Chapter 58

BOOM!

BOOM!

A loud knocking sound, as if something huge and heavy was pounding against the door, reverberated into my ears while I sat on the bed, idly fiddling with a guitar.

Some might find it rude, the roughness of this knock. But when I think about who might be on the other side of this door, such thoughts vanish.

Considering who it is, this is probably the most polite and gentle they can manage when knocking on a door.

“Come in.”

I set the guitar aside and slowly rose from the bed, walking over to the table where a teacup rested.

Soon after, a colossal arm, so strong it could squash a head like tofu, grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open.

A massive, burly back squeezed through the small doorway, barely making it through. The sound of the uniform stretching slightly could be heard as it struggled under the strain.

Despite his attempts to hide it, the gleam reflecting from between the white gloves and the collar kept drawing my gaze—proof that he possessed a mechanical prosthetic.

“Salute.”

As always, Rex greeted me with a respectful salute.

“You’re wearing your uniform?”

Those were the first words I said to Rex upon seeing him. Without dropping his salute, he replied.

“Yeah, this isn’t the battlefield after all.”

Rex’s expression seemed somewhat discontented. Two thoughts simultaneously crossed my mind.

The first was, shouldn’t warriors wear thicker armor on the battlefield? A rather basic observation.

The second, far more impolite thought, was: “Uniforms and Orcs, what a peculiar combination…”

…Is he trying to be hipster or something?

With the intricate blend of Dwarf-engineered cybernetic limbs and his wild, muscular physique, Rex already had a high hipster score. But now, dressed in the ornate, flashy uniform typical of this medieval world, his hipster index had likely breached the threshold.

Orc.

Always shirtless, with massive weapons strapped to their backs, shouting about honor and valor. Even when covered, they typically wear leather outfits that only cover essential areas, prioritizing exposure and wildness.

Yet, here stands an Orc wearing a decorated military uniform encrusted with medals, giving a salute to me—and one of his arms is still mechanical.

“…Salute.”

Suppressing the myriad of rude questions bubbling up inside me, I gave an awkward salute in return to bring his hand down.

“Please, take a seat.”

Before Rex arrived, I had prepared an Orc-sized chair, roughly twice the size of a human one, ensuring his massive frame could sit comfortably while lifting his teacup.

…Upon reflection, I should have also prepared an Orc-sized teacup. Although colossal, it seemed tiny in his hands—more like an espresso cup.

“How’s the wound on your back?”

“It’s healed enough that it won’t hinder me in an immediate battle. Thanks to some talented priests,”

Rex flexed his burly arm underneath his uniform, proudly displaying his prowess.

…While I know he would never do it, seeing these massive arms up close made me wonder if he could easily smash my head like tofu at any moment.

“And how is the new Artifact I provided? Are you satisfied with it?”

“…It’s far more versatile than I expected. At first, it felt quite tricky to handle, but once I got the hang of it, I adapted quickly enough.”

Rex patted his chest over his uniform as he explained.

I struggle to properly handle the red crystal, yet for Rex—a warrior by nature—such things seem to be effortless.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“There is just one curious aspect: an intense sense of hunger. I eat about three times the usual amount. Initially, I thought it was my body recovering from the wound, but even after fully healing, my appetite hasn’t decreased.”

“Potent Artifacts come with corresponding drawbacks. However, don’t worry too much. As long as you keep eating, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

One of the many advantages of Rex’s Artifact is how negligible its downside is compared to its power.

There are plenty of Artifacts that demand unreasonable prices—like sacrificing years of life or losing hearing—but merely having an increased appetite is manageable.

“…I can’t entirely dismiss that as a simple issue. In the battlefield, supplies don’t always arrive on time. Enduring with minimal food is also a key quality of a good warrior.”

Rex反驳ed my optimistic tone with a stern expression.

“…That’s true.”

Rex’s point was valid; this isn’t a game where you can always pull out a timeless loaf of bread from an infinite inventory space.

…He’s correct, though he doesn’t need to look so serious while saying it. This Orc takes things too seriously.

“Ahem, alright, let’s move to the main topic. You know that I, still being less experienced, need to travel with both Alter and Lir, correct?”

“I’m aware.”

“We have three mages to protect, and even for Rex, guarding all three seamlessly would be difficult, wouldn’t it? It’d be ideal if we had at least one more frontline warrior suitable for Valleland’s standards.”

Right now, having only Rex to balance the team is problematic. With three mages and only one frontline warrior, the likelihood of not handling sudden ambushes or unforeseen variables is too high.

We need more frontline support to compensate for the mages’ weaker agility and survival capabilities.

Ideally, we need a capable ranger or assassin for reconnaissance as well…

“What about Trian? Considering how shy Lady Lir appears to be, it might relieve some pressure if it’s someone she knows.”

“He has good guide skills, but his combat ability is lacking.”

Sorry, Trian, but realistically, his skills aren’t up to par with Valleland’s standards.

I watched him struggle to pierce the hides of the spider monsters in the Achilipthus Forest.

Of course, his remarkable pathfinding and observational skills as an elf are undeniable, but if his arrows fail to effectively harm enemies, his role might be insignificant for this upcoming battlefield.

“Besides, this time we don’t need scouts. As you know, Rex, we already have three mages. What we desperately need are infantry to protect these mages.”

“I know someone talented who fits the role.”

“Is he capable enough for Valleland?”

“Not only is his current ability outstanding, but his potential is boundless as well.”

“Then bring him along. We need people who can protect us in emergencies.”

*

The week flew by faster than usual.

Lir and I secured one of the many vacant rooms in the castle and continued our daily training to prepare for the perilous battlefield.

My focus was on developing my senses to better handle the red crystal. Lir concentrated on casting spells more swiftly and deftly than before.

“Uh, hello! Commander of the Continental Union Training Base…”

After Alter’s training, Lir and I received basic military training from the specially invited drill sergeant—no, the Training Commander himself.

Until now, we were able to rely on our unique talents to cover for our awkward movements, but this upcoming battlefield demands more.

“C-Covering trench warfare, the primary battlefield strategy, we will conduct a crash course within a week. With a soldier’s spirit, our goal is to complete this training perfectly, but should we encounter any problems…”

It was evident the commander felt apprehensive about training generals such as ourselves.

“In trench warfare, the role of mages is…”

Unlike Alter’s magical lessons, the commander’s teachings did not truly resonate with me.

Thanks to my naturally high magic stat of 20, learning magic wasn’t too difficult, but military training was a completely different domain.

I didn’t expect much anyway.

Since I woke up in this body, I’ve never felt especially intelligent outside the realm of magic.

“W-Though physical training should follow, due to time constraints, we will skip it!”

Due to the commander’s thoughtfully planned curriculum and his commendable military spirit, Lir and I managed to learn fundamental movements and the positions mages should maintain during combat to a decent degree.

Although we only practiced it without fully mastering it, it’s still a hundred times better than heading blindly into battle knowing nothing.

“Salute!”

With that, the morning of our hastily prepared departure arrived, and Rex greeted me with a thunderous salute at the gates of the castle.

Behind him stood a male warrior, with a colossal sword strapped to his waist, nearly as large as his own body.

“Salute! Assigned as the bodyguard for General Bin as of this moment, Private Add at your service!”

His cheerful tone was questionable for addressing a general, but his friendliness was undeniable.

…A private?

“How long have you been in the military?”

“I just finished basic training yesterday!”

Hearing Add’s response, I couldn’t help but look at Rex with an expression seeking clarification.

“Add is a proven adventurer whose abilities are exceptional. He’s a man of justice, having singlehandedly defended isolated villages from monstrosities. Technically speaking, he might even surpass me.”

“When the offer came, I was surprised. Bodyguard to the genius mage who’s made waves across the continent? Sounds like the perfect opportunity to become a hero, which I couldn’t pass up. So, I promptly joined the army under Rex’s recommendation!”

“…He talks a bit too much, but his skills are reliable.”

“I completed the two-month basic training program in just three days! The instructor said it was the third-fastest record in history. You’ll soon recognize my skills, General!”

His speech, barely a week into his military duties, lacked the formality expected of a soldier.

“My goal is to become a hero! Please count on me, General!”

…The sheer audacity to declare such a clichéd ambition in our first meeting nearly left me incredulous.

“…Hmm. Yes, salute.”

Add’s hand slightly fumbled as he reverted from the salute to attention stance, evidently still unfamiliar with the military etiquette.

…Is it too harsh to suggest he might need a refresher on basic drills, considering he’s only been in the military for less than a week?

“So, we’ll be counting on your support from now on!”

Watching him now, he reminded me of the kind of character that 80s Japanese game directors might adore.

Indeed, Add wasn’t a person but rather a character.

His use of corny phrases, coupled with his physical appearance—a massive longsword slung over his back and his punkish hairstyle resembling a pinecone—fit perfectly into the archetype of the 80s ‘Warrior’ trope.

Staring at him made me reflect on what kind of world I had been thrust into.

Medieval Fantasy.

A world devoid of diversity or originality, rigid and formulaic where one’s career path appears predetermined at birth—most Orcs become Barbarians, Elves become Rangers, and Dwarves become blacksmiths.

I dislike this world.