Chapter 30
Gas, Gas, Gas! (3)
Before entering the chemical warfare training ground, just like the other squads had done earlier, our team began the procedure for putting on gas masks.
We neatly emptied our pockets,
pulled out the gas masks, pressed them snugly against our faces, and secured the head straps tightly at the back of our heads.
Then we carefully attached the filter canister.
After that, we blocked the canister with our palms and took a breath.
This step was crucial.
“If you attach it incorrectly, the moment we enter, we’d be the first to inhale the CS gas and be done for.”
So I told my teammates not to worry about anything else—just make sure the filter canister was properly attached. This was the one thing they absolutely had to check.
Since there was no nine-second time limit, we could take our time putting on the masks.
I successfully sealed the filter canister.
After confirming, I repeated the movement we had practiced tirelessly yesterday.
“Gas, gas, gas.”
Next to me, Kang Seohwan was having a fierce struggle with his gas mask.
“Ugh… ah… I can’t breathe…”
“That means it’s on correctly. Good job.”
I gave Seohwan a firm pat on the back and told him to stop overreacting.
Other teammates helped each other check for leaks when sealing the canister.
Instructor Park Gilyoung seemed quite pleased to see us cooperating and gave a rare small smile and a nod.
Then he shouted to the other waiting trainees, pointing at us as an example:
“From now on, trainees entering chemical warfare training must work together, just like these squad members, and get ready properly. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
Normally, we didn’t show much teamwork like this.
But chemical warfare training was an exception—our lives were at stake, after all.
Naturally, we had to cooperate.
After fixing Jun’s slightly twisted head strap following Seohwan,
“Next squad, prepare to enter!”
Instructor Park’s voice rang out—how I dreaded it.
We lined up in two rows and approached the “room of death.”
Forcing our reluctant feet forward, we headed toward the building marked Chemical Warfare Training Ground.
Inside, there were sounds of explosions:
Bang!
Boom!
Smoke of a strange color, neither white nor gray, was seeping out.
Seohwan’s eyes widened.
“Ha… damn it… just our luck. They’re setting off CS gas right when we’re about to enter…”
I had to admit the timing sucked.
But looking on the bright side, it could also be interpreted as:
“It’s okay. Actually, this is good.”
“Good? Really?”
“Yeah. If they just set off the CS gas, it means the smoke hasn’t spread inside yet.”
My teammates began to feel a bit more encouraged.
“Ah…!”
“Keumseong’s right!”
“You’re really smart!”
They started praising me enthusiastically.
All well and good, but…
“Let’s go in quickly. The longer we wait, the more the smoke spreads, and the worse it’ll be for us.”
“Y-yeah!”
“Let’s go! Hurry!”
The team scrambled toward the entrance.
Honestly, my reasoning wasn’t scientific.
Pain was inevitable; better to get it over with quickly. That was my only thought as I urged them forward.
“Enter!”
“Enter!”
We echoed the instructor’s command.
Creaaak.
The old, hellish door opened.
We rushed inside.
At that moment, a fierce, biting sensation hit my nose.
It felt like inhaling mustard sauce—or worse.
I knew the sensation well.
“This stuff hasn’t changed…”
No matter how properly we wore our gas masks, the models used in training weren’t new. They were old versions, and some smoke inevitably leaked in.
It had been ages since I last smelled CS gas. At first, it was shocking, but:
“I guess I’m getting used to it a little.”
Ridiculous as it seemed.
However, for teammates experiencing chemical warfare training for the first time, things were far from easy.
“Ugh! Cough, cough!!”
“Instructor! The gas… it’s seeping into my mask!”
“Can we go out, readjust, and come back in?”
The instructor gave us a disbelieving look and shouted:
“Who says ‘can we?’ in basic training! The training has already started. Line up properly! Understood?”
But the trainees had no time to respond.
Some were already banging on the door we had just entered, desperate to get out.
Outside, a few strong instructors were likely blocking any escape, just as we had seen before.
Giving up would have been easier.
Once inside chemical warfare hell:
“Finish this as quickly as possible!”
I shouted to my teammates.
“Did you forget what I said before? If you want to survive, what did I tell you to do?”
They remembered my repeated instructions before entering.
“Stick together and act quickly!”
“Yes, that’s it.”
In chaotic situations, instructors deliberately prolong suffering to enforce discipline.
So we followed their rules closely.
Tears, snot, spit, and harsh breathing mixed with agonized screams.
I focused and held on mentally as best I could.
But our ordeal hadn’t even started yet.
The instructor shouted:
“Now, detach your canisters and lift them above your heads! Go!”
“Y-yes!”
Finally, the moment came.
The instant the canisters were detached, CS gas rushed in through the gap, pressing against our nostrils.
The stench burned,
our eyes stung,
our throats felt scorched.
The pain on my nose, mouth, eyes, and face was far worse than before.
“Ugh…!”
“Ghhk!”
Groans echoed from all around.
Tears and snot flowed involuntarily.
Even as we coughed, one thought dominated:
Hold on. Survive!
Together, we quickly detached the canisters and raised them overhead.
Seeing our coordinated actions, the instructor’s gaze wavered slightly.
He probably thought: “Hmm? They’re following orders better than expected.”
Even instructors are human. If trainees show good discipline, it naturally earns their favor.
“Good. Next, ten jumping jacks. How many?”
“Ten!”
“Go!”
“Y-yes—!”
Jumping jacks, suddenly introduced in the chemical warfare chamber, were meant to make us breathe harder and inhale more CS gas.
“It was like this before too.”
Holding our breath wasn’t effective. Gradually adapting to the gas was far better, and I had already told the team this.
Thanks to that, even after completing the jumping jacks, the coughing was minor. The team stood straight, disciplined.
Our orderly conduct impressed the instructor.
“Well done, team!” I thought proudly.
Then the instructor gave us a second challenge.
“Now, sing the military song. The last five minutes. Begin! One, two, three, four!”
The trainees’ voices echoed loudly in the chamber.
Though coughs interrupted occasionally, we completed the first verse.
Nearby instructors were visibly impressed by our attitude.
The instructor nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Well done. Instructor, open the door.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
“Understood, sir.”
I had the sense that our team had completed the chemical warfare training in record time.
As the door opened, the instructors shouted:
“Remove your masks! Slowly lower your arms fully extended!”
“Do not touch your faces!”
I followed the instructions carefully, knowing the consequences.
Below, instructors waited with large tubs of water.
“One at a time, face the water.”
Splash!
Water poured over my face, cooling the heat from the gas.
“Finally… I can breathe!”
After drying off somewhat with the wind, I could finally touch my face.
Even after washing, tear and snot stains remained.
“This stuff is brutal.”
I already knew the full effect of chemical warfare training, but experiencing it firsthand after so long brought past nightmares vividly to life.
Still, having survived, I felt immense relief.
I looked for Seohwan and Jun.
“You guys alive?”
“…Somehow.”
“You’re sure your eyes and nose are still attached?”
I pinched Jun’s nose hard.
“Ouch!”
“See? All in place.”
“You could’ve just said that!”
Not as fun. I giggled at Jun’s frustration.
Then, unexpectedly, a happy notification appeared:
[Hidden Quest Cleared]
[Reward: 5,000,000 won]
As I expected, the quest had been hidden.
Still, it was disappointing the reward was only five million won.
“Well, five million for surviving chemical warfare isn’t bad.”
Objectively, it was decent. After all, we had completed the training safely.
“Next, physical training, and then… individual combat and outdoor camping.”
Thinking of the intense exercises coming next week,
“Ugh… I want to run away.”
As always, I immediately began plotting how to escape military life.
