CH 6

The first day of military service.

It’s been around a full day since I was shipped off to begin training.

I don’t remember much of what happened on the way there thanks to the motion sickness.

After finally arriving, I fell straight to sleep in the bed provided to me.

Something to deal with motion sickness may be prudent.

Eventually, I ended up at a hostel located seemingly nearby the boot camp.

After that, there was something akin to an entrance ceremony.

It felt as if the soldiers are gathering up to welcome the new blood.

“Here’s to your promising futures as soldiers of the nation.”

An impressive speech was given by a man who looked like some form of representative.

Then, we were given our amenities and clothing.

Nothing but uniforms… I’m really in another world and joining their military… I’d understood the situation, but this is really happening, huh.

As I pondered, my measurements were taken.

My status is shown on something like looks like a terminal.

A soldier noticed, and his eyebrows shot straight up.

“Huh? What the… What’s with this Lvl!?”

Then, a man dressed differently, perhaps a superior officer, tapped the man’s shoulder and shook his head.

“He’s here on a recommendation, therefore, his level isn’t important.”

“Roger!”

With that, I barely managed to avoid offending anyone.

Still, based on that interaction, military service seems to require a minimum level.

There must be exceptions they make to the rule.

Next, after receiving a physical, comes a mock battle with… an experienced soldier.

I’m also exempted from this.

Considering my status, I’m probably too much a small-fry anyway.

So, after measurements I was to be guided straight to the sleeping quarters.

I’m en-route.

“Meals will be provided only at the designated times, so don’t sit around on your asses! The enemy isn’t going to wait for you!”

A bunch of timetables were thrown at us.

Amongst the recruits… some are Human, others Human-ish, and the rest are animalistic beast-men types, whose appearances aren’t strictly Humanoid.

And so, after a lengthy introduction… I’d imagined we be grouped into 4-man bed groupings, but we were actually called out individually to be assigned a bunk inside a large room, filled with many, many more beds.

“Recruits will spend the the first two months inside of this barracks! If you have anything to report, you will report it to me, immediately!”

I’m sure there’s some kind of meaning behind that, but I can’t make any assumptions for the moment.

“Totsuka, Yukikazu!”

“Sir!”

“Your bunk is here!”

He motions towards a bed located in the corner.

“Next… returnee Brutocles, you’re below him.”1

“Nbu.”

…I glanced in the direction of the voice.

There stood a pig, standing on two-legs.

Stubby legs, with even shorter arms.

What am I looking at here?

It’s around my chest level in regards to height, and depending on what angle you look at them from, it looks like an egg.

There’s also a weird tag on its ears. Some kind of piercing, perhaps?

“Eugh… How sad, having to bunk with an orc. I’d die from the stench.”

A man nearby pointed at me, laughing.

Huh? So he’s an ‘Orc’?

Like from a fantasy-game?

Isn’t he a little too cute-looking to be an Orc?

It’s more like they needed to fulfill a mascot-quota.

“Oink.”

The Orc, Brutocles I believe his name was, began unpacking his luggage at the foot of his bunk.

Hmm? His tail looks like a super-bushy dog’s tail.

There’s no curly pig-tail at all.

Well, anyway, I should introduce myself.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Totsuka Yukizaku. Yukikazu is my first name, and Totsuka is my surname. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”

After introducing myself, Brutocles alternated between looking at my face and my hands, before finally stopping.

Did I do something wrong?

Then, with an expression of fear written on his face, he reached his tiny hand out towards mine and took hold of it.

“Gross.”

Another recruit nearby looked on disgustedly.

What, is this in bad taste or something?

“It’s Brutocles, right?”

“Buu.”

He nodded along.

“The name’s a little wordy, mind if I call you by a nickname? Like Brute.”2

“Bu.”

Brute nodded, so he must be fine with it.

With that, our introductions were finished, and the new recruits began training.

The type of exercise where you run laps around the schoolyard with heavy objects attached to you. That kind of training.

“Listen up! All recruits are partnered up with their bunk-buddy! You will help your partner, even when they’re failing! Now! Get moving! Cadets! First, you will train your body! Eventually, you will get stronger!”

Brute, saddling up next to me, took some of the load I’d been carrying and ran alongside me.

His physical strength is quite… No, maybe it’s a level thing.

I’m more focused on the running aspect, and how slow I am!

“You’re slowing down! Show some resolve!”

On estimate, around 20% of the recruits were gasping for around this point, while the others didn’t seem at all fazed.

Most of them had decent levels before joining the military, so this much wasn’t anything special.

Geh… it’s so inteeeense.

Oh, right… I never learned what L-Charge meant, did I?

As I became cognizantly aware of it, a burst of energy seeped into my every pore, like lightning!

“Ohhhhhhhhh!!!”

Almost as if I had an endless well of stamina, I finished the exercise without running out of breath even once.

My surroundings, though, felt sluggish to me.

Woah, that’s useful! I must’ve triggered something somehow.

“Recruit, Yukikazu… pass.”

I’d even managed to impress the higher ranks.

Huh, is this an effect of being from another world?

This is the first time since I arrived here that I’ve felt a fantasy-like vibe.

As for Brute… He followed along leisurely, keeping pace.

He’s actually pretty fast, huh?

Afterwards, we were made to serve our own meals.

…The food is atrociously bad!

The food I’d eaten thus far at the inn had been decent, so I’d assumed meals in this world weren’t too bad. I was absolutely wrong.

It seriously blows.

Each of my comrades wore the same, sullen expression.

Like… what is this weird, blue-slimey stuff?

At this rate I’m going to throw up.

Everybody else is eating it, so I endured the torture and shoveled it down.

Regarding just now, once the L-Charge effect wore off, the strength I’d felt throughout my body vanished and my legs became mush.

It feels like my body is screaming at me.

I know this isn’t a game, but… shouldn’t I hurry and try to gain some levels?

A sense of urgency compelled me, but then came our allotted free-time.

Apparently, we’re allowed to do whatever we wish during this time, so long as we’re back by lights-out.

Various facilities exist in the boot camp area.

In all likelihood, it’s related to the process of becoming an adventurer.

Innumerable lounges, libraries and training rooms are sprawl across the campus.

Stepping up to a terminal, I begin using it.

Yukikazu Totsuka

Level: 1

Rate of Erosion: 0.93%

Skills:

Otherworld Language Comprehension (1), No: L-Charge

Skill Points: 10

The rate of erosion was only 0.09% yesterday!

No doubt! This L-Charge thing made it shoot up!

I don’t even know what these mysterious numbers mean!

They said it was a byproduct of atmospheric incompatibility unique to otherworlders back at the castle!

Why would L-Charge increase it?

For now, I’ll hold off on using it as much as possible.

I became too complacent from that fantasy-like feeling, what a farce.

From now on, if I intend to use it, the situation has to be dire.

Now then… First impressions based on the day I’ve spent here. I… am far too weak.

They’d told us that summoned individuals are much stronger in comparison to the natives, but now I’m extremely skeptical.

Rather than that, I should look more into these “Skill Points”.

If I recall correctly, tomorrow we’ll be sitting inside of a classroom, but… right now, I need something to take the edge off.

The muscle fatigue I’m currently experiencing is going to leave me nigh immobile tomorrow.

Isn’t there anything convenient?

“Oh? There’s some good entries in here.”

Otherworld Written Language Translation… Step, Tackle… Mana Recovery UP, Eagle Eye… Owl Eye… Oh, wow.

There’s so many, I’m not sure what to go with.

I have a bit of experience with online games… Would that be applicable here?

Regardless, ugh… This isn’t a easy decision to make.

Based on my status, my stamina’s looking dangerously low.

Isn’t there anything else… ah, here we go!

Stamina Recovery UP.

Prerequisite Conditions; Clear.

So, I’ve learned that so long as you’ve cleared some prior requirement, you can use points to acquire the skill.

I’ll use one point and attempt to learn Stamina Recovery UP.

A glowing light wrapped around my body and then… I didn’t feel any different in particular.

Yukikazu Totsuka

Level: 1

Rate of Erosion: 0.93%

Skills:

Otherworld Language Comprehension (1), No: L-Charge,

Stamina Recovery UP (1)

Skill Points: 9

I suppose I’ve learned a new skill, but… I can’t feel any tangible differences.

No helping it then, I’ll allocate a few more points to Stamina Recovery UP.

Afterwards, my Stamina Recovery UP was increased to (4).

Based on what I’ve seen so far, 1 rank equates to 1 skill point?

Oh? It feels like the time I drank one of my Dad’s expensive, highly-nutritional energy drinks.

My body feels slightly lighter than earlier… I think.

Taking a look at the stamina numbers on my status, I can see they’re gradually increasing.

Mhm… Next up… I’ve come across more than a few difficulties while being here, but illiteracy has been by far the worst.

Are there any skills in here that could help with that?

I glossed over something called ‘Otherworld Written Language Translation’, so I’ll try allocating a point into that.

Upon doing so, an item with the letters of the Lerarian alphabet appeared, and I became able to read the script by using said item.

Pretty convenient.

That leaves me with 5 skill points… I’ll leave them be for now, just in case something goes awry down the line and I need them.

Just to make sure… Sword, Axe and other weapon skills exist too.

Magic is… not on here? I don’t see it anywhere.

Footnote:

1: Using the Katakana “ブルトクレス / Bu-ru-to-ku-re-su”. The Japanese method of pronouncing Heracles is “ヘラクレス / He-ra-ku-re-su” so I’m assuming this was the author’s intent.

2: Basing “ブルト” to be “Brute” based on the previous footnote.