Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Hunter KCTC-6
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"Yes. That's correct."
Kim Min-jun's request was this.
On the first day that the 2nd Battalion switched to offense, he wanted a shot at the command post.
"I promise a perfect victory in just one day."
"Hah..."
The battalion commander was momentarily stunned by Kim Min-jun's outrageous claim, but soon burst into hearty laughter.
"Kahaha! After that performance you put on during defense, how could I say no? But since you made the promise, you better take full responsibility!"
"Yes, sir! Victory is guaranteed!"
"Good. I'll support you with everything we've got."
"Thank you, sir!"
When the offense and defense switched, the dead soldiers came back to life, but the surviving soldiers' HP reset as well.
In other words, Kim Min-jun was starting with 6,000 HP.
'No way they can stop him. I saw it with my own eyes.'
The guy had practically held off the command post single-handedly.
If a guy like that led troops to assault the command post...
'We didn't even use chemical agents, and we held back the monsters. Meanwhile, the 4th Battalion pulled out all the stops—traps, gas, monsters.'
That meant the 4th Battalion's firepower was severely depleted.
'They went all-in, so it's time we show them ours.'
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom immediately summoned his officers and called an operations meeting.
**
Training day 5 came to an end, and the offense-defense roles swapped.
The 2nd Battalion had fortified their defense perfectly for the remaining time, suffering minimal damage.
The 4th Battalion, on the other hand, had taken heavy losses.
Supply depots destroyed, soldiers captured, massive ammo expenditure, and more.
To reverse that gap, the 4th Battalion would need near-perfect defense.
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun! We're counting on you!"
"Wooo!"
"Yeah, count on me. I'll wrap this training up today."
"Woooaaah!"
The hunters' morale, already sensing victory, soared sky-high.
Barely scraping by against the enemy was one thing—crushing them was another.
"You lot, burn every last drop of stamina you've got left. Got it? I'll destroy the command post and take out their commander."
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
"Platoon leader, we'll be off then."
"Yeah. We'll cover the front, so make sure you take out that command post."
Kim Min-jun saluted Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min, then led his platoon into the assault.
About seventy hunters followed him.
They were the top enlisted men from the battalion, selected for their superior stats.
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun's one thing, but the battalion commander sure is generous."
"Yeah, he's not usually like that."
Right now, Kim Min-jun and his platoon were advancing toward the enemy command post in broad daylight.
The battalion commander had judged that nighttime defenses would be tighter, so they'd hit them hard during the day instead.
"He's the type who steps up when it counts. But you don't need to go that far. Got it? Perfect game."
Kim Min-jun had told his platoon there would be zero casualties.
"...Even so, assaulting the command post with no deaths? That seems impossible."
"The enemy will defend it desperately. They failed so hard on offense."
"Those punks. Just follow me and trust me. You know my HP reset, right?"
He pumped up his platoon as they marched along.
'From here on, voices down.'
'Got it.'
Kim Min-jun spotted the target area and dropped into a low stance.
'Good. Ten minutes till go-time.'
The moment enemy attention shifted forward under a hail of fire, the game would end.
Boom! Kaboom!
Exactly ten minutes later, explosions rocked the air, followed by gunfire.
"Yelp! Arf!"
"Skreee!"
They'd even deployed monsters—their cries echoed sporadically.
'Perfect. Another ten minutes gone. Moving in now!'
'Got it!'
Kim Min-jun signaled his platoon to advance.
"Ambush! Enemy at 12 o'clock—argh!"
Rat-tat-tat!
Kim Min-jun was the one who'd destroyed an enemy supply depot in under a minute.
This time, his platoon was all elite hunters with top stats.
The enemy didn't stand a chance.
"Split up from here. You guys clear out the remaining enemies at the command post and plant the explosives. I'm going for the commander."
"Yes, sir!"
"Got it? If even one of you gets a scratch, I'll chew you out."
"Understood!"
Kim Min-jun bolted straight for the enemy commander's position.
'Huh. Not here.'
The command post had no commander.
Just officers already in position.
'Ah, there you are. Staying put like that—camouflage, huh?'
But what now?
I can already see everything.
After taking out the enemy officers, Kim Min-jun dashed to the back of the command post.
'Wow. Some impressive camo.'
The battalion commander was prone in the grass, special suit blended seamlessly with natural foliage.
His camouflage was so good, you wouldn't spot him without staring for a while.
'Alright, rolling in a grenade.'
Kim Min-jun quietly lobbed a training grenade at the enemy commander.
'Lee Jun-beom! You mad bastard!'
Meanwhile.
4th Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Kim Jung-ho ground his teeth at the unforeseen situation.
It had only been three hours since the switch.
Yet the enemy hadn't chosen a slow advance.
'No way that guy's personality would pull something this crazy...'
Fire concentrated up front.
With monsters deployed, nearly all enemy forces were storming the base.
Totally unexpected.
'...Surrounded.'
Solidifying defense took time.
The enemy gave them none, crashing in like a furious wave.
Lieutenant Colonel Kim Jung-ho agonized over what to do.
Roll-roll-roll—
'Hm?'
Then something rolled right by his head.
"You son of a—"
Before he could finish, the training grenade spewed smoke and boomed.
-Announcement from Training Control: 4th Battalion commander eliminated by Sergeant Kim Min-jun. KCTC training concluded. Repeat: 4th Battalion—
At the same moment, the all-clear broadcast echoed across the training grounds.
KCTC training was over.
Kaboom!
"Damn it, you idiots. Why didn't you blow it sooner?"
Kim Min-jun smirked at the smoking command post.
**
"Hah... First time I've seen KCTC end in just six days."
In the training control room.
The officers monitoring the KCTC were stunned by the absurd result.
It usually took eight or nine days.
Finishing in six? Unheard of.
"4th Battalion commander down on day one of offense..."
"The command post troops wiped out in minutes."
The hunter who got the commander: Sergeant Kim Min-jun.
None had expected the training to end three hours after switchover. The officers pulled data with dazed expressions.
"...With results this lopsided... 2nd Battalion commander is getting that promotion."
The 2nd Battalion had dominated defense too.
Not content with quick supply depot raids, they'd held the high ground, taken prisoners, all with minimal casualties.
"...Has there ever been a result like this? 2nd Battalion casualties during training: barely eighty?"
"Nope. Never. KCTC isn't a walk in the park."
"But the prisoner count—that's a first."
"Check this out."
One lieutenant handed printed data to the captains.
"Holy... insane."
They gaped at Kim Min-jun's overwhelming stats.
"This guy's basically done it all himself."
They'd vaguely known he'd shone.
Data streamed live to control.
But seeing the stats compiled? Speechless.
"Supply depots destroyed. All prisoners solo by Sergeant Kim Min-jun. Commander kill, and his troops without even minor injuries?"
"Whew. Even special forces elites would struggle against this. Nah... they'd still lose."
"KCTC top hunter is locked in."
"Yep."
The officers nodded and wrapped up the rest.
**
"Woooaaah!"
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun! Hooray!"
"2nd Battalion wins!"
Meanwhile.
With KCTC successfully over, the hunters rushed Kim Min-jun like it was planned.
They hoisted him up for a celebratory toss.
"Hey, you punks. Put me down. I'm still in this special suit."
Kim Min-jun floated in the air a bit before landing.
He looked annoyed on the surface, but didn't seem to hate it.
"Hahaha. Kim Min-jun!"
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun!"
"Yeah, you rascal. Get over here."
As soon as he touched down, the battalion commander strode up for a handshake.
"You're 2nd Battalion's hero! Hero! Knew you'd pull it off, but taking the commander that fast? Wild!"
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun! Thank you!"
"Yeah, yeah. Keep showing that fire, and promotion's right around the corner."
"Yes, sir!"
Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom's grin stretched ear to ear.
This training sealed his colonel promotion.
"Attention, all!"
"Attention!"
"Six days of KCTC—great work, everyone. Sergeant Kim Min-jun was key, but we won because of you all! Be proud!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
"Yeah. Hard workers get rewarded."
Overjoyed, Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun-beom announced a weekend BOQ party—everyone invited.
"Gasp..."
"Whoa..."
From the notoriously strict battalion commander? Party?
Soon after.
With the commander gone, the hunters erupted in cheers.
"That exciting?"
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun! BOQ! Battalion commander approved—we're drinking and chilling from morning!"
"And that huge field with the grass! I wanna play combat soccer there!"
Having aced KCTC, every hunter beamed.
"Great job, all! Clean up nice and we'll head back. Battalion commander'll give generous combat leave."
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
At Lieutenant Kim Cheol-min's words, the hunters bustled about.
Early end to training had them motivated.
"Kim Min-jun. Go rest on the bus ahead. You worked hardest."
"Sergeant Kim Min-jun. Thank you. I'll help anyway."
"Devoted to the end. Don't overdo it."
"Got it."
Overdo? Piece of cake for me.
Shhh—
'Hm?'
As he finished up and headed for the bus.
Night Walker handed him something.