Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Moment of History (2)
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Packing up the garrison, securing supplies. The entire process of moving to the rear was astonishingly swift.
The soldiers’ faces weren’t particularly grim either.
Even though they were abandoning the garrison where they had stayed and were now retreating.
This wasn't something that could be explained away by simply being used to such situations.
“Because we’ll be back anyway.”
It was an impossible feat without the belief that they would surely return.
“Are the other Centuriae on the 13th Front the same as you guys?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Do you believe you’ll be back anyway?”
Trainee Bella nodded her head without a hint of hesitation.
She seemed to firmly believe that the other units were similar to the 23rd Centuria.
And she wasn't wrong.
The 21st Centuria, which we encountered as dusk began to fall, had an atmosphere not much different from our own.
“Centurion Bravos.”
“Centurion Quantana.”
The Centurions exchanged greetings as if they saw each other often, their attitudes casual.
“Well, well. Look who it is. Aren’t you the old-timers from the 23rd Centuria? So, were you running away like your tails were on fire?”
“Look who’s talking.”
“Is this all the carts you have? Did you guys from the 23rd give up on all your supplies?”
“All transported to the fortress three days ago.”
“What? You son of a… We were sealing and burying ours. We worked our asses off all night.”
“Oh, dear. How pitiful.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Does this sound like consolation to you?”
The soldiers, bickering with each other, also seemed far from the typical gloom of a retreating unit.
“But…”
A few Over-tens from the other unit, who had been joking around with the Over-tens of the 23rd, suddenly turned their heads toward me.
“What’s this thing?”
“Does the 23rd Centuria let trainees wear plumes on their helmets? These bastards have gotten soft.”
“The army’s going backwards these days.”
The faces of the 23rd Centuria soldiers hardened at the words spoken while looking me up and down.
“I guess it really is time for me to get discharged. Seeing a sight like this in the 13th Legion.”
“Hey, you guys. I know you’re having a hard time because the new recruits keep running off, but there’s a line you shouldn’t cross.”
“Are you old-timers going to take responsibility if the morale on the front line goes to hell?”
*Shake, shake.*
Our Over-tens shook their heads like mad, but those whose attention was already stolen by me didn't see their fervent gestures.
“Crazy! This bastard, he’s even wearing an Over-ten’s insignia?”
“You, take that off right now, won’t you?”
Unable to bear it any longer, Trainee Bella tried to step forward, but I stopped her by raising my hand first.
I also stopped the anxious Over-tens who were about to step in with a glance.
The back of my head tingled.
The snoring, which hadn't stopped even as the cart rattled as if it would flip over, had ceased a little while ago.
I could feel it without looking.
The gazes of the veteran infantrymen, sitting on the cart and watching this scene with interest.
They would likely decide their attitude based on how I responded.
“Look at this bastard, refusing to take off the insignia until the end.”
The Over-tens, their faces hardened menacingly, surrounded me.
“We usually don’t do this since it’s another unit’s business, but we just can’t let this one slide.”
“You, come here.”
One of them reached out his hand.
As if to rip the insignia off by force.
*Swoosh.*
I took a step back.
“Oh? You’re dodging? You’re really something else.”
The Over-ten reached out his hand again.
I dodged his hand once more by taking another step back.
“This son of a bitch, really…”
“I’m not a trainee, I’m an Over-ten.”
“What?”
The Over-ten, who had been reaching out as if to grab me by the collar instead of the insignia, frowned.
“Though it’s temporary, I’m in charge of the third-rank infantry of the 23rd Centuria.”
“What kind of bullshit is that? A brat who’s still wet behind the ears.”
The Over-ten didn't believe me.
It was understandable.
Thanks to the damn Cradle’s environment, my growth was slower than in my past life.
To anyone, I looked like a freshly enlisted trainee.
If anyone looked at me now and thought I was an official Over-ten, they would be the crazy one.
“Hey, 23rd Centuria old-timers. Are we really supposed to keep listening to this kid spouting nonsense? Should we really start educating him?”
“You idiot. He impersonated an officer. Who cares about unit divisions when you’re disciplining someone who broke military law? This is a matter of discipline for the entire 13th Legion.”
If I hadn't taken such circumstances into account, there would have been no reason to tolerate that damn word ‘brat’ so many times.
“Trainee Bella.”
“Yes?”
“My legitimately granted position has been denied. In a small sense, I have been personally insulted, and in a larger sense, the honor of Centurion Bravos, who appointed me as an Over-ten, has been tarnished.”
“…?”
“Furthermore, officially, my command authority has been denied during wartime, causing confusion in the chain of command, thereby undermining the discipline and unity of our allies. This is an act that benefits the enemy. Is that correct?”
“Yes…? Yes.”
“In such a case, how does the 13th Legion handle it?”
“Uh, um. Well. Uh…”
Suddenly questioned, Trainee Bella floundered.
“According to military law, you’re either referred to a court-martial or you settle it on the spot.”
A voice I’d never heard before came from behind.
It was one of the third-rank infantrymen who had been observing the situation from the cart.
“And settling it on the spot means?”
“Well, what else could it be besides proving it with skill and getting an apology?”
“I like the second method.”
“An excellent choice.”
At my words, the third-rank infantryman grinned.
“Unit, move out!”
“21st Centuria! Form ranks!”
Just then, the commanders of the two Centuriae ordered them to move.
“Whether it’s true or not, I’ll see you at the camp later. Don’t think it’ll be fun if you run away.”
Leaving behind a line worthy of a third-rate villain, the Over-tens of the 21st Centuria rejoined their ranks.
Our commanders, who had been squirming like puppies needing to poop, all returned to their positions.
The third-rank infantrymen lay back down on the cart with intrigued faces.
*Clatter, clatter.*
After walking alongside the cart for a while, Centurion Bravos beckoned me over with a gesture.
“I heard you had a bit of an issue with an Over-ten from the 21st Centuria?”
His face wasn’t particularly reproachful.
“Since it’s come to this, do a good job.”
He spoke as if it were no big deal, but his eyes told a completely different story.
*Gleam, gleam.*
I could bet that if I didn't win, the Centurion would, with high probability, wrap me up nicely and send me off to the fortress.
And then I’d be caught by the coddling supervising professors and forced to ‘experience’ the front lines—which would be of little help to me—before returning to the Cradle.
“For the record, I didn't mention the Over-ten's origins.”
Seeing that he had hidden my identity, I thought he might have been aiming for this kind of situation from the beginning.
The Centurion was truly no ordinary man.
“Esqu… Over-ten. You must win.”
“Show those bastards from the 21st Centuria what’s what!”
“We’re counting on you, Over-ten.”
The Over-tens of the 23rd Centuria, who had treated me like a stray dog without exchanging a single word until now, added a word or two as they passed by.
It was all as I had expected.
It was also what I had been aiming for.
For the time being, I had to be with them, whether I liked it or not.
And since we were living together, I planned to live as a true member of the 23rd Centuria, not as a rolling stone or a burden forced upon them.
These field units were usually in competition with similarly sized units stationed nearby, so there was no better opportunity than now to shed the label attached to me and earn their recognition.
Trainee Bella approached me hesitantly.
She looked as if she had something to say.
“What is it?”
“I’ve been curious for a while.”
“About what?”
When I asked for the reason, a question came back instead of an answer.
“Is something good happening…?”
She was asking why I had been smiling to myself, her face full of bewilderment.
It seemed I had been smiling again.
“Ahem.”
I belatedly cleared my throat and composed my expression.
Trainee Bella’s face was still full of questions, but I had no intention of explaining in detail.
It wouldn’t have been an appropriate answer anyway.
In my past life, I was sick and tired of that damned hazing, but after returning to the past, I found it so endearing. If I answered like that, I’d only get a look as if I were a madman.
For that reason, instead of opening my mouth and being treated like a lunatic, I fell into a more constructive and productive deliberation.
Now that the stage was set, it would be a shame to end it anticlimactically.
If possible, overwhelmingly. Chillingly to the bone. In a way the soldiers could accept.
I pondered and pondered.
“I’ve decided.”
And before long, I made a decision.
A classic method that was universally accepted regardless of era, time, or place.
One that would make the hearts of the viewers burn.
I knew such a method.
Although I didn't know if the other party would agree.
“It’s the base!”
While I was organizing my thoughts, a soldier from a distant Centuria shouted.
The plains, upon which darkness had already fallen.
A palisade that looked twice as high and sturdy as the one at the garrison I had stayed in the previous day.
『LEG·ⅩⅢ-Ⅱ』
On the fluttering red flag, the number ‘13-2,’ representing the 2nd Millenary of the 13th Imperial Legion, was embroidered in gold.
It was the unit flag of the 2nd Millenary, to which the 23rd Centuria belonged.
“Inside the unit base!”
“21st Centuria! Enter!”
At the Centurions’ command, the two Centuriae, which had briefly halted, began to move again, pulling their carts.
“Over-tens, lead the soldiers to the designated barracks and get some food.”
The Centurions, who had been speaking with a commander who came out to greet them with serious faces, disappeared somewhere, and we were guided deep inside the garrison.
“There aren’t as many troops as I thought.”
“At most, there are only three Centuriae that are usually stationed at the garrison. Even then, one of them, a cavalry Centuria, is probably scattered all over, happily playing messenger.”
I was muttering to myself while looking at the empty barracks when an unexpected answer came.
“Of the Centuriae deployed on the plains, three engaged, and of the remaining four, two have returned. By tomorrow morning, the other two should arrive.”
It was the very same third-rank infantryman who had kindly answered my question in place of the floundering trainee.
“So if you want to claim a good spot, you’d better snatch a barrack quickly.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
I couldn’t tell if it was simple goodwill or a preemptive move because he didn’t want to share a barrack, but I expressed my gratitude for the time being.
“Well then.”
It seemed it was the latter.
Having said his piece, the third-rank infantryman gave a slight nod instead of a salute and then disappeared.
“Over-ten. Shall I bring your meal to the barracks? Or…”
“What do the other Over-tens do?”
“Except for Centurion Bravos, they all eat with the soldiers.”
“I’ll eat with them too.”
Since I was now part of the Centuria, it was better not to stand out in many ways.
If an Over-ten enjoyed excessive privileges, it would only create a sense of alienation.
I was planning to take this opportunity to get to know the other Over-tens as well.
But unfortunately, I was not given that chance.
“Where’s that brat from before!”
No sooner had I sat down with the bowl of whitish soup brought by Trainee Bella than an Over-ten from the 21st Centuria stormed in.
“Trainee.”
“Yes?”
“Hold this for a moment.”
I handed her the steaming soup bowl and stood up from my seat.
“I’ll finish this before the soup gets cold.”