Chapter 38: The 3rd Platoon’s Overnight Pass

“Hyun-jun. Thanks.”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

The squad members were grinning, clearly in high spirits.

When asked what was going on, the answer came back that they were finally able to use the squad overnight pass they had received during guerrilla training at the perfect time.

“The female soldiers from the 3rd Platoon’s squad suggested we coordinate our schedules and head out together.”

“I heard you were walking around shirtless, bewitching the female soldiers while working on the fortifications?”

“No wonder they were talking about how good your body is.”

The squad members burned with determination, insisting they had to go since there were no major training exercises for a while and the weather was great.

‘If I say I’m not going, they won’t leave me alone.’

Kim Hyun-jun, possessing plenty of military experience, read the room and answered that he would go.

“Right. You’re the protagonist, so how could we go without you?”

“I was worried you’d say you had to go to the training room.”

As expected, the squad members cheered in delight.

Performance and training were important, but at times like this, one needed to know how to mingle with their squad mates.

‘Except for you.’

Kim Hyun-jun tossed a casual remark toward Corporal Kang Cheol-su, who was sitting on his bed.

“Corporal Kang Cheol-su, you don’t have to come with us. Haven’t your training results been poor lately?”

“Damn it. Why are you picking on me when I’m just sitting here?”

“Haha. I’m joking, just joking.”

After Hyun-jun reached the rank of Corporal, Kang Cheol-su’s tantrums had noticeably decreased.

This was why he liked the Hunter Army.

In the regular army, he could never have caught up to a rank like this, but here, it was possible.

‘If I’m out this weekend, I’ll have to train that much harder until then.’

Kim Hyun-jun chuckled and headed toward his personal training room.

Seeing Corporal Kang Cheol-su’s expression darken rapidly at the mention of the overnight pass made the day’s fatigue vanish instantly.

***

Time passed, and Saturday arrived.

The members of the 3rd and 4th squads of the 3rd Platoon headed outside the base.

They were using the squad overnight pass, the first-place prize for the trench fighting competition during guerrilla training.

‘Guys. If you tackled dungeon raids that hard, you’d slice through monsters and everything else.’

To Kim Hyun-jun, the squads looked the same as usual, but... something was different.

Their combat uniforms didn’t have a single wrinkle, and their boots were polished to a mirror shine.

Everyone seemed to have applied something to their hair, as it looked slick and glossy.

Since they were going out with the female squad, everyone had clearly put in a lot of effort.

Apparently, the Corporals and Sergeants had stayed up late last night in the laundry room ironing their clothes.

Was going on an overnight pass really that great?

“Ah. My hairstyle is a total mess today.”

“My skin is so dry because I haven’t been taking care of it lately.”

The same went for the female squad members.

Some of the female Corporals and Sergeants had their hair down, along with light makeup.

This was possible because grooming regulations were more lenient compared to the regular army.

“I made the plan. If you don’t like it, please let me know at any time.”

Corporal Han Ji-han spoke up first.

In truth, there wasn’t much to the itinerary.

It ended with booking two pensions—vacation rentals—for the men and women to stay in separately.

The rest?

It went without saying.

They were just going to pour drinks down their throats.

Hunters were not allowed to leave their garrison limits during overnight passes or day leaves.

Because of that, there wasn't much to do near the military base.

‘I don’t completely fail to understand why they’re like this.’

Being banned from drinking at such a peak age made him empathize with their feelings.

Kim Hyun-jun himself had downed several cans of beer during his first leave before his regression.

Even though he wasn’t a heavy drinker, he still couldn't forget the taste of that beer.

‘But I’m not going to let go of my training entirely.’

As soon as the squad pass was confirmed, Kim Hyun-jun had made one request to Corporal Han Ji-han.

He asked to book a specific pension.

— Why this place? The building is old, the location is secluded, and it’s not that great. It’s expensive, too.

— It’s because there’s a mountain gym nearby. I’ll pay for it.

— Wow... You’re trying to train even on an overnight pass? You’re truly amazing.

It wasn't particularly amazing.

It was just that there happened to be a mountain gym near the pension.

‘Unfortunately, there was nothing to gain near the base.’

After the pass was decided, he had scoured his memories from before the regression... but there was nothing worth picking up.

‘Well, it’s not like I’m some game protagonist.’

If he got something every time he did something, that would make him a game character.

He decided to just go and work out whenever he had a spare moment.

“Um... Who booked this place?”

“This place is too expensive. The location is bad, and the building is completely old-fashioned.”

Meanwhile.

The female soldiers had disappointed expressions upon hearing Corporal Han Ji-han’s explanation.

It seemed they didn’t like the pension that had been booked.

‘This is unexpected. If they hate it even if I pay for it, how should I persuade them?’

What should he do?

He couldn’t exactly force them.

They had agreed to go out together, so it would be awkward to split up.

And telling them he booked it because of a mountain gym felt a bit strange.

“Hyun-jun said he liked this place, but should we change it then?”

While Kim Hyun-jun was contemplating what to say, Corporal Han Ji-han answered first.

“Corporal Kim Hyun-jun booked it?”

“Looking at it again, it seems okay.”

“There’s a famous restaurant near this pension, and it’s very close to here.”

In an instant, the female soldiers nodded, saying it was fine.

It was a lightning-fast reversal of attitude.

‘It gets resolved like this?’

Kim Hyun-jun was momentarily bewildered, but since it worked out well, he decided to let it go.

***

As soon as the squad members arrived at the pension and unpacked, they headed to the grocery store.

“Three boxes each of soju and beer! We can’t run out of alcohol.”

“Still, three boxes each? That seems a bit much.”

“The pension is located deep inside, so it’s a hassle to come out twice.”

“Ye-na. Are you planning to drown us in a vat of booze? Our daily routine starts right back up on Monday.”

“It’s fine. If there’s any left, I’ll drink it.”

“Ugh, that alcoholic. You’d better not leave any.”

Private First Class Jeong Ye-na was sweeping up the alcohol in the store like a fish in water.

Other squad members filled their carts to the brim with meat and various snacks.

The soldiers moved quickly, as if carrying out an operation.

This was because every minute and second outside the base was precious.

“Ah! Corporal Kim Hyun-jun, you shouldn’t be carrying something so heavy!”

While Kim Hyun-jun was holding bags of pork belly in both hands, PFC Jeong Ye-na snatched them away.

Then, she handed him a light bag of chips.

“We won the pass thanks to someone. What if you hurt your body?”

“....”

What was this?

This feeling of deja vu.

Since everyone looked excited, he didn’t bother saying anything.

“Let’s go to the famous restaurant for lunch tomorrow, and today, let’s drink until we die!”

“Wooooo!”

As soon as they returned from shopping, the squad members lit the charcoal and put the meat on the grill.

Paper cups were filled with soju and beer, and everyone clinked their cups together.

“Who would have thought our platoon would win the overnight pass?”

“Did we only win the pass? We even had a party because Hyun-jun took first place in the PFC promotion exam.”

The squad members bonded, sharing drinks with one another.

With the alcohol flowing, the atmosphere quickly grew lively.

“Haha. Is that so?”

“Back then, I also....”

In the Hunter Army, male and female barracks were separated.

Unless it was during daily duties, training, or dungeon raids, there weren't many opportunities to socialize like this.

‘Soldiers getting closer? It’s good. It’s good, but...’

Currently, Kim Hyun-jun was slightly troubled.

As the drinks went down, everyone became more talkative than usual.

As the mood lifted, the female soldiers had somehow moved closer, pressing against his side one by one.

“Hyun-jun. Do you have a girlfriend right now?”

“Corporal Kim Hyun-jun. I do not.”

“Really? With that face and that body, it’s such a waste.”

“Sergeant Kim Ga-young. You’re being too aggressive.”

“So what? I’m just asking.”

Among them, the Sergeants in particular were throwing direct questions despite the discouragement from their own squad mates.

Sergeant Kim Ga-young even went as far as openly linking her arm with his.

He felt the soft sensation against his arm and wanted to pull away immediately, but since the other party was a Sergeant, he had to be mindful.

‘When is this going to end? I can’t go out like this.’

It wasn’t that he hated the current atmosphere.

He was the type to mingle when it was time to mingle.

But there was a limit to everything.

Even though six hours had passed since they started drinking, there was no sign of it ending.

‘Is this why they say a Hunter’s drinking session is terrifying?’

He had planned to go to the mountain gym once the squad members were drunk and passed out, but they showed no signs of collapsing.

‘I should wait a bit longer and then buy some strong liquor to feed them.’

As he checked the time while pretending to drink, someone poked him in the ribs.

‘Corporal Kim Hyun-jun.’

It was Private First Class Jeong Ye-na.

‘Please stop this and get Sergeant Kim Ga-young off you!’

She had an expression that looked somewhat restless.

It seemed that even she couldn't say a word to a Sergeant.

He wondered why she was making such a big deal out of it.

‘You want me to do this?’

A sudden mischievous streak flared up, and Kim Hyun-jun grinned at her.

Then, he made a motion as if he were unlinking his arm, but he didn’t actually do it.

‘No, not that! Let go! Why are you pulling it closer!’

Was it because of the alcohol?

Watching PFC Jeong Ye-na’s reaction was quite fun in its own way.

‘Only Hyun-jun is having a good time.’

‘What do you mean only Hyun-jun? Don’t you see Han Ji-han? Look at him with a girl on each side.’

Among the 3rd squad members, the soldiers who were being neglected ground their teeth as they watched them.

‘I can understand Ji-han because he was always popular, but what’s up with Kim Hyun-jun?’

‘That guy spends all his time stuck in the personal training room after his duties, so what is it?’

‘Those weasel-like bastards.’

To make matters worse, female soldiers were even approaching Sergeant Yun Seong-jin, who usually seemed to have zero interest in the opposite sex.

‘...Life is truly bitter.’

They sipped their drinks with forced nonchalance.

‘...Damn it.’

And that group of neglected soldiers included Corporal Kang Cheol-su.

Last time and this time as well.

He hadn’t particularly made any mistakes.

And yet, he felt that the female soldiers were intentionally keeping their distance.

Corporal Kang Cheol-su still hadn't realized that this was due to the karma he had built up until now.

“Is it true that you drew the boss monster’s aggro all by yourself?”

“Amazing! How did you think of moving alone in that situation?”

Regardless, the female soldiers didn’t give them even a glance until the very end.

***

Meanwhile.

At the same time, in the Battalion Commander’s office.

Colonel Woo Hyeon-seok, the commander of the 3rd Battalion, was in the middle of a phone call with a Colonel from Hunter Headquarters.

“Didn’t I say no to that proposal for Corporal Kim Hyun-jun?”

His voice grew louder.

“Even so, isn’t it too early to give a Corporal that training?”

Colonel Woo Hyeon-seok had flatly rejected a proposal that had come from the Special Task Force not long ago.

The proposal was to allow Corporal Kim Hyun-jun to complete Villain Countermeasures Training.

Villain Countermeasures Training was a program for neutralizing villains and, furthermore, pursuing and capturing them.

Soldiers with excellent grades were sometimes deployed in actual combat scenarios.

Colonel Woo Hyeon-seok, fitting for his experience as a Colonel, saw through the Special Task Force’s hidden intentions.

That proposal was the first step in a process to scout Kim Hyun-jun for the Special Task Force.

“No, brother! This isn't right! Didn't we just have dinner and a refreshing sauna yesterday!”

When there was no sign of the other party being persuaded, Colonel Woo Hyeon-seok’s original way of speaking slipped out.

In the end, it seemed he couldn't block the decision of Hunter Headquarters, as he let out a deep sigh after the call ended.

“I could have stopped it if that kid Hyun-jun hadn't performed so well in that C-rank dungeon.”

Delaying the boss monster single-handedly in a C-rank dungeon recently.

Colonel Woo Hyeon-seok obviously knew about it.

He knew it exceeded the level of what an ordinary Corporal could achieve.

The Special Task Force must have seen that spirit in a favorable light, which is why they reached out.

But here’s the thing.

That was that, and this was this.

“I promoted Kim Hyun-jun to Corporal so no one would eye him, and now the Special Forces are testing the waters?”

It meant other units had no right to scout him.

“Damn it. Being in the regular Hunter Army is sorrowful.”

It seemed the Special Task Force had made a separate request to Hunter Headquarters.

Now that things had come to this, as the Battalion Commander, he could no longer just watch.

“I couldn’t stop this training, but things won’t go your way.”

Colonel Woo Hyeon-seok made up his mind.

He would use his authority as the Battalion Commander to the fullest to grant Kim Hyun-jun some sort of special privilege.

He had been contemplating it for a while, and if he hesitated any longer, he was going to lose him.

He could not tolerate Kim Hyun-jun being taken away by another unit, especially if it felt like he was being snatched.