Chapter 16
Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Skill Unlock
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kim Min-jun challenged 'beom-mi-beom-mi-joa' to a PVP match and gifted him a merciless death.
"Ah. Hold on a sec."
It was only for a moment that he leaned back in his chair and sipped his drink.
A sudden question popped into his mind.
'Am I seriously going to regain my power by just slowly gathering magi like a normal person? When would that even happen?'
Of course, even without magi, his high stats would let him breeze through from sergeant to officer without issue.
But Kim Min-jun's goal was to pin on stars as quickly as possible.
The key word here was 'quickly.'
'With my current rank, my movements are too restricted. Even as a corporal or sergeant later, I won't have much freedom.'
That left sneaking around during leave as the only option.
"I need magi. So I should start by hunting down dungeons with magi. Let's search the internet for info first."
Kim Min-jun browsed various communities, scanning posts for a bit.
"What's this guy's deal?"
One post caught his eye.
[Title: Yo, this place is sketchy.]
[Found this while hiking. Doesn't it look exactly like a dungeon entrance? Hunters were standing guard with gas masks.
Nearly got in big trouble wandering in without knowing it was a restricted zone.
There was this pungent smell from the mountain, and I almost passed out if I'd stayed longer.
My head's still ringing.]
Anonymous 1: Are you insane? Why post this here?
Anonymous 2: You're gonna get nabbed. No joke. Delete it now.
"Looks like a dungeon for sure."
A single photo from the anonymous user.
It showed what resembled a mine entrance and soldiers on guard duty.
"Pungent smell... High chance it's magi."
And conveniently, it wasn't far away.
Snapped in a mountain in Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province—worth checking out.
"You idiot. You know you shouldn't post stuff like this carelessly."
From how quickly it got reported and deleted, they'd nab the guy soon enough.
Regular army might overlook it, but the Hunter Corps was hyper-sensitive to this stuff.
Worst case, he'd do time.
'Anyway, thanks. You just handed me a prime dungeon.'
Kim Min-jun headed straight for Hwacheon.
"Nice. Definitely magi."
As soon as he entered Hwacheon, a faint magi scent wafted over.
Ordinary people wouldn't notice a thing at this level.
"Leaving this unchecked is gonna be a problem."
Either way, magi leaking from a dungeon wasn't a good sign.
"Two hunters at the entrance."
Kim Min-jun arrived near the dungeon and crouched low.
"Jackpot."
He hadn't even entered, but the magi scent was thick.
No wonder the guards wore gas masks.
'Still just a private first class.'
Kim Min-jun cast Corruption on the two hunters.
Shooo...
"Ah, damn... My stomach's killing me all of a sudden."
"Sorry, sir! My stomach's acting up too."
"...You too?"
"Ugh! I'll hold it for a bit... Sorry, sir. No can do."
"Hey. Nobody's coming here anyway. Let's handle it quick. Ugh! Five minutes should do."
"Got it!"
The guards clutched their stomachs and dashed into the woods.
Kim Min-jun slipped into the dungeon during the gap.
[You have entered the dungeon.]
"Nice."
His lips curled up the moment he stepped inside.
This rich, dense magi.
Hit the jackpot.
"But why's it so thick? No monsters around."
No monster presence.
Just an empty dungeon brimming with magi.
"Absorb the magi first."
Kim Min-jun extended both arms forward.
Whiiiish!
The magi filling the dungeon rushed into his palms.
[You have absorbed a certain level of magi.]
[Magi stat increases by 1.]
[Magi stat increases by 1.]
[Magi stat increases by 1.]
Messages popped up nonstop.
How long had it been since he felt this refreshing rush.
[You have absorbed a certain level of magi, unlocking Night Walker.]
[Corruption skill has been enhanced.]
Amid the satisfaction, even a lost skill unlocked.
"Lucky break."
Mimicking a movie star's line, Kim Min-jun opened his status window.
[Kim Min-jun]
Founder of the 'Seria Noona is My Favorite Character' doctrine.
Strength: 60 Agility: 60 Vitality: 60 Magi: 15
Skills: Corruption (D), Night Walker (E)
"Nice. It popped up with exactly the skill I need, like clockwork."
The skill Kim Min-jun regained was Night Walker.
Perfect for his private first class status.
Night Walker was a shadow-form summon.
Once summoned, it needed magi feedings at regular intervals.
Not the best value, but it earned its keep.
An intel-gathering summon that slipped into a target's body and extracted info.
"Come out."
Shooo...
Kim Min-jun summoned Night Walker.
His shadow rippled, darkening intensely.
"Guess low magi stat's making it weak. Can only move at night now."
"No biggie. Solid haul anyway."
Shaking off brief regret, Kim Min-jun decided to deploy Night Walker back at base.
Like a master angler, he'd wait patiently for a bite.
"Before heading back, grab some senior-pleasers for the unit."
Kim Min-jun bought stuff to bring to base.
**
Thursday return.
Next day, more training scheduled, but Kim Min-jun felt like he could fly.
Stumbled on a magi-overflow dungeon by chance and reclaimed a bit of lost power.
One step closer to those stars.
'Wander around, spot high-rankers, test gently. No injuries. Smooth moves.'
Shooo...
At Min-jun's words, Night Walker slunk from the shadow into the ground.
Hook cast—now wait for the tug.
"Sir! Private First Class Kim Min-jun, returning from leave!"
"Whoa! The hunter who shortest-ever'd basic!"
"Even got leave from the division commander? Pinned your rank himself!"
"Yes, sir! Take these. Nothing special, but thought of you guys!"
Kim Min-jun handed out smokes to his seniors the moment he entered the barracks.
Even passed around Maxim, the essential gentleman's reading material.
"Man, why'd you buy so much? Cigs ain't cheap these days."
"Just grab one mag, not a stack."
They griped, but their eyes lit up.
Classic army life.
"No privates in our barracks now. You're forever the baby, even after promo."
"No worries."
Didn't matter.
After the promotion exam, he'd be corporal anyway.
"Congrats, Min-jun. Same rank as me now."
Private First Class Lee Dong-jin congratulated him, saying he'd hit corporal fast.
"Thanks."
"Oh, and tomorrow's main weapon training? Don't slack off post-leave. Sergeant Lee Seung-ho's on edge lately."
"Yes, sir!"
Probably over Pigeon... no, Corporal Kim Kwang-sik.
"But hey, baby. Saw the promo exam list passing the duty officer room. Your name's on it?"
"What? Don't you apply ahead? Privates can't even sign up."
"Special perk for top soldiers, baby?"
At the sergeant's words, seniors' eyes locked on Min-jun.
"Actually, the battalion commander at basic made me an offer."
Kim Min-jun spilled the truth to his seniors, no holds barred.
Their faces twisted in disbelief at his tale.
"Man, 'don't stand out too much in the army' hits different."
"Good's bad, bad's bad—middle's the play."
"Rough go, baby."
"Nah! All good!"
Really was.
The upcoming exam had him buzzing already.
'Ah, come quick, Saturday.'
**
Next day, parade ground front.
Main weapon training day.
Hunters' faces full of gripes.
"Ah... Life."
"Knew my leave app'd bounce. Damn."
Battalion commander's orders added promo exam prep training.
Barely done with shooting, now full day more—who wouldn't gripe.
"Alright, faces up! Battalion commander's special order, so train diligently! Got it?"
"Yes."
"Got it!"
"Promo exam tomorrow—train with tension!"
"Yes!"
Promo exam: written then practical.
Written was basic knowledge—easy pass.
Like a driver's license written test.
Practical? Difficulty spiked.
99% pass written, 3% practical.
Earning a single stripe? No joke.
'Right. Practical's main weapon, stats test, monster handling.'
Kim Min-jun listened closely to the instructor.
Passing was a given.
But perfect score might snag an extra stripe.
"Main weapon training starts now! Privates, no other weapons—grab swords!"
"Yes!"
"Got it!"
Sword was the most straightforward weapon.
Training got anyone decent proficiency; not hard to drill.
"Everything I teach is straight from the manual army swordsmanship. Blindly copying won't cut it. Base it on Hunter Corps swordplay, tweak to your style. Got it!"
"Yes! Got it!"
No need to kill monsters the same way.
Faster, surer kill mattered.
"Privates and PFCs—no greed. Just mimic my moves."
"Got it!"
Hunters spaced out wide, gripped main weapons, took stances.
Privates got wooden training swords.
"Privates, eyes on me only! No looking elsewhere!"
"Yes!"
Privates clumsily mimicked the instructor's swordplay.
"Stances 1 to 4 focus lower body power! But don't brute force!"
"Got it!"
"Wider gap front to back foot!"
"Yes!"
"You! Too wide! Narrow it!"
"Yes! Got it!"
To Kim Min-jun, basic swordplay.
Other privates struggled just with basics.
'Swordplay's definitely Isgard-style better.'
Hunter Corps stuff felt too rigid.
'Maybe start with army sword here.'
In his old world, he'd handled most grab-able weapons.
Not ideal for dark mage main, so briefly.
"1 to 4, ten reps. Execute!"
"Execute!"
Kim Min-jun flowed through the forms effortlessly.