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Episode 9
Was I hallucinating, seeing things that weren’t there?
No, it felt too real for that.
A green seal, about the size of a baseball, wrapped around the magic projectile.
And an invisible safety pin you couldn’t find even if you washed your eyes.
‘Shit shit shit shit shit.’
I almost had a brain freeze, but perhaps because the situation was so urgent?
My mind became unnervingly calm instead.
‘Dodge…? No, it’s already too late.’
Tens of thousands of possibilities flashed before my eyes in the face of death.
Among them, I had to find the single option with the highest chance of survival.
“Hit the deck!!!!”
‘What do you mean hit the deck! You’re telling me to die!’
Ignoring the instructor’s worthless command, I racked my brain over and over.
‘I have to live, I have to survive.’
For this moment alone, my thought speed rivaled a supercomputer.
The moment I conceived the best possible method at the end of that process, I acted without a moment’s hesitation.
“Please!”
Instead of creating distance, I did the opposite—I grabbed the magic projectile that had fallen to the ground with my hand.
If it exploded now, instant death without a doubt.
Yes, this was a kind of gamble.
‘Don’t explode, don’t explode, please.’
Clenching the strength in my arm, I threw the magic projectile toward the unpopulated area behind us.
Whoosh!
The magic projectile shot out in a straight line from my hand.
Before it even hit the ground, its time ran out and it exploded spectacularly.
BOOM!!!
‘For real…’
Silence followed the deafening roar.
Only one thought surfaced in my mind.
“I almost died.”
As the tension that had peaked dissipated, I felt not only the remaining strength in my body but also my very soul draining away.
“Haa.”
A miraculous survival, and I wasn’t the only one who survived.
“Hyung… Hyung-hyung!!! You’re really insane!”
Derick, who had been right next to me, hugged me as if clinging for dear life, with an expression on the verge of tears.
“T…thank you. Thanks to you, I’m alive.”
“If that had exploded…”.
.
.
The other cadets around me all expressed their gratitude toward me.
If it weren’t for me, they would have died or been seriously injured.
‘It wasn’t an action meant to save people, but I guess the result is what matters.’
Couldn’t hurt to get some good karma along the way.
“Cadet.”
While responding to countless handshake requests, the instructor who had been managing the situation approached.
“Cadet, Palan!”
“Cadet, you did not comply with this instructor’s command regarding the situation.”
Naturally, I expected words like “excellent” or “amazing,” but I was completely off the mark.
“Therefore, for failure to follow orders, Cadet will lose 1 point.”
‘What? Is this guy insane?’
I didn’t let him strip me of my uniform, and now he was repaying kindness with hostility.
“No, what on earth is that—”
“He saved people, and you’re deducting points instead of adding?!”
Not just me, but the other cadets also glared at the instructor with looks of disbelief.
‘So these guys can take my side sometimes too.’
Even if they’re trash, they’re all nobles by status, so it felt somewhat reassuring.
“However.”
The instructor, under their contemptuous gazes, broke the brief silence and spoke again.
“It cannot be denied that it was the best judgment the cadet could make in that moment. As it saved numerous lives, the result was exceptionally outstanding.”
Was he trying to give both carrot and stick?
His words were flipping like the palm of a hand.
“Thank you!”
“It is exemplary behavior, so I will award 3 bonus points accordingly. So that you do not lose the quick judgment you showed just now, even after commissioning.”
“Understood!!!”
1 point deduction, followed by 3 bonus points.
Thinking it was fortunate to end up with a net gain of 2 points, I brushed off my chest in relief.
‘But what the hell kind of nonsense is this?’
Deduction, then bonus points.
I guarantee he thinks he’s being cool right now.
“And the one who threw the magic projectile at his fellow cadets…”
As the praise session ended, the instructor’s voice and expression turned murderous as his gaze shifted.
At the end of that gaze was the terrified would-be bomber, trembling uncontrollably.
“H…huh! I’m sorry.”
He bowed, sweating cold sweat, but this wasn’t a mistake that could be overlooked just like that.
‘You… deserve to get hit.’
“I’m tired.”
Given the accident during training, I thought they might let us rest today.
But, as expected of the training battalion—no such thing.
‘No fairness, no consideration, it’s truly hopeless.’
The only saving grace was that we were having lectures in the auditorium, so our bodies weren’t suffering.
But now, fighting off drowsiness was becoming quite an ordeal itself.
“Aah, can everyone hear me?”
Shortly after all the cadets entered the auditorium.
A man with an unfamiliar face stepped onto the podium and brought his mouth close to the voice-amplifying magic tool.
“The grey-haired cadet all the way in the back there.”
“Ca…cadet Barus!!!!!”
“Good voice. Can you hear me?”
“Loud and clear!!!!!”
“Good. Instructor, if you’re there, give that guy bonus points. Very excellent.”
“U…understood.”
The instructor replied with a displeased expression to the man’s command for bonus points.
‘That guy’s voice is just hoarse from three hours of PTSD, and he lucked out.’
His luck is disgustingly good.
“I could project my voice like that too if they asked me.”
Ion, who was becoming obsessed with points, looked at Barus with jealous eyes.
And honestly, I was thinking something similar.
‘I admit luck plays a part, but why does it have to go to that mouth?’
Cadet Barus honestly should be a candidate for point deduction, not bonus points.
But what good would it do for a mere cadet to hold a grudge?
The person on that podium is ultimately the one in charge.
“Nice to meet you all. I am Major Jabein, teaching Tactics here at the training battalion.”
Clap clap clap clap!
The cadets applauded at the first normal greeting they’d seen since enlisting.
‘There was a reason the instructor couldn’t say anything when told to give points.’
The instructor present here is a Lieutenant.
Compared to a Major, it’s practically the difference between heaven and earth.
“Maybe it’s because all of you cadets are from noble families this time, but I sense a noble air I haven’t seen before.”
Maybe it’s because he’s a Major, so he has some leeway.
It really felt like having a university professor in front of us.
“Today is the second day, so I assume you’ve done drill? I heard the duck walk was canceled. Is that right?”
Jabein asked while looking at a cadet sitting in the front row.
“That’s correct!”
“You all seem to have strict military bearing, probably because it’s after drill. For my class, you don’t need to be so rigid. Be a bit more relaxed, but just don’t fall asleep.”
The statement “don’t fall asleep” can be interpreted as “I’ll deduct points if you do.”
“We don’t have much time, so let’s start the class. First, receive the textbook being handed out.”
At Jabein’s words, assistant instructors distributed books about two fingers thick to the cadets.
<Basic Theory of Military Tactics>
“It’s the book we’ll study for three days. Originally a 2-week course, but you know why it’s shortened, right?”
At Jabein’s words, I unconsciously picked up the book to check its weight.
‘We’re supposed to finish this… in just three days?’
That’s nearly impossible, no, it is impossible.
“For reference, don’t think you can just skim because time is short. Three days from now, we’ll have a test based on the book’s content. You can lose up to 10 points there, so it’s good to keep that in mind, right?”
I thought he was a nice guy at first.
But he started dropping bombshells one by one.
‘There’s a reason his rank is high. His words may sound nice, but he’s just the same devil.’
He might even be more vicious.
“Then let’s begin right away. Chapter 1 is about the correlation between terrain and tactics. The beginning is useless, turn to page 7.”
Clap clap clap clap!
The sound of pages turning filled the auditorium at Jabein’s words.
“Terrain is one of three core factors to consider when planning tactics.”
Scratch scratch.
Turning my head at the mysterious sound, I saw Ion diligently taking notes on Jabein’s words.
‘The elite are different.’
People who are good at studying have their reasons.
“Think about it. If there’s a cliff, is it safer to be on top? Or at the bottom? The top, obviously.”
“…….”
“But this is something the enemy knows too. So, what judgment should the field commander make? Any cadet who can answer?”
Whoosh!
With reaction speed akin to a pro gamer, Ion raised his hand.
“That cadet there, would you like to answer?”
“Cadet Ion. He must plan tactics to seize the high ground faster than the enemy.”
“Correct. But what if the enemy forces are clearly superior? What should he do then? If he forces a clash, defeat is certain.”
“Uh…”
The follow-up question.
Ion’s words stalled, having not thought this far.
“It’s okay. Answer as you think.”
“I… don’t really know. If we can’t take the high ground, if there are other options…”
“That’s possible. Have a seat.”
At Jabein’s words, Ion sat down with a regretful expression.
“Any other cadet who would like to answer this?”
Perhaps nothing came to mind for anyone.
No one raised their hand.
‘What do you do if you can’t take the high ground? Hmm.’
My brain isn’t that great, but I desperately tried to think.
‘If we can’t take the high ground, the battle is disadvantageous. If it’s disadvantageous…’
Flash.
The moment a plausible answer came to mind, I raised my hand without hesitation.
“Oh, cadet. Would you like to answer?”
“Cadet Palan. If we’ve conceded the high ground to the enemy, we should retreat to a location where the terrain advantage disappears.”
“Retreat, huh.”
Jabein stroked his chin with a thoughtful expression.
‘Not good enough?’
Honestly, by military standards, it might not be a great answer.
Because this inefficient, brainless group only has “charge” in their heads.
But fortunately, the Major was a sane soldier.
Clap clap clap!
“It’s not the exact answer the instructor had in mind, but it’s excellent.”
Jabein applauded after finishing his thought, and at that moment, an inexplicable thrill surged within me.
“Instructor, give that cadet bonus points.”
“Thank you!!!!”
Following the thrill came the reward, and I shouted with the loudest voice I’d used since enlisting.
‘Teacher, I love you.’
If a god existed, he would surely take this form.
“To overcome numerical inferiority, you must have flexible thinking. Don’t forget that, everyone.”
Flexible thinking.
A phrase that really doesn’t suit the military.
“Continuing on, we have mountain warfare tactics. As the western front, the current main theater of war, is a mountainous region, memorize this entire section.”
About thirty pages worth of content.
I thought he’d at least explain it, but he moved on after saying “memorize it entirely.”
‘If it’s important, shouldn’t you teach it…?’
The teaching method was a bit odd.
“Ah, come to think of it, cadets, regarding the current war, do you know about what happened yesterday?”
At Jabein’s words, the cadets shook their heads.
‘The situation wasn’t great even when I enlisted, but did something happen?’
I know the original western border collapsed due to a surprise attack, and that fighting is ongoing at the newly established defense line.
Of course, losing some territory doesn’t necessarily mean we’re at a disadvantage.
‘The full-scale war hasn’t even started yet.’
The Aditz Empire and the Lycan Empire, which I belong to.
There are a few more kingdoms besides these, but the continent is naturally dominated by the two empires.
So, even though the first attack came, both empires have too much to lose to easily commit their full strength to the fight.
‘They’re probably negotiating up top.’
The diplomacy of the two empires to avoid total war.
I even read in the paper before enlisting that talks were stalled with no progress because both sides’ demands were too different.
“You might be very disappointed if you hear, but do you still want to know?”
Jabein asked while looking at a cadet in the front row, who nodded without hesitation.
“If the cadet wants to know, I should tell you. I heard His Majesty recalled the ambassadors stationed at the border due to Aditz Empire’s excessive demands. How about it? A bit surprising, right?”
‘W…what?’
My eyes widened at the unexpected news.
And I wasn’t the only one.
“Th…then does that mean war is really starting?”
A cadet asked in a trembling voice.
“Probably so. His Majesty has also ordered war preparations. Now we just have to go out and fight.”
‘That’s the hardest part!’
No one says “go out and fight” so casually.
“Rumor has it they demanded a 50% stake in the Orcan Mines. They should make reasonable demands. Don’t you agree?”
‘What are the Orcan Mines now?’
This guy, perhaps he had no interest in geography, as there was absolutely no related knowledge in his head.
“If I recall correctly, the family overseeing that mine is… the Duchy of Bell burn. By any chance, is anyone from the Bell burn Ducal family here?”
Jabein asked with a hopeful expression, and Ion raised his hand.
“The empire’s nobility really is all gathered here. As a member of the Bell burn Ducal family, what do you think of the Aditz Empire’s demand?”
At Jabein’s question, Ion spoke without much deliberation.
“It’s insane talk. If they truly made such a demand, then war is the right response, even if unavoidable.”
His voice was filled with disgust.
He seemed genuinely angry.
“The higher-ups likely share the cadet’s view, which is why war preparations are underway now. Have a seat.”
As Ion sat down, I couldn’t contain my curiosity and quietly asked a question.
“Is that place that important?”
“Thirty percent of the magic stones used in the empire come from the Orcan Mines. A 50% stake there… It’s practically safe to assume they have no intention of negotiating.”
Magic stones.
A material essential for crafting magic tools, more expensive than gold of the same weight.
‘So his family manages such a place?’
I already saw him as a golden spoon, but this is on a completely different level.
