Chapter 47: Hunter Tactical Training — 1

A few days later, on a morning spent preparing for the usual routine.

Kim Hyun-joon took part in the combat run with his platoon members, starting with the morning roll call.

'My stamina has really improved.'

Now, he didn't even feel like this level of activity was training. He thought he might need to wear heavy lead weights and increase the distance several times over to actually feel the strain.

When he had first transferred to the Flying Dragon Unit, he had been panting and falling behind, but compared to then, he felt he had made a great deal of progress.

'At this rate, I won't have to worry about the upcoming training exercises.'

Before his regression, how many major training sessions had he struggled through because of his physical fitness? Not only was his stamina an issue, but because of his lack of skill, there were very few exercises where he had received good marks.

But things would be different from now on. During the last guerilla training alone, he had already won the title of Guerilla King.

Was it thanks to his increased stats? Or was it because he had consumed that elixir not too long ago?

He felt a surge of motivation. It was the kind of motivation that made him feel like he could take on a major exercise right this moment.

'... I never thought I’d feel this way. The other squad members would think I’m crazy if they knew.'

To think he would actually want to undergo the training he used to hate so much. He almost let out a smirk.

"Everyone, eyes on me."

As they returned to the unit after finishing the combat run, the Platoon Leader announced that there were changes to the training schedule.

"The Hunter Tactical Training scheduled for four months from now has been moved up."

"... Come again?"

"Are you talking about the Hunter ATT? Why is that suddenly being moved up?"

The platoon members expressed their dissatisfaction, asking why the training was being moved up by a month. A month's difference meant they had to start preparing for the exercise immediately, starting today.

"Quiet. I know how you feel, but the decision has already been made, and there’s nothing we can do about it."

He offered some clumsy comfort, suggesting it was better to get the beating over with early, but it had no effect whatsoever.

"Damn it. In this army, you eat, sleep, and wake up to training, training, training."

"Why don't they just leave out the dungeon raids then?"

"I thought I would be discharged just in time to avoid the Hunter ATT. This is driving me crazy."

As soon as the roll call ended and the Platoon Leader disappeared, the soldiers began to vent their frustrations. The Sergeants who were nearing the end of their service looked particularly angry.

It hadn't been that long since they had finished guerilla training, and now they had to endure another major exercise. While the Sergeants were sometimes excused from smaller training sessions depending on the situation, there were no exceptions for the major ones.

"I’d rather just start the training tomorrow."

"My thoughts exactly. They’re just going to grind us down during the preparation period anyway."

The Hunter Tactical Training was an exercise conducted by applying various combat operation scenarios. It was also called Hunter ATT and assumed a wartime situation.

Since it was a large-scale exercise, the battalion commanders tended to approach it with particular passion. There were several types of Hunter ATT depending on the scale, and this exercise appeared to be a battalion-level one.

That meant it would play an important role in the Battalion Commander's personnel evaluation. At the same time, it was a period when the Battalion Commander would become sensitive, which meant the soldiers were in for a grueling time.

'Back then, I was nothing but a meat shield. What about now?'

Before his regression, not just himself, but the entire Third Platoon had been crushed. Because of that, the Third Company's base was breached directly, and one of their advantageous positions was even captured.

The result had been a defeat for the Third Battalion.

'We have to win this time. No, I will make sure we win.'

Hadn't the Battalion Commander said he would push him all the way to Second Lieutenant? Along with other benefits that were hard for a soldier to enjoy.

He intended to live up to those expectations. Of course, aside from that, he simply hated losing to anyone, whether it was in training or anything else.

***

As the Hunter Tactical Training was moved up to a month away, the soldiers began theoretical education starting in the morning. One might think it was comfortable since it wasn't a physically demanding routine, but...

"Consider the Hunter ATT exercise as actual war. What matters in war is tactics. And an individual’s will to fight and win..."

The instructor's voice was a lullaby to the soldiers. In other classes, a few people nodding off might be overlooked, but they never let it slide ahead of such a large exercise.

"If I catch you sleeping, it's thirty laps around the parade ground. Concentrate."

"Ugh..."

The soldiers widened their eyes, trying to shake off the sleepiness somehow.

"Any Sergeants caught sneaking into the barracks are dead meat."

"Yes, sir..."

In the afternoon, a separate time for physical training was provided. Except for the soldiers scheduled for dungeon raids or those on guard duty, everyone had their own training time.

"Hyun-joon."

"Corporal Kim Hyun-joon."

While Kim Hyun-joon was warming up as usual, Corporal Han Ji-han approached him. It turned out he was asking for help with his physical training. His face was filled with more determination than usual.

"Corporal Han, don't you usually train consistently anyway?"

Asking a junior to help with physical training. Kim Hyun-joon was slightly puzzled. He didn't think the man was the type to do that.

"I heard that if I don't perform well in this training, my vacation will be cut. The Platoon Leader told me to be careful."

It turned out it was because of his vacation. Come to think of it, back before his regression, the Third Battalion side, which had lost the Hunter ATT, had been filled with sounds of lamentation. On the other hand, the Fourth Battalion side, which had won, was in a festive mood.

"I've been watching you for a while, and the speed at which your skills improve is really fast, Hyun-joon. Your stamina too."

Corporal Han Ji-han burned with resolve, saying that if there was a secret, he must pass it on. He said he might regret it for the rest of his life if his vacation was cut this time.

"Actually, I had a dream yesterday where an old mountain god appeared. He told me to make sure to buy what I was planning to buy."

"What is that?"

"A Quest Commission Ticket. I have a feeling something big is going to happen."

Ah, that thing he mentioned before. I already hit the jackpot on that one. But why was he so obsessed with that item?

Kim Hyun-joon didn't bother saying that aloud. There was no way Corporal Han would know how to find the hidden piece anyway.

"Then I'll have you follow the routine I do."

"Thanks. I'll do whatever you tell me to."

The Hunter ATT exercise was a large-scale training where the entire battalion moved. An individual's performance alone couldn't produce good results. It meant everyone in the battalion had to do well.

'Even if I say I’m helping, there isn't much I can do.'

Just doing what he usually did would be a help to Corporal Han. He had received a stamina recovery buff from him before, so helping him out this much was nothing.

Kim Hyun-joon strapped lead weights onto Corporal Han, who had told him to work him to his heart's content.

"Corporal Kim Hyun-joon! Please let me join as well!"

Before he knew it, Private First Class Jung Ye-na had also run over, asking for help. She said she was desperate for her stamina stat lately.

— Hey. Are you sure you're doing well? Why don't you stop being so stubborn?

Actually, Private First Class Jung Ye-na was acting this way because her older sister had contacted her recently, telling her not to struggle with such pathetic specs.

Goaded by those words, she had decided to raise her overall stats to show her off.

"Then you put this on first too. After you warm up."

One person or two, it made no difference to Kim Hyun-joon. When he looked at Corporal Han, the man nodded immediately, saying it was fine.

"The Third Battalion has to move as one team, so of course it's fine."

"Thank you, Corporal Han!"

"No need to thank me. I'm the one thankful to Hyun-joon for taking care of us."

The atmosphere was harmonious.

As they were warming up, several other juniors besides those two cautiously asked if he could help them with their physical training.

"I want to emulate your stamina, Corporal Kim Hyun-joon!"

Private First Class Son Seok-jun, a member of the same squad, was particularly enthusiastic. Since there was no reason for Kim Hyun-joon to refuse, he readily agreed. The more an individual's skill increased, the easier it would be to bring home a victory in this training.

"From now on, we’re going to do shuttle runs from here to that end. You just have to match my pace."

"Okay."

"I'll work hard."

The soldiers had been burning with resolve, but... less than 1 hour after they started following Kim Hyun-joon, they were sprawled out on the ground.

"Huff. Huff... Hyun-joon. Have you always trained like this?"

"I... I think something is going to come up if I do any more."

"Ugh!"

The training intensity was simply too high. It was three times the intensity of their usual training. No, it was even more than that. At least, that was how it felt to them.

"This training period is four nights and five days, isn't it? In the end, it’ll be a battle of stamina."

That was how Kim Hyun-joon felt. During the offensive and defensive battles between the battalions, everyone would be exhausted and drained by the latter half. At that time, the side that still had the strength to move, even a little, would inevitably have the advantage.

Of course, even knowing that, it would be difficult to raise the soldiers' skills in just a month. That was why Kim Hyun-joon was trying harder than anyone else. Even as a mere soldier, an opportunity to play a major role might arise.

"5 minutes are up. We're going to repeat it."

"Hyun-joon. Wait a second. I think I have a cramp in my leg."

"I'm good at fixing those. I'll help you out."

"No, I'm okay... Aaaaah!"

After that day, the three soldiers, excluding Corporal Han, declared their surrender, saying they would train their stamina separately.

***

A month passed by in a flash, and it was finally the day of the Hunter ATT.

During that time, the soldiers had undergone preparation processes by completing various education and training sessions according to the unit's guidelines.

"This is the problem with Hunter Tactical Training. Why do we have to suffer for something that affects the Battalion Commander's promotion?"

"I agree."

"I wouldn't say anything if they at least gave us some vacation time."

The members of the Third Squad, who were waiting after finishing their preparation, grumbled. Corporal Han Ji-han's face, in particular, was haggard since his vacation was at risk, but he said his stamina stat had increased in exchange. He claimed it had gone up by two points. To soldiers, vacation was that precious. It was one of the things that absolutely had to be protected.

On the other hand, Corporal Kang Cheol-su was exactly as expected. He had half-heartedly gone through various education and training sessions. He looked as though he had already accepted that his vacation would be cut.

'Cheol-su. Even our junior, Private First Class Son Seok-jun, raised his stamina by one point... You'd better not hold us back.'

Kim Hyun-joon had also prepared hard for the training for a month. While "strengthening individual capabilities" would be a more accurate expression, he had achieved progress thanks to his efforts.

The proficiency and power of his various skills had increased. Thanks to his Mana stat growing significantly, the time he could utilize mana had also increased.

Both his Stamina and Agility stats had increased by an additional 1 point.

As a result, he was able to reach Stamina: 20. He now possessed stamina that surpassed not just a Sergeant, but even a Staff Sergeant.

'Let's give it a try.'

Let's win this time. Just as he was making that resolution, the unit's siren blared.

*Whaaaaaaaang!*

Soldiers rushed out all at once as the announcement that DEFCON 2 had been declared was broadcast. The Hunter ATT had begun.

The soldiers who moved quickly to the assembly point loaded the pre-prepared training supplies onto the 2.5-ton trucks. After quickly finishing their combat readiness, the battalion members had to move to the designated locations for the base defense operation.

"Everyone checked their gear properly, right?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Report any issues with the training suits immediately!"

"Understood!"

The soldiers were busy, but the officers were just as frantic. They had to check the soldiers' equipment, verify the training supplies, and confirm instructions coming down from above. They also had to keep an eye on the evaluators who were assessing the training status with hawk-like eyes.

The Third Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-wi, was practically running around. Since it was an exercise where a battalion-level force moved, their role in leading the soldiers was also crucial.

"We are moving to the defensive base now. Our Third Company is going to base A-3!"

"Yes, sir!"

The 2.5-ton trucks loaded with training supplies departed, and the soldiers also began to move, maintaining intervals by company. Since the Fourth Battalion had the initiative for the first strike, the Third Battalion moved toward the base area first.

It was the moment the Hunter Tactical Training officially began.