Chapter 24: The Debuff Ability

The 3rd Platoon dungeon raid team safely returned to the unit.

“Those things are really stuffed to the brim.”

“They worked hard, so they should at least fill them that much.”

The soldiers made motions of wiping their mouths while looking at the bulging military duffel bags.

Those duffel bags contained various items obtained from the C-rank dungeon.

Lower-grade mana stones, miscellaneous equipment, and other materials for crafting.

Items obtained through dungeon raids are provided to soldiers in the form of performance bonuses to a certain extent.

The more items harvested, the larger the amount of the bonus they take home.

It could be called a type of incentive.

Thanks to this, the soldiers were able to work hard on dungeon raids, so it was a fairly decent system.

“Everyone did a great job. You must be tired, but make sure to finish maintenance on your equipment before you rest.”

“Yes, sir!”

The platoon leader disseminated brief instructions to the soldiers.

One by one, the soldiers returned to the barracks.

“Hyun-jun.”

The platoon leader called Kim Hyun-jun aside.

“Private First Class Kim Hyun-jun!”

“Yeah. It's nothing else, I just have something to ask you. If you're tired, should I call you tomorrow?”

“No, sir. It is fine.”

“Is that so. Then let's not talk here, go change and come to the platoon leader's office.”

“Yes! Understood!”

It was obvious what he was going to ask.

It was likely because of the ability regarding mana mentioned during this dungeon raid.

From the perspective of a platoon leader who has to manage platoon members, it was natural to call him separately to find out.

‘I acted alone during the dungeon raid and even caught the boss monster by myself, so it's only natural that it turned out like this.’

Kim Hyun-jun already knew this would happen, so he wasn't particularly surprised.

‘If it were the Hunter Army of the old days, I would have been a bit nervous, but it's fine now.’

Even if he asked, he probably wouldn't pry too deeply.

Currently, the Hunter Army tended to consider the human rights of soldiers to some extent.

On the other hand, the Hunter Army of the past was strict in many ways.

The fact that you had to do what you were told was the same then as it is now, but should I say the intensity was stronger.

‘Back then, you had to reveal everything—level, stats, traits, and skills. In detail. If it was found that you said something different, you’d be severely disciplined.’

It was a time when eradicating monsters took priority over the human rights of soldiers.

That method was efficient for dungeon raids, but there was something the Hunter Army overlooked.

The fact that soldiers are ultimately human beings.

Only after incidents broke out one by one in the units due to that problem did a manual for the status windows of soldiers appear.

Allow basic stats or traits to be reported, but do not try to dig deep into other things.

It meant to respect privacy to some extent.

‘Of course, even if it were the old Hunter Army, I would never have revealed my hidden trait.’

As soon as Kim Hyun-jun returned to the barracks and finished changing into his PT uniform, he headed to the platoon leader's office.

“Loyalty!”

“Right. Hyun-jun, you've worked hard.”

When he knocked and entered the platoon leader's office, Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo gave him a cup of mix coffee as if he had been waiting.

A brand of mix coffee familiar in paper cups.

While Kim Hyun-jun drank the coffee, Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo wrote a report.

He was still in his combat uniform.

He looked so busy that he didn't even have time to change.

By the time he had finished nearly half of the coffee, Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo spoke up.

“Hyun-jun. That ability embedded in mana you mentioned earlier. Can you tell me about it?”

His tone had become cautious.

It was because it was on a different track from general stats, traits, or skills.

It was also a precious ability.

“You don't have to tell me in detail. Just roughly what it feels like. That much is fine too.”

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo worried inwardly about what to do if Kim Hyun-jun avoided answering.

He had to submit a report to his superiors, and if he couldn't find out the ability, he would be chewed out from above.

However, from the position of a platoon leader, he couldn't force him to speak in detail either.

It was a difficult situation in many ways.

“Yes. It is fine.”

To the point where such worries were pointless, Kim Hyun-jun answered coolly.

“My mana has the effect of weakening monsters.”

He informed him that the black mana gave a kind of debuff effect when it touched monsters.

“…Your mana makes monsters weaker?”

“That is correct. However, I am not sure about the details either.”

“No. Just telling me that much is enough. Thank you.”

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo answered as if it were no big deal, but he was already surprised inside.

Even special abilities embedded in mana have something called grades.

Buff types that strengthen other hunters are S-rank.

Recovery types are also S-rank.

Debuff types that weaken monsters are A-rank.

Types that amplify the power of a hunter's skills are B-rank.

If categorized roughly, it was like this.

‘This means Hyun-jun's debuff type is at least A-rank….’

Data released by the Hunter Association.

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo was the type to trust that grade chart.

‘The Battalion Commander will be surprised when this report goes in.’

A-rank? Forget that.

Even if only a B-rank ability was embedded in mana, job offers from private guilds would pour in.

It was an ability that valuable and precious.

‘He seemed slow when he first transferred in, but he's suddenly shooting up.’

As a platoon leader, the growth of a soldier is a joy.

It was a joy… but on the other hand, it was also worrying.

Once the report went in today, whether it was the Company Commander or the Battalion Commander, it was obvious they would start putting on pressure little by little.

“Platoon leader. Does Hyun-jun have any intention of becoming a professional soldier?”

“Hyun-jun, you've been working hard and now you're seeing the light. Just keep doing what you're doing.”

“Private First Class Kim Hyun-jun. Thank you!”

If the soldier grew well, it was a good thing anyway.

***

As soon as the interview with the platoon leader was over, Kim Hyun-jun headed to the private training room.

The seniors in the barracks tried to stop him, saying, ‘Hey. Aren't you tired?’ and ‘You're going to collapse at this rate. Get some rest.’ but Kim Hyun-jun was truly fine.

“I'm so curious I can't stand it.”

The notification sent by the hidden trait felt almost like it was pestering him.

“I caught a C-rank dungeon monster alone, so it'll give me something at least.”

Thinking so, he opened the hidden trait window, and a gold pouch greeted him.

[C-Rank Boss Monster Slain: Completed]

[Mission Reward: 1,000 Gold]

Because it was 1,000 gold, even the icon was different.

It looked like a large amount of gold coins were contained in a leather pouch.

“This looks delicious…….”

His mouth watered.

In the dungeon, he hogged the boss monster and gained gold, experience, and stats.

With the hidden trait, he gained rewards again.

It felt like a one-plus-two rather than just a one-plus-one.

“Life is best when it's unfair.”

He received the reward while humming a tune.

[Gold Owned: 1,500 Gold]

Seeing the amount of gold that had increased in an instant, a smile naturally formed on his face.

‘It's finally here.’

He wondered when he would go shopping, but surprisingly, that time came quickly.

Kim Hyun-jun had set several lists of items to purchase depending on the situation and the amount of gold collected at that time.

The 1st priority was skills.

Other items that could be purchased in the general store were classified as 2nd priority.

The reason the general store items were 2nd priority was because of his current status as a soldier.

A Private First Class soldier.

It was a time when there were restrictions on the possession of items.

Weapons or items commonly called ‘Saje’ can only be possessed after undergoing strict screening.

Considering the time, cost, and hassle involved, it was right to put them in the back of the line.

‘Skills are applied immediately just by clicking and purchasing them from the store.’

He entered the skill store and found a few skills he had his eye on.

Skills that seemed useful started with a base price of 1,000 gold, and expensive skills easily exceeded 10,000 gold.

“Soaring Dragon Heat Wave Slash? What on earth is this that it costs 20,000 gold?”

How long would it take to buy a skill like that.

How strong would it be.

Momentary curiosity arose, but he shook his head from side to side to clear it.

Instead of looking at unnecessary places, he turned his gaze back to the skill he originally intended to buy.

“Since I have ‘Chal’ among ‘Ran-Na-Chal’, I want to buy a skill belonging to ‘Ran’ or ‘Na’.”

As for skills belonging to ‘Chal’, the Vital Point Thrust was sufficient for the time being.

What skill should he buy excluding ‘Chal’?

It was a happy dilemma.

“Let's go with this.”

The conclusion reached after much deliberation was to purchase a utility-type skill rather than an offensive one.

He couldn't help his hand trembling slightly at the thought of spending 1,500 gold at once.

Tring.

[You have purchased the skill, Capture Spear.]

At the same time as the system notification, a tingling sensation circulated through his body.

When he checked his status window, the skill he had just purchased had appeared.

[Capture Spear]

Loads special mana into the spear to pull the target in.

Depending on the user's capability, more targets can be pulled in.

A skill with the effect of pulling enemies.

If he could use it properly, it would be of great help in future battles.

The advantages of the spear's reach could also be further enhanced.

“Pulling a monster with a spear isn't easy.”

You have to pierce the monster firmly to be able to pull it.

Naturally, that isn't easy.

The hides of monsters are usually quite tough.

Not only does the spear not go in properly, but the monster's resistance is also formidable.

However, if he had that skill, he wouldn't have to fulfill the condition of penetration from now on.

“This is the life.”

Information about the skill flowed into his head.

Training hard is good, but shouldn't there be moments like this once in a while.

He immediately brought over a training spear.

It was to test the newly purchased skill.

“Even so, I'll have to increase the skill proficiency.”

Was it because he bought a new skill?

He felt as if his existing fatigue had vanished.

And so, the proficiency training for the new skill began.

That day.

The light in the private training room where Kim Hyun-jun was located showed no signs of turning off.

***

The next day.

The Battalion Commander's office of the Flying Dragon Unit.

The 3rd Battalion Commander, Colonel Woo Hyun-seok, was reading a report with a smile on his face.

“Individually slayed a goblin monster that appeared in a C-rank dungeon. Moreover, special abilities are embedded in the mana.”

Colonel Woo Hyun-seok, who was looking over the report with a proud expression, turned his gaze forward.

“Second Lieutenant Kim. Still, isn't it too dangerous to let a soldier run out alone?”

“Second Lieutenant Kim! Dong! Woo! I am sorry!”

“Haha. I just said it. No one was hurt, so the platoon leader's judgment was correct.”

The Battalion Commander also knew that Kim Hyun-jun was significantly more outstanding than other Privates First Class.

So he didn't blame the platoon leader or anything.

He had also produced excellent results.

“More than that, Second Lieutenant Kim. This is definitely certain, right?”

“Yes! I have checked separately! It mostly matches the phenomena in the data from the Hunter Association!”

The Battalion Commander's interest was currently elsewhere.

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo submitted a report summarizing what happened yesterday concisely.

If there were nothing special, he could have done it roughly, but was what happened yesterday an ordinary matter?

“I see. Mana that weakens monsters. A debuff type ability. It's a precious ability.”

Colonel Woo Hyun-seok, who heard Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo's additional explanation, fell into thought.

After a moment.

As if he had made some kind of decision, Colonel Woo Hyun-seok spoke meaningfully.

“Second Lieutenant Kim. Do you know how difficult it is to give a soldier a special promotion?”

“A special promotion… you mean?”

Why did he suddenly ask such a question?

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo soon realized the intention and answered quickly.

“It is possible in theory, but I understand the conditions are extremely demanding.”

“That's right. Even so, I want to give Hyun-jun a special promotion. Do you know why?”

“I… do not know.”

“What do you think will happen if the fact that he has that ability is known to other units?”

Only then did Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo understand the meaning of the question.

“They will try to take Private First Class Kim Hyun-jun from each other. Since his rank is Private First Class, it seems it would be easy to pull him out as well.”

“Yes. That's what I'm saying. Shouldn't he at least have the rank of Corporal for other units to even consider the situation?”

The fact that the Battalion Commander himself brought that up was as good as saying he would somehow give Kim Hyun-jun a special promotion.

“Second Lieutenant Kim. Anything is fine. Training, performance, dungeon raids, and more—be sure to include Private First Class Kim Hyun-jun. Within limits that aren't overdoing it.”

“Yes! Understood!”

From that day on, the ‘pushing’ event for Kim Hyun-jun began.