IBAOAWIJM 05

Episode 5

“Bonus points are awarded for performing training excellently or for exemplary behavior. It’s unlikely you’ll get any, so you don’t need to know.”

I have to agree with that.

‘Getting them would be nice, but no need to think about bonus points.’

The key is not to get demerits.

“Next, about the schedule. Before that, the original training period for officer cadets is 12 weeks.”
12 weeks, which is 84 days.
Just hearing it makes it hard to breathe.

“Due to the special wartime situation, it’s reduced to 2 weeks. That’s a truly regrettable part.”
It’s not regrettable at all, what is he talking about?

‘Two weeks is still too long.’

Every single day here is hell for me.

“Since the time is reduced, we’ll only focus on core training. However, the Imperial Army does not need foolish officers, so the amount of academic subjects to study remains the same.”
My ears doubted what they heard, something was very wrong and hard to accept.

‘So he’s saying he’ll cram 12 weeks of study into 2 weeks?’

The expressions of the cadets, including mine, turned hard as stone.

“Therefore, the basic schedule is: training until evening, and from after dinner until 2 AM, you will attend academic classes here.”
My hands trembled at this murderous schedule that easily outdoes the infamous study routines of Seoul’s Gangnam district.

“Classes start today itself. Training is scheduled for tomorrow morning: drills and running. Be aware.”
Slogging through two training sessions a day, and studying until 2 AM.

‘This is telling us to just die.’

Wasn’t it the golden rule in the original military to at least let you sleep by 10 PM?
My common sense was crumbling in real-time.

“Finally, I will inform you of the barracks rules, which you will violate as often as you eat meals, so get ready to take notes.”
Experience said this was really important info, but I had no notebook.

‘Guess I’ll just have to memorize it.’

As I was preparing to memorize, Ion, sitting next to me, pulled a notepad and an expensive-looking fountain pen from his pocket.

‘Now that’s preparedness.’

In this situation, I can’t help but try to latch on.

“By any chance, could you show me your notes later? I want to write it down but I don’t have a notepad.”
“Of course, I’ll show you later when we get back.”
“Thank you!”
“It paid off to carry it around out of habit.”
As expected from a rich kid, his preparedness is exceptional.

“Starting with the most common demerit: lying on the bed when it’s not bedtime. If caught, it’s a 2-point demerit regardless of reason.”
“Wh-What?!!”
“We can’t even lie down? That’s absurd.”
Voices of shock and despair from the noble young masters echoed from all directions.

“Also, during surprise inspections, if cleanliness is poor, it’s a 2-point demerit. Here, the room and individuals are assessed separately, so up to a 4-point demerit is possible. Clean properly.”
The demerit criteria poured out endlessly.
For the nobles, everything must be a culture shock.

“That’s all. Cadets with questions may raise their hands and ask.”
Dozens of hands shot up the moment the instructor finished speaking.

‘Why do they have so many questions? This feels ominous.’

To me, the explanation seemed simple and clear, with nothing specific to ask.
But our noble young masters.
They seem to have many questions.

“The cadet there in front, ask your question.”
The cadet pointed at by the instructor stood up.
And the question he spat out.
Its content was truly something else.

“Do we have to clean ourselves? It would be much more efficient to call maids from our households.”

To the point where I’m starting to think maybe they are the normal ones and I’m the weird one, their behavior is so consistent.

‘No, they’re just insane. Talking about bringing maids to the military, to a training unit no less.’

As I was shaking my head, an even more shocking scene unfolded beside me.

“That’s a good idea. It makes no sense for us nobles to clean ourselves.”
“We should contact our households. Tell them to bring some snacks too.”
Pluto and Krushel nodded at each other.

‘Guys, weren’t you going to get your act together?’

Looks like it was just my delusion again.

“Huh.”
The instructor, who clearly felt the same way I did, frowned deeply and pressed his cap down.

“Cadet, step forward. Now.”

“Ye… Yes?”
The questioning cadet walked forward with a look asking ‘why?’.

“Let me ask again. Did you just ask if it’s okay to have maids clean the barracks?”
“Yes, isn’t it much cleaner and better for the people who usually do it? Should I have them clean your room too, Instructor?”

‘Oh, you insane bastard. Truly insane.’

I feel like going over and stuffing his mouth shut right now.

“Haa, these damn bastards.”
The instructor sighed and bowed his head deeply.
He was obviously in a state of extreme rage.
But his subsequent reaction was unexpected.

“Forget about that ever being possible. I won’t take any more questions. Move to the mess hall for dinner. That is all.”

The instructor, who I thought would at least let out a roar, left the auditorium without another word.

‘W… what? This feels ominous.’

He was clearly pissed.
I could feel that anger through my skin, and he just let it go?
Absolutely impossible.

“Let’s go eat. So much has happened in such a short time, I’m hungry.”
Once again, we formed up in four columns and moved to the mess hall.

‘The facilities here are really good.’

Seven types of food prepared for self-service. I took a reasonable portion of each onto my plate.

“Wow, looks delicious.”
At least there was meat.
There was salad too; this much means we don’t need to worry about three meals a day.
But our picky noble young masters.
They voiced their dissatisfaction even here.

“No, the meat is overcooked. It’s going to be tough and dry, how are we supposed to eat this?”
“Where is the cake? I can’t do without dessert.”
It screamed ‘direct ticket to punishment’, but fortunately there were no instructors inside the mess hall.

‘Are they following the saying about not bothering even a dog while it eats?’

If so, there’s no chance of trouble, so I lightly ignored the noble young masters’ nonsense and sat at an empty seat.

“I hope everyone enjoys their meal.”
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Well, at least it’s not the worst.”
After a simple greeting, I picked up my fork and took a bite of the meat.

‘Oh… it’s good.’

Of course, the food at the Viscountcy was much tastier, but it’s wrong to compare.

‘If the military food had been even this good, those 21 months would have been a bit happier.’

The food where I served was truly hell.

‘Would they get angry if I said it was on the level of food waste?’

Anyway, because of that, I always filled up on frozen food, which really wrecked my health.

‘If I hadn’t exercised consistently, I would have been discharged with morbid obesity.’

It’s hard to forgive those who mess with the food of conscripted soldiers, no matter how little money they make.

“By the way, what about training tomorrow? I’ve never done any exercise.”
Krushel asked with a face full of worry.

‘He said tomorrow’s training is drills and running, right?’

If the drills are what I think they are, they focus more on discipline than being physically strenuous.
Unless we get group punishment for someone’s screw-up, that is.

‘The problem is the running.’

Running. Just the meaning of the word implies running until you drop.

“You’ve never even gone for a run before?”
“No, I just read books during that time, never exercised. Isn’t it the same for you, Mr. Palan?”
“Well… sort of.”
It stung quite a bit that he was putting me, a top-tier physical tester in the ROK Army, on his level, but I couldn’t refute it.
The body I’m possessing now isn’t much different from Krushel’s.

‘I did exercise for a week after enlistment was confirmed, but will that be enough to endure?’

The key is how far we have to run.

‘Since most nobles are either skinny pigs or just pigs, they definitely won’t be able to handle high intensity.’

Even if they do, then it’s actually thank you.
It’s better to have it completely impossible so everyone fails than to have it ambiguously hard.

“It’s scary, but let’s do our best together.”
“Let’s do that.”
While briefly chatting, I dipped the bread I brought into the sauce and tried it.

‘Why is this so delicious?’

The meat is good, but this place seems to be a sauce specialty restaurant.

“It really sounds so fun. If I finish the run first, will there be bonus points or something?”
The oblivious Derek spouted nonsense with an expectant look.

‘Does he think training is some kind of race?’

Of course, that possibility isn’t zero, but the military training I know wouldn’t be like that.

“Mr. Derek do you exercise often normally?”
Ion, sitting beside him, asked while cutting his meat.

“Exercise? I do more than others my age, I suppose. Climbing the mountain every morning, knight order training in the afternoon…”
Everyone listening wore expressions of shock at this murderous schedule that went beyond tough.

‘For him, this place might actually be a resort.’

No wonder he was so excited to be in the military.

“Th…That’s amazing.”
“I could never live like that even if I died.”
“Huh? This is fun. And if you don’t sweat, your body gets itchy, you know?”
If you don’t sweat, your body gets itchy.
Unable to sympathize with that statement at all, everyone moved past the answer and focused on eating.
Finishing our meal faster than expected, we immediately left the mess hall and returned to the barracks.

“Ugh, taking a nap right now would be perfect.”
Pluto looked at the bed with eyes full of desire.

‘Friend, you’re already thinking about lying down…?’

Impressive audacity.
But the real deal was yet to come.

“I’ve been thinking. As long as we don’t get caught, it’s fine, right? How about one person keeps watch for 10 minutes while the others lie down?”
Maybe there’s a reason he’s from a Dukedom.
Ion suggested a brilliant idea that even made me nod.

‘If we do that… it might actually work.’

Our room’s location is a bit away from the entrance.
So, if the lookout spots an instructor, there should be enough time to wake everyone up.

“Wow! As expected from the future head of a Dukedom. To come up with such a genius method.”
Pluto raised his thumb in praise.

“Haha, thanks for saying that. Then we need to decide the watch order. How about rock-paper-scissors to keep it fair?”
“Sounds good.”
“I want to lie down soon. Let’s do it now.”
Rock-paper-scissors proceeded without a hint of hesitation or delay.
I wanted to object, but I too was too physically and mentally exhausted.

‘Right, this structure can’t be caught.’

There’s a saying, the perfect fake is invincible.
This looks like the perfect fake to me.

“Rock-paper-scissors!”
“Rock-paper-scissors!”
.
.
With many people, it took several rounds, and miraculously, I came in first.

“I’ll take the first watch.”
A decision based on the judgment that it’s best to take the first watch and then sleep deeply.

“Then I’ll be second.”
“I’ll take the last one.”
After deciding the order, all my roommates except me lay down on their beds.

‘But these guys really have strong nerves.’

I thought they’d be too scared to even cover themselves with blankets, but somehow they all tucked themselves in.

‘Were the people who said they’d act like they were dead for two weeks really just planning to die?’

I wanted to say something, but since I participated this time too, I have no right to speak.

“It’s quiet.”
Not a single ant in the hallway except for people going to the bathroom.
They’re probably all slumped in their chairs or, if brave, lying on their beds.

‘But didn’t he say there’s theory class after dinner?’

It’s a time when calling us back to the auditorium wouldn’t be strange at all, but there was no call.

‘They wouldn’t give us time just to rest. Maybe dinner isn’t over yet.’

Keeping watch is truly a boring and tedious task, so all sorts of random thoughts kept popping up.

“Ugh.”
When about half of the 10 minutes had passed, I stretched and prepared to lie down.
One minute, two minutes passed.
As the shift-change time approached, I started yawning…

Knock knock!
A sound like something tapping, coming from the back of my head.
The moment I whirled my head around, I made eye contact.
With the red-capped instructor standing outside the window, with a menacing expression.

‘Bro, why… are you out there?’

My thoughts froze, and my mouth wouldn’t open.
Meanwhile, the instructor opened the closed window.
And stepped inside. If I stay still like this, it’s death.

“Everyone, wake up!”

I woke the sleeping roommates with a voice loud enough to be heard from afar.

“Ugh, what…?”
The roommates who opened their eyes froze in disbelief at the situation.

‘You damn bastards! Don’t just stay still, get out of bed quickly!’

Even if I want to escape wrongdoing, it only works if we’re in sync, and these guys are hopeless.

“I’m pretty sure I told you not to sleep. Was my word not good enough?”

A voice filled with anger.
This is for real.

“S-sorry!”
Without a moment’s thought, I bowed my head.

“Cadet, did you not hear the order not to sleep?”
The instructor approached Krushel, who had gotten up awkwardly from the bed.

“I… I heard it.”
“Then why were you lying down?!!”
The inevitable roar finally erupted.
Krushel’s bangs fluttered.