Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Off to Second Lieutenant - 1
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[Darkness Harboring the Abyss]
Fixes into the weapon form most suitable for the user.
Using the darkness contained within the weapon, it can bind enemies for a set period of time.
The consumed darkness requires a great deal of time to recharge.
It harbors immense power. Unless handled with care, it will harm the user.
“Wow. What the hell is this?”
Even Hunter Headquarters hadn’t officially acquired this item.
“Darkness Harboring the Abyss, huh…”
What a name for an item.
They wouldn’t slap a childish name like that on even a game item.
“Guess I’ll find out once I use it.”
He placed the item gently on his palm.
It looked like wriggling black jelly.
“Oh.”
After about three minutes.
The item squirmed to life and wrapped around his arm.
As if it meant to devour it.
“Don’t get cheeky. You dare bite my arm?”
He flicked the insolent jelly crawling up his limb.
Just hard enough not to break it.
“Obey me nicely, or take a beating until you shatter?”
Wriggle, wriggle.
As if it understood, the thing morphed into a whip.
[Darkness Harboring the Abyss feels fear toward the user.]
[Darkness Harboring the Abyss binds itself to the user.]
[The weapon’s form is fixed as a whip.]
“That’s more like it. Should’ve listened from the start.”
He checked the system messages and swung the whip this way and that.
“Oh…”
It clung perfectly to his hand, like a weapon made just for him.
The best-fitting whip he’d ever held.
And it could even adjust its length.
“Damn. You can do this too? Impressive.”
A length-adjustable whip.
He’d never seen one even in that other world.
“Hey. Can you transform exactly like this? See the Hunter Corps certification mark? Copy it perfectly.”
He pulled out his old whip and showed it the emblem.
Dungeon drops fundamentally belonged to the Hunter Corps.
Even if not, anything for unit use required inspection and a certification mark.
It was a hassle either way.
This was the best way to use it openly.
“Perfect match. Nice.”
Grinning in satisfaction, he tucked the whip away.
The base functions were already top-notch, and it came with special abilities to boot.
By Hunter Corps grading standards, what rank would Darkness Harboring the Abyss get?
At least B-grade.
Maybe even A if lucky.
“Only real combat will tell.”
When was the next dungeon raid?
His hands were itching. Should he request leave and head in right now?
He was lost in such pleasant thoughts when his smartphone rang.
It was Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min.
“Loyalty! Master Sergeant Kim Min-jun reporting!”
-Min-jun! You feeling okay?
“Yes, sir. Fit enough to raid a dungeon tomorrow.”
-Doesn’t sound like a joke coming from you. Anyway, you know your second lieutenant promotion’s locked in, right?
He’d thought it was something else, but no—it was a heads-up to prepare for training starting tomorrow.
-Training’s six weeks, promotion exam included. You’ve already passed the exam, but the brass wants you there formally.
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the heads-up. I’ll prepare right away.”
-Good. Treat it like a vacation. You know connections matter for climbing the ranks? Don’t pretend you don’t know me once you’re a captain.
“You’ve looked out for me since I was a private. No chance of that.”
He was tempted to tease about the battalion commander who’d recently asked to pull strings, but he held back.
The call ended, and Kim Min-jun headed straight for the barracks.
The day he’d pin on diamonds was almost here.
**
The next day.
Kim Min-jun headed to Hunter Headquarters alongside a bunch of sergeants.
Most of the sergeants were fidgeting with tension.
Turned out today was the NCO promotion exam for enlisted soldiers.
His own promotion to second lieutenant was already set, but they had no such guarantee.
Pass or fail would decide whether they extended for long-term service or mustered out as sergeants.
‘Fair enough. The gap between enlisted and NCO is no joke.’
The Hunter Corps offered great benefits since it was a job where you put your life on the line.
Regular army wasn’t bad, of course.
But NCO treatment was leagues better.
He’d felt it firsthand after making master sergeant.
‘Hunter pensions too. Big difference between enlisted and NCO payouts.’
Time wore on.
The escorting NCOs led the sergeants inside headquarters, then departed.
“Hey. Why so tense?”
He gave Sergeant Lee Seung-ho’s shoulder a tap.
The guy was rigid as a board. Clearly on edge.
“Sergeant Lee Seung-ho here. I’m perfectly fine.”
“Fine, my ass. Your hands are shaking.”
“It’s my essential tremor.”
“Bullshit. We’ve shared barracks for months.”
He circled behind and kneaded the guy’s shoulders and neck.
A gesture to loosen him up.
“Just do what you always do, and you’ll pass. I’ve kept an eye on my squad.”
“Promotion exams still have under a 10% pass rate.”
“Why so defeatist? Even if you flunk, I’ll get you through the next one for sure. Train you with Hand—he got stuck in a dungeon with me, so his exam’s next year. We’ll do it as a set.”
“…Come again?”
“Oh, that’s my line over there. Later.”
Kim Min-jun strolled off with a casual wave.
Watching his back, Lee Seung-ho vowed to pass the exam even if it killed him.
Failing this one meant hell until next year.
[2020 Hunter Promotion Exam]
Flashing letters on a massive monitor.
Hunter Corps central hub—turn any direction, and towering buildings stretched out.
‘Man. When I get stars, will I work in a place like this?’
The Invincible Hunter Unit in rural Cheorwon felt like the sticks.
Hunter Headquarters? Pure Gangnam vibes.
Last time he’d come via the dimensional gate, everything had been too rushed for sightseeing.
From here on, exam-takers would test here, and passers would train separately on-site.
‘Wonder what the promotion exam’s like.’
His was confirmed, but curiosity tugged.
How strong were the academy cadets?
How tough were the NCO exam-takers?
Pure curiosity like that.
‘If I’m gonna enjoy it, might as well go all in.’
He smirked and glanced around.
Every other NCO outranked him.
Two-rank jumps weren’t common.
Totally normal scene, really.
‘Those must be the cadets.’
Fourth-years taking the exam, having completed the Hunter Academy curriculum.
Only they qualified.
‘They’re nervous too, huh.’
Soldiers, NCOs, cadets—everyone wore the same strained expression.
Academy cadets got one retest privilege.
Unique to them.
But fail twice, and they redid fourth year.
For cadets, this exam was basically the college entrance test.
“Whew… Flunk this, and I’m done for…”
“Same. Second try for me… even more nerve-wracking. Fail, and it’s a full year of retraining…”
Everyone eased their nerves and filed into the exam hall per the officer’s orders.
“We’re starting the officer promotion exam now. Anyone with health issues, step forward immediately!”
The officer laid out warnings, absolving responsibility for any accidents ahead.
Unlike other exams, the officer promotion test ran five days and four nights.
An exam, not training.
Word was it was several times tougher than hunter mobility drills or winter training.
Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min had grumbled about it during drills.
“Exam-takers, don your provided gear now. You have five minutes.”
Moments later.
Examiners in red hats appeared in force.
The sharp ones rushed to equip.
The exam might as well have begun.
‘Oof. This is heavy.’
Kim Min-jun suited up, surprise crossing his face.
Regular troops wore power suits to amp up training.
Exam-takers? Power suits, plus boots and bands.
‘No wonder not just anyone makes officer.’
Felt like over 300kg easy.
What were they gonna make them do loaded like this?
“Follow the examiners into the dungeon now. No stopping until ‘end’ is called. Stop, and you’re disqualified.”
Explanation over, the examiners plunged into the dungeon.
[Dungeon entered.]
‘Stamina test first. Textbook stuff.’
Exam-takers bolted after the examiners.
Kim Min-jun scanned his surroundings and nodded.
‘Format’s similar to enlisted exams. Intensity’s a whole other world, though.’
He’d gone through something like this as a newbie for his first promotion.
Enlisted had clear benchmarks.
This? No clue how far to run.
No idea what orders inside.
Stoppage meant instant DQ, so everyone gritted teeth and trailed the examiners.
‘This’ll be fun.’
Of all the exam-takers, only Kim Min-jun followed with a grin.
**
Hah. Haah.
Rough breaths echoed through the empty dungeon.
Nearly an hour of nonstop running, no orders.
Strength that would’ve culled regular soldiers long ago.
“Hah… haah…”
“Haaah! Hek!”
“Exam-taker 99! Disqualified!”
First dropout after an hour.
Momentary pause, and the trailing examiner nailed it.
‘Insane…’
‘No mercy at all…’
They saw and clenched jaws harder.
“Exam-taker 10! Disqualified!”
“Exam-taker 21! Disqualified!”
“Exam-taker 32! Disqualified!”
Around two hours in.
Too much for most—dropouts piled up.
Victims? Mostly academy cadets.
Combat-seasoned NCOs held steady.
‘Experience counts for something.’
[Stamina stat increases by 1.]
Intensity enough to raise his stamina stat.
Right as he thought it was worthy of officer rank.
‘Oh… who’s that?’
One exam-taker stood out sharp.