Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Frontline Cadet Duty
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After that butler training wrapped up and I returned to the territory, I had to transfer my affiliation to Julia Academy, located in the Helian Duchy.
It came out of nowhere, but since there were plenty of kids in the same boat as me, there weren't any real issues.
I methodically gathered info on the Seven Retainers while finishing my first year at the intermediate academy.
That brought me to age fifteen, when I became an adult—and with adulthood came obligations.
Helping my father with territory management was one of them.
I would've loved to train in martial arts with Master Ilyia the whole time, but she'd taken a mercenary commission and left recently, so I was handling estate affairs in a bit of a funk.
"Young master, the logging camp is requesting more manpower. Here's the current staffing and pay breakdown."
"You've already organized it. Hmm, winter's not far off, so yeah, we'll need more lumberjacks. Instead of hiring blindly, let's pull some from the sawmill and carpentry shop. Plenty of them have logging experience."
"Understood. I'll pass that along. That wraps up today's tasks. Good work, young master."
"Whew! Thanks, Ymir. I might've collapsed without you."
She helped with work, sparred with me, and brought snacks right on time.
Having a perfect maid character straight out of the game by my side made everything feel so secure.
As I wrapped up the loose ends, my father knocked on my office door.
"You seem to be doing well."
"Father. Come in. What's the occasion?"
"No business, really. I just wanted to offer some encouragement."
"Pardon?"
"The territory folk are singing your praises. They say you're handling things fairly and smoothly."
"I'm just following procedure. Nothing special."
"That's what makes it hard. Anyway, your coming-of-age ceremony is coming up soon. Any gifts you want?"
"You're putting me on the spot. Just a book would be fine."
"I figured you'd say that. Might spoil the surprise, but I've prepared a tailcoat for the party. You're at the age to debut in high society now."
"Will there even be a party to wear it to?"
People imagine nobles living it up at lavish balls, but reality is harsher.
Houses with nothing to boast about rarely get invites.
Even my eldest brother Max only got one a year.
And those weren't big events.
"Who knows. Either way, once your cadet internship ends, let's make your ceremony a grand one."
"Yes, looking forward to it."
My coming-of-age ceremony was right around the corner. It was mostly ceremonial, but apparently a big deal for nobles.
I was set to get gifts from family, plus Master Ilyia and folks like Ymir, so I was excited too.
But first came the academy's cadet internship.
Once academy cadets hit adulthood, they go through all sorts of field experiences.
War isn't just theory, after all.
Adults get dispatched to the front lines regularly, and those spots are usually right on the front.
Our Julia Academy cadets were assigned to the western front, facing off against the neighboring Albad Kingdom.
It was a real battlefield, so risks were high, but continental treaty rules said anyone twenty or under taken prisoner had to be released unconditionally.
That gave cadet lives a baseline safety net.
Of course, you could still die in combat, or they might kill you and hide the capture—so it wasn't foolproof.
That's why cadets usually hung back once fighting started.
"Even so, stay sharp out there."
My mother kept cautioning me as I prepared to leave, then hugged me tight like it wasn't enough.
Father shook his head.
"That's enough. Als isn't a child anymore. Let him go easy."
"But dear..."
"He's fine."
Consoled by Father, Mother finally let go and handed me a helmet like it was a protective charm.
"It was my brother's. He was a fine officer. It'll watch over you."
"Haha, Mother, I'm not going as an officer. Won't need a personal helmet."
"Still...?"
"I'll take it, just in case."
The rust-brown helmet gleamed, clearly polished daily.
I packed it away and headed to Polldik for the internship, seeing my family off.
*
*
*
Polldik on the western front, locked in standoff with Albad Kingdom.
"Gentlemen. Welcome to the Polldik front."
The speaker was Army Commander Ironheart, the deputy front commander.
"I hope you learn plenty here. We've assigned you to units—check yours and greet your comrades. Tomorrow's the army briefing. Some of you will attend. In theory, you have speaking rights... but I'd stay quiet if I were you. Dismissed."
Our seventy-four Julia Academy cadets each got unit assignments.
I landed in the 5th Infantry, a multipurpose unit. It oddly reminded me of my old unit assignment days.
Anyway, I was about to head out with the others when apparently some got special treatment.
Ironheart glanced at a note and spoke up.
"Kasper Milias, Joshua Herald. You two, stay. The general wants to see you."
The prodigy from Marquis Milias house and Herald count's second son. The big noble scions got VIP handling.
I was, naturally, small fry.
I'd kept a low profile since the chess match—no flashy moves—and my role in the Salleon kidnapping attempt stayed under wraps.
I'd used aura then, but only Erina saw it.
Salleon house hadn't publicized details, so nothing leaked about me.
"Damn, big nobles get all the perks, huh."
A cadet buddy from a baron's house, Banningss, grumbled to me.
"Als, what unit you get?"
"5th Infantry. Multipurpose, they say?"
"Ugh, you drew the short straw. 'Multipurpose' means mercenary-heavy. Word is, mercs hate noble cadets and don't follow orders well."
"That so? Where'd you land?"
"2nd Archers. Easy gig. For guys like me, just manage supplies."
Banningss and I wandered the camp, getting the lay of the land.
'So this is a real warzone.'
Seeing it in videos or pics was one thing—being here hit different.
Following unit markers, we reached 5th Infantry.
I squared up to salute the captain.
"...Huh?"
That was all I could manage.
"Welcome, Als. Been waiting."
Captain Ilyia—my master—greeted me.
"Master!? Why are you here...!"
Not that surprising, maybe. She was a merc on warzones.
Only western and northwest fronts active against Caliper Kingdom now. Her being here made sense.
"Heh, never guessed you'd intern here."
"Scary coincidence. Let alone your unit."
"Not entirely coincidence—you in this unit."
"Huh?"
I learned why soon enough.
"Our baby bro's here!"
A woman hugged me from behind.
Yulia Ilrain, fourth child but eldest daughter. The admin officer had pulled strings for this unit.
"Sis... I knew Ferge bro was here, but you too?"
"Hehe, told Father to keep quiet. Wanted to surprise you."
"Jeez."
Big sis Yulia's cheerfulness was her charm—and her flaw.
Ignoring stares, she clung tight. Total Mom clone there.
"Baby bro, six months since last time? Looking sharper!"
"Sis, not 'baby bro' in front of others."
"Why? 'Cause you're an adult now? Tough luck—baby bro forever! Complain to Mom and Dad for backup if you want!"
"What kinda logic...?"
I pried her off her cheek-rubs and got the story.
"No big deal. Knew cadet interns were coming, so prepped. That's my job."
"Unit admin officer... Got it."
Knowing my tie to Master, sis slotted me here.
And she wasn't alone.
"Easy, Yulia. Als looks uncomfortable."
Approaching was our third brother, Ferge Ilrain—Yulia's twin.
He commanded five hundred as unit officer.
"Ferge bro, you're here too."
"Yeah, welcome to 5th Infantry, Als. Rough, quirky bunch—but tons to learn."
"Yes, I'll soak it up."
After light catch-up with familiars, Ferge briefed unit status.
Multipurpose 5th Infantry: thousand strong, half mercs, half regulars.
Master was nominal CO—infantry battalion commander equivalent.
*Poke poke!*
Yulia sis whispered, jabbing my side.
"Miss Ilyia's amazing. First woman to hit S-rank merc in two years. State's offering official commission as key officer. Yet she still tutors you... Aw, baby bro's so lucky!"
"Haha..."
I was nothing but grateful.
Heard some marquis house offered twenty times our family pay.
'I'll repay her someday.'
Planned to stick with Master long-term, so I'd settle every favor.
Post-unit brief, we got battlefield update.
Albad forces opposite: ten thousand.
Their vaunted 3rd Legion elites.
"Our side's ten thousand too. But we're defending superior terrain. Keeps Albad from closing in. Stalemate two months running."
Ferge scratched his head, bored.
Studying the map, I raised a point.
"Isn't Albad's 3rd Legion under Fourth General Yussis Goldray? Thought his specialty was defense."
"You know your stuff. Study up?"
"Ah, yeah. Sort of."
"You're right. Yussis is over there. That's why we bulked mercs for quick response. But no real moves, so higher-ups think Albad's aiming elsewhere."
"What's their angle?"
"No clue yet. We're digging."
Yussis Goldray.
In Athena War Tales, R-rank strategist. Cheap to upgrade, great early value.
Fizzled late-game—nobody used him.
Just handy for casual players like me.
'His key strat: ironclad defense...'
Never-cracks defense.
'Makes this setup weird.'
Albad mustered for invasion—yet sent defense specialists.
Had to be a hidden agenda.