green combat uniform in my hands left me speechless.
Then came the heavy combat boots.

‘This is crazy.’

That phrase fit perfectly.

After adding underwear, training clothes, socks, and the legendary padded winter jacket—the kkakkari—my arms were overflowing.

We finally escaped the cramped supply room and headed back to the barracks.

There was only one task left.

The instructor stepped in and called out, “Attention!”

Everyone focused on him.

“Now I’ll teach you how to wear the uniform. I’ll explain once, so listen carefully.”

“Yes, understood!”

“First, unfold the front flap inside the combat jacket; don’t fold it.
Tuck the top into the pants.
Roll the pant cuffs inside two or three times and secure them with rubber bands.
As for the drawstring…”

The explanation went on and on.

I glanced at the other soldiers’ faces and could tell instantly.

‘They have no idea what he’s talking about.’

It reminded me of my first time here.

END