Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Staff Sergeant
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“Wooooaaah!”
“Sergeant Kim Minjun—no, Staff Sergeant Kim! Congratulations on the promotion!”
Cheers erupted through the barracks.
The squad members rushed up to Kim Minjun without a second thought, grabbing his arms and legs to hoist him into the air.
“Ugh, damn it. What the hell are you idiots doing? Put me down already.”
“How could we let a day like this just pass by?”
“To the training field!”
“Wooooaaah!”
Kim Minjun was carried off to the training field by his squad mates.
“They’re really fired up, huh. The platoon leader’s right here, and they’re pulling this stunt. Oh, and I forgot to tell him about the promotion ceremony tomorrow.”
Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin watched the scene with a pleased smile.
Normally, he’d have cracked down on them, but on a day like this, he wanted to let it slide.
The guys had been stressed out lately from those newly developed mana swords anyway.
“Hey! Sergeant Kim Minjun’s promotion is official?”
“No way! Already?”
“Sergeant Kim—no, Staff Sergeant Kim? He hasn’t even been in service for a year!”
“A year? It’s been like six months, tops.”
Word of Kim Minjun’s promotion spread like wildfire, reaching every soldier in the 2nd Company.
Even promotions from private to private aren’t a given.
In the Hunter Corps, results come first.
Of course, seniority matters too.
But getting promoted while wearing NCO stripes is at least twice as hard as for enlisted.
The performance scores required are on another level.
And there’s a mandatory service period spelled out in black and white.
“Staff Sergeant Kim Minjun is a total legend…”
“At this rate, he’ll be a Master Sergeant by next year.”
“No way he stops at Master Sergeant. He could even go officer.”
“Insane special promotions from enlisted were badass enough, but now special promotion as an NCO too?”
Soldiers from the other companies watched the squad hazing him on the training field, chatting in disbelief.
**
The next morning.
Mana sword adaptation training was scheduled as usual, but the promotion ceremony pushed it back to the afternoon.
The promotee, naturally, was Kim Minjun.
Until now, Lieutenant Kim Cheolmin had just slapped on the rank insignia half-assed, but they were doing this NCO promotion by the book.
“Kim Minjun! Front and center!”
At the company commander’s order, Kim Minjun ascended the platform with measured steps.
“There’s been so much going on in the unit lately that we’ve had to postpone all sorts of events against my better judgment. I regret that.”
The battalion commander extended a hand for a shake, a warm smile on his face.
He removed the sergeant insignia from Kim Minjun’s collar and personally pinned on the staff sergeant ones.
“Staff Sergeant Kim Minjun! Thank you, sir!”
“Indeed. Normally, we’d verify you can handle mana swords in a dungeon too, but the division commander and I pushed hard for this. We wanted to get that staff sergeant rank on you ASAP.”
“Thank you, sir! I’ll work even harder!”
“Let’s see if you can work any harder than you already do.”
The battalion commander let out a hearty laugh, clearly in high spirits.
As Kim Minjun stepped down from the platform, the cheers exploded.
“Waaaaah!”
“Staff Sergeant Kim Minjun! Congratulations on the promotion!”
“Kim Minjun! Kim Minjun!”
Voices shook the entire base.
Male and female hunters alike celebrated like it was their own achievement.
“You’re doing well in your service.”
The battalion commander glanced around and nodded.
It was the first time he’d seen such a hot reaction during a promotion ceremony.
‘Staff sergeant, huh. Took a bit longer than I expected.’
One more stripe added before he knew it.
Kim Minjun felt satisfied with the promotion, but a twinge of regret too.
Hunter Headquarters had dragged their feet on his service time, delaying things.
“Staff Sergeant Kim Minjun… I’d love to throw a celebration after duty, but…”
“Training’s been brutal lately, so probably not for a while.”
Back in the barracks after the ceremony.
The squad mates approached with apologetic looks.
The morning schedule had lightened up thanks to the ceremony.
But their top priority was still getting used to those mana swords.
“You guys nailing training and racking up performance scores? That’s how you help me.”
Kim Minjun brushed it off—he wasn’t one to dwell on stuff like this—and told them to focus on training.
*Ding.*
“What’s this.”
That evening.
A message from Son Eunseo.
Asking if he was free this weekend.
Kim Minjun: Mana swords owe a ton to me, right? Dinner ain’t gonna cut it.
Son Eunseo: I know. But… my dad says he wants to see you personally… that okay?
An unexpectedly cautious reply.
With unexpected content.
‘Oh… this.’
Kim Minjun’s eyes gleamed.
‘All that farming paying off… nah.’
He’d just helped out his friend here and there.
He hadn’t gone extra for Son Eunseo because her dad was division commander or anything like that.
Of course not.
Son Eunseo: If it’s weird, just say so. Even if it’s personal, Dad being division commander is still a thing…
Kim Minjun: When do I leave? I got leave stacked up.
Normally, he’d read and ghost her messages or skip replying because it was a hassle.
But this time, he fired back at light speed.
‘This… is item farming.’
**
“Hey, why bother buying clothes? Just wear the hunter uniform.”
“What are you talking about? Even Dad doesn’t wear uniform at home. I’ll buy ’em, so just wear them.”
Saturday afternoon.
On leave, Kim Minjun and Son Eunseo headed to the department store first.
“Wow… is that your boyfriend? Your girlfriend hit the jackpot.”
“What model are you? Insane… the fit is unreal…”
He stepped out in sharp civilian clothes, and all eyes turned to him.
Towering over 180 cm easy.
Defined muscles popping even under the fabric.
Zero effort on looks, yet top 1% face.
Add department store threads, and the synergy was killer.
“Not bad… I guess.”
Even the seemingly indifferent Son Eunseo snuck glances.
He usually stuck to uniforms, but if he dressed up like this regularly, female hunters wouldn’t leave him alone.
“Thank you! Come again!”
“Hey, you sure about this? You’re not overdoing it? Can you afford all this?”
“You know hunter corps pay is fat. Now with staff sergeant, you’re raking it in, right?”
Son Eunseo eyed him up and down, insisting he get some civvies.
“Hunter uniforms are comfy and practical as hell.”
Not long ago, he’d handed Kim Seohyun wads of cash and sent her shopping.
He wired Lee Bonggu plenty for living expenses every month too.
Generous to those close, but stingy on himself.
“Oh. Could’ve dumped a million won into DFO cash shop with this.”
Exceptions: food and games.
“Whatever. Anyway, when we see my dad, please be polite. I’m begging you.”
Chatting away, they arrived at Son Eunseo’s place.
She knew his personality well, so she pleaded for him to rein it in.
“Don’t worry. I can read a room.”
He gave her shoulder a light pat and headed inside.
“Sir! Staff Sergeant Kim Minjun reporting!”
“Haha. I called you here to chat casually—no need for that formality.”
Her father, reading the newspaper on the sofa, offered a handshake.
“Thank you, sir!”
Even in plain clothes, a division commander had that aura.
“What’s with all the shopping bags? You two on a date?”
“Dad! No… Father! Listen! This guy came out on leave still insisting on hunter uniform!”
“Yeah, my daughter who barely cares about guys talks about you plenty.”
“Why would you say that!”
“You two seem close—what’s wrong with it? Haha.”
Their banter showed a tight father-daughter bond.
“I’ve looked out for her as usual.”
Kim Minjun answered matter-of-factly.
Son Eunseo shot him a dirty look, but Son Taeho chuckled and pulled something from his pocket.
“My daughter owes you a lot, so I wanted to give you a personal gift.”
Something wrapped in newspaper.
Son Taeho carefully peeled back the layers, revealing a strangely shaped stone fragment.
‘Oh… that’s?’
Kim Minjun clocked the item and nearly whooped.
‘It’s a rune stone!’
An A-rank item: rune stone.
‘Damn… wearing a star gets you stuff like this, huh.’
His summons had scouted items everywhere, but never once a rune stone.
‘Drops from high-level monsters at like one in a hundred thousand odds.’
Rumor had it Hunter Headquarters had fewer than a hundred.
Ultra-rare.
‘The pattern… need a closer look.’
The rune stone—geometric patterns carved into the odd-shaped rock—unlocked effects based on the design.
Boost strength stat, create a new stat, etc.
Leagues beyond elixirs.
“Like it? Took a lot of pull. Traded three years of item allotments for it.”
Son Taeho brushed his cheek and handed it over quick.
“That rune stone’ll permanently bump your stamina stat by about 10. If your stats are already high, it’ll be halved, but still.”
“T-ten?”
Son Eunseo yelped in shock.
Shocking enough to hand over a rune stone casually, let alone a top-value one.
How much did he like Kim Minjun?
“Division Commander, sir. I never helped Eunseo expecting payback. She’s my friend, even if I’m an NCO now.”
Kim Minjun didn’t snatch it, replying with a serious face.
‘Snag it now and I’m third-rate.’
He’d figured helping her would pay off, but not with an item this good.
‘Gotta build the thorough image here.’
More benefits down the line.
“Hahaha! Any other hunter would’ve lunged with fire in their eyes—impressive self-control!”
Son Taeho loved it, laughing loud enough to shake the living room.
“Of course, my gift has some personal motive.”
“Motive, sir?”
Why would a star in the Hunter Corps have ulterior motives for him?
“Off the record, but about 10% of Hunter Headquarters’ general officers have their eye on you.”
“Didn’t catch that?”
Son Taeho gave a meaningful smile and continued.
“The generals have their eyes on Hunter Staff Sergeant Kim Minjun. The generals, that is.”