“…Stop the match!”
The whistle blew, and the Operations Officer raised his hand.
I lowered my sword.
What a shame. I was about to chop into one of his shoulders.
The Operations Officer checked Private Second Class Jo Tae-gwang's condition.
The surroundings were silent.
The silence continued for quite a while, until suddenly it exploded.
Thunderous applause erupted.
Everyone was going wild.
“Whoa!”
“Wow!”
“D-Does that even make sense?”
Exclamations burst out from every direction.
Everyone shot to their feet and stared at the two people in the arena.
Me, standing there with my sword without a single injury, and Private Second Class Jo Tae-gwang, sprawled on the ground soaked in blood.
He'd only gotten off that lightly because of [Hardened Hide].
Without it, he would've passed out drenched in blood.
“…!”
“What in the world….”
Even the officers looked as though they couldn't believe what they'd just seen.
Had they expected a similar result?
Probably.
Even I couldn't have guaranteed victory without [Efficient Parry].
‘His attacks were so crude and straightforward that I would've won eventually, but I would've gotten hurt pretty badly too.’
That was why [Groggy] had played such an important role.
It brought down a wall that normally wouldn't have fallen with a single blow.
What an incredible effect.
That didn't mean there was nothing lacking.
Especially my physical ability.
I'd felt it painfully the entire time I blocked the Great Axe with [Efficient Parry].
Forget counterattacking or launching a counteroffensive. My balance kept getting shaken so badly that it was difficult just to keep myself steady.
‘Don't rush it.’
Physical ability wasn't something that could be fixed overnight.
Only patience, perseverance, and effort could build it.
However.
‘I can shorten that time. I just have to hope that moment comes soon.’
I shook out my body and looked toward one side of the arena.
Private Second Class Jo Tae-gwang had finally recovered from [Groggy] and was groaning as he forced himself upright.
The sword wounds all over him made his condition obvious.
A small pool of blood had collected beneath his combat boots.
“…Fuck.”
I faintly heard a curse.
It wasn't aimed at me.
He was saying it to himself.
A miserable defeat without accomplishing a single thing.
He'd realized it too.
Even if he pulled himself together and fought me again, he'd never be a match for me.
He lowered his head and walked out of the arena.
The Medics sprayed treatment solution over his body.
I could've gone over and asked whether he was all right, but I didn't particularly want to.
This was Jo Tae-gwang.
The bastard was going to become a Villain after his discharge anyway.
There was no need to show human compassion to garbage.
I stepped out of the arena as well.
Countless gazes focused on me.
***
“Incredible.”
The words came sincerely from deep within him.
Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-cheol laughed heartily.
“What do the rest of you officers think?”
The officers' seating area stood along one side of Arena One.
Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-cheol, the Company Commanders, and the staff section chiefs had gathered there.
All the key officers had come just to watch a single Private Second Class's sparring match.
“This… is a result I never expected.”
“Is it really possible for a simple [Parry] to display that kind of power?”
“I couldn't help but marvel when he finally brought Private Second Class Jo Tae-gwang down.”
“That was far too impressive to call it a match between Private Second Classes. To overcome such an overwhelming gap in physical ability like that….”
Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho, who'd left the arena, was surrounded by the other Private Second Classes.
Judging by the commotion, there was no need to hear them to know what they were talking about.
Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-cheol watched them and spoke.
“It seems we've underestimated Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho. He's stronger than we thought.”
“Considering he's still at a disadvantage physically, it probably isn't an Ability related to that… But if we call it an Awakened Ability, his record and level up until now are far too low.”
“Yes. An Ability doesn't Awaken just because someone swings a sword day in and day out.”
“Could it simply be that Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho's combat technique itself is that good? I heard he's always trained extremely hard.”
Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-cheol listened silently before turning toward Captain Oh Jun-beom.
“What do you think, 3rd Company Commander? He's one of your men.”
“My opinion is similar to the other officers'. As you said, Battalion Commander, we certainly underestimated Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho, but I don't know how he managed to fight like that just now. My apologies.”
“No need to apologize. Even if we brought Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho's parents here, they probably wouldn't understand their own son right now.”
“Hahaha.”
Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-cheol's joke eased the strangely stifling atmosphere.
He nodded and continued.
“We may not know the reason, but it seems everyone agrees on Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho's ability.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then from now on, let's treat it as though it never existed.”
“What… are you referring to, sir?”
“Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho's records up until now. That fight just convinced me. They don't mean anything anymore.”
“!”
“I'm saying we should look at him with fresh eyes from now on.”
None of the officers objected.
It was tacit agreement.
Not because the Battalion Commander had said it.
They also thought his words were reasonable.
“If it were entirely up to me, I'd give him a Special Promotion right now.”
“Battalion Commander, that would….”
“Haha, I know. We can't give that kind of preferential treatment to someone who's been passed over for promotion not twice, but three times.”
It was a Hunter Headquarters directive in the first place.
There were some things even a Lieutenant Colonel didn't have the authority to do.
“Ah, Operations Officer.”
“Yes, Battalion Commander.”
“When is the next Promotion Exam?”
“I'll check immediately.”
The Operations Officer checked the battalion schedule on his phone.
After hearing the answer, Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-cheol smiled in satisfaction.
“Fortunately, it isn't too far away. Oh, and 3rd Company Commander.”
“Yes, sir.”
He asked in a deliberately serious tone.
“What are Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho's plans after his discharge?”
“That much, I… I'll find out tomorrow—no, I'll check tonight.”
“Ah, no, no. There's no rush. Just look into it when you get the chance.”
“Understood. But may I ask why…?”
Private Second Class Gu Yun-ho had finally escaped the crowd of Private Second Classes and was returning to the waiting area.
Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-cheol looked at him again.
“If that young man says he's going to a Private Guild, I have a feeling we'd regret letting him go for a long time.”
***
18:00, mess hall.
“And then, at the very end, Yun-ho made him drop to his knees.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. His opponent was so terrified that he actually begged Yun-ho to spare him.”
Everyone had forgotten about eating and was making a huge fuss.
Corporal Song Ji-han, the squad's resident source of information, was enthusiastically recounting what had happened.
“From what I heard, Jo Tae-gwang's physical ability is incredible. And Yun-ho subdued a bastard like that.”
“What the hell, Gu Yun-ho? You fought a battle that spectacular, and earlier all you said was, ‘I won’?”
Corporal Gwak Woo-hee, sitting beside me, lightly smacked my arm.
Corporal Jeong Ye-som, sitting across from us, joined in.
“That's practically enough for a whole heroic tale. Hey, Gu Yun-ho. You tell us.”
“It was still just a fight between Private Second Classes.”
“You really don't get it.”
Corporal Song Ji-han spoke again.
“Fights between people below the true masters are usually more entertaining than fights between the masters themselves. And level isn't what's important here. What's important is that the underdog beat the top dog.”
“Our Ji-han finally said something right for once.”
“Come on, Corporal Gwak Woo-hee~ When have I ever said anything wrong?”
“Hey, 70~80 percent of the news you bring us is either bullshit or baseless rumor.”
“I heard those things secondhand too, so that's not really my fault… Yun-ho, hurry up and tell us what happened.”
Everyone burst out laughing as Corporal Song Ji-han subtly changed the subject.
I swallowed what I'd been eating and started talking.
There wasn't much else to explain.
I simply told them how I'd dealt with Private Second Class Jo Tae-gwang's attacks and how I'd responded in turn.
After hearing everything, the squad members spoke almost in unison.
“So in the end, you didn't get hit even once?”
“If you want to put it that way, yes.”
“Look at this kid.”
Corporal Gwak Woo-hee smiled with her eyes, looking proud.
“As of today, I'm erasing the Gu Yun-ho I knew before from my head.”
“What? Isn't that going a little far?”
“No. You're not that Gu Yun-ho anymore. You're a different Gu Yun-ho now.”
She wasn't merely joking.
She looked fairly serious.
“When's our next Dungeon raid? Don't we have anything scheduled?”
Corporal Song Ji-han, who'd been nodding along the entire time as if he agreed with her, answered.
“We've got one sometime next week.”
“Good. Then we can do it.”
“Do what?”
“Watch Yun-ho's new self in action firsthand.”
“Haha. Now that you mention it, I'm looking forward to it too.”
“Didn't you already see it? You guys went to that Gnoll Dungeon last week.”
“I was in a different group from Yun-ho then. Corporal Byeon Ji-tak and Private First Class Kang Seong-jun were in his group. Ah, and Corporal Jeong Ye-som too.”
“Ah~ Ji-tak and Seong-jun.”
Corporal Gwak Woo-hee smiled in amusement and glanced toward Corporal Byeon Ji-tak and Private First Class Kang Seong-jun, who were quietly eating their meals.
She knew perfectly well how the two of them treated me.
That was why she was smiling.
“Ji-tak.”
“Corporal Byeon Ji-tak.”
“What do you think?”
“What… do you mean?”
“About Yun-ho lately.”
“Yes, well, I also… think so.”
“Yes, well, what? Speak.”
“…I think he's impressive.”
“Good. When your junior does well, you should know how to acknowledge it. And he's not just any junior. He's your own assistant. Your assistant.”
“…Yes.”
“Treat him better. Don't treat him like X.”
“COUGH—! Yes.”
Corporal Byeon Ji-tak choked at the unexpectedly harsh wording.
Only then did he understand what Corporal Gwak Woo-hee was getting at.
Private First Class Kang Seong-jun immediately handed him some water.
Corporal Gwak Woo-hee paid them no attention and draped her arm over my shoulder.
“Our youngest, I'm counting on you, okay?”
Expectation.
It was a word that could never help but feel burdensome.
But I was confident.
“I won't disappoint you.”
Corporal Gwak Woo-hee looked slightly surprised, as though she'd expected an answer like, ‘You don't need to expect that much from me….’
The other squad members looked the same.
Corporal Gwak Woo-hee soon spoke again.
“Good. I'll trust you.”
Her bright smile put me in an even better mood than usual.
Anyway, the Dungeon raid next week.
I smacked my lips as I thought about that place.
There was a Rune there too.
And it was even a Special-type Ability, like [Iron-Blooded Knight’s Soul].
‘I’m getting that Rune no matter what.’
And before that Dungeon raid, a commotion would break out within our squad.
Big in some ways, small in others.
I wouldn't have to wait long for it either.
It was happening the day after tomorrow.
‘Before I regressed, that incident changed my life.’