I'm an Ordinary Returning Student at the Academy

[Translator Angel Dust]

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Chapter 36

Finally, the day had come. It was the ultimate day of escaping the life of a recruit!

Now I dont have to mop anymore. I dont have to sprinkle water on the floor, and I dont have to open the windows in the morning to ventilate.

Hey, get the recruit.

But the junior I had been expecting was nothing like I imagined.

What the ** Did they send him to ** with us?

What the ** is this asshole doing, cant he cut this **?

I dont know. Im near the end of my service, so I dont care.

The senior soldiers who used to grumble suddenly looked in my direction and chuckled.

Its not a good smile. Its the same one they used to wear when they were trying to pick on me.

Soon enough, the curiosity about what was going on was resolved.

Did I hear you wrong?

A noble. Your junior. Not just any noble, but the heir to a count. Hes from a family thats in the center of politics.

Shit. Shit. What a bastard. Why would a nobleman crawl into a place like this?

I was hoping for someone whod pamper me and then treat me to a little something.

What? A nobleman? Not even a country estate, but a count in the central government?

Well, dont worry too much. Orders have come from above.

What do you mean? Are you saying we should treat him like royalty?

No.

The sergeant gestured dismissively and chuckled suddenly.

George.

What?

Treat him like the others. Hes a noble, but we dont need to give him any special treatment or pamper him. Its what the higher-ups and his noble family have said. He chose this. Give him a good beating and get him out of the army, if thats what he chooses.

I thought that the noble who enlisted as a soldier would be a crazy bastard, but as it turned out, they were all crazy without exception.

No matter how they put it, what the hell are we supposed to do? A noble? Huh? A noble! Does it seem easy to deal with such a noble?!

Fuck. Recruit. Are you not mopping properly?

Im sorry!

Sorry? Will that end your military service?

No, sir!VIssT n0(v)eL/b(i)(n). for the best novel reading experience

Is it **? If its **, get rid of it. Youre a noble, arent you? Go cry to your father, saying you cant do it. Ask him to send you home.

Im sorry!

We dont care whether youre a noble or a commoner. This is the military, got it? You chose to come here. You werent conscripted like us. So do it properly. Got it? Were all watching.

Oh, its easy. I was a bit scared at first, but then I started bullying him like crazy.

What was his name again? Oh, yeah. Karl. If his name had been any more complicated, I would have been really annoyed.

Damn it. Hey, Karl!

Private Karl!

Arent you sorting the recyclables? Damn it, are you playing around?

Im sorry!

In less than a month, I turned a guy who was almost about to become a victim of torture into someone almost like a private.

The only fortunate thing was that this guy Karl had a pretty good attitude.

He was a real pain in the ass at first, but he stuck it out and adapted to military life.

Naturally, I expected him to complain to his parents, but he put up with it.

Gradually, our assessment of him among the senior soldiers and me also became positive.

Its still frustrating that hes a noble who enlisted as a soldier.

But I didnt hate that he volunteered to join the army because he wanted to suffer with us.

And then one day.

We are **ed.

Why do you say that?

War broke out.

The moment I heard that, my heart skipped a beat. War. Holy **, war!

And it was in the Southern Empires vast forests, not far from our unit.

If things went like this, our unit would undoubtedly be moved to take up positions on the front lines.

Shit, **, **.

I lamented my miserable life while biting my nails.

People say they quietly finish their military service and get discharged. Why do I have to face war?

I dont want to die. I want to live. Its scary. I dont want to go out. Im just an ordinary person.

Should I run away? Should I desert and hide in the mountains somewhere?

Sergeant, William, are you here?

The youngest. My junior. Its Karls voice. However, unlike usual, he was shaking violently.

Here. What is it?

Have you heard the news? They say theres a war, a **ing was broke out!

Yeah. Shit, I heard.

Are we going too? Are we really going? Yes?

This kid, hes trembling so much more than usual. He looks like hes on the verge of tears. He might start begging for his life any moment now.

We have to go. What are soldiers for? If were told to go, we go, and if were told to fight, we fight.

But

Are you scared?

At that, Karl hesitated for a moment before nodding vigorously.

Sighing, I put a hand on his head.

Ack! Ah, it hurts!

Kid, dont be scared. Me and the seniors will take care of everything. You just do as youre told. Run if we say run, hide if we say hide. And shoot if we say shoot Oh, wait, come to think of it, your shooting skills are really crap.

Its really strange. Hes good at everything else, but why is it only shooting that hes bad at?

Anyway, theres nothing to be afraid of. Well take care of you. And remember, youre just like the rest of us.

Honestly, Im scared too. I dont want to die. Im just an ordinary person.

But I cant do that in front of my junior. I dont want to look like Im crying my eyes out at a moment like this, when Im the senior.

So I gritted my teeth and fought. With the platoon. With the seniors, with the juniors.

Despite the damn Kanfra bastards hurling whatever nonsense they could at us, we held our ground, enduring, enduring, and enduring some more.

Aaargh! Aaaaaargh!

My arm! My arm!!

Darn it! Karl! Lock down that area!

Yes!

Rok! Rok! Calm down. Breathe! Breathe!

A squadmate, his arms severed, struggled in agony.

It was agonizing, painful, and terrifying. A pitiful sight.

But we couldnt just stand by and watch.

You bastard! Calm down! Breathe, breathe! Calm down!

Ugh! Ugh!

Hey, Karl. On three. One, two, three. Lets go!

Private Rok! Hang in there just a bit longer! Just a bit!

War was terrible. Swords clashed, bullets flew. Kanfra arrows pierced through our allies necks, and magic poured down like rain.

There was not a single night of peaceful sleep. We slept side by side, leaning on each other.

And of course, we lost too many.

Khak!

Private Thomas!

Shit!

Thomas, who had Karls back, fell. We rushed to check, but he was already dead.

Its my fault.

Its not because of you! Karl, you idiot! Snap out of it! If Thomas sacrificed himself to keep you alive, then live for his sake too! Get yourself together and live!

There was no time for sadness. No room for pity.

Otherwise, wed all end up dead. We had already narrowly escaped death three times.

And Karl, he almost died just yesterday.

Khak!

Karl!

A magical bombardment struck nearby, and Karl was swept away.

Martin, who went to rescue him, fell victim to Kanfra snipers.

Even in the midst of it all, Martin managed to drag Karl back, but he himself perished.

Ugh, ah.

When Karl came to his senses, he seemed worse than usual.

Yet, I thought he was starting to adapt, but perhaps Martins death worsened his condition.

Hey, Karl.

Ugh, ah.

Snap out of it, you idiot.

I smacked his head several times, but he showed no signs of improvement.

It took Karl two days to regain his senses, and even then, he was still mumbling strangely.

Damn it Why do I have to serve in the military twice!

Its clear that Im being punished. f I had known this would happen, I would have lived a nicer life!

I thought the kid had finally lost it, but I didnt say anything.

Honestly, who here is holding it together perfectly?

Time continued to pass. Our unit was declared annihilated several times.

Those who stayed together died and were evacuated with injuries. A new recruit fills that position.

If the new soldier dies in less than a day, a replacement soldier comes in.

Even that was not filled, leaving 20% of the unit vacant.

Hey, Karl.

Private Karl.

Dont use ranks here. What are you going to do if you make it out?

I dont know.

Thats right. Um, when this war ends, Ill. Thwak!

Damn it. What was that? For a moment, it felt like I was seeing stars.

When I turned, I realized Karl had just struck my head with his rifle butt.

Are you crazy?

Youre the one whos crazy, Sergeant William. Dont say such things.

Huh?

Flag I mean, darn it. Dont talk about what youll do or who youll meet after the war. Thats a jinx.

This kid. After doing so well for nearly two years, is he really coming back with senior abuse?

I wanted to say everything I had held back, but I restrained myself.

If I said more, I felt like Id really get shot by Karl.

Oh, no. I shouldve done it. Shit. If I knew this would happen, Id have just joked about it.

Karl.

.

Hey, Karl.

.

You asshole. Cant you stop with the rank and name? Am I really done for now?

Shut the ** up.

You have no limit to what you say to a senior. Do you want to die?

Yes. I want to die. I want to die by Sergeant Williams hands. So please, stop talking.

I looked down quietly. Blood was gushing out profusely.

I may not know much about the human body, but even after two years of war, I hadnt seen anyone survive a hit there.

Even if it wasnt instant death, they always ended up dead. There was no time to be evacuated to the rear. So, I was going to die now.

Kid.

Im not a kid anymore. Ill be a Sergeant by tomorrow or the day after.

Thats right. You were soon to become a sergeant.

.

Do me a favor.

A will? I dont particularly want to do that. Why burden them by doing such a thing?

As for leaving things for my family? Ive already given everything. Theres nothing more to send.

Its cold. Getting colder by the minute. My body stiffens. Vision blurs.

Its scary. That feeling suddenly overwhelms me. I even feel like crying my heart out.

But I dont. Because there are juniors watching. Itd be embarrassing, I cant do that.

I dont want to burden this guy with such a sight.

Get me a glass of cold water.

Yes.

Full of ice. Nothing else needed. Just that. Got it?

Yes, understood.

Okay Ha Hey, Karl. Dont die

Weve all done our part. Our seniors have done theirs. The youngest wouldnt have to do it.

* * *

The youngest sat down blankly for a moment. But soon, stood up.

Had to stay alive. It was the duty I had to shoulder as the last one remaining.

[Translator Angel Dust]

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