Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 9 Rather an Opportunity (5)

Given the situation, the surrounding gazes were focused. In the noisy atmosphere, Captain Oh Jun-beom shouted.

“Hey! What’s going on over there?”

“N-nothing!”

No matter how reckless Corporal Byun Ji-tak was, he couldn’t act that way towards the company commander. He could only talk about killing and whatnot where he couldn’t be heard.

Corporal Byun Ji-tak hurriedly withdrew his dagger.

I just stood there quietly.

“Don’t make a fuss and stay quiet.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

He was quite flustered, stuttering his words. It was both amusing and funny to see him like that.

A snicker was heard from the side.

“Yoon-ho, you really got him good.”

“Private Koo Yoon-ho. No, I didn’t.”

“For someone who didn’t, he sure was trembling a lot. He pointed the dagger, but he was the one who got scared. Idiot.”

Corporal Jung Ye-som stuck his tongue out at the back of Corporal Byun Ji-tak’s head as if to mock him.

And the murmuring voices.

“Heh, what was that? Byun Ji-tak just got scared, right?”

“Yeah, that must be so embarrassing.”

Even though I could only see the back of his head, I could feel his face turning red. Eventually, Corporal Byun Ji-tak couldn’t hold it in and shouted.

“Shut up, all of you. Before I kill you.”

“Wow, still acting tough~ Why didn’t you do that just now, huh~”

The corporals who didn’t get along with him kept snickering.

“Damn it.”

Corporal Byun Ji-tak’s body trembled.

This time, it was out of anger.

Heat surged.

To the toy he always bullied and treated as inferior, just as Corporal Jung Yesom had said, he got hit back.

He couldn’t say anything to me.

There were too many eyes watching.

If he had thrown another fit, it would have only confirmed that he was truly scared.

If he wasn’t scared, there was no reason to hesitate in that situation, he would have just thrust the dagger further.

He pretended to be incredibly strong, but in the end, he was just a worthless worm.

“But Yunho, how did you not even flinch? The dagger suddenly thrust right in front of you.”

“Well, I just wasn’t very scared.”

“Really? You’ve got some guts, huh.”

It was similar. The courage from [The Soul of the Iron-Blooded Knight] had completely erased the emotion of fear from me.

Even if a monster had suddenly thrust right in front of me instead of a dagger, I would have been fine.

It was an amazing effect.

“Today’s investigation ends here. Everyone, exit.”

The small commotion ended like that.

*

After returning, I went to the training room right after dinner. I planned to experiment with another effect of [The Soul of the Iron-Blooded Knight].

The method was simple.

I just had to train in swordsmanship.

It would be better to have an opponent rather than swinging the sword alone, so I activated the simulation device again today.

“Let’s work hard, Deriphon.”

Since the purpose was training rather than winning, the opponent was Deriphon again.

As soon as he was summoned, he roared.

“Graaa!”

That’s why it sometimes feels real. I smirked and parried his sword.

Clang!

In just one day, the gap between him and me had completely disappeared. Since the moment I awakened [Efficient Parrying], his sword could never cut or stab me.

Moreover, today I had unlocked [The Soul of the Iron-Blooded Knight].

《You have exploited the opponent’s gap.》

《The bleeding opponent staggers.》

《The proficiency of [Thrust] is rapidly increasing.》

《The opponent’s stance collapses.》

《You have completely incapacitated the opponent.》

《The proficiency of [Slash] is rapidly increasing.》

As the battle continued, the proficiency soared frighteningly. Unlike in games, there was no separate leveling system, so I couldn’t gauge the exact numbers, but I could feel it with my body.

Much more relaxed attack timing.

Thanks to that, the pressure was lessened.

However, the problem is.

‘There’s nothing I can do about physical strength.’

Strength, stamina, and agility are abilities necessary for swordsmanship, but they are not directly related.

Therefore, they did not receive the proficiency increase effect of [Iron Blood Knight’s Soul].

‘It’s okay. Even before the regression, the problem was the type and number of abilities, not physical strength. It wasn’t that big of an obstacle.’

Physical strength can be sufficiently overcome with consistent training and repetitive battles. That’s why I was able to rise to the rank of superior.

But that doesn’t mean I can repeat that time exactly.

It takes too long.

‘I need to shorten that time.’

There is a way. I’ve already roughly drawn it in my head.

I just need to put it into practice, but the time hasn’t come yet.

There’s no need to rush.

It’s only the second day since the regression.

Looking back at my future life, I can proceed a little more slowly. To prevent the mishap of mistaking a statue for a stone box from happening again.

Training was repeated as always until the duty-sharing cleaning time was over.

Deriphon was almost my sandbag now.

Seven of them had been beaten to a pulp and disappeared. Two of them died instantly without even trying anything.

Thwack!

So this last one was not attacking aggressively but was taking a defensive stance. I needed to use various movements and further open up my abilities.

Swish.

A sword strike drawing a crescent moon. It was clearly visible, but I didn’t dodge it in advance on purpose. Instead, I let the sword clash at the exact timing when it was about to touch my body.

To be precise, I deflected it.

When proficiency accumulates and opens up, a skill called [Deflection] is created, which is naturally more difficult than [Parrying].

If you miss the timing even slightly, you’ll allow the attack to hit you. Or you’ll leave a gap and get hit by a series of attacks.

Of course, your proficiency won’t increase at all the moment you get hit.

High risk, high return.

If used well, there’s no better ability than this.

After deflecting the attack, if the opponent’s stance wavers, I get an immediate opportunity to counterattack.

Especially when the opponent’s level is low. At those times, I can land a critical hit right away.

Cutting off an arm is no big deal.

“Whew.”

I caught my breath and finished the training. My whole body was soaked as if I had been caught in the rain.

I was drenched in sweat.

It was uncomfortable, but there was a sense of accomplishment.

Before the regression, I hardly ever felt this sense of accomplishment.

I was always treading water.

Not anymore.

Even a light swing of the sword now directly contributes to my growth.

Training feels rewarding.

And with it, I feel myself getting stronger.

*

“So, the ones going out this weekend are Jeong Yesom and Koo Yoonho. Just the two of them?”

“Yes.”

“Both are on leave?”

“That’s right.”

Thanks to Corporal Jeong Yesom, the leave application process went smoothly. She was also thinking of going out to clear her head, and when she heard my story, she spoke up during the squad meeting.

Sergeant Kwon Minchan wrote down my name and Corporal Jeong Yesom’s name on the leave permit and asked,

“What’s the purpose?”

“Corporal Jeong Yesom. To get some rest.”

“Not to drink yourself silly?”

“No, sir. That won’t happen.”

“I remember you downed several bottles of soju at the last gathering. Drink in moderation.”

Other seniors, remembering the incident, added their comments.

“He was a heavy drinker.”

“Absolutely, a complete drunkard.”

Corporal Jung Yesom narrowed his eyes, signaling for silence. But I remember too.

This sister, she’s a total drunkard.

“Gu Yunho, what about you? What’s your leave for?”

“Private Gu Yunho. I plan to spend quality time with my family.”

“Such a filial son, aren’t you? Alright, got it.”

If another officer had said it, it would have sounded like a compliment, but coming from Sergeant Kwon Minchan, it sounds sarcastic.

Still, it seems like he’ll approve it without any fuss.

Better behave.

Sergeant Kwon Minchan is leaving soon anyway.

After causing a big incident.

Fortunately, the next squad leader is completely different.

He doesn’t treat soldiers like expendables.

He doesn’t lazily pass on tasks because they’re bothersome.

I owe a lot to him too.

I should repay that kindness this time.

And save him.

I can’t let him die again.

“Okay, take it in advance.”

Sergeant Kwon Minchan, who had scribbled his signature on the leave pass, handed it over.

“Don’t cause any trouble while you’re out.”

“Understood.”

“Be careful not to leave the restricted area. Just think of it as staying within Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.”

“Yes.”

Our unit’s restricted area includes the entire Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

Since my home is in Gyeonggi Province, I was free from that restriction.

I should call home and let them know I’ll be out on leave this weekend.

“Any other reports or special notes?”

“None.”

“Alright, good job everyone.”

Sergeant Kwon Min-chan left the living quarters as if everything was a bother.

As soon as the door closed, Corporal Byun Ji-tak glared at me.

“Does this private get to go on leave?”

Corporal Jung Ye-som was about to butt in, thinking, ‘He’s really being a jerk all the time,’ when Sergeant Song Ki-yong, who was lying down and pressing the remote control, turned to look at us.

“Yoon-ho hasn’t been able to go out for a couple of months. And it’s not even a vacation, just a leave, so why are you so annoyed?”

“Sergeant Song, it’s not that.”

“Not that, my foot. Yoon-ho did well in the dungeon yesterday. Let him go on leave coolly.”

Sergeant Song Ki-yong’s personality was usually like a calm sea, but once the lid was off, he would boil like fire.

There was a difference in the number of stripes from the start.

In the end, Corporal Byun Ji-tak kept his mouth shut.

“It seems the squad leader is letting him go because of that too.”

Now that I think about it, that’s true.

He approved it right away without any objections because of that yesterday.

This shows how important reputation is. Things that were hard to get before regression are now coming to me on their own.

“If you understand, be quiet. Let me watch TV until roll call.”

“Yes.”

Sergeant Song Ki-yong was the same. In my memory, he had never covered for me even once.

He had never helped me separately either.

From the start, his motto was, ‘Don’t care about others’ business, just focus on mine and get discharged safely.’

For someone like that to act this way meant he thought highly of me.

I felt somewhat proud.

That day passed like that.

*

The tight schedule made the weekend come quickly.

Finally, it was time to see my family.

“Don’t be late returning. You heard recently, right? Private Park Kyung-sik from the 1st platoon fell asleep on the subway and came back around 9 PM? Don’t be like him.”

“Understood! Loyalty!”

“Loyalty.”

After reporting my leave, I left the base. It was still May, and the heat hadn’t come yet.

It was a perfect day to go out.

“Yoonho! Let’s go!”

“Private Koo Yoonho! Yes, sir!”

He jumped out of the company building with Corporal Jung Yesom, who was already excited.

Their attire was just combat uniforms and combat boots.

The situation had to be resolved strictly within the unit, and the Hunter Headquarters’ guidelines required that those on leave be given complete rest.

After all, there were guilds outside. They would step in before the adjacent units were dispatched.

And in my family, there are a few who are or were involved in such places.