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n

nWhoosh…

nJaehwang was careful to not let himself fall onto his head. He had never been defeated until now. A few similar situations had happened to him and he was able to push through but all of his attempts to avoid its attacks had failed.

n“Ugh!”

nThe spirit changed into a snake along with a cheerful voice and it wrapped itself around his chest at the moment he tried to fight. It was a match that kept anyone at the edge of their seats but it started to look like Jaehwang was losing.

nPong!

nShe punched him, threw him into the air and flung him into the ground.

n“I guess you’re not too good with a bare hand-to-hand fight?” She whispered. “What a fraud.”

nJaehwang stood up and tried to get a hold of himself. He has been living with her for three days and if it was possible, he didn’t want to leave his room anymore. She was like a hot potato in Justin point. Baseless rumors had been spreading around them and the other guys would try to hit on her when he’s not around.

nThe thing that annoyed him the most was the issue with the members of the 8th platoon. They thought he used Joonghwi check card for a date and they have been mocking him about it. He cooped up in his room and he still can’t imagine what they might have thought about him.

n“Done,” He said.

nA quarter of the day had gone by and now Jaehwang was extremely tired from his session of hand-to-hand fights. Jaehwang and the snake were finally finished and with that, the spirit then loosened her grip.

n“Phew…” Jaehwang let out a breath of relief.

n“Completely done?” The spirit asked.

n“Yes.”

nThe spirit jumped out of her seat and waved her arms. Jaehwang then saw his wallet appearing in her hands.

n“Hah…” Jaehwang said as he opened it up and gave her some cash as payment for helping him out. He thought about them living normally where he could get his rest.

nBoth of them had planned things to be this way now that they’re living together. He could polish up his combat skills while helping her consume more energy. That’s how they decided to spend their days.

nThe spirit went back inside of him and that’s the time when he was finally able to leave his room to return the card that he borrowed. He wished that he could just do internet payments but he couldn’t do anything but bank transactions in this world. That’s why he stopped by at a local bank to transfer the money from Joonghwi’s account to his.

nHe then proceeded to his room and knocked at his door to hand it over. Joonghwi soon opened the door with a dissasitfied expression.

n“Thank you.” Jaehwang gave him his card.

n“Did you have fun?” He replied.

n“Yes.” There were rumors going around but Jaehwang felt that there was no need to address anything like that. He kept his replies short and it appears that Joonghwi didn’t like it.

n“Well… There were some jealous guys around… That pretty girl… Why don’t you introduce her to us?”

n“She left.” Jaehwang replied.

n“Interesting. You just sent her off? That doesn’t sound so good. But, okay. I hope she had a good stay. Come in.” Joongwhi said as he ushered him through his door.

n“Sure.” He walked in and sat on a sofa in front of a table.

nJoonghwi got him a cup of coffee along with a piece of paper.

n“What’s this?” Jaehwang asked.

n“A Personal reward…” Joonghwi said as Jaehwang tilted his head to pick it up. It said that everyone had received a personal reward but they didn’t understand it because no one ever had one.

n“I just received a high-ranked greeting here in Justin point recently. It makes me feel like we’re not being protected properly. To be specific…”

n“Yes?”

n“It’s pretty simple. You have been pointed out as a person of merit and is said to receive an honorable military discharge.” At that moment, Jaehwang felt as if he had stopped breathing.

n“I thought that they either couldn’t protect us or just left us out.” Joonghwi slightly lowered his head. “It’s weird but, I think that this is a good thing for you.”

nJaehwang said nothing as a reply. He just started his tasks and now he’s told that he’s getting an honorable discharge after just one month. That wasn’t a bad thing. Anyone would be happy to receive news like that. He’s told that he’s a hunter but he likes to do and be whatever he pleases.

n“I already finished talking with the others,” Joonghwi followed. “Is there something you would like to say to them, too?”

nJaehwang looked a little sad and disappointed as he thought about the other members of the 8th platoon.

n“It came yesterday. You were busy hanging out with that girl so we didn’t call… And don’t be so disappointed or sad. I’ve persuaded half of them. To be honest, no one will ever be able to cover your position in the platoon. I don’t think they’ll ever be working with anyone with a skill like yours. This is a good thing but it’ll be bad for the platoon in the long run. Well, things now are actually getting a bit out of hand”

n“I see.” Jaehwang shook his head. He understood everything and he didn’t want to drag everyone with him.

n“Good.” Joonghwi placed the paper in his pocket with a bitter smile. He knew that his position didn’t fit him well but he thought that it would be long before he could find someone as capable as him.

nHe did more than just help, he saved the platoon members’ lives and they all eventually became friends. He knew that they could improve without him and there would come a time when they would get to do things without them worrying.

n“Want to continue to help us until the day you get discharged?” He said.

n“Of course.” Jaehwang agreed and left through the door. Joonghwi was left staring at the cup of coffee he prepared for him.

n“I want us to stay together but…”

nTo him, his entire life meant his responsibility towards the platoon. Everything he did was for the team but at this point, he started to question everything. Soon, everything in their lives would have to change.

nThere were two men sitting in a dark place.

n“The Trinity honor…”

n“I don’t think it’s a good thing, I regret meeting it.”

n“Yes. The church and the leader’s anger looked like it could even pierce the skies…”

n“I see. However, please take a little more precautions with the task in the church this time.”

n“What do you mean by that?” He spoke with an excited tone.

n“This time the task includes that person related to GwanJae.”

n“Someone related to him… Then his position must be so embarrassing.”

n“Yes. So this time it should be easy. There’s no way I would point you out but if you don’t do this right then you’ll be in trouble.”

n“Got it. I will make the church leader and the church proud.” He smiled.

n“Thank you.”

n“But, everything has already started so it’ll be difficult. Please keep everything prepared according to the schedule even if GwanJae is here.”

n“Yes, sir. I’ve been in the church for a long time and I don’t think what I’ve prepared will be enough.”

n“Yes. Things could’ve gotten as planned but something happened at the Giant Footprint and we have sustained quite a bit of damage. The date is still currently being estimadeted but there will be a march. We still have our limits but remember, we are still in control.”

n“I will”

n“And now even our devoted followers have to prepare.” He shook his head from the opposite side of the table.

n“I know. But until that time, let’s just keep everything a secret.”

n“Good.”

n“Bye.”

n“See you soon.”

n“Sure… See you soon.”

nThey exchanged goodbyes. They all had gathered the day before his discharge to say their farewells. It wasn’t anything big but they all went out at night to hang out and talk for one last time. Although their time together had been short, Jaehwang left a big impact on them.

nThey’ve realized a lot of things that Jaehwang taught them. The spirit was there too so they all finally got to meet her.

nHis skills were more lacking than anyone else’s and his low expectations for himself had to be adjusted. Everything Joonghwi taught to him sounded like the lessons he learned from the academy but he took it all to his heart knowing that it was the knowledge that he would live by. They were his teachers just like his instructors at the academy.

n“What are we going to do without you!”

n“It’ll be okay, Mingyeon.” Jaehwang replied with a bittersweet tone.

nThe saddest person was, of course, Mingyeon. Jaehwang was the reason why she was able to overcome her panic disorder. He helped her become a hero to those she saved. They spent their night talking to the spirit to feed their curiosity about Jaehwang’s feelings towards her but they still didn’t sense anything in the end.

nIt went like that and the farewell party ended with them finishing their drinks and after Mingyeon had finished crying. He felt sorry for them but he knew that he still had to leave. Jaehwang packed his bags the next day and left his room filled with their memories. They all still went with him to say their final goodbyes until he went through the gate and got onto the military bus.

nThe closest place through the Justin point gate was the gate of the world’s Pyeongyang outskirts lying on a low mountain. Pyeongyang was filled with a lot of monster corpses from Justin point and there was a city just two leaps through its underground resources.

nJaehwang then got off the bus once it had reached the bus stop. The first thing he saw was the management office gate. He could also see so many people through the window at the material resources counter. It almost looked like a small airport.

nHe was told that they usually looked like that these days. All the people gathered in there had supplies and naturally formed a business park until a town was formed. It was dangerous because of the monsters and the outskirts extension was blocked off but they had managed to pull through after a few improvements on its structures.

nHe walked inside and saw three security devices and a long cord formed behind him. It was a formal procedure. All the people from the other world had to go through a search to see if they were carrying some illegal items. Plants from the Alousu were prohibited and would be reported because they were considered as a rare mineral.

nHowever, they had a string that they would use to search the hunters passing through. It was a It was impossible to hide anything and nothing could be smuggled out of this place.

n“You don’t have any illegal goods, do you?” The guard asked with doubtful tone.

n“No I don’t.” Jaehwang then walked into the search device. It was a common question that requires an obvious answer.

n-One more third tier energy type.

n-He can have it since he’s got through the gate.

nThe spirit was full of energy and very twelve hours she would demand more third tier energy. It had the lowest level compared to everything else which makes its price very affordable. If it wasn’t for those valley creatures, he would have a lot in him too.

n-If you go, how will you leave?

n-First, I’ll go see my grandfather and say goodbye to him. And I have to see Dongchul.

nHe replied as he handed his ID at the gate. The check has ended, he was about to say goodbye to the Alousu but then…

nWhoosh! Whoosh!

nA red warning light went off at the gate entrance.

nAn Honorable Military Discharge, The end.

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