Chapter 54: Direct Successor

"I'm off."

The next day, Sergeant Yun Seong-jin left the unit for social adaptation camp.

Perhaps he hadn't spent his military life poorly, as the unit members gathered to see him off.

"Hyeon-jun."

Sergeant Yun Seong-jin was about to leave when he looked at Kim Hyeon-jun and spoke as if something had just occurred to him.

"I'm going to join a civilian guild after I'm discharged. Get in touch if anything happens."

"Huh?"

Kim Hyeon-jun was surprised by the unexpected words. He hadn't expected the taciturn and blunt magic soldier to say something like that.

"You should get in touch too if something happens, Brother."

"Right."

'He’s probably just saying that to be polite,' Kim Hyeon-jun thought as he gave a casual response.

"I'm the king now!"

When they returned to the barracks after the send-off, Corporal Han Ji-han shouted with his arms raised. He had become the senior-most soldier in the barracks.

However, although he should have attained the rank of Sergeant long ago, he was still a Corporal because he had failed the promotion exam recently.

"Hyeon-jun. Honestly, I think they should lower the exam difficulty for mages on the auxiliary magic path."

Despite becoming the top dog, he had a dissatisfied expression. It was understandable. He had failed the Sergeant promotion exam three times now.

Magic soldiers are tested on their firepower in addition to a check of their Circles. For an auxiliary magic soldier like Corporal Han Ji-han, it was bound to be harsh.

"If you had taken the promotion exam early this time, Hyeon-jun, you would’ve been the Sergeant and the top dog."

It was exactly as he said. Kim Hyeon-jun's current specs easily surpassed those of a Second Lieutenant. Furthermore, he had become even stronger after recently absorbing the Gorgos Essence.

This meant passing the Sergeant promotion exam would be easy.

'Unfortunately, I was excluded this time around.'

Because his period of service was still short, Kim Hyeon-jun was excluded from the promotion exam candidates.

Well, considering the benefits he had received so far, he could let this slide. He had already received confirmation from the platoon leader that he would definitely be able to take the next promotion exam.

'More than that, what I need to worry about is my direct successor.'

Before the regression, he hadn't been able to take care of him properly. At that time, things were difficult for him as well. Even after becoming a Sergeant or even a Second Lieutenant, he had always felt a sense of regret.

'Thinking about it again makes me angry. That damn Kang Cheol-su.'

Back then, Corporal Kang Cheol-su had bullied not only him but his direct successor as well. Because of that, the successor's potential was late to manifest, and he even caused an accident in a dungeon.

Of course, that wouldn't happen this time. He intended to help him stay on the right path. Compared to before the regression, he was already a Corporal. In terms of stats, he could easily overpower even a Second Lieutenant.

"Corporal Kang Cheol-su. My direct successor is coming soon, so watch out."

"What kind of bullshit is that now?"

"I'm going to manage my successor well, so I won't let it slide if you touch him."

"No, shit. I didn't even say anything."

Recalling his memories from before the regression made him feel cranky for no reason. So, he poked at Corporal Kang Cheol-su. As expected, the reaction he got was satisfying.

***

The time came for Kim Hyeon-jun's direct successor to arrive. The Third Platoon Leader, Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo, brought the recruit into the barracks.

"Here's the new recruit. Feed him and take good care of him."

"Yes, sir!"

The barracks fell quiet after the platoon leader left. The recruit, standing stiff with discipline, shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Loyalty! Private Yu Dong-ha!"

His reporting followed. Looking at Private Yu Dong-ha's appearance, one might wonder, 'Why did a guy like this join the Hunter Corps?' as he was quite thin. He had a delicate appearance and was short for a man. If there was one surprising thing... it was that his specialty was being a shield-bearer.

"...Reporting for duty! Loyalty!"

Though he stuttered from nervousness, he said everything he needed to say.

"Relax your shoulders. I'm not going to eat you."

"Private! Yu Dong-ha!"

"I'll help you unpack."

"Thank you!"

Kim Hyeon-jun helped Private Yu Dong-ha unpack his things. If it had been before the regression, Kang Cheol-su would have picked a fight immediately, but it was fine now. Perhaps because he had been warned beforehand not to touch him, he was being quiet.

"Dong-ha. The senior helping you is your direct senior. Work hard."

At Corporal Han Ji-han's words, Private Yu Dong-ha glanced at Kim Hyeon-jun's rank insignia. He looked somewhat shocked. It was because his direct senior was a Corporal instead of a Private First Class. In terms of service numbers, it was rare for a Corporal to be a direct senior.

"And he's really scary, you know? He's an elite who got promoted from Private to Corporal incredibly fast. You have to listen to him."

"P-Private Yu Dong-ha! I will work hard!"

"I'm not a scary person, so relax. Corporal Han, why are you scaring the recruit already?"

"Haha. It's a joke, a joke. Your senior is a good person."

After the daily routine ended, Kim Hyeon-jun took Private Yu Dong-ha for a walk around the unit. Since he had just transferred today, everything must have been unfamiliar. Hyeon-jun kindly explained each facility.

"No one will give you trouble for using the training facilities, so feel free to use them."

"Yes!"

"If you have any questions, ask me anytime."

"I understand!"

After the tour, they went straight to the PX. Hyeon-jun told him to grab whatever he wanted without worrying. Private Yu Dong-ha brought a small basket and only put a few items in it.

"Dong-ha. You might have to watch out for other seniors, but don't worry about me."

Kim Hyeon-jun handed Private Yu Dong-ha another basket. Then, he began to sweep up a large amount of food.

"You said you're a shield-bearer. You have to eat well to have strength."

To anyone else, it might look like he was bullying him by forced feeding. But Kim Hyeon-jun knew Private Yu Dong-ha well. He also knew that Private Yu Dong-ha was currently very hungry.

"...Is it really okay to eat all of this?"

"Yeah. If you can't use your strength later, the platoon members will blame me. They'll ask what I was doing instead of taking care of my successor."

"T-Then, I'll eat well!"

Private Yu Dong-ha then cautiously began to put various snacks in his mouth. The mountain of food disappeared in an instant. It was a sight that would shock other soldiers. A delicate, thin soldier was eating more than three times as much as a large shield-bearer.

However, Kim Hyeon-jun knew exactly why Private Yu Dong-ha ate so much.

'That's what happens when you have the Gigantification trait.'

Gigantification. It was a high-quality trait considered A-rank for a shield-bearer. It was a trait where all stats, except mana, increased explosively while Gigantification was active. The only downside was that it had high maintenance costs.

Gigantification consumed an enormous amount of energy. Since he had no mana, it was like consuming calories instead.

'There was no way to know that before the regression.'

At that time, Private Yu Dong-ha was too timid to share his concerns with anyone. Not even with his direct senior. Naturally, since he couldn't use his trait properly, he couldn't display his strength.

What happened after that?

It was just a continuous cycle of negativity. He was scolded by officers for not being able to handle the routine. He was scolded by seniors for not doing things right. Eventually, he even caused an accident in a dungeon.

'Since there was no sign of improvement over time, he was eventually transferred to another unit.'

The reason Hyeon-jun knew this information was that Private Yu Dong-ha had begun to shine in the unit he was transferred to. The company commander of that unit had recognized Yu Dong-ha's true value.

'The platoon leader would sometimes blame himself, wondering why he hadn't noticed it.'

Useful shield-bearers were rare. It was natural to feel regret after failing to recognize him and sending him away. Of course, this time, Hyeon-jun had no intention of letting Private Yu Dong-ha be transferred. If he just paid attention to him from the side, he was certain the recruit could do well.

'As I thought, my peers were just scaring me.'

Meanwhile, Private Yu Dong-ha was relieved by the unit's atmosphere, which was different from what he had expected. Even the day before his transfer, people had scared him by saying the Biryong Unit had severe bad habits and abuses.

However, after transferring, it wasn't like that at all. From his direct senior, Corporal Kim Hyeon-jun, everyone was kind. Although he couldn't explain it in detail... he could feel that he was being taken care of meticulously.

Was that all? Somehow sensing his hunger, his senior had bought him a lot of food at the PX. He had casually paid an amount exceeding 100,000 won and even told him to speak up if he needed more.

'I must be lucky. To have such a great direct senior.'

It was a thought that came along with a rising sense of fullness. How hard it had been to train while enduring hunger. As a shield-bearer, he had received more rations than other branches, but it was still not enough.

It was because of his Gigantification trait. To use the trait properly, he had to eat a lot... but it was far too insufficient at the training center. He had explained that to his platoon leader at the training center, but the answer he got was, "I can't give you special treatment."

He thought he could just go to the PX once he was assigned to a permanent unit... but as a new recruit, he was worried about what others would think.

"And Dong-ha. If anyone says anything about you going to the PX, give them my name. You have to eat well to use your strength."

His senior was even solving that worry for him.

"Thank you! I will work hard so as not to be a burden to Corporal Kim Hyeon-jun!"

The heart of Private Yu Dong-ha, who had planned to just do enough to get by, changed. He decided to work hard, if only for the sake of his senior.

***

A few days later. While Private Yu Dong-ha was going through his adjustment period,

"...Our unit is doing it, sir?"

Captain Do Min-gyu, who was receiving a report in the company commander's office, spoke in an incredulous voice.

To summarize the current situation: soldiers had been deployed from another unit to rescue civilians trapped in a dungeon, but they had failed. After failing twice, they decided they couldn't handle it and dumped the task on another unit.

That unit was the Biryong Unit.

"It's frustrating for you to do this so suddenly. We also need time... what?"

Captain Do Min-gyu's expression crumpled as the other party acted recklessly.

"For fuck's sake! How can you tell us that only a day before—and in the evening, at that!"

When the call finally ended, he slammed the receiver down. The decision seemed already made, and he felt like he was just being notified.

It wasn't uncommon for other units to request support. Every unit was in an uproar because they lacked hunters. Therefore, most units couldn't refuse a support request without a justifiable reason. Because of this, except for some rude special forces units, most tended to contact at least three days in advance, unless it was an urgent matter.

It was about maintaining minimum courtesy. But the unit he had just spoken with hadn't even given three days' notice; they had just made a unilateral announcement.

"They probably held out until the end, trying to solve it themselves, and it ended up like this."

That was because safely rescuing trapped civilians was beneficial in many ways. It would make the news and improve the reputation of the military unit. That, in turn, would lead to more government subsidies. They wanted the benefits but didn't want to take the risks, which resulted in this outcome.

"The military is smaller than you think. You can find out everything if you try."

Everything would be revealed in time. However, if the Biryong Unit couldn't properly solve the task handed to them, they would become the target of criticism. They had to put out the fire first.

Captain Do Min-gyu selected the soldiers to be deployed while examining the reported dungeon. Since civilians were trapped, they had to be rescued quickly.

"Trapped for 13 hours."

Fortunately, the situation wasn't too bad. The dungeon where the civilians were trapped was a transformable type, but the areas were separated. The environment wasn't life-threatening, so there was some time before the rescue. The monsters had also been cleared by the unit that dumped the task. However, they had to be careful since the boss monster remained.

"Whew... it is dangerous."

He could vaguely understand why the two previous attempts had failed. The terrain where the civilians were trapped was very harsh, and a boss monster was right next to it. The distance was less than 200 meters. It felt like they had washed their hands of it because it was more dangerous than expected.

"We have to rescue them carefully so as to not provoke the boss monster while calming the civilians down...."

It already didn't look easy. Captain Do Min-gyu let out a sigh. Still, what could he do? The trapped civilians must be trembling in fear even now.

***

At dawn that day, Kim Hyeon-jun was out on the parade ground. It was because of a sudden summons from the company commander.

'What? Quite a lot of people have gathered.'

When he came out with his gear, a platoon-sized group of soldiers had assembled in addition to himself. There were various ranks from Privates First Class to Sergeants from other platoons. Everyone had expressions full of complaints, likely because they had been called out in the middle of their sleep.

"Attention, everyone."

A moment later, the Third Company Commander, Captain Do Min-gyu, came running. He looked busy even in the early hours.

"A support request has come in from another unit."

To summarize, they were to quickly rescue the civilians that the other unit had failed to save. After that, they planned to handle the boss monster inside the dungeon as well.