The squad leader said it wasn’t a big deal, but we had to spread sand over a distance of 2 km.
“What the fuck! There’s a sand-spreading machine, you know. Can’t we just use that? Why do we have to manually spread it ourselves?”
During the task, a corporal grimaced and spoke up.
“It’s probably cheaper for us to do it ourselves than to use a machine. Damn it.”
“Is 10,000 won for night shift pay for real? I’d make more money working part-time at a convenience store.”
As he said, since what we were doing wasn’t training or an actual combat situation, the allowance provided was very low.
“Spread more sand over there! Make sure to cover that corner thoroughly!”
“Yes! Understood!”
Kim Chulmin meticulously supervised, waving his small baton around.
Even the squad leader was like this, so how powerful could a general be?
A general was said to move mountains with a single baton.
“Alright. The squad leader will be leaving now, so make sure to wrap up the task and head in. There are many corporals here, so you can do it, right?”
“Yes! Understood!”
“Look at you raising your voice. Don’t just boss around the privates. You should help them so we can finish quickly.”
Kim Chulmin clocked out like a ghost as soon as it turned 9 pm.
The corporals sat down on the street when the squad leader disappeared.
“Hey, you guys can take a break too. This is going to take a long time anyway.”
“Hey, Pigeon. Don’t you dare to rest, you bastard. You lost to the youngest. Huh? Are you even a corporal?”
” Coo-Coo! Coo-Coo!”
At the others’ taunts, Kim Kwangsik imitated a pigeon and began to move sandbags with his mouth.
“Kuk…”
“Kup…”
The privates who saw the scene tried to hold back their forced laughter.
“Wow, the youngest is moving quite quickly.”
“True. At this rate, we might finish a little faster?”
The task continued.
Kim Minjun demonstrated incredible work efficiency that caught the seniors’ attention.
His movements were like a machine spreading sand.
“I’ll spread sand on the bottom part as well!”
He even went the extra mile.
“That guy is good at training and working.”
“It’d be nice if he only climbed up to corporal, huh.”
Kim Minjun had already captured nearly half of the corporals’ hearts.
“What should we make him do after Pigeon?”
As Kim Minjun was about to spread sand near the entrance of the base…
“Huh? What’s this?”
A familiar scent wafted over from somewhere.
“Faint, but rich and fragrant…”
It’s mana!
Kim Minjun lifted his head and located the source of the mana.
“Here.”
A single tree near the entrance of the base.
It was a small, withered tree that looked like it could fall over any moment.
“It seems like it’s inside the tree…”
What should he do?
If he carelessly reached in, the tree might fall.
“It should be fine, right? No one’s watching.”
After checking that no one was around, he reached into the tree.
He felt something moist and wriggling.
When he pulled it out, it was an insect the size of his palm.
“Wow, do even bugs carry mana here in Gangwon Province?”
Kim Minjun quickly absorbed the mana.
Sssss-
“Good. It’s better than nothing.”
It wasn’t as much mana as the dark hound he encountered at the Hunter Army Training Center, but it was considerable.
[You have absorbed a certain level of mana.]
[Your mana stat has increased by 1.]
“Oh? Nice.”
The system window appeared before his eyes.
With the unexpected increase in his stat, the corners of his mouth naturally rose.
The front line was definitely the optimal environment for gathering mana.
“If I slowly absorb the lost mana, my physical abilities should return.”
It was because of the unique skill that only he had among dark mages.
Of course, he didn’t have it now.
“But! I can’t be satisfied with this!”
Why?
Because he had to quickly achieve great power.
To do that, overwhelming stats were necessary.
“Since I’m going to become stronger from the start, I might as well become even stronger than when I was in the other world.”
Kim Minjun decided to use the training room every weekend.
“Since I’m in a good mood, I’ll spare you.”
Kim Minjun released the wriggling larva on his palm.
That larva was a giant stag beetle worth at least 8 million won.
“Great job, everyone. Especially Kim Minjun. You worked really hard.”
The night shift ended at 10 pm.
The task, which originally took more than 2 hours, was shortened thanks to Kim Minjun’s efforts.
“Private Kim Minjun! Thank you!”
“Hey, follow me. I’ll buy you a frozen treat.”
“Thank you! I’ll enjoy it!”
On the way back after finishing the task, a squadmate gestured for him to come closer.
They seemed to like Kim Minjun.
Originally, privates and private first classes could only use the PX on weekends.
Of course, it was an exception if corporals or sergeants bought it for them.
“Ah, it’s nice to train, work, and eat frozen food. King Schnell Chicken is delicious!”
Was frozen food supposed to feel like this?
The quality was inferior compared to what was served at the military cafeteria, but it had an oddly addictive taste.
“Minjun, if you had entered two years earlier, you would have become a corporal. Come earlier next time.”
“Private Kim Minjun! Two years ago, I was a high school student!”
“Ah, is that so? Then you came at the right time. I’m on duty now, so I have to go. Just keep doing what you’re doing now. Your superiors think highly of you.”
“Yes! Understood!”
After telling him to clean up on his own, the senior left first.
“Okay. I’m doing well at image-making.”
The first impression was important, even though he would soon become a corporal or a sergeant.
“It’s a shame. If the promotion exam system hadn’t changed, I could have started as a corporal.”
The content just mentioned by the senior.
It was the rule that outstanding soldiers could advance up to two ranks based on their promotion exam scores.
Two years ago, a staff sergeant promoted to corporal got involved in an accident in a dungeon. This led to some changes.
“Only up to one rank at a time.”
There were only two promotion exams per year.
That meant he had to achieve the highest possible results and aim for a special promotion.
“Wait a minute. What was the criterion for that?”
Kim Minjun hurriedly finished his King Schnell Chicken and headed to the barracks.
“Private First Class Lee Dongjin, I have a question. Can I ask you something for a moment?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“I know there’s a rule allowing you to advance ranks based on exceptional performance, excluding promotion exams. Can you tell me the criteria for that?”
Lee Dongjin blinked at the unexpected question.
“Ah, there is. Civilian rescue in emergency situations or achieving results in a dungeon of a certain scale… But it’s all subjective.”
After all, it was up to the commander to decide.
“You should consider that rule nonexistent. There are almost no hunters who have been promoted that way.”
“Thank you.”
Although it might have sounded like a ridiculous question, Lee Dongjin explained it in detail.
He was a genuinely good senior.
“Don’t worry, I’ll look after you when I become a corporal.”
As soon as he thought that, he heard a voice from the other side.
“Oh, our youngest is already thinking about that…”
“Where did the pigeon go?”
“Coo-Coo!”
It was Corporal Kim Kwangsik.
“Kim Kwangsik, are you enjoying the special shooting training, you bastard?”
“Corporal Kim Kwangsik! I apologize.”
As soon as he spoke, Sergeant Lee Seungho glared at him.
“If you do that again, I’ll beat you.”
“Understood!”
“Alright, continue what you were doing.”
“Coo-Coo! Coo-Coo!”
Lee Seungho glared at him momentarily before turning his gaze to the TV.
Maybe it’s time to start making him work seriously.
Soon, it would be time for cleaning.
Kim Minjun opened his mouth to address Corporal Kim Kwangsik.
“Corporal Kim Kwangsik. That’s enough with the pigeon imitation. Please start with cleaning the barracks. I’ll give you another task when you’re finished.”
“You really know how to take advantage. Okay. Since I’m not the type to hold grudges, go ahead and use me all you want. But if you get caught by me next time, I’ll also make you work like crazy for 24 hours.”
Kim Kwangsik picked up the mop, saying he would see him at the next training.
“Yes, understood.”
Of course, that would never happen, but he replied for the time being.
“Corporal Kim Kwangsik. You must wipe until no dust remains. Hunters should be cautious of fine dust, too, shouldn’t they?”
“…You’re really kind, junior. Your consideration is no joke.”
“Thank you.”
Kim Kwangsik playfully glared at Kim Minjun and went outside the barracks.
“Kim Minjun.”
“Private Kim Minjun!”
“I’ll be responsible, so make that guy work without breaks. If you don’t, you’ll get in trouble with me.”
In the meantime, Lee Seungho said that if he didn’t make Kwangsik work properly, he would get scolded instead.
Although he said “make him work,” the nuance sounded more like “take advantage.”
It seemed that Kim Kwangsik was not satisfied with the special shooting training he had received.
A corporal being used by a private.
When would he ever get such an opportunity again?
“Yes! Understood!”
Kim Minjun replied energetically, feeling refreshed inside.
Still, I should only take moderate advantage of that guy.
If Kim Kwangsik had been a malicious guy, he would have made him work without any breaks for 24 hours.
“Corporal Kim Kwangsik. Did you wash the mop properly?”
As soon as he returned with the mop, Kim Minjun asked seriously.
“Of course! I washed it properly. I’ve been doing this for years.”
He showed off the mop with a relaxed expression as if to prove it.
“Then let me check for a moment.”
Kim Minjun took the mop and squeezed it tightly so it wouldn’t tear.
Ttok-
Suddenly, a single drop of water fell onto the floor.
“Corporal Kim Kwangsik? There was water falling from the mop, but I’ll let it slide since it’s your first time. You can start cleaning like this.”
“Wow. It seems like the new guys will suffer when you become a corporal.”
“I’m only treating you this special, Corporal Kim Kwangsik.”
At those words, Kim Kwangsik pretended to look gloomy.
“…Junior? Did I ever bother you?”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Then why are you doing this to me?”
“I don’t like your pigeon imitation. That’s why.”
“I have nothing to say to that.”
Kim Kwangsik began to mop while imitating a pigeon.
“Coo! Coo-coo!”
The other privates tried to hide their laughter as they stared straight ahead.
I feel a bit sorry for making him work for 24 hours, so I’ll just take a little more advantage. He’s also an amusing guy.
Kim Minjun decided to only take moderate advantage of Kim Kwangsik.
As a private, I can’t use the game room, making my life difficult. Life is more enjoyable when doing things like this.
In fact, unreasonable situations have always been an issue within the military unit.
Kim Kwangsik was just an unfortunate case caught in that situation.
Ah. I’ll sleep so well tonight. It’s more fun than I thought.
***
1 am.
All the Hunters except Kim Minjun and Kim Kwangsik were fast asleep.
“Corporal Kim Kwangsik. That’s enough for now. The barracks are clean, so you can go to sleep.”
At those words, Kim Kwangsik threw the mop.
Kim Minjun caught the flying mop with ease.
“Junior. Can you wash the mop for me? Actually, I’ve been so sleepy since earlier.”
Kim Kwangsik yawned continuously and flung himself onto the bed.
