Chapter 71: Chapter 71
00071 --- The Little Prince in the Ossuary----=
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# After the Rain, black Mountain (1)
The U. S. government officially upgraded the status of Camp Roberts. There were plans to increase the stationed troops, expand the size, improve the facilities, and create a fortified stronghold. Get full chapters from NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Given all this, it was no longer feasible for it to remain a "Camp."
From now on, it's Fort Roberts.
The treatment of the refugees changed as well. Construction of duplex housing began in the refugee area. These were prefabricated buildings aimed at shortening construction time, designed with efficiency in mind rather than aesthetics, but still superior to tents in every way.
The refugees assigned to the construction site were highly motivated. Men and women of all ages lent a hand. Those with construction experience taught them. It was being done day and night, leading to complaints from the supervising engineering corps. The expected construction period was cut in half and continues to decrease in real-time.
Gyeo-ul commented on this:
"Everyone will be happy. They're building a better tomorrow with their own hands."
The commander of the 160th Regiment's 3rd Battalion, major Capston, nodded in agreement.
"Hope is essential. There's little more unfortunate than learning helplessness, though this era is indeed full of such misfortune..."
He trailed off, casting a sidelong glance at Gyeo-ul, who responded with surprise. The major waved it off as nothing and switched the topic.
"There's suspicion that the civilian casualties were significantly underreported during the last Christmas incident. Were you aware of that?"
"I had a guess. Considering the number of sites erased, the reported figures seemed too low."
"As expected... What's the mood among the refugees?"
"Are you worried they might grow distrustful of the U. S. military?"
"Honestly, yes. At times , trust is crucial. Who knows when an incident like last time might happen again?"
Indeed, trust is important. That night, Gyeo-ul also worried about the possibility of the refugees falling into panic. In such situations, belief is the force that suppresses chaos. The conviction that regulation equates to safety.
In terms of collective survival efficiency, the worst order is better than the best chaos.
Gyeo-ul answered with a light smile.
"Don't worry. For the time being, they won't have the reason or the luxury for such thoughts."
"I understand the part about them not having the luxury, but what do you mean by no reason?"
"Well, happiness sometimes comes from comparative advantage."
The major was not a dull person. He quickly grasped the point.
The refugees who had been at Camp Roberts since its early days were more stabilized due to this incident. They had weathered the crisis much better than other sites.
The decisive factor was the exhausted appearance of the new influx of refugees and citizens. Using them as a benchmark, the existing refugees recognized their luck. Rumors circulated about the death toll in other places or areas entirely wiped out. Sympathy was rare or nonexistent. People worried primarily about their safety.
"It's a poor mentality. One's joy shouldn't come from others' misfortune."
As he said this, Gyeo-ul naturally thought of his sister. He wished for her happiness, but knew she couldn't be happy as long as he believed he would be unhappy here. He tried to appear unfazed during visits, worried his efforts weren't enough.
Noting the shadow on the young officer's face, capston, misinterpreting as encouragement was needed, spoke quietly.
"Don't dwell too much on things you can't help. Isn't it an uncertain era whether we'll still be alive tomorrow? As things change, people will gradually improve. We should make it so."
Gyeo-ul opted not to respond, thinking things might deepen the misunderstanding.
At that moment, loud sawing interrupted their conversation. A piece of heavy machinery, made for logging, was chopping and trimming trees at a rate of one every ten seconds. Once loaded onto the trailer, they were secured by manpower and transported to the sawmill.
This was the sawmill at the base of Black Mountain. From Fort Roberts, passing through San Miguel, running about 15 kilometers southeast of Paso Robles, a small town called Creston appeared, and from there, it was another 9 kilometers south to reach Black Mountain.
Today's mission was Convoy Escort. In fact, this task had been repeated continuously since January. Air transport alone couldn't handle Fort Roberts' material consumption. The newly assigned camp commander was quite eager, opting to procure wood directly rather than delay construction.
Refugee laborers and volunteer soldiers were mobilized for the task. Reviving abandoned facilities wasn't easy, but many skilled technicians were among the refugees. Since solving the power supply issue, everything went smoothly.
Someone called out to Gyeo-ul in Korean.
"Captain! You might want to come over for a moment!"
One of Gyeo-ul's combat teammates from the 「Gyeo-ul Alliance」 was heavily panting, as if he'd run over. Gyeo-ul excused himself from Major Capston and approached her.
"What's the matter, ms. Han-byeol? Why didn't you use the radio?"
"Because it's something that can't be."
It didn't seem like a mutant appearing. Based on the context and atmosphere, there was no urgency or fear in her expression despite her heavy breathing. She was simply looking troubled.
Han-byeol looked around and whispered.
"Commander Yura and Commander Jin-seok are arguing, and I came to ask if you could intervene."
"They're fighting? Those two?"
"Yes. They used to bicker, but it's getting worse. Oh, please keep this a secret that I told you. Okay?"
Gyeo-ul now understood why she hadn't used the radio. The involved parties would hear it. They wouldn't want to show their conflict to Gyeo-ul, nor would they appreciate being tattled on. They might have even warned their teammates already. The woman in front of him showed signs of that.
"Though I knew their relationship was gradually worsening..."
He had been keeping up with the overall atmosphere through reports from the disabled community. However, monitoring the disabled had its limits, and there weren't enough people for it to be comprehensive.
If it were something that would end quickly, she wouldn't have come. He comforted Han-byeol.
"You did well to tell me. Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret."
"Ha, that's a relief."
"Go on ahead. If we appear together, they'll get suspicious."
"Yes! Please come quickly!"
Beaming, she retraced her steps and ran back.
Gyeo-ul walked in a slightly different direction. Soldiers and volunteers guarding the perimeter of the worksite gave him a surprised nod.
"Something like that. Keep up the good work."
As he went on, he finally began to hear their quarrel. Both parties had raised their voices considerably, likely thinking it wouldn't reach far over the din of the logging.
Gyeo-ul approached them from their blind spot, visible to the other team members. He signaled them to act as if they hadn't noticed.
Yura stood with her hands on her hips, rebuking Jin-seok.
"... So, why are you bothering with another team?"
Jin-seok's face was full of frustration and irritation as he replied.
"How many times do I need to repeat myself?! If their work attitude is poor, I can point it out! That's how the military works! What are we doing here? We're on guard duty! We're protecting people! Who's going to take responsibility if a mutant shows up because we were careless? You?"
"Who's being careless? Did they doze off, or did they slack? Why does it matter if they lean against a tree or sit on a stump, as long as they keep watch? Is there a law requiring they stand in attention while on guard? They're not mannequins!"
"The problem is with their mindset! We're in the middle of a contaminated area! Isn't it normal to stay vigilant at all times? Don't you understand that a slack posture leads to a slack mindset? This may be your first time in the military, so you might not get it, but the chain of command matters! I'm not enforcing mindless discipline!"
"And do you not consider their physical endurance? If it were just a few hours, I'd let it go. But it's all day! Being on their feet throughout the day is exhausting! It's more advantageous to have as much stamina left as possible if a real fight ensues, right? And the same goes for concentration! I believe you maintain focus better when your body is comfortable! People's minds and bodies don't work independently, do they?"
"Ha, seriously! Do you ever consider how others perceive us? It's not just us here!"
"Are you suggesting we save face?"
"More than just saving face, let's consider the psychology of the workers! The people working out there are relying on us for safety; how would they feel secure seeing us slack off? It's part of our job to reassure them!"
Although it was a trivial matter, each had a valid argument. Yura prioritized efficiency, while Jin-seok emphasized discipline and roles. He disliked anyone who caused inconvenience.
What was new, however, was that a fight between them was even happening. It was understandable for Jin-seok, who was as strict with others as he was with himself. However, Yura, known for her gentle nature, fighting back was unexpected.
The relationship was bound to deteriorate, with Yura receiving constant criticism from Jin-seok. However, this alone wouldn't be enough. Gyeo-ul believed that if Yura were alone, she would've avoided the conflict.
'It might be responsibility.'
When Gyeo-ul first appointed her group leader, she promised to do her best not to disappoint him. Perhaps now she felt a responsibility for her team members as well.
Gyeo-ul considered stepping in but decided to wait a bit. From the looks of it, both parties were already upset enough, so he figured it was worth listening to what they had to say. People often reveal their true feelings when angry, though these feelings could be distorted by malice and needed careful consideration.
Listening further, Gyeo-ul realized two things.
First, Jin-seok unexpectedly acknowledged Yura. Had he held onto his first impression from Paso Robles, he would've given up on the conversation or resorted to personal attacks, dismissing her as a nuisance. Yet he didn't, and even while angry, he made an effort to convey his stance.
Second, Yura had gained confidence. She used to shrink often, mostly out of guilt for not pulling her weight, but now it was different. The training had paid off.
"Both of you, leave it at that."
At Gyeo-ul's voice, Jin-seok and Yura were startled. Jin-seok stuttered.
"Wh-when did you get here?"
At the concise query, Jin-seok was momentarily stumped. The boy reassured him with a smile.
"I've listened carefully to what both commanders said. I think both sides have valid points. Which means, the conclusion is simple: Jin-seok's team will follow his methods, and Yura's team will follow hers."
In essence, this meant supporting Yura's approach, even if both arguments were sound. Jin-seok, struggling to accept this, spoke up.
At Gyeo-ul's single word, Jin-seok fell silent. There was no further argument.
It was a display of respecting authority. Gyeo-ul had the right to curb him, and he had the duty to follow. Jin-seok's steadfast stance clearly reflected such a sentiment.
1. What am I doing up at this hour... Haha...
2. Though it rarely happens, subtitles can sometimes be a part of the storytelling device. So don't miss them. You never know when the author might craft a nefarious plot.
3. In the previous notes, I jokingly suggested writing a review in English if Korean was difficult, and lo and behold, user SpannerLoose really wrote an English review. Unbelievable.
Please, take a look for yourself. It's genuinely impressive.
**Q. Ca모:** Is Gyeo-ul your rose?? By the way, it's hard to understand how only two months have passed in real life within the game for Gyeo-ul. Isn't this his 27th playthrough of the game? Isn't time in the game different from real-world time? Thank you for such a great series.
**A:** Read the subtitle. It says #Past (5), therapy (1).
Yes, this is a past storyline. There's no time discrepancy. :)
**Q. MasterKalsolum:** Could we perhaps write in Cthulhu runes or Sanskrit if Korean is tough? (Joke) The fox and the prince meet. Thanks for the update. Stay cool in the heat. Your legs might roast and curl up otherwise.
**A:** Sanskrit is fine, Cthulhu runes even better. The latter is my native language.
Thanks for your concern. Have a nice cosmic horror-filled, cool summer.
**Q. Muplear:** Will the author get 3 times faster if they turn red?
**A:** Yes, I get faster. But it's the aging process that speeds up.
**Q. Tomma:** Amidst the declining quality of novels, the Little Prince in the Ossuary is a ray of hope. Here's a manuscript coupon for you. Curious about the Q&A: How much does the writer earn per coupon?
**A:** If you bought it before July, it's 250 won; after August, it's 350 won. As for author support coupons, I earn 70 won each.
**Q. DoHwawon:** I was referring to time or life, but oh well... Eun-seol was a doctor. Her father was one of the founders of the industrial complex...
**A:** Who is Eun-seol?! Have I forgotten a character...
**Q. RedFox:** No hands! How many feet do you use when writing? Do you perhaps have multiple brains?
**A:** I use all my legs, and half a brain.