The first thing that they would do upon joining the military training camp was to make sure that the person that arrived was the right person. In the past, identity verification took a long time but it has become quite fast and easy nowadays. This was because they could now check and verify their identities through their blood and mana. The reason why blood was added as part of the application process for the military training camp was so they could check if the mana and the blood matched. Only when they matched could they be sent to the next location which was the physical examination site.

After lining up for a long time, Jaiden was also able to undergo this simple examination before going to the physical examination site.

In the physical examination site, they would judge the applicant’s vision, disability and other bodily functions. Some would think that this was too simple for a physical examination but that wasn’t the case at all. This was because the real and arduous physical tests would happen in the training camp.

During this preliminary physical examination, they would test one’s mana as well as the person’s specific physical conditions. At the same time, they were also trying to determine whether the applicant was capable of enduring their tough and extreme training conditions. 

Once through this step, they would still need to undergo harsh training. There would also be plenty of applicants that were eliminated in the long process because the training and other schedules were extremely difficult. But if that was all there was to them, then the Northern Army’s notoriety would not be that high.

“Your physical exam has finished. You’re at the peak of the 1st Stage.”

“Yes.”

Jaiden nodded his head at him. Once his physical examination had ended, another guide immediately came out to take his noble plaque as well as the other belongings that he had. 

He would only be able to officially enter the Northern Military Training Camp after he finished all of the process of the application. He received a number ticket, an item that would replace his name throughout the entirety of the training camp, as soon as he handed over his identity plaque and belongings. 

“You have been given the number 1223. This number will replace your name in the future. Do you agree?” 

“Yes.” 

“Your verification process has been completed. Your belongings will be transferred to the Northern Command and you will only be able to receive them on the day of your discharge.” 

The guide placed his identity plaque and other belongings in a small box before pushing it to the side. Jaiden was then led by another guide when a different child was called in. 

After finishing everything that they needed to do in the management office, the numbered trainees began to gather in the training area outside. There were around 200 trainees gathered but all of them were children numbered after the thousands. Perhaps they were granted these numbers in the Leonhardt Command since they were selected after 1,000 applicants before them.

‘There’s a lot of variety.’

There were a variety of children. They ranged from children that were kicked out of the orphanage, illegitimate children, and children of prostitutes and beggars. Each and every one of them applied to the Northern Military Training Camp for a shot to live. 

At least, if you apply here, then you’ll be able to make a living.

No matter how hard or dangerous it was, the children did not care as long as they were able to get food and some money that they could use to live in the future.

Most of the children who applied were those whose eyes were filled with poison. However, there were also a few children from nobility. These children looked neat and tidy compared to the other children. Even though these children all learned mana breathing as well as their family’s swordsmanship, they were still children who were pushed back and trampled on in their families so they came here to find a way to live on their own. 

“All of you will be moving to the Northern Command from now on. Does anyone have any questions?”

Everyone stared blankly at the man who was glaring daggers at them. The man nodded lightly when no one answered him. Then, he turned around and led the way. Some children felt fed up with the heavy atmosphere while some were terrified. Although they all made up their minds when they decided to come here. But when they were already here, fear suddenly started to engulf their bodies.

The children rode a large horse-drawn carriage to get to the mana powered train that would bring them to the Northern Military Training Camp. 

“Mana train…” 

Jaiden couldn’t help but mutter under his breath when he saw the huge mana powered train from afar. 

The technology that was largely spread in this society was closely similar to that of the 1800s or the 1900s. However, strangely enough, there were objects that were similar to objects from the 2000s. The existence of mana was at the center of this phenomena. This was also the main reason why families used swords and magic instead of guns.

“Everyone, get on the train.”

The sharply glaring man brought the children to the train without letting them say a word.

Once they got on the train, they could see some guides equipped with guns wandering here and there.

It seemed like they were using the guns as some sort of safety measure. However, once someone awakened their mana, guns would not hurt them that much. Although they would not be able to stop the bullets they would still be able to avoid it thanks to their increased reflexes after awakening. Even someone who was only at the 2nd stage, the physical reinforcement, would be able to dodge the incoming bullets perfectly. This was also the reason why guns were not an absolute threat to anyone like in the real world. 

There was also another decisive reason why guns have lost their power in this world and they were none other than the monsters. Monsters were creatures that were born with some mana. Their skin were also too thick for them to be considered as beasts so it was difficult for a gun to exert its full potential against them. 

However, these guns still exert power and fear against normal and ordinary people. And as if to prove this fact, they were using this single weapon, the gun, to scare and frighten the children that boarded the train. 

The terrified children were transferred to the Northern Command by the guides who deliberately moved threateningly in the train. They were given food and they even helped them get enough sleep but each and everyone of them felt that this would be the last happiness that they would experience in this world. 

Perhaps it was because those thoughts flashed in their heads that the guides’ expressions all turned fierce as soon as they arrived at the Northern Command. They looked threatening over the course of their travel but their expressions right now were the epitome of fierce and scary. 

“Get out quickly!”

“The last one to get out will be smashed to pieces!”

“What’s this?! Are you guys rebelling?! Huh?!”

“Run! You XXXXXX!”

They deliberately spouted harsh words at the children. So the children’s faces were all stained with fear as they got off and ran. After they came out, the man with the sharp glare shouted at them.

“Stand in four rows! Go!”

“Are you dilly-dallying?”

“Do you guys want to die?!”

“Do you not have a head? You should stand over here!”

“Wake up! You sons of bitches!”

As soon as the order was given, the guides began to shout and teach the children who did not even know what four rows were. 

“From now on, we will be heading to the training camp. For those bastards who are lagging behind, I’ll make sure to show you what hell is.”

The man with the sharp glare said that before going on ahead. The guides led the children as they walked on both sides. They also looked at them nastily as they continued to shout abuse at them. 

Countless thoughts flashed in Jaiden’s head. However, he felt like he had just returned to the army back in his real world. Although he had served in the military in his real world and he had also fought against monsters in his previous life here, he still thought that being stepped on and rolled in the bottom felt like shit. They were all instilled with fear and forced to panic from the heavy atmosphere created by the guides.

Then, they were herded to a large horse-drawn carriage that was bound to the Northern Command’s training camp. It did not take a long time for them to arrive at their destination.

“Ack!” 

“That’s not something that you can even afford!” 

“Ack!” 

“You bastard! You’re a weak shit! Get down!” 

They could see children being rolled around by instructors. It looked like the adults were giving the nine year old children a difficult training. Of course, they were letting the children do this for a reason. Letting them sit down and stand back up countless times was making the children work over and gain the basic foundation.

However, the children who couldn’t keep up were being rolled hard. And no matter how physically challenged or how normal they were, they were expected to follow when they were being rolled hard since they were filtered among countless applicants and were brought in here. 

As if trying to prove themselves, the children that were deprived of enough privileges and had venom in their eyes, immediately joined them and worked harder than anybody else. 

“Well then! Attention.” 

The frightened children quickly turned to look at the sharply glaring man after seeing their contemporaries being rolled here and there.

“We’ll only be together up until this point. From now on, I will introduce the instructors that will train you. Everyone, attention!” 

The fear reflected in the children’s eyes grew exponentially as they watched their guide greet the instructor and disappear in front of them. It seemed like they were frightened more deeply after someone familiar disappeared from their sight. 

“Nice to meet you. I’m your Head Instructor, Instructor Salmosa. I’m delighted to have you in this training camp. Let us all train happily in the future.” 

The children’s expression all hardened before crumpling when they heard Instructor Salmosa say that he was delighted to have them here. 

“These will be the junior instructors that will help the head instructor. I hope that you get along well. If you listen well to them in the future, then they will be your kind instructors.” 

After saying those words, he introduced the instructors one by one. Starting from the one beside Salmosa, the instructors introduced themselves as Yellow, Red, Blue, Green and Black. Then, they stepped back when Instructor Salmosa opened his mouth again.

“It doesn’t matter what life you lived in the past. From this point on, you will only be one of the trainees in this training camp. If you’re able to hold out and endure here then you will become our great juniors! And if you don’t, then you will be kicked out of this training camp as a loser.” 

After saying those words, Salmosa placed his hands on his waist as he looked coldly at them. He looked like he was talking to sinners with how piercingly cold his glare was.

“This head instructor promises to turn you into great soldiers. Even if you’re not good at it, as long as you don’t give up on the training and follow and trust his head instructor then you will definitely become a great soldier. Understand?!” 

“Yes!” 

Jaiden answered quickly. However, the children who were staring in a daze just looked at him blankly wondering why he was answering so suddenly.

“Everyone, except trainee 1223, get down!” 

“Get down! You bastards!” 

“Do you think this is your house?!” 

“Get your shits together!” 

Jaiden’s expression tightened as he stared at Instructor Salmosa while the rest of the children got down and was bombarded crazily with curses by the instructors.

Jaiden did not know if he was seen favorably since Salmosa nodded slightly at him. However, regardless of Jaiden’s thoughts, he just continued to explain. 

“We’re going to divide you into groups. All of you will be divided into 25 groups of tens. From now on, you can think of this group as one and a whole. If one of you does something wrong, then your entire group will be punished. So if you don’t want to be a nuisance to your team then you have to move quickly.” 

When Salmosa ended his words, Jaiden was the first one to go down to find his spot. The other instructors also nodded their heads at Jaiden. It seemed like they found him favorable since he was so quick witted. Then, they all began to screw the other children over. 

“It seems like you think the army is your home turf!” 

“Get down you bastards!” 

Although the instructors were all hurling abuses and curses at them, there were still children who were staring dumbly at everything. Perhaps Salmosa also felt that he needed to roll those children harder so he spoke in a deep and low voice.

“Except for 1223, everyone should go to the flag over there before coming back here. Run based on the order of your arrival. The first one hundred people! Run!” 

The children began to run like crazy after hearing Instructor Salmosa’s words. The only two people left behind were Salmosa and Jaiden. However, the instructor did not say anything to him. 

The children were all pressed hard by the instructors on their very first day. After pressing them, the instructors began to teach them the basics. Of course, there were some children who couldn’t understand quickly. One of them was in Jaiden’s group. 

“Shout ‘We are’ when you sit down and shout ‘one’ when you stand up. Sit down!”

“We are!”

“Stand up!”

“One!”

“Sit down!”

Jaiden couldn’t help but grit his teeth when he was dragged by some of his teammates that did not understand the basics no matter how hard they were told. By the end of the day, he finally finished the entrance ceremony―it was called the entrance ceremony but it was really just a rolling ceremony―in the training camp.

***

Notes:

[Contemporary] 동기 – people who entered a school, company, training camp or club at the same time.

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