Rookie: Baek Jaesung 4
There are two things Korean hunters can't avoid: taxes and the military.
The National Tax Service and the Military Manpower Administration are state agencies that hunters despise more than anything. According to some survey, their unfavorability rating is even higher than that of the Demonic Clan. What a lamentable state of affairs.
Still, it was only natural for Korean hunters—who had to spend a year in the military—to harbor resentment toward the Military Manpower Administration.
Aah. I have to go into the army.
This was a brutally harsh reality, but I couldn't deny it.
The myriad privileges hunters enjoyed were built upon equally immense obligations. And one of those was devoting about a year of your life to military service.
"As you know, hunters are required to fulfill their military duty."
Master Kim Minyoung began expounding on the basic common knowledge that every hunter was aware of.
I listened quietly to her voice. There had to be a good reason for her suddenly telling me to enlist. I figured I could glean that reason from her words.
"Don't worry too much. The active service period isn't long. Just one year."
For the record, reserve duty lasts a whopping 19 years. They don't make you do reserve training, but 19 years still felt way too long.
"Even a year is a long time for some people."
When I grumbled softly at Master, she gave a wry smile.
"I understand how you feel. Anyway, once you reach 8-rank or acquire your hunter license and two years pass, the Military Manpower Administration sends out a draft notice. Hunters must enlist within two years of receiving it. You can enlist sooner if you want, but it's standard to do so after hitting 8-rank."
This matched what I already knew.
"For a disciple like you, reaching 8-rank should be a piece of cake. As you know, up to 8-rank, you can promote without an exam just by steadily accumulating merit points. If you join the Level House raid this time, you should hit it without issue."
That would trigger the draft notice. Once you got it, no matter how much you wanted to delay, you had to serve within two years.
I was starting to understand why Master Kim Minyoung was bringing up the military with me now. Better to get hit first than to hit later, as they say.
"I see."
"How much do you know about hunter military service?"
"Everything you've explained so far. That's about the extent of it."
"Then I'll continue."
Master Kim Minyoung took a deep breath. Her explanation was more detailed than I'd expected. To sum it up:
All hunters in the military are under the Republic of Korea Special Operations Command. This command oversees the Army, Navy, and Air Force special forces units, blending forces from all three branches plus its own direct special forces.
Enlisted hunters attend the Special Warfare School in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, for one month of basic training. After graduation, they're assigned to units under the Special Operations Command.
All hunters on mandatory service are non-commissioned officers. General hunters commission as sergeants upon completing the school; dungeon hunters as staff sergeants.
Once assigned, they serve the remaining 11 months at their unit. It's usually commutable, so most rent nearby and commute.
Hunter units are rarely in remote mountains. Most are near major cities, including many in Seoul. That's due to their missions: clearing monster waves, stabilizing overflowing dungeons, and managing Demonic threats.
Whether general or dungeon hunters, they can handle mana, making them vital for dungeon management. Civilians struggle to even breathe near dungeons due to high mana density, but hunters operate normally.
According to Master, most general hunters handle logistics like supply transport. The Ministry of National Defense really squeezes every drop out of them.
Dungeon management is technically the Hunter Association's domain, so hunters often work with them during service. Many land Association jobs post-discharge through these connections.
As a result, military life feels like an extension of party or clan activities. Some crazies even call it a life opportunity since you learn so much as a dungeon hunter. Tell them to reenlist, though, and they'd shut up fast.
After one year, general hunters discharge as staff sergeants; dungeon hunters as master sergeants. If a dungeon hunter stays long-term, they can promote straight to warrant officer—or even become an officer starting as major.
For regular enlistees, reaching warrant officer takes 20-30 years minimum. For dungeon hunters, that's just the starting line. Plus, command sergeant major and sergeant major ranks are essentially hunter-only.
Of course, even with such generous terms from the Ministry, few hunters stick around.
There's even a subtle culture mocking those who do, especially dungeon hunters. People call them aimless losers behind their backs.
"I served in the 1st Landing Battalion. Have you heard of it?"
"Of course. It's Korea's strongest special forces unit, popping up on YouTube all the time lately."
Korea's Strongest
With a bit of exaggeration, you could call the 1st Landing Battalion—the world's strongest special forces—the unit under the Republic of Korea Special Operations Command. It was familiar to me even without the hype.
Korea's only Tier 1 special forces unit, it has around 30 combat personnel—all dungeon hunters. Over 10 are even 5-rank dungeon hunters.
Master brimmed with pride for her alma mater, explaining the 1st Landing Battalion in detail.
"It's composed of five combat companies, a headquarters company, and a support company."
"Five combat companies? And all members are dungeon hunters?"
"Yes. Each has a 5-rank or higher dungeon hunter as company commander and members. Companies 1 and 2 are entirely 5-rank-plus dungeon hunters—professional soldiers. The combat companies average over 7-rank."
Hunter ranks reflect comprehensive ability and merits. Low rank doesn't mean low skill, but high rank guarantees it.
7-rank is the '主力'—main force—in the dungeon hunter world. 6-rank is the endpoint for average talent after a decade of honing; 7-rank isn't low by any means.
Especially compared to other countries.
Korean hunter ranks are conventionally one level higher than everywhere else.
A Korean 7-rank gets 6-rank treatment abroad; foreign 6-ranks are seen as Korean 7-ranks.
Units averaging 7-rank are rare, found only in hunter powerhouses like the US, Russia, or China—and only their elite special forces.
In terms of personnel quality, Korea's 1st Landing Battalion outclasses them, making a strong case for world's strongest special forces. In the 'special forces' category, at least.
Of course, the 'military' limit persists. Even Korea's top 10 clans have parties surpassing it.
Capitalist Western nations struggle to form high-rank hunter units due to money—much like air force pilots flocking to airlines post-service. The dungeon hunter industry views the military as eternal second-tier.
But the Battalion's real terror lies in its veterans' association.
The 1st Landing Battalion alumni network is like the elder council of a demonic sect in wuxia novels—crawling with old demons who've dominated an era. Its members outlevel the active forces.
Master Kim Minyoung—direct KHC heir—is one. Her father, Kim Geon-yong, is too.
"The 1st Landing Battalion scouts from alumni like me. 'Send us good talent,' they say."
That explained how they maintained quality.
Ambitious dungeon hunters, puffed up on pride, knock on the Battalion's door. Underground networking keeps the standards high.
"Ah, so you're telling me to enlist there?"
"Yes. It's volunteer-based. Pass the exam, and you're in. It's tough, but you'd breeze through."
"When's the exam?"
"Quarterly. But enlistment is fixed on October 10th. All hunters join then."
With one-year terms, personnel rotate yearly. That's how they sustain it?
"You'll learn from the pinned seniors. The vibe isn't as rigid as you think—relax. Most know our alumni network; not like the media's strict image."
Good connections always help. And I had to serve a year somewhere anyway. Master's proposal sounded solid.
"Normally, dungeon hunters from the same clan or party get split up to prevent factions. But volunteer units like the 1st Landing Battalion let clanmates enlist together."
"Oh! Really?"
Considering everything, it was a good offer. I said I'd think positively about it.
"That covers what I had to say. I'd love to chat more, disciple, but Association duties call—I should head out."
Master rose with an apologetic look.
I wanted more time with her too. Felt like we could've made progress, but no dice. And the military talk left me moody.
I returned her farewell and left the house.