A Player Who Eats Metal

Chapter 32: Preparing to Face the Waves

<Chapter 32: Preparing to Face the Waves – 2>

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Lee Hyunwook received a call handed over from Lieutenant Kwak Yong-jun.

“Salute! Corporal Lee Hyunwook!”

Then, a deep and hearty voice burst from the other end of the phone.

―Hey! Heh, in my entire life, you are genuinely the first kind of guy I’ve ever encountered like this!

At a glance, it seemed like a swear, but it was a very delighted voice.

It couldn’t have been otherwise.

‘Judging from the tone of his voice, he won a lot, didn’t he?’

Among high-ranking players, there was a popular game.

An illegal gambling called, for short, the ‘Gate Game.’

Whenever a gate appears, they would ‘bet’ on various topics.

Which raid team will have the highest contribution, which boss monster will appear, and so on…

But in this round, perhaps, Jung Sang-sik took a considerable amount of Yoo Jae-hyuk’s money.

―…Hahaha! Contribution, what, a hundred percent? Hahaha! Damn, what on earth did the Cheonghwa Guild people do inside after failing three times? Hahaha!

He rambled on and on after calling a soldier, speaking joyfully.

Anyhow, it meant that he was thrilled, which was an excellent signal.

―Hmm, hmm, right! Your name was Lee Hyunwook, wasn’t it?

“Yes, correct.”

―Fantastic! Really fantastic! I never expected you to pull it off so perfectly!

“It was not something I achieved alone. It was accomplished together with eight soldiers.”

―Well! I will take care of you all so that none of you will be disappointed. No matter what you imagine, I’ll provide more than that, so don’t worry! It will be many times more than the total reward points you’ve earned throughout your military service!

“Thank you, Commander General!”

Of course, being a Commander General at AMT Seoul Operational Command meant having enormous authority in every aspect.

That’s why he could even transfer the ownership of Failnaught, that hero-grade item, at his discretion.

‘Yeah, this man might chew out soldiers, but he was just as generous with rewards as he was bold.’

―And I want to hear the detailed story while having a delicious meal together sometime, alright?

“Absolutely.”

―Good, then go in and have a good rest today. I will tell them to give you a few days off from the daily routine!

“Yes! Understood! Salute!”

Thus, the call ended.

“…Is, is it over?”

“Yes.”

Lieutenant Kwak Yong-jun was soaked in a cold sweat.

Receiving a call from a three-star general wasn’t an easy task for a mere lieutenant.

Turning his head, Yoo Haena was still standing in her place, staring intently at Lee Hyunwook.

It seemed she still had a lot to say, as she waited quietly while this dignified woman was on the phone.

“Do you have more to say?”

“…Even though I lost, if you need a favor later, just tell me.”

Even with her cheeks flushed, she kept acting haughty to the end.

She might be feeling embarrassed and upset about losing, but she was still trying hard to save face.

“Or… do you want to join Cheonghwa in a decent position? I can arrange a spot for you on the strategy team.”

Part of it felt like she still wanted to keep him close, even under these circumstances.

But at that moment, Seo Eunha opened her mouth, glaring at her.

“Excuse me, what are you doing now? Are you trying to openly poach AMT’s power?”

“…I just said he could join after being discharged, what’s the issue?”

“What, what did you say?”

“If he’s in the AMT, it’s not because he wanted to be there but because he was obliged to. What right do you, an officer, have to block his path? Is a soldier your pet?”

“…”

To be honest, that was a valid point, so Seo Eunha couldn’t say anything.

Moreover, Yoo Haena was unusually using polite language now.

That meant she was really uncomfortable.

“…”

Of course, Seo Eunha wasn’t planning to back down either and glared back at Yoo Haena.

An unseen tension seemed to form between the two women.

“Hmm-.”

Eventually, Lee Hyunwook cleared his throat to intervene.

“…I’m sorry, but as of now, I have absolutely no intention of joining the Cheonghwa Guild.”

“Why? What’s wrong with Cheonghwa?”

“When I went in today, it seemed a bit…”

Lee Hyunwook hesitated, giving a sheepish smile.

“What is it? When you saw, what?”

“…Their standards weren’t as high as I expected.”

“…”

“And I didn’t want to mention this, but one of the snipers tried to ‘steal’. Haha… I was disappointed in many ways, even though it’s the best guild in the country.”

She hesitated, not knowing what to say.

The contribution of the elaborately planned strategy team was 0%.

And the attempt to ‘steal’, that embarrassing act, left her speechless.

In the end, from her cheeks to her neck, they turned bright red, and she abruptly turned around.

“…Whatever happens, don’t do something stupid like staying in the military.”

Seo Eunha glared at her after that comment, but Yoo Haena didn’t seem to care.

“I lost the bet, so when you think of something reasonable, contact me with the number on my business card.”

With that, she turned around, clearly agitated.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to collect the bet properly.’

Several items crossed Lee Hyunwook’s mind.

* * *

In the truck returning to the base, none of the special strategy squad members were asleep despite being tired.

This was because they were listening to a very interesting story from Lee Hyunwook.

It was the content of a conversation with the Commander General, implying that they would receive more than whatever they were expecting.

“Oh!”

“Wow, incredible…”

As the story was relayed, everyone’s smiles started to grow.

“I never thought I’d receive a reward from the Commander General in my lifetime, hahaha…”

As Lee Hyunwook had experienced several times before, AMT’s rewards were given in the form of reward points or items.

Simply put, it was akin to a performance bonus.

“What should I ask for to make sure that the reward is well-received and generates buzz?”

“Should I complete a set of armor this time? It’s been too expensive even to consider, isn’t it a great opportunity?”

While they were unfolding various fantasies filled with anticipation, Lee Hyunwook interrupted.

“Wait, there’s an item I’d like to recommend to all of you.”

At this, everyone looked at Lee Hyunwook with hopeful faces.

“Oh! What is it?”

Now, they were at a point where they believed that listening to Lee Hyunwook would bring them good fortune even in their sleep.

“This time, without fail… choose a weapon imbued with sacred power as a reward.”

However, at those words, everyone couldn’t hide their perplexed expressions.

Sacred power?

“…Uh, yes? Why?”

“With sacred power, isn’t it useless for us… other than for healer, Minwook?”

As Choi Taeyong said, sacred power was a characteristic with absolutely no versatility.

In other words, unless it was for a priest or a paladin, where the sacred power itself affects the efficiency of the skill, it could be considered virtually useless.

‘How should I explain this…’

He couldn’t mention that it would be necessary for the fourth wave.

He had no choice but to beat around the bush this time as well…

“By any chance, has anyone heard about the massive undead gate that opened in the Siberian region of Russia?”

“Um… I haven’t heard of it.”

“Well, I happened to hear about it too, but due to the late discovery of the massive undead gate in Siberia, an enormous number of undead have reportedly spread throughout the entire Siberian region.”

Inevitably, gates occurring in remote areas like Siberia or the Amazon couldn’t be responded to immediately, and sometimes they were found much later, potentially having undergone dozens of eruptions by the time they were discovered.

“Ah… in that case, the demand for the already scarce holy weapons will suddenly increase, won’t it?”

Lee Hyunwook nodded.

“Yes, I heard a piece of very secret information, which I cannot disclose the source of, that the top guild in Russia, <Muzhestvo Guild>, is planning to prepare a large-scale holy war. So, it would be more beneficial to receive a holy weapon as this time’s reward and then sell it later to purchase the weapon you want.”

This was a blatant lie, but adding a few details like this made it seem believable.

“Um… but where do you hear such news?”

An Min-tae asked with a tilted head.

“I said I can’t disclose the source. Why, can’t I know something like this?”

“No, it’s not that, I’m just really curious. Ah! Perhaps, I saw earlier that you seem to be acquainted with the second daughter of the Cheonghwa Guild, could it be… yes, that’s it!”

An Min-tae found a plausible reason by himself.

Indeed, to their eyes, it was surprising and unusual to see the second daughter of the Cheonghwa Guild, an A-class player, showing interest in an AMT soldier.

Therefore, it led them to believe that there was some kind of friendship between the two.

“It’s not that, you don’t need to know.”

“Then, could it be… like the platoon leader, after you are discharged, you will go to the Cheonghwa Guild…”

“I said it’s not that.”

“But then why that woman… hmm, I understand.”

Under Lee Hyunwook’s stern gaze, An Min-tae obediently nodded.

“Anyway, do as I say. It’s a holy weapon.”

“Yes, understood!”

“Thank you for the good information!”

Soon, a time when ‘holy power’ will be more effective than anything else will come.

With this, the survival rate of these guys, and further, their potential to play an active role increased.

* * *

“…So, it was a success!”

Someone kicked open the door to the second dormitory.

Oh Sang-guk and Kwak Jin-cheol, who were watching TV, furrowed their brows and turned their heads.

“Ah, shit! You scared me… what is it?”

“It’s about those who left last night! They say they succeeded in the raid!”

The special raid squad made up of only those under level 18,

It had been 16 hours since they left the company.

“What’s so surprising about that? The Cheonghwa Guild would have prepared properly before going in; it’s only natural, isn’t it?”

Oh Sang-guk said as if it was quite obvious.

“That’s not it!”

“Then what is it, damn it!”

“O-our company guys’ c-contribution rate is… o-one hundred percent!”

“…Huh?”

Oh Sang-guk and Kwak Jin-cheol looked at each other, frowning.

Even if you kill just one monster in the dungeon, you would get a contribution rate in decimal points.

But one side having a 100% contribution rate was realistically impossible.

Really, it was an unbelievable event.

“You, you’re bullshitting….”

But now, when they thought of Lee Hyunwook, that guy’s face… for some reason, it seemed possible.

Therefore, they turned their heads towards the TV without any particular denial.

However, there was no way the content on the TV could enter their heads.

‘How on earth could this happen?’

Both of them, with vacant eyes, began to shake their legs at the same time.

This story was being discussed all around the company.

In the counseling room too, five soldiers were sitting and discussing it.

“Wow… Corporal Lee Hyunwook, isn’t he virtually more than Sergeant Choi Young-jun now?”

“Hey, no! No matter what, that’s not the case. Haven’t you seen Sergeant Choi Young-jun fight?”

“I did, he just slashed through when surrounded by four orcs, didn’t he? Hmm, but aside from individual prowess, isn’t his leadership ability the best?”

“Hmm, is it? Well, not just anyone can devise raid strategies… ”

Now it even reached the point where he was equated with Choi Young-jun, who was regarded as the strongest soldier in the battalion.

“…Anyway, Sergeant Choi Young-jun will be returning from leave soon, he would find it really absurd when he hears what happened while he was gone.”

“Huh? Why?”

“It would be funny to hear that Corporal Lee Hyunwook suddenly changed, but imagine what he would think if he heard that he was deployed in a raid operation that even he hasn’t done before?”

“Ah….”

And it wasn’t just the first company that had such reactions.

“Wow! Is that the person? The man who led the closure of the Kobold gate!”

Even among the female soldiers of the second company gathered at the PX, it became a hot issue.

“No, that’s not all. He is also the same person that the brigade Commander General who teleported during the unlucky event at Seoul Station was looking for… It’s crazy, really.”

“Heh- He is cool, isn’t he? If I ever run into him at the PX, I’ll have to get his number!”

“Hey, didn’t you say you wouldn’t even look at men below C-rank?”

“Hehe, I feel like my mind is changing a bit.”

He had practically become a celebrity.

* * *

In the meantime, as the gossip spread, Lee Hyunwook and the other 9 people were given 48 hours of combat leave.

Of course, that didn’t mean they were utterly relaxed.

All of them slept exactly for 6 hours and immediately gathered at the training ground.

And according to Lee Hyunwook’s instructions, they each trained according to their roles.

“Whew… I didn’t know training could be this fun and rewarding.”

“Now I really feel like I understand why this training is necessary and what needs to be improved.”

Especially, among the eight members of this special raid team, six were from the fifth platoon.

Therefore, the morale of the fifth platoon literally skyrocketed to an unprecedented level.

“Senior Private An Min-tae, can’t you have a fair fight with an orc now?”

“Well, honestly, I think I could hold my ground against several orcs coming at me.”

An Min-tae’s level had already reached 20, putting him in the upper-middle rank among the senior privates in the first company.

An increase of 5 levels in just 3 days…

It wasn’t just encouraging, it was explosive growth.

“Heh! You’ve become a real tanker now.”

“Then, was I a fake tanker before?”

“Well, honestly, wasn’t there slightly that kind of feeling?”

“Oh… Choi Tae-yong, don’t you want to stand behind me in the next battle?”

“Ah, it was a joke!”

And it was the next day.

During the morning assembly time, the company Commander General came out personally to announce a special schedule.

“Uh, today, a special promotion evaluation will take place, so if anyone wants to watch the evaluation, you can register at the administration division. Of course, everyone knows this only applies to those who have risen more than 5 levels since the last evaluation, right?”

At the request of the battalion Commander General, AMT’s player grade examiners’ came to the unit.

Usually, ‘promotion evaluations’ are held only during the ‘regular evaluation period’ that takes place every six months, but if there are players who have grown explosively, the unit Commander General could apply for a grade evaluation at their discretion.

And this time, no matter how you looked at it, it was a visit for the ‘special raid team members’.

“We will do well!”

“We will definitely get promoted!”

Six squad members went to take the promotion evaluation with overflowing confidence.

And about 2 hours later…

Thud!

The door to the living quarters opened and the squad members half-ran in, soaked in sweat.

“…”

Their expressions were somewhere filled with exhilaration.

It was to the extent that one could know the results without them having to say anything.

“… Corporal Lee Hyunwook! From now on, I am also D-grade! Euhaha!”

“And me too, me too!”

“We all got promoted to D-grade!”

As a result of the promotion test, four of the squad members who participated moved up from E-grade to D-grade.

“Well done, everyone.”

“Honestly, isn’t it all thanks to Corporal Lee Hyunwook?”

“If you think so, then do well in the future too.”

“Of course! We will fully devote ourselves!”

“Alright, don’t overdo it because it’s noisy.”

Thus, rumors began to circulate that the support squad was scheduled to be “reorganized”.

It was inevitable.

It was a foregone conclusion that they had already become a force greater than the combat squads of the 2nd platoon, the 3rd and 4th squads.

Even discussions were ongoing that if Lee Hyunwook were to command, it could be more than the 1st squad.

And Lee Hyunwook had the confidence to make it so.

Furthermore, their growth did not end here.

Having achieved ability-wise growth, it was now time to experience material growth.

―Huk! Ah, broadcasting from the administrative division. Yesterday, the special raid team members who were deployed to the Red Gate strategy, please head to the battalion armory immediately. Broadcasting again…

At that broadcast, the squad members all lifted their heads at once.

“… Isn’t that saying a parcel has arrived for us?”

“Oh, it seems like it! And the sender of the parcel is, amazingly, the Commander General, isn’t it?”

With excited hearts, they all hurriedly descended toward the armory.

“Salute! Thank you for your hard work.”

“Uh, guys, what on earth… what is happening?”

The armory management officer, Lieutenant Oh Jung-tae, had a dumbfounded expression.

Because a bunch of weapons had arrived under the name of the AMT Seoul Operation Commander General.

During his duty, there had never been such an occasion.

“These are reward items we received.”

“… Huh? You mean you received rewards from the Commander General?”

“Yes, that’s correct!”

Lieutenant Oh Jung-tae also knew that they were the lowest-ranking soldiers, and he had a puzzled expression.

Practically forgotten and confined here, it seemed like he had barely heard any news about the battalion.

They each opened their boxes to check the reward items.

They had requested items endowed with holy power that matched the items they commonly used.

“It seems more radiant perhaps because it is infused with holy power.”

“That’s just your imagination.”

Of course, it also emitted light in response to dark forces.

“Oh, but why does Corporal Lee Hyunwook have two boxes?”

That was because the reward items he requested from the brigade Commander General had also arrived.

First, he opened the reward box he received from the brigade Commander.

Inside were two one-handed swords.

Both looked the same model, with blade lengths of about 70cm, resembling the Gladius, a standard armament of Rome.

He pulled out one of them.

S-reung-

[Item Information]

-Name: KG19 (Advanced)

-Effect: Contains holy power.

It was an item manufactured in the AMT armory, not obtained in a dungeon.

While general items are divided into 5 stages: normal-rare-hero-legend-myth,

Manufactured items are distinguished into 5 stages: normal-advanced-skilled-craftsman-master.

This weapon was on the advanced stage, light and well-balanced in terms of weight distribution.

‘It would be usable for a while.’

Next, it was time to open the second box, the reward sent by the Commander General.

“-Eut! Why is this so heavy?”

Choi Tae-yong spoke as he brought the box over.

But when Lee Hyunwook snapped his fingers, the box floated in the air and flew to him.

“Oh….”

With another snap of his fingers, the box opened with a clank.

Then everyone else’s eyes widened.

“Wow, why, why is there so much?”

“But what is this… what is it used for?”

Inside were many specially ordered items prepared for the upcoming hell.

It was…

“Is this…stakes…?”

Full of holy power, there were as many as 30 silver steel stakes.