I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

39 – I Really Can’t Remember…

Ugh, it’s so hard. And still embarrassing! Joachim screamed inwardly.

He still couldn’t get used to these strange and ridiculous clothes.

The body is a yellow fish, so why is the head his own?

He wants to hide. Whatever happened, he wants to turn it around and make it unrecognizable.

But Karl did not allow Joachim’s request.

He even prohibited changing the mask, glasses, and hairstyle.

The reason was that he must be ‘Joachim’ himself.

“Ugh! Please help me with these!”

Joachim, who couldn’t endure it, finally asked for help from three others.

Thinking that they would take turns doing this, he believed they would sympathize.

However, it was a mistake. And a misjudgment.

“Oh. It’s fine, it’s fine. We just have to do this for 30 more minutes.”

“That’s right. That’s right. We’re not like everyone else, exaggerating or pretending.”

“How nice to get everyone’s attention. Huh? I envy that! So, cheer up, Joachim.”

“These bastards! Are you even friends after doing that?”

“Well, just not today and tomorrow.”

Joachim realized thoroughly that he was alone. It was an inevitable path.

Of all things, they excelled only at ‘learning,’ and he was the only one suffering.

If he had known, he should have become more friendly with the fire.

“Oh, dear….”

Sighing, Joachim headed towards the booth again today.

And then, as if he were dancing all around, he induced attention.

Hmm. As he did, it seemed interesting… No, not really. Am I going crazy?

Less than the first day but still, today too, whispers of ‘Isn’t that Senior Joachim?’ reached his ears.

“Yeah, it’s me. Since it’s me, stop whispering already. Don’t point with your fingers like that…”

If his family saw him like this, he wondered what kind of reaction they would show.

Screaming? Or getting angry? No, maybe they would laugh and find it amusing.

Then suddenly, Joachim discovered an unusual guest.

“…Army uniform?”

If he didn’t see it wrong, yes, that red-haired woman was definitely wearing an army uniform.

He remembered seeing it from a distance during military events and even during training camp.

She even had a splendid silver medal hanging on her chest.

“Could she be here because of what happened yesterday?”

If that’s the case, she’s not a very welcome guest. It’s unnecessary to bother with her.

Even a generally well-behaved guy like Karl can be really frightening when he gets angry.

With a worried heart, Joachim observed the red-haired guest.

“Master.”

…Master? Wait a minute. Who’s the master here?

Are there professors here? There aren’t, right?

“I’ve come.”

The woman who spoke like that surprisingly turned out to be Karl, who was holding a fish-shaped bread.

Seeing that scene, Joachim reflexively looked at Selena without even realizing it.

A beautiful appearance that didn’t match the army uniform.

On top of that, a voice that gave a strong feeling of familiarity immediately upon hearing it, with a friendly tone to it.

In that situation, if Selena’s reaction had been positive, it would have been unbelievable.

“….”

Uh, well. Looks like something big happened. This seems really bad.

*

“Love?”

At first, I didn’t recognize her immediately. Back then, we were both wearing disguises, trying to deceive each other.

Moreover, at that time, she had really short hair, much shorter than now.

Ironically, some members at the time actually thought she was a man and even gossiped about it.

It wasn’t until her face didn’t look too good, and someone asked about her gender that we found out she was a woman.

“Yes, it’s me.”

Love. Lavrenti. A person I had briefly met from another unit.

Afterwards, we were assigned to different areas, and we never met again.

Since our encounter was so brief, she wasn’t someone I held deep in my heart.

Just passing by, adding one more comrade I wished had lived.

When I heard that KPF forces had attacked their front line, I just hoped she was safe, a passing thought.

But, could I ever have imagined meeting again in a situation like this?

“I was worried you might have forgotten, but you remember, huh?”

“The memory was quite vivid back then. Our kids making mistakes… but more importantly, what brings you here?”

“I’ve been discharged. As a sergeant, just like our instructor.”

And, I got this too. It’s much lower in rank than the medal I received, she says while awkwardly smiling and pointing to her chest.

“Uh….”

Unless I’m mistaken, that shining thing there is the Silver Merit Medal.

She casually brushes her hand over it, saying it’s much lower in rank than the medal I received.

But in reality, even that Silver Medal is quite challenging to earn.

Moreover, Love wasn’t even a sergeant from the start; she was a regular soldier like me.

To think a soldier who was just swept away in one battle earned such a medal?

She didn’t specialize in anything. Probably had some remarkable achievements.

Something unfamiliar to me, who was far from the front line where she was.

“It’s the Silver Merit Medal.”

“Yes.”

He didn’t offer congratulations. Instead, he conveyed words of acknowledgment for the hardship.

Anyone returning from the battlefield. No one, no matter how decorated, wanted to hear such words.

“Do you believe that I received this medal all thanks to my master?”

“Me? What did I do?”

“Well, actually…”

*Cough!* *Ahem!*

Just as Rave was about to speak, a sudden, loud cough erupted from behind.

Turning my head, I saw Selena glaring at me with her arms crossed.

“Karl.”

“Huh? Oh, Selena. Why?”

“Save the small talk for later. Can’t you see the people waiting behind? They may not be saying anything, but you can feel the discomfort in their eyes, wondering when you’ll finish and they can go.”

Oh, right. I was in the middle of doing business. Unbelievable. I left the customers waiting.

“Rave, sorry, but let’s continue the story a bit later. Is that okay with you?”

“If it’s something the master came up with, I’ll believe and follow without hesitation. Put everything on the menu in the bag, please.”

As he wished, I placed one fish-shaped bun of each type into the bag.

Taking it, Rave turned around, saying he would be back during the booth closing time, and disappeared.

“Ugh…”

But why does that guy address me as the master and claim that he got the medal thanks to me? What nonsense is this? I have too many questions to ask.

“Alexander.”

“Huh, Selena. Why?”

“Switch places with Karl.”

“Aah?! I just switched with him and am on break.”

“Switch. Right now.”

“Okay.”

After 10 minutes of exchanging places with Alexander, I found myself back in the chair.

Sorry, Alexander. I’ll make it up to you later.

“Now.”

Insisting on the seat change, Selena, who had placed herself across from me, settled onto her chair.

He then raised his fist, slightly leaning forward with his chest, and opened his mouth.

“Now, tell me the story properly. Who was that person just now?”

Selena wondered why he was suddenly acting this way, but decided to answer obediently for now.

Judging by his expression, avoiding the question with a “Why do you ask?” wouldn’t work.

“Raventi. Someone I briefly met from another unit during the height of the Rosen War.”

“Is that all?”

“Unfortunately, that’s all. We were in different units to begin with, so we only met once.”

“…Then why does that woman refer to you as her master with a sword?”

I’m curious about that too, Selena. What’s the deal with the master? It refers to someone who has given good teachings in any way to someone like me.

But, in reality, I haven’t told or passed anything on to Raventi. Instead, I just apologized and bowed my head for covering up mistakes made by our squad members.

Ha, suddenly feeling unjustly treated. Why should those idiots cause the accident and I take responsibility?

Stupid guys. They should know that there are female soldiers in the Imperial Army.

“…I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“It might sound like a joke, but it’s true. I really can’t figure it out.”

Upon hearing this, Selena makes a bewildered expression.

“You claim you can’t remember, but that person is genuinely polite, calling you ‘master, master.’ Does that make sense even if you can’t remember?”

“Right now, I also know how ridiculous I must look. But honestly, I have no idea.”

“Unbelievable.”

At first, the atmosphere was slightly eerie, but now it has returned to the usual Selena.

It seems she is subtly sympathizing with Raventi. She even tells me that I’m being too harsh.

In this light, could my ignorance be a blessing from the gods?

“…Come to think of it, he said he received the Eunsung Medal because of me.”

“Eunsung Medal?”

“Yeah. Eunsung Military Medal.”

If we discuss the order, it follows the Imperial Honor Medal and Cross Military Medal.

However, all three. No, all the medals below them are rare, precious proofs of courage and pride as a proud member of the Imperial Army.

Rav has said he’s much lower than me and feels embarrassed, but there’s no need for that at all.

“If he had been from the same military background, he might not have been as sharp as a knife, but he certainly made a considerable impact… Do you happen to know anything about him?”

“I don’t know. Our fronts were completely different.”

“What about rumors?”

“Why bother with rumors from fellow soldiers circulating on the battlefield? I’m more curious about news from the outside world.”

Oh, who cares about news of which soldier in the neighboring unit is earning a medal~? I’m not interested in such things at all.

I’m only curious about what’s for today’s meal and whether there have been any surprise attacks reported separately.

I just hope the rations are not from the horse forage, but from the regular supply. That’s the only thing I’m curious about!