Chapter 12 …
Life Reset, Oh Military Police!
While walking, Lieutenant Park Joo-ho spoke up quietly.
“Roughly, I’ve heard the reason for your transfer. There were some issues at your previous unit, right?”
Oh Sang-jin swallowed for a moment.
Hesitating, he cautiously opened his mouth.
“Yes, that’s correct. I was subjected to harsh treatment by the senior soldiers at my former unit.”
At that, Lieutenant Park Joo-ho didn’t stop walking, but his gaze stiffened for a moment.
Didn’t these guys get the official notice from higher-ups? They’re still carrying out such things even now, while calls to eradicate harsh treatment are in full swing.
Clenching his teeth silently, Lieutenant Park Joo-ho swallowed and spoke in a calm voice.
“I see. That must have been tough.”
“…….”
“But as long as I’m here, nothing like that will ever happen. If you even sense the slightest hint, report it immediately. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
“Let’s do well together, Private Oh Sang-jin.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant.”
With that, Lieutenant Park Joo-ho led Oh Sang-jin toward the 2nd Military Police Company.
At the entrance to the unit, Lieutenant Park Joo-ho paused briefly, catching his breath and steeling himself.
The battalion commander emphasized it too. Be careful not to let any accidents happen. Well, it’ll be fine—as long as I manage it.
Entering the building, Lieutenant Park Joo-ho knocked on the company commander’s office door.
Knock, knock.
With the precise knock, the door opened cautiously.
Stepping over the threshold, Lieutenant Park Joo-ho called out clearly.
“I’ve brought the new transfer, Private Oh Sang-jin, sir.”
Captain Lee Tae-jun, commander of the 2nd Military Police Company, lifted his gaze from behind his desk with an expressionless face.
Sharp eyes carried military discipline, but there was a deep sense of observation behind them.
He nodded slightly and spoke.
“Ah, yes. I’ve been expecting you.”
Lieutenant Park Joo-ho stepped aside, and through that gap, Oh Sang-jin walked forward steadily.
He took a breath, squared his posture firmly, and calmly delivered his report.
“Salute! Private Oh Sang-jin! As of December 1st, 1998, I have been assigned to the 1st Platoon, 2nd Military Police Company, 13th Military Police Battalion. I hereby report!”
He finished his report with a rigid posture and unwavering gaze, staring straight ahead as he concluded the final salute.
Captain Lee Tae-jun nodded and gestured toward a chair beside the desk.
“Alright. You’ve done well today. Sit.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
Oh Sang-jin carefully sat down.
It was a moment where some tension could have eased, but the commander’s atmosphere remained neither heavy nor light.
Suddenly, Captain Lee Tae-jun asked.
“Do you like coffee?”
Oh Sang-jin hesitated briefly before shaking his head.
“No… I don’t drink coffee.”
“Really? Then how about tea?”
“If offered, I’ll drink it gratefully.”
Captain Lee Tae-jun gave something resembling a smile and nodded.
“Good. Lieutenant Park.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Prepare some tea. One cup of coffee, one cup of green tea.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lieutenant Park Joo-ho responded swiftly, as if he had been waiting.
A moment later, he returned with two neatly arranged cups.
One hand held a strong Americano, the other a subtly aromatic green tea.
Placing them carefully on the desk, he said,
“Captain, here’s the coffee. And Private Oh Sang-jin, you have the green tea.”
Captain Lee Tae-jun glanced at Lieutenant Park Joo-ho and silently nodded once.
Then, with an effortless look, he gave a signal with his eyes.
Now, step out.
Lieutenant Park Joo-ho immediately understood the unspoken command.
“Understood, sir. Then, please have your discussion.”
After giving a short salute, Lieutenant Park Joo-ho quietly closed the door and left.
A brief silence fell between the two remaining.
Captain Lee Tae-jun quietly picked up his cup and spoke.
“How’s your body?”
His voice carried a tone quite different from before.
It was less the coldness of a commander and more a human concern.
Oh Sang-jin nearly startled, but answered calmly.
“I’ve recovered a lot. I received good treatment at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.”
Captain Lee Tae-jun nodded and sipped his coffee.
Then, he slowly fixed his gaze on Oh Sang-jin.
“Private Oh Sang-jin. I’ve heard, to some extent, the story of why you came here. I understand that what you went through wasn’t simple.”
His eyes were clear and unwavering.
“This unit is the Military Police. It’s different from regular units. Discipline is stricter, responsibility heavier. But in return, it’s fair. If you want to start anew here, I won’t stop you. I even consider it an opportunity.”
Oh Sang-jin listened quietly, his chest stirring slightly.
Could he really start over here?
Captain Lee Tae-jun finally put down his cup and spoke.
“Of course, there will be many eyes watching you. But as long as I’m here, nothing unjust will happen. Remember that.”
“Yes, sir.”
It was a quiet but profound voice.
For the first time, Oh Sang-jin allowed himself a slight smile.
Captain Lee Tae-jun picked up a blue file from the corner of the desk.
On the cover, written in cursive, was: “Private Oh Sang-jin – Transfer Record.”
Carefully flipping through the file, his eyes calmly scanned the document.
Place of Birth: Mapo-gu, Seoul
Family: Father (Oh Young-jin), Mother (Lee Soon-young), one younger sister (Oh Ji-yoon)
Education: ○○ High School Graduate
Special Notes: Parents’ business failed during the IMF period, ongoing financial difficulties
Hmm…
Captain Lee Tae-jun unconsciously furrowed his brow.
Family was small, and living conditions seemed somewhat complicated.
Training camp records…?
He turned the page with his finger.
[Nonsan Army Training Center – Selected as Best Trainee / Awarded Commendation (Instructor praised highly)]
Below the neatly written line was the instructor’s direct signature.
“So he was an outstanding trainee.”
Captain Lee Tae-jun tilted his head.
At this level, he should have received at least a 3-night, 4-day reward leave. Yet strangely, there was no record of leave.
Closing the file, he asked,
“You received an award at Nonsan?”
“Yes, sir,” Oh Sang-jin answered cautiously.
“But that’s odd. Didn’t you take the reward leave?”
Oh Sang-jin paused. His lips tightened slightly, and his gaze dropped to the corner of the desk.
“Well… I requested to exchange the reward leave for something else.”
“Something else? What was it?”
“I’m not sure if I should say.”
“It’s fine, son. I called you here to hear your story. Go ahead.”
Oh Sang-jin let out a sigh and spoke.
“The truth is, even if I had leave, I had nowhere to go.”
Captain Lee Tae-jun’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“My parents divorced. My mother went back to her hometown, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to just drop in…”
“And your father?”
“He works on a deep-sea fishing vessel. Once he sets sail, he’s gone for months and can barely be contacted.”
“Then your relatives?”
“They exist. But they all live in the provinces, so it’s hard to visit them suddenly. In fact, since the IMF period, there’s been little contact. That’s why I asked to be transferred to the same unit as my peers.”
“Ah, so that’s why you gave up the reward leave. Interesting fellow. Really.”
It was rare for a soldier to voluntarily forgo a reward leave—almost unheard of.
Usually, leave was forfeited due to friction with seniors, disciplinary actions, or problem behavior. Those cases warranted careful attention in the Military Police.
But Oh Sang-jin was different.
He received the reward, yet chose to forgo it himself.
And the reason? A calm answer: “I had nowhere to go.”
“That… is understandable enough.”
Captain Lee Tae-jun set down his coffee cup, narrowing his eyes.
A guy like this, and he was subjected to harsh treatment?
His lips unconsciously tightened.
Tapping his fingers three times, he reopened Oh Sang-jin’s personnel file.
At that moment, he recalled the brief instructions the battalion commander had given a few days ago.
“The transfer coming in had some trouble at the previous unit. No need to know the details—it was quietly resolved. The company commander should take special care of him. Watch carefully to prevent accidents. Don’t let rumors spread. Units like that, if managed well, will settle down on their own.”
The details of the incident weren’t given—only that it was quietly closed and that the soldier was a management target.
“Ha…”
Captain Lee Tae-jun exhaled softly and paused.
Then, in a low voice, he spoke again.
“The truth is… it’s rare for someone who struggled in another unit to be transferred to the Military Police.”
There was a meaningful weight at the end of his words.
Oh Sang-jin slightly furrowed his brows but remained silent.
“As you know, the Military Police has much stricter discipline and a more complex system than regular infantry units. Some transfers can’t handle life here and leave.”
Captain Lee Tae-jun’s gaze deepened.
And then, he spoke the decisive words.
“But that’s not really what I want to say.”
Leaning slightly forward, the captain spoke quietly.
“I know roughly what you went through at your previous unit. But I don’t want to ask you about it.”
Pausing to glance out the window, he turned back to meet Oh Sang-jin’s gaze.
“That’s already been ‘decided to be closed’ by the higher-ups. And I hope you, too, won’t speak about it to anyone from now on.”
“Yes, sir. Understood.”
Oh Sang-jin answered clearly, without averting his eyes.
Captain Lee Tae-jun nodded, smiling faintly.
“Good. I really like soldiers who keep their promises.”
At that moment, the atmosphere softened slightly.
“So, tell me, is there anything you’d like to request of me specifically?”
At the commander’s question, Oh Sang-jin hesitated.
Pressing his lips together, he thought for a moment, then carefully opened his mouth.
