Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Hunter KCTC-2
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White smoke rising from the ground.
It was just a training tool that spewed out plain white smoke, but it meant only one thing.
A chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attack had occurred.
“Gas! Gas! Gas!”
“Everyone, put on your gas masks!”
“Got it!”
During KCTC training, one of the situations they'd encounter frequently over the ten days—a CBRN attack.
The hunters quickly pulled out their gas masks and donned them.
“Hmm. Good. You have to be prepared for this kind of thing as a basic. I'll be watching to see which battalion has the superior capabilities—2nd Battalion or 4th Battalion!”
“Understood!”
The division commander nodded in satisfaction at the hunters' swift response.
“We'll definitely come back victorious!”
“Yeah.”
With Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom's words bringing it to a close, the hunters boarded special vehicles and headed to the training ground.
“Whew. Why am I so tense over this?”
“Treat it like a real war. The moment we lose to 4th Battalion, it's over.”
“We already fell short in the Hunter Maneuver Training. If we screw up Hunter KCTC too... Ugh. I don't even want to think about it.”
Inside the bus, they double-checked their operational maps and manuals.
“Alright. Let's move the training gear first, quickly!”
“Got it!”
The Hunter Scientified Combat Training Center was designed for maximum realism, using actual cutting-edge equipment and satellites.
“Attention, all!”
“Attention!”
Captain Park Seo-hoon, company commander of 2nd Company's 2nd Battalion, began explaining the advanced equipment per the manual the moment they arrived at the training ground.
“Alright. This is a special suit that quantifies each hunter's capabilities into numbers. See the mini-monitor here? It shows your HP, right? When it drops to half, you're severely wounded. Zero means death.”
A full-body suit made of olive drab leather-like material.
The hunters would wear these special suits throughout the training period.
The firearms and main weapons they used were all training versions with no lethality.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun will come forward first and demonstrate how to put it on! Sergeant Kim Min-jun!”
“Sergeant! Kim Min-jun!”
A full-body suit in olive drab leather-like material.
Following Captain Park Seo-hoon's instructions, Kim Min-jun donned the special suit.
“See! Damage accumulated on this suit is transmitted in real-time to the training command center! It's top-of-the-line tech that accurately relays exactly which part of the body took what kind of attack.”
Captain Park Seo-hoon pointed to various spots on Kim Min-jun, who was wearing the special suit, explaining how to wear and use it.
“And HP is determined by quantifying each hunter's individual stats. Take Kim Min-jun here as an example...”
The company commander activated the monitor on Kim Min-jun's suit.
Beep. Beep-beep.
[Sergeant Kim Min-jun: HP 6,000]
“Alright! No matter how excellent a hunter's stats are, the total HP doesn't vary much. So the important thing is... Hold on. What the hell?”
Mid-sentence, he stared wide-eyed at the number on the monitor.
“Six... thousand?”
The company commander was stunned by the absurd figure.
The gear Kim Min-jun was wearing was the latest cutting-edge suit.
There was no way it was glitching.
‘HP in the thousands...’
Normally, officers with excellent stats got HP between 300 and 400.
Not even 1,000—6,000? He'd never heard of such a thing.
Just to be sure, the company commander fiddled with the monitor every which way, but the number stayed locked at 6,000.
“…Six thousand? Don't regular soldiers top out at 150 at best?”
“150 is already top-tier. Low-stat guys don't even hit 100.”
“Isn't it busted? Even for Sergeant Kim Min-jun, six thousand? What, is he a boss monster?”
“That's cutting-edge gear. You know how much one of those costs?”
The hunters murmured in shock at Kim Min-jun's overwhelming HP, questioning if it was even possible.
‘HP of 6,000? Why so high?’
Kim Min-jun felt a twinge of disappointment at the higher-than-expected HP.
‘This might make it less fun.’
On average, a single bullet to the limb shaved off 30 HP.
For normal hunters, two hits meant severe wounds, and a vital spot hit meant death.
But for someone like Kim Min-jun with over 6,000 HP...
They'd probably need to land hundreds of shots to vital areas.
“Quiet down, everyone! Training has already begun!”
“Sorry, sir!”
“Explanation's over. Everyone, change into your special suits!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Understood!”
After Captain Park Seo-hoon settled the rowdy atmosphere, he unrolled the operational map while the hunters changed into their suits.
“Are we setting up camp at the planned spot here, sir?”
Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min quickly approached him and peered at the map.
“Yeah. There were a few candidate sites, but this seems optimal. It's deep in the forest, which will drain the hunters' stamina, but it lowers exposure to the enemy.”
“I agree, this point looks good.”
“Yeah. Let's move fast, secure it, and set up camp first.”
2nd Battalion had to defend against 4th Battalion's attacks for five days first.
Then they'd get five days of attack rights.
Their top priority right now was to secure a favorable position and establish camp as quickly as possible.
“Come on, hand over your gear quick. You too, Dong-jin.”
“Corporal Kim Kwang-sik. I'm fine.”
“Private Lee Dong-jin. This is nothing.”
“It's all for our battalion's victory, you punks.”
Kim Min-jun snatched the various training gear from his comrades and took the lead.
Steep uphill mountain paths lay ahead.
“It's these little things that decide training outcomes. Just follow me and trust me. I'll show you what perfect victory looks like.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun! We trust you!”
The hunters steeled their resolve watching his back.
**
“Scouting around the camp site is complete!”
“Good. Everyone, set up tents quickly and assemble!”
“Yes, sir!”
The hunters bustled about at the company commander's order.
It was to hold an operations meeting in preparation for the imminent battle.
“Attention, all!”
“Attention!”
A short while later, 2nd Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom appeared at the command post.
“KCTC training is different from others. It's not short-term—it's a prolonged fight. That's why managing your stamina is more important than anything. Understood!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Our victory conditions are destroying the enemy-held objectives and eliminating as many enemies as possible. First, the high grounds we must defend are here.”
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom pointed out the high grounds essential for defense.
“These three spots. Especially the central high ground—if the enemy takes it, our command post is in serious danger. A ton of enemies will swarm that way.”
In other words, perfectly defending the central high ground would inflict massive casualties on the enemy.
“2nd Company takes this one. Company commander, move out and secure the position!”
“Captain! Park Seo-hoon! Understood!”
The company commander led his hunters toward the high ground.
Five days of defense period.
Whether 2nd Company held that high ground would tip the scales of victory.
‘Kim Min-jun. Who knows what that guy's going to pull off. No, he'll definitely stir things up again.’
He'd done it before, and that eager back suggested he'd do it again.
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom watched Kim Min-jun's back for a moment before starting to organize the defensive formation.
**
‘As expected. They won't come during the day.’
It had been 12 hours since 2nd Company took position on the high ground.
The current time was midnight.
No enemy movement had been detected yet.
‘No one's sleepy?’
‘Nope!’
‘All good!’
Kim Min-jun checked on his company's condition.
Being the first day of training, everyone was fresh.
‘Ugh. Finally coming. Thought I'd die of boredom waiting.’
Kim Min-jun spotted the enemy force approaching stealthily from about 2 km away.
Around 100 attackers.
‘Makes sense. I'd raid at night too.’
At night, visibility dropped to zero—you could lose your sense of direction.
Using a flashlight or such would just expose your position to the enemy.
It'd be like waving a sign saying, ‘I'm here, come attack!’
‘But it's surprising. With five days of attack time, they're coming on the first day?’
Just probing on the first try?
Kim Min-jun narrowed his eyes at the presence he sensed from afar.
Meanwhile.
The hunters were perfectly guarding the high ground, not making a single footstep sound.
‘Company commander. Enemy approaching from 3 o'clock soon.’
‘What? 3 o'clock? Let me check.’
Captain Park Seo-hoon increased the magnification on his night-vision goggles at Kim Min-jun's report.
‘…They're really coming! 2nd Company! Enemy spotted at 3 o'clock! Hold fire until they're close!’
At his signal, the company members assumed firing stances.
‘Even with night vision, spotting them from that far...’
In night combat, whoever spotted the enemy first largely decided the winner.
‘They don't know our exact position.’
Unilateral fire from a superior position.
The outcome was as good as decided.
Captain Park Seo-hoon's lips curved up slightly.
‘Company commander. 200 meters out.’
‘Wait a bit more. I'll signal when it's certain.’
‘Got it.’
The hunters held their breath, waiting for the company commander's signal.
‘Now! All 2nd Company! Fire!’
When the enemy was nearly upon them.
Thud. Thud.
The company commander stomped the ground hard, signaling to fire.
Rat-tat-tat!
The hunters prone on the ground sprang up in unison.
They then unleashed a barrage of special training rounds at the approaching enemy.
“Ambush! Ambush! 4th Company! Everyone, take cover!”
“Yes!”
“Return fire from cover! Prepare CBRN attack!”
“Yes!”
Despite the sudden onslaught, the enemy responded calmly.
They quickly found cover nearby and dispersed training CBRN gas.
“CBRN attack!”
“Gas! Gas! Gas!”
“Gas masks first! Don't pursue recklessly! Our mission is defending this high ground, period!”
“Understood!”
Special rounds flew back and forth.
Since 2nd Company had pre-positioned on the high ground, they held the advantage in the fight.
“Retreat! Fall back!”
The enemy released CBRN gas twice before withdrawing.
The first battle at the key high ground.
Out of 100+ enemies, over 30 casualties.
‘Great! That's a huge gain!’
During training, CBRN gas could be used only six times total.
The enemy had burned two just to retreat.
That difference was far from negligible.
‘Even training gas is set to drain HP steadily when inhaled. Forcing them to waste it is key too.’
As Captain Park Seo-hoon inwardly cheered.
Swoosh!
“Huh?”
Something snake-like whipped past him.