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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Return of the F-Rank Player - 2
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Can a person change overnight?
'I wonder…'
One day, Gates opened, and the world was turned upside down.
Soon after, individuals with supernatural abilities,
'Players,' emerged, and the power structure of society was redefined.
But the spectrum of human nature remained the same.
The selfish ones used the disaster to line their own pockets, their eyes darting about for a bigger share, while the cynical ones continued to complain, dissatisfied with everything as always.
A few heroes tried to change the world in their own ways, but they were repeatedly thwarted by countless obstacles, including the two aforementioned groups.
That's right. Many problems still arose not from monsters, but from people.
Players were humanity's one and only weapon, but not all of them were heroes.
Player-turned-politicians and businessmen seized and wielded power, and crimes committed by Players increased by the day.
It was a foreseeable problem.
Because, in the end, Players were only human.
Just like that, even if the world changed overnight, people did not change so easily.
Of course, one's way of thinking might change in some way after countless experiences over a long period, but the fact that people don't change overnight… was a timeless adage.
And yet…
'Corporal Lee Hyun-wook… something about him has changed.'
Park Jun-mo, who had just been promoted to Private First Class, felt that his mentor, Corporal Lee Hyun-wook, had truly changed overnight.
It started four days ago, when he'd woken him up for the evening meal formation and gotten a strange reaction.
"…Hoo!"
He was now doing pull-ups alone on the bar in the open area behind the barracks.
What was so special about that, you might ask…
'He was always so listless, but suddenly the look in his eyes changed, and now he's even working out every day. He doesn't seem like the person I knew.'
It was a complete reversal of the Lee Hyun-wook that Park Jun-mo had known. He had only observed him for three months, but in that time, he had never seen him move except during training or operations.
And his recent behavior was also quite suspicious.
He would ask all sorts of questions about the unit he'd been a part of for over a year, as if his memory was hazy, and he would often jot things down in a memo. He even started muttering future dates out of the blue.
And most of all, his eyes had changed.
'Having to read the senior soldiers' moods all the time, I can tell how a person feels just from their expression. Corporal Lee Hyun-wook… he's definitely changed.'
He had always been a listless and unconfident person, but now his eyes were calm and cold, as if he could see through everything.
It was, to exaggerate a bit… the eyes of an old beast of prey.
'Yeah, no matter how I think about it, it's strange.'
As he was thinking this, Lee Hyun-wook looked back.
"Jun-mo, what is it?"
Even that single utterance felt strangely solid.
"…Ah!"
Startled for no reason, Park Jun-mo scratched his cheek.
"Well, it's almost time for evening meal formation."
Lee Hyun-wook checked his watch.
"Right, thanks."
As he approached, lightly stretching his shoulders, Park Jun-mo felt, perhaps just in his imagination, that he had bulked up considerably in just a few days.
"Um, Corporal Lee Hyun-wook?"
"Yeah?"
"Um, may I ask why you've suddenly started working out?"
Lee Hyun-wook chuckled at the question.
"Why? Is it strange for me to work out?"
"Ah, no, it's not that. It's just, uh…"
He patted Park Jun-mo on the shoulder.
"You never know when we'll have to fight. You should work out too. With that body, you'd have a hard time taking down even a single goblin."
"Ah… I understand."
He was right.
The 'Anti Monster Troop,' composed of Players.
The A.M.T, for short, was deployed on real missions several times a month to face monsters.
In other words, the threat of death could come at any time.
Therefore, training one's abilities and body was not an option, but a necessity.
'But that rarely happens to us…'
However, since Lee Hyun-wook and Park Jun-mo were F-ranks, the lowest among Players, they rarely had the chance to fight monsters directly.
They belonged to the 'Support Squad,' which consisted of low-rank Player soldiers, and their duty was to assist other squads during combat.
To put it simply, being in the Support Squad basically made you a 'gofer.'
As if sensing his confusion, Lee Hyun-wook added.
"There's no real reason. I'm just, you know, trying to change."
'…Change? How?'
Park Jun-mo thought this, but what came out was different.
"Ah, trying to change… that's admirable."
"Enough with the empty compliments. Let's just go get some food."
"No, sir. I'm serious. As your subordinate, I will definitely follow your example."
In truth, they were empty compliments. There were some things in the world that simply couldn't be changed.
'He has to know that being an F-rank isn't something you can change through effort, right?'
Players were broadly classified into three 'rank' categories.
First were the
As the name 'Player' implied, these ranks could increase their power by raising their 'level.'
Therefore, even if they started with a relatively weak ability, they could raise their rank by working hard and leveling up.
Next was the
They had no levels. Instead, they were 'presented' with unique, special methods of growth.
For instance, the most famous non-level-based growth Player, the savior of Busan, 'Inferno,' grew stronger just by being in fire.
This meant that as long as he could set his bed on fire, his abilities could improve even while he slept—a tremendous advantage. Rumor had it that his mansion contained a giant 'furnace,' which he entered whenever he rested.
This was a kind of 'hidden class,' and such S-rank abilities were so rare that there were only 31 in the entire world.
And finally, F-rank…
'Non-Growth Trait…'
If S-rank was a 'hidden class,' then F-rank was a 'dud.'
'Even in college, an F means you have to retake the course. In other words, you get no credit.'
A fate where you can't improve no matter how hard you struggle… could anything be more depressing?
A 'dud' drawn from a random lottery could not be exchanged for any prize.
Feeling a sense of bitterness, Park Jun-mo looked at Lee Hyun-wook, who shared his fate.
He was currently gazing up at the empty air.
'He seems to have a lot on his mind. What could he be worried about?'
Park Jun-mo empathized with him on his own terms. Being an F-rank himself, he felt like he somehow understood Lee Hyun-wook's feelings.
But in reality, Lee Hyun-wook wasn't thinking about much at all.
He was just…
- Currently controllable 'metal' weight: 877g
Staring at the single line of the status message floating before his eyes.
'Hmm, as I thought, the absorption rate is faster when I work out.'
It had already increased from 300g by 577g, almost tripling the amount.
'At this rate, I'll have eaten all the metal I've saved up within two days. To grow quickly… I need much better quality metal. I'll have to go on leave soon and stock up.'
In fact, the ability of the trait classified as F-rank was by no means unchangeable. However, that truth would not be revealed for another six years.
It was the so-called 'F-Rank Player Rediscovery Incident.'
After that incident, F-rank Players came to be treated with considerable respect.
In other words, F-ranks were not the 'duds' with impossible ability growth as was currently known. Rather, like S-ranks, they were a hidden class, a kind of 'puzzle' with a concealed method of growth.
Lee Hyun-wook was now solving a puzzle he had already attempted once before, but at a much faster pace.
He hadn't managed to complete it on his previous attempt, but…
'…This time will be different.'
He secretly swallowed the metal.
***
The next day, around noon on Saturday.
Someone knocked on the door of Barracks 5. It was a private who had transferred in just a few days ago, apparently on an errand.
He timidly poked his head into the barracks.
"Private Choi Seong-min! Permission to enter?"
"Yeah."
Corporal Ahn Min-tae, who was sitting by the door watching TV, nodded.
"Um… is the Squad 5 Leader here? The Duty NCO from the administration office has summoned him."
At those words, Ahn Min-tae looked around the barracks, but the squad leader was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, Jun-mo. Where'd Corporal Lee Hyun-wook go?"
After the Squad 5 Leader had been escorted to the military hospital a while back, Lee Hyun-wook had been serving as the 'acting squad leader.'
The reason he was chosen was simple. He had the highest rank.
"Ah! He should be out exercising right now."
Ahn Min-tae chuckled at Park Jun-mo's reply.
"Exercising again? What's with that guy these days? Hey, new guy. What does the Duty NCO want him for? Is it urgent?"
"Well, the Duty NCO just gave me the order, so I don't really know… I did hear him mention something about cleaning the fuel depot."
At that answer, the members of Squad 5, who had been resting, began to stir uneasily, sensing something.
"Ah, shit! It must be a work detail, then."
"What, another work detail? Didn't we just do one this morning?"
Groans erupted from all around.
"Ah, today's Duty NCO is Corporal Gwak Jin-cheol. He's a bit, you know…"
Corporal Gwak Jin-cheol had a habit of picking on lower-ranked soldiers, especially E and F-ranks. And since most of the lower-ranked soldiers were concentrated in Squad 5, the entire squad often became his target.
"Ah, we're not actually slaves…"
Someone muttered with a sigh.
It was true that Squad 5, also known as the 'Support Squad,' was treated like gofers, but that was only in the context of 'supporting' the 'combat units' during operations.
They transported combat supplies and carried the wounded; they performed tasks that were indispensable in battle.
In other words, making them do menial chores on a holiday was blatant abuse of power.
Abuse of power—a harmful custom that would have been eradicated long ago in a regular military unit.
However, the A.M.T had to be ready for combat at any moment, so rules and hierarchy were strictly maintained to preserve the chain of command. In that respect, a certain degree of abuse was tolerated in barracks life.
And Gwak Jin-cheol was a malicious senior who exploited that fact.
"Oh, speaking of which, a few days ago, sir. In the bathroom, that Corporal Gwak Jin-cheol was… uh…"
A private first class started to speak, then hesitated.
"What is it?"
Ahn Min-tae asked when he faltered.
"…Ah, I heard him complaining that Corporal Lee Hyun-wook was getting too big for his britches after becoming acting squad leader. I have a bad feeling about today."
"Ah, damn it, he's probably going to give him a hard time. We're going to suffer along with him, hell…"
Just then, the distinctive electronic chime of the overhead speaker sounded.
*Wheee—*
- Ahem! This is an announcement from the administration office. Barracks 5… all members of Squad 5, report to the central corridor immediately. That is all.
It was Corporal Gwak Jin-cheol's voice.
"Ah… looks like he's fuming because we were a little late."
Ahn Min-tae, getting up sluggishly, sighed and put a hand on Park Jun-mo's shoulder.
"Jun-mo, go get your mentor, quick. You know who the Duty NCO is today, right?"
"Yes! It's Corporal Gwak Jin-cheol."
"Right. That guy breathes fire. If you don't want to see our acting squad leader's head get torched, you'd better run. He'll be hanging from a pull-up bar for the first time in his life, only to end up as charcoal barbecue."
Even though it was a disrespectful comment about their squad leader, the other squad members chuckled. It was a testament to Lee Hyun-wook's usual image.
"Yes, I understand!"
The part about breathing fire wasn't a metaphor.
Corporal Gwak Jin-cheol was a flame-type ability user, and whenever he chewed out his juniors, he would breathe fire like a 'dragon.' Thanks to that bizarre image, he was one of the most feared seniors among the junior soldiers.
Thinking of that scene, Park Jun-mo hurried out of the barracks.
'Even so, Corporal Gwak Jin-cheol and Corporal Lee Hyun-wook are from the same enlistment class…'
One of them was an object of fear and respect to his juniors, while the other was ignored and made into a joke, just like now.
'And Corporal Lee Hyun-wook is a really good person…'
As far as he knew, Corporal Lee Hyun-wook was not a bad person.
He was plenty knowledgeable and had good sense and awareness. In fact, didn't he score better than anyone else in combat training, excluding Player abilities?
He always got a perfect score in marksmanship.
In a normal army, he would have surely been a trusted ace.
However, this was the A.M.T, a unit that had to fight monsters.
'I guess there's no place for F-ranks like us in the A.M.T.'
When fighting monsters, no Player wanted an F-rank at their back.
'I'll probably be treated the same way when I get more seniority…'
When he reached the pull-up bar, he saw Corporal Lee Hyun-wook.
He was just as he had been yesterday. For the past few days, he had been doing pull-ups with incredible consistency.
He'd even heard some of the seniors mock him for using his 'reward points' at the 'military item shop' to buy and drink 'recovery potions' while he worked out.
"…Hoo! …Hoo!"
In truth, it was rare for anyone other than close-combat Players to train that hard.
Was that why?
He could see at a glance that his forearms had gotten considerably thicker compared to a few days ago. He could feel anew just how hard he was working out.
'He said he was going to change…'
The change he spoke of… would it actually happen?
"…Um, Corporal Lee Hyun-wook?"
Lee Hyun-wook dropped down from the bar and turned around.
"Jun-mo, what is it? It's… still a while until lunch formation."
He said, checking his wristwatch.
"Ah, well… it's for a work detail."
"Hmm, don't tell me they called only our squad again?"
"Yes, that's right."
Lee Hyun-wook had, as expected, grasped the situation perfectly. Park Jun-mo looked at his eyes.
For a moment, he sensed a hint of disillusionment.
'Why? He usually just does it without complaint.'
Everyone knew this was an abuse of power. And with Lee Hyun-wook's seniority, he should have been treated with a certain level of respect…
But Gwak Jin-cheol was an unreasonable person. As soon as he put on the Duty NCO armband, he would torment the lower-ranked soldiers, regardless of whether they were his peers or not.
And in a way, this was the fate of an F-rank.
"Alright, let's go."
Lee Hyun-wook zipped up his fatigues and led the way.
Park Jun-mo felt a strange sense of unease.
For some reason, he felt like something was going to happen today.