Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Squad Outing - 1
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‘Tell me.’
-Yes, sir! I’m currently in the Daejeon area!
Lee Bong-gu reported back while tracking the demonic energy.
He’d discovered a dungeon emitting an unnatural aura in the Daejeon vicinity.
-It’s not demonic energy. Hard to put into words, but... that’s the vibe I’m getting.
‘You checked it out properly?’
-Compared to other dungeons, the hunter troops were guarding it heavily. The entrance was sealed off too.
‘Got it. For now, just circle the area and keep watch. Back off immediately if it feels dangerous.’
-Understood! But, Mr. Kim Min-jun.
‘What.’
Lee Bong-gu cautiously asked if he could grab some beef noodle soup.
‘You asking me for permission to buy food with the 100,000 won I gave you so you could eat whenever you wanted?’
-Ugh! Mr. Kim Min-jun! Thank you!
Lee Bong-gu replied in a choked-up voice before hanging up.
Kim Min-jun fell into thought for a moment.
‘An unnatural aura from a dungeon with its entrance sealed.’
On top of that, dozens of hunter troops standing guard.
‘Something smells off.’
He’d know for sure once he got to Daejeon, but with guerrilla training underway, leaves for soldiers were restricted.
The only allowance was squad outings.
‘Leave restrictions lift next week, so I can gather intel in the meantime.’
Kim Min-jun instructed his Night Walker to investigate the dungeon in Daejeon.
**
Guerrilla training wrapped up, time passed, and the weekend arrived.
“Finally, Sunday!”
“The day’s here!”
“Let’s goooo!”
The squad members shouted excitedly as they changed into their combat uniforms.
Normally, they’d still be lounging in their PT gear under the blankets, but today was squad outing day.
“Ah, it’s better to head out carefree right after guerrilla training.”
“Perfect timing.”
The squad members had spent the night before the outing ironing their combat uniforms like mad to look sharp.
“Man, Corporal Kim Min-jun, thank you so much. Never dreamed we’d be going on a group outing with Son Eun-seo’s squad.”
“Dude, I’ve been saying it—Son Eun-seo’s totally into you.”
Their energy was through the roof.
Everyone was humming tunes and checking themselves in the mirror over and over.
“Alright, enough. Hurry up and get ready. Ten minutes left.”
Even for outings off-base, they had to wear combat uniforms, of course.
But what had them so pumped? First, breathing civilian air.
Second, syncing schedules with Son Eun-seo’s squad members.
“Like I said, no forcing anyone. You know? Anyone who wants to bail can.”
“No way!”
“We’re in to the end!”
“These guys turn ghosts when it suits them.”
At the corporals’ words, the privates vowed to stick it out.
“Ugh. But it’s a squad outing— what’s the point if we don’t drink?”
“Tell me about it.”
The Invincible Hunter Unit currently banned alcohol even on outings.
Aftermath of the hunter mobility training.
“You guys got the plan down?”
“Route’s perfect. Gave the lady hunters a heads-up too.”
So Kim Min-jun’s squad had plotted to head to a city away from base and sneak in some drinks.
‘These punks are hyped.’
Kim Min-jun smirked at his squad.
Booze was just water to him, but since they were looking forward to it, he’d play along.
“Report and let’s bounce.”
“Yes, sir!”
They headed to report with buzzing excitement, but drinking was off the table.
“You’ll find out when you get back, right? One whiff of booze, and it’s the whole squad to disciplinary training.”
The duty officer held up the breathalyzer like a warning.
“I’m testing every single one of you myself. Got it?”
“...Yes, sir.”
With that level of scrutiny, they had no choice but to ditch the booze.
“So, where to?”
“PC bang... but too many of us for that.”
“Nah, you idiot. PC bang with lady hunters? That’s why you’re forever alone.”
The squad stepped off-base, pondering their options.
“Come on, young guys and girls at our prime, no booze—what are we supposed to do?”
“Guys, quick—find something! Every minute counts!”
“Got it!”
After racking their brains for a bit.
“Huh? What about this place?”
Corporal Kim Kwang-sik suggested the recently opened amusement park.
“Ooh, amusement park? Sounds good.”
“Not bad? Duty officer’s on a power trip today. Breathalyzer three times minimum? Skip the drinks and hit that.”
The squad agreed it was a solid idea.
“They give hunter troops discounts, and it’s got all the latest rides. Perfect for bonding.”
“Nice find. Min-jun! You cool with it?”
All eyes turned to Kim Min-jun.
The final call was his, after all.
‘Maybe tease them a bit.’
A mischievous glint hit Kim Min-jun, and he made a so-so face.
“Hmm. Not really feeling it. How about guys separate, girls separate?”
“You bastard! Look at us! We ironed these uniforms like maniacs last night!”
“Corporal Kim Min-jun! We’ll do anything—just let us go, please!”
He curled his lips at their begging.
“Anything? Fine. Two options. One: Hit max level in DFO by next leave. I’ll personally take you all to the amusement park with the lady hunters. Two: Split up.”
“One!”
“Me too, one!”
“Damn, Min-jun corporal’s got the seniors wrapped too...”
“I’ll text Son Eun-seo to cancel.”
“No, I didn’t say no. We’re doing it.”
Without hesitation, the squad picked option one.
How often do you get a squad outing synced with lady hunters?
Didn’t matter if they got ribbed for noob gaming—they weren’t missing this.
‘Good.’
Kim Min-jun nodded in satisfaction.
‘DFO squad is born.’
And so, the squad outing destination was set: the newly opened amusement park, Thunderland.
“But I hear this place has a ton of scary rides?”
“Yeah. Thunderland’s scariest is Monster Express. It’s a roller coaster themed around getting kidnapped by monsters...”
“Scary how? It’s just a ride.”
“Think about riding it with the lady hunters.”
“...Option two.”
“Exactly.”
The squad bantered excitedly for a while.
**
9 a.m., amusement park entrance.
The ticket line was insanely long.
“Wow, must be ’cause it just opened. Place is packed.”
“Checked online—minimum wait’s two hours.”
“The lady hunters are already in. Let’s hustle.”
Of course, soldiers got perks.
Along with certain professions, soldiers had free pass access.
“Hunter troops, huh? 90% discount for you.”
“90%? Thank you!”
“They’re giving huge discounts.”
“Thanks!”
The squad moved along with bright faces for a moment.
“Hunter troops over there!”
“Thanks for protecting the country!”
“Soldier uncle! Thank you!”
“Fighting scary monsters is so cool!”
Clap clap clap clap—
The people in line spotted them and cheered loudly.
In the old days, they’d gripe about why soldiers got special treatment while civilians waited forever.
‘Korea’s changed a lot.’
Kim Min-jun waved to the crowd.
“Hey, why’s this place so huge?”
“We won’t get through it all in one day.”
“More importantly, where’s Fourth Squad?”
Once inside, a staffer handed them a guidebook.
Flipping it open revealed over 30 visible attractions.
“Hey! There they are! Hi, comrades!”
“Yes. Hello.”
“Sorry we’re late!”
The park buzzed with people, but spotting fellow hunters was easy.
Combat uniforms stood out from afar.
“...Hold up. Th-that guy!”
The squad’s cheerful faces froze.
They spotted the man next to Son Eun-seo and recoiled in fear.
“...That’s the 107th Division Commander!”
“Damn, up close it’s him. 107th—that’s gotta be Son Eun-seo’s dad. Didn’t recognize him in civvies.”
“Wasn’t this just a squad outing? Why’s the division commander here!”
“Guys, what do we do?”
“Corporal Kim Min-jun. Salute him? Or pretend we didn’t see and bail quick? Place is huge— we can play dumb.”
Total curveball.
The squad panicked like it was doomsday.
“We salute. Look at our uniforms. Hunter combat gear.”
“Got it.”
Even in a crowded amusement park, uniforms drew eyes.
“Sir!”
The squad approached the division commander and saluted loudly.
“Oh, yeah. You guys out on squad outing too?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Right. 104th Division, yeah? Which battalion?”
“Second Battalion, Second Company, Second Platoon, sir!”
The squad’s booming voices drew stares.
“Dad! It’s just a squad outing—why’d you follow me all the way here! I said drop me at the entrance!”
Son Eun-seo grabbed her father’s arm, embarrassed.
“Haha. Admission’s basically free for soldiers anyway. Figured I’d memorize some hunter faces. I’ll head out soon.”
He chuckled awkwardly, scanning the hunters.
Snap!
The squad instinctively snapped to attention.
‘Hmm. Kim Min-jun, huh. The guy who helped my daughter during hunter mobility training? Fastest to corporal among hunter troops too.’
The division commander’s gaze lingered on Kim Min-jun.
“Alright, have fun! Play nice!”
“Understood!”
“Yes, sir!”
Once the commander left, silence hung over the hunters.
“Phew...”
Son Eun-seo sighed, but Kim Kwang-sik quickly livened things up.
“Comrades! Back by 8 p.m., right? Let’s hit the rides!”
“Y-yeah! Sounds good.”
“I picked the funnest ones and mapped the route. Place is massive—wander aimlessly and time’s gone.”
“Wow, you put thought into this.”
Thanks to him, the awkward vibe thawed.
“But first, how about that one?”
Kim Min-jun, scanning around, pointed somewhere.
“Shooting game?”
“Damn, you go out for fun and your first pick’s shooting?”
It was a nearby mini shooting gallery.
The squad groaned in exasperation.
“Of course, plain’s no fun. Loser pays for everything?”
“Ooh, that’s good.”
“Sounds fun. Let’s do it. Lady comrades cool?”
“Yeah! Looks fun!”
Exactly.
Even mini-games get serious with stakes.
‘Prizes too. First place looks huge—put that aside. Second...’
Kim Min-jun’s eyes locked on second prize.
‘That’s here?’