14. The Protagonists. Allow Them to Withdraw
Adria Marquis's eldest son, the next head of the Rosberg family, Schlippen.
Despite having such a remarkable background, he too had a painful past.
That was the day he confessed to Selena, one of his academy classmates several years ago.
Since then, he couldn't face her easily. He avoided her in circles.
I still didn't fully understand why. I just wanted to.
Thinking back to that sharp cut of my confession made my heart race for no reason.
Even if I wanted to act like it didn't bother me, it didn't turn out that way.
After two years of struggling with doubts and turmoil, one day...
"Enlist as a private."
Karl, who had changed a lot compared to before, gave that advice.
He himself had done the same. After doing military service, everything felt clean.
Looking at it, Karl's advice seemed right.
At that time, despite being rejected the most by Selena, he had a good atmosphere with her.
The incident then seemed to have become just a memory, detached.
At that moment, Schlippen realized: Ah! If I do military service, I can be like that!
Immediately, he took a leave of absence with the other friends and applied to enlist as a private.
Of course, there was opposition, but he pushed through and even reached the basic training camp.
"Recruits! You will all become great soldiers of the Empire! But! Before that, you must overcome even this basic training!"
It was a series of grueling days. I realized how easy my life had been so far.
I learned how many young people shed blood and sweat to protect this Empire.
A new world. A place I hadn't known before. That's why Karl gave such advice.
Indeed, it seemed like a good way to forget the pain, fear, and shame of that day.
Those feelings seemed to be the same for Wilhelm, Alexander, and Joachim, who enlisted with me.
But then, lightning struck them.
"124th, 125th, 126th, 127th recruits. Withdrawal order. Prepare yourselves."
Commanded to return home to deal with their families' tantrums.
The war seemed to think one of them was enough.
Everyone resisted, but they knew this wasn't the answer.
Even Karl, who gave the advice, was used as an excuse, but that wouldn't last forever.
So, how should we do it? Just a moment ago, the four of us were having a meeting...
"Sleep facing backward."
"Sleep facing forward."
"Sit. Stand. Sit. Stand. Sit. Stand. Stand. Damn it, who told you to sit! Wake up!!"
The great demon was about to empty the souls of these poor four recruits.
*
Tomorrow is a fun weekend. Weekend. Whether there's a schedule or not, it's really precious.
So, it has to end today.
After finishing, I must definitely take these guys back to the academy.
I can't send them to spend a fun weekend in this damned basic training camp.
The past memories are coming back one by one, making me angry.
"Didn't you wake up! What can you do with that kind of mentality!"
"Ugh!"
"Schlippen. Huh? You're out. If you're going to do that, go home! The Marquis is looking for you!"
"No!"
"Wilhelm, you're the same. Are you giving up already? No? What no!"
"Kwaaah!!"
"Repeat the slogan. Repeat the slogan! Alexander. Keep making mistakes like that. You're the one suffering."
"I'm sorry—!"
"I don't think you're looking, Joachim? Keep slacking off like that. Let's see who wins. All do 10 more repetitions! Execute!"
"Y-yes! Execute—!"
Even if they adapted well in the training camp, the instructors' arrangements would have been considering their backers. Obviously. Where would they dare to eat the recruit life for free.
As long as I'm here, it can't be. No way. I'll make them do it the same way. Not like me... but like other soldiers!
"Do you still see me as Karl, a returning student from the 19th class at the academy?"
"No!!"
"Right. No. I am Sergeant Karl Adelheit of the Imperial Army! You little chicks are precious talents that don't get replaced even if you carry them in a cart!"
Actually, no. I wish I could be seen as Karl from the 19th class, not Sergeant Karl Adelheit.
Even hearing the returning student comment, I'm happy, I want to do academy life instead of military! Kyaaah!
"To me, you are still far from it! You came to grow and improve, right? But this is the mess?! I'm ashamed of myself for giving advice!"
"Aaaah!"
"Give up! Just pack your bags and go! Rather, the academy suits you!"
"Aaaaaah!"
No, guys. This isn't telling you to endure. I'm really pushing you to give up.
So, please, don't hold on and give up and pack your bags?
"All stand at ease."
"S-stand at ease!"
"There's paper here. Can you see it? If you hit this, it's over. No need to say you're giving up. Then it's freedom. Honestly, you suffered a lot. You did what you could. You came even when others didn't have to. So, you did enough. If you stop here, no one will say anything. Rather, they'll say you suffered."
"..."
"Now's your last chance. Otherwise, you'll start running the drill field ten times again."
This is the demon's bell that forces anyone to give up.
Even those who lived luxuriously as members of noble families... what?
Schlippen, Wilhelm, Alexander, and Joachim. Without hesitation, they run the drill field.
Even after grinding it out and staggering, they clench their teeth and take steps.
Despite making themselves sick, they don't stop. It seems like their stubbornness is showing.
'...I'm going crazy. Really.'
Before the afternoon duties end, I expected they could withdraw.
But even after all the duties, through the evening, until the sun sets...
"Hic! Hic!"
"Cough! Cough!"
These damn four didn't give up at all. They didn't even look at the bell.
Strange. Are they perhaps enlisting as officers later?
No? Just all of them going to the academy graduation party to get attention from the young ladies.
Then returning to their families and becoming heads? That was the fate?
I glanced at the edge of the drill field. There, instructors with worried eyes stood.
Understandable. No matter what, they're precious members of noble families, and if I cause any problem by pushing them like this, they can't avoid responsibility.
Honestly, I'm worried about that too. I'm causing harm to others because of me.
Even though I'm discharged, no problem for me, but they have to live as officers.
If my fault leaves a scar on their career, the worst result could be missing out on promotion.
I can't do this anymore. With this method, I can't send them home.
"Recruits. Form up."
"F-form up!"
Already the sun has set, it's dark. Today's return is ruined. Sigh.
Apparently, it seems I was destined to be tied to the basic training camp until Saturday.
Somehow, why did I suddenly think of a terrifying nightmare of re-enlisting.
"From now on, just listen. No saluting, no reporting names."
"Yes!"
"Don't answer either."
Where should I start telling the story. How should I explain so I can send them back to where they came from.
"I have seen your will enough. I understand better than anyone how much pain you went through."
"..."
"As someone who has rolled in the military for three years, objectively, you are quite amazing guys. The reason is that even if the reasons were small, you felt the weight of your own choices and decisions and didn't give up. Maybe if you went to the battlefield, you would have been even greater than me."
It's not just words. Actually. Really, maybe that was the case.
"But. People have to be where they belong. Because I didn't know that, I made many people uncomfortable. I made myself suffer too. It's good to set an example, but maybe that's just my own thought and not for others."
"..."
"If you stay here longer, many people will suffer."
Not like me, where propaganda is needed. These aren't rural nobles either.
If these four become soldiers here, the gains are more than losses.
"And honestly, have you achieved your goal?"
"...?"
"Has anyone here thought of Selena."
There's no way. They were too busy rolling and rolling. If they thought, that would be strange.
The shame of being rejected? Doubts about themselves? All would have been erased.
"And finally, the last weapon."
"Well. All sleep facing backward."
Again trying to roll them? The instructors watching from behind are whispering worriedly.
But no. This is the magic that makes anyone in recruit training complain.
"Look at the sky. Look at the stars. Think about your parents and family waiting for you."
"Ah..."
"I don't know how you handled the words, but your parents who are worried about you who suddenly did this without consulting. Especially mothers. Huh? Imagine their faces."
Even in sergeant time, but in recruit time, the most intense word, mother. Mom.
At that time, I remember crying with tears and snot. I was probably a bad example.
"...Karl."
Finally, Schlippen's mind returned.
"Why."
"Can we really go back?"
"If you seem to have changed yourselves."
"...I don't know if I've changed. But now, I don't think I'll feel pain when standing in front of Selena."
"Me too."
"Same for me."
"...I agree."
These bastards. I'm envious. I think I should have realized it when I was about to finish being a private.
"I already told the professors. Treat it as you were sick for a while. The leave of absence reason was also sick leave."
"What are you talking about, Karl? Sick leave is..."
"Damn it, shut up. Go talk to Senior Marcus about this later, you guys."
Because if I tell that story again, they'll explode and go home.
"Anyway, recruits. You may withdraw. Understood?"
"Yes. Understood."
"Look at the voices. Already out?"
"...Yes!! Understood—!"
Good. That's it. Now, let's eat some food. Because of you guys, this is what kind of suffering—
"As expected, you seem qualified, Karl."
"Huh?"
"I think so too. You're the kind of guy who can."
"Are these guys suddenly crazy. What are you saying all of a sudden."
Stand up or something. Let's eat dinner! The only thing I've eaten today is a boiled egg and carbonated water!
"Confessing to Selena again."
"...What?"
"I thought if I get courage, I'll challenge again, but it seems you're the only one qualified, Karl."
"Cheer up, Karl! If it's you, Selena would like you."
"You're much cooler than us, of course."
Hahaha. Hahaha!
"Recruits stand at ease."
"?"
"Aren't you saluting! Stand at ease! You bastards!"
The returning student Karl has disappeared and Sergeant Karl Adelheit has returned.
The instructors who were smiling faintly in relief come running in panic? Yeah, gone.
I'll grind them all night. Prepare to beg for your life!
These twisted hell coconuts!