Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Forced Conscription Lacks Romance (4)
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Naturally, darkness falls. The bonfire blazing in the center is the only thing illuminating the dark forest, while gentle breezes brush against us now and then.
The birds have already gone to sleep, as the clear chirping that filled the air during dinner has long since faded. The silence in our ears is now occupied solely by the insects.
The shrill chirrr-chirrr of nameless insects fills the forest. The group, who had been chattering noisily while finishing dinner, has all retreated to their tents to sleep, leaving me alone to stare blankly at the bonfire.
It burns. Climbing along the charred wood, spreading further, then leaping to the side to blaze fiercely once more.
"Ah, you’re supposed to make a wish during a campfire."
I forgot earlier, overwhelmed by the pressure of having to cook dinner.
Now that I’m alone, feeling a bit melancholic, I offer a light prayer anyway. Like a child, I clasp my hands together and wish for something that won’t come true.
A safe return to Earth. Joyful days with my family once more. A reunion with friends who share the same memories.
I pray for help in making it happen.
That’s the wish I made.
"Arsius."
Until a gentle voice calls from beside me.
"Seren? Why aren’t you asleep? It’s late—you should get some rest. We’ve got a full day in the carriage tomorrow."
"You’re one to talk, Arsius. You said you’d clean up alone and go to bed, but here you are moping around~?"
"I’m an adult, so it’s fine for me~. Kids should hurry back to sleep~."
"Hmph... We’re not that far apart in age anyway."
"I’ll listen once you become an adult too."
I smile and turn back to the bonfire.
But Seren doesn’t go back in. She lets out a deep sigh and simply takes the seat next to me.
"Sigh... I’ll head in after sitting here a bit. I came out because I couldn’t sleep, so don’t treat me like a kid."
"Uh... Seren. Are you nervous or something?"
It must be an unfamiliar journey for her.
"Nervous... Hmm. A little, I guess. I’ve never really left the temple before. Well, before entering the temple, I did wander around outside sometimes."
She gives an ambiguous smile as she says it. Neither nostalgic nor bitter—just somewhere in between. Curious, I probe further.
"Oh, right. What did you do before joining the temple, Seren?"
"Ah... I guess I never mentioned it. I was in an orphanage until I entered the temple. I was an orphan."
Bad curiosity on my part.
"Hmm... Uh... Sorry."
"No, it’s fine~ It wasn’t a bad memory or anything. The director was kind, and the kids were innocent. It was just a strangely bittersweet time—not quite fond enough to miss, but not terrible. The place was pretty rundown for housing so many kids."
Seren beams as she continues.
"Ah! That’s why I thought they bullied me for being an orphan. Me, an orphan who became a Saintess Candidate despite arriving way later than them, with more divine power to boot. To them, I must’ve looked like a rock that rolled in out of nowhere. Ahaha..."
"That’s just the temple girls being rotten inside. What’s wrong with being an orphan?"
If anything, growing up alone early on probably made her more mature.
"Yeah~ They were rotten, honestly! Ahem... Anyway, that’s enough about me~. So, will you share your story now, Arsius...?"
Relieved to wrap up her tale, Seren turns to me with sparkling eyes.
We’ve spent quite a while together since coming to Pretoria, but I’ve always buried my Earth life deep inside, brushing it off with smiles. Cautiously, she voices her curiosity.
Spilling her own story first and then asking feels unfair.
"You’ve got a sly side too, Seren."
"Took you long enough~. Now, spill it!"
"Hmm, if I have to say... I grew up in an ordinary household. Like I mentioned earlier, there were no special abilities where I lived. Just normal parents, a normal little sister, and an ordinary daily life?"
"Eh~? You, Arsius? You seem extraordinary from the start, not ordinary..."
"That’s just because everyone hyped me up as the Hero~. With all the ‘Hero this, Hero that,’ I started thinking I was already some big shot..."
I even got my ass kicked by local thugs. Pretty embarrassing.
"So, basically, just an average guy who liked games and sports? Bickering with my little sister and hanging out with friends—that kind of routine."
"Hmm... Seeing your immature side, it does fit."
"Hey now. Don’t start talking like Sio all the time. That’s a bad habit—no good."
Keep it up, and I’ll get hurt.
"It’s not a bad habit; it’s just the truth. You’re immature, Arsius. I’ve thought it often—you’re cool but immature. It’s charming, sure, but still immature."
"Okay, okay. Stop hitting me. It hurts..."
Didn’t expect her to emphasize it three times.
Seren grins and pats my back, then blurts out as if it just occurred to her.
"Ah! But earlier, you said you were a soldier? Even going into the military as a civilian isn’t ordinary! Not everyone can be a soldier, right?"
"Uh... Where I lived, it was normal to enlist. You had to go, even if you didn’t want to."
I don’t know about this world’s army, but mine was forced on me.
"Ahh... Sorry..."
Seren looks at me sympathetically.
"Nah, it’s fine~. It wasn’t that bad of a place."
"Yaaawn... What’s so bad about it, big bro?"
The twins must’ve woken up from our chatter. I see them rubbing their eyes as they emerge from the tent.
"The military sucks..."
Dogshit.
Nothing good to say.
Ah, but at least no reserve duty... Lucky.
Fuck...
The gate raid wrapped up quickly. An A-rank gate was plenty manageable for just me and Yuna, so we simply pushed toward the end.
"That’s it, Sihyun! Good job~ Yeah, just like that! Nice thrust!"
Piercing Stinger
Thin rapier pierces boss deeply
She jabs her razor-thin rapier swiftly into the boss. The long, slender blade pierces its thick hide, carving a deep gash and bursting blood.
- Grroooaaar!
The troll’s pained scream echoes as a thunderous roar through the cave—drowned out by the next wave of attacks.
"You got this~ My little sis is awesome~ Almost done!"
Cheering on Sihyun as she battles fiercely, I wave Beatrice around. True to a holy sword, it glows brightly, serving perfectly as a cheer stick.
"If you’re not helping, shut up!"
"Yep."
I quietly wave Beatrice. Turning to Yuna, who stares blankly ahead, I say,
"Yuna, if it looks dicey, shoot an arrow when you get the chance."
"Yeah... But it doesn’t even seem necessary. That thing’s about to drop."
I hadn’t noticed, focused on Sihyun, but as Yuna said, the troll swinging its fists wildly now heaves ragged breaths. The ferocity fades from its eyes, and its sturdy knees buckle slowly.
"Then, Yuna, lend me your bow for one shot."
"...? Why the bow?"
"For the finishing blow."
Can’t resist a finisher.
"...? You know how to use a bow...?"
"Learned a bit a while back. Pretty long ago, though."
I take the bow she hands over blankly. The smooth grip feels nostalgic.
"Watch and learn if you can. Not teaching you, though."
I raise the bow toward the front and summon the wind. It’s always flowing around us.
- Feel the wind. Find the path within its flow, big bro.
It flows along the cave’s long passage. I grasp the breeze slipping from behind into the fray ahead.
- Take form. Hold it steady in your grip so the wind doesn’t scatter, and draw the string.
I extend the wind gathered in my hand and fix it. In place of an arrow, something neither magic nor divine power rests on the string.
- How? Spirits always dwell in the wind. Follow their guidance.
Feeling the wingbeats naturally flow through my hand, I look ahead. I spot the faint path stretching straight toward the troll.
- Yes, just like that. Good job, big bro.
I draw and release. The wind surges forward.
Wind Shot
Formless wind pierces silently
With a cool shooo, something colorless and odorless flies and embeds.
- That’s the essence. Never forget it.
I haven’t. It still feels familiar.
Silently, quietly, it seeps into the troll’s innards and ravages. Disrupting the flow, throwing its body into chaos. Without scream, without noise—calmly ending its life.
"...That’s not archery."
"It is archery. Just not the human kind."
"You’re human too..."
I’m the Hero, so I have to pull it off.
I hand back the bow with a grin.
The boss collapses, the gate door opens, and we step out.
Clearing it too fast meant heading to another gate—no secret there.
This is too much.