Chapter 74
Chapter 74
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: 15. Tenth Trial (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The 2nd Company Commander twisted his face in displeasure.
Kim Chun-sik's words.
They had crossed the line.
There hadn't been a single mention of receiving volunteers for this mission, yet Kim Chun-sik had boldly committed the blunder of approaching his commanding officer first as a mere private. In the military, which operated under a strict hierarchy, such a thing was utterly impossible. No matter how favorably he viewed Kim Chun-sik, he couldn't make exceptions.
"Do you even realize what mistake you've just made?"
"......I do, sir."
"The military runs on a rigid system. We've received orders from above, assigning 1st Company to reconnaissance while 2nd and 3rd Companies prepare for an outbreak. Do you seriously think we can just pull one soldier out and attach him to 1st Company? Corporal Kim Chun-sik!"
"Corporal Kim Chun-sik reporting!"
"This is way over the line. Even if you earned merits last time, doesn't a man know enough to hold his shit and piss?"
Kim Chun-sik shut his mouth.
He knew.
He wasn't so naive as to not understand how the military worked.
But even so, he had to come.
From the moment he confirmed the name Kang San, he had no other choice.
"Return to your company immediately...... you little shit!"
Thud.
He suddenly dropped to his knees.
As the 2nd Company Commander's eyes widened in shock, Kim Chun-sik bowed his head and pleaded desperately.
"I know I've committed a grave error against my duties as a soldier. But before being a soldier, aren't we human first? Among the Rangers in that dangerous situation right now is the man who saved my life. If not for him, neither I nor my grandmother would be alive today. How can I just sit and wait when he's in danger? I'm not asking you to make the impossible possible. If there's even the slightest room to accept a volunteer, I beg you—please send me to the operation zone."
It was heartfelt.
Listening to the raw desperation in his voice, the 2nd Company Commander wore a conflicted expression.
After the last incident.
He vaguely recalled hearing Kim Chun-sik's story.
The reason Kim Chun-sik could embrace sacrifice stemmed from a profound act of kindness that had aided him.
"......You're a real pain in the ass."
He chewed his lip.
For a soldier, living long and steady was the way to go.
Kim Chun-sik was an uncontrollable variable as a subordinate, but he couldn't ignore a sentiment born of pure goodwill.
Because he, too.
Was human.
After agonizing for a long while, the 2nd Company Commander spoke.
"Wait here. I'll find a way."
The 2nd Company troops were assembled.
The 2nd Company Commander addressed the soldiers looking up at him.
"......This is the situation. As you all know, this is a personal matter. Naturally, entering the gate is far more dangerous than preparing for an outbreak outside. If we push ahead anyway, we have only one option: dispatch a portion of our forces to 1st Company in an official capacity. But sending just Corporal Kim Chun-sik alone won't meet the criteria."
It was the best compromise.
Sending Kim Chun-sik by himself would raise issues, but dispatching a group made it look legitimate on the surface.
Therefore.
"I'm warning you in advance. Volunteers for this will face extreme danger. With that in mind, anyone willing to join Corporal Kim Chun-sik in 1st Company for reconnaissance—raise your hand now."
He left it to their choice.
Forcing sacrifice on them was out of the question.
If no one volunteered, even Kim Chun-sik would have to back down. He wasn't cruel enough to drag his comrades into harm's way. He was just blindly driven by gratitude toward his benefactor, not the type to hug his fellows and charge into hell.
That was when it happened.
"I'll go, sir."
Among the lined-up troops.
One soldier abruptly raised his hand.
It was Park Corporal.
The man who had been in the same buddy team as Kim Chun-sik volunteered for this absurd mission.
The flustered Kim Chun-sik spoke up.
"Company Commander, sir. I think I misjudged. Please disregard this......"
"No. Now that a volunteer has stepped forward, this can't be withdrawn. That's two. If eight more come forward, I'll approve the dispatch."
For this matter.
Kim Chun-sik hadn't wanted anyone else's sacrifice.
He could only be bold because it was his own life at stake. No matter how much he signaled Park Corporal to back out, the man just grinned without budging. And he was the spark. Ever since the buddy team incident, soldiers led by Park Corporal had stuck by Kim Chun-sik, and now they began raising their hands one by one.
"I'll go too."
"Count me in."
Soon, ten were accounted for.
No turning back once committed.
With the troops' resolve so firm, the 2nd Company Commander had no intention of dampening their morale.
"Kim Chun-sik and nine others. As of now, you are dispatched to 1st Company for reconnaissance duties."
In the military, orders were absolute.
The dispatch was confirmed per the 2nd Company Commander's order, and en route to 1st Company, Kim Chun-sik scolded them reproachfully.
"What the hell were you thinking? Like the Company Commander said, this mission is dangerous. If even the Rangers are in peril, guys like us could die any second. Can you even handle a single werewolf? You can't!"
"So what?"
"What?"
"It's the same for you, hyung. And you're still going. We're just the thread following the needle."
Park Corporal chuckled. Though same rank due to his field promotion, they'd since started calling each other brothers.
Even facing Kim Chun-sik's anger, none of the accompanying soldiers wavered.
"We know plenty. How dangerous this mission is. But from what we heard, the guy you see as your benefactor is in there. You're ready to throw your life for him—how could we turn a blind eye? You don't get to tell us it's too risky. When I ditched formation to save my family, you followed me. Now I'm just following you, same as then."
"You little......!"
"He's right, hyung. We're not kids; we know the risks when we volunteered. And honestly, I'd like to meet this Kang San guy myself. What kind of man risks his life for strangers? Just being in the Rangers means he's no ordinary guy."
"Yeah, he sounds impressive. But he's an F-Rank Arrow Sponge—how'd he even join the Rangers?"
"Chun-sik hyung says he's the real deal. Must have something special."
The soldiers chattered noisily.
Seeing their nonchalant—almost deliberately calm—demeanor devoid of tension, Kim Chun-sik was at a loss for words.
He didn't know.
How to react.
To this situation.
After a long silence, Kim Chun-sik spoke, suppressing his emotions.
"......Thank you. Truly."
Just then, 1st Company came into view.
No turning back now.
All Kim Chun-sik could do was pray fervently in his heart that this choice would end as a heartwarming memory.
Ten minutes.
The minimum time needed for base camp to detect a problem via routine communication.
In everyday life, it was a blink.
But shortly after Kim Myung-min announced it, those ten minutes stretched into an eternity as crisis struck.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Grrrrrr.
From the darkness beyond.
Gleaming eyes pierced the gloom.
A pack of werewolves.
They'd tracked the scent of blood and pounced relentlessly, giving the Rangers no time to recover before overwhelming them.
"Hold the line—!"
"Guardian Shield."
Kang Ki-dong led the front.
Sub-tanker Kang Ki-dong and Kang San held the vanguard, with Kim Myung-min right behind supporting as they fended off the horde. From the start, fierce clashes erupted. Kang Ki-dong, activating Guardian Shield, withstood attacks from all sides, but his armor tore, blood sprayed, and unbearable pressure mounted.
But.
'I have to hold.'
He gritted his teeth.
Until the rescue arrived.
Or at least until Juseok-hun regained consciousness.
They needed time.
As Kang Ki-dong desperately held firm, Yoon Ji-tae completed his prepped spellcasting.
"Thunder Cannon."
Bzzzzzt.
Kaboom!
A massive bolt of electricity swept through the werewolves.
Even C-Rank monsters couldn't withstand a 5th-circle spell. In one cast, the B-Rank mage proved his high acclaim. Werewolves dropped like flies. Sparks dancing on the ground made some hesitate in fear.
Then.
Awooooooo—!
A howl echoed from afar.
The werewolves' eyes glowed red as they trampled their kin's corpses and charged anew.
"Damn it."
Kim Myung-min savagely cleaved an enemy.
There were far too many.
Over a dozen in sight alone, and knowing a lord lurked beyond filled him with dread. Could they hold? Routine comms hadn't even started; base camp was oblivious. By the time they noticed and mobilized rescue, it would be too late—they'd hit crisis too soon.
Kyaaak—!
He dodged an incoming strike.
Thrusting his sword into the foe's heart, Kim Myung-min bellowed.
"Hold somehow! Any more ground lost, and we're done! Wild Dance!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
Blood sprayed around Kim Myung-min.
He slashed the charging werewolf ahead, shredded the chest of another beyond it, then dove into a cluster for indiscriminate slaughter. Werewolves empowered by the full moon were no pushovers even for B-Ranks, yet Kim Myung-min dominated.
Berserker Kim Myung-min.
Unlike his neat appearance, the warrior dubbed Mad Wave proved his fame.
Right now, his prowess was essential.
One more.
Even just one more.
He had to take them down.
Only by lightening his teammates' burden could they boost survival odds in this hopeless mess.
Beep.
Bleep.
The signal sounded.
Routine comms time.
They'd endured ten minutes.
Now began the true golden hour, rescue ETA unknown.
But then.
"Gaaah—!"
A bloodcurdling scream.
The lord had breached the fray.
The monster's strike sent Kang Ki-dong crumpling in a spray of blood.
Now just ten minutes in.
With at least forty needed total, this was far too soon.
Watching Kang Ki-dong collapse, Kim Myung-min instinctively knew they couldn't last thirty more.
It was over.
They wouldn't hold.
Just thrashing in vain, no return alive.
Crunch.
His mind shifted.
If death was inevitable, better burn his body to slaughter one more monster.
That instant.
"Hold your positions!"
A voice rang out.
It was Kang San.
Kang San blocked a werewolf lunging past Kang Ki-dong, roaring in fury.
Kang San knew too.
How dire it was.
His heart pounded wildly, yet his eyes remained eerily calm.
"Don't break formation. Especially now, no emotional reactions."
No main tanker.
No sub-tanker.
No teeth? Use gums.
Kang San gripped his shield tighter.
"I'll hold. So don't give up until the end."
He steadied his breath.
Why?
Suddenly, his heart's frantic beating subsided.