Rescue Drills in the Artificial Dungeon
Sergeant: Baek Jaesung 3
The tumultuous first week of basic training flew by faster than I'd expected.
I'd half-anticipated some strong-headed hunters stirring up trouble, but surprisingly, the week passed without any major incidents. Roll call tardiness is just a rite of passage for most hunter trainees, so it hardly counts as a real issue.
Thinking about it, hunters—especially dungeon hunters—are part of organized forces. Parties and clans have their own rules and discipline, sometimes even stricter than the military.
The hunters gathered here were undoubtedly top-tier from renowned parties or clans back home, or at least skilled enough to belong there. That must be why our basic drills went off without a hitch.
Platoon Leader Kim Sangin didn't crack down too harshly after the first couple of days either. From the military's perspective, maintaining good relations with hunter groups is crucial—they could become national assets at any moment.
My first impression of the training camp? Way more lenient than the Kacil boot camp. Compared to Sergeant Hog, Kim Sangin was practically an angel.
Basic drills are the foundation of military training. In other words, we'd barely taken our first step in the four-week program. The training ahead loomed like the peaks of Geumgang Mountain.
"From today, we dive into the real training."
The trainees were split into two groups: combat and non-combat.
Jueun went into non-combat. Everyone who'd applied for admin roles ended up there—all women.
"The dungeon ops run by the Landing Battalion are different from what you've done outside. Many involve rescue missions."
If authorities deploy into a dungeon, it's usually one of two scenarios.
One: the disaster's too massive to handle without national backup. Two: civilian lives—specifically VIPs like congressmen or higher—are at stake.
For the record, "civilians" here mostly means elite VIPs. Hunters rarely mobilize for a couple of ordinary folks. It's an unequal world, but complaining won't change it.
Either way, if you're military-attached for dungeon exploration, expect rescues. The 1st Landing Battalion's ops have hit the news plenty of times.
"You'll spend the next week on rescue training."
Rescue drills broke into theory and practice.
Theory came straight from Hunter Association instructors.
"Hello. I'm Shin Kyungjun, handling today's theory lecture. Nice to meet you."
Theory was predictably boring. Still, it was practical stuff worth absorbing, so I paid attention.
The others perked up their ears like rabbits, laser-focused. One reason hunters tolerate unequal service is free specialized training like this—super useful for dungeon life, so everyone was motivated.
Morning theory wrapped, straight to afternoon practice. Shockingly, the Special Forces School had its own artificial dungeon facility.
Hunter Association-managed, right across from the counter-terrorism center. Maintenance must cost a fortune.
The Association swims in cash, so multiple fake dungeons make sense. Defense Ministry? Not so much...
Explains why army food tastes like crap.
Practice time: we gathered in front of a massive concrete building.
This hulking structure—painted in military camo—was the artificial dungeon. The morning instructor led us in.
"We'll practice what you learned this morning. Form teams of five and enter the dungeon."
I teamed with Hwang Cheolmin, Han Seungjin, Jang Gun-gi, and some guy whose name I'd forgotten.
"Remember: in rescues, the rescuers' safety comes first."
Obviously. The target's probably a VVIP anyway.
Ignoring the instructor's nagging, we lined up at the entrance. Reminded me of Hunter Association newbie orientation—tons of fake dungeon runs back then.
I took point; only one who could tank. Speedster Hwang Cheolmin and Darkness Control user Han Seungjin were DPS. Jang Gun-gi's teleport was DPS too—some freaks tank with evasion, but it's not standard.
The last guy's ability? Water Control, like Sujin's. Our team: four DPS, one tank. Lopsided, but hunter world's full of DPS.
"Let's head in."
We opened the door and stepped inside slowly. True to form, the interior defied "building"—a vast landscape unfolded.
"A plain."
An epic, eye-soothing expanse stretched out, horizon meeting sky. Refreshing as hell.
Good sightlines. Hate tight caves.
Dense forests or mountains suck too. Give me desert any day.
"First, search for the rescue target."
Han Seungjin spoke, gazing at the endless plain. Our mission: extract the hostage. But with full visibility, no sign of them.
"Where's the target?"
Jang Gun-gi voiced what we all wondered, scanning around. Underground maybe? Nah.
"Could be a barrier nearby. Happens in real dungeons."
Han Seungjin assessed calmly. If so, no visual without breaching. Plain's advantage gone.
"Damn, too vast—where do we even start?"
Hwang Cheolmin grumbled.
Yeah, blind rushing would take forever. Rescues aren't leisurely; time's a scoring factor.
What'd the instructor say for this?
"We split up."
Han Seungjin nailed it. Standard for endless searches: divide forces.
Not solo—suicide without elite skills.
"Two and three. Seungjin and I together. Cool with that, Jaesung?"
He led naturally; no one argued—right answers only. Like an eager group project leader.
"Got it. We three take right."
"Seungjin and I go left. Meet back here in exactly 30 minutes. Factor round-trip."
Splitting wrecks balance; can't sustain long.
"Good. Avoid fights, find target."
Smooth thanks to him. Han Seungjin and I took left from start point.
"Appreciate it, Jaesung."
"You too."
But solo with this guy? Awkward vibe. Too handsome up close? Nah, his overflowing talent as a dungeon hunter sparks unintended envy.
Five minutes from start, surroundings shifted.
Crossing some line, the plain rippled into dense forest—nighttime gloom.
"Barrier after all."
"Yeah. Lighting up."
I lit Light Control. Han Seungjin grinned despite the change.
"Lucky. My technique should make searching easy."
Darkness Radar, probably. Doubles range in dark.
How far can he scan? Mine maxes at 140m.
"How far?"
Sneaky gauge of his power.
"About 300m."
Gasp! Level 15 Darkness Radar.
Expected, but insane. Single ability focused him better than my multi-set, still hurts he's superior.
"Find anything?"
"Yeah, but not target. Monster movement—heading here."
Monsters pop anywhere in dungeons.
Rustling hit right after—grass and branches crunching, something approaching.
"Avoid combat, move quiet."
Mandatory when split: balance broken, fights waste time.
Other team? All-DPS disaster—one slip, wipe.
Us? I cover tank/DPS/heal via Light Control cheat ability—not normal.
"Werewolf pack."
Han Seungjin whispered, spotting them through brush.
Light bad for evasion; I doused it.
We snuck past the wolves.
Forest vast as the plain; even a babbling brook. Relying on his radar, we swept wide.
30 minutes total: 15 effective search with return buffer.
"Hm? Different movement ahead."
He pointed at a V-split barren tree—near end of our window.
"Target?"
"Let's check."
Hope so. Tired of hide-and-seek with weak mobs.
We hopped the stream. Towering rock pile ahead; suited woman waiting—Association staff vibe.
"Target confirmed."
Han Seungjin sighed relief. He was sick of it too. Perfect timing.
"You've arrived. I'm the rescue target for this op."
Her tone flat, zero damsel vibe.
We backtracked with her. Complicated path, but he memorized it flawlessly.
"Thanks to you, Seungjin, we wrapped quick. Lucky."
This guy's a beast. If not a dude, I'd recruit for our party.
Too bad I'm straight, and so's he. Parallel lines.
"Nah, you'd handle it solo easy."
Not really. I'd speed-blitz the area.
Success loosened us up. Light chat en route to start.
Others already waiting.
"Whoa! You got the target!"
Hwang Cheolmin whooped.
"Ours was a desert. No sign of anyone—nerve-wracking as hell."
His gossip kicked off; most tuned out.