Enlistment (2)
“Body check, please.”
“Body check? There’s no such thing.”
She spread both hands wide in answer. “Hmm, then head to the building on the right. That’s the infirmary. Get your check there and come back.”
“What? The infirmary? I’m supposed to go and come back?”
The reception officer answered calmly despite her bewildered expression. “That’s right.”
Her voice rose sharply. “Why do I even need a body check for enlistment? I’ve been waiting all this time! If I have to go and come back, I have to stand in line again! You think you can just do whatever you want just because the line isn’t yours?”
The reception officer replied with the same calm expression. “It gets tiring repeating the same line to someone like you. You think we just accept anyone who applies? We’ve clearly stated in the enlistment regulations that a body check is required. It’s important, so please submit it.”
She thumped her own chest with her fist. “You’ll see! I’m healthy as can be! Why won’t you accept me?!”
“You only believe your own words and enlist, but later find out you have a venereal disease or something. What then? If it spreads through the barracks, it weakens the soldiers’ morale and combat power. That’s why we need the body check—to prevent such unpleasant things in advance.”
“What do you think I am?! Do you see me as someone carrying around such disgusting things? Do I look like I have a venereal disease? Do you want me dead?”
No matter how much she scolded him, the reception officer remained utterly unfazed.
“Of course, I’m not saying you have a venereal disease. I’m just giving an example of one of the most common incidents in the barracks. Men and women soldiers have too many inappropriate relationships here. If I don’t get a body check, even if you’re clean now, who knows what will happen after you enlist? If you don’t want to catch a venereal disease, why don’t you help me out?”
The reception officer shoved the enlistment form aside and slid a new one across the desk. “Go to the infirmary on your own, or just go home. A soldier is precious, but a soldier who doesn’t listen isn’t needed while we’re preparing for the war against the witches. If you cause any more trouble, I’ll call the guards.”
His smooth, authoritative tone showed he’d dealt with angry people many times—decisive and firm. “You… wait and see!”
The red-haired woman left the building with a frustrated scowl. To fill the empty space, Cloud stepped up to the reception desk. He felt his nerves jangle again. Writing the form left him completely blank. He hadn’t come here with any real resolve to start a new life. The thought of losing his freedom terrified him. The free life he’d enjoyed until now would soon be gone, and the idea made his chest ache. Then, in that exact moment, a sneaky thought slithered into his mind. Pretend to be sick. Pretend to be sick and they’ll send him home. Tell the reception officer he had to be sent back because of Silvia. Cloud finally made up his mind. Soldiers don’t suit his temperament, he told himself. With that thought in mind, he looked at the reception officer with a helpless, sickly gaze. The officer spoke first.
“How many times?”
As if he were offering himself up as food, Cloud stuck out his arm instead of answering. The officer glanced at the stamp on his wrist, then wrote a number on the form. He asked again. “Where are you from?”
“W-We… Wes Village…”
Cloud answered in a trembling, weak voice like a sickly patient. “Name?”
“Cl-Cloud New Qoo Sara Pon Athran…”
He dragged out the words. The officer, who had been about to write it down, suddenly looked up in surprise. “You’re Cloud?”
“Y-Yes, but…”
*So he knows me? Could Silvia have warned him in advance…?*
*That’s even better.*
If the story spread through someone else, the drama would explode. From now on, all Cloud had to do was act his part. The moment felt right, so he took a step back. He staggered as if he were about to collapse and twisted his body. “Ugh…!”
The officer jumped up in shock. “W-What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
“U-ugh… I’ve been having this chronic anemia for a while… I’m fine, don’t worry. I might even throw up, but I’m okay.”
“That won’t do. Maybe you’ve been standing too long. Wait a moment. Hey! Guard! Bring a chair here quickly!”
A guard rushed over with a high-backed chair that looked far too luxurious for someone who would sit in it. Once the chair was placed, the officer offered his hand. “Sit. You need to rest.”
“S-Sitting in a chair like this…”
Cloud stared at the chair, utterly confused inside. “Don’t refuse. You need to sit. It’s all for you.”
The officer just smiled kindly. Around them, the waiting applicants began to whisper and argue. “Who does he think he is? He shows up alone and grabs the only chair?” “What a stuck-up noble brat.”
Ignoring the stares, Cloud faced forward. On the reception desk floated a cool, icy jug of juice. “T-Thank you…”
“It’s nothing. It’s only natural for a soldier like you to receive such service.”
The officer cleared his throat as if nothing had happened, then looked back at the form. “What branch do you want?”
“Infantry…”
“Can you handle a sword?”
“I can’t handle one at all…”
“Can’t handle it at all…”
The officer wrote “Sword mastery” in the special skills section. Cloud tilted his head in confusion. “Huh? You just said I can’t handle a sword.”
“Any experience fighting as a mercenary?”
He was chewed out again. He answered anyway. “No… I’m a total beginner…”
But the officer wrote “Abundant experience.” Cloud’s sarcasm slipped out. “Hey, I said I have zero experience.”
“Any experience leading people in a guild or small group?”
Chewed out once more. “No leadership experience either.”
The officer still wrote “Rich leadership experience, one of a kind in strategy and tactics.” Then he added, “Recommended as 20-man commander candidate.”
“Hey, I’m not that kind of person!”
“Body check, please.”
He was chewed out like crazy. *What the hell is this guy?*
Cloud sensed something was off. A sense of crisis hit him—he had to get out of there. “Oh crap, I forgot my body check. Can’t be helped. I’ll go to the infirmary and come back. Wait here.”
Cloud stood up, trying to act natural. The officer jumped up too and waved his hands. “No! It’s fine! You don’t have to go far! It’s not worth it!”
“Hey, the lady from earlier…”
“Don’t worry! There’s no need for that. Leave it to me!”
The officer slammed a huge “ACCEPTED” stamp on the form with a loud *thud*. “Congratulations on your acceptance!”
The officer smiled brightly. A soldier then appeared carrying a perfectly clean military uniform in both hands. “Here. Wear this next Monday and report to the training ground.”
“W-What?!”
The stares around them burned. Whispers started up. “What’s so special about him?” “Must’ve bribed someone to get in.”
Ignoring them, the officer stepped out from behind the desk and clapped hard. “Welcome, official soldier of the Valua Army! Hahaha!”
Women at the counter rushed over with flower bouquets. Cloud was completely stunned. And just like that, he had become an official soldier of the Valua Army. When Cloud left, Felipe appeared. The officer bowed to her. “Is this enough? Ehehe.”
“Well done.”
Felipe looked at Cloud’s enlistment form on the desk with an expressionless face.
***
Yolonda Temple. The bright sunlight bathed the temple in a serene, middle-aged atmosphere. Cloud was inside one of the buildings, talking with Priestess Monica. Their contract was wrapped up easily. He wasn’t being fired—he had simply resigned from shepherding due to circumstances. Since there was no contract from the beginning, no penalty or compensation was needed. It was all Silvia’s doing. Her skill at handling paperwork was terrifyingly fast. She had sent someone this morning to get the temple’s approval and request that their contract be treated as if it never existed. The temple accepted the request and finished the matter smoothly. As an only daughter’s wish, refusing would have been impossible. After the casual exchange, they said their goodbyes and stepped outside, where they accidentally ran into Priestess Vivian. She was walking by with another female priest, cups of cool drinks in their hands.
“Whoa, it’s Priestess Vivian!”
“H-Hello…”
⟨ Vivian’s Past Transgression ⟩ She replied with an unwilling expression. The perverted image from their first meeting still clung to her. Beside her, a young female priest gave a light bow too. “Nice to meet you.” “Y-Yes, nice to meet you.” Cloud beamed. After so long, he got a good look at Vivian’s sensual figure, and the blood rushed through him like a stallion in heat. “Where are you two heading?” Vivian answered with a question she clearly didn’t want to explain. “I’m so glad Cecil is fully recovered.” “Yeah, really glad. Anyway, it’s super hot today, right?” “Yes, it is.” “Priestess Vivian, I’ll be going first.” The other priest looked like she wanted to leave, but Vivian hurried to say, “I’ll come with you, Priestess!” “You’re here to see Priestess Vivian, right?” “No! I don’t have anything to talk about with this person…” “Oh yeah? You don’t remember?” Cloud jumped in. “Last time we promised to go to the prayer hall together. And I’m an official soldier now. I won’t be able to come here for a few weeks because of basic training. So think of this as the last chance. Come pray with me. It’s fine, right? I’ll even offer a prayer for a safe military life.” Vivian hesitated, glancing at the other priest. She answered in a tiny voice. “Okay…”
⟨ Vivian’s Last Prayer Partner ⟩ The other priest gave Cloud a light bow and smiled warmly before stepping aside. Under the afternoon sun, only the two of them remained. Cloud pointed at the cup in Vivian’s hand. “Is that some kind of aphrodisiac?” Vivian jumped. “W-What are you talking about?! This is aloe juice!” “Oh, I see. Priestess Vivian likes aloe juice.” “Stop talking nonsense and follow me to the prayer hall!” She started walking briskly ahead.