General 29

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Chapter 29. Clash With The Military Cadet School

"What? A march together?"

"No way!"

In the hall, which served as the venue for the exchange meeting between the military cadet school and the Special Duty Soul Armor Academy, as soon as we were gathered, the teachers on stage opened with the upcoming schedule. The students from the academy couldn't hide their confusion.

I thought since it was an exchange meeting, we'd be chatting and snacking on sweets in the hall.

"Hmph... Are those academy kids here for sightseeing?"

A disdainful voice murmured from the neatly lined-up cadets in combat gear from the military cadet school.

"What?! Come on, bring it!"

A hot-headed academy boy stepped forward toward the cadets from the military school.

"Alright, let's stop this, okay? They're just full of youthful vigor."

I immediately restrained my senior who was fully engaged in provocation from behind.

"What! You punk, you're just a first-year..."

He turned back in anger to face me but fell silent upon seeing me and noticing the discipline armband I wore over my uniform, a badge of the "Disciplinary Committee" given to me recently by the student council president, Domon.

It used to be the trademark of the disciplinary committee, instilling fear within the academy. They had been quite active in enforcing rules within the academy, but due to severe internal corruption, the committee was dissolved.

So while the first-year students didn't quite get it, the second and third years seemed to remember the past, and their momentum quickly waned.

"I apologize for my earlier disrespectful remarks to everyone from the academy! As the Student Corps leader, I apologize! In military school, everyone shoulder stretches! Hip stretch! Get into the push-up position! One!"

A male cadet with a rugged and well-tanned face, presumably the representative of the military cadet school, apologized in a loud voice and then gave the command. All the cadets from the military school swiftly started doing push-ups without a single thread out of place.

It's the military's famous collective responsibility.

The Special Duty Soul Armor Academy is affiliated with the military but has some private capital involvement, so things are generally more relaxed.

The academy students watched with curious eyes as the cadets from the military school did push-ups.

"Well, we've also shown an unsightly scene. We accept your apology."

Just as they reached fifty push-ups, President Domon accepted the apology.

Then, the military school's student leader commanded, "Stop push-ups! Stand at ease!" After the crisp sound of movements, the cadets from the military school aligned themselves again.

The disrespectful comment from the military school earlier was probably staged.

There must have been some coordination between Domon and the military school's student leader beforehand.

It was a demonstration to show the academy students what kind of group they were dealing with.

The fact that neither side's instructors intervened was evidence of this.

"Now, let me explain the division of marching teams. Everyone, listen carefully!"

"Well, there must be some intention behind this march, but I wonder what else they're planning... Toshi-nii."

As I watched Toshi-nii, who was responsible for this exchange meeting as its coordinator, explain the details from the stage, I muttered to myself.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

"Oh wow, there's a mountain so close to the military cadet school."

I'm currently walking through the slightly elevated mountain behind the military cadet school grounds, separated into teams, each walking in formation.

"Don't fall behind, Soul Armor user."

Leading our team, a cadet from the military school turns back, furrowing his brow as he looks at us with disdainful eyes, and gives what could hardly be called an instruction.

"Please address me by my name, Kagami, First Class Private. Clarify whether your command is directed at me, Private Kohou, or both of us, as it could disrupt our operations."

"Lower ranks being cheeky..."

"Kagami, what he said is correct. Clarify and give proper orders."

"Understood, sorry about that. Let's keep up, Private Kohou, Second-Class Kamiya."

Reluctantly, Kagami, a second-year cadet from the military school, corrects himself and issues a revised order to us.

"Roger that! Uh, Mina, are you okay?"

"Yeah... I'm fine."

She doesn't seem fine at all.

Our team is mixed by grade, and Mina was thrilled to be on the same team as me by chance. She had started excitedly, teasing Kotomi and getting scolded by Hayami-san before we started, but now she looks completely different.

It's been about 30 minutes since we entered the mountain, and walking on the difficult mountain paths with heavy backpacks is more exhausting than expected.

"Can we slow down the marching pace a bit?"

"This is our standard marching pace. Besides, we military school students are carrying rifles in addition to our backpacks."

Ignoring my request, Kagami smirks as if mocking me, showing no signs of exertion or heavy breathing.

"Kagami, you're in charge of this march right now. Is belittling your subordinates the behavior of a leader?"

"My apologies..."

A stern voice from behind, Yano, the senior cadet, chimes in, causing Kagami, who was getting too cocky, to deflate.

Yano has been observing things accurately since earlier.

As expected of a senior, his demeanor and awareness are different.

"Here, Private Kohou. We'll take your backpack."

"But... I can... no, I'll manage."

Mina tries to decline Yano's offer while catching her breath, but at this rate, our marching speed will slow down even more.

"We'll carry it together, Mina. It's necessary to speed up the march."

"Okay... sorry."

Realizing the need to reach the goal within the specified time, Mina reluctantly hands over her backpack.

"We still have a long way to go, Second-Class Kamiya. Don't regret trying to show off in front of a girl."

"I'm physically fit, so I'll be fine."

Yano and I take one shoulder strap from each of Mina's backpacks, and our march continues.

Don't underestimate my strength from traversing jungles in various countries.

Still, with the increased pace, it's honestly a bit tough.

Mina becoming lighter has actually increased our marching speed from earlier.

Since returning to Japan, I've hardly exerted any physical energy thanks to Hayami-san's teleportation ability, so maybe my body has gotten a bit lazy.

[Lately, the frequency of being called to battle has decreased, huh?]

[Yeah. Right now, it's just a marching exercise, so you're not needed.]

While adjusting to avoid getting too out of breath during the march, I casually reply to Kon's inner dialogue.

[Are you saying that? There's a military automaton, a four-legged, two-meter-class unit, approaching from the front.]

"What?!"

I involuntarily exclaim aloud despite conversing internally with Con.

"What's happening all of a sudden?"

Seeing everyone's puzzled faces,

"All members, combat ready! Enemy forces ahead! Quantity: one!"

I raise my voice.

As expected, the two from the military school immediately raise their rifles in front with practiced movements.

"A military automaton?"

As described by Kon, emerging from the woods ahead is a military automaton shaped like an octopus with four legs.

It roams within programmed areas, relentlessly pursuing enemies until its internal battery runs out. 

It's the number one thing soldiers marching through jungles don't want to encounter.

"Wait, just to confirm, this automaton isn't kept at your military cadet school, right?"

"Do you think we'd tolerate such a treaty-violating thing at our school?"

I asked to be sure, but yeah, it makes sense.

Currently, it's considered a relic from pre-international treaty times, released cheaply to the market by some idiotic higher-ups, flooding the jungle and becoming the top target for soldiers' rage towards those higher-ups.

"Damn it! We don't have real ammo for a marching exercise!"

Kagami shouts in frustration.

Even if we had live ammunition, infantry rifles wouldn't stand a chance against this automaton.

"In case of emergency, we're halting the exercise. I, as the highest-ranking present, will take command."

Yano, being the senior, calmly takes charge and continues to assess the situation.

"Kagami, fix your bayonet."

"Yano, is that really..."

Kagami looks at Yano with a face twisted in despair.

"Kagami, this is something you've always been told. Do what needs to be done for the country. For the country's sake, the lives of Soul Gear users must protect ours, even if it means becoming sacrificial pawns."

"Yes, sir! Fixing bayonet!"

Yano orders Kagami, who reluctantly attaches his bayonet to his rifle with a heavy heart with a face filled with grim determination.

"I and Kagami will buy time. Kamiya take Kohou and retreat!"

"Uh, Yano..."

"Hurry up! Let the teachers know that we bravely shielded and fought."

"Darn it... I haven't even dated a girl yet..."

With bloodshot eyes, Kagami receives the order from Yano and, while lamenting his unlived life, grips his rifle tightly, ready to charge, facing the final moments of extreme tension.

That isn't good.

They're too worked up; they won't listen calmly to explanations.

"Mina, do it."

"Gaaaaaaooooooooooooo!"

As Mina's Tiger Roar resonates loudly and hits the automaton, it explodes into pieces the size of a fried octopus, flying away.