HB Translations

  The ground had changed drastically. Gone was the soft, walkable soil from before. In its place was rocky terrain—something mountain climbers would love. Judging by how slick the surface was, it must’ve rained recently. I focused the strength into the soles of my feet, walking slowly and cautiously. As I moved carefully to avoid slipping, I heard voices—human voices, coming from somewhere. I stopped immediately, sharpening my hearing to the limit. The sound was coming from the west. Turning toward the direction, I flipped up the magnifier attached to the top rail of my HK416—a scope that boosts the holo sight—and pressed my eye to the lens. Through the gaps between the trees, I could see what looked like a campsite. But unlike the gruesome one I saw earlier, this one had people. I could see their faces and skin tone—they looked like me. This might be an ally camp. I lowered my rifle and made my way toward them, diving into a dense, jungle-like section of the forest. Branches block...

  After thoroughly enjoying nature’s blessings, I re-equipped my plate carrier and weapons and resumed my exploration. Perhaps it was the fresh, clean river that had washed the grime and sweat off me, but my arms and legs now felt lighter. Moving was easier, more efficient. Feeling uplifted yet maintaining caution, I pressed onward—only to stumble upon a man-made campsite carved out of the woods. Several white tents were set up, and I could see the remnants of campfires and makeshift cooking stoves. Nearby, animal bones and fruit peels—likely from meal prep—had been discarded into a deep trench. With this many traces of habitation, I half expected someone to appear at any moment. But not a single soul showed up. In fact, there wasn’t even the faintest trace of human presence. I knew it might be rude, but I decided to take a look inside one of the nearby tents. Just to be sure, I called out first: “Hmm... nothing.” As expected, no reply. Almost like that was the default here. I push...

The pleasant chirping of wild birds flowed into my ears with every step—truly, nature’s own symphony. The soft earth beneath my feet was blanketed in fallen leaves, like a plush carpet. Trees of all shapes and sizes lined the forest path, adorned with a vivid array of flowers. In a place like this, it’s hard not to let your guard down. The forest in the northern part of my homeland used to rival this one in beauty. But war had left it in ruins. The lush vegetation was scorched by incendiary bombs, and even the animals that once lived there were driven from their homes. Once again, I found myself thinking—humans are cowardly, yet cruel. At the very least, I hope peace can remain in this forest. While walking along a natural path through the woods, I spotted a small stream flowing between the trees and made my way toward it. Once at the bank, I dropped my gear and jumped in like an excited child seeing a pool for the first time. “This... yeah, this is exactly what I needed.” ...

  Falling upside down, the scenery around me appeared completely reversed from the usual view. I could clearly see the Russian soldiers up on the cliff, eyes wide in shock, staring down at me—probably surprised by my sudden action. The ground was approaching fast, yet time seemed to crawl. So this... is death, huh? Life only comes once. I might as well enjoy this final sliver of time. The moment the distance between me and the ground sharply decreased, time snapped back to normal—and my head slammed into the hard ground with a merciless, sickening thud. Darkness. No sound. No sensation on my fingertips. So this is... the world of death? Surprisingly, fear didn’t rise in me. But if I were sealed into this space for eternity, it’d be dreadfully boring—and stifling. Still, I doubt that's actually the case. Heaven or hell... for me, it’s probably hell. Deeper darkness layered upon the darkness. I was surely being drawn toward death. I wonder what the other world is like. If I get to ch...

The newly rising Eastern European nation of Boshortrushi had long been subjected to unjust rule by the Russian Federation, once the core of the former Soviet Union, due to its position as a buffer zone. When the government could no longer tolerate the mounting grievances, it finally declared full independence—igniting war with Russia, who moved swiftly to suppress the declaration. At the outset, military analysts from around the world unanimously predicted that the war would end in just a week. However, Boshortrushi, bolstered by military aid from neighboring countries such as Ukraine and NATO-aligned Baltic states, defied expectations. Despite facing the full might of Russia’s professional army, Boshortrushi was somehow holding its own and even gaining the upper hand. But their opponent was Russia—the nation that once defeated the Nazis and, albeit temporarily, stood on par with or even above the United States. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia still possessed immens...