Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Iron Rocks
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‘Pass the info to me. Quick.’
Shhh-
The Night Walker sent the information it had obtained from the officer straight into his mind.
Since its skill rank was low, only fragmented memories were transmitted, but that was more than enough.
‘A dungeon near Yanggu. Suspected to have an irregular monster. Scheduled for raid in seven days.’
If it was an irregular monster, there was a high chance it carried magi.
‘The dungeon raid will be handled by another company… Yeah, that’s plenty.’
Kim Minjun decided to apply for leave right after finishing his work.
“Have you all geared up with your protective equipment?”
“Yes, sir!”
In front of the barracks.
The platoon members were lined up, wearing their protective gear.
Today’s task was fortification construction and repairs.
“Pay attention to safety. Dropping special materials by mistake hurts like hell.”
“Understood!”
“Yes, sir!”
At Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin’s orders, the hunters began climbing the mountain behind the base.
“How many of these damn iron rocks are there? Think we can finish by tonight?”
“No way in one day. We’ll need two days of busting our asses.”
“Why do these shitty monsters only screw with the front lines?”
“This is still better off. Heard the trench area got totally wrecked.”
The seniors grumbled in disgust at the mountain of iron rocks piled up.
The Invincible Hunter Unit had to do fortification work more often than other units.
Gates popped up whenever they got bored, dungeons spawned, and monsters jumped out.
“Sir! Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin here! Yes, sir! I’ll head there right now! You all keep working. No slacking just because I’m gone. Look after the rookies’ safety. Got it?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Understood!”
The platoon leader, who had been overseeing the hunters’ work, stepped away briefly due to an urgent matter.
The corporals, who had been sneaking glances until then, saw their chance and plopped their asses on the ground.
“We’re not finishing this today anyway. Let’s take a breather.”
“If we finish quick, they’ll 100% send us to the trenches.”
Naturally, the break was only for the corporals.
The rookies kept hauling iron rocks like mad.
“Minjun, you’re a corporal now too. Take it easy.”
“I’m good.”
While the rookies carried one iron rock each, Kim Minjun shouldered three or four at a time.
Overwhelming work efficiency.
“Damn. He’s carrying that many and doesn’t even break a sweat.”
“Even stacks them better than us third-years. Guy was born for this.”
The seniors watched him with satisfied smiles.
“…But seeing him work that hard kinda makes my conscience hurt.”
“Same here.”
This went on for a bit.
Feeling a pang of guilt watching Kim Minjun hustle, the corporals started hauling iron rocks too.
“Arghhh!”
“Huh? Hey! You okay?”
Then.
A scream came from one spot.
Turning around, they saw a rookie collapsed, clutching his foot.
The other seniors rushed over to check on him.
“Ah, this idiot stubbed his foot. Hurts bad even with protective gear.”
“Gotta take him to the med bay?”
“Hey, you. Should’ve been more careful. We rushing you or what?”
“Ugh… No, sir. Sorry.”
“I’ll take him to the med bay.”
“Minjun. Why not just make one of the rookies do it?”
“No, sir. Better if I take him quick and come back.”
“Alright? We’ll cover for you with the platoon leader when he gets back.”
Kim Minjun supported the rookie and slowly descended the mountain.
“Corporal Kim Minjun, sir. Sorry.”
“For what? I’m getting a sweet deal thanks to you. But going down like this’ll take forever. Hold still.”
Kim Minjun hoisted the rookie onto his back.
“Corporal Kim Minjun! I can walk on my own!”
The rookie freaked out at the gesture and asked to be let down.
“Not heavy, so shut it. Or I’ll toss you to the med bay.”
“…Yes, sir.”
“Rest up the whole day. No need to worry about looks.”
“Yes… Thank you.”
After dropping the rookie at the med bay, Kim Minjun headed back up the mountain for work.
‘Huh? What’s that?’
When he arrived at the mountain, the platoon leader had returned and was chewing out the corporals.
“Did I tell you to ignore the rookies or not!”
“You did, sir!”
“Mess up and they get seriously hurt! Iron rocks are that dangerous! You know this, so why!”
“Sorry, sir!”
The privates held their breath, quietly hauling iron rocks.
‘Yeah. Guess I gotta join in too. Corporal and all.’
Just as he was about to.
“Kim Minjun.”
“Corporal Kim Minjun.”
“You’re exempt. Go stand over there by the tree.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin nodded toward a nearby tree.
“Do push-ups!”
Snap.
“Stand!”
Snap.
“Do push-ups!”
Snap.
At the fortification site, Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin was drilling the corporals like crazy.
“Huff… pant…”
“Drop and give me rest position.”
“Rest position!”
“Roll left! Faster!”
“Sorry, sir!”
An hour since he started chewing them out, and there was no sign of it ending.
“You slack off, and the rookies have to work ten times harder! That’s why one got hurt.”
“Sorry, sir!”
“Am I wrong?”
“No, sir!”
“Then roll faster! He didn’t get badly hurt, so you think this is all it is!”
“Yes, sir!”
The rookie hadn’t been seriously hurt, but that was pure luck.
If that 100kg iron rock had hit anywhere else, it would’ve been a major injury.
‘That’s on them.’
Guess I’ll enjoy the show.
**
Thanks to Kim Minjun’s efforts, the fortification work wrapped up in three days.
Normally it would’ve taken five, but to him with his overflowing stamina, it was nothing.
‘There’s a reason I rushed to finish.’
The dungeon info the Night Walker had extracted from the officer.
Kim Minjun had already applied for leave to head there.
“Sir!”
“Hey, Minjun. On leave today?”
“Corporal Kim Minjun. Yes, sir.”
“That commendation leave from basic. Why not use it sooner?”
In the duty officer’s room, Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin greeted him with a grin.
“Watched you during the fortification work. You went way too hard. Not overdoing it?”
“Yes, sir. I’m fine.”
“Good. Keep it up. Have a good leave.”
“Yes, sir! I will! Sir!”
After finishing his leave report.
As he turned to leave the duty officer’s room, Kim Cheolmin stopped him.
“Ah! Hold on, Minjun.”
“Corporal Kim Minjun.”
“Your address is still listed as controlled zone? Heading straight home on leave?”
“Not home, sir. Planning to spend it off-base.”
“Hmm… Yeah?”
Kim Cheolmin made a face like he’d expected that, then pondered briefly.
‘His family issues aren’t for me to meddle in. But letting it slide feels wrong…’
He wouldn’t go this far for any other hunter.
But if it was Kim Minjun, that changed things.
“Wonder if this is still around.”
Kim Cheolmin rummaged through a drawer like something had just occurred to him.
“Here it is. Bit far from base, but crash here if you want.”
He pulled out a key and handed it to Kim Minjun.
“It’s the apartment your dad used to stay in. Empty now. Too rundown to sell, so it’s been sitting. Still maintained, so inside’s clean.”
“I’m good, sir.”
“Good my ass. Planning to crash at a PC bang or sauna? Motels around here rip you off hard, you know?”
Truth was, he only needed an hour’s sleep, so PC bang was the plan.
“See? Take it and no more lip. Or I’ll cancel your leave.”
“Then I’ll take it.”
Felt like he wouldn’t let him leave without it, so he did.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll keep it spotless.”
“Just don’t trash it.”
“Yes, sir! Off I go! Sir!”
“Yeah. Enjoy your leave.”
After finishing his leave report and stepping out of base, Kim Minjun immediately summoned the Night Walker into his shadow.
Shhh-
“Show me the info you gathered again.”
Shhh-
“What? When do I get more magi? I gave you some last time.”
The Night Walker whined that it was too little.
“You climbing on your master? Want a beating first, or just show me?”
Shhh….
Among black mages, Kim Minjun was the only one who could bully his summons like this.
In the black magic world, he was practically a king, so summons had no choice but to obey.
“Good. Make it clearer.”
Shhh-
“Yeah. That part. Stop there.”
Confirming the dungeon’s approximate location, Kim Minjun headed out right away.
**
“Man. Portals would be clutch right now.”
After switching buses and taxis several times.
Using the info from the Night Walker, Kim Minjun wandered until he found the dungeon.
“Hey. Why’re you so weak? Used to be a quick warp before.”
Shhh-
The Night Walker replied it was because its master’s magi stat was low.
“Oh? Talking back now? That why you did good?”
Shhh….
The Night Walker protested its innocence.
“Ooh. Nice. We found it, so you’re off the hook.”
After climbing the rugged mountain path for a bit.
The dungeon entrance appeared before his eyes.
‘Huh? What the. That weakling’s packing that much magi?’
Sensing the monster inside, a smile crept across his face.