Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 40 The Treasure of Gwisusan (3)

“Third squad leader, let’s have a word.”

“Yes, sir!”

Captain Oh Jun-beom then walked away.

Sergeant Sun Ah-rin quickly followed him.

“…Damn.”

Corporal Byun Ji-tak’s face was flushed red.

Corporal Jung Ye-som sat back down on the ground and said,

“He’s not entirely wrong~ Our Corporal Byun Ji-tak needs to stay on his toes.”

“Shut up, you.”

“Can’t I speak with my mouth?”

“You’re so annoying.”

Unable to contain his anger, he walked away.

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee chuckled.

“Looks like his pride took a hit.”

“Serves him right.”

“Yeah, it’s all his karma.”

They didn’t know the relationship between me and Corporal Byun Ji-tak, but if we were to assign blame, it was clearly Captain Oh Jun-beom’s fault. However, Corporal Jung Ye-som and Corporal Kwak Woo-hee didn’t feel sorry for him at all.

Instead, they comforted me.

“Yoon-ho, you must be having a hard time with such a strange mentor.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“But things have been quiet lately, right?”

“That’s true.”

“He knows it too. If he acts like he used to, he’ll get it back in return.”

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee clicked his tongue at the sight of Corporal Byun Ji-tak walking away.

“Look at that. He couldn’t even argue back.”

“Come to think of it, Byun Ji-tak seems to be worried too, doesn’t he? Afraid he’ll be outdone by Yoon-ho.”

“Seems like it.”

“Let’s hope it happens.”

Corporal Jung Ye-som clasped his hands together in prayer.

In fact, it’s already decided that he’ll be pushed out.

The question is how miserably he’ll be pushed out, or rather, how miserably he’ll be thrown into the abyss.

“From now on, we’ll set up the camp.”

“Yes!”

We then set up the tent right in front of the path leading to the second floor.

Like during the guerrilla training, it was a 15-person tent used by 3-4 squads together.

I rolled up my sleeves and stepped forward first.

“Please hold it over there.”

“Like this?”

“Yes. Sergeant Kim Jung-hyun, please secure only the upper part.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll handle this part. Just hammer it down and it’ll be done in no time.”

How many years had it been since I became a non-commissioned officer?

I hardly did it after becoming a sergeant, but I’ve set up and covered at least hundreds of tents.

I could do it with my eyes closed.

In no time, a space to spend the night was created.

Unlike the tents of other squads, which were not properly completed with sagging ceilings or bent support pillars, our tent was perfectly shaped according to the blueprint.

The seniors from other squads said,

“Was it always this easy?”

“No. It took forever during the last guerrilla training.”

“As long as we do what Yoon-ho says, it’s quick.”

“The power of a private’s experience.”

“Hey, think about when we were rookies. Even after becoming a corporal, we were always struggling.”

“Our Yunho has always been a bit special.”

Corporal Jeong Yesom boasted on his behalf.

“Since you benefited, you owe us a treat when we get back to the unit. It has to be a big one. We’ll probably have to set up three or four more times.”

“Anyway, Jeong Yesom never misses out on things like this. Got it.”

I was just grateful to get a free treat, but my mind was elsewhere.

《You have exceptional skills in handling tools and crafting items.》

《A new ability [Handiness] has been unlocked.》

《From now on, you can handle tools and craft items more quickly and precisely.》

It was an ability I had barely obtained after becoming a sergeant in my previous life.

It came to me in less than two months this time.

In the Hunter Corps, if there are no dungeon raids or training, we are always working.

Starting from basic equipment maintenance and dismantling by-products, to trench construction, barrier maintenance, dungeon waste removal, and so on, there are easily more than a dozen tasks.

This [Handiness] can be very useful in all those tasks.

Not just for work.

A sword is also a tool, and maintaining and refining it is a form of crafting.

So, it is also useful in combat.

Especially.

‘If that item exists at the top of the tower, [Handiness] will be very effective there too.’

It’s a very good ability in many ways.

As proficiency increases, the effect amplifies as a bonus!

The awakening of [Flexible Flow] is also good, and the start is promising.

I hope this momentum continues until the last day.

Even if it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter.

I can force it to continue.

I have the power to do so.

*

Day 2.

The battle with the Red Orcs continued on the second floor.

The numbers were similar, so the tactics were the same.

When the soldiers of the 333rd unit dealt with the enemies at the front, the remaining soldiers took care of the aftermath.

Thanks to that, we had an easy day today as well.

It was the third day, and it wasn’t much different on the third floor.

The monsters that appeared were different, but their level was similar to the Red Orcs, so the soldiers of the 333rd unit continued to lead the way.

Out of a total of 115 members, less than half of them entered the enemy’s territory.

It was extremely inefficient.

‘Do as you please. In the end, you’ll see blood.’

My memories from before the regression told me so. That procession charging like a tank would collapse the moment they set foot on the fourth floor.

The commander had hastily changed tactics back then, so the damage must have been considerable.

Of course, that commander was Major Yeom Dong-cheol, who was holding his head high over there.

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee pointed at them with her chin.

“Guys, there’s an old saying, you know?”

“What saying?”

“Even monkeys fall from trees. They look like they’re about to fall. I have a hunch, a hunch.”

As expected, Sister Woo-hee, you’re very accurate.

“I think so too. It definitely won’t work like that on the fourth floor.”

“Right?”

“Yes. The monster types will change completely due to the environment, and since it’s the top floor, there will be traps everywhere.”

“If a blizzard hits, it will be hard to see clearly.”

“That’s right. So we need to make the most of our personnel, keep a lookout in all directions, have the magic soldiers support, and the rest should be ready for sudden attacks while advancing. If we charge recklessly like now, there will definitely be trouble.”

“Oh.”

Corporal Jung Ye-som tapped my arm.

“Yoon-ho, you’d make a good squad leader in the future.”

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee looked at me with approval. Then she spoke again.

“If our Major Yeom Dong-cheol had any sense, he wouldn’t be doing it like this.”

Unfortunately, he didn’t have that sense.

He was obsessed with his performance.

So we cleared up to the third floor without any major issues.

Major Yeom Dong-cheol’s nose was in the air.

“This is the combat power of the 333rd unit. You just need to trust us and follow well.”

The arrogance showed no sign of diminishing even when I went up to the fourth floor the next day.

A biting cold winter wind.

It felt like being trapped in a hard white canvas.

I was already fully equipped with winter gear from head to toe.

Whiiing.

There was no blizzard yet, but judging by the atmosphere, it was imminent.

Soon, it would be hard to see even an inch ahead.

I couldn’t help but be puzzled.

In this situation, did they really move only among themselves again?

Is my memory wrong?

“The soldiers of the 333rd unit will advance first. The rest of the soldiers will follow each company commander…”

…It wasn’t wrong.

My memory was correct.

The lines I had heard continuously for the past three days were echoing again.

I sighed and looked around.

Red and blue dots were floating everywhere.

The activation of [Kiri’s Eye].

It looked like a quiet snowy field on the surface, but it meant that monsters were wriggling beyond it.

Now I see, it seems the first button was fastened wrong from the fourth floor.

Isn’t this a situation where we are bound to be ambushed?

I want to let them get hit hard, but then innocent people could get hurt.

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee, Corporal Jung Ye-som, and Sergeant Sun Ah-rin, of course.

I shouted.

“The enemy is coming!”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Everyone had a bewildered look at the sudden shout.

Since I shouted so loudly, even Major Yeom Dong-chul at the front responded immediately.

“Who is there! What are you talking about!”

“It’s an ambush! We need to prepare!”

There is no need to maintain a reporting system on the battlefield.

When you’re about to die, who has time to worry about such things?

Instead, you must take responsibility for what you say.

“Hey, you b*stard! What are you talking about right now?”

Finally, Major Yeom Dong-cheol came over, his brow furrowed.

I calmly replied.

“It may be hard to believe, but I unlocked my ability to sense the enemy last night. It is telling me this.”

“Gu Yoon-ho, you now!”

Captain Oh Joon-beom seemed even more flustered.

I continued speaking without hesitation.

“You may not trust the words of a mere corporal, but isn’t it worth trusting the words of an ability?”

“!”

As I enunciated each word clearly, Major Yeom Dong-cheol seemed to sense something.

That I wasn’t just spouting nonsense.

“…How many are there?”

“About 150. They are closing in from three directions, excluding the entrance we came up from. Whatever tactics you employ, it would be best to hurry.”

I had no choice but to urge him. We needed to resolve the situation first.

“-“

Major Yeom Dong-cheol’s gaze pierced through me for a brief moment.

He made a decision and shouted.

“Form up in formation 2!”

“…Yes!”

The soldiers, who had been murmuring in confusion, followed the commander’s orders.

They spread out in perfect order, taking their positions.

The long-range soldiers, including the mages, moved inside, while the close-range soldiers, such as swordsmen and spearmen, positioned themselves on the outside.

And the shield-bearers with heavy shields fortified the defense on all sides.

The officers, of course, stood like gatekeepers in front of the soldiers on the outermost side.

Major Yeom Dong-cheol, who was emitting energy from his sword, raised his head.

His eyes scanned the serene snowy field once more.

At some point, a murderous intent that made every nerve in his body stand on end swept in with the biting wind.

It was a moment before it revealed itself.

Kuuung!!

“Ambush!”

“Yunho was right…!”

Monsters in the form of polar bears began to slide towards us.

With bodies as massive as mountains, they moved with the speed of a jabberwock.

In the blink of an eye, the white giants were right in front of us.

“Magicians, activate your shields! Quive Bears are skilled in melee attacks!”

Magic poured down like snow on the snowy field. The shield-bearers braced themselves, almost planting their legs into the ground.

A barrier was erected.

Kwaaang!!

The Quive Bears collided with it all at once.

The vibration echoed like an earthquake.

The close-combat soldiers, who had already drawn their weapons, charged at the monsters.

The officers were already cutting them down.

I swung my sword too.

Swoosh!

Having slept well, I was in top condition.

The [Mystic Snake] I summoned bit into the neck of a Quive Bear covered in white fur.

“Kwoooarrr!”

I thrust my sword into it as if driving a dagger.

More than five red dots were embedded in its huge hands and claws.

The moment you’re caught, you’re torn and burst.

The grip strength of a Quive Bear is stronger than the weapons of most monsters.

But it didn’t apply to me.

As long as I didn’t get scared, I could dodge their clumsy attacks even after seeing them.

Seoggeok!!

I dodged by tilting my upper body and extended my sword again. This time, the blue snake bit into its belly.

In the meantime, I pulled out my sword and swung it horizontally.

The blade still draped with the blue snake.

The notification rang just then.

《The battle is proceeding more smoothly with the use of [Mystic Snake].》

《The level of coordination is very high.》

《A new ability [Swordsmanship of the Mystic Snake] has derived from the possessed ability [Mystic Snake].》

《From now on, the effect of [Mystic Snake] will be greatly enhanced in all sword attack techniques.》

Derived ability [Swordsmanship of the Mystic Snake].

Since there was no [Mystic Snake] before the regression, this was naturally the first time seeing this ability.

However, there was no doubt about its power.

Sgakak.

The moment he attacked the Quive Bear that was charging from the side, leaving the notification behind.

A snake so gigantic it was unimaginable sprang out along the blade.

Kwak!!

Its mouth, which seemed to tear apart, bit into the creature’s head.

No, it swallowed it whole.

Crunch.

With a grinding sound, something separated from the creature’s body.

It was the head, dyed blue.

The gigantic snake, having done its job, calmly got sucked back into the blade.