Chapter 19
“But what the hell is the military doing in an emergency like this?”
“Just taking tax money. Why aren’t they working when we need them?”
“Isn’t that why you’re whining about the military?”
“I guess they have their reasons. If you have time to complain, get over here and get some work done, Mr. Mister.”
“What? Complaint? What do you think about a kid like you, who hasn’t even had blood in his hair.”
“Haha, even in a situation like this, you still want to use age as a ranking factor, really?”
A situation in which the survival of the fittest is the law of the land.
Naturally, the first entity people turn to in such a situation is the military.
The scale of the problem is already too large for the police or prosecutors to solve.
What’s more, South Korea’s defense capabilities are nothing to shrug off.
The Korean Peninsula may be small in size, but it is no match for the modern weaponry and presence of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) due to the ceasefire with North Korea.
However, there was a reason why such an army was not able to use its full power externally.
[The Transcendent is made aware of this dimension].
[The system undergoes a modification update within the dimension. 1, 2, 3%——.]
In the early days, with the advent of the Transcendent, the world was modified.
For the soldiers on active duty at the time, or in the midst of their daily routines and errands, the message was different from that of other people.
[——100%, the modification update is complete, we wish you survival in the new world].
[You are a part of a special organization; the Transcendent has accepted the special nature of the organization, granting the individual’s karma and the special status of the ‘army’].
[Please choose a profession, you have 1 hour left]
※ Warning: Failure to select a job will result in a fatal penalty.
The recognition of a special organization that has received direct certification from the Transcendent.
As a result, the list of professions that came to the soldiers’ minds became very simple.
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[Note]
* The contents of the list of available professions will be affected by the karma of the life you have lived to date (special circumstances will force karma adjustments).
[Job List]
* Infantry(★)
* Duty Soldier(★)
* PX Soldier(★)¹
* Field Engineer(★)
* Non-commissioned officer (★★)
* Officer (★★★)
….
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“The Hell…. What is this?”
“Why is there only one profession to choose from, and before that, why the fuck is this my default profession?”
Jobs that were automatically assigned to them just because they were in the military.
It was truly unfair for the soldiers, but it was already too late to express their anger at the transcendent being who had turned the world into a ‘game’.
And if the mere “job” wasn’t enough to make them angry, what came next was even more appalling.
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[Military]
* Classification: Special Status.
* Reduces damage dealt to superiors by 99% and grants a special quest at 6:30 a.m. every day.
* Description : Strictly follow orders and ensure your survival. In addition, the military, which has come to possess a number of powerful weapons, will not be allowed to go outside with modern weapons until a specified period of time has passed. However, instead of being placed in a special situation, you will be given quests with special content that will allow you to earn a certain amount of experience and coins each day, depending on your position and rank.(30 days until the restraint is lifted)
※ If you refuse to obey an order, commit a demeaning act, or are reprimanded by a certain number of superiors, you will suffer tremendous pain without endangering your life.
※ Leaving the zone without the permission of your superior will be treated as desertion, and you will not be allowed to carry weapons.
※You will be a priority target for monsters when you are a Deserter.
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The granting of a special status called “Military”.
This is more or less fine for the officials, but for the soldiers who are dragged in², it’s hell on earth.
Absolute obedience to orders and severe penalties for desertion.
In the end, whether they like it or not, they’re forced to adapt to the status quo in order to survive.
“ha? Is this really that fucked up?”
“Fuck. I’m 37 days away from leaving the military, what the fuck is this?”
“Hahaha. I’m an M60 gunner for a living, hahahaha. I have to use this filthy heavy hunk of metal as my weapon for the rest of my life, damn it!”
Needless to say, the soldiers didn’t take the situation in a positive light from the start.
After all, they had been forced into the army and were spending their precious youth.
Some soldiers even rebelled against their officers,
“Will my parents be okay…..”
“I’m driving myself crazy because I’m worried about my girlfriend.”
“Dude, let’s get the hell out of here. As long as we don’t have weapons, we can get out anyway.”
Some soldiers knew there was a desertion penalty, but still tried to desert out of concern for their families and lovers on the outside.
But their fate was not good.
※ If you refuse to obey an order, commit a demeaning act, or are reprimanded by a certain number of superiors, you will suffer tremendous pain without endangering your life.
※ Leaving the zone without the permission of your superior will be treated as desertion, and you will not be allowed to carry weapons.
Debuffs for defecting and high priority targeting of monsters for desertion.
As a result, soldiers who defied their officers would writhe in agony, and those who attempted to desert soon became impossible to contact.
However, being unarmed and a “priority target” in a monster-infested area is a pretty good indication that their end is not going to be pretty.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. I have parents out there, just like you do. So let’s get through this together. At least it’s better than being forced to go out there and get killed, right?”
“We will respect your opinions as much as possible. So please, I hope you’ll abide by your superiors’ decisions.”
“You are free to post on the community boards. However, if you mention anything about military matters or the lifting of the restriction period, you will be punished immediately.”
“For now, let’s start doing our daily routines as the quest progresses!”
All the lashing out in the world won’t accomplish anything.
The officials gave the soldiers well-timed advice, like a carrot, and built consensus, and the soldiers were convinced and worked hard on the tasks.
Those who were assigned a Duty Soldier as a job were assigned to stand guard, those who were assigned a Field Engineer were assigned to build structures and lay mines, and PX and Ammo Soldiers were assigned to manage supplies.
[You have completed the quest ‘Duty Clerk’ and received the specified reward].
[You have completed the quest ‘Daily Work’. Receive the specified reward].
Unbeknownst to everyone, the Korean army had been growing steadily from within during the 30-day lockdown.
* * * * * * https://ko-fi.com/tscatthed * * * * * *
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[Peridot Honey (★★)] X 47
* Category: Consumables, Ingredients
* Consumption grants a feeling of satiety and restores 180 Health and Mana.
* Description: ★★-rated Peridot Honey. The toxicity of the Peridot bee has been neutralized, making it quite tangy, and it provides a significant amount of satiety when consumed.
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“Is it because it was made with bees from another dimension? The color looks special.”
When people think of honey, it’s usually a clear or yellow color.
In some cases, such as buckwheat or chestnut honey, it can be an earthy brown or dark brown color, but the color of the honey collected using Dimension Beekeeping, such as Rubigem and Peridot, was very distinctive.
The Rubigem honey had a reddish color that reminded one of strawberries and a sweet honey smell.
On the other hand, Peridot honey has a greenish color that resembles the appearance and color of the green-colored bees.
“Hmm. This one has a unique smell.”
What’s more, the Peridot Queen Bee is a special species that has undergone a total of two evolutionary cycles, one with stingers and the other with venom sacs.
The venom of all bees, from worker bees to higher species, is toxic compared to Rubigem, so the peridot bees’ venom was neutralized during the honey’s development.
Maybe this is a blessing in disguise?
The unique characteristics of the Peridot bees in the honey, as described in the description.
The smell alone drew Sung-hyuk’s curiosity, and he dipped his fingers into the honey and ate it.
“Ohhhhh! Mmm, it’s delicious!”
The sweetness of the peridot bee literally tingled in his mouth and melted on his tongue.
The Rubigem honey was also quite tasty, but there is a difference between the grades of the honey that has more stars on it.
If asked to choose which one is more delicious, Sung-hyuk would choose Peridot honey without hesitation.
*WeIng~* *BuUUuZzz!*
The bee link is triggered spontaneously.
Was it because they recognized Sung-hyuk’s thoughts?
The Peridot bees are already dancing around him, as if they’re happy to have been chosen.
The Rubigem bees, on the other hand, seem to be in a sullen mood and flutter their wings in a dejected manner.
It was cute to watch them, as if they were jealous for some reason, and he couldn’t help but want to keep watching them, but the last thing he wanted was for them to be in a bad mood.
“No, no, wait. Rubigem, these are delicious too, look at this!”
*Dip!*
“Mmm~ sweet!”
*Buzz?* *Weing~♩*
When Sung-hyuk overacted and took out the Rubigem honey, dipping his finger in and then slurping it, the Rubigem bees wiggle their bodies and danced just like the Peridot bees, as if they were having a good time.
“This is healing for me.”
‘Great.’
After all, this is what it means to be a Bee Guardian, isn’t it?
The blend of red and green colored bodies, fluffy and gloriously plump.
Add to that the cute dance that is the language of the bees, and it’s like being mesmerized.
“Ach, I almost fell under the spell of this.”
Sung-hyuk’s job specialty is Beloved of the Bees.
While the benefits of living with bees are truly a blessing, it can also be scary at times.
The dance of the bees exudes different kinds of cuteness.
The addictive nature of the dance was such that even the eccentric Sung-hyuk was drawn into it.
“Kids, I know you’re excited, but Dad has to work now, so I’m going to ask you to keep up the good work. Tuntun, you’re in charge of the kids and taking care of them, right?”
*WeEeIiInNngGg~~*
*BZzzz!!* *BuUuZzz!*
At Sung-hyuk’s words, the dancing bees stop their dance and begin to get ready to work, and Tuntun wiggles his big rump like he’s telling Sung-hyuk to trust him.
Watching the bees fly away, Sung-hyuk clapped his hands together.
“Okay, shall I start in earnest now?”
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[Peridot Beeswax (★★)] X 7
* Category: Ingredients
* Description: ★★-grade peridot beeswax. It can be processed in various ways.
[Peridot Royal Jelly (★★★-)] X 5
[Peridot Propolis (★★★)] x 2
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Peridot honey is only the basic material.
Beeswax and Royal Jelly are the most important foundations.
And as Sung-hyuk looked at the propolis, his brain’s happiness circuitry kicked into high gear as he envisioned what processed goods could be created from it.
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TL/N:
1. Commonly known as “Pidori”. The official name of the unit is Welfare Support Unit , but it is also often called the PX Unit. A position that seems somewhat familiar to anyone who has ever worked or worked part-time at a convenience store.
2. In South Korea, military service of 18 to 21 months is compulsory for physically fit men aged between 18 and 35.
