Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 14 It Doesn’t Work on Me (1)

08:40, Battalion Auditorium.

The officers had been preparing early for the award ceremony that would take place in about 50 minutes.

They cleaned and cleaned the interior so that not a speck of dust would be found.

Of course, all the work was done by the soldiers.

“Hurry up!”

“Hey, Na Jong-sik! Don’t think about slacking off in hiding!”

“Finish up before the battalion commander arrives!”

The soldiers grumbled about the officers, ‘They should help out a bit too. Those b*stards.’

But there were those who escaped from that cleaning hell.

“Stand in line there. Yoon-ho, a bit more to the right. Yes, that’s it.”

It was me and Corporal Jung Ye-som. Under the direction of the battalion operations officer, we were rehearsing our movements in advance.

It wasn’t just about going up to the podium and receiving the award when called; today, how we received the award was more important.

It was about maintaining a certain form.

“No, Ye-som, move closer. The picture will look better if you’re closer.”

Today’s award ceremony wasn’t just for our battalion.

Local district representatives from Modang Station were also scheduled to attend.

That’s why this chaos had been unfolding since early morning.

Good luck, seniors.

I sent my heartfelt sympathy to those who were wiping the window frames in the corners that no one ever went to.

“When you’re first called, you don’t need to state your rank and name. Just come out quickly and swiftly. But your movements should be precise.”

“Yes!”

“And then, when you stand on the podium, there will be brief remarks from the district representative and the battalion commander, according to the host’s proceedings. You will receive the award afterward, and at that time, you should shout loudly enough to shake this auditorium. Think of it as tearing your vocal cords for a moment.”

Tearing your vocal cords for a moment, he says. He says such chilling things so casually.

“Do you both understand?”

“Yes!!”

“Good, that loud. But when the ceremony starts, you need to be even louder than now.”

“Understood!!”

The operations officer continued to adjust every angle of their arms.

It felt like becoming his puppet.

He probably didn’t want to go this far as the operations officer. But as I said before, this is all for show.

So, we have to put on a good show.

For the higher-ups.

“After the award ceremony, there will be a commemorative photo. You just need to stand in the middle and maintain a proper attention stance. Smile as brightly as possible. Okay?”

“Yes!!”

“Good, well done. Go sit over there and wait.”

The rehearsal, which continued until 9:15, finally ended as outsiders began to enter.

Five men in neat suits.

They were district representatives from Modang Station.

“Ha ha, you’ve arrived.”

The stern operations officer instantly vanished, leaving only a subordinate serving his superiors.

I used to be like that when I went to external events.

This is why being an officer isn’t always easy.

When meeting someone of higher rank or from the upper echelons of society, you’re no different from the soldiers scrubbing the floors earlier.

You have to bow to make a good impression.

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty!”

Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-cheol also arrived around that time. After greeting the representatives, he took his seat at the battalion commander’s seat.

Behind the neatly lined-up soldiers, five or six cameras had been set up.

The event began immediately.

“Today’s event is to award the two soldiers who resolved the explosion incident at Modang Station Garok Dungeon a few days ago.”

I sat in the waiting seat and calmed my breathing. I hadn’t even run, just stood in place raising and lowering my arms, yet I was strangely out of breath.

I was nervous.

I’ve experienced this kind of event dozens of times if I think back to before my regression.

But being the protagonist was rare.

And today’s event wasn’t just any event.

It was a very, very big event with the battalion commander and even local district council members participating.

“Corporal Jeong Yesom and Private Gu Yunho, please come to the podium.”

“!”

“!”

I almost instinctively stated my rank and name. I must have been really nervous.

I was still better off.

Corporal Jeong Yesom, who was walking ahead, was trembling her fingers. She straightened her back even more, as if determined not to make a mistake.

“I am Councilor Kim Jeonggu of Soseogu. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to our two soldiers. Additionally…”

The council representative spoke first, followed by Lieutenant Colonel Park Euicheol. He used formal language, perhaps because the cameras were rolling.

“Hunters are beings who slay monsters, but sometimes they want to escape such situations. Especially in unexpected situations like the recent Modang Station incident. Hunters are ultimately human, so it’s hard to step forward when their lives are at risk. However, Private Gu Yunho and Corporal Jeong Yesom were different.”

The speech continued, reminiscent of the principal’s old admonitions.

“With the brave spirit of a hunter and the determination to save citizens, they charged at the monsters without a moment’s hesitation. And they perfectly handled the situation after subduing them. As a hunter, not just in my position or rank, I want to express my respect for Private Gu Yunho and Corporal Jeong Yesom.”

“-“

“We all should emulate these two soldiers. We must grow to become better hunters.”

Respect.

Being told to emulate them.

Even if it was just lip service, it felt good to hear.

“As the representative of our Biho Battalion, I would like to present an award to this excellent pair.”

“Soldiers, please come up to the podium.”

Now it was the finale. Corporal Jeong Yesom and I went up to the podium.

Lieutenant Colonel Park Euicheol already had two awards in his hands.

He stepped off the podium and stood before us.

His thick hand first grasped Corporal Jeong Yesom’s hand.

“Well done, Corporal Jeong Yesom.”

“Corporal Jung! Yes! Cotton! Thank you!!!”

And now it was my turn.

“You’ve done something no one could believe. And you’re just a private. I hope you grow into an even greater hunter, Private Koo Yoon-ho.”

“Private Koo! Yoon! Ho! Thank you!!!”

Recalling the operations officer’s words, I shouted until my throat tore. Thunderous applause erupted from below the platform.

Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-cheol spoke with a kind smile.

“From now on, you two are heroes.”

The labels that had stuck to me were things like a burden, a useless guy, and a cleanup crew.

At this moment, all of those were erased.

And something new was engraved.

“The Hero of Biho.”

The unfamiliar title made my head spin for a moment. When I came to my senses, I was standing in the middle of the battalion commander and the district council members, taking a commemorative photo.

At the end, I took a personal photo holding the commendation.

The printed photo was hung prominently on one side of the auditorium in real-time.

“The Heroes Who Shone Biho.”

Although it was just in the photo, I stood side by side with Han Jae-woo, the object of my admiration.

An indescribable emotion surged in the heightened excitement.

A thrilling sensation as if I were about to burst.

I smiled brighter than ever before.

Someday, I would stand shoulder to shoulder with him not just in the photo, but in reality.

*

Congratulations messages came from acquaintances and family.

Roughly counting, there were dozens.

Even my eldest sister and third sister, who were busy with work, sent several messages saying, ‘Our youngest is the best! The coolest in the world!’ and ‘Forget all the hardships you went through and walk only on the flower path now! Let’s succeed, Koo Yoon-ho! Go, go!’

My second sister only sent a brief message, ‘Hey, I heard the news. You did well.’ But I could feel it. The pride she felt as my sister.

As I replied to each message, it was already lunchtime. The surrounding soldiers congratulated me in person.

Since it was such a big award, the excitement didn’t easily fade.

But when you get excited, your shoulders tend to rise for no reason.

I put the commendation inside the locker and returned to my duties.

In the afternoon, intensive training for privates was scheduled.

Unlike other training, this one is included in the soldier’s service record evaluation, so you must strive to achieve the best possible results.

It’s like the concept of academic records in middle and high school.

In fact, many private guilds also require the soldier’s service record as a condition for admission.

So, at 13:00.

Following the prior instructions, I arrived at the training ground with my individual equipment.

The place was instantly crowded with soldiers.

Except for the new recruits, all the privates in the battalion had gathered.

“That guy is that guy.”

“I heard he was still doing all the chores for his seniors until recently, but how can a person change completely overnight? It’s so amazing.”

“Wow, I’m so jealous. I also want to receive the commendation for the heroes who shone in the unit. They must have received a huge reward and leave.”

Of course, there were privates from other companies as well. They recognized me, talked about my past, or envied me while chatting among themselves.

The chatter soon ended.

One by one, the trainers came in.

Among them was Second Lieutenant Noh Young-il, who had been an instructor during last week’s specialty training.

“Huh? Isn’t that the battalion commander?”

“What? Why is the battalion commander here? Suddenly, I feel a lot of pressure.”

Finally, Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-chul appeared.

I was just as puzzled.

There was no need for the battalion commander to participate in the training of rookies.

Is there some special reason?

As I was thinking that, I briefly made eye contact with Lieutenant Colonel Park Ui-chul.

There was an inexplicable smile on his face as he looked at me.

What is with that guy?

“This training is divided into three main categories. The first is physical strength, the second is cooperation, and the third is combat. I hope you refine what you’ve been doing so far and receive good evaluations.”

I didn’t know why he was here, but it seemed he wasn’t going to participate directly.

Everything was being conducted solely by the trainers.

In the meantime, I spotted a familiar face. A head shaved like a bald mountain and an unusually thick neck.

His impression was strong, but even without that, he was someone I couldn’t forget.

Jo Tae-kwang from the 2nd Company.

As soon as he was discharged, he entered the underground world and became a villain. Before he could start his full-scale misdeeds, he was brutally killed by the villain disposal team, but in any case, he was a very bad person.

If this training proceeds exactly the same as before the regression, I will inevitably run into Jo Taekwang at least once.

So, I’m contemplating right now.

How should I repay him for what he did to me back then?

I need to crush him completely.