Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Severe Punishment
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A completely rotten and putrid boss monster's massive corpse.
In contrast, the head was utterly intact, without a single scratch.
What on earth had happened?
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun! Any injuries? Medical officer! What are you waiting for—check him out!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
At Colonel Lee Pil-du’s bellow, the medical officer rushed over and checked his body from head to toe.
“…….”
Just like before, not a mark on him.
Not even a single scrape.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun shows… no signs of injury whatsoever.”
“He took on that ridiculous boss monster one-on-one, and you’re saying that makes sense?”
“W-Wow… Up close like this, that thing’s size is no joke.”
The officers alternated between staring at the golden gargoyle’s corpse and at him.
Their shocked expressions showed no sign of fading—they were clearly floored.
“How the hell did you do it? That whirlwind it kicked up earlier was already beyond what we could handle.”
Scratches and gashes covered the officers’ bodies here and there.
Likely from the whirlwind that had pinned down the squad members’ movements.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun used his mana sword to fight back at first, then switched to hand-to-hand once he gauged its stamina.”
“…What?”
“A mana sword can handle that thing?”
“Maybe its defense wasn’t as tough as it looked?”
“No, sir. From what I felt, it was at least five times tougher than a regular gargoyle. I was able to handle it more easily thanks to the second-generation mana sword the division commander issued me ahead of time.”
“…Hah. Even a second-gen one… That doesn’t seem like something you take solo.”
The officers swallowed dryly at Kim Min-jun’s firm response.
Even a plain gargoyle gave them hell, and this one had over five times the durability.
‘Hold on. You’re saying he beat that absurd thing in a straight one-on-one? Does that even make sense?’
‘Exactly. It flies, whips up windstorms, and who knows what other patterns it has.’
‘He’s got the strength to capture an ogre alive, so maybe that made it possible. Still, taking it down without a scratch? That’s insane.’
They stared at Kim Min-jun like he was a ghost.
‘Like I’m gonna tell them the truth.’
Even if he said, ‘I summoned a flying ghost-like bastard and killed it,’ they wouldn’t believe him.
“It has a habit of kidnapping the most threatening target back to its lair. I was the only one who got the message. Its attack patterns mainly involved its long arms and wings….”
Once the situation was sorted.
He reported on the monster and how he’d dealt with it, embellishing just enough.
Colonel Lee Pil-du stared gravely at the boss monster’s corpse, then nodded.
“No reason not to believe you. You handled it brilliantly and secured the sample to boot. That size—we can haul it out somehow.”
More than that, what came next worried him.
A new type of monster: the boss monster.
And this boss monster was ridiculously stronger than regular ones.
If word got out, Hunter HQ or the public—they’d be gripped by fear.
‘From Sergeant Kim Min-jun’s description… it’s way stronger than an irregular monster.’
Irregular monsters were existing ones mutated stronger by unknown means.
This boss monster was an entirely new breed.
New attack patterns and special abilities to boot.
‘If dungeons start spawning these….’
Colonel Lee Pil-du’s face darkened.
If boss monsters only appeared in double dungeons, they could manage.
The next double dungeon wouldn’t spawn for at least two years, no matter how fast.
But if they showed up in regular dungeons, casualties would skyrocket.
Considering the Hunter Army’s specs.
‘To counter those things, we’ll have to push the soldiers’ mana sword adaptation training to the limit.’
But first, they needed to get out.
The Hunters scouted the dungeon one more time, recovered what samples they could, and exited.
**
“Hey. Did you guys know Sergeant Kim Min-jun went to raid a double dungeon?”
“What?”
“Double dungeon?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
At the same time.
Sergeant Kim Kwang-sik burst into the squad barracks.
He looked like he’d heard some bombshell news.
“Double dungeon raid? That’s officers-only, right? And not just any—they cherry-pick the experienced, skilled ones.”
“Yeah. Even for Sergeant Kim Min-jun, how could he…?”
“Our platoon leader didn’t say a word. I heard he just went out on some support mission.”
No one could quite believe it.
What kind of place was a double dungeon?
Not your standard dungeon soldiers clear—it was where special variants popped up.
Clear difficulty was sky-high as a result.
“Last double dungeon raid, three captains got seriously hurt and spent six months in the hospital. One was in ICU.”
“Who could’ve predicted a freak like that would show up?”
No prior scouting possible, so predicting monsters was impossible.
That’s why they hand-picked top officers.
“So anyway, they say the 110th Division’s battalion commander joined this raid. Just cleared it, from what I heard? I definitely overheard our platoon leader on the phone. Sergeant Kim Min-jun said something like, ‘You took it down solo?’”
“Yeah, right. You must’ve misheard.”
At that, one Hunter tapped his wristwatch like it proved the point.
“Double dungeon raid? It’s been less than five hours since it started. The last one took three days.”
“Pfft. Kim Kwang-sik, you screwed up. No double dungeon’s ever been cleared that fast.”
The squad mates, exhausted from mana sword drills, told him to cut it out.
Kim Kwang-sik pounded his chest, indignant.
“Have I ever been wrong? Wanna bet? Huh? I’ll stake three months’ pay that what I said is true.”
“This guy’s at it again.”
“Get lost.”
“Cowards, scram.”
“What? Cowards?”
“Let’s do it then?”
The Hunters, nerves frayed from intense training, took the bait from Sergeant Kim Kwang-sik’s cheap provocation.
‘…I think it’s true, though.’
The squad mates yelled and wagered money fiercely.
Sergeant Lee Dong-jin shook his head at them.
‘Look at Sergeant Kim Min-jun’s track record so far.’
Stuff no average Hunter could pull off.
**
Right after clearing the double dungeon, Kim Min-jun and the officers headed to Hunter HQ.
HQ freaked out at the report of a new boss monster and secured samples—sent vehicles immediately, told them to hold tight.
The officers were zonked out now.
Fresh off the ordeal, exhaustion was plain on their faces.
‘Makes sense. Held out over forty minutes against that golden gargoyle’s whirlwind.’
Any other Hunters would’ve been wrecked.
That’s how brutal it was.
‘This guy’s scared shitless of what’s coming—can’t even sleep?’
A glance showed the medical officer slumped in a corner, shoulders drooped.
Double dungeon meant extra-detailed reports.
Once HQ heard what he’d done, severe punishment was guaranteed.
‘If not for me, they’d all be wiped.’
He’d seen firsthand how terrifying double dungeon traps were.
Why they stressed caution on caution.
Though to him, it was just EXP fodder.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun. Pulling off something like that and still full of energy. Insane stamina.”
While idly taking in the scenery.
Colonel Lee Pil-du approached.
‘Colonel through and through. Doesn’t look beat.’
Pushing past forty, yet matching the twenty-somethings’ endurance.
Quick judgment and command in an unseen dungeon type.
Sizing up squad skills and adapting on the fly.
Truly the Mugunghwa badge—not for just anyone.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun. You backed me up even before the boss fight.”
“Backed you up? You handled it solo.”
Colonel Lee Pil-du grinned, chatting amiably.
Maze dungeon, boss monster encounter.
Secured samples, and every squad member back safe.
All thanks to Kim Min-jun.
‘Gotta send the division commander some top-shelf booze. Owe him big.’
Unbelievable skill for a sergeant.
Should be an officer already—why stuck there? Baffling.
‘Must be some higher-up drama. Not my business.’
Time passed, and they reached Hunter HQ.
Hunters checked uniforms meticulously, stood ramrod straight like green privates.
…For good reason.
‘Whoa. Stars just walking around.’
Generals with stars weren’t few.
‘A one-star bowing to two-stars.’
Amusing sight, he mused—then they were at the briefing room.
Knock knock.
“Sir! Yes, sir!”
Colonel Lee Pil-du entered and snapped a thunderous salute.
“Colonel Lee Pil-du and eight Hunters have successfully cleared the double dungeon and report for debrief!”
“Y-Yeah. Good timing. Been waiting.”
Only the 104th Division commander, Major General Doo Seok-yong, sat in the room.
“Supposed to be a three-star lieutenant general hearing this, but he dumped it on me to go golfing. Screen golf’s all the rage now.”
The division commander laughed heartily, eyeing the Hunters.
Cleared that hellhole with minimal injuries—pure joy.
“Hey. You there.”
The mood didn’t last.
His gaze locked on one spot.
“Captain! Ma! Seok! Du!”
“Medical officer. I heard the full report from the dungeon. Is Colonel Lee Pil-du’s account true?”
“T-That’s….”
“Yes or no. No stalling.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
The medical officer’s firm reply cut the division commander short.
Then he stared silently at his face.
“…….”
Captain Ma Seok-du felt like he was dying.
Not a one-star—a two-star division commander.
The 104th’s boss, Kim Min-jun’s direct superior.
Looked seriously pissed.
‘Ugh….’
Like a convict awaiting the death sentence.
A minute dragged like an hour, then the division commander spoke.
‘Whoa. He’s getting hammered.’
The medical officer faced unprecedented severe punishment.
Kim Min-jun smirked freely at his shocked face.
‘Should’ve known your place.’