Chapter 13
After observing the recruits' training, I headed with Rona to greet the senior officers of each unit.
It seems they had heard the details from Grandfather last night, and though they were surprised, assuming I was a boy, their friendly demeanor put me at ease, and I sighed in relief.
The general image of a soldier is rough, rowdy, and aggressive.
On the other hand, the image of a knight is gentlemanly, kind to everyone without discrimination, and good-looking.
Even though no one had told me this explicitly, I had thought the same.
However, the soldiers I actually met and spoke with were all very kind and gentlemanly in their approach.
Father and Uncle Ruget had said that Grandfather shows no mercy even to family, but he granted my selfish wish to enter military school despite having no intention of becoming a soldier, and even arranged for training to prepare me after enrollment.
Moreover, he didn't just handle it casually; he assigned Rona, a woman, as my instructor, which is quite favorable treatment.
I had been anxious until I came here, but now that anxiety is turning into anticipation and excitement.
If I work hard, I might be able to move on to practical training in less than a year.
No, I'll aim for that and give it my all!
My naive thoughts, filled with anticipation, were, in conclusion, terribly misguided.
First day of training.
I woke up at four in the morning, a time when the sons and daughters of nobles would still be asleep.
After hurriedly getting ready, we gathered outside for stretching and running drills.
This much was still within my expectations, and I even had the leisure to exchange greetings and light conversation with those around me.
At that time, I was surprised to hear that some commoner children help out at home or work from this early hour, but a few of the new recruits, who gave a wry smile saying, "Well, if your family's well-off, it's just helping out a bit......", had apparently been working since they were much younger.
After about two hours of early morning training, we moved to the cafeteria for breakfast.
Having lived a life where I sat down and was served, I blinked repeatedly at the sight of the long line at the counter in the spacious cafeteria.
"You line up at that counter over there with this tray. The meal changes daily, but it's pretty tasty and there's a lot of it. If you want to adjust the portion, just tell the lady who serves it."
Rona, who lined up with me to explain, showed me how to do it as an example.
After that, I lined up with the other recruits, nervously holding my tray, and when I sat down and saw the amount on Rona's plate, who was already seated, I was dumbfounded.
Even for a man it would be a lot, but for Rona, a woman!? Looking around, everyone had similar portions, and among the recruits, some were stuffing their mouths while pale-faced, saying, "This is part of the training too."
After breakfast, it seems individual training focused on specialized skills takes place, but for me, it's a separate menu of basic physical training.
During this time when the recruits are gone, Rona and Rick, my instructors, have training at the drill ground supervised by Grandfather.
"Absolutely do not leave this area. And keep an eye on her."
Saying this to me and my escort, they told me to complete the tasks written on the paper handed to me as a practice menu......
"It's tough at first, but you'll get used to it after about six months."
Unable to do the first task, push-ups, I ended up flat on the ground, becoming friends with the dirt.
The escort watching nearby showed me how to do it, but it wasn't something I could manage with just determination...... I'm sorry......
As if anticipating this, the paper even had instructions for what to do if I couldn't manage, and though I gripped it tightly and tackled each task one by one, I couldn't complete a single one satisfactorily. When Grandfather came to check on me at the cafeteria during dinner, he burst into laughter seeing my dejected state......
After dinner, each unit holds meetings and discussions, and the time until bedtime is personal time for bathing, laundry, or, for the more dedicated, self-training.
In my case, I have a bathroom in my room, and though I need to learn to do my own laundry, I lacked the energy and strength, so my maid did it for me, placing me in a much more privileged environment than others.
But......
"M-My body won't move. B-Bath......"
Unable to even get into the bath, I tried crawling, and my maids, seeing me in such a state, screamed and ended up carrying me to bathe.
I had arrived at the fortress full of confidence, only to end up in this pitiful state......
Rona said I'd get used to it in six months, but I feel like that just means getting used to the aches and pains in my body, not necessarily managing the training itself.
If things continue like this, won't I struggle after entering military school?
If I'm called the weakest among my peers, it would tarnish Grandfather's name......
Until I got into bed, I was anxiously mulling over various thoughts, but by the time the blanket was over me, my consciousness faded......
After two months of such a lifestyle, I gradually became able to handle the physical conditioning called basic training.
It's not that I got used to it. If I don't do it, I'll drown......
Around the first month, when Grandfather came to observe the training, he saw me collapsed on the ground, exhausted even after a break, and splashed water on me.
As I opened my eyes and mouth in shock, a second wave of water came pouring down in a large amount.
"Get up already. You're in the way."
Grandfather's face, looking down at me from above as he said this, was indescribably terrifying and cold.
Realizing I had been spoiled by his words of "No need to hold back," I trembled with shame and renewed my determination to build my basic stamina within a year!
The water attacks continued, and by the time six months passed, Grandfather said, "You're at the lower-middle level now," and after a year, I earned the words, "Middle-lower."
During that time, the hardest thing was making excuses to Father.
I struggled every time with how to reply to his letters asking when I would return.
Starting with excuses like falling ill, wanting to broaden my horizons, or wanting to stay with Grandfather a bit longer, I wrote numerous replies, and in the end, Grandfather responded with, "We're busy with various things, so wait for contact from us."
By the way, I didn't attend that depressing annual music festival.
Though it's technically mandatory, if you claim injury or illness, missing it once or twice isn't a problem.
According to the letter, Father also didn't attend, and it's unclear whether my stepmother and stepsister participated.
More than not wanting to see the interactions between my fiancé and Mirabel, I was genuinely too busy day after day to even think about it.
"It's still so hot......"
I tugged at the collar of my shirt with my fingers, fanning air in with a flapping motion.
Just the other day, Rona gave me the approval to start practical training, and starting today, I'll begin practical training with Rick.
While feeling frustrated yet impressed by the accuracy of Grandfather's initial words about it taking a year and a half, my anticipation for what practical training entails grew, and I couldn't help but hop a little as I walked.
"......Hm?"
Wiping the sweat trickling down my cheek with the back of my hand while heading to early morning training, I tilted my head upon noticing a carriage entering from the gate.
The carriage stopped at a slight distance, and the coachman opened the door. From it stepped out a child, judging by their height, not an adult.
Without removing the hood that covered their face deeply, the child disappeared into the building as they were.
Looking straight up, the sun was dazzlingly bright. The temperature would gradually rise after this.
On such a damn hot day, why were they dressed like that? I wondered, but quickly lost interest, assuming they were an officer's child, and ran over to my training mates who were calling my name and waving at me.