Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Group Vacation - 1
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Four days had passed since the dungeon raid ended.
“Gaaaaazuaaa!”
“Group vacation!”
The squad members, who had synced up their leave schedules, reported to the officers and headed out of the base with excited expressions.
“Wow, Kim Kwang-sik. Check out that crisp combat uniform. It could slice paper.”
“You guys were dousing yourselves in cologne and perfume since yesterday to kill that barracks smell. You think that’s gonna work?”
“Shut up. When’s the next chance like this gonna come?”
Thanks to Kim Min-jun, the unbelievable group vacation with the female hunters had actually been approved.
Crisp combat uniforms and combat boots polished to a mirror shine.
The squad members had put more effort into their appearance than usual.
“Son Eun-seo and her entire squad are coming too. And the place we’re going is that special resort in Sokcho that’s only for officers!”
“What? For real?”
“Can we even go there?”
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun applied, and it got approved in under ten minutes.”
At the mention of the special resort, everyone’s eyes went wide.
And for good reason—they knew regular soldiers were absolutely barred from it.
“Hey, don’t you need final approval from the battalion commander to go there?”
“Probably.”
“Wow, Sergeant Kim Min-jun’s status must come with a free pass to the special resort.”
The special resort in Sokcho.
It had been hastily built with taxpayer money thanks to the hot springs that bubbled up near the dungeon.
Hunter Command figured it’d rake in a fortune if opened to civilians.
“Well, with hot water gushing nonstop, they weren’t gonna let it sit unused.”
“Plus, all the nearby dungeons are cleared, and no monsters have shown up in the year since completion. Safety’s proven.”
“Nice. Hunter Command actually did something right. Half beach, half hot springs, right?”
Water analysis showed it packed high-grade hot spring components.
Especially ones great for skin care, so it was already popular among female hunters.
But opening it to civilians required more procedures.
So for now, it was only open to Hunter Army officers.
“This is why being in the Hunter Army rocks.”
“One good senior makes army life smooth sailing.”
Of course, capacity was limited, and plenty of officers wanted in.
So there was an unspoken rule: don’t even apply unless you hit a certain rank or seniority.
A rule that didn’t apply to Sergeant Kim Min-jun, naturally.
“They’re hyped, huh.”
The squad members strolled over, humming tunes.
Kim Min-jun smirked at them.
“Sir!”
“Sir!”
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun! I’ll ace the next training for sure!”
Spotting him, they snapped to attention with booming voices and salutes.
“Do that all the time, and you’ll special-promote like me.”
“Nah, that ain’t happening.”
“Anyway, how’s the ride? Battalion commander’s lending us a special vehicle since it’s a group outing.”
“Whoa… Battalion commander hooked us up with a vehicle?”
“Never seen that in over three years of service…”
They chatted a bit.
“Sir!”
“Thank you for inviting us, Sergeant Kim Min-jun!”
Son Eun-seo and her squad arrived right on time.
‘Hey, how the hell did you get permission for this? And what’s with that vehicle?’
Son Eun-seo whispered as soon as she saw the idling special vehicle.
Her worried tone suggested she feared he’d pulled some stunt again.
‘Just applied, and it got approved right away?’
‘Even with regular soldiers?’
‘Yeah. They even threw in the vehicle.’
‘Whoa… What gives? I casually asked Dad once, and he said abusing power like that gets you in big trouble.’
Kim Min-jun struck a smug pose at her incredulous face.
“This is me.”
“…I’ll give you this one. Where’s the driver for the special vehicle?”
“Right here.”
“…Say what?”
“I’ll drive you all to the resort and back to base.”
The lively chatter died instantly.
“…Sergeant Kim Min-jun?”
“Yeah?”
“Heard you don’t have a license.”
Corporal Lee Seung-ho asked cautiously.
Kim Min-jun reassured the hunters.
“Got it yesterday. Fresh 1st-class large vehicle license. Real men go for 1st-class. Trained on Euro Truck Simulator for real-world prep too.”
“…Yesterday?”
“The requirements for large licenses got risky with the changes… Wait, what’s Euro Truck?”
“It’s a driving game. Modern games are insanely good.”
The hunters’ faces stiffened.
Sergeant Kim Min-jun got his license?
Yesterday?
“Hey, anyone driven a bus here?”
“No bus? Anyone driven an SUV? Step up! Quick!”
“I’ve got three years of driving experience. Let me do it, sir! Sergeant Kim Min-jun!”
No way could Sergeant Kim Min-jun take the wheel.
The squad panicked.
“Quit it. You think I’d blemish my record? If you can’t trust me, walk.”
“Urk…”
“Please let us return alive…”
A once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Ultimately, the hunters squeezed their eyes shut and boarded.
“I’ll drive safe, so relax.”
*I hit 200 hours on Euro Truck yesterday.*
**
“See? That’s the power of Euro Truck.”
“…You really got the license yesterday?”
“Check the issue date. Why else would I leave a day early?”
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun’s a natural at driving too.”
They arrived at the resort without incident.
The hunters tilted their heads at his skill.
It felt like a seasoned driver was at the wheel, even with eyes closed.
“Anyway, safety’s proven here, but stick together just in case. Keep weapons in sight. Hot springs are for night, so let’s hit the beach first.”
Kim Min-jun briefed the squad and pointed at the sea.
*Whoosh.*
Waves that cooled you just looking.
A wide expanse of fine sand.
And hardly any crowds.
“Yes, sir!”
“Got it!”
Eager to maximize time, the squad sprinted to the changing rooms.
“Coming as a group but just lounging? No fun in that.”
Kim Min-jun grinned at their retreating backs.
“Gotta whip them into shape for the training ahead.”
**
The hunters changed into military combat swimsuits and gathered on the beach.
Zero style, nauseating camo green.
Normally, they’d gripe: *Why military swimsuits on vacation?*
“This place makes military swimsuits worth it.”
“Fair.”
But no complainers here.
“Impressive physiques, hunters.”
The female hunters’ eyes sparkled at 2nd Squad’s bodies.
All of them sported defined abs.
“Hunter Army training’s tough, but abs are hard to build. You guys must’ve worked hard.”
“Thanks. You ladies too.”
“We’ve been training hard lately.”
Chatter didn’t last.
“Whoa…”
“Look at Sergeant Kim Min-jun’s body.”
When Kim Min-jun stripped off his top, the women’s gazes locked on.
“How much training for that?”
“Ten years minimum, right?”
Muscles denser than anyone else’s.
Scars that enhanced rather than detracted.
*Damn it.*
*Should’ve trained harder.*
Son Eun-seo and the female hunters couldn’t look away.
The squad felt deflated, oddly defeated.
“Attention.”
“Attention!”
“Beach time till dinner. Skip my planned events if you want. No pressure, speak up.”
Kim Min-jun outlined the schedule simply.
*Combat volleyball, then combat swimming, then long-distance round trip?*
Pure PT. They winced.
“Boring without stakes. First-place team gets my personal prize money.”
“Gasp!”
“That much?”
Motivation ignited at the huge sum.
“First: 2.99 million won. Second: 10,000. Teammates with me get my share too.”
“Yesssss!”
Teams of four formed for combat volleyball.
“Please take care of us, Sergeant Kim Min-jun!”
“Prize is ours.”
His teammates beamed, taking positions.
“Hang on, rethink.”
“Sergeant Kim Min-jun! Even without prize, how do we beat you?!”
His opponents demanded a handicap.
“Handicap? Sounds fun.”
Kim Min-jun smirked, letting them.
More entertaining that way.
“We’ll serve first!”
Positions set.
Corporal Lee Seung-ho served from the opposite side.
Team 1: Kim Min-jun, Son Eun-seo, two female hunters.
Team 2: Lee Seung-ho, Lee Dong-jin, two female hunters.
“Nice quick attack!”
“Keep it up!”
“Take down Team 1!”
Team 2 racked up points with aggressive plays.
Kim Min-jun had a penalty: couldn’t join till they hit 8.
“Oh…”
“Who’s that? Corporal Lee Seung-ho?”
“How’s he so good…?”
Team 1 sulked after conceding 8 fast.
“No sweat. I got this.”
“S-Sergeant Kim Min-jun…”
“Thank you!”
The women brightened as he rolled his shoulders and stepped in.
“Fun so far, Lee Seung-ho?”
“Corporal Lee Seung-ho. Even against Sergeant Kim Min-jun, volleyball’s mine.”
Lee Seung-ho replied confidently.
Fair.
His power control was impeccable.
“Come at me.”
Kim Min-jun laughed mockingly at him.
*Think I don’t know how many hours of volleyball I played with the faithful in that other world?*