Chapter 2: The Warrior’s Mana Hole

"I still can't believe I've regressed."

Three days had passed since Kim Hyun-joon regressed.

It took him quite a while to recognize and adapt to the fact that he had gone back in time.

Of course, regression was something you'd only ever see in movies or dramas.

How, and for what reason, had he come back?

Why did it have to be his hellish days as a private that he returned to?

Everything was a mystery.

But the biggest mystery was... the hologram still floating in front of his eyes.

[Raise a Spearman]

[Update work has been completed.]

[You can now use the Status Window.]

The hologram, which had lingered for three days since the day he regressed, finally announced the end of the update and disappeared before his eyes.

‘I wondered if that was the game I knew, so I searched all over... but I never found it.’

The game he had enjoyed before regressing had vanished.

Things like the status window updating itself or freezing up—these were things he had never even heard of before regression.

"Sigh. What's the point in worrying about it any further?"

No matter how much he dwelled on it, there was nothing he could figure out, only more questions piling up.

He had to check it for himself.

With that, he summoned his status window.

[Awakened]

Name: Kim Hyun-joon

Level: 1

Traits: Low-Grade Spearmanship, Raise a Spearman (Hidden)

Stats: Strength [5] Stamina [5] Agility [5] Spearmanship [1]

Skills: None

"...So that was my trait?"

He couldn't help but be surprised.

The hologram that hadn't disappeared from his sight for three days had actually been his trait.

On top of that, there was now a new stat for spearmanship.

It wasn't so unusual to have gained another trait.

After all, it was surprisingly common for a Hunter to possess multiple traits.

But why had he gotten a spearmanship-related trait, specifically?

And why did the name of the hidden trait have to be so lame?

Then again, there had been a Hunter whose fatigue recovery trait was called "Combat Nap."

...He decided to let the name and trait slide.

"Let's at least check what this trait is."

He fiddled with the status window,

Ding.

[Welcome to Raise a Spearman!]

A new window popped up next to the status window.

"This is... way too similar to the game I used to play."

It was a spitting image of the mobile game he had loved before regressing.

[First-Time Only Spearman Growth Support Package (Free!)]

[Tutorial]

A tacky, sparkling screen.

A familiar arrangement of icons.

After looking it over, he could be sure.

It was exactly the same as the mobile game he’d played in the past.

'If I could really grow stronger like a character in a game...?'

The thought flashed through his mind.

Even though he had trained harder than others before regression, the rank of Sergeant had been his limit.

He'd even failed the promotion exam for Sergeant twice.

But if this hidden trait was real?

Sergeant? He could breeze right through and become a Staff Sergeant, or even an Officer in no time.

'No. Don't get your hopes up too high.'

First, he needed to check the trait.

Just as his daily duties had ended and evening roll call was over, it was the perfect time to use the private training room.

"Private Kim Hyun-joon! Requesting permission to use the private training room!"

He reported to his seniors in the barracks, and they just nodded at him to go ahead.

This unit had its share of nasty traditions, but they didn't interfere when it came to training.

Once you reached Corporal, you didn’t even need to report, but as a Private, you had to report no matter where you went.

Except when you went to the bathroom.

‘Damn. I was a Staff Sergeant not long ago.’

He hadn’t expected it would feel so humiliating to go from Staff Sergeant back to Private.

"Kim Hyun-joon. If you can't wake up early tomorrow, you're dead. Got it? And before you go, fill my cup ramen with water. Less than the line."

"Yes, understood."

As if it wasn't bad enough, Corporal Kang Chul-soo had to add insult to injury.

But it was fine.

Why?

Because now, he had a chance to get revenge for all the torment that bastard had put him through before his regression.

Even as a Sergeant, just thinking of that guy had made his teeth grind.

'Just wait, Kang Chul-soo. I’ll reach Sergeant faster than you. I’ll show you hell.'

If this were the regular army, it wouldn't be possible, but in the Hunter Corps, it was.

As long as you proved your results and skills.

If this hidden trait was real, it was worth a try.

Just now, a new goal had formed inside him.

---

"Salute! Private Kim Hyun-joon! Reporting to the duty room!"

After evening roll call, at 10 p.m.

Kim Hyun-joon told the duty officer he wanted to use the private training room.

"Hm? You haven't been transferred here long, and you want to train at night?"

"Yes, sir. I feel like I’m lacking in stamina, so I want to train separately."

"Good initiative. Most privates are busy sleeping as soon as duty ends. From now on, you don't have to report—just use it."

"Yes, sir! Understood!"

After a simple report, he headed to the private training room in the next building.

"Now that no one's watching, let's claim the package right away."

Inside the training room, there was only one small window where you could see in from the outside.

At this hour, hardly any Hunters used the training room.

The duty officer rarely made his rounds in this direction.

These were all things he'd learned from serving over four years in the Flying Dragon Unit before regression.

[First-Time Only Spearman Growth Support Package (Free!)]

He opened the hidden trait, Raise a Spearman, and reached for the support package.

Then, a pile of items came pouring out of the hologram.

[Warrior’s Mana Hole]

[Lance Master’s Mana Training Method (Skill)]

[Clean Recovery Potion *10]

Just like the game.

[Warrior’s Mana Hole]

On acquisition, creates a Mana Hole in the lower abdomen.

Gulp.

Seeing the description, his mouth watered.

If he acquired this, it would turn his body into one capable of using mana.

For Kim Hyun-joon, who never had mana, it was like a dream.

Just because you awakened as a Hunter didn’t mean you could use mana.

‘Even with expensive tonics or items, some people just never get it.’

There’s a lot you can do with mana.

It can be a resource for using skills, or for strengthening your body.

Most top-tier Hunters use mana.

Which means, to rise in the ranks—whether in the Hunter Corps or a guild—mana is essential.

[Would you like to acquire it?]

[Warning! Depending on your physical condition, an extreme shock may be inflicted.]

‘This is a risk worth taking, no matter what!’

Would this opportunity come twice?

When you get a chance, you have to grab it.

Without hesitation, he acquired the Warrior’s Mana Hole.

At the same moment, an incredible shock struck his body.

"Urghhhhh!"

It was as if someone was beating his body with a giant hammer.

He had to endure.

He'd regressed for a reason—living the same as before would be meaningless.

He gritted his teeth and held on.

How much time passed as he endured, he didn't know.

By the time his whole body was drenched in sweat, a hologram appeared before his eyes.

[A Mana Hole has been created.]

[Skill, Lance Master’s Mana Training Method, has been added.]

[The Mana stat has been added.]

As he composed himself, he could feel it.

An invisible energy located in his lower abdomen, right around the navel.

"So this is mana."

A hollow laugh escaped him.

Even from childhood, no matter how many expensive tonics you took, there was no guarantee you’d ever develop mana.

But here he was, with an item handed to him by his trait, and he'd opened his mana, just like that.

All in a short time.

"Maybe unfairness is just the law of the world."

His attitude changed quickly.

[Lance Master’s Mana Training Method]

The mana training method of the one called the Lance Master.

It’s a unique method he developed to fight monsters.

'I’ve already got one skill that didn’t even exist before regression.'

Mana, now flowing in his body.

And a new skill.

He wanted to try it right away, but just creating the mana hole had left his body on the verge of collapse.

With trembling hands, he grabbed a Clean Recovery Potion and drank it.

No way he could take these back to the barracks.

If another senior saw, they’d just take them away.

He planned to drink them all here and dispose of them.

Maybe because the tonic was given by a hidden trait, his body quickly recovered.

So far, about an hour had passed.

He still had plenty of time left.

"Let’s try out the skill first."

Lance Master’s Mana Training Method.

The system’s explanation wasn’t enough.

Some things you have to experience with your own body.

Ding.

[Please assume the proper posture.]

He tried to use the skill, but a warning popped up.

Proper posture?

How was he supposed to know?

He’d only just gotten mana and the skill.

"Am I supposed to try everything and see what works?"

Just as he had that thought, a humanoid hologram appeared before his eyes.

The hologram struck a pose, as if telling him to follow along.

It was a lotus position.

‘The hologram’s showing me how to use the skill?’

This was new information.

Hunters usually figured this stuff out through trial and error.

‘Is it only me, because I got the skill through a hidden trait?’

Either way, no complaints here.

He followed the hologram, taking the lotus position.

Twitch.

He felt the invisible energy in his lower abdomen start to move, bit by bit.

The hologram even showed him the direction to circulate his internal mana.

The mana started in his lower abdomen, and slowly circulated throughout his body.

Of course, his first attempt failed.

He couldn't move the mana properly at all.

Even so, a second, a third, a fourth attempt.

He kept at it all through the night, tirelessly trying over and over.

As a result, by the time morning came, Kim Hyun-joon had finally learned how to move the mana inside his body.

"...I’ll have to save the rest for tomorrow."

His whole body was soaked in sweat.

Even moving the mana inside him was still slow and awkward.

There was no clear change in his body just yet.

But, that was fine.

Things were different now from before his regression.

[Strength stat increased by 1!]

[Stamina stat increased by 1!]

[Agility stat increased by 1!]

[Mana stat increased by 1!]

The system was making it clear: he was changing.

‘At this rate... could I even reach Mugunghwa?’

Before regression, he’d compromised with reality, aiming only to make it to Sergeant First Class.

His trait was average, his abilities were average.

But now?

He had a hidden trait.

A mana hole and a skill.

Since he’d chosen to be a career soldier, it was only natural to want a higher rank.

‘Let’s see how high I can climb.’

Kim Hyun-joon made up his mind.

If he was going to regress, he might as well reach for the top.

---

Kim Hyun-joon returned to the barracks after staying up all night.

Thanks to dousing himself with Clean Recovery Potions, he felt no fatigue at all.

"In the end, I didn’t even touch a spear."

But that was fine.

He’d gotten mana, and a skill called Lance Master’s Mana Training Method.

He’d learned how to move mana inside his body, too.

"I’ll do the tutorial after today’s duties are over."

He returned to the barracks and waited for about ten minutes.

‘...What’s with that guy?’

Sergeant Yoon Sung-jin, who had woken up first, narrowed his eyes at the sight of Kim Hyun-joon.

He had sensed that there was a change in Kim Hyun-joon’s body.

‘Is it my imagination? How could a guy without mana suddenly develop it in a day?’

Sergeant Yoon Sung-jin was a magic specialist, commonly called a Mage.

Because of that, he quickly noticed the presence of mana in Kim Hyun-joon’s body.

‘Ah. What a pain.’

Sergeant Yoon Sung-jin shuffled out of the barracks in his slippers.

He was heading off to report this to the duty officer.