Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 17 It Doesn’t Work on Me (4)

“If you can’t do it, stop getting angry and go in.”

“…You b*stard.”

Private Jo Taekwang retreated, fuming alone. He probably didn’t expect me to respond this way. He thought I would cower if he scared me.

That’s how it was before the regression.

What was so scary back then?

Anyway.

It feels a bit refreshing to have given him a blow, but it’s a bit disappointing to end it like this.

Before the regression, he used to pressure the squad members like this and acted as if he was the captain, not just a squad leader.

Cursing was a given, and if the battle didn’t go well, he would even hit the back of their heads.

To repay all that, I should give him a few more hits.

Is there no way to do that?

Actually, there is a way. The last battle item that will take place tomorrow.

It’s a sparring match between the privates.

If I get to face Private Jo Taekwang then, I can attack him legally.

Such sparring matches are usually between those of similar levels, so normally I would face another private, but the situation is a bit different now.

The Modang Station incident.

Considering that, they might pair me with another target. And that other target could very well be Private Jo Taekwang.

“How much do you all know about the Zabrek?”

Hoping for that, I asked the squad members again.

They were looking at me as if I were their savior.

“I know it’s a dog-like monster.”

“I heard its body length is about 1.3 meters.”

“I heard its claws are so sharp that they can easily tear through combat uniforms.”

“If you get bitten by its teeth, it could chew through to the bone.”

One by one, they started to speak. A short woman next to me also chimed in.

“It has strong attack power but weak defense.”

Private Kim Jungmi. She was in the same 3rd company and 3rd platoon as me.

“What do you know about it, Private Koo Yunho~?”

Her voice and tone were so gentle that I almost mistook it for flirting. So I’m a bit taken aback now. She wasn’t like this before the regression.

She used to completely ignore me.

Whenever I said something, she would say, ‘What do you know? You don’t have any skills. Just follow quietly. Don’t flap your mouth unnecessarily.’

She practically treated me as if I didn’t exist.

“I know the same. The best strategy is to be careful of its claws and teeth and target its weak defense.”

“Right, right.”

Clapping along in agreement.

It’s not that I don’t understand at all.

If something goes wrong, someone could get seriously hurt, and the evaluation score is at stake, so they probably wanted to leave it to the best person.

But saying, ‘It’s all going to be ruined because of someone,’ and openly pointing fingers was a bit too much, wasn’t it?

Even if my skills were poor, I could still pull my weight among the privates.

Remembering Private Kim Jung-mi, who had been like that, I couldn’t see her in a good light.

It was a bit disgusting.

“Don’t you know anything, mister?”

When I asked with a nod, Private Jo Tae-kwang, who had been silent all along, spoke.

“I’ve already said everything, what more do you want? Let’s just elect the squad leader quickly.”

He was still eager for the squad leader role. After all, he’d get extra points compared to being a squad member, and people like him enjoy having others under their thumb.

That’s why.

“Honestly, I don’t think Private Jo Tae-kwang is bad.”

Someone said.

That was the beginning.

“I think the same.”

“Well, having a strong person in charge would definitely make the battle easier.”

“Yes, I hate to admit it, but we have to. I think Private Jo Tae-kwang is the right choice for squad leader.”

The squad members cautiously expressed their opinions.

Indeed.

As a human being, Private Jo Tae-kwang was terrible, but as a comrade in battle, there was no one better.

As someone said, in this field, strength was everything.

“Hahaha. Yes, that’s how it should have been from the start.”

Private Jo Tae-kwang spoke in a somewhat excited tone, as if he wanted me to hear.

Regardless, I said what I had to say.

“Alright. Then let’s make Private Jo Tae-kwang the first squad leader.”

Since the first opportunity was gone, I had to make the most of the second one.

“First squad leader? What kind of nonsense is that?”

“There are two opportunities, so we should naturally elect two squad leaders.”

“Damn it, don’t you trust me?”

I asked in a dry tone.

“Are you confident you can get a perfect score? No matter how many Zabriks pop out from wherever, are you confident you can execute the tactics perfectly and get a perfect score?”

“!”

“Seeing that you can’t answer right away, you must not be confident.”

“Seriously, I’ve been holding back since earlier!”

“Why is it so noisy over there? What are you all doing instead of having the meeting? I clearly warned you, if you go over by even a second, there will be no mercy.”

Private Jo Taekwang, who was about to lift the great axe in a fit of rage, froze at the sharp rebuke of Lieutenant Noh Youngil. He was an interesting guy. His face would turn red and boil over at every single word.

“Anyway, I would like to be the second squad leader.”

I continued slowly.

“I have a very good tactic. If Private Jo Taekwang fights with strength, I will fight with my brain.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the squad members reacted as if they had been waiting.

“Oh. I agree.”

“I agree too. Even if the tactic isn’t great, I feel reassured because it’s Private Gu Yunho. Private Gu Yunho caught three Garoks alone in an emergency situation.”

“Right, right.”

I didn’t even say what the tactic was. I just volunteered, and everyone readily followed.

I suddenly wondered.

What would the reaction have been if I had said this before the regression?

I chuckled.

It’s obvious.

It would have been a relief if a stone didn’t fly at my face.

In the meantime, the meeting time was coming to an end.

“I will give you 30 minutes of meeting time for the second chance as well. I will tell you my tactic then.”

“Understood.”

“Then Private Jo Taekwang, tell us how you plan to fight specifically.”

Private Jo Taekwang pounded his chest and said.

“What’s there to be specific about? I just need to stand where the Zabriks are. Then the game is over.”

I thought there would be some changes since the process of electing the squad leader was slightly different.

It’s the same.

He was just a simple brute who only knew how to use strength.

“You say you’ll fight with your brain? Fine, I’ll show you what the difference in level really is.”

It’s a difference in level.

It’s the first time I’ve heard such words and not felt any tension at all.

“Alright.”

The 30-minute meeting time had passed. Lieutenant Noh Young-il came over.

“Did the meeting go well?”

“Yes, it did.”

“Who is the squad leader?”

“Private Jo Tae-kwang. That’s me.”

“Got it. Let’s proceed immediately.”

He pointed to a place where sparse trees were standing.

“Jabrik will be summoned around there. Of course, you guys have to figure out the exact location. The same goes for the number of them.”

If it were a regular training, they would have told us the exact location and number, but this is more like a test. So we have to solve everything on our own.

If they were going to tell us everything from the start, they would have tailored the tactics for us.

“Then, let’s do well.”

With those words, Lieutenant Noh Young-il disappeared from the spot.

Private Jo Tae-kwang stepped forward, raising his hand.

“Close-range specialists will split to the left and right around me, and long-range specialists will move in between.”

Surprisingly, it changed. I thought it wouldn’t change until the end, but it did. Before the regression, we didn’t even have this basic formation.

Even if he doesn’t say it, he seems a bit nervous inside.

“I’ll handle the aggro and tanking, so don’t act rashly and just focus on shooting arrows and bullets. Sword and spear wielders, take care of the ones running around the sides. Got it?”

Even though he speaks harshly, there’s nothing more reassuring from the perspective of a squad member.

At least this isn’t just bravado.

From the start, the squad members acknowledge Private Jo Tae-kwang’s strength, so they comply without any complaints.

After moving for a while, keeping an eye on the surroundings.

Rustle, the sound of bushes rustling came from somewhere. Since the battle had started, I maintained the minimum courtesy.

“Squad leader, there are Jabriks nearby.”

“What do you mean there are? I can’t see or hear any- There they are!”

Private Jo Tae-kwang, who was about to dismiss my warning with a scoff, quickly turned his body as he saw the wild dogs emerging from the bushes.

They were Jabriks.

The number was the same as before the regression, twelve.

“Come here!”

Private Jo Taekwang ran straight towards them. With his large body and loud shout, the twelve Jabbricks immediately targeted him.

“Growl!”

They bared their teeth, reminiscent of daggers, and leaped at him.

Private Jo Taekwang seemed rather pleased.

He swung his great axe without hesitation.

Crack!!

With the sound of something shattering, one of the Jabbricks was flung far away. Its side was deeply caved in.

No, it was burst open.

Blood spurted like a fountain, and tangled intestines spilled out.

Even though their defense was weak, the destructive power was truly formidable.

“Wow.”

“Holy…”

The squad members, who had been staring blankly with their mouths open, belatedly performed their roles. Arrows and bullets were fired from the rear, and those with swords and spears attacked the Jabbricks from the sides.

Of course, it wasn’t easy to catch them.

The Jabbricks were agile despite their weak defense. They dodged arrows and bullets, deflected swords and spears, and counterattacked.

“Ah!”

“Damn it!”

Screams echoed.

The squad members were being bitten and torn apart by the creatures.

In the midst of it all, Private Jo Taekwang was swinging his great axe alone.

It was utter chaos.

Even though I roughly knew the outcome, it was a fresh shock.

This is why the role of the squad leader is important.

Nothing works if done haphazardly.

Slash.

I drew my long sword horizontally. One of the Jabbricks, which had been charging at me as the formation collapsed, died on the spot. Its head was barely hanging from its neck.

Then I ran back.

To the archers and gunners who were relatively vulnerable to the creatures’ attacks.

“Growl!”

Their claws and teeth posed no threat to me.

I had caught so many of them that I could see everything.

Which direction they would scratch and bite.

Screech!

I thrust my sword forward. The one that lunged at me with its mouth wide open was pierced deep into its body and died instantly.

“Keek.”

Then I took out two daggers and threw them at the two Zabricks that were biting the archers and gunners. Although I didn’t have the related ability, I still had the sense in my hands, so I could hit them near the head and neck.

But it was impossible to kill them instantly.

I ran again, sliding on the ground, and stabbed the abdomen of the one that leaped over my head.

The other one rolled on the ground with me, and I stabbed its heart with the last dagger.

The archers and gunners who had escaped the crisis stared at me in a daze for a moment. Among them was Private Kim Jung-mi. Her thigh was soaked red, either bitten or scratched.

Of course, it was none of my business.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you fighting?”

“Yes, yes…!”

I turned around again.

Private Jo Tae-kwang, who had been swinging his sword, glanced at me for a moment. Even from a distance, I could see his eyes shaking.

“Damn it…”

He was supposed to lead the battle, but since I took over, he was bewildered. Ironically, even the squad members were now relying more on me.

“Private Gu Yoon-ho! Come over here too!”

Private Jo Tae-kwang’s face hardened. I gripped my sword again.

It was time for a massacre.