ALL NOVEL chapter 3
Chapter 3: On Second Thought, It’s Not So Bad (2)
“Kiaaak!”
The creature staggered and got up. Its arm holding the spiked club was trembling, seemingly in great pain.
Corporal Byun Ji-tak finally reacted.
He ran up and slashed his sword horizontally.
Thud.
The creature’s body split open and collapsed, its arm flailing.
Blood poured out from between its skin.
The creature, which had been gasping for breath, soon died.
The one hiding in the bushes had already crossed the river to the afterlife. I walked over and pulled out what was embedded in its heart.
It was my thrown sword.
As the battle ended in an instant, Corporal Jung Ye-som jumped up and down.
“Wow, again! This time you even caught it yourself! What’s going on?”
“I was lucky.”
“Lucky? You aimed and caught it perfectly! Well done, really!”
Corporal Jung Ye-som was as happy and excited as if it were his own achievement, looking at the creature with a hole in its heart.
It was understandable to be this excited.
We had accurately predicted their location and subdued them in one go.
Of course, from my perspective, it was quite disappointing.
If it were before the regression, the creature that got kicked in the side would have died instantly.
‘It can’t be helped. I have to blame my physical strength from 25 years ago.’
He sighed and looked ahead. Corporal Byun Ji-tak started moving again.
He glanced over and saw a properly sour expression.
Earlier, he had dismissed the small sound that revealed the presence of the gnolls as luck, but he knew that this time it wasn’t just luck.
“Are we at a party? Hurry up and follow.”
“Coming, coming.”
Corporal Jung Ye-som, who answered obediently, chuckled.
“Look at Byun Ji-tak’s face. He’s probably annoyed because you’ve been doing so well, Yun-ho.”
“Haha.”
“But honestly, I’m amazed too. How can you suddenly be so good? Is it because all the training you’ve been doing every day is finally paying off?”
That light will shine much later. The reason I could suddenly do this was purely because of my regression.
Even though my physical strength was reset, my senses were still alive.
My body remembers how to judge and move.
Of course, not everything was solved by senses alone.
“I knew it. He’s struggling like a wet dog.”
After a couple of hours. Even though it was just gnolls, and there were only about a dozen of them, I was already exhausted.
Even holding the sword was burdensome.
“That guy was just incredibly lucky today.”
Corporal Byun Ji-tak dismissed it as luck again, as if he had been waiting for it.
My performance in today’s battle.
“Luck? Aren’t you embarrassed to say that now? You couldn’t say anything earlier.”
“I was in the middle of a battle.”
“You always talk non-stop, but suddenly you pretend to be cautious. Yun-ho’s role is support, right? It’s already amazing that the support took down a few.”
“Did you sleep with him? You’re covering for him like crazy.”
“What? This is really too much!”
If left alone, Corporal Jung Ye-som would only suffer. I smiled and casually said,
“Corporal Byun Ji-tak, didn’t you feel anything earlier?”
“What are you talking about? What didn’t I feel?”
“I mean, the gnolls were hiding. Didn’t you feel anything?”
“Are you crazy? Why wouldn’t I feel that?”
“Oh~ I knew it. You felt it but stayed still like a mother bird dropping her chick off a cliff, letting me fight alone.”
“You, you b*stard.”
Corporal Byun Ji-tak spewed out curses but couldn’t completely deny it. At that moment, he couldn’t counterattack any further.
It doesn’t make sense that he noticed the concealment and didn’t take any action, right?
Especially since he’s supposed to be the squad leader.
“Pfft.”
Corporal Jung Ye-som chuckled, seemingly understanding my intention.
“You, I’ll keep an eye on you.”
His broad face turned bright red. Corporal Byun Ji-tak quickly turned around and walked away in the opposite direction.
It was time to return to the assembly point after finishing the battle.
Corporal Jung Ye-som put his arm around my shoulder as if hugging me and pinched my cheek.
“Our Yun-ho, has your eloquence always been this good?”
It wasn’t originally good. It got better as I kept flattering.
That’s how this place is.
To get promoted, combat skills are important, but so are verbal skills. That’s how you survive. When you look closely, it’s all politics.
But my relationship with Corporal Byun Ji-tak is a bit different.
“Let’s go back, Yun-ho. Everyone will be shocked when they hear about you.”
“Private Gu Yun-ho. Yes, sir.”
On the way back to the assembly point, I still felt a mix of frustration and despair due to the regression, but at the same time, I felt a strange sensation.
Because I had never experienced this before the regression.
Praise for a job well done.
Recognition for my performance.
I had never heard such things before.
At least not at this point in time.
In the meantime, we arrived at the assembly point. Each squad leader reported the situation.
All the enemies inside were dealt with.
No injuries.
Just as it was about to end, Corporal Jung Ye-som excitedly spoke up.
“Squad leader! There was a dangerous situation for Squad 3!”
“Dangerous situation? What’s that, Byun Ji-tak? You said there was no such situation.”
“Ah, well, that is…”
“Done.”
When Corporal Byun Ji-tak mumbled, Sergeant Kwon Min-chan turned his gaze back to Corporal Jung Ye-som, as if to say, “Keep talking.”
“Yes, it was when we were passing the entrance.”
Corporal Jung Ye-som explained in detail how he alone heard the sound, identified the location of the enemy, and launched a preemptive strike on the hidden enemies.
Sergeant Kwon Min-chan’s eyes filled with curiosity.
“Yoon-ho Koo did all that?”
“Yes!”
“Huh, really.”
He let out a hollow laugh and looked back at Corporal Byun Ji-tak.
“Byun Ji-tak, is it true? Did Yoon-ho Koo really do that?”
“Well, he did, but…”
“Is the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow? What’s gotten into you, Yoon-ho Koo?”
Sergeant Kwon Min-chan’s words were more of astonishment than praise.
“Byun Ji-tak. If something like that happened, you should have reported it. That way, we can prepare and train to avoid it next time.”
“Corporal Byun Ji-tak. I’m sorry.”
He just scolded Corporal Byun Ji-tak.
I didn’t really care. What’s the point of being praised by people like them?
It just makes me feel worse.
“Return to the base.”
“Yes!”
After completing the mission, we exited the dungeon.
Downtown Seoul.
Except for being old-fashioned, it wasn’t much different from 25 years ago.
Hairstyles are actually more sophisticated now.
In 25 years, the old shaggy cut will be back in fashion.
We used a vehicle for transportation. The squad members sat in rows on both sides of the deuce and a half.
The citizens didn’t show much reaction even when they saw us.
May 2030.
It’s been decades since monsters and hunters appeared in the world.
For them, this was now routine.
The unit was located close to the city center. While chatting with Corporal Jeong Yesom about this and that, we quickly reached our destination.
The unit mark with a white tiger drawn on it.
It was the Flying Tiger Battalion that I belonged to 25 years ago. Once again, I truly realize it.
The fact that I have returned.
“Corporal Jeong Yesom.”
“Yes.”
“If I told you I came from the year 2055, would you believe me?”
“Our Yunho seems very tired today. Should I give you a pillow in the living quarters?”
“…No.”
When I confided in Corporal Jeong Yesom as if I were complaining, it was immediately dismissed as nonsense.
Right, who would believe that I came from the future to the past, not even in a time-travel web novel?
Even I, the person involved, can’t believe it.
…Damn.
“Everyone worked hard today. Go up to the living quarters, change clothes, and have dinner.”
“Yes! Loyalty!”
“Loyalty.”
After disbanding, I went up to the living quarters. The Hunter Corps’ system was almost identical to that of the regular army, so the barracks were not much different.
Beds and lockers lined up on both sides.
The squad leader’s desk.
The weapon storage.
Even a TV stand at the front.
It was the life of soldiers itself.
“Damn, is it okay to bind the hunters who protect the country like this?”
“That’s right. Because of that damn Hunter Mandatory Service Act or whatever.”
“I need to get discharged soon and join a guild.”
“Do you have any places in mind?”
“A few places.”
“Oh, congratulations on joining.”
“Joining my ass. It’s still a long way off.”
“Hey, you only have a few months left.”
“Damn, a few months feel like years.”
I changed clothes while listening to the seniors’ conversation. The activity uniform made of military green.
Even though I hadn’t worn it in a long time, it felt comfortable as if I wore it every day.
Whoever made it did a great job.
A long curtain was drawn down on the opposite bunk. Corporal Jeong Yesom and the other female soldiers soon changed into their activity uniforms and came out.
That’s right.
The Hunter Corps has men and women living together. It wasn’t like that from the beginning.
There wasn’t even a plan for it.
However, due to the peculiarities between genders, cohabitation was eventually discussed, and from 2010, this form was established.
Men are focused on physicality.
Women are focused on senses.
Due to the significant differences in the abilities that are unlocked, special measures were taken for an efficient troop combination.
In fact, the effect was so great that no objections were raised anymore.
“Hey, hey, breaking news! Sergeant Kim Yonghun and Corporal Park Jiyeong got caught doing that in the supply warehouse!”
There aren’t no problems, though.