"Today seems like a gloomy day."
I muttered as I stared at the dark clouds outside my window.
My name is Jin-hun Yun, second son of Jin-min Yun and Ha-rin Yun.
My life is simple.
Too simple even.
Most people would probably be satisfied with it, but I'm not.
I want excitement, adventure.
Something that gets my blood pumping.
Every day feels the same. School, home, games, sleep. Then it starts all over again.
College?
It might help.
I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head.
"Nah."
At best, it would distract me for a few years before throwing me into another boring routine.
Study.
Graduate.
Get a job.
Become another ordinary person.
Just like my older brother, who's a doctor now.
"God forbid."
I muttered with a frown.
There was only one way to escape a normal life.
The military.
Think about it.
They have guns.
I like guns.
They teach martial arts.
I like martial arts too.
They go on dangerous missions.
How is that not perfect?
All I had to do now was convince my parents.
~~
Later that night, during dinner, I finally brought it up.
"Dad, I've been thinking about something for a while."
My parents looked up from their food.
"I want to join the military."
The conversation died instantly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
My father's stern face froze in surprise before his eyes narrowed.
"Did I hear you correctly?"
"Yes."
I straightened in my seat.
"I want to become a soldier."
The surprise on his face disappeared, replaced by irritation.
"Then you clearly haven't thought about it enough."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried enough weight to make me tense.
"Do you think the military is some kind of game? Is that what this is? Another fantasy you've cooked up after spending all day watching cartoons and playing games?"
"Dad, that's not what this is."
"Then what is it?"
I clenched my fists beneath the table.
"I just want something different."
The words came out weaker than I intended.
My father stared at me for a few seconds before scoffing.
"Different?"
He leaned back in his chair.
"What a pathetic reason."
The words hit harder than I expected.
Before I could respond, my mother stepped in.
"Dear, calm down. He's still young."
My father ignored her.
"You know what? Maybe it's not such a bad idea."
Both my mother and I turned to him.
"It might actually do you some good."
"Dad?"
"The military will teach you discipline. It'll force you to grow up and start taking life seriously."
My mother's eyes widened.
"Wait, you're actually considering this?"
"Why not?" he replied. "He's the one who wants it."
"But it's dangerous."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"What if something happens to him?"
My father's expression softened for a brief moment.
"Then he'll face the consequences of the choice he made."
"Dear..."
"We'll discuss it later."
His tone left no room for argument.
"The food is getting cold."
The conversation ended there.
I quietly finished my meal.
After helping with the dishes, I headed back to my room.
My parents' voices continued faintly downstairs, but I ignored them.
Instead, I logged on and joined Minho for our usual gaming session.
No matter what happened next, at least some things hadn't changed yet.
~~
A few days later, Dad agreed to let me enlist and immediately began the application process.
Mom wasn't nearly as enthusiastic.
The moment she realized Dad wasn't changing his mind, she called my older brother and asked him to talk some sense into us.
A few nights later, there was a knock on my door.
Before I could answer, it opened.
"Hey there, pal."
Jin-woo stepped inside.
"Hey."
I barely looked up from my phone.
He closed the door behind him and adjusted his glasses.
"Mom told me about the military."
"Yeah."
I continued scrolling.
"And?"
A faint crease appeared between his brows.
"Haa..."
He rubbed his temple.
"You know, conversations usually work better when both people participate."
That earned him a glance.
"Is that why you're here?"
His shoulders slumped slightly.
"No."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The silence felt awkward.
Once upon a time, it never had.
When we were younger, we'd talk for hours about anything and everything.
Now we could barely hold a conversation.
"I know we've grown apart," he said quietly. "But your attitude isn't helping."
I looked away.
"Get to the point."
Another sigh escaped him.
"I don't think the military is a good idea."
There it was.
"The training isn't easy."
He pulled a chair closer and sat down.
"The lifestyle isn't easy either."
I remained silent.
"You'll be surrounded by rules. Orders. Expectations."
His gaze settled on me.
"You won't be able to do whatever you want whenever you want."
Still, I said nothing.
The military sounded restrictive.
I knew that.
But it also sounded exciting.
And right now, that was enough.
Jin-woo continued.
"You've always chased things that interested you in the moment."
His voice remained calm.
"But this isn't some hobby you can drop after a few months."
"I know."
"Do you?"
His question hung in the air.
For the first time, I put my phone down.
"I've already made my decision."
Jin-woo studied me for a few seconds before leaning back.
"I figured."
A bitter smile crossed his face.
"Then at least reconsider it for Mom's sake."
I didn't answer.
Because if I did, I'd probably say something I'd regret.
Seeing that, he stood up.
When he reached the door, he paused.
"Despite what you think, we're all worried about you."
Then he left.
The room fell silent again.
I stared at the closed door for several seconds.
"..."
Eventually, I picked my phone back up.
But somehow, scrolling through random messages wasn't nearly as interesting anymore.
TWO MONTHS LATER
Graduation came faster than I expected.
To my surprise, it was actually fun.
After the ceremony, Dad organized a party at our house.
Officially, it was to celebrate my graduation and the fact that I had finished as one of the top students despite my questionable attitude toward academics.
Unofficially, it was a send-off party.
My military journey was only a few days away.
Minho came.
So did most of my classmates.
Friends?
Not really.
Acquaintances felt like a more accurate description.
The rest of the guests were made up of family friends, people from our social circle, and Dad's business associates.
Naturally, I was expected to greet everyone.
It was torture.
For nearly two hours, I smiled, nodded, shook hands, and listened to adults ask the same questions over and over again.
"Excited for the military?"
"Have you changed your mind yet?"
"Try not to get yourself killed."
By the twentieth conversation, I was ready to jump out a window.
The moment I found an opportunity to escape, I took it.
I headed upstairs.
Minho followed immediately.
"Running away already?" he asked.
"Strategic retreat."
He laughed.
A few minutes later, we were sitting in my room playing Call of Duty.
The familiar sounds of gunfire filled the room.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then Minho broke the silence.
"It's funny."
"What is?"
"We've spent years pretending to be soldiers in games."
I glanced at him.
"And now in two days you'll actually be one."
His smile carried a hint of sadness.
I looked back at the screen.
"You should come too."
He chuckled.
"You know I can't."
Yeah.
I knew.
His parents had already mapped out his future.
University.
Law school.
A prestigious career.
His path had been decided years ago.
"I'm going to miss you, man."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
For once, Minho didn't joke.
"Same."
The room fell silent.
A strange heaviness settled between us.
Sixteen years.
That was how long we'd known each other.
He wasn't just my best friend.
He was my first friend.
My gaming partner.
My anime companion.
My greatest rival.
For most of my life, he had always been there.
The thought of that changing felt strange.
Uncomfortable.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
My character collapsed onto the ground.
"Seriously?"
Minho burst out laughing.
"You died again."
I stared at the screen.
"..."
"Come on, future soldier."
He nudged my shoulder.
"Focus."
A grin spread across his face.
"Is this really how you're planning to survive military training?"
I snorted.
Then a smirk appeared on my face.
"Don't worry."
I picked up my controller again.
"I'll be like Ghost."
Minho laughed so hard he almost dropped his controller.
"Sure you will."
"I will."
"You'll probably trip over your own boots on day one."
"Keep talking."
We continued playing until his parents finished speaking with mine downstairs.
Eventually, he had to leave.
As he stood by the front door, we exchanged one final fist bump.
Neither of us said much.
We didn't need to.
Some goodbyes were harder when spoken aloud.
TWO DAYS LATER
"Honey! Come and say goodbye to your son!"
Dad shouted from outside as he stood beside the car.
"I'm coming!"
Mom's voice echoed through the house.
A few seconds later, she hurried out.
Although she had accepted my decision, it was obvious she still wasn't happy about it.
The moment she reached me, she pulled me into a tight hug.
"Take care of yourself."
"I will."
"Eat properly."
"I will."
"And don't do anything stupid."
I smiled.
"No promises."
She smacked my arm.
"Jin-hun."
"Alright, alright. I'll behave."
Her expression softened.
For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say more.
Instead, she simply hugged me again.
"Come back safe."
This time, I didn't joke.
"I will."
Dad cleared his throat.
"If you're done turning this into a drama, we're going to be late."
Mom shot him a glare.
Dad ignored it.
A few minutes later, we were on the road.
For most of the journey, neither of us spoke.
Then Dad suddenly broke the silence.
"Listen carefully."
I straightened in my seat.
"One, always obey orders."
"Yes, sir."
"Even when you don't like them."
"I understand."
"Two, be both smart and strong."
I nodded.
"A strong idiot is still an idiot."
"..."
"A smart weakling isn't much better."
I couldn't argue with that.
"Three, make connections."
Dad kept his eyes on the road.
"The people you meet can influence your future more than you realize."
"Okay."
"And lastly..."
His expression became serious.
"Earn the respect of your superiors."
I listened carefully.
"Without their support, military life can become very difficult."
He paused.
"But don't become anyone's dog."
A grin appeared on my face.
"Got it."
"Good."
The rest of the journey passed quietly.
A little over an hour later, we arrived at the barracks.
The first thing I noticed was the crowd.
Dozens of young men stood in formation near one of the training grounds.
Most looked nervous.
A few looked excited.
Some looked like they were questioning every life decision that had brought them there.
Dad parked the car.
"Well."
He turned toward me.
"This is where our paths split for now."
I nodded.
For some reason, my chest felt heavier than expected.
Dad extended his hand.
I stared at it for a moment before shaking it.
His grip was firm.
"I'm proud of you."
My eyes widened slightly.
Dad wasn't the type to say things like that.
He noticed my expression and immediately frowned.
"Don't make it weird."
I laughed.
"Too late."
"Tch."
A small smile appeared on his face.
Then he released my hand.
"Go."
I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the car.
As I walked away, I glanced back one last time.
Dad raised a hand.
I returned the gesture.
Then I turned around and headed toward the assembly area.
No point looking back now.
The moment I joined the line, a drill sergeant stepped forward.
His presence alone was enough to silence everyone.
"Listen up!"
His voice boomed across the training ground.
"You are no longer civilians!"
The entire formation straightened instantly.
"From this day forward, you belong to the military!"
Nobody dared speak.
Nobody dared move.
For the next fifteen minutes, he delivered a speech about duty, discipline, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Some recruits looked inspired.
Others looked terrified.
I was somewhere in the middle.
Afterward, we were led through several administrative procedures before being given a brief tour of the barracks.
The place was much larger than I expected.
Training grounds.
Storage buildings.
Dormitories.
Offices.
Everything looked orderly and efficient.
Eventually, we were assigned to our sleeping quarters.
I received my uniform, some basic supplies, and a bed number.
One hundred and seventy-two.
By the time everything was finished, I was exhausted.
Mentally, physically and socially.
I just wanted to sleep.
The moment I entered the dormitory, dozens of bunk beds came into view.
Rows upon rows of them.
"Damn."
There were way more people here than I expected.
After locating bed number one hundred and seventy-two, I approached it.
Naturally, I chose the upper bunk.
Who wouldn't?
The top bunk was superior in every conceivable way.
Unfortunately, someone was already lying on it.
My eye twitched.
Of course.
Someone was already lying on my bunk.
I stopped beside the bed.
"You're in my spot."
The guy glanced down at me.
"I was here first."
I pointed at the bed number.
"One hundred and seventy-two."
He looked at it, then shrugged.
"Looks like it's mine now."
I took a slow breath.
"Move."
"No."
My patience evaporated instantly.
"Move."
"No."
The guy sat up and jumped down from the bunk.
He was slightly taller than me and looked just as annoyed.
"What are you going to do about it?"
I stepped closer.
"Whatever it takes."
The tension between us rose immediately.
A few nearby recruits started watching.
Then a voice interrupted us.
"Are you two seriously about to fight over a bed?"
We turned to see another recruit approaching.
"This doesn't concern you," I said.
The newcomer sighed.
"It will concern me when the drill sergeants start handing out punishments."
The bunk thief pointed at me.
"He started it."
"He stole my bed."
"Haa..."
The newcomer rubbed his forehead.
"Why not settle it another way?"
"Such as?" I asked.
"Rock, paper, scissors."
"..."
"..."
Honestly, it wasn't the worst idea.
A moment later, we both threw our hands.
And I lost.
"Tch."
The guy smirked.
"Looks like the bed's mine."
The newcomer laughed.
"See? Problem solved."
He extended a hand.
"Dae-seong Wang."
The name sounded familiar.
"Wait. Your grandfather isn't Dae-jung Wang, is he?"
His eyes lit up.
"You know him?"
"Yeah."
His smile widened.
"I know him."
The smile disappeared.
"I don't know you."
A few recruits laughed.
Before Dae-seong could recover, the bunk thief spoke up.
"I'm Ho-gu."
I looked at him.
"No one asked."
This time, even Dae-seong laughed.
Ho-gu shot me a glare.
"I already don't like you."
"Likewise."
Before either of us could continue, Dae-seong stepped between us.
"Alright, enough. We should sleep."
He pointed toward the lights.
"They'll probably wake us up before sunrise."
Unfortunately, he was probably right.
After putting away my belongings, I climbed onto the lower bunk.
Not my preferred choice.
But a deal was a deal.
As I lay there staring at the ceiling, a small smile formed on my face.
The day had been exhausting.
But for the first time in a long while, life didn't feel boring.
With that thought, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
~~
At some point during the night, I found myself standing in darkness.
There was no barracks.
No beds.
No walls.
Nothing.
Just endless darkness stretching in every direction.
A chill ran down my spine.
Before I could make sense of where I was, a figure appeared in the distance.
A woman.
At least, I thought she was.
Her form was obscured by a radiance so intense it hurt to look at.
It was like staring directly at the sun.
Instinctively, I lowered my gaze.
Even then, the light felt overwhelming.
The woman slowly approached.
Each step was silent.
Yet for some reason, her presence echoed through the darkness.
My body refused to move.
I couldn't speak.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't even look away.
When she finally stopped before me, I felt smaller than I ever had in my life.
As though I were standing before something far beyond human understanding.
For several moments, she simply stared at me, before placing her palm on my forehead
Then she spoke.
"Your existence spells doom upon us all."
Her voice was beautiful.
Terrifyingly beautiful.
Like a thousand melodies woven into one.
Yet beneath that beauty was something else.
Fear.
Not my fear.
Hers.
The realization sent a shiver through my soul.
The radiant figure stood silently for a few seconds longer before turning away.
Her robe of light dragged through the darkness.
Then she disappeared.
The moment she vanished, the world around me shattered.
I shot upright in bed.
"Haa... haa..."
My chest rose and fell rapidly.
Cold sweat drenched my body.
For several seconds, I simply sat there, trying to calm my breathing.
The dormitory was quiet.
Most of the recruits were still asleep.
"...What the hell was that?"
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and glanced around the room.
Everything looked normal.
No radiant woman.
No endless darkness.
Just a barracks full of sleeping recruits.
Yet the feeling lingered.
That strange sense of dread.
As though the dream had been more than a dream.
I swallowed hard.
Then forced myself back onto the bed.
Tomorrow was going to be difficult enough without losing sleep over weird visions.
Still...
As I closed my eyes, her words echoed through my mind.
"Your existence spells doom upon us all."
For some reason, they felt less like a warning...
And more like a prophecy.