Chapter 6

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 1

Chapter Title: Recognition

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Thanks to the second change in my tattoo, I was able to form my own hypothesis. For some reason I couldn't quite pinpoint, the better I performed what the drill sergeants demanded, the more the numbers on my wrist decreased.

Plus, every time I unlocked an achievement, I gained something called Military Life Points. Now, there's even a dedicated section in the status window showing the exact amount.

Getting praise from the status window felt oddly off-putting, but overall, things seemed to be flowing in my favor.

To sum it up: Every time Drill Sergeant Kate praised me, I unlocked an achievement, gained Military Life Points, and the numbers on my tattoo decreased.

Now I had a bit of insight into the tattoo and this other world.

My actions and choices influenced my remaining military service and the tattoo's power!

It might be a bit hasty to be so certain after just two instances, but no other theory fit the facts as perfectly.

I just needed to precisely follow the drill sergeants' orders

or demonstrate exemplary behavior.

If I did that, I could get home quickly. The tattoo flickered in agreement, as if endorsing my idea.

My mind felt at ease. Even the familiar announcement blaring from the speakers brought me joy.

"Assemble at the parade ground by 07:00!"

The drill sergeants' booming voices echoed. To ensure everyone in the barracks heard without fail, they bellowed with fiery intensity, repeating the order back and forth.

"...Assemble at the parade ground by 07:00. Everyone hear that? All hands, rise and shine."

Drill Sergeant Kate followed the speaker's orders to the letter. The trainees who'd been suffering under her punishment details finally staggered to their feet, earning a brief respite.

"Check that your uniforms are on properly and get your attire squared away. Once everyone's ready, form up right here and head to the parade ground. Follow my lead."

But I knew this was just the beginning. We'd barely cleared one hurdle. The real ordeal started with roll call.

No matter the army, after morning muster, they hammered you with PT to toughen mind and body. Especially in basic training, it was brutal...

But like I said,

this was my golden opportunity to rack up achievements and Military Life Points.

"..."

And to top it off, this place was all women. Maybe the physical demands and workout intensity weren't that high.

Even in a world where gender perceptions were flipped, physical differences probably weren't reversed. When it came to exercise, I might outshine these otherworlders by a mile...!

Brimming with eager anticipation, I finished all my preparations. Now I just had to follow Drill Sergeant Kate's lead to the parade ground.

"Everyone, fall in behind me."

But as we marched, I finally got a good look at the other trainees I'd barely noticed before. All sorts of races filled my view.

Heights and builds all over the place,

tails and body parts sprouting willy-nilly.

Elves, Dwarves, Beastkin, Demonkin with wings...?

Of course, most looked fairly ordinary by proportion. Probably otherworld humans.

Their hair colors were as varied as you'd expect in this world, they were taller than Korean women on average, and their figures were impressively curvaceous, but otherwise nothing special.

Hmm, or was that the key stuff? Yeah, in an other world, you'd hope for nothing but beauties and hunks.

Anyway, pretty or plain,

with tails or without...

These ragtag trainees jostled and bumped until they formed one massive group. Despite the overwhelming individuality of these otherworlders, under the banner of "trainee," they were all equals.

Under the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drill sergeants' command, we aligned into rows and columns. Ahead stood a platform, and naturally, atop it...

"Welcome, proud recruits of Class 20-3! This is the Albatross Union Recruit Training Center! The premier facility that always produces elites."

stood the Company Commander. She looked fairly advanced in years.

And honestly, "Company Commander" didn't suit her as well as something like "Knight Commander." Her uniformed figure exuded menace and dignity.

After receiving reports from the drill sergeants and platoon leaders, she launched straight into her speech.

"Through rigorous training with our exceptional drill sergeants, you will emerge as proper soldiers and the finest talents of this era. The training will be grueling and tough, but you can absolutely do this!"

Class 20-3?

Did that mean the military was only 20 years old? This other world had a surprisingly short history.

And...

Albatross Union, right.

What kind of place was that?

Albatross Union...

"That concludes roll call for today. But there's something more important than roll call. A healthy spirit in a healthy body! Comradeship! A unified sense of identity!"

Damn it.

No time to think.

"We're starting physical training immediately. A healthy spirit dwells in a healthy body! And the most basic, healthiest exercise is running. We're doing a light 3km jog now!"

3km wasn't so bad.

The only shitty part was running without proper sleep, but if I gritted my teeth and pushed a little, I could handle 3km no problem.

"Everyone, steel yourselves for the first run and remove your tops!"

But stripping off the tops? That was pure bullshit.

What the hell.

Then why force us into these damn combat uniforms first thing in the morning?

Fine, whatever.

I'd concede stripping to the waist.

"..."

The real issue hit right after I ditched my shirt: all the stares zeroing in on me. Everyone else supported their chests with sports bra-like things, but I was the only one baring my front.

"Whoa..."

I even heard an awed voice from somewhere. It was absurd to think they were reacting to me like that, but with those blatant, sticky gazes sending chills down my spine...

I couldn't help but feel self-conscious. My face flushed for no reason.

I wasn't the weird one. No guy wore a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bra.

But with everyone else covered and me exposed, I suddenly felt like an exhibitionist. Like the one two-eyed guy in a village of cyclops.

"Uh, um."

Not just the trainees—even the Company Commander and drill sergeants lingered their gazes on me. I was just following orders, yet somehow I'd drawn all the aggro.

"Right, this class has a guy too, huh. Hmm. Guess military life brings all sorts."

The Company Commander cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. But clearly flustered, she fanned herself with her hand, sweat dripping profusely.

"Ahem! Platoon Leader for 2nd Platoon. A word."

This place was seriously weird.

The stares on me,

the warped standards and perceptions,

everything felt twisted.

The Company Commander called over the Platoon Leader for my 2nd Platoon...

"Kate, come here a sec."

...who in turn summoned Drill Sergeant Kate from my 2-2 Squad.

Company-Platoon-Squad hierarchy. Assigned to 9th Company, 2nd Platoon, 2nd Squad, I was under Company Commander-Platoon Leader-Drill Sergeant Kate.

"...and ...do it. Got it? If anything..."

"...Yes, ma'am."

Anyway, the Platoon Leader pulled Drill Sergeant Kate aside and whispered something. Kate nodded solemnly, like she'd made a firm resolution, listening intently to her superior.

Looked like she was getting chewed out. Because of me?

After saluting the Platoon Leader,

she marched over and whispered in my ear.

"Trainee No. 158, you only run half of the 3km. Report immediately if you feel off or dizzy."

Huh.

Appreciated the consideration,

but it felt too sweet—almost suspicious.

"Understood?"

"...Yes, ma'am!"

Was 3km really that worrisome?

Militaries usually did 3km for fitness tests, so this seemed standard.

"Don't push yourself. Yesterday's punishment detail was plenty of PT. Overdoing it risks injury—"

Company Commander, Platoon Leader, drill sergeants, trainees—

everyone fretted over me without distinction.

Why all this?

Just run.

Nothing hard about it.

Move the legs, reach the goal soon enough, back to the parade ground.

"Left, left—"

But throughout the run,

the women's eyes never left me for a second.

"Left, left..."

Like gawking at some exotic exhibit.

I couldn't fathom why they looked at me that way, but I ran like hell.

"Trainee No. 158, I said don't push it!"

Even as Drill Sergeant Kate scolded me worriedly, I couldn't stop. I wanted to complete the full 3km.

"You okay? If you pass out—"

"I'm fine!"

"...What?"

The tattoo was sparkling.

I couldn't miss this prime chance.

"Good, alright..."

This morning alone, it'd dropped from 729 to 722 Days Remaining. Each goal hit shaved off chunks, so I'd claw through no matter what.

"You're doing great. Keep it up."

Drill Sergeant Kate running to my right,

the big-horned beastkin to my left,

everyone fixed on me as they ran.

"Just keep going like that. 3km almost done. Nearly there."

Damn,

anyone'd think I was finishing a marathon.

Up to then, I wondered why the fuss. Their chatter mid-run pissed me off too.

Somehow, these women kept a killer pace—I nearly died keeping up. Breath right to my throat...

"Hoo, ugh..."

Even after finishing the 3km and returning, all eyes stayed glued to me. Was it the sweat-soaked body, or shock that I'd actually run 3km...?

"My god."

Even Drill Sergeant Kate, who'd made me do push-ups on day one and hurled abuse for two hours, was floored. She even looked a bit excited.

"That's almost..."

"Like that one kid?"

The drill sergeants' murmurs carried loud and clear. Amid it all, I only eyed my tattoo.

Just matching the women's pace had triggered massive changes. In my tattoo, and in the stares on me...

"Haha!"

Drill Sergeant Kate beamed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with a bright smile.

Her tail stood rigidly erect,

her ears twitching nonstop.

"Trainee No. 158, you did amazing...! Incredible!"

The usually curt and cynical woman was thrilled like this,

cheeks flushing with joy...

I couldn't wrap my head around it.

"Th-thank you, ma'am..."

Anyway, I was thrilled seeing the drastically reduced number on my wrist.

Quickly, clearly,

I was finding the way back to Earth.

Yeah,

that's how it should've been.

"Water...! Yeah, want some water? Hold on, I'll get you some."

Drill Sergeant Kate's shifting attitude kept nagging at me. Gaining recognition from the training center drill sergeants was definitely good for me, but for some reason...

"Nya, nyaa... Drink up. Nngh! Nice and cool!"

Her eyes were way too sparkly.

Unlike the weary, sharp gaze from our first meeting,

like she was staring at a cute kitten...