ALL NOVEL chapter 23
Chapter 23 Reunion (3)
“Song Ki-yong, what are you doing? Not saluting?”
“Oh…!”
Sergeant Song Ki-yong, who seemed to be in a daze for some reason, straightened his uniform and stood up.
The other squad members also stood up.
“Attention.”
“!”
“Salute to the new squad leader.”
“Loyalty!!”
The loud voices echoed down the hallway.
The new squad leader stepped forward.
“Loyalty!”
“Yes, this is how we should greet each other with loud voices.”
Captain Oh Jun-beom nodded in satisfaction.
“This new squad leader is a newly commissioned sergeant who just graduated from the Hunter NCO Academy. He recorded excellent grades throughout his studies and received commendations four times. You could say he is an outstanding hunter. Although he may lack experience compared to the one who was kicked out, his skills are a hundred, a thousand times better.”
Some of the squad members snickered at the mention of the one who was kicked out.
“So, treat him well. If you just follow Sergeant Sun’s words, you all can become elite hunters of our 3rd Company.”
“Yes!”
“Okay, I’ll be off then.”
Captain Oh Jun-beom placed his hand on the new squad leader’s shoulder.
“Let Sergeant Sun, no, the 3rd Squad Leader, finish the detailed introduction.”
“Yes! Loyalty!”
He casually waved his hand and left the living quarters.
An awkward atmosphere simultaneously settled in.
It was partly because it was their first meeting, but there was a bigger reason.
“Gasp…!”
The squad members, especially the male ones, couldn’t take their eyes off the new squad leader.
She was too beautiful.
“Ahem.”
The new squad leader cleared her throat and spoke.
“Nice to meet you, our 3rd squad members. I’m Sun Arin, your squad leader.”
“Hello!”
Clap, clap, clap. Applause erupted.
The atmosphere instantly lightened.
“Thank you all for the warm welcome.”
The new squad leader, no, Sergeant Sun Arin’s voice also became more relaxed.
“As the company commander mentioned, I am taking my first step as an officer with this 3rd squad. There will be many shortcomings and regrets, but I will study hard and work diligently so as not to be a burden to our squad members.”
The squad members quietly listened.
Sergeant Sun Arin glanced at their faces and spoke again.
“Is it… okay?”
“Yes! We will also do our best as squad members!”
“Yes…! Thank you.”
Consideration.
Caution.
These were clearly evident in a few words and conversations.
It wasn’t just because she was a new sergeant; Sun Arin was inherently that kind of person.
Too kind-hearted.
Sometimes to the point of frustration.
“Can our squad members also briefly introduce themselves to the squad leader? I skimmed through the records on the way, but it would be better to hear it directly…!”
“Yes! I’m Sergeant Song Ki-yong. I’m in charge of the sub-squad, and my specialty is…”
There’s nothing wrong with being kind, but there’s something I’ve realized after living nearly fifty years before my regression.
Especially while being in this hunter corps, I felt it deeply.
“Corporal Kwak Woo-hee. My specialty is…”
If you live kindly, you end up at a disadvantage.
“Corporal Jung Ye-som. I’m a mage, mainly using fire magic.”
Because people see you as an easy target and try to take advantage of you.
Just like that b*stard over there.
“Corporal Byun Ji-tak. My specialty is the sword. But, Squad Leader, you’re really pretty. Hehe.”
“That’s… Thank you, but I don’t think this is the right time to say that. Anyway, nice to meet you, Ji-tak.”
“Hehe, yes.”
You have to be tough, even if it makes you disliked.
That’s the only way to shut up guys like Byun Ji-tak.
But thinking about how Sergeant Sun Ah-rin was before my regression, that’s unlikely.
Well, there’s no other way.
I have to help.
Sergeant Sun Ah-rin is my lifelong benefactor.
“Private Gu Yoon-ho!”
As each person took their turn, it finally came to me.
I spoke loudly.
“My specialty is the sword! I look forward to working with you!”
“Yoon-ho, I know you well. I saw you on the news recently, but I didn’t expect to see you in person. I look forward to working with you. Let’s do well, all of us.”
“Yes!”
Sergeant Sun Ah-rin smiled brightly. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that smile.
I responded with a smile as well.
“Now that the introductions are over, does anyone have any questions for the squad leader? Feel free to ask anything.”
At that moment, Corporal Byun Ji-tak raised his hand.
“Squad Leader! When was your first kiss?”
“oooh!”
Private Kang Sung-joon chimed in, stirring the pot.
“Huh…? Why would you ask that…”
“Didn’t you say we could ask anything?”
“That’s true, but…”
Her pale face turned red.
I could sense her embarrassment from here.
Corporal Gwak Woo-hee glanced at Sergeant Sun Ah-rin, then signaled to Corporal Byun Ji-tak, but his gaze remained fixed on Sergeant Sun Ah-rin.
“You must have dated before, right?”
“…”
“What, don’t tell me you’ve never dated? Are you a ‘mossol’?”
“Hey, Ji-tak. Don’t you have any other questions?”
Sergeant Sun Ah-rin, now as red as a beet, tried to change the subject.
Corporal Byun Ji-tak pretended not to hear.
“It’s just surprising that someone with your looks is a ‘mossol’.”
He giggled with Private Kang Sung-joon sitting next to him, whispering, “That’s what makes her even more attractive.”
Fortunately, it seemed Sergeant Sun Ah-rin didn’t hear that part.
“Byun Ji-tak.”
Corporal Gwak Woo-hee stepped in again.
“Cut it out.”
Corporal Byun Ji-tak, who had been grinning, finally understood the atmosphere.
“…Yes.”
“Why, why are you all like this? Woo-hee, it’s fine. I’m the one who said you could ask anything.”
Sergeant Sun Ah-rin, feeling guilty, tried to take all the blame.
Damn it.
Because of that damn b*stard.
My fists trembled, but I had to hold back.
Even if the senior was a hundred times wrong, if the junior retaliated in any way, it would be considered insubordination.
If I was lucky, I’d just end up in the brig, but if things escalated, my hunter qualification could be at risk.
“Any other questions?”
“What’s your specialty, Squad Leader?”
Barely holding back, I asked.
I already knew, but I just wanted to change the subject quickly.
“Ah! I haven’t mentioned it yet. The squad leader’s specialty is magic.”
“Wow! Just like me.”
Corporal Jeong Yesom asked.
“What is your main attribute?”
“Electricity. Yesom, yours was fire, right?”
“Yes! That’s awesome. The pinnacle of magic is lightning!”
“Pfft, fire is cool too.”
Her excitement lightened the atmosphere again. A few more questions followed.
Then Corporal Song Jihan raised his hand.
“Do you have any plans for a welcome party?”
“Sure. But not right now, let’s do it later. As you all know, our company is currently…”
There was no need to hear the rest.
Everyone agreed.
“Shall we wrap it up here if there are no more questions?”
“Yes.”
“Then, sorry, but could you all start your personal maintenance now? The squad leader needs to get a handover.”
“Understood. But how will you get a handover when the previous squad leader is gone?”
“Well, I’ll have to ask the deputy squad leader for help.”
As Sergeant Sun Harin looked around cautiously, Sergeant Song Giyong stood up as if he had been waiting.
He was rather pleased.
With a goofy smile on his face.
“Absolutely, squad leader. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“Thanks, Giyong. Can I also see the 3rd squad’s records?”
“That would be something Sergeant Kwon Minchan… I mean, Sergeant Kwon Minchan would have written. Let’s go to the squad leader’s office first.”
“Let’s do that. The rest of you, take care of your personal maintenance.”
“Yes. Loyalty!”
“Loyalty!”
The two left.
At the same time, cold eyes engulfed Corporal Byeon Jitak and Private Kang Seongjun.
“Do you want to die?”
“I’m sorry.”
“No matter what you ask, why are you talking about the first kiss, being a virgin, and all that nonsense?”
“I won’t do it again.”
It was just words. Despite bowing their heads and apologizing, Kwak Woo-hee and Jeong Ye-som, both corporals, started giggling again as soon as they entered the restroom.
“Isn’t it ridiculous? I thought I was watching a celebrity. Her figure is just perfect.”
“She’s really pretty. Did she just graduate or something? Her hair is short, but how does she have such beauty?”
“Just her hair? She didn’t even put on makeup.”
“True. If she puts on some makeup on her face, she’ll look even better.”
“Corporal Byun Ji-tak, do you know what the most important thing is?”
“What is it?”
“Based on your earlier evasion and inability to answer, isn’t it likely that the platoon leader is the virgin here?”
“Oh, right, right. Damn, calling her a virgin with that face. Someone’s gonna dig her up later, seriously…”
“Please calm down a bit.”
Unable to bear it any longer, I spoke up.
“Isn’t this going too far?”
“What? What did you just say?”
Suddenly, Geogu blocked my path.
Corporal Song Ji-han quickly intervened.
“Please calm down, Corporal Byun Ji-tak. It seems like you lost your temper for a moment because Goo Yun-ho has been praised so much these days.”
“Do you think this damn Kwak Woo-hee will be here forever? She’s gonna be discharged anyway.”
A lively hand lightly slapped my cheek.
“Think about who you’ll be spending more time with. Huh? Make good judgments, you damn fool.”
“-“
“Hey, Seong-jun. Let’s go smoke at the beginning of the year.”
“Private Kang Seong-jun! Yes!”
Corporal Byun Ji-tak left, chewing on his cigarette.
Private Kang Seong-jun raised his fist and said, “Don’t mess around, you punk,” then followed Corporal Byun Ji-tak.
“Ah…”
It could have turned into a farce.
But none of the remaining seniors blamed me.
Corporal Song Ji-han approached.
“Yoon-ho, I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I understand. You said it strongly on purpose to calm down Corporal Byun Ji-tak.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“No, I’m sorry.”
“Sigh.”
He patted my shoulder and looked at the spot where Corporal Byun Ji-tak and Private Kang Sung-joon had left.
“What can we do? In a place like this, rank comes first.”
“Yes.”
“So don’t do that next time. If Byun Ji-tak loses his temper, no one can stop him. Even Corporal Kwak Woo-hee… Honestly, Byun Ji-tak is right about that. In the end, the one who will stay longer is Byun Ji-tak. Anyway, got it?”
“Yes, I understand.”
No, Byun Ji-tak is wrong.
I have a way to crush him without Corporal Kwak Woo-hee.
When the time comes,
the gates of hell will open for him.
*
Friday night.
Even in the Hunter Corps, that term is somewhat used. Especially if there is no significant training scheduled for the next week.
There are various entertainment facilities within the base, from karaoke rooms to movie rooms and game rooms.
But I headed straight to the training room right after dinner.
It’s not because I’m a private and restricted from having fun.
‘I feel itchy if I miss a day.’
This has always been my routine.
Training after work.
And more training.
It was a repetition.
Since my regression, it has become more intense.
Is it because of the compensatory psychology of trying to regain what I lost?
《The effect of [Soul of the Iron-Blooded Knight] accelerates the proficiency of all swordsmanship.》
《The proficiency of [Thrust] increases.》
《The proficiency of [Slash] has increased.》
The effort of sweating for nearly two weeks paid off. After about an hour, a new notification appeared.
《The proficiency of [Thrust] and [Slash] has approached the awakening level.》
Originally, it would have taken several more months, but it was about to end in two weeks.
The result of combining the senses from before the regression and the [Soul of the Iron-Blooded Knight].
It was a formidable speed.
If it had required pure understanding like [Efficient Parrying], it might have ended not in two weeks, but in two hours.
After that, it moved on to physical training.
Several sets of weightlifting exercises.
Running on a treadmill with sandbags.
Dodging flying targets.
After loosening up with these, virtual combat was conducted using a simulation device.
Although it is called physical strength, it is ultimately part of one’s abilities.
There is nothing like combat to enhance abilities.
Of course, actual combat is even better.
“Phew.”
By the time all the training was completed, it was almost time for the assigned cleaning duty.
I took advantage of the break to sit in a lotus position.
After closing my eyes and concentrating for a while.
Psssh.
A pale white smoke rose from the palm of my hand.
It is an unknown power called Aura or Chakra, known as Ki (氣) in our country.
Any hunter can handle this mysterious power.
Of course, not all who handle it possess the same power.
The amount, density, rotation, speed, and the aspect of manifestation vary greatly in power and efficiency.
Especially manifestation.
Ki usually exists in an intangible form, but it can be forced into a shape to increase its power and efficiency.
This too is possible for any hunter.
This is because the shape naturally forms according to the nature of the hunter.
I also possessed such a nature.
It took a long time to make, but it was never bad.
Thorn.
I could shape my energy into thorns and cover my sword with them.
The sharpened blade could cut through the tough ogre’s forearm in one stroke.
It could also be released.
Like wizards manifesting magic.
Puuung.
I tried it just in case, but it was impossible now.
Instead of thorns, only lumps of energy swirled around and soon disappeared.
It was natural.
Energy is something that requires both physical and mental training, it can’t be done with just simple senses.
But that time can be shortened.
If it took 100 before the regression.
Now it can be reduced to 10.
However, this time I plan to shape ‘something else’ before the thorns. In fact, shaping is not only made by the person’s nature.
There are additional methods that people at this point do not know.
‘Next week.’
In a dungeon that I will go to soon.