Chapter 60

The meal appointment was originally only made with the Police Chief.

But I already expected that Palkgui would come along.

After all, Palkgui is the Police Chief’s daughter.

So from the beginning.

I had considered the appointment to be with both the Police Chief and Palkgui.

‘…But I never expected they’d bring soldiers along.’

I don’t know why they brought them.

Did the soldiers just happen to be on leave and run into them by chance?

While I was pondering this, Palkgui, who had suddenly gotten close, called out to me again.

“Oh, right. Gye Se-hoon.”

And at that moment.

*Whack!*

Palkgui got smacked hard on the back of her head by her mother, the Police Chief.

“Park Gyuri! What do you mean calling a man a bastard? Watch your mouth!”

“Ow! Why’d you hit me? I didn’t call him a bastard, I called him Gye Se-hoon! It’s just a nickname, so mind your own business, Mom!”

She deserved it, though.

Who told her to call someone like that in real life?

Oh, by the way, Park Gyuri is Palkgui’s real name.

It’s a name that really matches her nickname.

“Ugh, my head’s gonna explode…”

While Palkgui was rubbing the back of her head, I ignored her and exchanged greetings with the Police Chief first.

After that, Palkgui gestured to the soldiers behind her and explained the situation.

“Anyway, Se-hoon. Those guys behind me are from our platoon, and they’re on leave today…”

“Oh? Did you bring them along since they’re on leave?”

“No, not really… It’s not a lie, but we really just ran into them here by chance. I was surprised too, you know?”

“Gyuri’s telling the truth. We really did meet by chance.”

It didn’t seem like a lie.

The Police Chief backed up Palkgui’s story.

Even if I couldn’t trust Palkgui, I could trust the Police Chief.

Then, the Police Chief and Palkgui cautiously asked for my understanding.

They asked if it was okay for the soldiers to join us for the meal.

Well, it wasn’t particularly inconvenient, so I agreed without hesitation.

Palkgui then looked at the soldiers with a triumphant expression, while the Police Chief bowed her head apologetically again.

“I’m sorry. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t mind, but since they’re my daughter’s subordinates, I couldn’t just send them away without feeding them…”

“It’s fine.”

She’s such a kind person.

To think she’d personally pay for the soldiers’ meals.

If I were in the Police Chief’s position, I’d have just given them some money and sent them on their way.

I guess that’s the difference in character.

‘But I’m the one who’s going to pay…’

She didn’t seem to know that yet.

And judging by her current demeanor, if I said I’d pay, she’d probably insist on paying herself.

That’s just how she seemed.

‘I’ll sneak off to the restroom near the end of the meal and pay secretly.’

I had my plan ready.

Since I’m the one who received help, it’s only right that I treat them to the meal.

It’d be shameless to receive help and then get a free meal on top of that.

Anyway, I exchanged greetings with each of the soldiers behind me.

After all, we’d be eating together from now on.

Plus, they’re Palkgui’s subordinates.

‘One of them looks familiar. I think I saw her during a march.’

I remembered a soldier named Cha Yoori.

It was because of her abnormally large chest.

‘Even now, it’s impressive. Would I die if I got hit by that?’

As I stared at her chest, Cha Yoori tilted her head and asked.

“Uh… Is something wrong? Did something get on my chest?”

“Oh, no. I was just looking at your rank insignia.”

“My rank insignia?”

“Yeah. You were a Private Second Class back then, but now you’re wearing a Private First Class insignia. Time flies.”

“Ah…! You even remembered my rank… Hehe.”

Cha Yoori’s mouth widened into a grin.

Her face turned as red as a persimmon.

She seemed happy that I remembered her.

By the way, Cha Yoori was once known as the biggest slacker in the unit.

But at some point, she suddenly changed and started working hard in her military life. After a Sergeant named Woo Myeongja was discharged, she even started hearing whispers of being an ace.

‘Well, everyone’s a slacker when they’re a Private Second Class. I cursed out the officers and seniors right after I joined my unit too.’

People are usually clumsy when they’re first thrown into an unfamiliar environment.

Anyway, it’s good that she’s doing well in her military life now.

***

***

***

As we were entering the restaurant, I grabbed Palkgui by the collar and pulled her aside to whisper.

“Palkgui.”

“Yeah?”

“Something’s been bothering me. Why do you keep using informal speech with me?”

“Suddenly? I’ve always used informal speech with you. I did it in the chat and during video calls too. Why bring it up now?”

“Is broadcasting the same as real life? Do you want to die?”

“Uh… Should I use formal speech, then…?”

“No, forget it. Informal speech is more comfortable anyway.”

“…You’re really a crazy bastard. Why’d you make a fuss?”

As Palkgui and I were whispering, the soldiers walking ahead glanced back at us and started talking.

“Wow. They must be really close. They’re sticking together and even whispering.”

“I’m… jealous…”

“He’s really handsome.”

“They’re not dating, are they?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. He’s not blind, why would he date the Platoon Leader?”

“That’s true too.”

No matter how I looked at it, Palkgui definitely had the soldiers wrapped around her finger.

Of course, it wasn’t to the point of being ignored.

It was more like she had broken down the barriers of rank and was close with the soldiers like siblings.

‘Palkgui might be rough around the edges, but she seems to have a good heart.’

Palkgui was different from other officers.

She didn’t flaunt her rank or act authoritative.

But the military is still the military.

An officer is still an officer.

So she strictly maintained the hierarchy.

She was a rare, genuine officer.

“Se-hoon, wanna go on a date with me after lunch?”

“Get lost, you idiot.”

Except for her obsession with men.

***

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***

While Gye Se-hoon was having a meal with Palkgui, Gye Se-hoon’s broadcast was in full swing, with the Maid enthusiastically hosting a gaming stream.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—What the hell, idiot? Why’d you go in there?

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—LOL, Balloon Gum’s so bad at this.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Maid, did you get someone to boost your main account to Master? You can’t even smurf properly on an alt? LOL.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Just quit. LOL.

【This…! Shut up, Guburi!】

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—LOL.

【Handsome Licker】—Guburi’s giving so much advice. Lick.

【Se-hoon Defense Team】—What tier is Guburi even in to be talking like that? LOL.

【Min Ji】—Isn’t he Bronze?

【Big Girl】—I think he said he was Platinum last time.

There were still 14 viewers in the stream, but most of them just had the stream on without actually watching.

【Min Ji】—The chat’s really dead now. It’s so different from when Se-hoon’s here. Hehe.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—It’s because the Maid’s gaming stream is boring. LOL.

【Big Girl】—I think it’s fun.

And when the Maid lost the game and started the next round, only one viewer was left chatting.

【Gyeongsaeng Guburi】—Hey! Why aren’t you guys responding?

All the viewers except Guburi had gone into lurking mode.

***

***

***

As the meal was nearing its end, the Police Chief suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke to me.

“Oh, right, Mr. Se-hoon. It’d be best if you avoid outdoor broadcasts for a while.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well… There’s been a missing person case in our area recently.”

“A missing person? I haven’t seen any news about that.”

“The investigation is still in its early stages, so we’re not sure if it’s a runaway, kidnapping, or accident. I’m only telling you this, so please don’t spread it around.”

“Oh, okay.”

The world’s a scary place.

Come to think of it, not long ago, there was a hitchhiking-related robbery and murder case.

It’s not like our area is cursed or anything, but why are these terrible incidents happening one after another?

“Se-hoon, don’t worry. If anything happens to you, I’ll rush over and protect you.”

Palkgui, sitting next to me, winked as she said this.

It was a cringe-worthy line.

If she was going to say something like that, she should’ve at least swallowed the food in her mouth first.

She looked so sloppy, chewing noisily like that.

“Wow. Platoon Leader, you’re so cool!”

“Man, that’s the kind of line you need to get a guy.”

“Maybe Sergeant Park Gyuri wasn’t lying when she said she’s popular with men…”

“Honestly, if she just grew out her hair, she’d be pretty.”

I don’t know why the soldiers were cheering.

Did that line really sound cool to them?

It didn’t seem like they were just flattering her.

‘They’re doomed when it comes to dating…’

I shook my head slightly.

After finishing the remaining food, I asked the Police Chief again about the missing person case.

“By the way, where exactly did that man go missing?”

The area we live in is quite large compared to others.

So it’s good to know exactly where the disappearance happened.

It’d be safer to avoid that area.

“Huh…? A missing person…?”

But the reaction was strange.

The Police Chief blinked, as if she didn’t understand the question.

Everyone else was the same.

They were all looking at me like I was some weirdo.

“…What’s wrong?”

I asked again.

Then Palkgui scratched her head and answered cautiously.

“Uh, Se-hoon?”

“What?”

“What do you mean someone went missing?”

“What are you talking about? The Police Chief just said a man went missing in our area. You even said you’d protect me.”

As I said this, I slowly looked around at the others.

They all had blank expressions.

“Did I say that? More importantly, there hasn’t been a missing person case in our area recently, Mr. Se-hoon…”

“I didn’t hear anything about that during the meal…”

“Me neither.”

Except for me.

Everyone had forgotten about the missing man.

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