Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Sergeant?
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34. Sergeant?
-After Kim Min-jun was transported to another dimension, the Saintess did come to see us first.
"Is that so? She didn't mess with you all?"
If she had, he planned to head back to Isgard and kill her.
Black Mages were fundamentally a despised class with poor performance to boot.
Other classes recovered their spent power with rest, but Black Mages had to acquire new demonic energy.
Black Mages consumed demonic energy when using skills, but unlike other classes, it didn't recover.
Even for him at his peak, that part was no exception.
'Even after I laid down the law like that, it was all just talk after all.'
Before returning to Earth, Kim Min-jun had demanded improvements in the treatment and perception of Black Mages.
The king had promised to keep his word.
-Ooh. Kim Min-jun. Even after coming to Earth, you've been worrying about us!
Ibong-gu checked his expression and burst into emotional tears.
"Caw!"
"Shut up. Tell me what happened after that."
-Ah, sorry. I got caught up in this guy's vibe without realizing it. The Saintess asked us believers to perform dimensional travel to bring you back, Kim Min-jun.
She'd made a clean show of giving up, but was scheming behind the scenes after all.
"Go on."
-Of course, dimensional travel isn't something just anyone can do. We told her our power was insufficient....
Ibong-gu trembled with his beak in rage.
-She threw Lady Seria's statue! How could someone called a Saintess commit such brutality!
"The big statue? Or the small one?"
-The small one.
"I see. She got lucky."
The big statue was the one the believers had carved with care, while the small one was the crude one he'd whipped up himself.
The quality of the big one was overwhelmingly better.
-Ah. The other believers are fine. Maybe scared of you, Kim Min-jun, she didn't touch them directly.
"Is that right? Anything else?"
-No. That's everything I know.
Kim Min-jun crossed his arms and sank into thought.
'The Saintess tried to bring me back....'
She knew better than anyone how difficult dimensional travel was.
'She was willing to take on such a huge penalty just to get me back....'
Unless it was war, what reason would there be?
'Anyway, it doesn't matter. There are no dimensional travelers left in Isgard.'
The Saintess could exceptionally use dimensional travel, but only targeting otherworlders like him.
'Said summoning otherworlders has a lot of penalties too. After me, it'd take at least a century.'
Even if they figured out dimensional travel, finding Earth's coordinates would be harder.
'Ibong-gu's an exception since he's not right in the head.'
If he told Ibong-gu to return to the otherworld, the guy would go to his death willingly.
That's how blindly his believers followed him.
"As you know, I'm severely low on demonic energy. So scour dungeons and such places thoroughly first. As for you, I'll consider it once my rank goes up."
-Yes! Leave it to me!
With that, Ibong-gu shot up into the air.
"Hey. You keep a close eye on him. Stop him if he pulls any nonsense."
Ssssh—
The Night Walker replied he'd handle it, then burrowed into the ground.
"A 1-night, 2-day leave is really just 1.2 seconds. Didn't do much and it's already time to go back."
Might as well stuff myself with jjajangmyeon before heading out.
**
104th Division.
Hunter mobile training had ended, and the division commander and battalion commanders were holding a meeting.
The officers flipped through the PPT slides on the beam projector in sync with the battalion commanders' glances and gestures.
Their meeting topics included the intensity of this training, the division's combat power level, and future training policies.
"This Hunter mobile training was more intense than last time, sure... but nearly 80% of the privates and privates first class dropped out midway."
The division commander skimmed the report with his eyes, then spoke.
The other battalion commanders listened tensely.
"Training like this? Will it actually train anyone? What's the point if they can't even complete it properly? How are they supposed to clear dungeons like this?"
The division commander hurled the report across the table.
"Battalion commanders... you gonna keep doing this crap? Fine for corporals and sergeants, but why is the combat power of privates and privates first class such a mess?"
"Sorry, sir!"
"You guys do better, and the troops below will too! Am I wrong?"
"No, sir! Sorry, sir!"
"Do better from now on."
"Yes, sir!"
In short, the 104th Division's training results were subpar even among Hunter units.
Low combat power on the front lines made no sense.
The division commander ordered the next training advanced ahead of schedule for additional sessions.
For the troops, Hell Gate was now confirmed.
"Oh, and that Corporal Kim Min-jun from before. How'd he do in training?"
As the topic shifted to Kim Min-jun, the division commander's mood softened slightly.
"Yes, sir! Excluding platoon deductions, full marks across the board! Per the supervisor's report, he even handled the platoon leader's role simultaneously!"
"And midway through, he carried Corporal Son Eun-seo to the finish?"
"Yes, sir! Plus, he soloed the black scythe fiend at the final point!"
At the 2nd Battalion commander's report, the division commander's lips twitched upward.
"Yeah. The division commander over there was blowing up my phone about his daughter getting hurt. If not for Corporal Kim Min-jun, I wouldn't have slept that night."
The division commander read on silently, then spoke.
"Soloed an irregular in the monster rat habitat. Handled a gate during civilian support alone—even on leave. Near-perfect in this Hunter mobile training. Any objections to promoting this guy to sergeant?"
"None, sir!"
No one would object.
The division commander bringing it up meant Kim Min-jun's promotion was already more than half approved.
"Sir. But... this would make it twice for special promotion including this one."
The 2nd Battalion commander replied cautiously.
Meaning Kim Min-jun was standing out way too much.
"I know."
The division commander replied as if to say not to worry.
"Hasn't even been long since assignment, and two promotions already. Passed the promotion exam with full marks. Strength stat over 60 too?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Sigh. What a shame. If Kim Min-jun had gone to college, I'd pull strings to make him an officer somehow."
"Right, sir! Academic background mattered back in the day, but not so much now!"
The other battalion commanders hurriedly agreed.
"Other units are already sniffing around. Get what I mean?"
"Yes, sir!"
The division commander's point: Corporal Kim Min-jun was a precious asset, not to be poached.
That's why the special promotion now.
"Two rapid special promotions including this one. Everyone's gonna come sniffing. So we pin sergeant on him."
Especially special Hunter brigades or special Hunter task forces—they'd be all over it.
"Our unit's already on the front lines. Dungeons popping up constantly, gates opening anytime. Losing a top Hunter is a huge blow."
The division commander's gaze turned to the 2nd Battalion commander.
"Yes, sir! I'll keep special watch on Corporal Kim Min-jun!"
"Good. Report any contact to me immediately. Should be fine for a while—they won't poach a sergeant lightly."
"Yes, sir!"
The meeting dragged on late into the night.
**
The day Kim Min-jun returned from leave.
"It's ouuut!"
"That guy's at it again."
"Out my ass, you lunatic. Get your combat uniform on quick."
As the Hunters prepared for morning routine, Corporal Kim Kwang-sik entered the barracks with a sheet of paper.
"Guys! Quarterly performance scores are out!"
"Oh? The performance sheet? Came out fast this time."
"Gimme."
At the words "performance sheet," the seniors swarmed Kim Kwang-sik.
Performance sheet.
A numerical score sheet for soldiers' performance.
Hunter military conduct, diligence, dungeon results, training scores—over 10 evaluation categories.
"Hope my leave doesn't get cut. Please."
"Whew. This should be safe."
"Ugh, mine's borderline."
Squad members quickly scanned for their scores.
Lower scores meant penalties like leave restrictions; higher meant rewards like special leave.
"...This Kim Min-jun's, right?"
The seniors gaped at Kim Min-jun's performance sheet.
"Thought he was good at everything, but this good?"
"How many points? Whoa!"
"Insane. Possible to score this high?"
Kim Min-jun's score: 99 points.
Even top sergeant Lee Seung-ho was around 70.
Average Hunter scores were 50-60— this was monstrous.
"Man, our platoon would've been perfect without the deductions in mobile training."
"Min-jun carried Corporal Son Eun-seo too—no extra point?"
"Your stamina's a gift. Looked fine the whole training."
The seniors clicked their tongues at Kim Min-jun's sheet.
"Corporal Kim Min-jun. Thanks."
"You're locked for reward leave, huh? Anyway, your platoon benefits big time thanks to you."
He was slightly bummed not getting 100.
'That 1-point deduction's from the trap zone penalty. Nothing else to dock.'
Even including the once-every-4-years training, his excellent scores might not lead to special promotion.
'Special promotions are so subjective.'
What was sure: a crisis hits, and he handles it solo.
'Man, hope no monster horde like Middle Vet last time?'
Kim Min-jun wished for gates galore.
-Platoon leader speaking. 2nd Platoon, 2nd Squad—stand by in barracks for now.
As Hunters moved to exit, Kim Cheol-min's voice ordered them to wait inside.
"Huh?"
"We just had interviews."
"But platoon leader sounds... happy?"
Squad members tilted heads but stayed put.
Clack!
"Kim Min-jun!"
"Corporal. Kim Min-jun."
Moments later, Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min burst in beaming.
In his hand gleamed sergeant insignia.