The shrill scream echoed, and the entire 8th platoon turned their attention. Meanwhile, Sergeant Chomo drooled from his mouth as he squirmed. A bright red blood started seeping through his uniform.
But without paying any mind to the scene, Hazen struck him again, and again. Suddenly, the fabric tore, and blood gushed out. Sergeant Chomo foamed at the mouth and passed out.
Seeing this, the entire 8th platoon was dumbfounded. However, the young man with black hair didn’t seem to care. He simply flashed a full-blown smile at them.
“I am Hazen Heim, the new second lieutenant of the 8th platoon. I will be your superior officer from now on. Nice to meet you.”
“……”
“Well? Where’s the response?”
“Yes, sir!”
They answered in unison.
“So, are you the other sergeants like Sergeant Chomo?”
Hazen looked at the four supervisors. One of them, a thin, small man, approached.
“Yes.”
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Dickett.”
The thin, small man replied.
“And the purpose of this training?”
“Well, it’s for combat, of course.”
Sergeant Dickett said in a somewhat sullen manner.
“I see. Then, the plan has changed. Everyone, you will all run until sunset.”
“…Understood. Alright, you all. Start running.”
“Don’t misunderstand. You sergeants will be running as well.”
“…Huh?”
“If all you can do is conduct such low-level combat training, then it would be better to focus on improving physical fitness by running. And if all that’s required is running, then a single supervisor is sufficient.”
“……”
Hostility filled the eyes of Dickett and the other sergeants. But Hazen didn’t seem to mind.
“Well? Your answer?”
“…Yes.”
“And the others? “
Hazen looked around. The sergeants, though with reluctant expressions, responded.
“Within my sight, run between those trees 30 times. You must finish within an hour. Those who can’t, an additional 30 times. I won’t tolerate any cheating. If discovered, you will be punished with the wand, just like Sergeant Chomo.”
“…Tch.”
One harsh instruction after another was given, and the sergeants and soldiers glared at Hazen. But he didn’t care. He impassively gave the signal to start, and they began running.
As the day drew to a close, the training ended. Most of the non-commissioned officers had managed to finish within the hour, likely accustomed to pushing their bodies to the limit. But the sergeants who had been slacking off in their supposed supervision, as well as a few soldiers who had been neglecting their daily training, had to run the extra 30 laps.
“Running is the basic foundation of infantry combat. You must do it every day until you build up at least a minimum level of physical fitness. That’s all.”
He said this and left briskly. Lei Fa, who was following behind them, opened her mouth as she watched them.
“Everyone is glaring at us, you know? Especially that Sergeant Chomo guy.”
“Glaring is not a violation of military regulations, so it’s not a problem.”
“…I don’t think that’s the issue here.”
Even though she knew Hazen’s personality well, she didn’t say anything more.
Back in the room, Hazen placed the daily necessities that were provided. Toothbrush, cup, hairbrush for bed hair. Since he didn’t bring anything other than his wand, the room was quite simple. As he lay on the firm single bed and looked through the roster of soldiers, a knock sounded.
“Who is it?”
Hazen asked Lei Fa in the hallway.
“It’s Sergeant Chomo.”
“…Come in.”
The door opened and a chubby middle-aged man entered with a faint smile.
“Well, the welcome party preparations are ready, so I thought I’d invite you.”
“A welcome party? You didn’t seem very welcoming, though.”
Hazen said, still looking at the roster.
“No, no. We’re not trying to be hostile to you either. I think there was just a bit of a misunderstanding. So let’s have some delicious food and drinks to get to know each other better.”
“……”
He was about to say “it’s useless,” but he held it back. The sergeant’s eyes clearly showed hostility. Hazen sighed and got up from the bed.
“…Okay. Are you doing it in the dining hall?”
“No, there’s a room where the sergeants are gathered.”
“I see, thank you. So I just need to go there, right?”
“Hehe, I’ll join you.”
“Hazen, should I come too?”
When Lei Fa offered, Sergeant Chomo’s face darkened.
“No escort is needed. We’re comrades in the same unit, aren’t we? You’re not suggesting you don’t trust your own comrades, are you?”
“…Sigh.”
Hazen sighed involuntarily. It was amazing that such an obvious fool was a sergeant. He probably enjoyed bullying his subordinates and had gotten quite arrogant.
“It’s okay. I’ll go alone.”
“Oh, please leave that dangerous-looking thing behind.”
Sergeant Chomo stopped Hazen from taking out his wand.
“It’s for protection. You never know when something might happen.”
“But I told you, you don’t need to worry. We’ll be in the sergeants’ room, so even if there’s an enemy attack, we’ll protect you. Or are you afraid?”
“…Okay, let’s go then.”
Pretending to be provoked by the obvious taunt, Hazen placed his wand down and left the room.
When he entered the room where Sergeant Chomo had led him, there were four other sergeants already seated, all wearing fake smiles.
“……”
Looking over the table, there were about six bottles of wine, as well as a lavish spread of meat and fish dishes. Sergeant Chomo proudly picked up one of the wine bottles.
“Hehe, isn’t it amazing? I had the chef make it.”
“…Hmm.”
It was probably obtained by force. Hazen thought it was a complete waste. But since it was an open event, he couldn’t just reject it, so he sat down.
“Alright, this is for us. Let’s have a drink!”
Sergeant Chomo pulled the cork from the wine and poured it into Hazen’s cup.
“……”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“Come on, what’s wrong? There’s no poison or anything. Surely you’re not afraid, are you?”
Sergeant Chomo gave him a challenging look. Hazen, while maintaining eye contact with him, selected another wine bottle and pulled the cork. Immediately, all the others in the room had shocked expressions on their faces.
“No, it wouldn’t be fair for me alone. Let’s toast. You all can drink, can’t you? I’ll pour for you.”
“Eh!? No, no, we’ll just pour a little for ourselves after you’ve had some.”
“Why are you hesitating? This is a welcome party. It’s common courtesy to toast together first.”
Hazen forcefully took Sergeant Chomo’s cup and poured for him, then went around pouring for the other sergeants in turn.
“Well then, cheers from now on.”
He gave a brief greeting and drained his cup in one go.
“This is a good wine, delicious… Huh? Why the gloomy faces? Can’t you drink the wine your superior poured for you?”
“…………”
“Don’t worry, there’s no poison in it. Of course not. This wine was prepared by you all, right?”
“…!”
He peered into the pale, ashen faces of the sergeants with his sharp, dark eyes.
*
The sergeants couldn’t hold back the sweat pouring down their faces. How did he know? This poison is odorless, colorless, and doesn’t discolor the wine. No, they hadn’t even removed the cork yet. But the superior officer in front of them had confidently poured the poisoned wine into their cups, with a refreshing smile on his face.
“…There was a time when I was immersed in the study of poisons, you see. I can tell at a glance whether there’s poison in the wine or not.”
“Eek!”
“Just kidding! It’s a joke.”
Hazen broke into a full smile.
“Come on, drink up. The wine will lose its taste if it’s left exposed to air.”
“Ah, um. I’m feeling a bit…”
“What, you can’t drink for some reason?”
“…Ugh.”
Sergeant Chomo gives a signal to the other sergeants.
There’s no choice but to kill him.
Now, this man has neither the formidable female guard nor any magic wand. Judging by his appearance, he doesn’t seem to have any muscle either. If they all surround and beat him to death, as usual, their everyday life will return.
“Uwaaah!”
Resolving himself, Sergeant Chomo stands up and starts to attack. The other sergeants are about to follow suit.
Clunk.
“Eh?”
In an instant, Sergeant Chomo’s head falls to the ground.
“Ha…… Gah …… “
Copious fresh blood gushes from the headless neck, and the head, like a puppet with its strings cut, rolls and hits the right arm of the pale-faced Sergeant Baz.
“Mages don’t necessarily only have one magic wand. Usually it’s just one, so it’s understandable to be mistaken. But since Sergeant Chomo has died, you don’t need to worry about it. Just remember this, you all.”
On the other hand, Hazen wipes the blood-stained black hair with a napkin, displaying a carefree, full-blown smile. The wand he was holding was a short, thin branch-like object. With a swing of it, he instantly made Sergeant Chomo’s head fly off.
“Uh…wha…what?”
Sergeant Dickett utters a strange cry, alternating his gaze between Chomo’s head and torso. He doesn’t understand at all what’s happening. They were always the ones doing the killing, not the ones getting killed. But in an instant, they were rendered utterly helpless.
Indifferent to the sergeants’ bewilderment, Hazen calmly explains his deadly weapon.
“It’s called the Wind Cutter. It’s a self-defense magic wand that I keep in my pocket. A swing of it can instantly release a sharp blade of wind. It’s handy because it’s agile and easy to carry, and its power, though small, is quite useful.”
” …… “
Abnormal. This man has not the slightest hesitation in killing. It’s beyond them. He has calmly slaughtered hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people. The sergeants all resign themselves to the fact that they cannot possibly oppose such a dangerous individual.
But…
///
Scene transition
////
“Drink.”
“Hic.”
Approaching the sergeants, whose fighting spirit has been completely crushed, Hazen still urges them to drink the wine.
“…Can’t you drink either?”
“Hic…huff…”
Overwhelming terror. As Hazen tilts his head slightly and asks, Sergeant Samue prostrates himself.
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