Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 411

412

They say where there’s a will, there’s a way. Hyun-sung’s worries found a resolution in the most unexpected place.

It happened during the roll call preparation and the new recruit introduction ceremony.

The introduction ceremony wasn’t anything special, just a simple self-introduction and a talent show.

Most of the talent shows involved singing a song.

Of course, Hyun-sung had experienced this in his past life. He’d sung a song back then, too. But he was so nervous that the song didn’t come out right.

So, the introduction ceremony ended rather blandly.

But the company had a unique tradition.

That is, the new recruit wields absolute power within the company on their transfer day. In other words, the new recruit’s word is law. Everyone has to follow their instructions unconditionally, no matter their rank. Even the highest-ranking officer in the company.

Of course, there was a condition attached.

Such an opportunity is granted only when the new recruit adequately showcases their talent to the satisfaction of all the soldiers at the introduction ceremony. But in reality, that was just a formality.

Because what new recruit, fresh from transfer, would know how to wield such absolute power? It was a meaningless tradition from the start.

In fact, even during Hyun-sung’s service in his past life, he had seen this opportunity given to new recruits several times, but none of them ever used that power.

But for Hyun-sung now, that power was absolutely necessary.

Because only that power could prevent the situation that would unfold at midnight tonight.

Was that the reason?

The reason why Hyun-sung’s expression, as he stood to perform the introduction ceremony, was more nervous than ever.

Then, the voice of the duty sergeant was heard.

“New recruits, to your positions.”

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung. To your position!”

“Private, Kim Dong-soo. To your position!”

The two men stepped forward in front of all the company members simultaneously.

Then, the duty sergeant’s words followed immediately.

“From now on, we will begin the new recruit introduction ceremony. First, we will start with Private Kim Hyun-sung. Private Kim Hyun-sung!”

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung!”

“First, introduce yourself, and then perform a talent show – whatever you’re most confident in. Dancing is fine, singing is fine, or you can do both. Do you understand?”

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung! Yes, I understand!”

Hyun-sung answered in the loudest voice he could muster, knowing full well that any perceived lack of military discipline here would make his future military life difficult.

Hyun-sung immediately saluted loudly and began his introduction.

“Attention! Forward! I am from Hongcheon, Gangwon-do…….”

Hyun-sung began his basic introduction, including his hometown and school. Since the other soldiers weren’t particularly interested in this anyway, it was best to keep it as short as possible. So, as in his past life, he finished his introduction as briefly as possible.

And he was just about to strike a pose to sing a song.

“Wait!”

Suddenly, Sergeant Oh Sang-geun, who was at the very back, raised his hand and stood up. It was an action that hadn’t occurred in his past life.

His words followed immediately.

“I’ll add one more thing. Private Kim Hyun-sung, standing before you, passed the final Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam conducted last June. As some of you may know, that exam is by no means easy. In that sense, let’s all give Private Kim a round of applause.”

Clap clap clap clap clap clap~~~

As soon as Sergeant Oh Sang-geun finished speaking, the sound of thunderous applause filled the barracks. Hyun-sung was also embarrassed because he hadn’t expected it at all.

But he had lived a long life, so this was nothing.

Hyun-sung immediately saluted the company members.

“Attention! Forward! Thank you!”

But Hyun-sung didn’t know it yet. That Sergeant Oh Sang-geun’s one sentence would shift the company’s atmosphere toward academics.

Applause erupted once more at Hyun-sung’s words of thanks, and the duty sergeant’s words continued again.

“Now, it’s time for the talent show. Are you ready?”

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung! Ready!”

“Fire.”

“Fire!”

‘Huff!’

Hyun-sung repeated the duty sergeant’s words in a loud voice and then took a short, deep breath. The important thing wasn’t the celebration of passing the CPA exam now. The most important thing at this moment was to get the support of the company members and somehow get a ticket [approval] from the duty sergeant.

That special power given to the new recruit for only one day.

Swish.

Before singing, Hyun-sung turned his hat around, brim to the back. The eyes of the company members suddenly began to change, as if they were expecting something.

He got their attention. Then…….

Hyun-sung immediately closed his eyes tightly, swayed his body slowly, and began to sing to the rhythm.

“Ariari~~ Seuriseuri~~ Arariyo~~~”

The song Hyun-sung chose was ‘Gangwon-do Arirang’, which he was most confident in. He wasn’t just singing the song, but expressing the sorrow and excitement contained within it with his whole body.

“Why don’t you open the bean field~~ Why do you open the castor bean camellia~~~”

As the song progressed, Hyun-sung’s voice and dance moves grew more and more animated.

It was then.

Something completely unexpected happened.

The main actor was Kim Dong-soo. He suddenly started dancing with Hyun-sung, where he got such courage from.

As the two men began to dance, applause started automatically in time with the beat.

“Arirang~~~ Build a tavern on the hill~~~ Waiting for my beloved~~~”

As the song neared its end, Hyun-sung’s voice was already half-locked, meaning he had poured everything into it. But the voice coming out through that strained throat touched everyone’s hearts again, and before he knew it, all the company members were singing along to the chorus.

“Ariari~~ Seuriseuri~~ Arario~~ Ariari~~ Going over the hill~~~”

As everyone sang the chorus in one voice, the barracks seemed about to collapse. Everyone’s face was already full of joy.

When the song ended, Hyun-sung and Kim Dong-soo’s faces were covered in sweat.

Thud.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Kim Dong-soo on the shoulder. He was even more grateful because it was a completely unexpected contribution.

He didn’t even know that Kim Dong-soo had this side to him. Anyway, the important thing was that the atmosphere was definitely heightened thanks to Kim Dong-soo.

Slap.

This time, Kim Dong-soo took a stance and stood up.

Kim Dong-soo, like Hyun-sung, finished his introduction and immediately started singing. The song Kim Dong-soo chose was Yoon Soo-il’s ‘Apartment’, which was popular at the time.

“Crossing the bridge where starlight flows~~~”

As Kim Dong-soo sang the first verse, all the company members immediately started singing along, perhaps because of the already heightened atmosphere. Hyun-sung and Kim Dong-soo began to dance, stirring up the barracks.

It was a new recruit introduction ceremony that was so different from his past life.

After the introduction ceremony was over, Hyun-sung’s gaze immediately turned to the duty sergeant. From now on, everything depended on the duty sergeant.

Depending on his decision, he might be able to prevent the major accident that would happen tonight, or he might not.

Smirk.

Hyun-sung smiled momentarily without realizing it. That’s because the duty sergeant’s hand was reaching for the pocket on his left chest.

Hyun-sung already knew what was in that pocket. So, he smiled without realizing it.

As expected!

In his hand were two cards. The color of the cards was yellow. Of course, that yellow was the symbolic color of the headquarters company.

The card wasn’t just a yellow card but a gold card, at least in the headquarters company.

He didn’t know when the tradition started, but it existed when Hyun-sung was a new recruit and until he was discharged. Of course, it would have continued after that.

Although it was just a piece of paper with the words ‘Headquarters Company’ written on it and coated, the meaning of the card was special here. Of course, no new recruit had ever used the card so far.

“Speaking of this card…….”

The duty sergeant’s explanation of the card continued.

He talked for a long time, but the most important thing was that the moment you used this card, the new recruit’s words became law. In other words, no one could disobey.

He didn’t know who made this card for the first time, but the purpose was probably to stabilize the new recruit’s mind and body even a little.

Because they would be most sensitive on the first day.

When the explanation of the card was over, the duty sergeant handed two cards to Hyun-sung and Kim Dong-soo. Then, the two men received the cards with their rank and name.

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung!”

“Private, Kim Dong-soo!”

The two men held the cards in their hands. It was the same card, but the psychology of the two men holding the card would be so different.

Kim Dong-soo might just be indifferent, but Hyun-sung wasn’t. He couldn’t help but clench the hand holding the card, thinking that he could prevent the major accident that would happen tonight.

“Now, go back to each barracks and prepare for roll call. Especially the 1st barracks, take care of the new recruits…….”

It was when the duty sergeant was about to finish speaking.

Whoosh!

Hyun-sung raised the card in his right hand and stood up from his seat.

“…….”

The eyes of the entire company, including the duty sergeant, turned to Hyun-sung. But no one opened their mouth easily. For a moment, it was as if time had stopped, and even the company members’ breathing couldn’t be heard.

The card that Hyun-sung was holding was the very gold card that the duty sergeant had just shared with Kim Dong-soo.

The fact that he raised the card meant that he would use the card at this moment. It was something that they had never experienced before, so the entire company was at a loss.

“What is it?”

It was Sergeant Oh Sang-geun who stepped up, quickly assessing the situation.

“Are you perhaps going to use that card now?”

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung. Yes, that’s right.”

At Hyun-sung’s answer, Sergeant Oh Sang-geun got up from his seat, came down from the bed, and stood facing Hyun-sung. The distance between the two men was about 20 meters [approximately 65 feet].

To be honest, Sergeant Oh Sang-geun was also embarrassed. He had been in the military for more than three years, but he had never seen a new recruit use a gold card.

But at this moment, the highest-ranking person in the company was himself. Although he was about to be discharged tomorrow, he decided that he couldn’t just let this historic moment pass.

But there was an order to everything. He had already stepped down from all the work in the company. Even if he was the highest-ranking sergeant, he had to ask for understanding from at least one person to handle this matter now. That was the least he could do.

Sergeant Oh Sang-geun called the duty sergeant seriously.

“Duty Sergeant!”

“Sergeant, Jung Min-ho!”

The rank and name came out of the mouth of the duty sergeant, Jung Min-ho. It was a cross-section showing how important the hierarchical order shown by the military organization is, even though he was wearing the armband of the duty sergeant.

Sergeant Oh Sang-geun’s words continued.

“I have one thing to ask the duty sergeant…….”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Actually, I have never seen a new recruit use a gold card while serving in the military. So, I’m a little embarrassed……, but I think we should receive the gold card with courtesy as it is a tradition that we have continued so far. So, if the duty sergeant agrees, I would like to receive the new recruit’s gold card…… Would you agree?”

Anyone could hear that Sergeant Oh Sang-geun’s voice was full of sincerity. He could feel that he was respecting the duty sergeant, Jung Min-ho, even though he was a junior.

Was that why?

The voice of the duty sergeant answering was also serious.

“Sergeant, Jung Min-ho. I agree to Sergeant Oh Sang-geun receiving the new recruit’s gold card. Attention! Forward!”

“Thank you!”

Slap!

Sergeant Oh Sang-geun straightened his posture and stood facing Hyun-sung. Anyone could see that he was showing all the courtesy.

All the company members were also watching Hyun-sung and Sergeant Oh Sang-geun, holding their breath because this was the first time this had happened.

It was then.

Sergeant Oh Sang-geun opened his mouth.

“Private Kim Hyun-sung!”

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung!”

“To be honest, this is the first time we’ve had a case like this, so we don’t know how to receive the gold card. But apart from the formality, I will receive the gold card with the consent of the duty sergeant. Do you have any objections?”

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung. No, I don’t!”

There was no reason to object. Hyun-sung had never received a gold card in his past life, nor had he seen a new recruit using it.

For now, he was just grateful that Sergeant Oh Sang-geun came forward and showed as much courtesy as possible. If he had just laughed it off, there would have been nothing more futile than that.

Sergeant Oh Sang-geun’s words continued.

“Good. Then, from now on, I will receive the gold card of the new recruit, Kim Hyun-sung. And I’ll say in advance, from now on, what Private Kim Hyun-sung says will be unconditionally followed for 24 hours. I promise that on my name.”

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Does that apply to Sergeant Oh Sang-geun as well?”

The name of Sergeant Oh Sang-geun, who would be discharged tomorrow, came from the mouth of the new recruit who just came in today. Logically, it was impossible.

The gap between a new recruit and a sergeant being discharged was so vast that the expression ‘heaven and earth’ wasn’t enough.

Perhaps that’s why Sergeant Oh Sang-geun couldn’t answer right away and cleared his throat once before continuing his answer.

“Hmm, of course. At least until I enter the division tomorrow, I will follow Private Kim Hyun-sung’s words.”

“Private, Kim Hyun-sung. Yes, I understand!”

“Okay, can you tell me what that is now?”

“Yes, I understand. That is a message for Sergeant Oh Sang-geun.”

“Me?”

Sergeant Oh Sang-geun pointed to himself and looked at Hyun-sung.

Then, Hyun-sung’s words followed immediately.

“Yes, that’s right. Please don’t have Sergeant Oh Sang-geun’s discharge party at midnight tonight.”

“Discharge party?”

Sergeant Oh Sang-geun couldn’t help but be embarrassed. Of course, he had vaguely mentioned giving him a bottle of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] tonight to express his gratitude as a school senior for passing the difficult CPA exam.

But suddenly, he was being told not to do it at all. What was this bolt from the blue? It wasn’t like he was planning anything grand, just drinking a few bottles of soju with a simple snack, but he was being told not to do it…….

But the problem was that this was the new recruit’s gold card now. Furthermore, he had just promised on his name a little while ago. He said he would follow unconditionally.

Of course, he would follow. But he wanted to know at least the reason.

“Okay. I promised with my own mouth, so I will follow unconditionally. But I’m sorry, can you explain the reason?”

“I’ll explain at 1 a.m.”

Time was the best medicine anyway. At that time, there would be no need to explain. A rose of Sharon [military police] from the division would sweep through the company.

Anyway, the important thing was that, unlike in his past life, Sergeant Oh Sang-geun would leave for the division tomorrow to report his discharge, receiving a send-off from the company members.

There was something Hyun-sung didn’t know. There is a variable in everything…….