Chapter 19
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Hundred Days Spear, Thousand Days Halberd, Ten Thousand Days Sword
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“Phew.”
I let out a sigh as I unpacked my gear. I’d already run into a bunch of people I didn’t want to see on the very first day, and on top of that, I’d fought with swords.
No, the first day wasn’t the issue. For the next year, I’d have to face Kim Cheol-min every single day.
That was when someone sat down next to me and struck up a conversation. He had light brown hair and a gentle, affable smile that left an impression.
“Looking forward to working with you. Squad leader.”
“Huh? Who’re you?”
“You’re the squad leader, right? You beat number eleven, so you’re the strongest in our squad. Makes sense for you to take the role. Don’t you think?”
Everyone unpacking nodded in agreement at the brown-haired guy’s words.
“What? You’re gonna let some otaku be squad leader?”
Only Kim Cheol-min objected, but he was left speechless by the man’s follow-up.
“Doesn’t seem like something the guy who lost to that otaku should be saying.”
“T-That’s…….”
“Honestly, everyone’s stats are about the same, so it doesn’t matter who’s squad leader. Normally, it’d be number eleven. But hey, number nineteen picks a fight and loses? And now he’s still running his mouth without any shame?”
“…….”
“Personally, I think anyone who can’t grasp their place, read the situation, or control their emotions doesn’t qualify as squad leader…….”
“What’d you say?”
Kim Cheol-min tried to swing the sword attached to his prosthetic arm in a fit of rage. If the brown-haired guy had been even a little slower, he would have.
“See that? The instructor just said he’d kick you out, and here you are, losing control already. You want to put squad leader in charge of a guy like this? I’m against it. What do you all think?”
The others nodded in agreement. I gave a slight nod too. Kim Cheol-min really didn’t seem like squad leader material.
Wait…… if I agreed here, what would happen to me?
“Alright. Everyone agrees, so number nineteen’s squad leader?”
Just like that, public opinion swung to make me squad leader. The brown-haired guy grinned and said, “Looking forward to it, squad leader,” but somehow, I couldn’t muster a smile.
‘Feels like I just got saddled with group project leader in one of those stories you only hear about…….’
* * *
Classes started early the next morning. After light jogging, physical training, and drill practice, the trainees headed to the weapons training ground.
“Daggers are short, and it’s hard to land a proper hit on large monsters, so they’re tough to use as a main weapon. Usually, they’re a last resort when you’ve lost all your other gear or face an opponent you can’t beat.”
The instructor said this while miming slitting his own throat.
“A pistol would be nicer, but no choice. It stings a bit, but better than getting torn apart and eaten alive by a monster, right?”
In other words, daggers were for suicide. The instructor then held up an 80cm one-handed sword.
“Swords are definitely useful in real combat. Decent length, good for thrusting and slashing, so they handle a variety of situations. Plus, you can use your off-hand for a shield to balance offense and defense.”
Next came a 150cm two-handed sword slightly larger than a katana, followed by a long spear over 2m.
“If you want to be more aggressive, I recommend these. Longer reach means you seize the initiative. But I don’t suggest them against monsters with ranged attacks. Knocking arrows away with a sword is harder than it looks.”
Besides not allowing a shield, long weapons like two-handed swords and spears had the drawback of being awkward in tight spaces like caves or forests full of obstacles.
They had advantages, but plenty of restrictions too, so choose carefully based on the situation.
The instructor went on to introduce heavy weapons like axes that could smash shields, maces good against high-defense foes, and halberds combining spear and axe heads. All useful against large monsters.
“As you can see, every weapon has pros and cons. Ultimately, pick gear that fits the enemy, the situation, and your own stats. That’s it for the explanation! Go on, handle them and choose what suits you.”
The instructor wrapped up casually and clasped his hands behind his back, like he was saying, “I did my part; figure out the rest yourselves.”
I wasn’t expecting him to teach with the passion of a top cram school tutor, but this seemed way too hands-off.
“Won’t learn much from the instructor, huh? Right, squad leader?”
The light brown-haired guy who’d made me squad leader approached.
His name was Lee Jin-hyuk, twenty-two this year. He’d worked as a regular hunter for a year and a half before luckily awakening while slaying monsters.
People like this brother could accumulate mana in their bodies from hunting monsters, eventually becoming able to hold it.
That was ‘awakening.’ Most regular folks applying for hunter jobs were there to awaken.
But the mana needed varied per person, so some awakened after their first fight, while the unlucky ones failed even after three years.
And usually, the latter ended up dead mid-way or retiring with severe injuries.
‘He’s unharmed after a year and a half of hunting, so he’s got some skill…… Then why push me as squad leader instead of stepping up? Just lazy?’
Squad leader was a hassle—roll calls, reports, relaying info, all that small stuff.
Realizing this late, I half-jokingly, half-revengefully appointed Jin-hyuk as vice squad leader. He had combat experience, so I wanted his advice too.
Sure enough, he knew a ton from his fieldwork—role assignments in the squad, profit splits by role, etc.
But he seemed to hate awakeners after getting bullied by them as a regular hunter. Even now, he was trash-talking the instructor, who held absolute power in the training center.
“From his perspective, nobodies like us don’t even register. He’s a three-star hunter, after all. Ugh, why are all hunters like that…….”
“Hyung, keep it down…….”
“You know they even rank awakened hunters? One grade difference makes you noble or peasant. Regular hunters? Total slave treatment. Makes my blood boil just thinking about it.”
“Haha. Is that so?”
Worried the instructor might hear, I edged away from Jin-hyuk.
Luckily, he hadn’t, yawning hugely as he shuffled to the break room in the back. Probably for a nap.
I stood back and scanned the displayed weapons: daggers on the left, then swords, shields, two-handers, spears on the right.
High agility? Left side. High strength? Right.
I sneaked a peek at what others picked.
As expected, Kim Cheol-min went for the one-handed sword. No choice with a prosthetic—couldn’t use two-handers.
No shield either; he’d use the steel arm as one.
‘All-in on speed.’
Lee Joo-hyuk headed rightmost and grabbed a halberd with an axe head on the spear tip.
No shield for him either—not dodging like Kim Cheol-min, probably planning thick armor.
Jin-hyuk picked the safe axe and shield combo. He said he’d always favored sword-and-shield balance pre-awakening.
Now with more strength post-awakening, he switched to axe.
Most trainees chose sword-and-shield, or axe/mace-and-shield. Hard to give up that stability.
‘What about me?’
Even as others familiarized themselves, I couldn’t decide.
‘Style-wise, two-hander…… but swords are too hard.’
I knew rationally: sword mastery wasn’t easy. But my heart, my soul, demanded a sword.
‘No. Snap out of it, Cha In-hyeok! You’re an adult now! Can’t follow your heart forever! Need to get strong fast. Pick something easy to learn.’
My hand drifted to the middle: the spear.
‘Yeah. Hundred Days Spear, Thousand Days Halberd, Ten Thousand Days Sword.’
It meant spears take a hundred days to master, halberds a thousand, swords ten thousand. How tough swordsmanship is.
But I flipped it: spears are that much easier.
No time to leisurely master swords. Monsters could invade anytime.
Need strength fast. Pick what masters quickest.
‘Look close, spears are cool too. Yubi, Hoya, Cu Chulainn all used spears. Lu Bu’s Sky Piercer in Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a spear…… wait, halberd? Oh yeah, Zhao Yun too!’
After dozens of self-justifications, I grabbed the spear. A twinge of regret stung my eyes, but for now, practicality over flash, reason over passion.
‘Argh, fine! Survival first, sword arts later. A two-star could barge in right now. Better learn something quick. Other weapons later.’
As I thought this while learning basic spear from the TA, an urgent message blared.
[Danger! Danger! Intruder detected! Intruder grade overwhelms guards. Dungeon at risk! Return immediately, Master!]
‘……Why’d I jinx it like that…….’
Speak of the devil: a monster invaded. Two-star or higher. Dungeon’s in danger. Gotta go.
My eyes fell on the spear in my hand.
‘Can I take this?’
Everyone was busy learning moves. The spear TA was teaching stances, steps, thrusts to another trainee.
Now’s my chance to snag one.
I pretended to return it to the box while slipping it into my inventory. Plenty left; one missing wouldn’t show.
Then, clutching my stomach like my gut hurt, I headed out.
“Hey, where you going?”
The TA at the entrance asked. I put on my most desperate face.
“G-Gotta take a massive dump…….”
“……Hurry back.”
It’d been ages since I saw that look of utter disgust.
* * *
“Groooar!”
“Yeah. Goblins, then orcs. Knew it. Damn it!”
I gritted my teeth at the two-star monster before me: an orc.
Pig-like snout, lower tusks piercing its lips and jutting up long.
About 2.5m tall, black skin bristling with short, stiff pig hairs.
Plenty of fat, but ripped with muscle—like a muscle pig. A bipedal wild boar.
Two-star lived up to it: intimidation from sheer bulk was no joke.
‘At least armor’s light.’
No shield, just a rusty one-handed axe, clad in shabby green leather.
‘Gear edge to me.’
I pulled the spear from inventory and checked stats.
[Training Spear (E)]
[Attack 15. Durability 15. Weight 2.5]
Worlds better than goblin daggers. Even with orc’s tankiness, this could drop it.
‘Alright. Let’s do this!’