Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 29 The Dragon’s Tail (6)

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yes, squad leader. Ask me anything.”

“What are your plans after discharge?”

Plans after discharge?

“Joining a guild, working in a temporary team, or…”

Staying in the military.

“Not discharging and remaining in the Hunter Corps. Things like that.”

As expected.

I wondered what it was about, and it turned out to be that story.

“Have you ever thought about it?”

Of course, I had thought about it.

Whether I should continue to grow and join a large guild right after discharge, receiving a huge signing bonus, or stay in the Hunter Corps to fulfill the dream I couldn’t achieve before regression.

But I still haven’t made a decision.

Because it’s something far off in the future.

“It’s still too early for me to make such plans.”

“Right? I asked a pointless question.”

“No, it’s not.”

It wasn’t like Sergeant Sun Ah-rin to ask such things.

So, was it the company commander who ordered it?

Or perhaps the battalion commander?

Well, whoever ordered it, it wouldn’t harm me.

It meant they valued me that much.

“I’ll let you know once I decide.”

“Got it. Thanks, Yunho.”

Sergeant Sun Ah-rin checked the time and said.

“There’s still some time before the evening roll call. Would you like to have a cup of tea?”

“Sure.”

“Is green tea okay?”

“Yes. Oh, I’ll do it.”

“No, you’re a guest, so I should serve you.”

Sergeant Sun Ah-rin put water in the coffee pot and placed a tea bag in a paper cup.

She was always like this. Taking care of every little thing.

I received more than that.

When I was always lagging behind other squad members, she somehow led and took me along.

So I was grateful.

But.

‘You died in vain. I must never let that happen in this life.’

I clenched my fist and made a resolution. Unknowingly, my expression became firm.

“What were you thinking about to suddenly become so serious?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Thank you.”

Soon, a warm cup of green tea is placed in front of me.

Even though it’s just made with a tea bag, why does it smell so fragrant?

Is it because it was touched by Sergeant Sun Arin?

Looking at her face suddenly made me understand Sergeant Song Ki-yong’s actions earlier.

Even without double eyelids, her big, clear eyes and snow-white skin.

If she wore a hanbok and braided her hair, she would be a fairy herself.

“Oh, look at me.”

“Yes?”

“It’s almost June, and I gave you something hot. I’ll change it to juice.”

“No, at night, tea is better than a drink.”

“Oh! Me too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. So, even in midsummer, I often drink warm tea. And modern conveniences protect us anyway.”

Her long fingers point to the air conditioner on the ceiling.

I agree a hundred times.

“With that, you can sleep with a blanket even on tropical nights.”

“Pfft, right.”

We sipped green tea. The conversation was minimal, but the atmosphere wasn’t awkward.

As if she remembered something, Sergeant Sun Arin spoke.

“By the way, Yunho.”

“Private Gu Yunho.”

“Did your father work in the Hunter Corps before?”

“Yes, he did.”

“I see. He was a senior. I should go greet him sometime.”

“Haha.”

“But I heard he retired as a sergeant. Did he move to a private guild?”

“No, he quit this line of work altogether then.”

“Oh? Why?”

“Due to the injury, you lost all the abilities and strength you had, yes. So you could no longer remain a hunter.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Sergeant Sun Arin didn’t know what to do.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know about that… I brought up something unnecessary… I’m sorry, Yunho.”

“It’s okay.”

It was a question worth asking. Moreover, wasn’t she also a former non-commissioned officer like me?

“I would have asked too. If I were a non-commissioned officer.”

“No, even if you asked, you could have been a bit more careful.”

She felt so sorry that she couldn’t lift her head. The squad leader in front of the squad members.

I spoke nonchalantly.

“If you really feel sorry, buy me a meal later.”

“Anytime! Shall we go out right now?”

“Haha, it’s okay for now.”

“Then when shall we do it?”

She must be really concerned.

Well, with Sergeant Sun Arin’s personality, it’s understandable.

“Whenever we find a suitable time, let’s do it then.”

“Got it. If you suddenly get a text, know it’s from me.”

“Haha, yes.”

In the meantime, the green tea was almost finished. The evening roll call time was also approaching.

“Then I’ll get up first- Oh.”

“Oh my.”

Sergeant Sun Arin, who got up to greet me, tripped and fell. Her slender body fell into my arms.

It would have been fine if it ended there, but a soft sensation was transmitted to my palm.

My hand had touched her chest.

It happened so quickly that there was no time to avoid it.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

I quickly removed my hand and took a couple of steps back from her.

Her head turned away.

“Oh, no, no. I almost fell in front of the squad members. Ha, haha. I’m really okay, Yunho.”

We both avoided each other’s eyes. Her pale face had turned red.

I was truly embarrassed.

“Salute…!! I’ll be heading back now.”

“Mm. Salute. Goodbye, Yunho.”

I didn’t know what to say or how to say it, so I just left the squad leader’s office.

Damn it.

It’s not enough to repay the favor, and now this ridiculous… If you think about it, it’s not my fault, but still, given the situation, I couldn’t help but panic.

I can’t exactly tell her to touch mine once to make it fair.

This is driving me crazy.

*

“Today and tomorrow, it seems like we’ll only be doing simple tasks and patrols.”

“Understood.”

“Any other questions?”

“No, sir.”

“Alright. See you at 09:00.”

“Yes, sir.”

The next day, in the morning.

Fortunately, I managed to face Sergeant Sun Arin without blushing. It was a bit awkward when our eyes met briefly, but… it seemed to pass without much issue.

“What kind of simple tasks? Wall inspection?”

As soon as Sergeant Sun Arin left, Corporal Gwak Woohee tied her hair up and muttered.

Sergeant Song Giyong tightened his combat boots and said,

“Probably something like that. Patrols will be the usual routes.”

“Ha, normally this would be a piece of cake, but thinking about next week, it’s not welcome at all.”

“Exactly. Damn, guerrilla training at the end of my service. Woohee, does this make sense?”

“At least you don’t have to do the winter training. Endure it.”

Next week’s scheduled large-scale training. It’s guerrilla training. Like the regular army, it makes you experience living hell for five days and four nights.

The manual says it’s training to learn tactics for ambushing dungeons (enemy territory) or monsters (enemies) according to the situation.

In reality, it’s a continuous living hell of marching, PT exercises, obstacle courses, camping, and so on.

Moreover, we’re the Hunter Corps.

It’s not just physically exhausting.

There’s something else after that.

‘No wonder they all shudder.’

Before the regression, I was the same. I just didn’t show it because I was a newbie.

But you know what?

When I think about the treasure hidden in this guerrilla training, I can endure any hardship.

It’s something so precious that you can’t buy it with money.

“But wait a minute.”

Corporal Jeong Yesom, who was also depressed at the thought of guerrilla training, said.

“Is Byun Jitak still lounging in the sickbay? Is he going to skip the guerrilla training too?”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Sergeant Song Giyong said as he tucked his activity uniform top into his combat pants.

“He’ll be back by this afternoon at the earliest, or by tomorrow evening at the latest.”

“How do you know that, Sergeant Song? Even the squad leader didn’t say anything.”

“The company commander is Oh Junbeom.”

“Ah.”

Corporal Jeong Yesom immediately understood when Captain Oh Junbeom was mentioned.

That’s because Captain Oh Junbeom always pressures the soldiers, saying, ‘I never let slackers off the hook.’

There’s no way he would let anyone skip guerrilla training, of all things.

I heard his treatment is all done, too.

As expected, Sergeant Song Giyong’s prediction was correct. That afternoon, when we returned to the barracks after finishing our duties.

He came back.

“You’re back!”

Ddalangi was the first to greet him. Private Kang Seongjun was holding a few weeks’ worth of luggage.

Corporal Byun Jitak looked around the barracks and quietly went to his place.

It was unusually quiet.

“What is this?”

Of course.

Corporal Byun Jitak frowned deeply when he saw that the number of stripes on my combat helmet had increased from one to two.

“Why are you a private first class?”

“Why else? I passed the promotion test, so I’m a private first class.”

Corporal Gwak Woohee came in, throwing off his activity uniform top. His brown military tank top was soaked with sweat.

“Jitak, you’re here? I guess you didn’t hear the news since you’ve been lying down. Your subordinate became a private first class as of yesterday.”

Following behind, Corporal Jeong Yesom entered while fanning herself. She couldn’t fully take off her uniform due to lack of time, so she just slightly unbuttoned it.

“Damn it…”

I didn’t expect congratulations, but getting angry is a bit much, isn’t it?

No matter how you look at it, he’s supposed to be the superior.

Of course, considering his usual personality, this reaction is more natural.

“Corporal Byeon Jitak, Private First Class Gu Yunho used visualization in his last sparring match.”

“What?”

Even I, who am not close to him, could tell Corporal Byeon Jitak’s current mood, but Private First Class Kang Seongjun, who was always sticking around him, couldn’t grasp it at all.

He kept chattering away, sticking close to him.

“There was a girl named Gong Eunseol, who was skilled in ice magic. She visualized a snake that swallowed an ice chunk, and the coldness cut through everything. It was amazing in many ways.”

“-“

“In the blink of an eye, the match was decided-“

“Do you want to die, you b*stard?”

Only then did Private First Class Kang Seongjun realize his mistake and bowed his head in the at-ease position.

The fist that seemed ready to explode finally lowered.

“Puhak.”

“Kuk.”

Corporal Gwak Woohee and Corporal Jeong Yesom, who had finished changing clothes, couldn’t hold back their laughter as they watched.

They giggled and left the living quarters.

It seemed they were going to chat with the female soldiers in the next squad.

“I remember you clearly.”

As the suppressor left, Corporal Byeon Jitak stood in front of me, his face turning red and blue. His already fierce-looking face became even more menacing.

“What do you mean?”

“I remember clearly what you said and did to me that day.”

“Oh, really?”

“Oh, really? Are you done talking?”

“Actually, I think this way.”

I rested my chin on my hand and spoke in a serious tone.

“What I did wrong that day was not only dropping the medicine I was going to give to Corporal Byeon Jitak on the floor but also accidentally kicking it. That’s it.”

“Did you forget that I told you to use it, you b*stard?”

A large head came right up to my face. I tapped my forehead with my palm and said,

“Oh, right, that. Yes, that’s what I said.”

“You b*stard!”

“If you don’t like it, report me.”

“What?”

“You can report me for insubordination.”

The seniors had all gone out for their own business, leaving only three of us in the living quarters: Sergeant Byun Ji-tak, Private Kang Sung-joon, and me.

There was no one to stop anything from happening.

But Sergeant Byun Ji-tak and Private Kang Sung-joon remained still.

Especially the former, who, despite cursing, “You, you son of a b*tch!” couldn’t go any further.

“Well then, I’ll go to the bathroom.”

He had no choice. Reporting me for insubordination would put him in more danger.

Given his past actions, he’d definitely end up in the brig.

Of course, I had no intention of reporting him first.

After all I’ve been through, a mere two weeks of sitting cross-legged wouldn’t be enough.

He needs more discipline.

“Just wait. I won’t let you off.”

I just smiled and replied,

“Same to you.”