Chapter 40
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Detachment Squad
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The next morning.
Kang Hyuk left the campsite with the four members of the First Team and the six team leaders.
A sudden declaration erupted from him.
"We're a detachment squad from now on."
"Pardon?"
"The main force won't move to destroy the monoliths. We'll do it with just the people we have here."
Kang Na-eun blinked at his words.
She slowly scanned Kang Hyuk's expression.
His unwavering gaze made it clear this was no joke or empty talk.
Realizing he meant it, she asked in confusion,
"A d-detachment squad? Separating from the main force?"
"Yes."
"Just us... breaking through the otherworld... and destroying the monolith?"
"That's right."
His steady response.
The First Team members looked shocked, while the six team leaders—who already knew—showed uneasy glances.
Watching their reactions, Kang Hyuk gestured and issued a firm order.
"I'll explain the details on the way. Let's move for now."
A massive rumble.
Pushing through the thick foliage causing it, Kang Hyuk explained.
"I had a meeting with the headquarters chief last night. The conclusion was that it doesn't make much difference whether we operate as a main force or form a detachment squad."
Everyone stared at his back with uneasy eyes.
"Numerical superiority matters against monsters of similar level. But against monsters that outclass us, numbers mean nothing."
With that, Kang Hyuk subtly awakened his senses.
Power of the Last Giant Clan activates.
Giant's Sense obtained.
Power of the Last Giant Clan: 6%
His five senses sharpened all at once, gathering every bit of information around him.
"And yesterday, we confirmed in the battle with the Red Patterned Orcs that the Hunter Association's main force hunters are lacking."
"......"
"In other words, forcing the main force into action could lead to unnecessary casualties from their ambush tactics."
Amid the info, he felt vivid life forces pulsing.
Kang Hyuk's lips curved up.
"So after the meeting, the order came down: the main force defends the outpost, while us ten form the detachment squad to complete the quest. I'm in full command of this detachment. Any questions?"
Snapping out of it, Lee Hwan-seung hurriedly asked,
"T-Team Leader? Even if the main force hunters are inferior... doesn't reducing our numbers in a situation like this defeat the purpose? Wouldn't it be better to safely operate the entire main force...?"
"It has meaning. Mr. Lee Hwan-seung."
"......Pardon?"
"The people gathered here are the top forces among everyone the Association brought. Proof? You're the only ones who gained the upper hand against Red Patterned Orcs yesterday."
"......"
"Orcs aren't human. They have monstrous strength to crush rocks, but no wisdom or strategy to match it. If we move the obvious main force, they'll bring a matching number of orcs. We'd win the battle, but casualties would follow."
With his answer, Kang Hyuk stopped.
"But a small detachment like this? They won't pay us much mind. If we find the right path, we can infiltrate deeper into the forest even safer."
The First Team members gradually caught on to what he meant.
But they couldn't hide their anxiety.
"St-still... Team Leader. Can we really complete the quest... just us?"
Sensing their unease, Kang Hyuk turned and nodded.
"We can."
Everyone fell silent at his firm reply.
"You didn't catch those orcs yesterday by luck, did you?"
After glancing around, Kang Hyuk gestured.
"That'll do for explanations."
Everyone tensed at the gesture.
Squeeeeal...
An ominous piggish squeal.
A thick stench of blood hit them at the same time.
Kang Hyuk gestured again.
"Form up and prepare for battle."
At the order, everyone drew their weapons.
They steadied their breaths, bracing for the fight ahead.
Kang Hyuk nodded approvingly and took a step back.
He muttered,
"Oh, right—one thing I forgot to mention..."
Meanwhile, ten Red Patterned Orcs noticed the hunters.
As everyone steeled themselves under their ferocious gazes,
"I won't be joining the fight."
Another unexpected bombshell dropped.
The First Team members and team leaders thought as they heard Kang Hyuk's explanation.
This detachment was actually an absurd decision.
But with solid insurance right in front of them, they accepted it.
'...It's insane, but...'
'Still, with Team Leader Kang, it'll work out.'
'That's why the chief approved it, right?'
'Just his spear-throwing yesterday... orcs are no problem.'
Kang Hyuk, the core of this detachment.
In yesterday's battle, he'd shone brighter than anyone with his rumored S-rank ability.
An E-rank team leader.
Red Patterned Orcs that took two or three to handle—he'd felled one with a single spear throw.
Considering that, this detachment wasn't so unreasonable.
So as they prepared to fight trusting him,
"I won't be joining the fight."
His declaration shattered that hope.
They tried to turn in shock, but the orcs' aggressive squeals prevented it.
"Kuh!"
Ten orcs charged, muscles bulging.
Their stench filled the air, their battle spirit making skin crawl.
Bam!
Fierce clash erupted.
Tank Park Seo-jun and the four team leaders blocked the orcs' advance.
Grrrrowl...
But in a contest of strength, E-rank hunters couldn't overpower Red Patterned Orcs.
As they started getting pushed back, Kang Hyuk quickly commanded,
"Ranged dealers! Fire support! Target the orc in front of Park Seo-jun! When I signal, tanks fall back and aim for its head!"
The ten hunters moved, forgetting the shocking declaration.
Groooar!!!
But the battle tide turned swiftly.
"D-Damn it!"
Numerical superiority was even, but these were D-rank monsters.
The rank gap was absolute, and Association hunters were slowly pushed from the front line.
"Get it together!"
Kang Hyuk barked.
"Park Seo-jun! Your ability is C-rank rated! Trust it and tank more aggressively!"
Park Seo-jun followed without thinking.
"Lee Hwan-seung! Why hesitate? Can't you see the front tanks getting pushed because of it?"
Lee Hwan-seung moved frantically too.
He wasn't on the front line, but hearing Park Seo-jun's groans spurred him on.
"Kang Na-eun! You're the main dealer! Finish off what the dealers and tanks can't!"
Commands kept coming.
"Second and Third Team Leaders! If the line breaks, the rear dealers are in danger!"
"Fourth and Fifth Team Leaders! What are you doing? Swift support ties directly to the tanks' lives!"
Oddly, amid the chaos, Kang Hyuk's orders rang crystal clear.
Squeeeeal!
The orcs squealed in rage.
Squeeeeal!
These weaker humans weren't yielding; they held the line and wounded orc flesh.
Squeeeeal!
Enraged fists swung, but missed prey—instead, humans slipped in and carved wounds.
Watching, Kang Hyuk murmured,
'The situation and this unique item's value align perfectly.'
One by one, the Red Patterned Orcs began to fall.
Squeeeeal...
Resentment filled their eyes, refusing to accept death.
How could weaker beings kill them?
"Hoo..."
The First Team and leaders felt the same bewilderment.
Red Patterned Orcs that were overwhelming yesterday fell surprisingly easily.
'...Did I get stronger without knowing?'
'No, I didn't beat them on my own.'
'Just following First Team Leader's orders...'
With murmurs, the Association's detachment felled the last orcs.
"Team Leader."
Kang Na-eun wiped sweat and barely spoke.
"...Why aren't you fighting?"
Confirming the situation cleared, Kang Hyuk answered,
"I need to conserve strength."
"...?"
"The power I can unleash has limits. I can't just spam it."
Everyone's eyes widened, including Kang Na-eun's.
"In other words, I'll step in only at the most dangerous, crucial moments. Saving up for that."
A plausible explanation.
But one missing key context.
As they geared up to question, Kang Hyuk looked skyward.
Mew!
Black, gliding silently, let out a low cry at his gaze.
Then flapped away.
Kang Hyuk smirked.
"Questions later. We're not done."
Kang Na-eun shut her mouth, puzzled.
"What do you mean...?"
Then, orc squeals rang out.
Squeeeeal!
They rushed desperately toward them, fleeing something.
Kang Na-eun's eyes widened; the detachment grabbed weapons again.
Kang Hyuk grinned.
"It'll be tough, but we can do it. Just like before."
The hunters missed his smile, back turned.
But feeling a chill, Kang Na-eun muttered,
"Something's off..."
Her worry hit the mark.
One day after leaving the main force.
"...Aaaargh!"
The detachment fought five battles and repelled three ambushes.
"Look at this, everyone!!! This is the quest we got upon entering the otherworld—the 'monolith'!!"
Jeong Jae-hong's bombastic commentary.
The F-rank hunter filming him, Lee Ye-min, muttered,
'He's even more over-the-top today...'
Jeong Jae-hong, with 2 million subscribers, was famous for his camera antics, but today felt extreme.
As his pro camerawoman Lee Ye-min tilted her head, Jeong Jae-hong thought,
'I have to outshine that S-rank no matter what!'
The airport scene days ago.
A man who stole all the attention from him in one go.
'Lucky S-rank talent, and he dares hog the spotlight?'
So he led every battle.
To capture footage worthy of it.
'Edit well, and 3 million views easy. Plus the performance boost from this video.'
That could propel him to A-rank hunter status, harder than reaching the stars.
But not just that.
'A hunter outshining S-rank talent. Killer title, right?'
Performance, money.
And greater honor and attention.
So Jeong Jae-hong pushed an insane schedule, reaching the otherworld quest monolith at breakneck speed.
Groooaaar!!
The enraged tyrant's roar echoed.
Second predator of the green skins.
A troll's cry.
"Whoa! A 'troll' straight out of movies appears! Look at those muscles! No CG—the real deal!"
Glancing around mid-commentary, Jeong Jae-hong checked his state.
Mana depleted from back-to-back fights.
'Dangerous, but...'
Normally, he'd retreat to recover.
As raid commander, he needed reserves for emergencies.
But with the highlight—monolith destruction—ahead, he couldn't back off.
"Alright, time to show Tusinjeon's might against the final boss! Let's go, guys!"
He called in the waiting guild members.
Tusinjeon hunters, who reached the monolith easily thanks to him, prepared spells and ranged strikes eagerly.
Kraaaah!!!
The troll's body shredded amid screams!
No matter its vaunted regeneration, it couldn't withstand 300 hunters.
Jeong Jae-hong stepped up triumphantly.
"Die, monster!!"
A massive fireball from scraped-together mana.
He slammed it personally onto the troll's near-dead head.
Boom!
Explosion and thick dust piled up.
Jeong Jae-hong smirked within.
Quest: Otherworld Clear Condition
📍 Destroy the 3 monoliths in North, South, East
⏰ Rewards vary by contribution
🎁 First Monolith Destroyed: Jeong Jae-hong + 281 others
🏆 Contribution 1st: Jeong Jae-hong
💎 Reward: ???
The message confirmed he'd completed the quest first among the three shattered groups.
'Yes! I beat that S-rank!'
Ignoring exhaustion, his eyes gleamed as he prepped his finale.
"In the end, guild ranking #1 Tusinjeon scores big in another otherworld expedition! Surpassing Arena and the Association, reaffirming our glory..."
That moment.
"Let me..."
A massive aura crashed down.
"...do it?"
A black shadow loomed.
"...Team Leader!!!"
Tusinjeon guild members' shocked faces and desperate cries hit at once.
Jeong Jae-hong sensed wrongness and turned.
Crunch.
A green hand blocked his view, crushing something.