After the soldiers wore their helmets and bulletproof vests and strapped on their radios, the officer came out with a stiff, unreadable expression. He had magazines in his hands.

Thunk. Thunk. 

The sound of the magazines being set down on the ground weighed down Kang Chan’s heart.

Click. 

Kang Chan detached the magazine from his rifle and loaded it with 9mm bullets, the tip of each one looking sharper than a bayonet. After inserting the magazine back with a clank, he pointed his gun’s muzzle at the ground and started to load bullets into his spare magazine.

When Seok Kang-Ho began to load his own rifle, the other soldiers rushed to fill their magazines as well.

An icy, anxious tension as cold as the winter wind hung over the barracks.

“Please give us pistol rounds as well,” Kang Chan requested. Choi Seong-Geon nodded.

Although Choi Seong-Geon didn’t say anything, his complex emotions could be clearly seen in his eyes.

His aide returned with pistol magazines.

Clank! Clank!

Kang Chan pulled the breechblock and inserted bullets in. The tension in the atmosphere was so thick and taut...