Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Sparring
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"Can't play DNF? I can't live without DNF."
It was all because of Kim Min-jun's ridiculous excuse.
Out of all the possible reasons, turning it down just because he couldn't play a game?
The special task force sergeant felt like the special forces were being treated with contempt.
"You're throwing away this opportunity over a mere game? As I said earlier, generals and high-ranking officers pulled an all-nighter in meetings just to make this happen for you."
The sergeant replied that kicking away the chance they'd worked so hard to create was downright rude.
'Jeez. Didn't they say my wishes come first?'
They're pushing even though I said no.
Kim Min-jun responded to the stone-faced sergeant with a calm expression.
"Didn't you say you'd respect my wishes as much as possible? I wasn't joking. To me, gaming is a vital source of energy. There's no substitute."
"...Fine. I got heated for a moment and was rude. Sorry."
"No problem."
The sergeant stood up, saying he'd take his leave for today.
"Aren't you taking the special task force too lightly?"
Just as he was about to leave, the sergeant who'd been quietly observing spoke up.
"Normally, the special hunter task force goes through a rigorous selection process. You're getting a special exception that skips all of it."
The sergeant said that even if Kim Min-jun excelled, he'd be cut in the first sparring round without mercy.
"No matter how much you shine in a regular unit, it's laughable to us. Anyway, you turned down this opportunity, so there won't be another."
With that, the sergeant turned to leave.
'They keep making excuses to drag me away even though I said no.'
It's obvious.
Do they think I don't know?
'I'm not letting them off that easy. They act all high and mighty from the special forces—time to show them what a real skill gap feels like.'
Kim Min-jun stopped them as they headed out of the platoon leader's office.
"Isn't judging by appearances a bit rude?"
"...What?"
"Didn't you say I'd fail the sparring round? How can you be so sure?"
Different unit or not, they were still officers.
Even as a senior private, this was borderline insubordinate.
'Min-jun! Hey, you idiot! What are you doing? Apologize right now! Hurry!'
Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min, who'd been watching, quickly poked Kim Min-jun in the side and whispered.
"If you're so confident, want to spar with me?"
At Kim Min-jun's words, the sergeant smirked in disbelief.
"Sure. But just a plain spar would be boring, right?"
Kim Min-jun made a proposal to the special task force officers.
After hearing it, the sergeant turned to Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min.
"Mind if we use the sparring ground?"
**
"What kind of lunatics are these?!"
Meanwhile.
The 4th Battalion commander had received the platoon leader's report and was rushing back to base.
"They show up while I'm away? Without even reporting to me first?"
Cursing under his breath, he floored the accelerator.
They were dead set on it.
The division commander had told him just recently to keep an eye on Kim Min-jun...
Of all times, they pick when things are chaotic.
"Damn that special hunter task force! With them, they'll offer some sweetheart deal."
In his eyes, Kim Min-jun was a soldier hungry for promotion.
They'd at least make him a corporal on the spot, maybe even sergeant if he wanted.
Kim Min-jun had racked up massive achievements in a short time as a hunter.
"Report. I need to report to the division commander first."
The battalion commander contacted the division commander, praying Kim Min-jun wouldn't commit right there.
**
Inside the sparring ground.
The special hunter task force sergeant stood ready, training sword in hand.
His serious expression showed he had no intention of going easy, even on a regular soldier.
'Perfect. This is the one.'
Kim Min-jun glanced over the lined-up training weapons and picked up a whip from the corner.
"Platoon leader? Can I use this?"
"Huh? You're going with that? Do you even know how to use a whip?"
Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min gave him a puzzled look at the unexpected choice.
There were plenty of specialized weapons besides whips.
They stocked a variety of training gear to help hunters find what suited them and build proficiency.
'First guy ever to pick a whip out of all those.'
Blunt weapons wrapped in wire were something senior privates swung around sometimes, but no one had ever touched a whip.
It was tough to handle and didn't pack much punch against monsters.
"Yes. I've handled a whip a few times before."
"...A whip, of all things? You been taming lions or something?"
Oh, Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min.
Sharp eyes.
Tamed plenty of monsters in that other world.
Problem was, they all died before they could be tamed.
"Preparations done? Get into position."
At the sergeant's words, Kim Min-jun and the special hunter task force sergeant faced off.
"You planning to mess with me to the end? I'm warning you—regular hunter or not, I won't hold back."
Out of all those training weapons, he picks a damn whip.
The sergeant glared at the whip in Kim Min-jun's hand, his face darkening with anger.
"I'm dead serious. And if I win, you'll apologize properly."
"Worry more about when you lose."
Kim Min-jun's proposal was this:
If he lost to the sergeant, he'd accept any consequences.
But if he won, they'd apologize sincerely.
'No way I'll lose. Better check this guy's skills first.'
"Begin!"
At the sergeant's signal, the man lunged at Kim Min-jun's vital spots with his training sword.
Whoosh! Swish!
Fiercely fast and precise strikes.
Nothing like the moves from regular hunter units.
'Whoa. Special forces live up to the name, huh?'
Kim Min-jun dodged by tilting his head side to side, trying to wrap his whip around the training sword.
Each time, the sergeant pulled back the blade and exploited openings with kicks or punches.
"Not bad. You're surprisingly skilled with that whip."
The special task force sergeant watching the match lit up.
He'd thought it'd end in under 30 seconds, but Kim Min-jun was handling the sergeant's attacks without breaking a sweat.
'As expected, he's the real deal. Can't let him slip away.'
As he watched with that thought, something unexpected happened.
Crack!
"Arghhhh!"
The sergeant took a whip strike, dropped to his knees, and let out a agonized scream.
"What the...?"
The task force sergeant panicked for a moment.
It was just a training whip at best.
An officer who'd shrug off worse pain without flinching, screaming like that?
'How's that taste of my whip? Feels good, right?'
Meanwhile.
Kim Min-jun smirked at the sergeant, who was teary-eyed from the pain.
'Feels great using the demonic whip after so long. Fits right in the hand.'
Kim Min-jun had activated his demonic whip skill from the start of the spar.
It looked like a regular training whip on the outside, but it packed pain that'd make even an orc scream.
Plus, the demonic energy was perfectly odorless and invisible.
No one but him would notice.
Crack! Crack!
"Arghhhh! Aaaah!"
'This is it! Exactly this feeling!'
Kim Min-jun adjusted his strength to keep the opponent from passing out, striking various spots.
'Wow. Special forces toughness, huh.'
Hurts like hell, but he won't drop the sword?
Impressed by the sergeant's endurance inwardly, Kim Min-jun raised the whip again.
The match was essentially decided, but the sergeant gritted his teeth, holding on out of pride.
"Stop! That's enough! It's over!"
As Kim Min-jun lifted the whip, the task force sergeant called the match and intervened.
"Got it. So, time for that apology... I'll wait till he comes to."
The sergeant checked on his subordinate and was horrified.
'This... light wounds turned moderate. He'll need potions back at base.'
Just from a training whip, and the bruising was severe—beyond cute little bruises.
What kind of agony made tears flow?
'The guy who wouldn't blink getting pummeled by monsters...'
His condition was far from normal.
The sergeant stood, bowed politely to Kim Min-jun, and apologized.
"My subordinate's mistake is my failure as his superior. May I apologize on his behalf?"
"Yes. That's fine. I'm just a senior private, but I acted out of line with my rank. Sorry."
And since he'd gotten a bit carried away in excitement, he'd let it slide.
"...Understood. Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min. We'll be going now. Sorry for the trouble today."
"Ah, yes! Sure! If you're in a rush, feel free to stop by the infirmary."
Kim Cheol-min, who'd been dazedly watching, startled and moved to help the sergeant.
"No need. We're fine."
The task force sergeant supported the limping man alone and left the sparring ground.
"......"
The now-empty sparring ground.
Silence hung for a moment, then Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min stared at Kim Min-jun in bewilderment.
"Min-jun."
"Senior Private Kim Min-jun."
"Whew... If I knew you were that good with a whip, I would've said something! You punk!"
Kim Cheol-min slapped his shoulder in praise.
"Kuh! Feels so good inside! Those guys pull this crap all the time."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They came once before you were assigned here too. Snatched one talented senior private. Act like they're the top dogs."
Kim Cheol-min said to turn down offers like this from now on.
"Those units are mostly overseas deployments. That's why the fast promotions. Lots of sea time too. No internet, obviously."
To overwhelm a special task force hunter like that.
From the platoon leader's view, or the unit's, he was a soldier they absolutely couldn't lose!
"Overseas deployment... I did one once. Dolls Stone expansion pack came out then—swear, no internet for six months."
Kim Cheol-min emphasized games and internet, explaining how harsh special forces life was.
The whole battalion commander, company commander, and him would get dusted the moment he was poached.
"Got it for now."
Kim Min-jun chuckled in response.
If that was true, no need to join special forces.
'That aside. Haven't used demonic whip in ages—still feels off.'
Couldn't fine-tune the strength like he wanted.
Deciding to practice in spare moments, he headed out of the sparring ground when a voice called from the entrance.