Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: vs. Son Eun-seo
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[Basic Whip Strike has been created.]
[The skill's proficiency is high.]
[Basic Whip Strike has changed to Whip Strike of Pain.]
[The skill rank of Whip Strike of Pain has increased.]
"What the hell. Basic Whip Strike changed into a different skill?"
It was a phenomenon I'd never experienced before.
It seemed to be the effect of the proficiency I'd built up in that other world.
"Well, yeah. Unlike magic, handling weapons is something the body remembers."
[Whip Strike of Pain (D): When striking a living target, it inflicts significant pain. Whip proficiency increases moderately.]
Significant pain, huh.
Does that just mean it hits harder and hurts more?
Either way, since the weapon proficiency goes up with it, it wasn't bad.
"Phew, did I keep you waiting long? The briefing dragged on."
A short while later.
Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min came in, breathing heavily.
"It's fine."
"Good. I handled the simple reports. As for the big goblin you captured alive, we'll have a meeting about it soon."
"Is that so?"
Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min patted my shoulder, telling me to look happier at my calm response.
"Kya! Min-jun pulled off another big one! The camouflaged dungeon, and now this."
He said I'd get hefty performance points and bonus pay, not to mention a nice chunk of reward leave.
"Is promoting to corporal tough?"
At my question, Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min gave an ambiguous look.
"Promotion... Not sure. With the soldier rescue from the camouflaged dungeon before and this one, it might work out... But promoting to NCO is a whole different thing."
Even after two solid achievements in a short time, it was still iffy.
Then I'd just rack up one more soon.
'No matter how subjectively they judge it, what can they do against overwhelming results?'
Rather than disappointment, it sparked my competitive fire.
"Hey! Min-jun! What'd the platoon leader say?"
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun! How much reward leave did you get?"
The moment I got back to the barracks, the squad members swarmed me like they'd been waiting.
Every one of them had a curious look.
Questions from how I captured the big goblin alive to what kind of madness made me charge at it.
With questions pouring in from all sides, it was a bit dizzying.
"Everyone, calm down. I got 7 days and 8 nights of reward leave."
"Whoa, what? 7 days and 8 nights? Just for the reward?"
"Damn... Insane. Bonus pay's gotta be huge since you captured it alive. Performance points will skyrocket too, right? Dude, you're probably getting corporal already."
The squad members, all excited, told me to treat everyone big if I made corporal.
"Sure. If I make corporal, I'll throw a huge one."
"...But Min-jun. What are you doing right now?"
"Heading to the training hall to practice with the weapon."
The squad members shook their heads in disbelief at Kim Min-jun casually grabbing his whip.
"You beat goblins all day, even took down a big goblin, and you're training more?"
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun. That's training addiction."
"It's for fun, for fun."
It was a brand-new issued weapon, after all. Better raise the proficiency quick.
Time to test how much the whip proficiency goes up too.
**
Inside the training hall.
Hunters were honing their skills with training weapons.
A few were even sparring one-on-one.
'Everyone's working hard. Were the training monster dummies over there?'
There were 8 monster dummies in the training hall.
Considering it was shared with the female hunters, that was ridiculously few.
'What the hell is the Ministry of Defense doing without spending on defense budget? Guess I gotta wait.'
Kim Min-jun joined the shortest line.
'Oh? Look at these guys?'
While waiting a bit.
He spotted corporals from another platoon cutting in line little by little.
Privates and privates first class hesitated and stepped aside.
'Learning all the bad habits.'
Even a sergeant like me was waiting, and these corporals were cutting?
"Hey! You three! Who said you could cut?"
Kim Min-jun crooked his finger at them, beckoning them closer.
"S-Sorry!"
"You think the others are waiting 'cause they like it?"
"No, sir!"
"I've got sergeant now too. Want me to show you what injustice looks like?"
"No, sir! Sorry!"
"If I catch you one more time, you'll be scrubbing balls all night. Got it?"
"Yes, sir! Got it!"
The corporals who'd been harshly chewed out yielded their spots to the juniors and went to the very end of the line.
'Sergeant Kim Min-jun. Thank you.'
'Man, why doesn't our squad have a senior like that.'
The juniors silently thanked him in their hearts.
"Keep doing what you were. No big deal."
The commotion died down, and as his turn approached.
'Hm? Who's that? Oh, Dong-jin.'
He spotted a familiar back.
Lately, Lee Dong-jin had been hitting the gym or training hall whenever he had free time.
'No wonder I don't see him in the barracks much. He's been grinding hard.'
So focused he hadn't even noticed me here.
Lee Dong-jin ran through forms against the monster dummy, then moved elsewhere looking for a sparring partner.
'Ooh. At that rate, corporal's a breeze.'
Should've done that ages ago.
No need to break his focus, so Kim Min-jun pretended not to see.
'Alright. Let's see how much different this guy's feel is.'
Kim Min-jun stood before an orc-shaped monster dummy.
Tough durability, but just in case, he swung the whip with controlled power.
'No need to break one of the few dummies we have.'
Whip! Thwack!
It started with a sound like air bursting.
The dummy shook wildly back and forth from the successive impacts.
"Nice. The feel's definitely coming back a lot."
Just one new skill, and most of the awkwardness was gone.
Still needed more practice for fine control, but regaining the feel to this extent was satisfying.
'This much, then yield the spot.'
As he stepped aside thinking that, another familiar face appeared.
"What... the..."
It was Son Eun-seo.
She glanced at the whip in her hand, then at the monster dummy.
"How the hell do you use a whip to get that kind of power? Wait, more importantly, you really captured a big goblin alive by yourself?"
"Technically, after two platoons dumped mana rounds on it, I scared it into submission to finish."
"What? Scared it? A monster? Is that even possible?"
Making a big goblin lose its will to fight? Unbelievable.
She'd felt it since the promotion exam watching Kim Min-jun, but the guy was more monstrous than an officer cadet.
Even with her good stats inherited from her father, she couldn't even dream of catching up.
'No, he's the freak. Can't chase that.'
Son Eun-seo shook off the stray thoughts and stood before the monster dummy for weapon practice.
"Hey. Move it if you're not using it."
"Nah, looks like this one's out of commission now."
"Why."
Kim Min-jun pointed with his finger at the cracked section.
Looking closely, one wrong hit and it'd collapse.
Even with controlled power, this much damage.
"...Hey. That's destruction of equipment..."
"What're you talking about. It's a training dummy anyway. I'll spar you instead. Let's go."
"What? Are you nuts?"
Son Eun-seo freaked out seeing the whip Kim Min-jun held.
He'd wrecked a high-durability monster dummy like that, and now he wanted to spar her?
"No way! Hell no! You trying to kill me?"
"Kill you? With this?"
Kim Min-jun smirked at her scared face, then grabbed a training whip.
"I'll just defend, no attacks. Rare chance like this doesn't come often."
"...Ugh, you're so annoying."
"Wouldn't be fun otherwise. If you land even one hit, I'll grant you a wish."
"What if you lose?"
At that, Kim Min-jun laughed like it was ridiculous.
"Win first, then talk. Won't happen though."
"Fine! Let's do it! You think I can't land one?"
Thus the spar was on.
Hunters in the training hall turned their eyes to them.
No wonder— it was crack female hunter Corporal Son Eun-seo versus monstrous achiever Sergeant Kim Min-jun.
'Sergeant Kim Min-jun will just steamroll.'
'Dude, yeah if it's head-on. But he's only defending. Gives her a huge edge.'
'Just need to land one attack, right?'
The hunters watched with interest for a moment.
Flash!
Son Eun-seo, who'd been waiting for an opening with her training sword, charged at Kim Min-jun.
Swoosh! Slash!
Just land one attack.
She relentlessly targeted his body.
"Tch. Too obvious. Fake for the body, then go elsewhere."
"I haven't even gotten serious yet?"
Son Eun-seo attacked from multiple angles with agile moves.
'Whoa. This must be what they call the power of genes or whatever.'
Definitely different.
I could dodge leisurely like this, but any other sergeant or corporal would struggle just defending.
Whip!
"...Ooh. High kick too."
"Argh! So damn annoying, not landing even one."
Son Eun-seo grumbled in frustration.
She thought it was her ace move, but it didn't even graze.
"Want more time?"
"You... you're gonna regret this for real..."
Swish!
Before she finished, Kim Min-jun used the whip to snatch the sword from her hand.
"Liar. Lost your sword, you lose."
"Hah. Childish jerk."
"Your moves are solid overall."
"...One more time."
"Oh? Lose again, what'll you do?"
"Argh! Buy you dinner! Expensive stuff!"
"Approved."
The spar continued for a while after that.
**
Meanwhile.
A meeting was underway at Hunter Headquarters.
The topic: Sergeant Kim Min-jun's special promotion.
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun handled two emergencies excellently. Rescuing 10 hunters unscathed from the camouflaged dungeon, and capturing the irregular monster big goblin alive from the low-grade dungeon prove it."
The 104th Division commander opined that such a huge feat warranted promoting him to corporal.
"Hmm... Sure, he did well, but... Sergeant Kim Min-jun's had two special promotions already since starting as a private. In a short time too."
"Even so, enlisted and NCO are different. Not enough service time. Lacks experience. What if we promote him to corporal and he screws up?"
There were supporters, but plenty of opposition too.
The meeting dragged on, with only the generals' final vote left.
Over half yes votes, and Kim Min-jun makes corporal.
'Tch... Damn bastards.'
A moment later.
The vote results appeared on the screen.
The 104th Division commander clicked his tongue inwardly at the outcome.