Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Black Killer Warriors - 6
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Even amidst the chaos, the announcer was pushing forward with the next event.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ Congratulations to the victorious Autumn-Steel Team. Next up is a demonstration of throwing techniques. Soldiers who had been waiting sprang into action, hauling over a massive wooden target board and a wooden crate. When they flipped open the lid, it revealed daggers and axes inside.
The prepared soldiers gripped the weapons and took their positions, readying themselves for the throws.
"Noona, you hold the axe like this."
Steel, who had been watching from my side, started explaining everything from how to grip it to how to throw it.
"Keep your eyes on the target, not the axe. Want to give it a try?"
"Can a regular person even do this?"
"We've set the target far enough back that it won't bounce toward you. Just don't throw it behind you."
"Got it. I absolutely won't throw it backward. Steel, you stick right behind me."
Steel, who had broken out in a cold sweat at my words, insisted on demonstrating first and stepped forward with an axe in hand.
As the soldiers from the left began throwing one by one, Steel's turn came. He raised his left hand to balance himself and hurled it with all his might.
The axe spun through the air and embedded dead center in the target board.
— Viewer Whoa, that hit rate is insane. — Viewer LOL don't piss off the leaker. No wonder they're Black Killer Warriors. "That's how you do it."
"Whoa, you nailed it."
Steel handed me a throwing axe. I gripped it and took my position, and he adjusted my stance this way and that.
"Here goes."
I followed his instructions—spread my legs slightly, balanced with my left hand, eyed the target, and threw with everything I had. The axe whistled through the air as it flew.
—Kwachijik!! Kwang!
I looked over. The throwing axe had pulverized the corner of the target and was lodged in the dirt.
"...?"
"Tougher to hit than I thought."
Steel stared at me with a dumbfounded expression, tilting his head.
— Viewer Boss is hilarious LOL. — Viewer Damn, she looks like peach dessert but hits like a truck LOL. The announcer, eyeing the shattered target, hurriedly wrapped it up.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ Uh... that's the throwing demonstration. Next, we'll head to the main hall. We moved with the soldiers to the hall, where the troops inside were bustling about, setting food on the tables.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ Enjoy the prepared food while watching the video presentation. Due to the classified nature of most special forces training, they showed footage of sessions that were hard to film.
"Cheol-ah, these tangerines are amazing."
"Have mine too, noona."
After eating and watching the videos, the special forces troops put on a martial arts demonstration.
—Euyaaaak!
The unit members flew through the air with fierce kiais. Videos floating around online hadn't done them justice—the pressure and power in every move were no joke.
Especially the punches aimed toward the audience stands carried the weight of years of grueling training.
"That build, and he flies around like that."
— Viewer Seeing it live is terrifying AF. — Viewer Boss, we're scared... ⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ That concludes the martial arts demonstration by the 901 Special Operations Unit members. As the martial arts demo wrapped up and the announcer moved to the next segment, I shot my hand up and leaped onto the stage.
"Can I borrow the mic?"
"Ah, sure. Here you go."
"A... A! Mic check—can all you Black Killer Warriors hear me?!" My voice boomed through the hall, and the silence shattered into roars from the soldiers.
—Waaah!!!!
"Here's a song for our hardworking Black Killer Warriors!" — Viewer Hell yeah, knew our attention-whore boss would deliver! I'd blurted it out without thinking, but now on stage, I realized I had no song prepared. After some agonizing, I made up my mind and opened my mouth.
"High mountains, deep valleys, silent ridges." "We march to the snowy front lines." — Viewer Oof, boss's song choices are disastrously on point again LOL. — Viewer LOL our boss slays military marches too. "Wounded old pine forgets its words." Not long after I started the military march, the soldiers joined in with a chorus.
"Whoa! Thanks for singing along. Fighting to our always-hardworking soldiers!" —Waaah!!!! Han Ga-eul!! Han Ga-eul!! Han Ga-eul!!
— Viewer Fox-bitch has no broth left, claims Black Killer Warriors as her own. — Viewer Screw it, gotta room with Black Killer Warriors now? LOL — Viewer Such a vixen LOL. After the short performance, we went through more training events until it was time for the final one.
We headed down the mountain with the soldiers, where several bulging rucksacks were laid out.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ Those rucksacks weigh 40kg each—full combat loads. The first team to shoulder them, grab the flag at the summit, and return wins. The soldiers gathered at the rucksacks smeared camo cream on their faces and started hoisting them on.
"Whoa, Steel, you look cool. Legs okay?"
"No problem."
"Don't get hurt. Do your best."
I watched Steel head to his team after a quick greeting. It had everyone from squad leaders to guys lugging massive radios.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ Teams will encounter numerous obstacles en route. From what the announcer said, it wasn't just endurance—the course had noisy tripwire mines, enemies hiding in the brush played by soldiers, and all sorts of traps. Getting caught meant freezing in place for three minutes.
— Viewer Sounds fun AF LOL wanna try it. — Viewer Boss not joining? "Guys, this isn't a sports day. Simple stuff like before is one thing, but I'd just be a nuisance in pro training like this."
— Viewer Fair point LOL. — Viewer Yeah, step on a mine and you're stuck? I'd be too scared LOL. As I chatted with viewers, the announcer's voice rang out. The two teams stood in perfect formation.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ Watch the feed from the body cams around the teams' necks on the screens below. I waved to Steel's team, poised and awaiting the start signal.
"Steel, do great! Fighting!"
Steel waved back with an awkward grin. One of his teammates called out.
"Noona, autograph if we win?"
"Why am I your noona?"
One quip, and all the soldiers' faces fell.
"And I'm not even a celeb. What's with the autograph requests?"
They'd clearly been hoping—they were the Black Killer Warriors, human weapons, yet they all looked so down.
"Jeez, you big lugs. Fine, no autograph, but I'll write your names pretty. Happy now?"
— Viewer Jealous, want boss's autograph too. — Viewer LOL way to get boss autograph = join Black Killer Warriors. — Viewer WTF is the difficulty on that autograph real LOL. The Black Killer Warriors' eyes lit up at the promise. Feeling mischievous, I added,
"Winning team gets a handshake too!"
"Oh!!"
"Sergeant Jang, why are you cheering?"
"Shut it! Solo starting today."
I couldn't fathom why they were so thrilled over a non-celeb's scribble.
"But no hugs for the injured. Be careful out there."
—Yes!!
The Black Killer Warriors chorused back in unison like they'd rehearsed—it was adorable.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ Teams, you're clear to start! The training kicked off. Time passed, and one of Steel's teammates snagged a ground wire. The other team surged ahead.
They couldn't close the gap. The opposing team returned with the flag first.
— Viewer LOL they look like they lost their country. — Viewer Steel Team is comedy gold LOL. "Everyone slips up sometimes. Why the funeral faces?"
The late-arriving team members looked utterly dejected.
"Jeez, losing team, come here."
They finally looked up and shuffled over one by one.
"Losers get hugs. C'mere, all of you."
Their eyes went wide, but they approached. I patted their backs as I hugged them one by one.
"Good work. No injuries?"
"N-No, ma'am..."
— Viewer Damn, where do those guys live? — Viewer Why even ask? Recruiting for a suicide pact? LOL — Viewer Boss why so sweet FML so jealous. I saved Steel for last, patting his back in a hug, then glanced at the winners. They stared back with eyes full of betrayal.
"What's with the grudging looks?"
I sighed and spread my arms. Their faces lit up as the winning team rushed over. I hugged and patted them one by one too.
"Once I hug you, you're all my babies. Got it?"
"Yes, noona!"
Muscular, intimidating Black Killer Warriors chorusing like that? I could only laugh.
"Even half-joking, I'm way younger though?"
One fierce-looking soldier replied.
"We're soldiers. Age doesn't matter. Lots of my seniors are younger than me."
"Fine, fine. My babies it is."
As I chatted with the Black Killer Warriors, Grandmaster Cheonhajin approached.
"No hugs for gramps."
He gave me an exasperated look.
"I'm not doing it, kid."
I grinned at his face and approached with arms out.
"How'd you get so tall?"
As I held my arms open close up, he slowly bent down.
"Can't do my baby, but I'll granddaughter-hug gramps."
He chuckled heartily, murmured "Go ahead," and patted my back.
"Ga-eul, don't get swept up in the power."
His quiet whisper left me puzzled. He laughed and ruffled my hair.
"Come visit your gramps again."
"...Yeah."
He finished, peeled a insignia from his uniform, and pinned it to my shoulder.
"Three stars stand for defending the nation, prosperity, and unification."
I stared blankly at Grandpa pinning it to my fatigues. Steel and the soldiers approached from behind.
"Noona, this is a Black Killer Warrior badge."
I stood silent as Steel unpinned his from his uniform and attached it to my collar. Then the others started adding theirs one by one.
Meanwhile, the battalion commander took something from a soldier and handed it to me—a name tag reading "Han Ga-eul."
"Looks good?"
The soldiers all thumbs-upped in unison.
⚙ ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ That concludes the scheduled events. Great job, everyone. As the announcer's voice signaled the end amid my outfit flexing, we exchanged laughing goodbyes with the soldiers.