Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Line
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“What the hell is that?”
“That looks like a troll corpse... but what kind of size is that....”
A hunter approaching with a monster corpse hoisted over his head.
It was none other than Sergeant Kim Min-jun.
Three times larger than a typical troll, with an unusual skin color.
The overwhelming sight left the hunters staring blankly for a while.
“What are you all standing around for? Get moving!”
“S-sorry, sir!”
At Major General Goo Seok-yong’s sharp command, the hunters rushed over to secure the area.
“Sir! The gate inside the dungeon has been cleared! However, since this is a respawn dungeon, ten Iron Golems will appear in four minutes!”
Kim Min-jun set down the troll corpse and casually saluted.
Only then did the division commanders relax and issue the withdrawal order.
**
“Jeez. Most officers would’ve passed out after being trapped for over three days....”
Outside the dungeon.
The medical officer checking Kim Min-jun’s vitals let out an incredulous laugh.
His condition was perfectly normal.
He’d taken on an irregular monster from the gate all by himself, with only minor scratches to show for it.
“I’m pretty confident in my stamina.”
“This goes beyond just having good stamina.... You sure you don’t want a full checkup?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
After a perfunctory once-over, he stood up.
All around, soldiers and officers alike were moving briskly.
The transport unit hauling monster corpses, the investigation team checking the dungeon for anomalies.
The battalion commander receiving a radio call with a serious expression.
He’d heard the division commander had been there, but he was gone now.
The area around the respawn dungeon was pure chaos.
‘The officers were told not to think and just rest, but no need for that here.’
Kim Min-jun headed toward the battalion commander to give his report.
They’d want to hear what happened in the gate dungeon as soon as possible, even the smallest details.
Might as well rack up some points now.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun! What are you doing? Rest!”
“Just lie on the stretcher already.”
As expected.
The officers begged him to lie down the moment they saw him.
He assured them he was fine and saluted the battalion commander.
“Sir!”
“Yeah. Sergeant Kim Min-jun. How’s the body holding up? You sure you don’t need rest?”
“Yes, sir! I’m perfectly fine! More importantly, we should report on the dungeon right away!”
“Jeez... after being stuck in there that long. Your stamina is downright miraculous.”
Even as he said it, he clearly couldn’t wait for the report.
Those sparkling eyes gave it away.
“The monsters from the gate appeared on the third day.”
So he gave a detailed report on the dungeon.
Private First Class Son Eun-seo had been exhausted from training, so he’d handled the Iron Golems alone.
The troll from the gate had super-regeneration abilities.
In other words, it was a unique irregular monster with special powers.
There’d been a system message saying it would die on its own after 48 hours, but he’d judged surviving that long impossible and taken it on solo.
With a bit of embellishment, he wrapped up an excellent report.
“Phew... I figured as much, but it was even worse. Good work.”
The battalion commander, who’d listened silently, let out a deep sigh.
What he’d just heard would be tough even for battalion-level firepower.
‘It’s not a lie. Private First Class Son Eun-seo was there too.’
Sergeant Kim Min-jun wasn’t the type to lie.
If another soldier had given that report, he’d have cursed them out on the spot.
One hunter holding off periodically spawning Iron Golems for three days, while also killing an irregular monster?
A troll with super-regeneration, no less?
Normally—no, period.
Impossible.
‘Taking down that off-spec monster alone... incredible.’
Even he, about to make colonel, would struggle with a plain troll solo.
Not even an irregular—just a regular troll.
That’s how threatening trolls were.
‘Jeez. If promotions were purely merit-based, Sergeant Kim Min-jun would’ve been wearing the Order of Military Merit by now.’
A hollow laugh escaped him at the absurdity.
Was that even humanly possible?
“That’s enough for the report. Head back to the barracks and rest. Do nothing tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir! Thank you!”
“No need to thank me. You did great under tough circumstances.”
Instead of replying, Kim Min-jun turned and glanced at Son Eun-seo.
Shoulders slumped, chugging potions—she looked utterly drained.
‘Tough? She had it way worse.’
He quietly flashed her a thumbs-up.
**
The next day.
The unit was in an uproar.
“Whoa. Sergeant Kim Min-jun and Private First Class Son Eun-seo survived three days in a respawn dungeon? Cleared the gate too?”
“Dude, the monster from the gate was a troll—an irregular one. They say if you cut off an arm, it grows back in under a second.”
“Insane. What kind of psycho monster is that? Regular trolls are already a nightmare to kill with their regen.”
“How the hell did they take it down?”
“They just hacked at it thousands of times until it stopped regenerating....”
“...That works?”
It had been three days since Kim Min-jun and Son Eun-seo got trapped.
They emerged unscathed, gate cleared.
And it wasn’t just any dungeon—a respawn one, with endless monster spawns.
A gate in one was already rotten luck, but in a respawn? Beyond belief.
Higher odds of winning second prize in the lottery.
“Whoa... used a mana blade for three days straight and still fine? Second-gen model too? Those guzzle stamina like crazy.”
“What’s their body even made of?”
“Eun-seo was too stamina-drained to fight much. That’s normal.”
“So Sergeant Kim Min-jun handled everything from start to finish?”
The soldiers finally relaxed.
The past three days, the officers’ moods had been murderous—hell for the troops.
Couldn’t even hit the rec room or PX without watching their backs.
If anyone got seriously hurt or died...
The unit would’ve flipped.
“Oh man, so many questions for Sergeant Kim Min-jun, and he’s out right when we want him.”
“Probably for debriefing.”
“Tch. Second-rank promotion’s already locked, but can’t we squeeze in a Diamond commendation?”
“What he pulled off deserves the Order of Military Merit, but hunter army regs cap it at two ranks.”
“Feels like such a waste.”
While the troops gossiped about the dungeon incident.
Kim Min-jun was chatting with the battalion commander.
“Hahaha!”
Battalion commander’s office.
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom leaned back on the sofa, laughing heartily.
A potential disaster with heavy casualties averted without a scratch.
Even slew that terrifying irregular troll with just a mana blade.
Thanks to that feat, Hunter Command sent word they’d prioritize support for the 104th Division.
Unusually direct wording.
All thanks to one man: Sergeant Kim Min-jun.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun. I can’t thank you enough. Truly grateful.”
“No, sir. Just did what needed doing.”
“I guarantee you, what you faced would take a three-star general. That’s the level of accomplishment.”
“Thank you, sir.”
After laughing a while, the battalion commander cleared his throat and turned serious.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun. You said you wanted a star, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Damn right—a hunter like you deserves it. But with the right backing, it’d come even faster.”
So that’s what he meant—offering to be his patron.
‘Isn’t it usually the other way around?’
A soon-to-be colonel grabbing a sergeant’s line.
Most would think what’s a lieutenant colonel lack that he needs a sergeant’s backing? But the commander’s eye was spot-on.
‘I’m no ordinary hunter. Even others would see that.’
They say play it safe in the army for smooth sailing.
He’d lived that way, wondering when he’d get his star—turns out this was the answer.
He’d make second lieutenant soon enough.
But a battalion commander straight-up approaching a lowly sergeant?
‘Plus, I brought Son Eun-seo out unscathed, so the 107th Division commander—her dad—will look favorably too.’
No backers up the chain? No problem.
Just prove it with results, like now.
Having allies didn’t hurt, though.
Far from it—pure upside.
“So, if I stay here and serve, that works?”
No need to think twice.
Plenty to gain from this unit.
Affection for the troops too.
No reason to transfer lightly.
“Kuuh... straight shooter. I like it.”
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom offered a handshake.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun! Looking forward to working with you!”
No way he’d refuse.
And so, Invincible Hunter Unit 2nd Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom became his full ally.
**
“Whew. Been dragged around everywhere—total chaos.”
Kim Min-jun finally made it to the training room that night.
Held up writing reports all day.
“Gonna gain a lot from this.”
The battalion commander’s direct offer alone said it.
Just now, Son Eun-seo’s father—the 107th Division commander—called personally to say thanks.
‘Who do you think I am? Of course I racked up points.’
She was his junior and friend from the same unit.
He’d have saved her life or death, no reward expected—a model answer.
Her dad’s personality meant he’d hunt down items to repay him somehow.
“Hmm. Lately, feels like stronger ones are showing up.”
The dual dungeon boss from before.
Then, not long after, a gate in the respawn dungeon spawning a super-regen troll.
Both too much for typical hunters.
“Especially that troll—my skills barely worked.”
Back-to-back like this in short order.
No wonder Gangwon Cheorwon’s a notorious no-go zone.
“But handled ’em clean. Good enough.”
He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the item.
A strong monster like that—what epic reward?
“...What the hell is this?”
Confirming the item, Kim Min-jun rubbed his eyes without thinking.