Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 51

Just as the craze for the new training method was in full swing.

Something else that was new arrived at the Transport Battalion.

It was personnel reinforcement.

“Receive the new recruits.”

When Roden arrived at the company meeting barracks after being summoned, Deputy Company Commander Jamie spoke with a jut of his chin.

Following Jamie’s chin, Roden saw eight men standing around hesitantly.

For some reason, seeing them made a sigh escape Roden’s lips on its own.

“Ha.”

Truthfully, this wasn't the first time they had received new recruits.

They had received new soldiers before due to personnel losses during the last supply operation and the rear disturbance operation.

But this time, the number was exceptionally large.

This was because the 3rd Infantry Platoon’s personnel losses had been far too great due to the 1st Archery Platoon's mistake.

Three deaths and eight injuries.

And among the injured, five had chosen to be discharged due to the severity of their wounds.

In conclusion, the 3rd Infantry Platoon, which had only 32 members in total, had suffered a loss of eight men.

This was also why eight new men were being introduced to Roden today.

As Roden let out a sigh, Jamie, who heard it, spoke with a smile.

“Good luck. Still, they’re new recruits for the strongest 3rd Infantry Platoon, so they’ll probably adapt quickly.”

Indeed, the 3rd Infantry Platoon’s recent strength was worthy of being called the strongest.

Not only had two of its soldiers reached the finals, but it was also revealed that one of them was a 1-star knight, so it was only natural.

However, just because their strength was excellent didn't mean they could raise new recruits well.

‘I wonder if it’ll be okay. If there are too many new faces like this, the atmosphere could get chaotic.’

In any case, it wasn't as if he could refuse to take in new recruits.

Roden received the new soldiers from Jamie and led them toward the 3rd Infantry Platoon’s barracks.

Chevalier noticed Roden and approached him.

“Are these the new recruits?”

“Yeah. Call the squad leaders and have them distribute the personnel.”

“Instead of that, everyone should be gathered at the training grounds, so let's head over there. Regular training time is about to start anyway.”

“Right. That sounds better.”

Roden nodded at Chevalier’s words and began to walk in front.

However, the new recruits watching this were baffled.

“Training grounds? Do you mean the training hall?”

“But why are we going to the training grounds? Surely we’re not training on the first day, are we?”

“Nah, no way. We haven’t even unpacked our things yet. We’ll probably just go to the training grounds to say hello and get assigned to our barracks.”

Certainly, even in the middle of a war, it was rare for new recruits to start training immediately after being assigned to their unit on the first day.

It was common to give them at least a day to adjust.

This was the same for the vanguard and main battalions, where soldiers died by the handful every day.

Because of this, the new recruits followed Roden and Chevalier with peace of mind.

And in a fenced-off open lot, they encountered a scene of soldiers stretching their bodies in bizarre poses.

‘What is this?’

‘What are they doing?’

‘Did they all eat something bad?’

While the new recruits were tilting their heads in confusion.

Roden spoke to the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon, who were each diligently stretching on their own.

“Squad leaders, front and center.”

At that, Zailo, Terne, and Federico approached Roden.

The first of the three to speak was Federico.

“New recruits, finally.”

“Right. What do you want to do? Want to pick them yourselves?”

“Just assign them randomly, and we’ll take them. We need to start today’s training right away.”

“Alright. Then, 3rd Squad Leader, take the two men over there in the front.”

Two, two, three.

The distribution of the new recruits was over in an instant.

The new recruits felt a little dazed during this process.

They had expected the squad leaders to at least look at their impressions or physiques before picking them.

But none of the squad leaders showed any interest in the new recruits.

It seemed their only desire was to take them along and quickly start training.

What in the world was so special about this training?

The new recruits felt dazed for a moment before losing interest.

From their perspective, it wasn't as if they knew which squad was better to belong to anyway.

‘I just want to unpack my things.’

That was the only thought on their minds.

But the new recruits’ small wish did not come true.

“Alright, now that the new recruits have been assigned, let’s start training immediately.”

As soon as Roden finished speaking, the soldiers who had been scattered and warming up began to line up by squad.

And the new recruits were no exception.

“Just put your gear down on one side of the training ground and come over here and line up.”

This command came from the mouths of Zailo, Terne, and Federico.

Eventually, one of the new recruits asked in bewilderment.

“We… it’s our first day, but are we participating in training?”

“Of course, if you’re a soldier, you train. What else would you do?”

“But I heard there’s supposed to be an adjustment period……”

“In our 3rd Infantry Platoon, as long as you adjust well to the training, you don’t have to worry about anything else. So stop your chatter and get in line.”

The squad leaders’ attitudes were so firm that the new recruits couldn't ask any more questions and got in line.

And so the training continued.

The morning run was ordinary enough.

But from the basic skills training, something felt off.

The intensity was beyond imagination.

But what was even more surprising than the intensity of this basic skills training was the atmosphere of the soldiers conducting it.

“Aah! Delicious!”

“Delicious, so delicious!”

They kept letting out these incomprehensible exclamations of admiration while swinging and thrusting their swords.

‘Wh-what on earth is delicious?’

The new recruits felt like they were going to lose their minds in this incomprehensible atmosphere.

What's more, these exclamations grew even louder as the training progressed into the latter half.

It was when even the existing soldiers finally started screaming.

“More, more, more, more! Just one more! Doing one more right here is what real training is all about!”

Chevalier shouted, and the existing soldiers followed his command and managed to perform one more movement.

Because of that, the new recruits had to feel a pain like their bodies were being wrung out.

“Good! Morning training is over!”

The moment Chevalier declared the end of the morning training, a new recruit collapsed with a thud.

‘This is my limit.’

Seeing him, the other new recruits also collapsed to the ground one by one.

But the collapsed recruits belatedly sensed that the atmosphere was unusual.

Just as they expected.

Even though the end of morning training had been declared, none of the existing soldiers were resting.

Instead, they were stretching their bodies in bizarre poses, just as they had seen when they first arrived at the training ground.

‘What in the…….’

What is this?

Before they could even finish that thought, a soldier urged a new recruit.

“New blood, what are you doing? Do you want to ruin today’s training? Get up and stretch.”

“Stretch?”

“Yeah. Hurry up and do it.”

The new recruits assigned to other squads also heard similar things.

In the end, the new recruits had to get up and perform the first stretching of their lives.

***

After finishing the unexpected morning and afternoon training on their first day, the new recruits shook their heads while eating dinner.

No matter how much they thought about it, they couldn't understand what kind of training they had received today.

‘That stretching thing was weird. Massage? That was even weirder. They even forcibly pushed us into an ice-cold valley after training was over. At this point, isn't this torture rather than training?’

Moreover, they had to go to bed early after eating dinner.

Something about getting nine hours of deep sleep to be ready for tomorrow’s training.

Since they were assigned to their unit during a war, they didn't expect a welcome party or anything.

But they just couldn't understand why there was so much focus on training, training, training.

“Why do you think? It’s because we have to live.”

Suddenly, a voice was heard, and a new recruit belatedly raised his head.

Surprisingly, it was Roden standing there.

“Tra-Transport!”

The new recruit hurriedly stood up from his seat and saluted, and Roden accepted it with a smile.

“At ease. Rest. Anyway, was that a good enough answer?”

“Ye-yes? What do you mean, sir?”

“Weren’t you just wondering with your face buried in your tray why these guys are so obsessed with training, training, training?”

“N-no, sir!”

“What do you mean, no.”

“A-actually, you’re right, sir.”

“I am?”

“N-no, sir!”

“I’m not?”

“Y-yes, you are, sir!”

“So am I right or not? Pick one, just one.”

Only then realizing it was okay to answer honestly, the new recruit scratched his cheek and spoke.

“I was actually having similar thoughts. But how did you know?”

“Because it’s obvious. Anyway, the reason we’re so obsessed with training is to survive.”

“To survive?”

“Yes. Because the stronger you become, the higher your chances of survival, even if just by a little.”

“Ah……”

“And at the same time, it’s to save our comrades.”

“……”

“The stronger I become, the higher the survival chances of the comrades fighting back-to-back with me.”

“……”

The new recruit was at a loss for words at the unexpected reason.

It wasn't just the new recruit who was speechless.

The other soldiers nearby who were listening to Roden and the new recruit’s conversation were also at a loss for words.

The proof was that the spoons in their hands had stopped moving.

Roden continued to speak amidst this atmosphere.

“The reason we received eight new recruits today, including you, is because we weren’t strong enough. That’s why you came, and we got a second chance. A second chance to save myself and my comrades.”

“……”

“But don’t you dare wait until you get a second chance. Train hard and be sure to save yourself and your comrades on the first chance.”

“……”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“……Yes! I understand!”

The new recruit stood at attention and raised his voice.

Roden patted the new recruit’s shoulder, left him with one last word, and departed.

“Make sure you survive for a long, long time.”

Unaware that his words had struck a chord not just with the new recruit, but with every soldier present.