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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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Summer is inherently hot, and no amount of complaining changes that. It was mid-September, but the temperature was still close to 30 degrees Celsius, a sweltering heat that made it hard to think straight. I’d hoped the weather would cool down after the late monsoon season, but it had only intensified.
I figured this heatwave wouldn’t last forever and I should be prepared for a sudden drop in temperature.
While it was hot, and technically late summer, having entered the “Beginning of Autumn” solar term, it was more like a scorching autumn. But even this oppressive heat was welcomed at times, like when you were at the beach.
“The weather’s nice.”
Looking at the beach, the hot sun beating down, the waves crashing against the shore, my first thought was, I’m back again.
“Let’s go, the lodging is over there.”
The accommodations were a short walk from where we’d gotten off the bus. Spacetroe maintained the lodging, which was used by various units depending on the season and by Spacetroe members stationed in the area.
Since it was primarily communal housing, it was often used by units on training exercises, like us.
“Let’s move.”
At Ruche’s command, my teammates and I, who had been admiring the ocean view, grabbed our suitcases and headed towards the lodging. A house right by the beach… it seemed like a nice place to live, but I quickly dismissed the thought, knowing the reality of living by the sea.
Summer combat training. One of the few Spacetroe-organized training exercises since arriving on Earth, conducted every six months to evaluate each team’s combat capabilities.
“Where are the other teams?”
“They’re already at the lodging.”
Each of the four teams at Seoul headquarters had about 30 members, so we’d traveled on separate buses. We, Team 3, were the third to arrive, and Team 4 would be here soon. Four teams, nearly 120 people, participating in a joint training exercise was a first. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
The lodging was large enough to accommodate far more than 120 people. It was so large that you’d believe it if I said Spacetroe ran a lodging business here.
This location, on the West Sea, consisted of three islands connected by bridges, making access to the mainland easy. The remote areas of the islands were secluded and ideal for training. The training grounds were even on private property, preventing any outside interference.
Having arrived for our summer training, we quickly changed into our swimsuits and headed to the beach.
“Are they really that excited about being at the beach?”
Ruche, wearing a thin windbreaker over her swimsuit, watched her subordinates playing in the sand under a beach umbrella. I was setting up another umbrella and a sunbed for her.
“Here you go, all set.”
Ruche, pleased with my work, lay down on the sunbed.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. It’s a rare occasion when you ask instead of order.”
I sat down on the sand next to her sunbed and watched my teammates, who were clearly enjoying themselves. Thankfully, it was a weekday, so the beach was empty, and their black face masks didn’t attract any attention.
“Aren’t those uncomfortable?”
“They are, but what can we do? We’re not executives.”
Executive-level officers openly showed their faces. Or rather, they didn’t bother hiding them. But ordinary soldiers, sometimes tasked with undercover missions or surveillance, were required to wear masks or helmets to conceal their identities.
“Aren’t you going to swim?”
“Since when was I the active type?”
As I’d just said, I wasn’t one for outdoor activities. I preferred relaxing at home or indoors. I didn’t dislike the outdoors; I just didn’t actively seek it out.
While the weather was perfect for a beach outing, even better than during my trip to Gangneung with Ha-yeong, I preferred the quieter trip. It had been a relaxing experience, and the kids had enjoyed themselves, too.
“That’s true.”
“Already set up camp, I see.”
I turned my head at the voice behind me and saw Esmeralda, Team Leader 1, wearing a bikini that accentuated her curves.
“Team Leader Esmeralda, hello.”
“No need for formalities here.”
She gestured for me to sit down as I instinctively jumped to my feet and saluted. Embarrassed, I sat back down on the sand, and Team 1 members emerged from behind Esmeralda. Unlike our team, theirs had female members, all wearing black face masks, though.
“Even so, isn’t it a bit suspicious for 120 people to be wearing masks at the beach?”
Even with just two teams combined, the sight of people in swimsuits and black masks felt out of place.
“It’s just to protect our identities. We wouldn’t want to start a fight if we ran into the Earth Defense Alliance here.”
“That’s true.”
Duels were only allowed on designated dates, times, and locations. Any unauthorized engagement was considered a violation, resulting in a penalty for the instigating team, regardless of the outcome.
Esmeralda spread out a picnic mat under the beach umbrella, and I, feeling awkward just sitting there, helped her. Ruche glanced at Esmeralda as she sat down.
“How do you think the training will go this time?”
“I have high hopes for Team 3.”
Our team always performed well in training, despite our poor duel results. Esmeralda, who knew this, looked at Ruche, her platinum blonde hair gleaming in the sunlight.
“I meant the overall training, not just our team.”
“We’ve already discussed the training details. We’ll go over them again tomorrow.”
The Spacetroe combat training, despite its name, only involved one full day of training, on the second day of the three-day schedule. The first day was for travel, settling in, acclimatizing to the environment, and reviewing the training procedures. But the Seoul branch members, with their years of experience, were efficient, their thorough preparation allowing for ample rest on the first day.
“We have a lot of people on supervision duty this time, including A.”
I flinched, hearing my name. I doubted she was expecting anything from me; she’d probably just mentioned me because I was there.
“Team 3 always has good training results, though.”
“That’s not your team.”
“I’m the overall team leader.”
Esmeralda was in charge of the joint training exercise, overseeing the four teams. Experienced soldiers had been assigned to supervision duties, and I’d be working under her command during this training.
“This is your first time on supervision duty, isn’t it, A?”
“Yes. I’ve done a lot of things, but this is my first time on the supervising side.”
“You have done a lot. You were infantry back on our home planet, and then you were in logistics and maintenance under my command in space.”
“I only ended up in logistics because the others slacked off. I was always a mechanic at heart.”
Esmeralda, usually intimidating, seemed more relaxed in this casual setting, and I spoke more comfortably.
“That’s true. You were a mechanic for a long time.”
I followed Esmeralda’s gaze as she glanced at Ruche, and Ruche, noticing my gaze, quickly looked away towards the ocean. I felt like she’d deliberately avoided my eyes, when
“Hi.”
Angelica, her long silver hair tied back, wearing a one-piece swimsuit that revealed her midriff and back, approached us. Her sudden appearance and close proximity startled me.
“Hello.”
As I greeted her with a smile, I saw Seira behind Angelica. Seira, unlike everyone else, wasn’t wearing a swimsuit, despite being at the beach.
“What’s going on here?”
“Just chatting. A’s just sitting here quietly.”
Ruche answered for me, and I, meeting Angelica’s eyes, added, “Just relaxing,” and she smiled back.
Then, she and Seira sat down on the picnic mat Esmeralda had spread out. I’d just been planning to sit here and enjoy the ocean view, but now, I was surrounded by team leaders.
My teammates, noticing my attempt to discreetly escape, started whispering among themselves. They were probably saying something like, “Don’t even think about going over there,” or, “What’s he doing with the team leaders? Just come over here.”
It wasn’t like I wanted to be here. I’d just been sitting here, resting, when they all showed up.
“Team 4 is late.”
“Their bus took a wrong turn.”
As I sat there, wondering how to escape the team leader gathering, my teammates waved at me from afar.
“Ruche! Stop sitting around and come swim with us!”
Ruche, hearing their loud calls, smiled and stood up.
“What do you want to do? Stay here?”
She asked the other team leaders, and Esmeralda and Angelica shook their heads. Seira also stood up.
“I should supervise my team before they cause any trouble.”
Even experienced soldiers became children at the beach. Seira, wanting to keep an eye on them, followed Ruche towards the water.
I was now left with Esmeralda and Angelica under the large beach umbrella. While some might find this situation uncomfortable, being surrounded by two of the most senior officers in the Seoul branch, I was relieved that Ruche and Seira were gone.
They were both my former superiors, which perhaps explained the lack of awkwardness.
“A, still not much of a swimmer, I see?”
“They say people only change when they’re about to die.”
“You’ve changed a lot since then, though. Are you about to die?”
Even back on our home planet, during unit retreats, I’d never been one for swimming or other water activities. I smiled at Angelica, who’d just commented on my usual behavior, and Esmeralda joked, remembering my more… aggressive past. I chuckled.
“Are they wearing sunscreen?”
Angelica, looking at Ruche and Seira playing in the water, asked. I’d applied the sunscreen Yu-bin had chosen for me earlier, covering everything below my neck.
“Doesn’t look like it. Did you put any on, Angelica?”
Esmeralda asked, looking at Angelica’s bare skin, and Angelica, shaking her head, took out a bottle of sunscreen from her bag.
“I was just about to. But my back…”
She couldn’t reach her back.
And their gazes turned to me.
“Yes?”
I hadn’t said anything, but I instinctively sensed what was coming and couldn’t hide my apprehension.
“Can you do me a favor?”
Angelica handed me the sunscreen and lay down on her stomach on the mat. It wasn’t a big deal, just applying sunscreen, so I squeezed some onto my palm.
“That’s an interesting swimsuit. It’s a one-piece, but it’s so revealing.”
“Don’t you like it?”
I applied the sunscreen to her bare back, and she flinched slightly at the cold touch.
“I do, but it’s… how should I put it? More revealing than Team Leader Esmeralda’s.”
Esmeralda, who’d been sitting quietly beside us, narrowed her eyes at me.
“What? Were you looking at your superior like that?”
“It’s not that I was looking… it was just an observation. Team Leader Esmeralda’s swimsuit is also very nice.”
I casually commented as I applied sunscreen to Angelica’s back, following the line of her spine, and Esmeralda smiled and lay down on her stomach.
“Can you do me a favor, too?”
“Sure.”
I replied casually but agreed to help. It wasn’t a big deal.
Unlike Angelica’s one-piece, Esmeralda’s was a bikini, so it was easier to apply the sunscreen. I placed my hands on their backs, spreading the sunscreen evenly. I had to rub it in until it disappeared into their skin, so I maintained this position for a while.
“They’re having fun.”
I looked towards Ruche and Seira, playing in the water. Not being a fan of physical activity myself, I watched them, the team leaders and my teammates, with a mix of amusement and curiosity, and Ruche, catching my eye, called out.
“Coming over?”
“I guess so.”
Ruche, hearing me, came out of the water and walked towards us, and just as I’d finished applying the sunscreen, I removed my hands from their backs.
“A!”
“Yes?”
Ruche, calling out to me, came under the beach umbrella and stopped. She looked at Esmeralda and Angelica, still lying on their stomachs, and they smiled at her. I, unsure of what was happening, just watched, then, deciding it was time to escape, stood up.
“I’ll go buy some drinks.”
I walked towards the small supermarket near the beach, and Ruche followed me.
“? You’re going to buy drinks?”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“No, not really.”
We arrived at the supermarket and decided to buy drinks for the other team members and team leaders, filling our basket.
The beeping of the barcode scanner echoed in the store. While it was a weekday, it was still the end of summer, so there were a few other shoppers.
“It must be packed on weekends.”
I suddenly thought of the Hunter Killer members on their trip. I felt more at ease now that the conflict with Yellow had been resolved, and I was happy for them, though I hadn’t seen them directly; they’d all sent me messages about their trip.
“Oh?”
“Oh?!”
Hunter Killer was also on the West Coast, but this area was vast; we wouldn’t run into each other.
“Hunter Killer?”
“Spacetroe?!”
That’s what I thought.
This area consisted of three islands connected by bridges, making travel easy. They’d said they were going to a different island, and even if they were on the same island, I’d assumed we wouldn’t cross paths.
So why? I thought I’d been thorough, so why was I running into the Hunter Killer team at a supermarket on a remote island?
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W “reasonable development”