Chapter 4 Part 7

Indeed, the highest number of deaths in past joint trainings was six. Calculating six out of a total of ninety people, that’s 1/15, or about a 6.7% chance. Even rounded up, it’s 7%.

Though they say ‘never say never,’ surely he wouldn’t be among those unlucky six or seven people. Besides, since that was the worst in history, the current situation would surely be less severe.

Jeong Tae-ui lightly tapped his heavy stomach. Then he turned his gaze to the bookshelf that filled one corner of the room. Tou’s roommate—Ticknat, who had gone to the South America Branch—was rumored to be a bookworm, and indeed, there were quite a few books. On the bookshelf in Ticknat’s designated section, books were tightly packed, two and three deep. He wouldn’t be bored for lack of reading material during his stay in this room.

“…Ah.”

Just then, Jeong Tae-ui frowned slightly and muttered suddenly.

Why had he forgotten until now? Of all things to forget, seeing the books reminded him. He had left the book he borrowed from his uncle in his old room. That $3500—his uncle had said he wouldn’t pay up to $3500 for that book, but in Jeong Tae-ui’s mind, all the books on his uncle’s bookshelf were $3500 items.

He had left it on the desk after looking at it last night. Since other books were mixed in, it probably wouldn’t be damaged specifically, but it was still the most valuable item in Jeong Tae-ui’s room, and not being his own, the weight of responsibility was heavy.

“Damn it… I’ll have to go get it.”

Jeong Tae-ui scratched his head and clicked his tongue.

He doubted anyone would be so idle as to damage a book, but the thought of something not his own being left unattended for half a month made him uneasy. Furthermore, it was $3500, something he couldn’t take responsibility for, and even if he paid for it, it would be hard to find again.

He didn’t know who might be occupying his room, but surely they wouldn’t pick a fight just because he briefly returned to his room. No matter how bad the relationship between the branches, would they really go that far? Besides, technically, it was originally his room.

Jeong Tae-ui recalled Tou’s words about territorial invasion and the menacing atmosphere that still permeated even with a wall between them, which made him feel a bit uneasy, but he decided to relax and stood up. If anything happened, he’d just grab the book and run. Surely no one would follow him into this room and cause a scene. That would definitely turn into a brawl, and he could only hope they weren’t stupid enough to cross such a dangerous line.

No, it wouldn’t happen. Although he often—or rather, almost always—forgot this fact, these men who joined UNHRDO were, at least initially, polite and highly skilled individuals.

Jeong Tae-ui patted his chest a couple of times to calm himself, and as he stood up to return to his room, he sensed the door opening. Tou was entering. Then, the sound of the door slamming shut, as if it would break, echoed loudly.

“…What’s wrong? Did you fall in the toilet?”

In response to Jeong Tae-ui’s question, Tou merely glared at him with fierce eyes, not answering.

The way he entered, radiating hostility, was like someone who’d been severely beaten somewhere and returned, fuming because he couldn’t get revenge.

“Why are you glaring at me so fiercely? …Did you get into a fight with someone from the Europe Branch?”

When Jeong Tae-ui subtly asked, Tou’s face grew even fiercer, visibly upset. It seemed he’d hit the nail on the head.

It hadn’t even been half an hour since the Europe Branch members arrived and the instructor urged them not to cause trouble, but it seemed to have been in vain, as expected. Or perhaps this guy, who had been sitting in the bathroom, would insist, ‘I never heard any such warning.’

“Those bastards deliberately bumped into people. So I grabbed one, intending to hit him, but just then, the instructor showed up. …Damn, maybe I should’ve just hit him first, regardless of the instructor.”

“It’s fine, you held back well. What good would come from causing a disturbance on the first day? Anyway, there will be plenty of chances to get a hit in, away from the instructor’s eyes, right?”

Jeong Tae-ui patted Tou’s shoulder and smiled. Tou still looked displeased but seemed to calm down a little.

Being on bad terms with Kim So-wi’s platoon really comes in handy at times like this. He had to pacify subordinates once or twice before. Though he ended up causing a major incident himself and getting discharged.

Jeong Tae-ui sighed and moved. Tou, who had taken a beer from the refrigerator and was chugging it down, saw Jeong Tae-ui and asked.

“Where are you going?”

“Hmm… …To the bathroom.”

If he said he was going to his room to get something, Tou would undoubtedly insist on going with him or grit his teeth and try to stop him from going. As neither was what he wanted, Jeong Tae-ui paused, then gave what he thought was the most innocuous answer. Tou then finished his beer and offered advice.

“If some bastard bumps into you, you hit him back immediately before the instructor shows up.”

“Oh… I’ll keep that in mind.”

Jeong Tae-ui waved his hand without looking back and left the room.

Indeed, the moment he stepped into the hallway, he could feel the chilling atmosphere on his skin. Men stood in threatening groups of two or three at various points in the hallway. Some were from this branch, some from that branch. Their low whispers and glares at each other made the situation truly volatile.

“The relationship is… even more ‘magnificent’ than I imagined.”

Jeong Tae-ui mumbled to himself with a sigh and continued walking.

The distance from Tou’s room to Jeong Tae-ui’s room was considerable. A distance he didn’t usually consider very short, felt even longer as he walked through this atmosphere.

“Hey, Tae-ui. Where are you going?”

One of the groups standing in the hallway greeted him. It was a guy from another team who usually wouldn’t even acknowledge him, let alone greet him. However, with an external enemy present, it seemed internal solidarity naturally formed, and he greeted him very familiarly amidst enemies scattered throughout the hallway. Conscious of the fierce gazes from unfamiliar faces standing a little further away, Jeong Tae-ui calmly raised his hand in return.

“Bathroom,”

“The bathroom is right there.”