Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Hunter KCTC-1
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[Lee Bong-gu and Kim Seo-hyun are fervent believers in the doctrine of 'Ceria sis is my favorite character.']
[They crossed dimensions from Isgard, thinking only of you.]
[Their loyalty deepens further.]
[You receive back a portion of the magi used for your believers.]
'What the hell is this?'
He had used most of his magi to save Kim Seo-hyun.
Yet as soon as that message appeared, magi surged up inside him like a ghost.
'The Ceria Church was something I made as a joke. It actually has effects like this?'
It was a gain anyway, so he didn't mind....
He just couldn't figure out the system's criteria.
'Fine, whatever with the system. First things first—money.'
Neither Lee Bong-gu nor Kim Seo-hyun could obtain legal identities through normal channels.
They had to go through shady back channels, which would cost a fortune.
"Let's see how much bounty money and salary I've racked up so far. It must be a good amount."
When he checked his bank account linked to his smartphone app, the number was bigger than expected.
"One, ten, hundred, thousand...."
Whoa.
Looks like all the backlogged bounties finally came through.
With this much, he didn't have to worry about money anymore.
**
After arriving at Incheon Airport.
Kim Min-jun withdrew the money Kim Seo-hyun needed and handed it over.
"You got the location from the Night Walker, right? Use the rest to find a place to stay."
"Mr. Kim Min-jun. You don't have to go this far for lodging...."
"Just take it without arguing. I wouldn't do this for anyone else. I'm only doing it because it's you two."
"Mr. Kim Min-jun!"
At his words, Kim Seo-hyun and Lee Bong-gu bowed their heads in感動.
"For now, Lee Bong-gu, keep doing what you've been doing. Kim Seo-hyun, speak up if you have other plans."
"Mr. Kim Min-jun. Could I join the Hunter Army too?"
"The Hunter Army? That's unexpected. Why?"
"Like in Isgard, I want to assist you by your side."
Fair enough.
Having her around had been convenient.
'Dungeons and intel can be handled by the Night Walkers or Lee Bong-gu, so no issue there.'
At Kim Min-jun's glance, Kim Seo-hyun reported that she would enlist through the Hunter Army's special foreigner track.
"After securing foreigner status, I plan to enlist not as a regular soldier but as a hunter warrant officer. I'll build power quickly on Earth to be of help to you, Mr. Kim Min-jun."
She had already researched and mapped out her next moves.
The foreigner special track didn't require academic credentials but demanded passing the Hunter Army's exam, open only to foreigners.
Stats test goes without saying.
'An exam, huh. She'll pass it no problem.'
Kim Min-jun nodded, and Lee Bong-gu chimed in that he wanted to join the Hunter Army too.
"Mr. Kim Min-jun! Me too, in the Hunter Army, to help you—urk!"
Before Lee Bong-gu could finish, Kim Seo-hyun yanked him by the hair.
"Know your place! Wasting money on ID for a freeloading worm like you is too much!"
"W-what? Worm? Mr. Kim Min-jun! Did you hear that?"
"Quiet, Lee Bong-gu. Use your skills for investigations. Finding that dungeon in Japan was great work."
"R-really? Thank you!"
Rare praise from Kim Min-jun.
Lee Bong-gu smirked at Kim Seo-hyun as if to say "see?"
"Mr. Kim Min-jun. Then I'll enlist in the Hunter Army as soon as possible. Just wait a bit."
"Yeah. You know Lee Bong-gu's personality, right? Keep an eye on him so he doesn't screw up."
"Yes. Leave it to me."
"Ah, ow! My hair! My beautiful blond hair's getting pulled out!"
She dragged Lee Bong-gu by the hair as they left the airport.
"Man, never thought those two would come to Earth."
They crossed over risking their lives just to see me—what can you do? Gotta take care of them.
**
"Outta my way, you lot."
"Loyalty! Sergeant Kim Min-jun, sir!"
"Yeah. But why the long faces?"
Back at the barracks after leave, the squad members were sighing like the ground might cave in.
"You were on leave, Sergeant Kim Min-jun, so you didn't get the memo. Hunter KCTC training starts next week."
"What? For real?"
Hunter KCTC.
A training where battalions act as enemy forces against each other, fighting mock attack and defense battles—not against monsters.
It lasted a whopping ten days.
As battalion-vs-battalion combat, it was crucial enough that the battalion commander's promotion hung in the balance.
It required every hunter's combat prowess to succeed.
"Ten days, right? Man, I wish it started tomorrow."
Kim Min-jun checked the calendar with excitement.
Beyond the performance points, gearing up with sensor-equipped gear and blasting at each other felt just like playing a game.
"...Sergeant Kim Min-jun was born for the Hunter Army."
"We'll probably get drilled hard starting tomorrow for KCTC prep."
"Didn't know that Hunter maneuver training clip would blow up this much."
"Come on. It's already set—gotta give it our all. And you know winning means bonus leave and fat performance points, right?"
Ahh.
Hurry up, KCTC!
**
"Attention, all!"
"Attention!"
The next day.
Hunters gathered in front of the parade ground for KCTC training.
"You know KCTC starts next week?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Do well in this training, and the next ones will be easier. Got it?"
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
The drill instructor had special-material tires ready from morning.
KCTC lasted ten full days.
Combat power mattered, but stamina was key above all.
'Oh. Those look brutal—doing 'em right will build some real stamina.'
Kim Min-jun joined the soldiers in training.
'As a sergeant, I gotta step up responsibly.'
Plus, he was assistant squad leader.
He had to help the squad leader and lead the squad well.
'First, gotta toughen these guys' stamina for sure.'
Kim Min-jun approached the soldiers with tires around their waists.
"......?"
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun?"
Clack!
He added one more tire to each.
"You can handle it, right?"
"......"
"Don't wanna? Speak up if you don't."
"W-we can do it, sir!"
"Got the drill instructor's okay beforehand. This is all for you guys. Fail this training properly... and it'll be real hell after?"
At his words, the hunters swallowed hard.
After the insane intensity post-Hunter maneuver training, they'd nearly puked.
If they fell short on KCTC too... unimaginable aftermath.
"I'll work harder than any of you, so let's push together."
"Understood!"
Kim Min-jun strapped on nearly 100kg of tires—one, two... up to six around his waist.
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun, even six is too much."
"You'll hurt your back. A man's life is his back, sir."
Even running with two tires drained stamina fast.
But Kim Min-jun didn't stop at six—he went to eight.
"Kim Min-jun, you'll wreck yourself. Don't overdo it."
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun. I'm confident."
"Fine. Prove it."
The drill instructor even tried to stop him out of worry.
Kim Min-jun calmly stripped off his top.
"Alright! Everyone ready? Take positions!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
Tweet!
At the drill instructor's whistle, hunters charged forward.
They had to run 500m with tires on.
Not once, but dozens of times repeated.
"Hoo."
"Hup!"
Hunters kept pace through lap six, but crashed on seven.
Thanks to the extra tires Kim Min-jun added.
"Don't slack—run! You gonna stroll when the enemy hits during training and die?"
"N-no, sir!"
"You can do it! You got this! My squad— of course you will!"
"Raaah!"
Whenever, Kim Min-jun boosted them from behind.
"Huff... pant... But Sergeant Kim Min-jun... is that human? He's a monster."
"800kg on and not a drop of sweat. Unreal, even seeing it."
"No wonder he shot up ranks like a storm. I'm already gonna hurl...."
Hunters gaped at Kim Min-jun powering ahead, stunned by his absurd stamina.
"Include stamina in all training—approach like day one! Got it?"
"Huff... pant! Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
Satisfied with stamina training, the drill instructor nodded once.
"Keep running! No breaks!"
"Yes, sir!"
Training continued the next day too.
Hunters busied with stamina, shooting, main weapon drills—prepping for KCTC.
"S-Sergeant Kim Min-jun! My stamina stat went up by 1!"
"Mine too—strength +1!"
Thanks to Kim Min-jun cranking intensity, hunters' stats ticked up.
"You followed well—that's why. Keep it up."
"Yes, sir!"
"Thank you!"
Sergeant Kim Min-jun drilled them to collapse.
Whenever quitting tempted, he'd appear like a ghost, firing them up.
Enduring led to stat gains.
Hunters dove into training with more zeal.
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun, thank you. My strength and stamina both +1."
"Hey, Dong-jin. You've been grinding hard lately? Corporal soon."
"Thanks. I'll make corporal next exam."
"Good. Fight on."
Brief rest time.
Kim Min-jun patted Lee Dong-jin's shoulder and stood.
Even chatting, he checked hunters' conditions.
Injury mid-training would be disaster.
'As expected, incredible.'
Lee Dong-jin watched his back, vowing to nail this training.
"Hup! Hah!"
"Raaah!"
"Forty-eight! Forty-nine!"
After duty hours, hunters squeezed stamina work in the gym.
"Heard we're up against 4th Battalion? Don't underestimate the lady hunters. They're no joke."
"Losing to 4th Battalion ends us. Can't show our faces. Grit and grind harder!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
Opponent was 4th Battalion.
Pre-KCTC, men's pride on the line.
Hunters trained hard the rest of the time.
**
A week flew by—KCTC day arrived.
Regular army does pre-training before.
Hunter Army? Straight to live fire.
"Reporting! Lt. Col. Lee Jun-beom and XX personnel for 2020...."
After 2nd Battalion XO reported to 104th Division commander, a quick handshake.
"Time to test your training level."
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
Lee Jun-beom couldn't help but panic after.
'Crazy! Right here, right now?'
The commander ended words—and boom, scenario kicked off.