Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Hunter KCTC-3
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“Kyaaak!”
“W-what is it!”
“Aaack!”
The enemy troops who had been firing stopped dead as they were yanked one by one, like fish caught on a fishing line.
“What the hell! Who’s attacking us? I told you not to chase them recklessly!”
The company commander panicked at this unplanned development and whipped his head around.
“It’s Sergeant Kim Min-jun! Don’t worry, I won’t overdo it! Leave it to me!”
Wondering what was going on, he checked and saw Kim Min-jun whirling a training whip over his head.
He looked just like a cowboy straight out of a Western.
“What the—? You’re using a whip like that?”
The company commander gaped at Kim Min-jun’s whip, utterly baffled.
The whip he threw moved like a living snake, snagging the fleeing enemies one by one.
‘If we subdue the enemy alive, they become our prisoners right away.’
That translated directly to training points—and a hefty bonus.
Capturing enemies alive was incredibly difficult in itself.
‘KCTC training is usually all or nothing.’
Kill the enemy or get killed by them.
One or the other.
Yet here was Kim Min-jun pulling it off with a mere training whip... It was hard to believe even watching it happen.
“Company commander! We’ve captured the enemy as prisoners!”
“Fall back! Don’t look behind, just run!”
With one unexpected crisis after another, the enemy side popped smoke grenades and focused solely on retreat.
‘My Dark Mage eyes see right through it!’
Kim Min-jun acted like it was no big deal, whipping the smoke and snagging even more enemies.
“Any injured or casualties, report immediately!”
“2nd Company 1st Platoon, no injuries or casualties!”
“2nd Company 2nd Platoon, no injuries or casualties!”
“2nd Company 3rd Platoon, five light injuries!”
The brief skirmish, lasting about thirty minutes, came to an end.
The company commander took reports from each platoon and radioed the command post.
“Eagle, Eagle. This is Owl 2. Ready to report.”
-Owl 2, this is Eagle. Send your report.
The command post buzzed with surprise, audible even over the radio as the company commander gave his briefing.
It had been a short fight, but the enemy numbered over a hundred.
They’d held a superior position, inflicted losses on the enemy force, and even burned through their chemical gear.
But that wasn’t what shocked command.
It was Sergeant Kim Min-jun single-handedly capturing nearly twenty enemy prisoners.
That alone would skyrocket the battalion’s morale.
-Hold position until further orders.
Captain Park Seo-hoon ended the radio call and ordered the company to tighten security.
“Don’t celebrate yet! It’s only the first day of training. The enemy’s pulled back for now, but with prisoners in hand, they might hit us again! Stay sharp!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Got it!”
A near-perfect first battle.
Buoyed by high morale, the company held the hill without fatigue until the designated time.
“Water?”
“N-no, I’m fine.”
“I’m... good too.”
“If your breathing gets short or anything, speak up. I tied you pretty tight.”
“Yes...”
Kim Min-jun had gathered his twenty-point haul—no, his prisoners—in one spot and bound them securely to prevent escape.
‘This can’t be real?’
‘I told you the whip moved like it was alive!’
‘Even so, how does it just snap in a new direction like that?’
The enemies muttered in low voices, incredulous at Kim Min-jun’s impossible weapon mastery.
‘Nice. Smooth start to day one.’
Kim Min-jun confirmed the enemies’ presence fading into the distance and smirked.
The enemy had about eight hundred troops total.
Nearly forty killed or captured—that was a solid haul.
*Ding.*
[Whip of Pain skill level up!]
[Whip of Pain skill level up!]
‘Didn’t expect weapon proficiency to rise too.’
Ah.
More than that, he wanted to push forward already.
Attacking scored way higher than defending.
**
Day one of KCTC training passed like that, giving way to day two.
“Right here! Here! And set traps up to this point!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Be ready to move out fast!”
“Understood!”
The battalion commander, who’d been monitoring enemy movements, ordered training traps deployed.
Traps were limited, so placement had to be precise.
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom predicted enemy paths and planned to cover weak spots with traps.
“Attention on the battalion commander!”
“Attention!”
“We’re entering day two of KCTC training. Yesterday, 2nd Company defended the high ground brilliantly. But! The real test starts now.”
The battalion commander unrolled the ops map and pointed to a spot.
“Usually on defense day three, monsters pour out from here unexpectedly. 4th Battalion took hits on day one, so they might release them today.”
Each battalion got one monster support request to training control.
When approved, division released processed monsters and directed them to the target.
All hunter gear in KCTC had no lethality.
Monsters were specially treated before deployment too.
“Division monsters are always low-grade. But we won’t know the type until they’re out. The moment the enemy releases theirs, read their intent! Understood?”
“Understood!”
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom finished explaining and pondered.
‘Use Kim Min-jun to block monsters? Or destroy the enemy’s main base?’
Defense day two.
Defenders generally couldn’t attack.
But certain bases could only be hit during defense.
‘One’s the supply depot.’
Destroy the hunter mess hall, and they’d survive on combat rations alone.
That meant at least two days without proper food.
In a prolonged war, hitting supply lines was key to victory.
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun.”
“Sergeant! Kim Min-jun!”
“Come talk for a sec.”
“Yes, sir!”
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom brought Kim Min-jun into the command post.
“If I ordered you to blow the enemy supply depot, what would you do?”
“Follow orders, sir.”
No hesitation, not even a second.
Kim Min-jun’s heart raced at the unexpected command.
‘Oh. Day two of defense, and an attack chance already?’
A supply line raid—a true gamble.
It was in a tough spot, heavily guarded, with risk of capture over death.
High risk meant high training points.
‘That confident face. Worth betting on this guy.’
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom nodded at the energetic reply.
His promotion rode on this training.
Poor results in the last hunter drill meant he needed a win, even if it meant pushing hard.
‘A plain victory won’t cut it. I need to crush 4th Battalion to open the promotion path.’
The battalion commander gathered his thoughts and spoke.
“Can’t spare many hunters. Just one squad at most. Stealth and speed are key.”
“One squad’s plenty, sir. We’ll blow the depot and all return alive.”
“Good. Sergeant Kim Min-jun, I’m assigning this because of your track record. I expect results.”
“Sergeant! Kim Min-jun! Thank you, sir!”
Kim Min-jun stepped out to pick his squad.
‘Prioritize high agility stats. Corporals and sergeants mainly.’
In and out fast—mobility first.
‘Lee Seung-ho. Solid all-around stats, he’s in... Rest based on agility and stamina.’
He reviewed battalion stats carefully, selecting his team.
For perfection.
“Loyalty! Sergeant Kim Min-jun, sir! You called?”
“Yeah. All of you, over here.”
A short time later.
Eight sergeants approached at Kim Min-jun’s summons.
“You guys, work with me on something.”
“Work, sir?”
“We just finished setting traps.”
“Nah, not that. Something offensive.”
The hunters looked puzzled.
Only day two of defense, and suddenly an attack?
“You’re with me to destroy the supply depot.”
“Th-the supply depot?”
“That’s way too risky!”
“Even for you, Sergeant Kim Min-jun, we’d get swarmed the second we’re near!”
Day two depot raid.
Too aggressive.
The hunters called it a gamble.
“The battalion commander assigned it to me personally. You too, of course.”
“The battalion commander?”
“Oh...”
They sighed at the mention.
‘Battalion commander’s lost it, gunning for promotion.’
‘Even so, depot on day two?’
Soldier survival time factored into evaluations.
Wipe on day two? Worst scores.
“Scaredy-cats.”
Kim Min-jun grinned and flicked on the mini-monitor for show.
“My HP’s 6,000. You won’t die. If it looks bad, I’ll handle it and get you out. Still no? Name one time I’ve failed.”
The hunters swallowed hard at his cocky vibe.
“None, sir.”
“None!”
None.
He’d crushed it every time.
‘With that HP and Sergeant Kim Min-jun’s physique...’
‘Worth a shot.’
‘Just blow the depot... No worries on points.’
They nodded in unison, like they’d rehearsed.
“Alright. Prep time.”
“Yes, sir!”
And so Sergeant Kim Min-jun, Lee Seung-ho, and the sergeants took on the special depot destruction mission at dawn the next day.
**
Time passed. 3 a.m.
Kim Min-jun led his squad toward the enemy supply depot.
‘Everyone freeze. Take cover!’
He sensed enemies ahead and signaled the squad to hide.
Step. Step.
Moments later, enemies passed nearby.
The squad stayed silent, barely breathing.
‘They’re gone!’
‘Good. Move when I signal.’
‘Yes, sir!’
Two hours of this cautious advance.
They finally reached just before the depot.
‘Huh? Everyone stop! Don’t move!’
Kim Min-jun spotted something strung between trees and signaled the squad to halt.