Chapter 3

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: Rookie Hazing

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The moment I was about to hit the [Write Post] button to add another entry, a knock echoed through the room.

Knock knock.

I swiped away the blue window hovering in front of me with one hand and shot up from the bed.

The door swung open at the same time.

It opened without any regard for my opinion, but at least they'd knocked—that was something.

"Lucas."

"Private First Class Ellen, ma'am."

And the one stepping into my room was none other than Ellen.

With her silver hair and red eyes, she stared at me in her training gear.

Other players might think, "Doorway hookup event?" but sadly, no.

"What are you staring at like an idiot? Get your ass out here now!"

"Sorry, ma'am!"

I bolted into the hallway in an instant, where ten people were waiting and eyeing me.

The good news? These were my squadmates.

The bad news? They were all my seniors.

'...Damn it, back in that other world, I was a sergeant who served out my full term.'

"So you're our baby rookie, huh?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Unlike these young punks nowadays, you've got some romance in you."

"Thank you, sir!"

Guys barely a couple years older than me, and their boomer energy was maxed out.

"Anyway, you ready?"

"Yes, sir! Ready!"

"Ready for what?"

"Ready for anything!"

My answer must've pleased her, because the senior who'd introduced herself as Private First Class Ellen beckoned me over.

"Well, well, what a find. What do you all think?"

"He's a keeper, Sergeant Ellen!"

That's right.

Ellen wasn't a private first class.

She was a sergeant.

And the squad leader of our squad, no less.

You know that thing.

Newbie hazing.

If I'd tried to climb the ladder, they would've crushed me flat.

Ground me into dust.

Good thing I'd figured it out early and played it safe.

But contrary to my expectations, she flashed a wicked grin at the squad.

"Anyway, do you know what our baby rookie said to me?"

Why say something like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that?

I'd only given the perfect answers.

"He said if I cheated on my girlfriend, he'd abandon me on the battlefield."

...Ah, that.

"Damn, kid's got balls."

"So you've got a girlfriend, huh?"

I frantically shook my head at the seniors smirking at me.

"No, sir!"

"You had one?"

"Never!"

"Oh, you did?"

"No, really, never!"

At that point, the entire squad... even Sergeant Ellen... looked at me with pity.

"You're not bad-looking. What the hell have you been doing all this time?"

"Sorry, ma'am!"

"Sorry gonna end your service?"

"I'll fix it!"

"Then go hit on one of the squadmates here."

The mood turned hostile at her words.

Because she was the only woman in the squad.

In fact, the company's sole flower.

"Well, if you're gay like you said, hit on a guy then."

That made everyone recoil.

Everyone except one.

"Assei."

The black senior smacking his lips while eyeing me...

...Gotta watch out for that one.

If he ever asks me to pick up his soap, I'll commit mutiny first.

"Kidding. Let's get along from now on. Everyone, take good care of our rookie 'Lucas.'"

"Yes, ma'am!"

...I'm screwed.

It was summer.

The next morning.

[Hoo— hoo— Assembly in 5 minutes.]

The moment I heard the voice over the speaker, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rocketed out of my room into the hallway.

I wasn't the only one—the other soldiers did the same. Following them outside, the parade ground was already filled with troops lined up.

I had to find our squad, but my body moved on autopilot, against my thoughts.

"Baby rook's the last one here?"

"Sorry, sir!"

Come on, warn a guy.

I bolted the second I heard the announcement, and I'm dead last?

Dead last...!

"Squad, attention!"

Sergeant Karl.

No, Sergeant Karl's shout made every soldier snap to position.

I reflexively straightened up too—the body remembered, moving naturally.

"Salute!"

Thud!

I clenched my fist and brought it to my chest.

At that moment.

A man strode out from the front of the parade ground.

He was a giant, easily over 190cm, with a deep scar on one side of his face.

'Company Commander Mikhail.'

The first company commander you meet after clearing the tutorial in the game.

Stoic but caring toward his men—a classic soldier type.

"At ease."

The troops relaxed on command.

"From today, you're part of the 17th Special Forces Company."

His voice was low and heavy.

"Keep advancing as honorable soldiers."

Company Commander Mikhail slowly scanned the ranks.

"The Empire will spare no support for you."

The commander thumped his chest with his fist.

"Trust the Empire. Trust the comrade beside you. Trust yourselves."

Cliché lines.

But damn, they hit hard.

'This is the romance.'

A few soldiers' eyes even reddened.

"For humanity!"

The company commander bellowed, and the troops roared back.

"For humanity!!!"

I shouted at the top of my lungs too.

Our eyes met for a second, and he nodded in approval.

Nice chunk of EXP. With the commander's order, the troops dispersed.

I planned to check my status window once back, but they weren't letting me off easy.

"Lucas."

"Yes, ma'am!"

I snapped to attention at Sergeant Ellen's voice.

"Today's squad mission is recon. Get ready."

"Roger!"

Damn, recon right off the bat.

One of the game's basic quests: scout the area, check bug activity, kill a few if possible.

High difficulty, low EXP and loot.

But orders are orders.

Guess I need to rank up fast for some freedom.

Then I can start my real plans.

"Everyone, follow me to the armory."

"Roger!"

The armory was deep inside the base, guarded by two soldiers at all times.

Or rather, they were too alien to call soldiers.

Massive humanoid war machines covered head to toe in black and bluish-gray metal.

Everything but the brain and spine replaced by machines.

The thought that I might end up like that someday sent chills down my spine... but also excitement.

'Seeing them for real.'

'Full Cybernetics Soldiers.'

Humanity's top-tier beyond basic implants.

One could wipe out a bug-infested hive barehanded.

One turned its head with a faint mechanical whir.

"State your business."

"Sergeant Ellen and nine from the 17th Special Forces Company here to check out PA-48s and Gauss Rifles."

"Enter."

The door slid open with his unnatural voice, revealing racks of gear inside.

One weapon stood out among them.

Or could you even call it a weapon?

A planet-killer in one shot.

God's Rod was stored there.

The vet who fired 666 of those... how broken do you have to be?

...Not that I hadn't vaporized planets with thousands at once back in the day.

"Lucas."

"Yes, ma'am."

I snapped back at Sergeant Ellen's call.

"Stick close and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠follow."

"Roger."

Maybe 'cause I'm the rookie.

She's babying me more than the others, who surrounded me like it was natural.

All but one.

"Our baby rook..."

Yeah, just steer clear of that guy.

Naga Corporal, was it?

...Why does it feel off every time someone calls me?

We entered the armory and geared up with the PA-48 power armor. A mechanical chime sounded as it sealed to my body.

Vreeee—!

Click.

"Grab a rifle."

"Yes, ma'am."

Stats match the game.

"Ready?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Once geared, Sergeant Ellen took point.

"Moving out. Formation 4-3-3, follow my lead."

Ten-man squad, standard recon setup.

And naturally, I was dead last.

Rookie position.

"Move!"

Outside the base stretched a barren wasteland.

Gray skies, distant lightning flashes.

"What was this planet called again?"

"Miren-7."

"Oh yeah. Shitty name."

I eavesdropped on the seniors up front.

Miren-7.

One of humanity's frontier colonies, rich in minerals, high development value.

Problem? Bugs loved it too.

Hence, special forces like us.

"Look over there."

One senior pointed to a black cave in the distance.

"Looks dark outside. Bet it's pitch black inside."

"Pitch black, sir!"

His lips curled up at my response.

"That's your military life from here on out."