I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 3

‘So that reaction earlier was because I followed along too obediently.’

I walked along the yellow line while making various speculations.

“Really, it’s disgustingly huge.”

A path that still hadn’t ended despite walking for 10 minutes.

During this time, I saw various things, but what impressed me most was definitely the atmosphere.

‘Does everyone walk around menacingly carrying swords?’

Perhaps because it was a wartime situation, the security was extremely thorough.

“Is that it over there?”

Just as I was starting to sweat, the yellow line ended and a vast parade ground came into view.

‘There are already many people here.’

Hundreds, no, it looked like over a thousand men…

‘What, there are women too.’

And not just one or two, but about one in every twenty people – more than I expected.

‘Wait, then my sister could have come too.’

Of course, even if I had asked, she would have absolutely refused to go.

“We could just offer bounties and conscript commoners to push them forward like we always do, so why do we have to go out there? If something goes wrong, I don’t even want to imagine.”

“Exactly. But since it’s His Majesty’s command, we can’t refuse.”

As I entered the parade ground, I could hear the conversations of dejected noble young masters.

‘Everyone’s in a similar situation to mine.’

There really were family heirs here.

There were also those like me who had been pushed here after being promised compensation, and surprisingly, the former far outnumbered the latter.

‘That shows how politically important this participation in the war is.’

Speaking from my experience living in the Republic of Korea.

Surely after this war ends, whether one participated or not will become a lifelong label among the nobles.

“Attention!!”

Since I hadn’t engaged in social activities, I had no familiar faces and was huddled in a corner when

someone’s booming voice from the platform drew everyone’s attention.

“We will now begin the entrance ceremony. Candidate trainees, form 50 columns.”

“What’s a column formation?”

“More importantly, who is that person speaking informally to us?”

As expected of our noble brothers.

They absolutely cannot tolerate informal speech.

“If you do not wish to enlist, step aside immediately. We do not force anyone.”

‘Ah, shit.’

Familiar gaslighting.

It was so similar that I almost let out a curse word naturally.

‘They’re threatening us with swords while saying they don’t force anyone.’

It was a structure where someone had to be selected.

I couldn’t understand where exactly they weren’t forcing anyone.

“You, the candidate trainee in front there, be the reference point.”

Suddenly the man raised his arm and pointed at me.

‘Why me of all people?’

If he had pointed vaguely, I could have pretended not to notice, but since I was standing apart, it was too obvious.

“Reference point!”

Recalling memories from my training camp and private days, I raised my right arm and shouted “Reference point.”

At the same time, countless gazes focused on me.

Especially the soldiers on the platform seemed to admire this unexpected response.

“Form 50 columns. Execute!”

“Execute!”

The habitual repetition of orders came out automatically.

The man standing on the platform this time openly raised the corners of his mouth.

While sending me a heated gaze as if saying he liked me.

‘Damn, this feels twisted from the start.’

Anyway, though it was somewhat chaotic, we succeeded in forming 50 columns.

The entrance ceremony began immediately.

“General Chelsa, the Training Camp Commander, will now address you.”

After singing a boring and uninteresting national anthem, a high-ranking official appeared.

‘A general means one star, right?’

In the military, they’re practically like gods.

Their power can be considered absolute.

“Salute to the Training Camp Commander! Loyalty!”

“Loyalty…?!”

Since the host started the chant, I raised my hand and saluted the same way as soon as it ended.

The problem was that fewer than ten people, including me, did this properly.

“You don’t yet have the awareness of being soldiers. Well, that’s fine. You’ll learn properly during your time here.”

Since I was right in front, I could see it.

The distorted expression of the large-framed General Chelsa with his parted hair.

“I have many things I’d like to say today, but due to time constraints, I’ll keep it brief.”

He turned his head left and right, scanning the candidate trainees.

“The peace we thought would last forever has been broken after 20 years. Given the timeframe, most of you here probably don’t even know what war is. Most of you weren’t even born then.”

He was right.

The body I’m currently possessing is only nineteen years old.

“As someone who experienced war as a soldier, let me tell you – it’s horrific. Whatever you imagine, it will be worse than that. You will soon be thrown into the middle of such a war.”

Was it the power of words that came from experience?

Or was it because he was really talking about the future they would soon face?

At some point, the parade ground that had been buzzing with chatter had become as quiet as a mouse.

“If you want to survive, you’d better train yourselves instead of whining. Once a sword is stuck in your throat, it’ll be too late to regret. I wish you good fortune in battle. That is all.”

“Salute to the Training Camp Commander! Loyalty!”

After General Chelsa stepped down, the next person to come up was a man wearing extremely luxurious clothing.

“Uh… wait, why is the Envoy here?”

A few who recognized the man’s identity widened their eyes and stammered.

‘Envoy?’

I didn’t immediately catch on, but it didn’t take long to realize his identity.

“I will read His Majesty the Emperor’s edict. Show proper respect!”

Perhaps because this was content drilled into anyone born in the Empire.

It took less than 5 seconds for everyone from the Training Camp Commander on the platform to over a thousand candidate trainees to kneel.

“Ahem!”

Confirming that preparations were complete, the Envoy took out a scroll from a box that felt not just luxurious but radiant.

“I wanted to make time to personally attend the entrance ceremony, but state affairs are overwhelming, so I send this edict.”

The Envoy’s voice echoed throughout the entire parade ground through a voice amplification magic device like a modern microphone.

‘He was going to come personally? That’s intense.’

Since the Emperor’s status in the Empire is close to that of a god, who knows what would have happened if he had come here.

“First, I am proud of you who volunteered to enlist to practice Noblesse Oblige.”

‘It’s not volunteering! Shit.’

The gaslighting starts again.

I wanted to frown, but even that had to be careful during this time.

“I will never forget your names. You need not doubt that you will lead the future of this Empire.”

A path to success guaranteed by the Emperor.

As soon as those words came out, many faces began to brighten considerably.

“It will be awkward. This organization called the military, with its strict hierarchy and new ranks being assigned. However, I believe. That you will perform excellently.”

Indeed, the Emperor’s edict.

The content was quite substantial.

‘It’s like a principal’s moral instruction speech.’

Of course, that doesn’t mean I can doze off.

I’d be executed for insulting the imperial family.

“1,307 preliminary candidates. From this moment on, you are proud officer candidates of the Empire. I hope you fight for pride and victory. That is all.”

The edict ended by removing the preliminary label.

“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!! Long live!! Long live!!”

Following procedure, the sound of three cheers filled the parade ground.

And so, the moment the irreversible soldier label was stamped on me.

The damn message appeared for the first time since my possession.

[Special privileges are granted to you who ride the winds of fate.]

[Status window is unlocked.]

[You have acquired the skill ‘Physical Training’.]

[All privileges will disappear when you leave military status.]

[May there be blessings at the end of fate.]

“Fate, huh…”

‘No way!!! Shit!!!’

Both the timing and the message, it’s definitely mocking me.

‘If it’s my fate to do something like being a soldier, just kill me! Why give me a second life!’

I thought I had preciously obtained a second life, but looking at it now, that wasn’t the case at all.

“Candidates will follow the instructors in front to move to the barracks.”

The entrance ceremony ended, and we left the parade ground in the same formation, heading to a building on an uphill road.

“It’s 8 people per room, so fill them up as you enter.”

“What the hell is this! You’re telling me to live in a place like this?!”

A man from the front row who had checked the room first ran to the instructor, raising his voice.

“Is there some problem?”

“There’s no personal space. And why is the room so small? It’s not enough for one person, how are eight people supposed to use this!”

‘How bad could it be for him to react like that?’

I poked my head out to check the supposedly shocking room.

“Hm?”

Eight single beds and lockers placed at regular intervals.

I hate to say this, but having spent two years in barracks built in the 1970s, this was practically a hotel to me.

‘How can military facilities be this nice?’

I expected sleeping mats or at best bunk beds, but single-level beds.

The corners of my mouth naturally turned up.

“Candidate, this is the military. Return to your room.”

The instructor’s expression became very stern.

He’s definitely pissed off.

‘This feels ominous.’

Even though it’s a different place, I know from experience.

Training camp drill sergeants and instructors are crazy groups who apply collective punishment at the drop of a hat.

“I can’t live in a place like this!”

The man continued to complain.

It didn’t take long for the instructor’s patience to hit rock bottom.

“Sigh, this won’t do. Hey, get down.”

“What…?”

“If you don’t listen one more time, I’ll deduct points. You probably know what that means.”

As soon as the word “deduction” came out, the man’s eyes wavered.

‘That’s definitely connected to training camp grades, right?’

So the lower your score gets from deductions, the lower your chances of going where you want.

In the end, you go to whatever’s left.

Everyone knows that place would be the front lines.

“Wait… wait! I think there’s been a misunderstanding, let’s talk.”

“Get down. Do it.”

Faced with the instructor’s firm attitude, the man bit his tongue and finally put both hands on the ground.

“The rest of you continue entering your rooms. Come out if you have complaints.”

The man continued lying prone in front of the instructor like a war trophy.

No one was brave enough to voice complaints after seeing that.

‘Why make a scene and create such a tense atmosphere?’

This is why noble bastards are problematic.

Clicking my tongue, I entered room 7 assigned to me and sat on an empty chair.

Roommates gradually came in after that.

They all looked like death, creating an odd sense of camaraderie.

Except for one person who came in last with a smile.

“Uh…”

“Mm…”

Eight people sitting facing each other.

Surprisingly, no one spoke first.

‘I have time anyway, should I check it out now?’

From experience, this silence would last a long time, so I opened what was supposedly unlocked – the status window or whatever.

Name: Paran   Surname: Oclo

Affiliation: Adelphe Military Training Camp

Rank: Candidate

Skill: Physical Training

‘Why does this look so pathetic?’

Logically speaking, what should a status window be?

An overpowered system with stats like strength, intelligence, agility, stamina that you allocate points to for growth.

I expected something like that, but this is completely useless, isn’t it?

‘At least there’s the skill Physical Training? What’s this?’

Moving my hand as naturally as possible, I opened the additional description.

[Physical Training]

A strong spirit dwells in a strong body. Consistent physical training is not a choice but a necessity for soldiers. Train your body and prove the results.

Ability: Increased efficiency of muscle recovery and growth, Physical Fitness Test unlocked

‘Physical Fitness Test…?’

At the term I only heard in the military, my head unconsciously tilted.

[Physical Fitness Test]

Grade: Not taken

Next grade: Grade 9

Evaluation items: 3km run in 15 minutes, 30 push-ups, 35 sit-ups

Reward: Shop unlocked, 50p

‘Oh…’

Unlike the military, it wasn’t just stick – there was carrot too if you passed.

No, to be precise, there was only carrot.

‘Looking at it this way, it’s kind of like a game.’

Especially the shop – I was really looking forward to that.

‘With my previous body, I would have passed immediately, but now it won’t be easy.’

My current body was so flabby that not having a beer belly was a miracle.

Having to start over from complete beginner level, I could already clearly see the hardships ahead.

‘But it’s still quiet even now.’

Whether they were all introverts or not, the silence lasted longer than expected.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I had any intention of stepping forward, not even if I died.

‘Standing out is absolutely forbidden.’

Unless points were given through popularity votes, it was important to move with substance.

After an intense battle of reading the room, a handsome-looking man finally opened his mouth.

“Since it seems like we’ll be spending these two weeks together, how about we introduce ourselves? I’m Ion Velburn of the Velburn Ducal Family.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at this unexpected big shot.

‘A ducal family is quite suffocating.’

While my count family isn’t low by any means, a ducal family is in a completely different league.

“I’m Krushel Kastel of the Kastel Baronial Family. Please treat me well.”

“I’m Paran Oclo of the Oclo Comital Family. I think it would be good if we get along well.”

“I’m Derick Rahila of the Rahila Comital Family! Hehe, I’m dying of curiosity about what kind of training we’ll do, so I wish we could start quickly.”

Once one person started, the self-introductions came pouring out.

To summarize briefly, there were four barons, one viscount, two counts, and one duke – the average was quite high.

‘Wishing training would start quickly, he seems to have already gone crazy.’

There was a reason he came in smiling when everyone else looked like they were about to die.

“Did the Rahila Comital Family receive a conscription order? As far as I know, they should be exempt.”

Ion asked with eyes that showed he couldn’t understand.

‘The Rahila Comital Family was definitely a renowned swordsmanship family that consistently produced Imperial Knights.’

It was a family famous enough to be in Paran’s memories.

“We were exempt, but I just dreamed of being a soldier, so I thought it was a good opportunity and came.”

‘Oh… crazy.’

So there really was a genuine volunteer that the Emperor mentioned.

And no less than a son of a count family who was living a life lacking nothing.

“A… a soldier is your dream. That’s admirable.”

“Hehe, now we’re all soldiers together. Let’s work hard for these two weeks. I’m so excited right now. This is going to be fun.”

If he was saying that in a mocking way, I would have said something, but from his expression to his voice, he was genuine.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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