Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

Clunk-clunk-.

Do-jae sat in the passenger seat of the heavy 5-ton truck, heading somewhere.

His expression was complex and subtle.

‘A field assignment on the very first day…’

He didn’t find the assignment strange.

A hunter is one who chases dungeons.

Do-jae himself had often ventured beyond Gyeonggi Province, sometimes heading to Jeolla or Gyeongsang Provinces for hunts.

Then what made him so sullen?

‘This is my first time ever coming to North Korea.’

In the past, North Korea wasn’t a place just anyone could go, but that’s no longer the case.

Under the pretext of subduing the monster-infested lands caused by the dungeon break within North Korea, entry into the country had become possible.

‘I never imagined it would be this empty.’

In the early days of the Great Cataclysm, unfortunately, there weren’t many hunters in North Korea.

The reason was that most of the awakened individuals who gained abilities fled across the Yalu and Tumen Rivers to China or overseas.

This led to a slow response to the monsters, and over time, the situation gradually spiraled out of control.

Now, the nation barely maintains its system.

With nuclear weapons.

In a world where humans possess the ability to intercept flying missiles and send them hurtling into space, how could nuclear weapons possibly help maintain the regime?

The North Korean government held its own citizens hostage.

That is, the plan to drop nuclear weapons on their own country!

Ultimately, it was the Republic of Korea that shouldered the full responsibility.

But it wasn’t all trouble; there was income from the punitive expeditions, and they gained the favorable attitude of North Korean residents.

Moreover, it solidified the justification for the organization known as the Punitive Expeditionary Force, so the gains outweighed the losses.

The only real loss was the waste of valuable awakened personnel.

There was much talk about this, but it quieted down soon after the Association stepped in.

‘Is this Gaeseong?’

Dojae was currently passing through the site where the Kaesong Industrial Complex had stood.

Thanks to the significant progress made in the suppression, the supply routes were well-maintained.

“Stop!”

How far had they advanced along the road?

A man in a fluorescent vest waves a baton and stops the car.

“What is it?”

“Food supplies and weapons.”

“Who’s next to you?”

“Oh, the new officer assigned this time.”

Do-jae smiles slightly through the driver’s window.

“Hello.”

“Oh, hello! The other officer is already here! Proceed!”

Do-jae had departed for the Kaesong detachment immediately upon arriving at the expeditionary force base.

But there’s already an officer here?

He hadn’t even seen the commander’s face yet, nor received his assignment.

‘Is there someone else here besides me?’

Do-jae wondered who it could be.

No one particularly stood out during the exam.

That made sense, since there were so few monsters, and everyone was too busy running around trying to score points outside of monster kills.

With no chance to collide, there was no way to stand out.

“We’ve arrived. Thank you for your hard work getting here.”

The unit name and emblem were visible as we got out of the vehicle.

Beneath the image of a large serpent winding its way, it read:

[Chilgok Division]

The structure of the punitive expedition forces consisted of the Punitive Expedition Headquarters at the forefront, followed by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Punitive Expedition Corps.

The units actually engaged in combat were the three Suppression Corps.

Under these corps were independent units, each possessing a medium-sized guild-level scale.

Therefore, these units preferred to be called by nicknames derived from their commanders’ names or names reflecting their unit’s character rather than being referred to by uniformly assigned numbers.

For this reason, the unit Dojae arrived at was named ‘Chilgokdae’.

It was named after the unit commander’s alias and signature technique, the Chilgok Sword.

‘But… where should I go?’

The driver dropped him off and drove off somewhere.

Dojae was left alone in the middle of Chilgok Squad’s makeshift barracks.

People bustled around him, but they only glanced his way out of the corner of their eyes; no one approached him.

‘Is this territorial? An attempt to intimidate?’

People living cut off from society, fighting a daily war against monsters.

Unlike the guild, this was a place thick with the scent of men, where they spent their time with death at their side. To Dojae, fresh out of the unit, even if he came as an officer, he looked like nothing more than a naive lamb.

‘Well, whatever.’

It was just that he was dealing with the wrong people.

If he were an inexperienced young awakened one, it might be different, but Dojae was not.

In terms of being rough and tough, he was no less than the men in the guild’s official assault teams.

“Excuse me.”

Dojae approached a conspicuous man and spoke up.

It was the man who had been watching Dojae since earlier.

“What is it?”

The man answered with a remarkably polite tone and manner.

There was a certain sense of unease about him, but that didn’t matter to Dojae right now.

“I have something to ask. Where might the leader of Chilgokdae be?”

“May I ask where you’re from?”

“Ah, I’m Lee Do-jae. I was assigned here today.”

Thud!

The man who had been sitting suddenly stood up.

I hadn’t noticed when he was seated, but he’s incredibly tall.

He was easily two heads taller than Dojae.

Even his clothes were oversized and baggy, making him look like a well-built basketball player.

“Whoa! It’s started.”

“Too bad. You should’ve talked to me. Still, maybe I’ll stick around and watch for a bit?”

“I’m betting on that skinny guy over there.”

“Seriously, kiki-kik. Don’t you know Jung-gyu’s been on fire lately? I’m betting on Jung-gyu.”

The extermination troops swarmed around him.

Dojae was flustered by the sudden focus on him.

What kind of unexpected turn of events is this?

As if they’d been waiting, people gathered in a circle, looking just like a scene from a cartoon.

“So you’re one of the executives who was supposed to arrive today.”

“Yes, that’s correct. But what exactly is going on here?”

“Ah, it’s our unit’s tradition.”

“Tradition…?”

Thwack.

The burly man, Son Jeong-gyu, catches a sword tossed to him by someone.

Then he twitches.

His eyebrows twitch and the corners of his mouth stretch upward.

“Heh heh heh… Let’s go…”

“Huh?”

“Let’s have a fight!”

Whoosh-!

Son Jeong-gyu, transformed, instantly swung his sword at Dojae.

Though it was only a blunt iron sword, getting hit by that wouldn’t end with just a bruise.

Do-jae hurriedly backed away, barely dodging it.

“What the hell!”

“Heh heh, so you’re not just some ordinary idiot like the ones who came before?”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

Son Jeong-gyu didn’t give Dojae time to respond, launching another attack.

Caught in this awkward situation, Dojae debated whether to attack or evade.

“Show him what you’ve got!”

As Son Jeong-gyu charged toward Do Jae, cheers erupted from all around.

Of course.

It wasn’t for nothing that no one paid him any mind.

They were just waiting for someone to pick a fight.

No, they were just waiting for the chance to pick a fight.

‘How utterly childish.’

Even as he thought his actions were no different from a child’s, Dojae began to feel a slight thrill.

That’s just how men are.

Fundamental hierarchy over laws, systems, education, and background.

Before being men, they want to confirm each other’s strength or weakness as males.

Especially in a world where strength is logic.

“GAAAH!”

Son Jeong-gyu swings his sword with a loud clang.

It’s a standard-issue sword with nothing to boast about except its sturdiness, but both blades are genuine swords with sharp edges.

‘Did the fools come in, or did they leave as fools?’

Dojae twisted his body slightly to dodge.

He’d never fought another man before, but his experience at the shrine last time allowed him to dodge skillfully.

‘No need to see through the golem’s eyes.’

Dojae assessed his opponent’s skill with a single strike.

The difference was so clear he didn’t even need to pull out his golem armor.

“Yaaah!”

Son Jeong-gyu swung his sword repeatedly, driving Dojae back.

Each time, Dojae dodged nimbly, preventing even the tip of the blade from grazing him.

Son Jeong-gyu seemed slightly irritated.

“Not bad? Let’s see if you dodge this one too.”

Son Jeong-gyu drew up his mana.

His already large frame grew even larger.

That was why he wore clothes generously sized even for his large frame.

Swish-.

Then, from where he had been standing, he picks up another sword.

“That lunatic… If he uses a real sword, it won’t end with just demerits.”

“Are you the one getting punished? Worry about that. More than that, I’m curious to see how this plays out!”

A few onlookers stepped back.

They didn’t want to get involved.

But most stayed put.

Guess curiosity just can’t be helped.

“Whoa!”

He charges forward, sword gripped tightly in both hands.

Bulging muscles and veins pulsing.

A veritable beast!

It’s like a raging rhinoceros charging with its horn thrust forward.

‘This is a bit…’

Dojae also sensed a slight danger.

Opening the pocket dimension and donning the golem armor takes about five seconds.

It’s a short time, but by then it’s already too late.

But to dodge again? He couldn’t stand by and watch any longer.

He was giving it his all, fighting with such determination. If he just flew away and ran off, what would that look like?

He might become a laughingstock from day one.

‘If only it were just my legs.’

Dojae was about to attempt something he’d never tried before.

An attempt to wear the golem armor only on parts of his body, not his entire frame.

If he covered only his legs, just below the knees, with the gravel on the ground, wouldn’t he receive at least some of the golem armor’s effects, if not all of them?

Clank-.

The moment the thought finished forming, he immediately cast the Golem Armor.

The surrounding pebbles climbed up Dojae’s feet.

Since there was no need to pull them from afar, a solid leg was formed in an instant.

“Die!”

Son Jeong-gyu closed in right before his eyes.

Had his swollen muscles consumed his very brain?

He attacked, uttering words he shouldn’t have.

Kagagagakang-!

Do Jae swung his right leg.

He slashed the blade and thrust it into Son Jeong-gyu’s chest.

‘Ah!’

He hadn’t intended to attack; he’d only meant to block the sword.

But was Son Jeong-gyu’s strength weaker than expected?

Or was Dojae’s foot angle off?

As Dojae’s foot and the sword tip touched, they deflected off each other, sending the sword toward the floor. Consequently, Dojae’s foot struck Son Jeong-gyu’s chest squarely as he bent forward.

Pang-!

“Stop!”

A deep, authoritative voice rang out from between them.

The onlookers immediately began to scatter.

“What are you doing?!”

“I’m… I’m sorry, Captain!”

Son Jeong-gyu was startled and flustered.

Before he knew it, his body had shrunk.

Thud.

Chilgok Squad leader Kim Hwan-soo released Son Jeong-gyu’s arm and Do Jae’s leg.

“Everyone, dismiss! Both of you, follow me!”

Kim Hwan-soo stormed off toward the barracks in a rage.

Do-jae and Son Jeong-gyu looked at each other, their expressions awkward.

***

Immediately after entering the barracks.

Following Kim Hwan-soo’s order, Son Jeong-gyu was given a two-week disciplinary suspension.

Using skills inside the barracks was strictly illegal, carrying penalties of a month’s suspension and a pay cut, but Kim Hwan-soo decided not to report it.

Instead, during his confinement, he had to handle sanitation duties inside the barracks, meaning he spent the entire day doing menial tasks like picking up trash and washing dishes.

“You! I’m cutting you some slack since you’re the new guy today!”

Kim Hwan-soo barked at Do-jae.

As the squad leader, he understood the unit’s circumstances well and often turned a blind eye when such incidents occurred.

However, this time he used a skill, and if something like this happened again, it could lead to an accident. So, as an example, he punished Son Jeong-gyu.

As a warning.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was doing it.”

“Enough. Let’s drop this topic. So, how did the test go?”

Do Jae was puzzled by Kim Hwan-soo’s question.

Why bring up the exam all of a sudden?

Do-jae looked at Kim Hwan-soo’s face, about to ask what exam he was referring to. Then a familiar face came to mind.

“The exam proctor?”

“How long has it been that you can’t even remember the face of the examiner who tested you?”

That’s right.

Kim Hwan-soo was the exam supervisor at the Cheorwon test center where Do-jae had taken his exam.

‘Seriously, are there people who memorize the faces of examiners?’

A face glimpsed for barely two minutes during the entire exam.

Besides announcing the start of the exam, he hadn’t been seen anywhere else, not even a shadow, so it was only natural Dojae didn’t recognize him right away.

In fact, remembering Kim Hwan-soo’s face was impressive enough.

“I’m sorry. I was just so nervous back then…”

After that, Kim Hwan-soo explained about the unit.

He gave a general overview of the suppression operation and future plans, but there was no personal conversation.

“Then I suppose I should greet your unit members too? Go ahead.”

“Yes, I’ll go now.”

The brief meeting ended.

Half excitement, half anticipation.

Do-jae left the commander’s quarters and headed toward the barracks where the unit members he would be in charge of were stationed.