Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Energy Stone
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Yi Bonggu had gone overseas to search for demonic energy.
The country he was in right now was Japan.
It might’ve been more efficient to start with the bigger landmasses, but Yi Bonggu was also running low on strength.
Searching nearby places first was the safer bet.
‘Found anything? Report.’
-Yes, sir! I’m perched in a tree near Mount Fuji right now! I think I’ve found a real dungeon! Even from this distance, the demonic scent is thick enough to fill my nose!
Yi Bonggu replied excitedly, saying he’d just discovered a dungeon brimming with demonic energy.
-This should recover a good chunk of the demonic energy Kim Minjun lost! Plus, the dungeon seems abandoned—no one’s around!
‘Good work. Scout the area once more and wait for me.’
-You got it!
Yi Bonggu, you rascal.
You finally pulled through.
A grin tugged at his lips.
‘I was a bit worried when he said he’d head overseas alone, but he’s performing better than expected.’
Kim Minjun applied for leave the very next day and headed to Japan.
“Attention, everyone!”
“Attention!”
Just before the start of the workday, Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin gathered the platoon’s eyes.
“Kim Minjun, front and center.”
“Sergeant Kim Minjun reporting, sir.”
“Alright. As you all know, Kim Minjun’s no longer a regular soldier—he’s an officer now. And starting today, he’s the platoon’s deputy leader.”
The platoon members reacted with surprise at the mention of deputy leader.
‘A sergeant as deputy leader?’
‘Don’t even rookie lieutenants usually take that spot?’
‘Yeah. Never seen a sergeant get it before.’
And for good reason—sergeants rarely took on deputy leader roles in Hunter Army units.
“The battalion commander must’ve taken note of you choosing general hunter duty and pulled some strings. You’re in, right?”
“Yes, sir! I’ll do it!”
Talk about a windfall.
Of course he’d take it.
His current branch was general hunter, same as when he’d been a regular soldier.
He’d had a choice thanks to his stellar performance scores, but he’d picked the fast-track general hunter path.
‘Deputy leader racks up mad performance points.’
Sure, it meant handling all the dirty work, getting called everywhere, and shouldering extra responsibility—but who cared?
Fast promotions made it all worthwhile.
“Alright, listen up to Minjun and get your tasks done. Got it?”
“Yes, sir!”
Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin mentioned other duties and left.
‘First task as deputy leader. Time to show them what real enthusiasm looks like.’
Today’s job was weeding.
The hunters groaned when Kim Minjun announced it.
“Ah, damn it!”
“It hasn’t even been long since the snow melted, and we’re already weeding?”
It was all about pulling weeds, and they said it was no joke.
“Once would be one thing, but doing it twice...”
“Ugh... I’m gonna reek of grass.”
Hunter Army weeding meant a first pass, then spraying special disinfectant afterward.
Being on the front lines, they had to do it even without monsters around—just protocol.
“Why only spray that crap during weeding?”
“Regular army’s looking at civilians for this stuff, so why not us?”
“We’re the Hunter Army.”
“Regular grunts couldn’t pull weeds in a hunter unit anyway.”
Grumbling, the platoon changed into work gear.
Kim Minjun told them he’d pitch in too, so they should hustle.
“Watch for injuries while working. They say the weeds are extra thick this year! Move it! Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
“If a brush cutter blade dulls or breaks, come straight to me.”
“Got it!”
Following Kim Minjun’s orders, the hunters moved to their assigned sections and got to work.
Some yanked weeds by hand, others mowed with brush cutters.
The 104th Division’s weeding zone was massive.
That’s why hunters from three platoons were on it.
Vrrr—vrrrr—
“Ugh, damn. Why’s this grass so damn tough?”
Dungeon influence, maybe—the blades struggled with some patches.
“Ah. Am I really pulling weeds right now?”
Same with the hand-pullers.
The hunters pushed through with gritted teeth.
‘Gangwon-do’s no joke, from bugs to grass.’
Kim Minjun helped out, ripping weeds out at overwhelming speed.
It was a breeze for him anyway, and supervising left him itching to move.
“What the—over there, weeds are flying out like crazy.”
“Sergeant Kim Minjun’s no joke strength-wise.”
“Bet that spot’s the sweet gig.”
Hunters who saw flocked to his area, but it didn’t change much.
“Feels like a bulldozer just plowed through.”
“Ten Kim Minjuns and we’d be done in no time.”
“Shut up and pull more weeds, you slackers.”
“Yes, sir...”
Kim Minjun finished one assigned section in a flash.
‘That’s good here... Huh? What’s this?’
A blue-glowing stone fragment dangled from a weed root.
Curious, he checked it out—an item, rare find.
Like the spiritual medicine from the last field training.
Pure luck this time.
‘What was it called... Energy Stone, yeah.’
A spiritual medicine that boosted you based on your potential.
Known to be pretty rare.
‘Whoa... Jackpot!’
Kim Minjun pocketed the Energy Stone quick.
Just thinking about its effects lifted his mood.
“Weeding’s done for today! Good work, everyone.”
“W-We lived...”
“Finally over...”
Time dragged on, and weeding wrapped up around evening.
Thanks to Kim Minjun’s pace—if normal, it’d go into night ops.
“Damn, you crushed that weeding. Ended quicker than expected? Gotta be you, Minjun.”
Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin arrived right then, scanned the clean zone, and grinned.
“Now that you’re deputy, should’ve slacked off on the troops more.”
“I prefer staying active, sir.”
“Knew it. Old soldier habits die hard.”
Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin warned against overdoing it, patted his shoulder, and left.
**
“S-Salute!”
Work hours ended, 7 p.m.
“Huh? What’s up.”
On his way to the PX, Kim Minjun ran into a familiar female hunter.
Corporal Son Eunseo, saluting awkwardly.
“Hey, no need for that stiff stuff between friends. Loosen up.”
“No, sir!”
“Oh, playing hard to get. Was gonna chew you out if you switched right away.”
“......”
“After hours or KakaoTalk’s fine to drop formalities.”
“...Understood.”
They usually chatted casually, but a few days and this.
Son Eunseo replied with a painfully awkward face and walked off.
Son Eunseo: Hate you. Sergeant stripes got you all hyped.
Kim Minjun: (Bear winking emoticon)
Son Eunseo: Think I can’t make sergeant? Watch, I’ll get mine soon. Just wait.
Kim Minjun: By then I’ll be sergeant first class. Or staff sergeant, maybe lieutenant.
Son Eunseo: You have no idea how brutal officer promotions are. Fine for privates, but corporal to sergeant takes forever.
Kim Minjun: Watch and see how long it takes.
KakaoTalk stayed casual as ever.
‘I’ll be sergeant major soon. He drops formal once I catch up, whatever.’
The guy’s promotions were freakishly fast, but his weren’t slow.
‘Gotta double training time. Can’t imagine the ribbing otherwise.’
Son Eunseo fired up and headed straight to the gym.
**
“Sergeant Kim Minjun, sir! Second squad all present!”
“Yeah, good. Tell any other platoon mates who wanna join to come.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And check this out. Got it packed for you guys earlier.”
Time passed, inside the PX.
Kim Minjun pulled out takeout foods like a show.
“Officers clock out after hours. Means I can do this on a whim.”
“Thank you, sir!”
“Was dying for chicken anyway.”
“Sergeant Kim Minjun, first drink’s yours.”
“Oh, special treatment for the new sergeant?”
The place erupted in chatter instantly.
‘When was it... Yeah, when I made corporal, we did this.’
Kim Minjun scanned the squad with a smirk.
Unlike then, he was already an officer.
His promotion speed outpaced other hunters by light-years.
‘My unique skills. Life-or-death grind in that other world. Overpowered stats.’
No surprise.
Local hunters had gear and nothing else against monsters.
Train all you want—human bodies fell short.
‘Still hate Isgard.’
He’d gained from this world, but the grind made him wanna smack that saintess’s flat face.
“But Sergeant Kim Minjun.”
“Yeah?”
“Why’d you enlist in general hunter army?”
Corporal Kim Gwang-sik, mid-chicken leg, asked out of the blue.
Curiosity—his skills screamed he could’ve gone sergeant or officer track.
“Was wondering that too.”
“Any reason?”
Other squadmates perked up, eyes gleaming.
“Reason? Yeah. High school grad only. Figured general hunter promotions beat four years college then enlisting.”
Truth: Returned from other world and enlisted next day.
“Makes sense. College degrees don’t mean much these days anyway.”
“Sergeant Lee Seung-ho over there’s high school too. Aims for long-term as officer.”
“What about me.”
“Oh yeah? That why Seung-ho’s obsessed with training?”
“...Training? Kim Minjun outdid me there, if anything.”
“Agreed.”
Mood warmed up, Kim Minjun bantered with the squad.
“Hey, I said pace yourselves.”
“Urp! Sorry, sir...”
Two hours later.
Most squadmates were smashed, out cold.
“Anybody still sober? Help these drunks back to barracks. Proper roll call!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Rest of you, clean up and head in.”
“Got it!”
How do lightweights pass out so fast?
Gonna step out for air.
Ding.
“Huh? What’s that?”
Stepping outside, an unexpected message popped up before his eyes.