Chapter 39: From Soldier to Specialist

The next day.

The eyes of the squad members preparing to return to the unit were hollow.

"Ugh. I’m dying."

"Someone give me some water."

"Hey, look at that guy’s face. It doesn’t look good. Get him outside quickly."

Men and women alike were mostly in a state of stupor, unable to pull themselves together due to their hangovers. It was the aftermath of drinking all night, claiming that sleeping would be a waste of time.

Even Private First Class Jeong Ye-na, who was known for her high alcohol tolerance, was grimacing from a headache.

However, only one person was perfectly fine.

That was Kim Hyun-jun.

"Hyun-jun. Aren’t you tired? How are you so fine?"

"I wondered where he went alone early this morning, and it turns out he went to the mountain gym."

"What? He went to the mountain gym? After drinking?"

"He even trains while out on overnight leave? He’s persistent, truly persistent."

The squad members shook their heads as if they were fed up.

"Corporal Kim Hyun-jun. I feel restless if I rest even for a day."

Kim Hyun-jun replied with a nonchalant face. In truth, the reason he was so fine was thanks to a skill.

Thanks to the Spearman’s Willpower, which fully restores stamina, he could maintain peak condition even after intense training.

"They say the wait time for this famous restaurant is two hours. Let’s just go next time."

"I think it would be better to return to the unit like this as well."

The squad members packed their belongings and headed back to the unit. From a distance, their staggering gait made them look like a horde of zombies.

"Corporal Kim Hyun-jun. Please give me some support."

While walking, Private First Class Jeong Ye-na suddenly clung to him. She linked her arm with his without hesitation. And she held on tightly.

It felt as though she was conscious of what had happened yesterday.

"What’s wrong all of a sudden?"

"I think my hangover is quite severe because I drank a lot yesterday."

"You look like it. Since you opened your mouth, the smell of alcohol is no joke."

"Ack! P-please excuse me for a moment!"

He had said it as a joke, but Jeong Ye-na scurried away, saying she needed to use some mouthwash. Kim Hyun-jun chuckled as he watched her rummaging through her bag.

***

Inside the unit, past the guard post.

After saying their goodbyes and mentioning how much fun they had, the squad members returned to their respective living quarters.

"Hey! Breaking news!"

While he was unpacking his gear, another squad member kicked the door open as if he had been waiting.

"I heard the Special Task Force sent a love call to Hyun-jun? Something about villain-related education."

"...To me?"

Kim Hyun-jun, who was changing into his physical training uniform, tilted his head at the corporal's sudden words.

It was only natural. Why would a special forces unit have any business calling a regular soldier from the Hunter Army?

However, listening to the words that followed, it seemed somewhat plausible.

"Second Lieutenant Park Ah-young. You know, that pretty but cold lieutenant. I heard she recommended you."

It seemed he had left a deep impression on the scene when he had gone to assist the Special Task Force previously.

At that time, he thought he hadn't felt much because Second Lieutenant Park Ah-young had such an expressionless face.

Is this why they say you can never know a person’s true inner thoughts?

'I'll find out once time passes.'

In the end, he wouldn't know for sure until he heard from the platoon leader or the company commander. He spent the day thinking of it as an interesting rumor.

And the next morning.

Kim Hyun-jun confirmed that the rumor was true.

"Hyun-jun. You remember the Special Task Force, right? A proposal came in for you from there."

Inside the platoon leader’s office.

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo brought up the subject, saying that Kim Hyun-jun had been recommended for the villain countermeasure training.

"...To me, sir?"

"Haha. It’s sudden, isn’t it? I feel the same way. The Special Task Force doesn't often send this kind of proposal to a regular soldier."

He heard that it was a matter for which a report had also been sent to the Hunter Headquarters.

The training period was seven days. They said the training would start tomorrow as soon as he gave his answer.

"It’s not common. Usually, NCOs or talented sergeants receive villain-related training."

It was said that the Hunter Headquarters readily approved it because of the report stating, 'It is a waste to let a soldier with a talent for dealing with villains go to waste.'

Apparently, it was passed so quickly because he was a soldier who had actually caught a villain.

"Of course, there’s no pressure. The battalion commander also said not to feel burdened. After all, you might be deployed to actual combat."

When the platoon leader said he would give him time to think, Kim Hyun-jun answered immediately.

"I will receive the villain countermeasure training."

There was no need to hesitate. It was because he already knew about that training.

'I thought I was going to die when I was a Staff Sergeant.'

Whether they were soldiers or officers, there were cases where they went to other units for professional education or training. Villain countermeasure training was one of them.

Before his regression, it was a training he had received when he reached the rank of Staff Sergeant and transitioned to long-term service.

He remembered going to a different special forces unit instead of the Special Task Force back then. And he also remembered completing the training with the lowest possible score.

Because his score was so abysmal, he hadn't even received the badge that served as proof of completing the training.

He hadn't been deployed to the field for actual combat either.

'I was really embarrassed back then.'

He hadn't accomplished anything properly due to his lack of capability.

Therefore, he wanted to set it right this time. That was why he accepted without even a second thought.

'They give plenty of training points, and if you catch a villain, you can even earn performance points.'

It meant the training had much to offer in many ways. He might even put it to use if he encountered a villain again.

"You rascal. You answer so immediately that it makes your platoon leader feel awkward. All right."

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo chuckled, saying he knew he would say that.

Then, he expressed his concern, telling him to just make sure he didn't get hurt and to come back safely.

Even though it was training, the intensity was high because it was hosted by a special forces unit.

"Corporal Kim Hyun-jun. Understood."

Of course, he had no intention of getting hurt. He would return with the training completion badge proudly attached to his combat uniform.

He made that resolution.

***

The next morning.

After finishing his report to the platoon leader, Kim Hyun-jun boarded a Retona instead of a deuce-and-a-half truck and headed toward the Special Task Force.

"Why is it so hot today? Turn on the air conditioner."

"There is a heater, but no air conditioner, sir."

"Sigh, damn it. What year is it even?"

The officer in the front seat grumbled to the driver about why military vehicles still lacked air conditioning.

After a moment, he turned his head and called for Kim Hyun-jun.

"Hyun-jun. Your problem is that you live your military life too diligently."

"Corporal Kim Hyun-jun. Do you mean me, sir?"

"Yeah, man. You should have politely declined something like this. I was terrified when I received this training as a Staff Sergeant."

The officer said it was his first time seeing the special forces call for a corporal.

He said that unless one had connections somewhere, they usually called for Staff Sergeants or Sergeants First Class.

"Go work your ass off. We’re leaving."

"Loyalty! Have a good trip, sir!"

While exchanging small talk with the officer, they arrived at the Special Task Force before he knew it.

Left alone, Kim Hyun-jun passed the guard post and headed into the unit.

'That really is grand, no matter how many times I see it.'

A massive tiger-shaped statue installed inside the unit.

They said it was a symbol representing the pride of the Special Task Force, but he was more curious about how much money they had poured into it.

"Those who have come for the villain countermeasure training, please come this way!"

Following the guidance of a soldier within the unit, Kim Hyun-jun headed toward the grand auditorium.

There were Sergeants, Staff Sergeants, and Sergeants First Class who had come for the training. Second Lieutenants could also be seen here and there.

'As expected, there are mostly Staff Sergeants and Sergeants First Class.'

No matter how much he looked around, he couldn't see any other corporals. There weren't many soldiers to begin with, and even if there were, most were sergeants.

Was he truly special? Just as he was trying to find a seat, he saw a strangely familiar face.

'What? Why is she here?'

It was Private First Class Park Ye-rin from the Black Horse Unit. With her snow-white hair, it was impossible for her not to stand out.

'A Private First Class came to receive villain countermeasure training?'

It wouldn't be impossible for an elite like Park Ye-rin, but... she was still a Private First Class. Even so, it was too early for a Private First Class to be sent outside the unit.

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he approached her and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hello."

When she turned her head and saw his face, she had a slightly surprised expression.

The surprise seemed to be mutual.

"Why are you here, Park Ye-rin? Not just anyone can come here."

"...What about you, Kim Hyun-jun?"

"Me? I came because the Special Task Force recommended me."

"That, that's..."

Private First Class Park Ye-rin's mind momentarily became chaotic. This was because she had never expected to see Kim Hyun-jun here.

'How should I answer?'

Furthermore, she wasn't there through official channels. She was in this position because her father had personally made a request to the Special Task Force.

— Ye-rin. Your dad used a bit of influence. You shouldn't tell anyone that your dad helped you. I put you in because I thought our daughter would do well.

Private First Class Park Ye-rin had been asking her father to let her receive villain countermeasure training for some time.

If one were to ask for the reason... surprisingly, it was because of Kim Hyun-jun, who was right in front of her.

Previously, Private First Class Park Ye-rin had seen an article in the Hunter Newspaper about Kim Hyun-jun neutralizing a villain.

Despite having never received related training, he neutralized and captured a villain by using momentary wit. Thanks to that, he was even promoted to corporal.

After seeing that newspaper article, she felt a strange sense of competitiveness, which led her to come all the way here. She could never give that as an answer.

"Everyone, please be quiet."

Just as she was feeling troubled, a voice was heard from the platform. The boisterous atmosphere became quiet in an instant. Kim Hyun-jun also stopped talking and turned his gaze.

Only then could Private First Class Park Ye-rin feel relieved inwardly.

"I am Second Lieutenant Park Ah-young, in charge of this villain countermeasure training."

After drawing the soldiers' attention, she briefly introduced herself as a platoon leader belonging to the Special Task Force.

After her short and concise words, she pressed a remote control in her hand, and a massive screen descended behind her. It was a large screen that could have been used in a movie theater.

'I heard that the special forces receive a massive budget. I guess it’s true.'

The statue installed inside the unit was one thing, but just how much money did they have? That was the curiosity Kim Hyun-jun held.

"The villain countermeasure training will consist of two days of theoretical education, three days of practical training, and two days of actual deployment depending on the trainees' grades."

After briefly explaining the training process, Second Lieutenant Park Ah-young immediately began the theoretical education. To finish the villain countermeasure training within seven days, they had to move busily.

"First, what is a villain? A villain is an Awakened Hunter who has fallen into criminality..."

The theoretical education began immediately as the projector turned on.

Regular soldiers and passionate NCOs listened to the lecture intently. Some were diligently taking notes with the notebooks and pens they had brought.

On the other hand, Sergeants First Class or Second Lieutenants who lacked motivation were yawning repeatedly, barely listening. This was because they had to receive the training semi-forcibly once they became NCOs.

Unless they were part of the special forces, they rarely had a chance to encounter a villain.

'This time, I'll aim for a high score... though a perfect score from theory to practice might be difficult.'

Kim Hyun-jun, sitting in the front row, was on the passionate side.

It had been the same before his regression, but it felt different now. It was as if the information was being absorbed perfectly into his head. Even though he was listening to the same lecture content.

'Is it because I’ve experienced an actual situation? It feels like it resonates more.'

He realized that this was why experience was so important.

Gathering and analyzing information on villains. Planning an operation on how to carry out the mission. At the same time, the top priority was placed on minimizing civilian casualties.

'If hostages are taken, the primary step is negotiation. The response changes depending on the weapon the target is carrying.'

Kim Hyun-jun immersed himself in the lecture with sparkling eyes. This was because the level of education was not this high in the regular Hunter Army.

'...I will definitely win this time.'

Meanwhile.

Private First Class Park Ye-rin, who was sitting behind Kim Hyun-jun, burned with a strange sense of competition.

She had been pushed to second place in the last promotion exam, but she wanted to beat him in this training.