Episode 53

"I have no plans."

Ute's head suddenly drooped forward.

"I completely forgot about the enlistment."

"You're joking, right?"

"No, seriously. I wasn't even considering it."

Just when things seemed to be going well...

Unintelligible words flowed from his pale lips.

"What should I do...?"

"What do you mean? You'll serve safely for a year. You can think about plans during that time."

"A year? Just a year? Not five or ten years?"

"Why would it be? It's not like we're at war."

Unless there was a war or a similar crisis, the basic service period was one year.

Ute's green eyes, genuinely clueless, widened from shock.

"Are you from another world?"

"I might have heard about it somewhere... but I didn't heed."

Throughout the train ride, Ute was unable to regain his composure.

"What do you mean a conscription system in a romance fantasy... For human reasons, all should be eliminated..."

"..."

"Let's abolish conscription and find enlightenment... Ah, I can't believe this..."

"..."

"My small and precious plan... I just needed to finish the novels, but now the military... I want to go home..."

Meanwhile, the train steadily headed towards the training center.

The training center wasn't far from the train station. On the way, many had expressions more serious than Ute's.

Ute was still dazed by the time we reached the trainee registration center.

"Please show your ID. Name and date of birth?"

"Ute Velvet, my birthday is—"

"You are required to state your full name, including your surname."

"Um, uh... My name is—"

He hesitated for a moment, then whispered something quietly.

We stared at the stark building with identical badges on our chests.

"Shall we go in?"

"We have to, right?"

Ute's gentle eyes crinkled with distress.

He pleaded like a child about to get a shot.

"Sonnet, we can't turn back now, can we?"

"At this point, if we don't go, would it be considered draft evasion or desertion?"

Probably desertion since we've already registered as trainees?

Recalling the laws learned during my academy days, I smiled bravely.

"If you end up in prison, I'll definitely come visit you."

"Better to get it over with first. Let's go."

Wouldn't it be better not to get beaten at all?

I stuck close to Ute Velvet without complaint.

And so, we became trainees according to the law of Selcing.

---

An unfamiliar ceiling.

Early dawn before the sun was up, the first thing I saw were large letters written on the ceiling.

[ No Romantic Relationships in the Training Center ]

Bright red letters that hurt my eyes.

This notice was posted not only in the dormitory but also in the cafeteria, training grounds, and shower rooms.

'The problem is no one listens.'

Despite the warning, the training center was practically a matchmaking place orchestrated by the state.

I looked at my fellow recruits who were asleep, unaware of the world.

There are ten beds, but why are five of them empty... better not to think about it.

Life in the training center was very routine.

First, we head straight to the kitchen at dawn.

"Hey, you're here?"

"Hurry up! There's a lot to do today!"

"Yes, sir."

Why am I, a trainee, stir-frying onions...?

'Is this right?'

Well, it happened somehow.

I watched the onions on the frying pan turn a glazed brown.

"Isn't it hard?"

"I'm fine."

"You can be honest; no one's going to eat you."

The senior next to me, also stir-frying 100 servings of onions, subtly started a conversation.

"You're busy with work right after enlistment, but still have to train the same, right?"

"I'm fine."

"Seriously, feel free to speak. Still don't trust me?"

"No, really... I'm being honest. It's better than my previous job."

At least here, the start and end times are fixed.

'If I calculate, it's even shorter than working at the mansion.'

This kitchen alone catered to a thousand people.

After preparing food for a thousand, the real morning activities begin.

The mornings usually involve physical training in basic martial arts and swordsmanship.

"Huff, you're really, huff, good at this."

"Really?"

How many laps was it now?

A fellow trainee, running with me around the training ground, commented exasperatedly. I adjusted my pace and observed the instructor.

"Aren't you, huff, tired?"

"I can manage. Ah, come to think of it, you're in the same room as me, right?"

As a result of waking up before everyone else and going to bed later, I hadn't clearly seen everyone's face yet.

"Yeah, that's right! Do you know my name? I'm—"

"The one who kisses at the window bed, top bunk, every day, right?"

"Ah... you heard?"

His sweat-drenched cheeks flushed.

"S-sorry! I'll be more careful!"

"..."

"You won't tell anyone, right?"

Considering others were also busy with similar activities, would they even care if I said anything? Probably not.

I nodded slowly and then sped up.

'It should be quiet for a while.'

No matter how quickly I fell asleep, I didn't want to listen to someone's romantic escapades in bed.

After the morning drills...

"Sorry I'm late!"

"Hurry up and carry this!"

"When are the supplies arriving?"

"Soon!"

After running nonstop, it was time to prepare lunch.

After the fierce lunch rush, there were theoretical lessons according to our assignments.

When the theoretical lessons were over, it was time to prepare dinner again.

'Why do humans need to eat? And three times a day at that.'

Can't we just live on dew?

Serving food for a thousand people was causing me to instinctively hand over a ladle whenever I saw a face.

"Are we done?"

"Yes. Serving is complete."

"Good, the cleanup is left to the youngest."

Near the end of mealtime.

By now, with fewer eyes watching, some would boldly engage in romantic gestures.

For example, secretly passing snacks or holding hands under the table.

'I wish they'd do it outside the cafeteria.'

I wanted to finish quickly and leave.

I watched the busy trainees under the table while pretending to have a mundane conversation.

Since mealtime would end soon, they should finish everything before then—

"Have I ever confused you?"

The noisy cafeteria suddenly fell silent.

There was no need to look around; the radiant silver hair stood out among the crowd.

'What's going on?'

Ute Velvet had just dropped a bombshell.

A couple of trainees who were about to leave sat back down. Even the instructors showed interest.

"You... you started it..."

"Don't you know 'Love your comrades, love your country'? ...Or is that not a saying here. Anyway—"

"How can you play with someone's feelings like this—"

A burly fist was raised menacingly.

I hurriedly grabbed something and rushed to the table.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Thud!

A silver serving tray landed between Ute and the trainee.

I clacked my tongs and raised my voice.

"There are leftover shrimp tempura! Wow! Looks delicious, right?"

"Suddenly, what—"

"Feeling angry and shaking means you're low on sugar."

"So—"

"Let's boost our energy with some glucose, hm?"

I shoved a coconut shrimp into the person's mouth across from Ute.

After a brief exchange of glances, Ute quickly stepped aside.

"Phew..."

Fortunately, the person, now in a better mood thanks to the shrimp, left the cafeteria with a satisfied stance.

Another day, another successful prevention of overtime in the cafeteria.

"Sonnet."

"Were you waiting?"

"Yeah."

Ute was waiting for me at the back of the cafeteria. This was our first proper meeting since drafting in.

I exaggeratedly sighed.

"What's happening on the tenth day of training?"

"Sorry."

"Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong."

"Well, uh, are you okay? Doing well?"

"Better than at the mansion."

"Someone praised you and said you were doing exceptionally well. ...But don't stay too long, okay?"

"Where did that come from?"

"I'm just worried because you're too competent."

He mumbled lightly and then clapped his hands loudly.

"Right, I've set a new goal."

"What is it?"

His long fingers pointed far away.

"From now on, I'm going to win him over."

---

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