Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 25 The Dragon’s Tail (2)

The burnt Hexton lunged at Corporal Kwak Woo-hee. She gave me a thumbs-up and refocused on the battle.

From a distance, even where lightning struck, I could hear a voice calling me.

“Yoon-ho, good! Let’s keep going!”

It was Sergeant Sun Ah-rin.

Even in the midst of battle, she was looking after and encouraging her squad members.

I answered by raising my sword.

Suddenly, a creature with its left thigh blown off by a magic bullet approached from the side.

Its already slow movements had become even slower.

But it still had one powerful strike left.

“Graaah!”

If I got caught by those pot-lid-sized hands, my arm could be torn off in an instant.

Its arms were raised.

I twisted my body to the right, sliding smoothly.

After stabbing two daggers into its side, I turned around and gripped my sword in reverse.

“Kyiek!”

Then I thrust. The blade cut through its body like water.

Even its tough blood vessels tore like paper.

The awakened [Sharp Thrust] began to mercilessly slaughter the creature.

I adjusted my grip and swung diagonally this time. The charred flesh split open under the [Sharp Slash].

Its spine was soaked in blood.

“Gurk.”

After a few more strikes, the giant creature fell with a final scream.

Thud.

The creature lay sprawled out, motionless.

Its eyes, still open, were blank and white.

“!”

At that moment, as I brought down the creature, I felt a gaze piercing through me.

It was Corporal Byun Ji-tak, who was also wielding a sword and ravaging the Hexton like a toy.

Without dodging or aiming for an opening, he just collided head-on and crushed it with sheer force.

Thud, the severed head rolled on the ground.

“How did you…!”

Even though he could capture the Hextons much more easily, he couldn’t hide his astonishment.

The reason was obvious.

Even though he was severely injured by magic bullets and fire bombs, he couldn’t believe that I had defeated a monster one rank higher than Nori or Garok.

“You b*stard, what the hell did you do?”

The Hunter he knew, Gu Yunho, could never fight like this.

But so what?

I can do it now.

Just then, another Hexton jumped in between me and Corporal Byun Ji-tak.

I raised my sword and said,

“Do you usually chat during a battle? Focus.”

“How dare you talk to your superior like that- aaargh.”

While he was leisurely chatting during the battle, he was eventually struck in the chest by the monster’s forepaw. Something was torn off along with his combat uniform.

It was flesh.

“You b*stard, die!”

Enraged, he swung his sword madly, slashing the monster’s body.

The monster gurgled and fell backward.

“Ugh.”

Corporal Byun Ji-tak grimaced and clutched his chest.

Blood was pouring out.

It was an amusing sight after a long time.

“Oh dear, that must hurt.”

I shook the powdered medicine I carried with me at him.

“Do you want some of this?”

“Shut up!”

“Seeing you shout, it doesn’t seem to hurt much. That’s a relief.”

I put the medicine back in my pocket and moved among the Hextons.

Behind me, the sound of furious sword slashes continued.

In the meantime, the battle was slowly coming to an end.

Crackle!!

Especially Sergeant Sun Arin’s lightning magic completely immobilized the Hexthons.

Their heads were charred black from the lightning strike, burning in place.

The squad members’ spears and knives reached them.

Crunch!

Corporal Kwak Woohee climbed onto their bodies and split their heads in half.

The slow Hexthons couldn’t catch her agile movements. By the time they tried to shake her off with their arms, their lifelines had already been cut.

As their heads split in two.

Ssshhh.

I took care of the last one. Sliding between its legs, I stabbed its instep with my remaining dagger.

“Quiek!”

Then I immediately stood up.

The fur and skin that would have protected it had already melted away due to the magic bullets.

I slashed my sword horizontally with all my might.

Slash, the massive body split like tofu.

Blood gushed out, pooling into a puddle in an instant.

It couldn’t last a few seconds and crossed the river of death.

“Phew.”

The battle was over with this.

I’m out of breath.

The strength in the hand holding the sword slightly loosens.

I didn’t even realize I was tired from fighting so frantically.

Well, anyway, it’s good that we won safely.

I hadn’t exhausted my stamina to the point where [Momentary Fatigue Recovery] would activate.

I caught my breath, leaning on my sword.

As I belatedly looked around, I finally felt the gazes focused on me.

“Wow, that was killer.”

“Is this what they mean by ‘our youngest has changed’?”

Voices mixed with admiration.

In the midst of it all, Corporal Kwak Woo-hee came running with twin axes strapped to her back.

“Maknae!”

“Private Gu Yoon-ho!”

“You really did it!”

Even though she cut straight to the point, I could tell what she meant just by looking into her eyes.

A person who wouldn’t shed a single tear even after watching a sad melodrama was now getting teary-eyed.

I felt a lump in my throat too.

Who would have thought that my rough and tough sister had this side to her?

“Well done!”

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee, biting her lip to hold back tears, patted my head.

She knows better than anyone what kind of hunter I have been until now.

A handyman cleaning up after the seniors.

A human auxiliary tool.

That’s why she is reacting so strongly to my change.

“Private Gu Yoon-ho. Thank you.”

I was grateful, truly grateful.

And then another person approached.

“Yoon-ho is the ace of our squad.”

Sergeant Sun Ah-rin, wiping the sweat from her forehead, smiled brightly.

“I knew you’d do well, but I didn’t expect this much. The squad leader underestimated you.”

“Private Gu Yoon-ho! No, ma’am!”

“And you’re humble too. The squad leader has found a good squad member.”

A good squad member.

Even before the regression, Sergeant Sun Ah-rin always said that. Because I always worked hard, took on the tough jobs, and never gave up, she always said our Yoon-ho was a good squad member.

Today, the reason was different.

“Yoon-ho, it was a truly splendid battle.”

Because I fought well.

“Impressive.”

It had only been a few days since Sergeant Sun Ah-rin was assigned, and she already saw me as a completely different person compared to before the regression.

Of course, it’s a good thing.

She won’t have to suffer anymore because of the incompetent squad members.

“Thank you. I’ll try harder from now on.”

“Sure. That’s reassuring.”

I owe Sergeant Sun Arin a lot in many ways.

Things I was grateful for.

Things I was sorry for.

I have to work harder to repay all those debts.

So, there’s a long way to go.

Today, as soon as I return, I plan to head straight to the training ground.

“Kid, if you could do this well, why didn’t you do it before?”

“From what I see, you’re already a sure thing for Private First Class.”

Other seniors also gave me some good words.

Of course, it wasn’t like this before the regression.

Far from compliments, they didn’t even care about me.

That doesn’t mean their actions now seem duplicitous.

I would have done the same.

Why take care of someone who can’t fight properly?

People need to be like people to get attention.

Hunters are the same.

Hunters need to be like hunters.

“Do you think you’re something now because of this?”

At that moment, a sharp voice hit my ears. Corporal Byun Ji-tak was grumbling alone. Sergeant Sun Arin and Corporal Kwak Woo-hee had gone to inspect the corpses of the Hextons.

“Don’t get cocky, before I kill you.”

Despite his strong tone, he was sweating profusely.

The wound he received earlier seemed quite painful.

“I think it’s better to be something.”

“What did you say?”

“Than to be like that.”

I pointed to his chest with my chin.

It was very red.

Even if the blood splattered on other parts didn’t matter, the blood smeared there was all his.

“Couldn’t you have been more careful?”

“You, you really want to die-“

“But do you know what’s really scary?”

I cut him off abruptly.

“Corporal Byun Ji-tak is in that state right now, and no one is worried.”

“!”

He was about to throw a fit for daring to interrupt a senior, but he unconsciously looked around.

Everyone was busy resting.

No one even glanced at him.

“Even if the squad leader didn’t notice, the squad members just don’t care.”

On my first day of assignment, I regretted not saying a few more words about harassing Sergeant Sun Ah-rin.

I returned it exactly as it was.

Very politely, as a junior and assistant.

“When a dispatched soldier gets hurt, everyone rushes to ask if they’re okay… but to treat a family member like this… sob sob.”

I wiped away nonexistent tears.

“When you think about it, Corporal Byun Ji-tak is really pitiful. The people he always cursed as useless are now surrounded and welcomed by everyone, but Corporal Byun Ji-tak, who always received good evaluations for his good skills, gets hurt and not only is no one worried, they don’t even care… This won’t do, as his junior and assistant, I’ll worry for him.”

I took out the medicine again from my pocket.

“Open your combat uniform a bit. I’ll spray it for you.”

“You, you b*stard…!”

“Or should I call Private Kang Sung-joon, Corporal Byun Ji-tak’s little follower?”

“Shut, shut your mouth.”

His voice trembled. He was quite shocked by the undeniable reality.

Pathetic b*stard.

I threw the medicine on the ground.

“This works well, so pick it up and use it if it hurts.”

“I, I won’t let you… ugh.”

Contrary to his words, he bent over. His trembling hand reached for the medicine.

I kicked it away.

The medicine rolled away.

“Ouch, oh no. I kicked it by mistake.”

“Go, bring it here. You, you b*stard. Hic.”

Even the harsh curse words now sound pitiful.

It must hurt like hell.

Well, even Sergeant Song Ki-yong wouldn’t stand a chance if he got caught by Hexton.

“Go, bring it…!”

Talking made my mouth dry. I took out my canteen and gulped down some water.

“You bring it yourself, you b*stard.”

Byun Ji-tak’s face turned as red as the wound on his chest.

I didn’t care and turned my body towards the other seniors.

At this point, it was all or nothing.

*

“How can a guy who’s a sergeant get carried away by Hexton?”

“He was boasting about his skills, serves him right.”

“I hope he stays in the infirmary for about a week.”

After three battles were over, the seniors giggled about Byun Ji-tak, who had been carried away with a canteen earlier.

Sergeant Song Ji-han openly mocked him.

“Isn’t he a complete idiot? Hexton is strong, but he’s so slow that a real sergeant-level guy shouldn’t get hit.”

Sergeant Song Ji-han had also suffered a lot.

It was just that the target changed to me when I arrived.

“But his appearance earlier was funny. Begging for his life while staggering. Hehe. Spraying medicine all over himself, where did he even get it from?”

“He got what he deserved, that b*stard.”

“Attention.”

Clap clap, Sergeant Sun Ah-rin clapped a couple of times and came forward to the squad members.

The squad members, who were lying down and resting, immediately got up.

“Today’s battle is over. Everyone worked hard.”

“You worked hard too, squad leader.”

“No, the squad leader doesn’t deserve to be told they worked hard. While the squad member ended up like that… they didn’t grasp anything.”

She was talking about Byun Ji-tak.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t entirely Sergeant Sun Ah-rin’s fault.

The squad leader has a duty to always understand the condition of the squad members.

But did she know?

In a battle that flowed smoothly like water, it wasn’t a private or a corporal, but a sergeant who got injured to that extent.

Anyway, it had to be seen as the mistake of a rookie sergeant.

“As the squad leader, I’m sorry.”

“No, squad leader.”

“I’ll be extra careful to ensure that such a thing never happens again.”

Except for one injured person, the dungeon raid was successfully completed.

Now it was time for overtime work.

“All the Hextons have been dealt with, but there’s still an internal investigation left. Let’s all hang in there a little longer.”

“…Yes.”

Internal investigation.

Captain Oh Jun-beom instructed them to search thoroughly as there might be relics somewhere in the dungeon.

The squad members cursed him, muttering, “Was Oh Jun-beom a ghost who died without seeing relics in his past life? He always tells us to search for something that won’t even appear.”

I was different.

I rather thanked him.

“The area is too wide to move in pairs, so we’ll move individually. I’ll point out where each of you should go, starting with Gi-yong…”

There are no relics, but there is something else.

A spiritual being.

A sacred entity with some divine power.

From now on, I’m going to hunt that legendary creature.