Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Platoon Competition
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The sudden crawling drill had thrown all of Platoon 4 into a state of emergency.
“Ugh… I think it hurts even more now that I’ve woken up.”
“Shit, can someone put some ointment on this? Ah… it hurts so much…”
“I got stabbed by a sharp piece of gravel, for fuck’s sake. Why did a rock like that have to be right where I was crawling…”
With their elbows and knees scraped raw from the drill, the members of Platoon 4 couldn’t hide their irritation as they grumbled.
Naturally, the mood in the barracks was absolute garbage.
“Damn it… all of you, shut the hell up. Why are you whining so much first thing in the morning?”
“What’s your problem? I’m just saying it hurts because it hurts.”
“The fuck? You think you’re hot shit just because you’re the platoon sergeant? Acting like he’s a real senior officer.”
The atmosphere turned hostile in an instant. But just then…
“What’s all this commotion!”
The Platoon 4 leader strode into the barracks, his voice booming.
The platoon members, who had been growling and glaring at each other just moments before, let out sighs and turned their heads away.
The platoon leader looked at his men.
‘…This isn’t a good start.’
It was still too early for a strong sense of camaraderie to have formed.
Drills like crawling, which caused physical injuries, significantly increased the trainees’ stress levels.
‘That’s why the crawling drill is scheduled for the fourth week, when they’ve had some time to bond…’
By then, a supportive atmosphere usually developed, as everyone understood they were all suffering together.
But with no solidarity yet, they were all too quick to vent their irritation and anger at one another.
“I know you’re all hurting from the drill, but try to handle it with a bit more composure. We still have a lot of training to get through together.”
“…Yes, sir.”
“Yes.”
Their replies were given, but they lacked any sincerity.
He considered reprimanding them again but decided to let it go for now.
After the Platoon 4 leader left, an awkward silence descended upon the barracks.
In contrast, however…
“Hey, hey, I got a scrape here! Give me some ointment!”
“Jeez… man, you should’ve worn your protective gear properly. You had it on backwards.”
“Ah… I didn’t think I’d be crawling on the side of my knee, damn it.”
“Let me see that wound. I’ve got some good medicine for scrapes.”
“Ooh? Me too!”
“Heh heh, form a line!”
When the soldier with the Dragon-brand ointment for scrapes shouted, the other platoon members with injuries swarmed forward and formed a queue.
Kyle let out a small chuckle at the sight.
“Hehehe, you guys. Making a fuss over a little scratch like that.”
“Are you okay?”
“I was perfect.”
My protective gear, that is.
“I used up all my supply socks because of it, but I have no regrets. Hehehehehe.”
“If you need more, just say the word. I’ll give you one of mine.”
“It’s too small.”
“Socks stretch if you just shove your foot in. It’ll be fine.”
“Hehehehe, but Demian. Where did you learn a trick like this?”
“From my late father. But he gave me one strict warning.”
“…?”
“Never get caught.”
At Demian’s serious words, Kyle finally burst out laughing.
“Khahaha! Now that’s a pearl of wisdom! A father’s advice is meant to be heeded. Bwahahahaha!”
He slapped Demian’s back with a hand the size of a pot lid, and each blow felt like it was crushing his bones.
‘This bastard… is this revenge for that other time?’
Demian shot him a sidelong glance, but Kyle seemed oblivious.
In any case, with the atmosphere better than expected, Demian checked the upcoming training schedule.
‘It’s all shield and spear techniques this week.’
It was, after all, the best training for recruits whose stamina wasn’t yet fully developed.
‘And it’s the most important training, too.’
The Kingdom’s First Spearmanship was a rather exceptional style.
Some belittled it, comparing it to the spearmanship of certain noble families.
But from what Demian had mastered, it could hold its own against any renowned spear style, as long as one trained to the end.
‘The problem is, most people quit after learning just the basics.’
For Demian, who had been dragged onto the battlefield without any connections, the Kingdom’s First Spearmanship was his only way forward.
Through relentless training, he had achieved slightly better results than others, and after meeting ‘him,’ he was able to grow even stronger.
‘I wonder if his personality is still the same.’
To describe Demian’s master in one phrase, it would be ‘sadistic bastard.’
He was a malicious man who never taught the easy way, always researching how to make his students suffer more.
Of course, it was thanks to him that Demian had survived the harsh battlefields.
‘I’ll be able to see him again, right?’
Demian stood up from his seat.
Just then, Brian, the leader of Platoon 1, entered the barracks and looked at his men.
“Is everyone alright?”
“Yes, we’re fine!”
The atmosphere was surprisingly bright.
At the resounding reply, Brian looked at them, slightly taken aback.
‘I heard Platoon 4 is completely shattered.’
In comparison, nothing much had changed in Platoon 1. No, in fact…
‘It feels like… they’ve grown closer?’
To feel this kind of atmosphere in the second week, something one would normally feel closer to graduation, was unexpected.
*Pfft.*
Could this atmosphere also be related to that guy?
Brian looked at Demian.
Demian stood silently, meeting Brian’s gaze.
Brian spoke.
“Today’s training will also be in preparation for the group competition. Make sure you’re ready.”
“Understood.”
At Demian’s reply, Brian nodded and left.
Soon after, Platoon 1, having finished their preparations, headed to the training grounds for the group competition drill.
But on their way there…
“Hey, hey, that’s Platoon 4 over there.”
“Whoa, damn. They look pissed as hell.”
“The tension is no joke…”
The trainees of Platoon 1 clicked their tongues as they looked at the other group, whose murderous aura suggested they were ready to kill.
“Would we… have been like that if we didn’t have the protective gear?”
“Ah… but it really would’ve been tough without it. I got scrapes even with it on, so can you imagine how bad it is for them?”
Their bodies were already exhausted from the training; adding the constant pain from their wounds must have been mentally draining.
Platoon 1 could understand their plight to some extent, but Platoon 4 seemed to think Platoon 1 was the cause of all their problems.
“Get a good look. It’s because of those bastards that we’re going through this shit.”
“Sons of bitches… look at them, all laughing and having a good time.”
“But how the hell are they fine after doing the same crawling drill?”
“They must have used some dirty trick.”
The Platoon 4 sergeant, Slit-eyes, was redirecting all the anger brewing within his platoon toward Platoon 1.
It was the only way he could unite Platoon 4.
“It’s only a few more days. In the platoon competition, we’re going to crush those bastards and take first place…!”
“Yeah!”
“We’re number one!”
Watching his platoon members rally together once more, Slit-eyes simply glared at Demian as he walked past.
***
Life at the training center was proceeding smoothly.
But one night, while everyone else was asleep, Demian slipped outside and walked to a deserted area.
‘Two days from now… the platoon competition.’
In a way, it could be considered the very first test at the training center.
Everyone trained hard.
But producing results from that process was also incredibly important.
The training center was a place that measured and ranked such things one by one.
But the platoon competition was important to Demian for another reason.
It was one of the biggest factors in determining a trainee’s score.
‘It’s probably the same everywhere, but…’
At the 3rd Training Center, trainees were scored on their attitude and proactiveness during basic training.
Naturally, those who learned quickly also received high scores.
But the platoon competition was essentially a midterm exam.
The points received would change completely depending on one’s performance.
“I have to be in the top five, no matter what.”
The five trainees with the highest scores during the training period could choose one piece of equipment they wanted from the 3rd Training Center’s armory.
Of course, the best equipment available was only a C-rank artifact.
Most trainees chose a decent weapon or an accessory enchanted with a one-time protective spell.
But hidden among the items that no one else would ever pick was something incredible.
“I hope… it’s there.”
Demian only knew about it from a subordinate who had also trained at the 3rd Training Center, so he wasn’t entirely sure.
All he knew was that it was a plain, dull black ring.
But he knew its ability clearly.
‘When you infuse it with mana… it has the ability to make your body disappear for a moment.’
To be precise, it was enchanted with an invisibility spell that made the body transparent for a brief 1 to 2 seconds.
But the fact that it was a persistent effect, not a one-time use, meant it was effectively an A-rank artifact, if not higher, rather than C-rank.
‘Treasures can be found rotting away in any corner of the world.’
To know about it and just pass it up would be the act of a fool.
“Hoo…”
To get it, he had to secure first place.
He had originally planned to just aim for the top five.
‘Apel might notice.’
Apel, who could use mana, might be able to detect the artifact’s presence.
If he happened to choose an item from the armory first, it could create a difficult situation for Demian.
*Swoosh.*
Demian relaxed his body and focused on his mana cultivation method.
‘Just a little more…’
Even after entering the training center, Demian had not missed a single day of practicing his mana cultivation.
He was now on the verge of reaching the 2nd star of the Delft Mana Cultivation Method.
And then…
*Wooooong.*
A small light began to flicker around Demian’s body.
***
At last, the final day of the second week.
The day of the platoon competition had arrived.
Though it had been a short time, thanks to their diligent training, the trainees of each platoon gathered on the parade ground, their eyes filled with confidence.
“Hoo… well, this should be fun.”
“Victory is ours anyway, isn’t it? Hehehe.”
Kyle chuckled softly and looked at Demian on the opposite side.
Demian was wrapping sticky bandages around the grip of his shield and the shaft of his spear.
Kyle watched him intently.
It wasn’t just because of the bandages.
“…Demian.”
“What?”
“…You seem different. Or is it just my imagination?”
“...?”
At Kyle’s words, Demian’s eyes widened as he looked back at him.
Kyle’s gaze was somewhat serious.
He looked Demian up and down, tilting his head.
“Something’s changed… but I can’t put my finger on it.”
Then, he held his palm over Demian’s head and said.
“Did you get taller? You’re at that growing age, after all.”
“Bwahahahahahaha! Hey, Kyle. Demian’s already tall.”
“Yeah, you’re just freakishly huge.”
“He’s still growing, though. He could get even taller. Bwahahahaha!”
The other platoon members burst out laughing at the mention of a growth spurt.
Demian looked slightly bewildered by their reaction, but what truly surprised him was Kyle’s sharp eye.
‘This guy… can he sense it instinctively?’
Are people from the north always this sensitive to mana?
Just last night.
Demian had successfully reached the 2nd star of the Delft Mana Cultivation Method.
Thanks to that, not only had his mana capacity increased, but so had the amount of mana he could output at once.
It meant his physical abilities had improved, and he could generate greater strength with his mana.
“Kyle.”
“Hmm?”
Kyle tilted his head at Demian’s call.
The younger man was speaking with an unusually serious expression.
Demian looked at Kyle and said.
“This platoon competition—I want us to win, overwhelmingly.”
“…Hehehe.”
At those words, Kyle let out a small laugh, then turned his head to the other platoon members and said.
“Our platoon sergeant says he wants an overwhelming victory in this competition. You all heard that, right?”
“Of course!”
“We’re definitely gonna win!”
Seeing the motivated platoon members, Kyle grinned at Demian.
“Looks like everyone agrees.”
“Then let’s go.”
And right on cue…
“Platoon 1, forward!”
With the instructor’s call, a glint appeared in Demian’s eyes.