Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 35 (Part 1)

Rodin stretched his back as he stepped out of the third deep storage. Pretending to make potions all day while reading books had left his body stiff.

‘Not much time left for us either.’

Seven months had already passed since the third batch had become the senior-most group.

Though the first batch had military experience, they had officially completed their graduation ceremony. Hence, the third batch was the senior-most group in the truest sense.

‘The sunset is quite beautiful.’

He admired the setting sun as he headed towards the dining hall. As he walked without hurry, he noticed something odd about the atmosphere.

“What’s going on?”

“Hey! Number 108!”

“Is it number 87? What’s with the atmosphere here?”

“There’s a war. They say the Ingram Empire crossed the border without warning a few days ago.”

Number 87, Merion, relayed the news about the war and dashed off to the barracks.

Rodin hesitated for a moment between the barracks and the dining hall before stepping into the dining hall.

“Hey, Rodin!”

“Hedler! Lant!”

“Did you hear? There’s a war.”

“Yes, it’s war. We have to take up arms.”

Despite the talk of war, Hedler and Lant didn’t seem particularly worried.

Their mindset was simple: ‘If the enemy comes, we’ll fight.’

“Were you here first?”

“Cory, you’re here. Let’s eat first. We’ll talk after we finish eating.”

Cory appeared late, having just returned from training in a fire pit, hearing the news belatedly.

The four members of Room 301 leisurely enjoyed their meal, in stark contrast to others who were hurriedly stuffing their stomachs.

Their meal was so slow that they were the last of the third batch to finish. Even after returning to the barracks, they didn’t show any signs of urgency.

Hedler and Lant changed out of their sweat-soaked clothes and washed up hastily.

It was literally hasty. They didn’t intend to shower, just splashing water on visible parts of their bodies.

Cory, who had also sweated a lot during his training in the fire pit, only washed his face.

“You dirty guys. I really don’t get why you hate washing so much.”

“You’re the excessive one. Normally, a shower twice a year is enough.”

“Right. My mom didn’t bathe unless it was midsummer.”

“That’s quite a boast.”

Summer was ending, and the autumn chill was setting in. The season where sweat poured down just by sitting still was over.

At the same time, the time when their peers were somewhat clean was also gone.

Rodin cleaned his entire body thoroughly before returning to the barracks. Only then did Cory bring up the main topic.

“There’s a war. What will happen to us?”

“If we’re called to fight, we fight. That’s all there is to it.”

“Who did you hear about the war from? Instructors? Committee members? Or the drill sergeants?”

Rodin was curious about the source of the information.

It wasn’t because he doubted the war. Depending on who it came from, the schedule for the day could change.

“I heard it from a drill sergeant. When I returned from training in the fire pit, they were talking about the Empire invading.”

“I also heard it from a drill sergeant. It seems no one among the drill sergeants doesn’t know.”

“I heard it with Hedler.”

The information had the same starting point: the drill sergeants. Since no one seemed unaware, it was clear that quite some time had passed since the war broke out.

“Since it wasn’t directly announced by instructors or committee members, they’ll probably make an official announcement.”

“Ah, it’s a hassle if we have to go outside.”

“Me too. I just finished washing up, I don’t want to breathe in dust outside.”

“Drill sergeants are soldiers. If soldiers at the kingdom’s center know about it, it’s been a while since the war started.”

The drill sergeants were soldiers, and among them, the lowest rank.

If even the lowest-ranking soldiers knew, the news of the war had likely spread throughout the kingdom.

Unless someone was isolated in a remote corner or confined in a secluded place, everyone would know.

The trainees belonged to the latter group. Without the drill sergeants, they couldn’t even hear news from the outside.

“The instructors must have known already.”

“Probably. Come to think of it, the instructors have been acting strange lately. Like their minds were elsewhere.”

“Anyway, the rumor has spread. They’ll have to make an official announcement from the top.”

Knock knock!

At that moment, there was a knock, and the door opened. A drill sergeant stood there with an awkward smile.

“Assembly. To the ground.”

“Ah! The war announcement.”

“I don’t know what it’s about. I just do as I’m told.”

The drill sergeant cautiously closed the door and left.

The drill sergeants were careful when dealing with the senior-most batch. Since they were on the verge of becoming higher-ranking officers, they had no choice but to be mindful.

The caution was especially noticeable when they entered Room 301’s barracks.

Room 301 housed a 5-circle mage, on par with the committee members.

Moreover, there were two Tier 4 level swordsmen and a spirit mage contracted with two intermediate spirits.

There was not a single person in Room 301 that soldiers could easily deal with.

“Let’s go out.”

“Ah, do we have to put on clothes again?”

“Shut up and hurry up. Don’t drag your feet.”

“Tsk, Rodin has become so cold lately. He seems to be very angry.”

Grumbling, the peers changed their clothes.

Rodin also put on the clothes he had just taken off and stepped outside.

In the parade ground, the first batch, who had completed their graduation ceremony, and trainees from the third to the eleventh batch, who had time left until their ceremony, were gathered in groups, chatting.

With hundreds gathered, the once spacious parade ground was bustling.

“Wow, it’s my first time seeing so many people gathered.”

“It’s been a while since I saw the first batch. I wonder where they’ve been.”

“They’ve set up a separate training ground in the north. You can see it if you climb to the top of the mountain.”

Before long, all trainees and graduates were gathered. In response, five committee members stood on the platform.

“You’ve heard the rumors, right? A war has broken out.”

“Ah!”

“Oh no.”

Sighs and sounds of despair echoed in the parade ground.

Committee member Albrecht waited for the commotion to subside before speaking again.

Albrecht, along with committee members Habinon and Keline, was a knight. Naturally, they were high-ranking knights, Tier 5 to be exact.

“There’s no need to worry too much. Although the Ingram Empire launched a surprise attack, our homeland managed to fend them off without significant damage.”

“Ah!”

“That’s a relief.”

“Of course.”

The trainees, who were swayed by Albrecht’s words, were relieved. Especially the third batch trainees, who were nearing their unit experience, showed dramatic changes.

‘Is that really true?’

Rodin was sensitive. He didn’t miss the subtle unease in Albrecht’s voice.

“Can I ask a question?”

Hyung_Otaku2

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