The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 30
I don’t even know exactly how Jung Ho-bin died.
At that time, I was half out of my mind with grief over Father’s death, and I was too preoccupied caring for Mother and Eun-ha to pay attention to what was happening in the world.
All I knew was that a massive gate phenomenon had erupted around Jebu Island where the Special Armed Forces Training Institute was located, and Jung Ho-bin had been caught up in it and died.
Of course, I knew a few fragmented details, but….
‘They say misfortune comes in bunches. Of all people, to be in the same training cohort as Jung Ho-bin.’
Ra Si-hyun was already remarkable enough, but to be in the same cohort as someone destined to die soon—my head was already throbbing.
‘Maybe I should just withdraw from the program….’
From what I knew, the massive gate phenomenon that had erupted on Jebu Island was far from trivial.
If I made even a small mistake, I could be caught up in it and die as well, so there was no denying that training in this cohort was dangerous.
‘I need to think about this. Figure out what to do.’
As I was having these thoughts, Ra Si-hyun spoke again.
“Soldier.”
“Yes, Miss Si-hyun?”
“You know I’m a mage, right?”
“Yes, I’m very well aware.”
“Isn’t it only natural that mages receive special treatment?”
“Special treatment… we have provided. Other recruits are instructed to either take a bus from the assembly point or use their own transportation to arrive. However, we sent a helicopter for you, Miss Si-hyun, so we haven’t neglected to show our consideration.”
“But why should I ride the same helicopter as an ordinary hunter? That person isn’t even a mage?”
Ra Si-hyun pointed at me and questioned Lim Captain.
“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. Haha.”
“What misunderstanding? How can there be a misunderstanding when you’ve given a mage like me the same treatment as someone with an unremarkable hunter class?”
“Well.”
Lim Captain paused for a moment before speaking.
“I’m truly sorry to say this, but the helicopter wasn’t actually prepared for you, Miss Si-hyun.”
“What do you mean?”
“In terms of priority… Prospective Hunter Cha Eun-sung here comes first, and you, Miss Si-hyun, are second.”
“What?!”
“To be precise, we brought you along on the helicopter carrying Prospective Hunter Cha Eun-sung as a secondary matter—the helicopter wasn’t originally prepared for you from the start.”
“So, in other words.”
Ra Si-hyun’s voice trembled slightly.
“That person is more important than me? More than a mage?”
“That’s correct.”
“That’s, that’s absurd!”
Ra Si-hyun strongly objected.
“There’s a hunter class more important than a mage? What on earth is it? What is that person’s hunter class that makes them more important than me?”
“That’s something we cannot disclose for security reasons.”
Lim Captain drew the line.
“However, what I can assure you is that while you are indeed an important person, Miss Si-hyun, the Defense Strategy Department prioritizes Prospective Hunter Cha Eun-sung here above all else.”
As Lim Captain said this, he gave me a subtle wink.
“….”
Ra Si-hyun stared at me with an expression of utter disbelief.
I cleanly ignored her and moved forward alongside Lim Captain.
“Did you have a good weekend?”
“Yes, I went out to eat with my family at a nice place.”
“Did you encounter any difficulties with people recognizing you?”
“There were some moments, but it was just people whispering among themselves. Nothing particularly inconvenient.”
“Haha. Well, that’s fortunate then.”
Tsk!
I felt Ra Si-hyun’s sharp gaze boring into my back, and heard the sound of her grinding her teeth, but what did I care.
A mage, of all things.
* * *
“This is the space where the two of you will be staying.”
Lim Captain led Ra Si-hyun and me to what amounted to a dormitory facility.
Inside were six large cages, each containing a field cot and a locker, with a large table and chairs arranged in the center.
Both trainees and instructors called this place the “cage,” though we didn’t actually eat or sleep here.
The cage was essentially a common area shared by the prospective hunters belonging to the same team.
“You two have been assigned to Bravo Team. You’ll undergo five weeks of training alongside four other prospective hunters.”
Bravo Team wasn’t a bad assignment.
The Special Armed Forces Training Institute organized teams of six members each.
They were named in alphabetical order: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, and Foxtrot.
Traditionally, Bravo Team gathered the most promising candidates each cohort, so my assignment alongside Ra Si-hyun was only natural.
In the past, I’d been assigned to Kilo Team.
“I’ll step out for a moment. Please introduce yourselves and have a conversation before the other prospective hunters arrive.”
The moment Lim Captain left, I made my way to the cage by the rightmost window and stretched out on the field cot.
“Ha!”
Ra Si-hyun let out a reaction dripping with exasperation, but I cleanly ignored that as well.
Why would I humor her irritation?
‘A 10-Star Hunter undergoing training. Ridiculous.’
A quiet laugh escaped me.
The Special Armed Forces Training Institute sounded like a military training facility at first glance, but it was quite the opposite.
It was a place that compressed essential knowledge and skills required of hunters into an intensive five-week curriculum.
As such, there was no room for formalities, pointless discipline, or hazing.
Only education, relentless education.
The living conditions were quite excellent as well.
Sleeping arrangements were two to a room, separated by gender, meals were provided three times daily in buffet style prepared by skilled chefs, and weekend outings and overnight passes were permitted.
All things considered, I believed the Special Armed Forces Training Institute’s curriculum and living conditions were meticulously designed, making it an essential training program every prospective hunter must complete.
But that only applied to greenhorns who knew nothing, whereas for a seasoned hunter like me, it was nothing but a waste of time.
Perhaps because of that, my body felt strangely lethargic.
It was as if I’d melted into a marshmallow….
‘Why am I getting so drowsy all of a sudden?’
My eyelids suddenly felt impossibly heavy, and my eyes began to close of their own accord.
‘Is this what they call reserve soldier syndrome?’
I was beginning to understand why South Korea’s reserve soldiers became so lethargic whenever they attended reserve training.
Though in my case, I’d become a Hunter instead, so I had no actual military service record.
‘At this rate, I’m really going to fall asleep….’
Half-asleep and lying down, the door opened and four other prospective Hunters entered the barracks.
“Everyone, please pay attention.”
A middle-aged instructor wearing a red cap spoke up.
“Welcome. I’m Kim Sang-eung, and I’ll be serving as your dedicated instructor.”
I shot up at the sound of that name.
Kim Sang-eung.
A Hunter from the Navy Special Forces, and a junior colleague a few classes below my father.
I’d seen him a few times when I was young, so I remembered him clearly.
“All of you prospective Hunters have been assigned to Bravo Team. Bravo Team is composed of the most promising talents with the greatest potential in each class, so I hope you’ll set an example for the trainees in other teams. Also, for educational purposes, there will be times when I need to speak to you casually. So please don’t resent your instructor too much, and I ask for your cooperation.”
As Kim Sang-eung’s eyes swept across us, our gazes met.
‘Haha….’
Being trained by my father’s junior colleague felt a bit burdensome.
“Then, I’ll give you your first assignment now. You have exactly thirty minutes to select a team leader.”
“What’s the method?”
The largest of the four prospective Hunters who’d entered with the instructor asked.
“It doesn’t matter. Discussion, a fistfight, drawing lots—just select a team leader within thirty minutes.”
“Is there any benefit to becoming team leader?”
Yes, there was.
Several benefits, in fact.
However, those benefits came with significant responsibilities that the team leader had to bear.
Ultimately, it was a trade-off, but being team leader was a position with greater weight as a leader.
Your decisions and commands would determine your teammates’ fates.
“Benefits, benefits.”
The instructor mulled over those words before speaking.
“You’ll enjoy more than your teammates. On weekends, you’re guaranteed overnight leave, and you won’t have to do miscellaneous chores.”
“That sounds good?”
“But don’t forget that the team leader bears heavy responsibility. I’ll return in thirty minutes, so make sure you’ve selected a team leader by then. That’s all.”
Once Kim Sang-eung left, silence fell over the room.
Since we were all strangers meeting for the first time, we had no choice but to eye each other nervously.
I had no intention whatsoever of becoming team leader, so I stepped back and observed my fellow greenhorns.
Though it was bothersome, we’d be living together for the next five weeks, so I was curious about what kind of people they were.
* * *
The one who’d asked Kim Sang-eung the question was large-framed with fierce eyes, clearly someone who knew how to throw a punch.
He was obviously a Guardian or Warrior type.
The other guy was lanky, but his sharp impression and keen demeanor suggested he was likely an assassin-type awakener.
Next was Jung Ho-bin.
‘A ranged dealer, if I recall correctly?’
For a lead vocalist of a popular idol group to awaken into such a rare and prestigious role—it seemed like the saying held true: those destined for greatness will find their way.
Finally, the pretty-faced woman who seemed a bit timid was undoubtedly a support role—a healer.
If she was the support assigned to Bravo Team, she’d almost certainly awakened abilities specialized in ally protection or healing.
And with Ra Si-hyun as the mage, Bravo Team had excellent role balance across the board.
Of course, that was excluding me—the unconfirmed role.
Even I was still discovering what my role entailed.
“I’m Oh Tae-kwon. Warrior role.”
The guy who’d questioned Instructor Kim Sang-eung spoke first.
Suspecting he’d try to position himself as team leader, I flopped back down on the field cot.
From my perspective, as long as it wasn’t Ra Si-hyun, I didn’t care who led the team.
An adult couldn’t get involved in chicks’ squabbles.
Damn right.
“Hey, you there. The one sprawled out on the cot.”
“…?”
“Cha Eun-sung, right? Come on. Let’s fight.”
“Are you talking to me?”
“Is there another Cha Eun-sung here besides you at Technomart?”
“Suppose not.”
“Then get out here and fight me, you bastard.”
Oh Tae-kwon’s eyes gleamed as he provoked me.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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