Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 20 It Doesn’t Work on Me (7)

“…Cease the duel!”

The whistle blew as the operations officer raised his hand.

I withdrew my sword.

What a pity, I was about to stab his shoulder.

The operations officer checked Private Jo Taekwang’s condition.

The surroundings were silent.

It continued for quite a while until suddenly, it burst.

Thunderous applause erupted.

Everyone was ecstatic.

“Wow!”

“Unbelievable!”

“Is that even possible?”

All sorts of exclamations burst out.

Everyone stood up and stared at the two people in the arena.

Me, holding the sword without a scratch, and Private Jo Taekwang, lying in a pool of blood.

Thanks to his [tough skin], it ended at this level.

Otherwise, he would have been covered in blood and passed out.

“…!”

“What on earth…”

The executives also had faces that seemed to question what they had just witnessed.

Did they expect a similar result?

Probably so.

Even I, the person involved, would have had a hard time guaranteeing victory if it weren’t for [Efficient Reception].

‘It was such a simple and brute attack that I would have won eventually, but I would have been quite injured too.’

That’s why the role of [Groggy] was crucial.

A wall that wouldn’t easily crumble was taken down with a single blow.

What an amazing effect.

There are some regrets, though.

Especially physical strength.

I felt it keenly while blocking the boss with [Efficient Reception].

It was hard to keep my balance, let alone counterattack or launch a counteroffensive.

‘Let’s not rush.’

Physical strength isn’t something that can be resolved overnight.

It takes patience, perseverance, and effort to build it up.

However.

‘That time can be shortened. I hope that time comes soon.’

I shook off my body and looked at one side of the training ground.

Only then did Private Jo Taekwang, who had escaped from [Groggy], groan and get up.

The sword wounds all over his body hinted at his condition.

A small pool of blood had formed under his combat boots.

“…Damn.”

I vaguely heard a curse.

It wasn’t directed at me.

It was something he said to himself.

A miserable defeat without being able to do anything.

He realized it too.

Even if he fought again with renewed determination, he could never be my match.

He lowered his head and descended from the training ground.

The medics sprayed his body with treatment.

I could have gone and asked if he was okay, but I didn’t really want to.

After all, it’s Jo Taekwang.

He’s going to become a villain after his discharge anyway.

There’s no need to show human mercy to trash.

I also descended from the training ground.

Countless eyes focused on me.

*

“Incredible.”

It was a genuine sentiment from deep within.

Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-cheol laughed heartily.

“What do our officers think?”

The officers’ seats were located on one side of the first training ground.

Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-cheol, along with company commanders and department heads, were gathered there.

All the key officers had come to watch the training of a single private.

“This is… an entirely unexpected result.”

“I wonder if it’s possible to show such majesty with just simple [defense].”

“The scene where he finally brought down Private Jo Taekwang was truly impressive.”

“It was too excellent to be called a private’s training. To overcome such an overwhelming physical difference in that way.”

Private Gu Yunho, who had left the training ground, was surrounded by other privates. It was obvious what they were talking about without even listening.

Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-cheol, who was watching the scene, spoke.

“It seems we underestimated Private Gu Yunho. He was stronger than we thought.”

“Seeing that he still lags in physical strength, it can’t be that ability… But calling it an awakening ability, his career and level are too low.”

“Yes, awakening abilities don’t come just by swinging a sword for days and days.”

“Is it just that Private Gu Yunho’s pure combat skills are good? I heard he trains very hard.”

Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-cheol, who had been listening silently, turned his head towards Captain Oh Junbeom.

“What does the commander of the 3rd Company, who is in the same unit, think?”

“I also agree with the other officers. As the battalion commander said, we underestimated Private Gu Yunho, but I don’t know how he showed such combat just now. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Even if we brought Private Gu Yunho’s parents, they wouldn’t understand their son right now.”

“Ha ha ha.”

The stifling atmosphere was relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-chul’s joke.

Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-chul nodded and said.

“I don’t know why, but it seems everyone agrees with Private Gu Yun-ho’s skills.”

“Yes.”

“Then, let’s consider it as if it never happened from now on.”

“What… do you mean, sir?”

“I mean Private Gu Yun-ho’s records so far. I felt it in the recent battle. They no longer matter.”

“!”

“What I’m saying is, let’s look at him with a fresh perspective from now on.”

The officers did not object.

It was an implicit agreement.

It wasn’t just because it was the battalion commander’s words.

They also thought his words were reasonable.

“If it were up to me, I’d like to promote him specially on my own authority.”

“Battalion Commander, that is…”

“Ha ha, I know. We can’t give such preferential treatment to someone who has been passed over for promotion not once, but three times.”

It was a guideline from the Hunter Headquarters in the first place.

There were things even a lieutenant colonel’s authority couldn’t do.

“Ah, Operations Officer.”

“Yes, Battalion Commander.”

“When is the next promotion test?”

“I’ll check right away.”

The operations officer checked the battalion schedule on his phone. Soon, Lieutenant Colonel Park Eui-chul smiled with satisfaction at the answer he received.

“Fortunately, it’s not too far off. Oh, and Company Commander of the 3rd Company.”

“Yes.”

He asked in a somewhat serious tone.

“What did Private Gu Yun-ho say his plans were after discharge?”

“I haven’t gotten that far… I’ll check it out right away tonight, no, today.”

“Oh. No, no. There’s no rush, just take your time and find out.”

“Understood. But may I ask why…?”

Private Gu Yunho finally managed to escape from the crowd of privates and return to the waiting seat. Colonel Park Eui-cheol looked at him again and said,

“If that guy goes to a private guild, I feel like we’ll regret it for a long time.”

*

18:00, Military Dining Hall.

“So, in the end, I made him kneel.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He was so shocked that he begged for his life.”

Everyone forgot about eating and caused a commotion. Corporal Song Ji-han, the squad’s news source, was eagerly recounting the situation at the time.

“I heard that Jo Tae-kwang has incredible physical strength. Yunho managed to subdue such a guy.”

“What, Gu Yunho. After such a spectacular fight, you just ended it with ‘I won’?”

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee, sitting next to me, nudged my arm. Corporal Jung Ye-som, sitting across from me, also chimed in.

“That’s a story worthy of a legend. Hey, Gu Yunho. Tell us about it.”

“After all, it was just a fight between privates.”

“He doesn’t get it.”

Corporal Song Ji-han spoke again.

“Fights between lower-ranked soldiers are more interesting than those between masters. And right now, the level isn’t important. What’s important is that the underdog beat the top dog.”

“Our Ji-han is making sense for once.”

“Oh, Corporal Kwak Woo-hee~ When have I ever said anything wrong?”

“Hey, 70-80% of the news you bring is either false or rumors.”

“That’s because I heard it second-hand, so it’s not my fault… Yunho, hurry up and tell your story.”

Everyone burst into laughter at Corporal Song Ji-han’s attempt to change the subject.

I swallowed what I was eating and began to speak.

There wasn’t much more to explain.

I just told them how I dealt with Private Jo Tae-kwang’s attacks and how I responded.

The squad members all said in unison,

“So, in the end, you didn’t get hit even once?”

“If you put it that way, yes.”

“Look at this guy.”

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee smiled proudly.

“I have to erase the Yoonho I knew from my mind as of today.”

“What? Why go that far?”

“No, you’re not that Yoonho. You’re a different Yoonho now.”

It wasn’t just a simple joke.

She was quite serious.

“When is our next dungeon raid? Do we have a schedule?”

Corporal Song Ji-han, who had been nodding his head as if in agreement, answered.

“We have one next week.”

“Good, we can do it then.”

“What do you mean?”

“Watching Yoonho’s changed appearance in real-time.”

“Haha. Now that you mention it, I’m looking forward to it too.”

“Haven’t you already seen it? You guys went to the dungeon last week.”

“I was in a different team with Yoonho then. Corporal Byun Ji-tak and Private Kang Sung-joon were in that team. Oh, and Corporal Jung Ye-som too.”

“Ah~ Ji-tak and Sung-joon.”

Corporal Kwak Woo-hee laughed as if it was amusing and glanced at Corporal Byun Ji-tak and Private Kang Sung-joon, who were quietly eating.

She knew well how those two treated me.

That’s why she was laughing.

“Ji-tak.”

“Corporal Byun Ji-tak.”

“What do you think?”

“About… what?”

“About Yoonho these days.”

“Yes, well, I think so too.”

“Yes, well, what? Speak up.”

“…I think he’s amazing.”

“Right, you should acknowledge when your junior does well. And he’s not just any junior. He’s your assistant, your assistant.”

“…Yes.”

“Treat him well. Don’t be a jerk.”

“Ugh, yes.”

Byun Ji-tak choked at the sudden strong wording. Only then did he realize Corporal Gwak Woo-hee’s intention.

Private Kang Sung-joon immediately handed him water.

Regardless, Corporal Gwak Woo-hee had her arm on my shoulder.

“Our youngest, your sister is expecting great things from you.”

Expectation.

It’s always a burdensome word.

But I was confident.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

Corporal Gwak Woo-hee seemed a bit surprised, as if she expected me to say something like, “You don’t need to expect that much…”

The other squad members felt the same.

Corporal Gwak Woo-hee spoke again.

“Alright, I’ll trust you.”

Her smiling face made me feel even better today.

By the way, the dungeon raid next week.

I thought of that place and licked my lips. Because there are runes there too.

Even special abilities like [Soul of the Iron-Blooded Knight].

‘I must get that rune.’

And before the dungeon raid, a small or big commotion will happen within our squad.

It won’t take long.

It’s the day after tomorrow.

‘Before the regression, that commotion changed my life.’