novelraw Chapter 1 : Chapter 1
Chapter 1 : Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Time to Become a Dog
As of today, I decided to become a dog.
It is not an exceptional thing.
There are more than enough people who wish to become the empire's loyal dogs.
In fact, it has reached a point where people have to compete because there are not enough leashes to go around.
If all I have is my body, I have no choice but to roll through the mud until I die.
I have no particular complaints.
The world is inherently unfair.
I only feel grateful toward the empire.
Even if it is not equal, it did not block the very system that allows one to escape the filthy mire.
Actually, I prefer it not being equal.
I would hate to experience the sight of effort being betrayed, even if it kills me.
***
Redstone Academy.
It is the empire's greatest military school.
The empire's best.
It is a modifier without a single drop of exaggeration mixed in.
The level of the cadets who graduate from here far surpasses that of ordinary humans.
Ered has just passed the entrance exam for Redstone.
Is this a dream?
Even such a thought crossed my mind.
It feels like I have grasped a star.
It is that unrealistic.
I had every right to savor the victory.
It is no exaggeration to say I have lived for this moment alone.
He could be certain of one thing.
He could confidently say there was no time wasted in vain during that period.
Clink.
He fiddled with the necklace hanging around his neck.
A thin piece of metal dangled from it.
An identification tag.
A name other than Ered’s own, along with a different date of birth, was engraved upon it.
I lightly kissed the necklace.
A missed face flashed through my mind.
A figure that remains vivid even though it has already been several years.
…I forced myself to shake off the sentimentality.
‘Right. Now is not the time to be lost in emotion.’
I was standing in the center of the formation.
Children lined up in neat rows and columns.
Most were around the same age.
The expressions of the children were monotonous, making the number of 200 people seem meaningless.
Eyes that were stiff because they could not shake off the tension, even as the corners of their mouths pulled up in the joy of being chosen.
There were also children here and there who whispered and shared information, perhaps feeling uncomfortable with the long silence.
Thud.
Thud.
The busy whispering stopped at the sound of cold military boots.
Soon, soldiers in black uniforms appeared.
I stared at them with rigid eyes.
An extremely organized gait.
There was no margin of error at all.
It was like looking at an extremely sharpened sword.
It felt like I would be cut if I approached carelessly.
“Nice to meet you, gentlemen. I am Verdo Gawin. The head instructor of Redstone.”
The man who stepped onto the podium as the representative finished his brief introduction.
Verdo Gawin.
There would be no one who does not know his name.
Especially for those who long for admission to Redstone.
A war hero of the past.
The children of the empire used to dream grand dreams while listening to his tales of bravery.
Verdo slowly scanned the boys and girls who had become preliminary cadets with his eyes.
Blood-red pupils.
That is the evidence that he is a ‘Prominence’.
A skinhead scalp.
Scars engraved all over his face like medals.
It is an appearance sufficient to present a sense of intimidation to the preliminary cadets.
“First, congratulations. You may be proud of today's achievement. It is not an easy task to break through a competitive rate reaching into the thousands. You have worked hard.”
As he commended their hard work, the complexions of the preliminary cadets brightened.
On the other hand, Ered flinched.
It was because the smile hanging on Verdo’s mouth felt eerie.
“And you will have a lot of hardships ahead of you. Because everything until now was merely a warm-up.”
What was bound to come has arrived.
The days here will never be easy.
It was not something to be particularly flustered about.
I had already made my resolve until I was sick of it.
“Are you ready to taste hell? You fledglings.”
***
Indeed, it was just as Verdo said.
The training was hell itself.
How can one thoroughly break a human being?
It was to the extent that I wondered if they had researched that very topic.
“I, I can't do any more...!”
The faces of the preliminary cadets were stained with despair.
The intensity of the training was vicious.
There was no part of the body that was not being overworked.
Joints were screaming from everywhere.
‘The true test must be starting from now.’
Ered was certain.
The total number of Prominence existing in the empire is less than a thousand.
In other words, they are precious beings.
On the other hand, there are as many as 200 successful candidates in this class.
The math does not add up.
The training will not end easily.
Not until the instructors are satisfied.
***
Seventh day of training.
Half of the preliminary cadets dropped out.
They declared surrender, unable to endure the harsh training.
“If you don't have the confidence to hold out, feel free to voluntarily leave the base at any time. Like those losers over there.”
Verdo spoke in a listless tone.
Children leaving the academy while limping.
There was no emotion at all in Verdo’s gaze as he watched them.
Above all, what pained the preliminary cadets was the fact that they did not know how long this training would continue.
If a time limit were set, there would at least be hope that one just needs to endure until then.
The intention must be not to give even a shred of hope.
Ered’s training uniform was a mess.
It had long since lost its original color as sweat and dirt mixed together.
‘This is fun.’
Laughter leaked out involuntarily.
It would be a lie to say it isn't hard.
My vision is dizzy.
My overworked lungs craved more oxygen.
A state where it wouldn't be strange to collapse right now.
‘However, this training is by no means meaningless.’
It means they aren't rolling us just to screw over the preliminary cadets.
I checked my body's condition.
Even though only a week has passed.
There is a clear difference compared to before receiving the training.
The finely torn muscles settled into a solid form within the body.
The heart, adapted to high-intensity training, endured better than yesterday.
I am growing steadily.
It is a growth rate that cannot even be compared to when I trained my body alone to enter the academy.
‘Is it because the empire's best academy is indeed different?’
I can become stronger.
More than now!
As my muscles screamed, the smile grew deeper.
His red hair flickered passionately like a flame.
“…….”
Verdo observed the preliminary cadets during training.
Their expressions are quite a sight.
Faces smeared with tears and snot.
The emotion of wanting to be liberated from this shitty training right now was felt blatantly.
It is a natural reaction.
I have already seen such sights until I was sick of it.
The number of preliminary cadets overworked by him every year was at an uncountable level.
‘……?’
Verdo doubted his eyes for a moment.
‘Smiling?’
I didn't see it wrong.
The red-haired boy was clearly smiling.
As if he were having fun.
‘It’s not like he’s lost his mind.’
It is far from that kind of laughter.
Clear reason dwells in the boy's eyes.
‘Interesting.’
Verdo, who could not take his eyes off Ered for a long time.
Soon, he checked his watch and signaled toward the subordinate instructors.
“Today's training ends here.”
Only then did the instructors stop the preliminary cadets.
“I, I lived.”
“I have no sensation in my legs….”
The preliminary cadets collapsed on the spot as if they had made a promise.
Every single one of them looks like their soul has left their body.
I managed to endure safely today somehow.
Although hell will unfold again tomorrow.
“All preliminary cadets, assemble! Take your rest back at the dormitory.”
“Ugh….”
As the instructors urged, the preliminary cadets gathered in one place, painfully raising their bodies.
“…Hm?”
One eyebrow of the instructor who was checking the headcount went up.
One person is missing.
It was soon possible to know who he was.
The red-haired boy who was engrossed in running while disregarding the instructor's command.
It was Ered.
“Hey, you! Can't you hear the instructor's command to assemble?”
No response.
“That bastard…!”
“Wait.”
Verdo restrained the flared-up instructor and approached Ered.
“Ered.”
Verdo placed a hand on his shoulder.
“…Head instructor?”
Only then did Ered, coming to his senses, stare blankly at Verdo.
It is a look that says he completely doesn't know.
Why he was being restrained.
He looked around.
Belatedly, his gaze reached his peers who had assembled.
“Is the training over already?”
At those words, Verdo’s face tilted to the side.
Already?
In this situation, wouldn't one use the expression ‘finally’?
“That’s right. Join the formation.”
“I cannot.”
Normally, I would have struck his jaw.
To dare disobey an instructor's instruction.
Even so, Verdo could not strike Ered.
He failed to react.
Because the answer surpassed his expectations by so much.
“The reason?”
Verdo exercised patience and asked for Ered’s intention.
I was curious.
What more words would pop out from this eccentric's mouth.
“It’s still not enough.”
Ered had an unsatisfied expression.
A reaction that was utterly regretful.
“It feels like my quadriceps haven't expanded enough yet. Normally, a reaction would have come by now. I need stronger stimulation.”
He was seriously checking his muscle condition.
“I like you.”
Verdo’s eyes flashed for a moment.
***
The types of training were diverse, and every single one was vicious.
Among them, the most notorious was the virtual combat training.
“Take this.”
A pair of goggles was given to each of the preliminary cadets.
They are not ordinary goggles.
The essence of magic engineering.
They are Unreal Goggles.
The magic stone embedded in the goggle frame will evenly deliver mana to the engraved spells.
Every one of the preliminary cadets had a face engulfed in fear.
If anyone knew the identity of the training they were about to receive, they would have shown a similar reaction.
“Then, let’s begin.”
The preliminary cadets were each isolated in separate training rooms.
Steel walls surrounding all four sides.
Thump.
I punched the wall.
‘As expected, it’s not an ordinary wall.’
I didn't throw the punch with full power, but it was a strength sufficient to scrape the skin.
Even so, not a single scratch appeared.
The impact was absorbed.
It must be the influence of the mana circuits drawn on the wall.
Even if a gun were fired, the bullets wouldn't bounce back.
-Put on the goggles.
Verdo’s instruction was delivered through the speaker.
I obediently followed the instruction.
As I touched the magic stone of the goggles, the sound of mana circulating hummed.
Soon after, the screen beyond the goggles transitioned.
A training room where green grass was spread.
The desolate and cold steel walls were nowhere to be found.
The background itself had changed.
‘Incredible.’
My heart pounded.
Indeed, it is fitting for the empire's greatest military school.
Seeing that the technology of the facility equipment has also reached its peak.
There was no time to be admiring it forever.
Heterogeneous beings began to catch my eye one by one.
Soldiers wearing blue uniforms.
It’s the Republic.
As if to prove this, an insignia of an eagle with its wings spread wide is attached to the right chest of the uniform.
It is the symbol of the Republic.
They are the main enemies blocking the empire's path.
A group of mentally ill people with impure ideologies.
They are all nothing but fake figures created by the goggles.
‘I know that, but.’
The appearance of the Republic soldiers felt as vivid as reality.
From the breath they exhaled to their eyes flashing with hostility.
Everything feels real.
I prepared for battle.
The allowed weapons are only an arming sword and a single pistol.
The purpose of the training is simple.
To annihilate the enemies in front of you.
Swish.
The enemies slowly began to close the encirclement from all sides.
I moved my steps to face them.
Once the distance narrowed to some extent, I raised my output all at once.
Clack.
The muskets armed by the Republic soldiers were aimed at him.
The muzzles, as black as the abyss, were working together to aim for a single life.
Bang!
I fired the pistol one beat faster.
The enemy whose forehead was pierced tumbled backward.
Without even having the leisure to see that sight, I immediately roll my body forward.
Bang bang bang!
The muskets spitting fire simultaneously at almost the same time.
“……!”
My left flank felt stinging.
“Wow, damn...!”
A curse word popped out involuntarily.
‘It really hurts!’
It feels like being hit by a metal rod heated in fire.
To think I can feel the pain so vividly.
It wasn't a fact I didn't know.
Since I was notified by the instructors in advance.
However, experiencing it in person was on a different level.
The smell of gunpowder.
The fresh blood staining my clothes red.
Even the terrible pain that makes my mind go distant.
“…Funny.”
The corners of my mouth went up on their own.
Even though I threw my body quickly aiming for the timing right before the enemies pulled the triggers, I could not avoid the gunshot wound.
I expected some amount of bleeding.
Because the muskets aiming for him reached over a dozen.
The distance was only 20 meters.
It was rather a miracle that I was hit only once.
“Stop!! It hurts! I said it hurts!”
That was not a scream that popped out of Ered’s mouth.
It is the cry of the preliminary cadets training in other rooms.
‘It hurts?’
So what?
If you complain that it hurts, do the enemies shoot the guns gently or something?
I let my peers' cries go in one ear and out the other.
Now is the time to focus on the battle at hand.
I pulled out the arming sword.
At the same time as I stood my body up after rolling once, I swung the sword upward.
That blow reached the enemy's right arm.
‘…It was shallow.’
I might have split the skin and muscle, but I couldn't even break the bone.
That series of sensations was felt intact through the hand holding the sword.
It feels completely different from killing a person with a gun.
It doesn't matter. Since it's all fake anyway.
Even if it were real, I wouldn't have cared.
‘It’s the path I chose.’
I didn't enlist with a resolve so weak that I would pee my pants just from killing a few people.
‘Deeper!’
I move the sword without hesitation.
I kick the enemy's chest.
The sword half-stuck in his abdomen was pulled out smoothly.
Immediately, I rotated my waist and slashed the sword horizontally.
The upper body of the enemy who was approaching craftily from behind was split.
With this, it’s the third person.
Up to there was good.
However, the number of enemies was too many.
Thuck!
My eyes shot open involuntarily.
A cold piece of metal entered his abdomen viciously.
My breath was choked.
Not even a groan comes out.
The bleeding is great.
A fatal injury.
Even while staggering, I swung the sword threateningly.
There was no one who got caught in the clumsy slash.
To make matters worse, the number of enemies began to multiply exponentially.
As time passed, the wounds engraved on his body increased.
Not even the strength to stand remains.
‘I was inexperienced.’
I try to reproach myself, but the victory or defeat was already decided.
The flesh that defied my will fell down at its own whim.
The enemies surrounding Ered who had collapsed on the floor.
Stab stab stab!
Their swords began to pour down like a rain shower.
Seriously, it hurts like hell.
My hands and feet trembled.
My whole body is becoming a rag from the guns and swords.
“…Not yet.”
It hasn't ended.
The body might have lost its strength, but I haven't even lost my fighting spirit.
Rather, it burned up more.
Before my consciousness completely went out, I intended to take even one more guy to the afterlife with me.
At that moment.
Flash!
Suddenly, my vision brightened.
A shadow being cast over my face.
A familiar face is seen.
It is the head instructor Verdo.
He had forcibly removed Ered’s Unreal Goggles.
“I believe I instructed you to take off the goggles immediately if you think it’s no use? I also told you to be at ease because I wouldn't give you a penalty even if you did.”
“Pant, pant.”
Gasping for breath, I checked my body reflexively.
The wounds that had been smeared with blood had disappeared without a trace.
I realized belatedly.
The fact that the pain was no longer tormenting me from some point on.
“Why did you hold out until the end?”
“Because I could hold out.”
“To think a piece of finely minced meat can even speak.”
Verdo chuckled.
“How was it? Your impressions of having your first virtual combat training battle.”
“It was incredible.”
Before Verdo’s words even finished, Ered shouted abruptly.
“…What?”
“I didn't know such an effective combat training existed.”
“Effective?”
“Because I had an experience almost identical to actual combat. To think I can experience vivid pain without actually getting hurt. It was impressive. It will become a precious asset in the future.”
Ered could not hide his excited emotions.
Virtual combat training using Unreal Goggles.
This kind of vicious curriculum does not exist in ordinary academies.
If an average person had such an experience, their mental state wouldn't be safe.
However, this is an institution that nurtures beings who have surpassed the average.
“Hahahaha!”
Verdo suddenly burst into laughter.
“Did I perhaps make a slip of the tongue…?”
Belatedly calming my excitement, I checked Verdo’s reaction.
“A slip? Not at all.”
Verdo could still not completely erase the hint of laughter.
“As expected, you are not sane.”
“It certainly wasn't an easy training, but my mind is still perfectly fine.”
“I didn't mean it that way.”
“Pardon?”
“Anyway, today's training is over.”
Verdo gestured to Ered, who was tilting his head.
I followed Verdo and came out of the isolated space.
The appearance of the preliminary cadets being dragged out by the hands of the instructors was seen.
They were foaming at the mouth with the whites of their eyes showing.
“This is madness….”
I passed by a guy who was mumbling with eyes that had lost focus and was drooling.
Only then could Ered know the reason why Verdo had asked him for his impressions of the training.
I was the only person capable of normal communication.