"I wonder if they include magic in the training program too."

It was another morning in the cell, also the last few hours Xiao will spend in here before he moves towards his new life.

Xiao tightened his boot while contemplating the life he would lead as a private rank soldier.

Xiao was now wearing the Julian Empire infantry uniform that was given to him last night, which consists of a cheap-looking iron helmet that covers half of his head, long leather vest, white woven shirt, a pair of leather pants, chainmail, leather belt, and a half-iron half-leather brown boot.

Fortunately for Xiao, his extensive experience playing MMORPG games enabled him to know the proper order in which to wear the provided gear, so he steadily donned the uniform upon waking up.

Now, Xiao felt like a completely different person, with all the gear fitting him perfectly, as if they had taken his measurements without him noticing.

"It's kinda heavy though," Xiao spoke his mind as he tries to move around after wearing the uniform set, he notices that the chainmail and the soldier boot has caused him to have difficulty moving around as usual.

"Sigh~ And I have to wear this from now on? Damn, this sure is tiring."

Xiao lets out a sigh as he sits on the mattress, feeling tired just after moving for a while.

A few minutes later, the wooden door at the far end of the corridor opens, followed by footsteps, and it's getting closer to Xiao's cell.

It's one of the guards, he was bringing a plate of bread, cheese and a cup of water on his hand, he then hands it over to Xiao, which Xiao gladly accepts and starts wolfing down the food as he was quite hungry already.

While Xiao was eating the food, the guard inspects the infantry uniform wore by Xiao, he nodded his head and says:

"I see you've already worn the uniform, good, that saves us a lot of time, as you know, you will be joining as a recruit to our Julian Empire army, starting today, once you finish your meal, I will bring you to meet your platoon and your platoon leader."

"I see, alright, which platoon I will be joining?" Xiao asked as he was still chewing on a piece of cheese, he didn't care which platoon he will be joining, but it will be awkward for him to just silently eating his meal while the guard wait for him, while also kept on looking at him, so best attempt some small talk to keep the atmosphere less tense.

"There are a total of 37 platoons for the Julian Empire army, and you will be joining the 37th platoon, lead by lieutenant Carl," the guard answered straightforwardly, and continued to look at Xiao having his meal, like a machine carrying out its task.

"I see, alright, thanks," Xiao replied, while also thinking about anything that can prolong the conversation but can't seem to think of anything, not with the guard's blunt personality.

Xiao quickly finishes his meal as he can't stand being stared at, not just awkward, but also super weird.

(Are all of the guards in this country this boring?)

Xiao thought to himself as he drank a cup of water and wiped his mouth with a piece of cloth.

"Alright, I'm ready," Xiao said as he stood up, all prepared for his big day.

"Understood, come with me," the guard said as he unlocked the cell door and let Xiao get out.

Xiao folded his school uniform which he has been wearing since the day he entered into this world, which the guard put out his hand and says:

"You can just give it to me first, I will deliver it to your dorm."

(Guess I will be meeting you again later.)

Xiao unwillingly handed over his school uniform to the guard, for it was the only thing left for Xiao that was from his world, an item to remind him of his origin.

Xiao takes a last look at the cell, thinking the timeless days he spent in here, how it looks dreadful and hopeless at first, but turns out to be not bad at all if he considers the free meal and the free times he had every day, free of worries of a place to live and also what to eat for every day.

(Well then, time to go and earn some living then.)

"All good? Alright, follow me," the guard said, which Xiao nodded in agreement and followed behind him.

The guard brings Xiao walk and passes a lot of the section in the castle, they have gone through corridors, gardens, and corridors again, and finally, they reach their destination.

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The guard had brought Xiao to a big sandy and rocky field, tons of people were engaging in their activities, jogging, marching, stretching, sparring and shouting.

"Run! Ladies! Run! The Demon God is coming and it ain't gonna wait for all you faggots to be ready, so run and get prepared, people!"

"Yes, sir!"

The guard escorted Xiao to a large group at the northern side of the field, where he saw a tall, skinny man with peculiar curly mustaches shouting orders at a group of men running on the other side of the field.

"That man over there is the platoon leader, lieutenant Carl," the guard pointed at the tall skinny guy while informing Xiao.

(Great, this is going to be a pain in the ass.)

Xiao was feeling tired just by watching the activities he will be doing for the rest of his life, for someone who spends his days coping in his room and enjoying games and stuff, this is the kind of thing he hates the most.

"I will be taking my leave from here, please introduce yourself to lieutenant Carl immediately and follow his order from now on," the guard informed Xiao, and without waiting for any reply, he left the field immediately, leaving Xiao alone there.

"Well, here goes nothing, goddamn it," Xiao worked himself up as he saw no choice of just standing at the field looking like a complete outsider, as he noticed some of the people had already whispered among themselves while looking at Xiao.

Xiao walked to Lieutenant Carl slowly while he was shouting rudely to one of the soldiers who's running in the field.

"Oui! private Owen! you call that running?! Work on those stupid legs of yours like your life depends on it!"

"Sir! Yes, Sir!" that soldier replied while running, even with his face gone pale white and he was wobbling for quite sometimes already.

(That looks awful, that guy looks like he is going to pass out any moment now, am I going to be like that too?)

Deciding not to think too much about his future first, Xiao thought of his introduction line as he was almost nearing lieutenant Carl.

As soon as Xiao stood in front of lieutenant Carl, he got his line prepared in his mind already. Xiao looks at lieutenant Carl, who's looking at the other side of the field, not his platoon, but another platoon, which was full of girls, wearing short pants and a tank top.

(Alright, time to put on my polite face.)

Xiao took a deep breath, adjusted his tone, and carefully presented himself to lieutenant Carl.

"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Carl, my name is Xiao, I have been sent by General Blake, I will be joining your platoon starting today," Xiao said politely as he introduced himself to lieutenant Carl, who's not paying any attention at all to him.

A few seconds later, lieutenant Carl seems to notice Xiao's presence, he turns his head to Xiao, giving an annoyed expression to Xiao.

"Oh, right, you're the one, right? You know, the one they called the most useless hero that has ever lived in history, now I know why, I mean, just look at you! Little shit that talks even sissier than girls, and where's your manner? Is this how you talk to your superior?! Damn freaking dipshit that doesn't know the meaning of respect, is this how the hero acts these days?! Come on! Tell me one more goddamn time! What is your stupid ass name and why are you here?!"

Xiao was a bit taken back by the sudden outburst of insult and scolding from lieutenant Carl, and the fact that some of his spit had stuck on Xiao's face while he was talking has made Xiao tighten his fist to resist his urge to wipe it off immediately, as he knows that doing so will bring him into more trouble, so all he can do now was resist and adapt the situation.

(Patience, Xiao, patience, just act like the others and get on with it.)

"Yes, sir! I'm the newly joined recruit, and I will be under your care starting today, sir!"

Xiao shouted out with all his might, he figures that this was how the army talks to each other, and to their superior, all based on his insight while watching army movies.

"Is that so? Then what are you still standing here for? You dipshit! Go join the other faggot right now!"

"Sir! Yes, sir!"

Xiao replied to Lieutenant Carl insult with another loud affirmative, and proceeded to join the group who's running at the other side of the field.

Xiao slowly jogged his way to the man who was at the back of the group, the one Lieutenant Carl called Private Owen.

Now that Xiao gets closer to him, he notices that private Owen was starting to have trouble breathing already, his breathing rhythm was all over the place, his face was getting paler with every step he took, and it looked like he was about to fall down and just pass out any moment now.

"Hey, hey, hey man!" Xiao called private Owen out, trying to get his attention by waving his hand in front of his face.

"Must....run....must....keep....on.....running," private Owen did not reply Xiao, he was so tired and so lacking of oxygen that he was in a trace mode already, repeating the same few words over and over again.

(He's gonna die at this rate.)

Xiao thought to himself before making an unexpected action, he kicked private Owen's leg.

With private Owen in such a weak status, he immediately loses his balance and tumbles on the ground, which at the end, one of his legs were covered in bruises.

"What....why do you...." private Owen angrily looks at Xiao, he tried to complete his sentence but he was too out of breath to do so, and without waiting for him to catch his breath, Xiao answered back:

"To save your ass."

Private Owen was confused by what Xiao had just said, and before he had the chance to ask Xiao about it, Xiao shouted out to lieutenant Carl, who's at the distance from where they are, spying on the girls.

"Sir! Private Owen has injured himself, permission for bringing him to the medic room!" Xiao shouted.

"Huh? What? Yeah, yeah, whatever, permission granted," lieutenant Carl replied vaguely, he has no idea what Xiao had just said and replied it in such a way that to push away the distraction, for he was too occupied on what he was currently doing, which is spying at the body of the girl's platoon, whose currently doing stretching exercise and all of them are wearing tank top.

"Thank you, sir!" Xiao replied with a shout, he then proceeded to carry private Owen's shoulder and ask him the direction of the medic room, subconsciously grinning in victory as his plan had succeeded while private Owen was still confused on what had just happened.

(Although I had joined the army, I ain't that stupid to be like one.)

And so, Xiao's life as a private rank soldier in the Julian Empire army begins... with him slacking off on his first day of training.