Ch.132Side Story – A National Disaster-Level Monster Enlists in the Army (2)

# Hunter Trainees are assigned to different units than regular trainees.

Training center barracks typically accommodate between 40 to 60 recruits.

However, Hunter Division trainees who switched careers from the Hunter Association to the military average only about 3 people per 60-person barracks.

This time, there were 4 trainees including myself who enlisted in the Hunter Division.

“Hello. I’m Lee Bak.”

Mr. Lee Bak was a former E-rank Hunter from the Hunter Association.

He was a straightforward young man who had completely shaved his head despite Hunter Division trainees not being required to cut their hair.

“I’m Kim Palnyeon!”

Next was Mr. Kim Palnyeon, who had worked as a Monster cleaner for the Hunter Association.

The reason Mr. Palnyeon enlisted was simply because the military paid slightly better than the Association.

“Hello! I’m Jung Suah.”

And the only woman among our 142nd class of Hunter Division trainees.

Ms. Jung Suah said she was once a researcher at the Hunter Association’s underground laboratory where Lia had been imprisoned.

“You were a researcher?”

“Wow, then you must have amazing qualifications… why join the military?”

“Yes! The military is much more supportive of the weapons I want to develop than the Association. That’s why I decided to enlist.”

Though she had no fighting power herself.

She enlisted with the dream that the weapons she created would someday completely eradicate monsters from this world.

‘These people weren’t even mentioned in the original story, but they all enlisted for good reasons…’

For reference, “Hunter’s Blood” was a story told from the perspective of “a protagonist who became a Hunter.”

So naturally, while the military had some background settings, it was never directly portrayed, which is why I had no idea these people existed.

“By the way, how did you end up here, Shinwoo?”

“Huh? Oh… nothing special, I just wanted to experience a broader world.”

“A Meister from a workshop will be treated well among the Hunter Division.”

“Haha. I’m the least impressive one here as just a Monster cleaner.”

That’s how we first-time comrades chatted in the barracks where we were told to wait.

But of course, the atmosphere quickly changed when the drill instructor burst through the door.

“Hello there! I am Gon Hakseon, a former D-rank Hunter from the Hunter Association who graduated 20 classes before you, and currently a Private First Class in the Hunter Division at Nonsan Army Training Center.”

“…”

“……”

Damn, brings back those awful memories.

Back in the day, whenever trainees who hadn’t fully shed their civilian habits started to relax, a drill instructor would show up like this and immediately start disciplining them.

Drill Instructor Gon Hakseon scrutinized us with a glaring look, his red cap pulled down tight.

“If you want to quit during training, you’re free to leave. The Hunter Division has plenty of other candidates besides you.”

“…!”

“Don’t think this is some old-fashioned military. Today’s military has competition ratios of 1000:1 for non-commissioned officer positions because people want long-term service. Especially! The competition for long-term service in the Hunter Division is even fiercer than for regular NCOs!”

I knew that military personnel were well-treated in the “Hunter’s Blood” universe.

But I had no idea it was such a popular profession.

‘I thought they were exaggerating when they said it was almost as popular as being a Hunter… but it’s really impressive.’

“For your information, I’ve already been approved for long-term service after just two months in the Hunter Division!”

“……”

“Hey.”

“…Yes?”

“Aren’t you going to applaud?!”

I didn’t care since I was only planning to serve for three months before returning to civilian life.

But the other three people had joined the military because they wanted to qualify for long-term service.

“Applause!”

“A-Applause!”

“That’s amazing, sir!”

As a soldier, you should never be clueless.

Especially as a new recruit, you should be even less clueless.

It was natural to make more mistakes at first, but ironically, the military was a place that wouldn’t tolerate even that.

“You’re quick-witted… Stop!”

At Drill Instructor Gon Hakseon’s command to stop, I signaled with my eyes to make the other three stop.

Immediately after, we were assigned our trainee numbers.

“You.”

“Yes! Trainee Han Shinwoo!”

“…?! Oh, right… you’re number 1. And since you’re number 1, you’ll be the squad leader. Understood?”

“Yes! Understood!”

To think I’d be a trainee again in this lifetime.

I came in prepared, but being in the position of learning from a Private First Class again and being assigned a trainee number made me feel like I was about to burst into tears.

Meanwhile, was the instructor surprised by how I acted like a soldier without any hesitation?

‘Those damn military clique bastards… I’ll definitely crush you all…’

After that, Drill Instructor Gon Hakseon assigned numbers to the other three people as well.

“Trainee Han Shinwoo.”

“Yes! Trainee number 1, Han Shinwoo!”

“Oh, right… Did you attend NCO school or something? You seem oddly familiar with the military.”

“Ah, actually…”

I served in the military in my previous life.

I have a family member who’s in the military.

Both were obviously answers I shouldn’t give.

So I paused for a moment, then:

“I’ve been interested in the Hunter Division for a while, so I studied a bit in civilian life.”

“Hmm, I see. I really like that attitude. The drill instructor you’ll meet in the training center where you’ll spend the next two weeks and the instructor you’ll meet soon will evaluate you.”

Satisfied with my answer, Drill Instructor Gon Hakseon looked around at us and gave the following advice:

“While the three months in your assigned unit are important, your performance here will also have a huge impact on your long-term service qualification, so stay focused. Understood?!”

“Yes! Understood!”

“Good. Now we’re going to measure you for uniforms right away. Follow me at a jog pace!”

Maybe it was because we were in the Hunter Division.

While other trainees had to make do with whatever uniform size they were given, the four of us had our measurements taken individually to get uniforms that fit perfectly.

‘Digital camo… to think I’d wear this cursed thing again…’

It’s truly dreadful.

But I have to endure it.

After getting dressed and being ordered to wait in the barracks again:

“S-Shinwoo…”

“Yes?”

“Y-You’re amazing!”

“As expected of a workshop man, you’re truly incredible!”

“Whew. I was worried I might become squad leader as a former Hunter, but the real soldier was right here all along.”

“…What?”

What on earth are these people talking about?

And who’s a real soldier?

…Wait, me?!

“Everyone, I think there’s some misunderstanding. I don’t plan on serving long-term like you all…”

“Shinwoo, don’t be modest. Do you think we’d be jealous of you?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Rather, a fine man like Shinwoo… no, Squad Leader Shinwoo should become a soldier to make South Korea safer!”

“I’ll do my best to support the squad leader.”

These people seem to have a serious misunderstanding.

Can’t they see the “I fucking hate the military” expression on my face?

If I really end up serving long-term, my life… no, the Earth could be destroyed!

‘I need to act like a failure…’

With that thought, I worried that I was being too disciplined for someone who should be in the reserves. After all, there’s no benefit to trying too hard in the military.

I was planning to just take it easy.

But then…

“Now I’ll teach you how to disassemble the K2 rifle.”

*Swiftly disassembles*

“?! Hey, hey! Trainee number 1, you already know how after seeing it once?”

“Huh?! Ah, y-yes, sir!”

“Damn… this guy is a born soldier!”

The information forcibly ingrained in me for over a year never seemed to fade.

“We will now conduct zeroing practice. With the K2, you should fire when the front and rear sights almost overlap to form a circle. When pulling the trigger, hold your breath briefly, never take your eyes off the target, and fire!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Maybe it was because I’d been shot at a lot while kaijufied…

“Trainees 2, 3, and 4, your bullets all went in different directions. So we’ll fire again to adjust your zeroing.”

“Yes, understood!”

“And Trainee number 1. Where did you learn to shoot?”

“I didn’t hear you correctly, sir?”

“Why are you so good? Your zeroing is complete. I’ll give you bonus points later.”

When I first entered the military, I struggled with zeroing and only received punishment.

But after countless shots fired since then, zeroing had become nothing to me.

The same went for CBRN training.

“Ughh… this is insane even the second time…”

“Trainee number 1! Why are you talking like you’ve done this before! However, I’ll commend you for singing the military song until the end!”

First aid.

“If you tighten it like this… that’s it.”

“…Hey, have you considered becoming a medic?”

“I didn’t hear you correctly, sir?”

Even checkpoint duty.

“Stop, stop.”

“Oh, right.”

“Salute! May I ask your rank and name?”

Because this cursed body had already adapted to everything military…

By the time rumors were spreading throughout Nonsan about an S-rank trainee who surpassed A-rank among the 142nd Hunter Division trainees:

“Salute. Lieutenant Han Chalheok!”

“Private First Class! Gon Hakseon!”

“Oh, right. Are you two managing this class’s Hunter Division trainees well?”

“Yes, we are! Company Commander.”

Because the average training group was only 3 people, there were only two personnel managing the Hunter Division trainees: one drill instructor and one instructor.

The two were smoking during lunch break when:

Company Commander Kang Cheoljung of Nonsan Training Center approached the two who were taking a break and began talking about the Hunter Division:

“I’ve received information that a regimental commander from another unit who’s very interested in the Hunter Division will be visiting Nonsan Training Center in two days.”

“R-Regimental Commander, sir?!”

“Yes, I heard he’s coming to report to the Training Center Commander, but he’ll also be taking a look around while he’s at it.”

A man on the verge of getting a star.

A regimental commander with the rank of colonel.

Everyone was sweating at the news of a visit from the third highest-ranking person in the training center after the center commander and chief of staff.

“You know individual combat training, the highlight of the training center? Let’s show it when the regimental commander comes.”

“Individual combat training, sir…?”

“Yes! I heard there’s even an S-rank among this batch of Hunter Division trainees? With him, it should be possible, right?”

“But… Hunter Division individual combat training is traditionally done on the last day because it’s so dangerous…”

“Hey! So when the regimental commander visits, should we just show him first aid training like usual?”

Company Commander Kang Cheoljung, eager for a promotion, ordered the following plan to his two subordinates to impress the regimental commander: