The Dark Mage’s Return to Enlistment

Chapter 22 : Message

Kim Minjoon turned his head towards the direction where Lee Dongjin was looking.

“Oh, there’s something like that.”

Certainly, it was something that wouldn’t happen to an ordinary private.

Not just one or two, but a total of 120 monsters.

But I can make it possible.

“Shh.”

Kim Minjoon made a playful expression and brought his index finger to his lips.

“I understand. I have an errand to run, so I’ll go first.”

“Sure.”

Lee Dongjin left the training room with a complicated expression on his face.

“Since there’s still time until combat physical education, let’s do it one more time. This is fun.”

Kim Minjoon decided to only deal with about 30 goblins as a last challenge and started the battle again.

Ding-

[Basic Weapon Skill has been created.]

“What?!”

As soon as he cleanly defeated the last goblin, the system window popped up.

It was a notification that a skill had been created.

“I didn’t expect to gain any skills as a black mage.”

So skills can also be obtained through training.

Even if hunters trained and used evil energy, their stats only increased.

“Is it because of the Returner’s Influence? Only I gained a skill?”

Even officers and cadets from military academies had overwhelmingly higher stats compared to ordinary soldiers.

But they didn’t have skills either.

In other words, it meant that only Kim Minjoon had the ability to possess skills.

“Anyway, should I take a look at the skill description?”

[Basic Weapon Skill (E): Proficiency with blunt weapons slightly increases.]

“Not bad.”

After wielding a specific weapon diligently, a skill was created.

In other words, it meant that if he wielded other weapons diligently, skills could be created as well!

“Oh, come to think of it, I didn’t wield many weapons in Isgaard.”

Since he only wielded a staff there, it was only natural.

“Alright. I should play with one weapon at a time whenever I have time.”

Kim Minjoon left the training room with a satisfied smile.

**

The next day.

While preparing for work in the dormitory, Kim Kwangsik, a corporal, came back with a piece of paper.

“Hey! The squad leader wants to see you!”

“What is it?”

“Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Hunter.”

“Oh! What’s this? Let’s take a look too!”

At the mention of the certificate of merit, other senior soldiers gathered around.

“It’s definitely well-deserved. You got promoted to sergeant so quickly.”

“Yeah, for sure. You single-handedly wiped out 30 middle bets in the oil refinery.”

[Certificate of Merit]

This soldier is awarded this certificate for being a role model in the military unit through outstanding military service.
“But why is it so poorly made? What’s with just two lines?”

Kim Gwang-sik checked the contents of the certificate of merit and expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of effort put into it.

“I got promoted to sergeant in the shortest period of time, but it feels a bit underwhelming. If I were the battalion commander, I would have personally awarded you the certificate and given you a vacation too.”

Originally, he would have held a ceremony for the certificate of merit, but due to the sensitivity of the battalion commander after the previous monster incident, they skipped it.

The senior soldiers passed the certificate of merit to Kim Min-jun after looking at it among themselves.

“Anyway, congratulations! At this rate, you’ll be promoted to platoon sergeant in no time, right?”

“Sergeant! Kim Min-jun! Thank you!”

“You are an excellent hunter.”

“I thought they would give additional rewards like a vacation, but that was not the case.”

“It literally felt like receiving a certificate from school.”

“If I receive several commendations and accumulate enough performance points, I might get a promotion. I’ll work hard for it.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Upon the senior’s explanation, Kim Min-jun’s eyes lit up.

“Oh, I didn’t know that receiving commendations also adds to my performance points.”

“In that case, it would be beneficial to receive more commendations.”

“How many more commendations do I need to get promoted? I have one now, so maybe I need to collect about nine more?”

“I’ll think of it as collecting chicken coupons.”

Kim Min-jun resolved to continue sweeping away performance points and commendations in the future.

“The platoon leader announces. We will be conducting individual interviews shortly, so the 2nd platoon members should wait in the barracks.”

During a brief conversation.

The voice of Kim Cheol-min, the platoon leader, echoed.

“Oh? What’s this? Is it already time for interviews?”

“Four months have passed quickly.”

“Oh, it’s been a piece of cake since this morning.”

“Come to think of it, Min-jun. You haven’t had your individual interview yet, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Well, with all the training and emergencies going on these days, it’s been hectic.”

The platoon leader had to conduct individual interviews with platoon members at regular intervals.

It was to quickly address any issues with their mental state or health that could become a problem.

Even the smallest issues could escalate into major accidents.

“I guess Hunter Corps does it every four months.”

Compared to regular military units, the interval was relatively short.

“It means there are many things to take care of, after all.”

Hunter Corps was undoubtedly more dangerous than regular military units.

Moreover, the 104th Division was positioned at the forefront, which exposed them to more risks than other units.

“That’s how much stress soldiers will quickly and heavily receive.”

“Sergeant Lee Seung-ho, can I use the training room for a bit?”

Kim Min-jun asked Lee Seung-ho indirectly.

According to what the senior soldiers were saying, they had about two hours of free time ahead.

It felt a bit disappointing to just spend that time doing nothing.

“Sure, go ahead. It’s not allowed normally, but if the platoon leader says anything, I’ll cover for you.”

Usually, the training room could only be used after work hours.

Even if the hunters were waiting in the barracks, it was still work hours.

But it was different for Kim Min-jun.

He had quickly been promoted from private to corporal for his outstanding performance as a private, and he had scored full marks on the promotion test to become a sergeant.

The platoon leader liked him, so he wouldn’t say no, or so they said.

“That’s right. That’s why the higher rank is the best.”

If he were still a private, he would never have said it out loud.

“Yes! Then I’ll train for a bit and come back!”

Kim Min-jun headed straight to the training room.

“Wow, are you going to use the training room seriously now that you’ve been promoted to sergeant?”

“You’re diligent.”

“You’re talented, and you’re making an effort too?”

“Hey, hey. I suddenly thought of something fun. What do you think of this?”

During a chat among platoon members.

As soon as Kim Gwang-sik, a sergeant, confirmed that Kim Min-jun was gone, he brought out a blank piece of paper.

“I’ll bet my one-month salary that he’ll be promoted to sergeant within a month. What are you guys betting?”

“Are you crazy? You’d better do the lottery.”

“That crazy guy is causing trouble again.”

“You better be ready to lose your hand, crazy bastard.”

His fellow soldiers looked at him as if they were fed up with him.

“So, are you giving up? Huh? If you win, you’ll get one month’s salary.”

Kim Gwang-sik skillfully provoked his fellow soldiers and induced them to participate.

“You scared? Do you feel threatened?”

“This idiot. Get ready to lose your salary.”

“I’ll go for reeducation.”

At his words, three of Kim Gwang-sik’s fellow soldiers joined the bet.

As they were men, their competitive spirit flared up over trivial matters.

“I’ll bet two months’ salary. Kim Gwang-sik, you bet two months too.”

“Oh, it’s coming out like that? Fine. Call.”

“It’ll take me six months, and I’ll bet three months’ salary.”

“Wow, Lee Seung-ho is confident in himself.”

Kim Gwang-sik smiled with a smile of satisfaction as he looked at that appearance.

“I have a feeling. I won this.”

Of course, Kim Min-jun didn’t know that fact.

**

Inside a general training room that reminded Kim Min-jun of a gym.

Kim Min-jun quickly scanned the exercise equipment with his eyes.

“They have everything here. Should I try lifting some weights after a long time?”

Kim Min-jun lifted a dumbbell made of red stone.

“In Isgard, thanks to the skills, my strength stat has been increasing rapidly. It seems like effort is needed here for sure.”

The strength of a warrior from another world.

In this world, as he leveled up, he had acquired skills that had occupied his skill slots without realizing it.

The skill boasted an amazing effect of inflating the strength stat by 1.5 times.

“Other than the fact that it was limited to that world, there were no downsides. Aren’t there any skills like that here?”

Like an Earth warrior or a dungeon fighter.

Or like a DFO (Dungeon Fighter Online) warrior.

“Earth warriors are childish.”

After a brief warm-up, Kim Min-jun replaced the special barbell weighing 700kg.

“Alright. Let’s start for real now.”

[Only soldiers with a strength stat of 40 or higher should use it. Privates or corporals should report beforehand and then use it.]

There was a warning sticker, but his strength stat was 60.

So, he could use the barbell without any problem.

“Let’s start with 100 reps for now.”

Kim Min-jun focused on his training with a serious expression.

There are usually three ways to increase strength stat.

Either increase it through training or practice, or gain experience in dungeons.

Of course, increasing strength stat through training or practice is very inefficient.

Even if you train hard, your strength stat doesn’t necessarily increase.

On the other hand, in dungeons, any stat would increase slightly as you face monsters.

It feels similar to the leveling up concept in this world.

“It won’t be easy for the strength stat to increase easily once it reaches around 60.”

Although Kim Min-jun repeated his training for nearly two hours without resting, no system message appeared.

“My body is not what it used to be. It’s getting tough now. I should do a little more and leave.”

Thinking that his individual interview time would be soon, he finished up.

At that moment, a message appeared in front of Kim Min-jun.