landbeastnovel #241 - Don't you have any family?
#241 - Don't you have any family?
The biting wind whipped across Brune's frozen face, and he couldn't help but rub his nose, wiping a large clump of snot mixed with boogers onto the nearby tree trunk.
Peeking out from the queue, Brune saw that there were only seven or eight people left before it was his turn.
According to Horn's orders, only those who passed were eligible to wear the Savior's Legion's new uniforms.
Those who didn't qualify but were still allowed to join the new legion would have to pass the assessment next month to receive their new uniforms.
The first scroll-spinning machine driven by a Holy Engine was already standing on the industrial district's land, and everyone who passed by could see the mill-like weaving workshop.
But after all, this was a new type of spinning machine, and it was still a bit dangerous. Just recently, a textile worker had their hand caught in the gears.
So the production of uniforms was still only around 40 sets a day, and it wasn't until today that they had finally accumulated 1,000 sets.
The other soldiers in the same company couldn't believe that this big oaf was actually one of the 1,000 people who could wear the new uniform called [Black Robe].
To everyone's surprise, Brune scored top marks in all three physical fitness subjects: wielding a great spear, sprinting, and running.
If he hadn't stuttered while reciting the military code and gotten a mediocre score, Brune might have been among the 200 outstanding soldiers who could get a 90 dinar bonus.
Following the line forward, after a minute, it was finally Brune's turn.
He received the Black Robe from the accompanying priest who was distributing the uniforms, and as he turned around, he saw Jonar waiting nearby.
Jonar was a Favored One from the same recruit squad as him, and also one of the top 200 soldiers.
Raising the money bag in his hand, Jonar's mustache under his garlic nose curled up: "Look, His Majesty personally gave it to me, envious?"
"Envious," Brune said woodenly.
Tsking, Jonar's originally upturned mustache drooped down: "You're no fun to talk to. Don't leave later, Luis from Martin's squad and I bought some mead, and we caught a stupid rabbit before. Let's have a bite before we go."
"Why?"
"What why?" Jonar looked blank. "We're about to leave, and it's New Year's Day. It's just us few, all old acquaintances."
These days, they, as new recruits, were in the same squad, eating and living together, sharing weal and woe. Even a dog would have developed feelings.
Although everyone initially disliked Brune, strength was the ultimate truth. If they didn't want to eat leftovers, they had to rely on Brune to get good results in physical training.
Little by little, Brune, who had been a loner for many years, actually mixed into his first small group in life.
But this didn't change Brune's personality. He said sullenly, "I'm not planning on leaving. I'm planning on staying in the military camp for New Year's Day."
"It's a festival! Don't you have family?"
"No, I don't."
Jonar was momentarily speechless. He leaned on the dull oaf in front of him and softened his tone: "If you don't have family, you always have friends, right? We first batch of recruits don't have to stay on duty."
According to Horn's arrangement, the newly enlisted recruits weren't allowed to go home, but he gave them a day off so they could celebrate in the camp.
"Friends..." Brune thought of Gashkoul and the Merixor Decurion. He hesitated for two seconds, then said, "Never mind."
Jonar's eyes widened: "What do you mean never mind? At most, they'll make a simple bonfire party for you in the military camp. There's a market in town.
Not only is there a market, but it's said that His Majesty has also organized many interesting games and delicious food...
And there are three octagon cage matches between Elder Sachis and Elder Sheamus scheduled for the town's central theater. The two elders are fighting each other. Don't you want to see that?"
Games? Delicious food? Brune touched his stomach, and some images suddenly flashed in his mind.
When he was a beggar, he had encountered a market once, but before he could get close, he was driven away by the local villagers.
"I, I..."
"You, you really don't think about your brothers," Jonar said with a strange laugh, punching Brune hard in the chest. "There are so many young girls in the market, all good for bearing children, and you're wearing such a dashing uniform..."
Brune's face turned slightly red. He hesitated for a long time, just holding his uniform without speaking.
Looking at the slightly fearful look in Brune's eyes, Jonar saw some clues.
He hesitated for a while as well, and finally said: "If you're afraid of going back to your company, you can come to my house. My father is the company commander, no one can bully you."
"Uh, uh..."
"Uh, uh, what are you uh-ing about?" Jonar scolded angrily. "It's settled then. We'll set off after lunch and be able to get to the town before evening, just in time for the textile workshop to finish work. There are many beautiful and skilled girls there."
Returning to his military camp dormitory, Brune lowered his head and entered the room, hunching his back as he came to his bed.
This was a low and dim room with ten dilapidated beds.
The most dilapidated bed was Brune's, because he had collapsed it on the first day.
These beds were pieced together from the beds left behind by the El soldiers at the time.
At the head of each bed, there was a box for storing sundries and clothes, serving as a bedside table.
Carefully, Brune stuffed this sturdy and dashing uniform into the box.
Sitting blankly on the edge of the bed, after the heavy training, he suddenly didn't know what he should do.
He probably didn't want to be a soldier, but it seemed like he was doing pretty well in the army.
But just like His Majesty said today, being a soldier always means killing people. He shuddered all over at the thought of killing people in the future.
If he had known, he should have deliberately performed worse, so he could have been persuaded to leave like those dozen people.
"Brune, Brune, where the hell are you? We're just waiting for you!"
Brune didn't know how long he had been sitting, maybe a short while, maybe a long time, when Jonar's voice came from outside the door.
"Coming!"
This meal was naturally nothing special. Seven or eight big men, a small jar of mead, a roasted rabbit, and each person only got a taste.
But this meal wasn't really just about eating.
Brune warmed himself by the fire, Jonar stood up, rested his elbow on Brune's shoulder, and bragged to the new recruits opposite him.
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"I must avenge my sister. I still thought of knights as heroes."
"The Pope in Holy Seat City isn't a good thing either. Doesn't he know what's going on in Thousand River Valley? I don't believe it."
"When I go to the battlefield and have the Holy Rifle, that good treasure, I'll kill a knight for every one that comes, kill one for every one that comes."
"Did you guys know that guy named Andal the other day?"
The short new recruit named Luis imitated vividly: "I want to fight ten! Bang! Ah!"
Screaming, Luis imitated Andal's voice and lay on the ground, mimicking Andal's posture after being knocked unconscious.
"Hahahaha," the new recruits sitting together couldn't help laughing.
Sucking all the oil off the bones and licking the last drop of mead from the jar, the soldiers changed into their new clothes and walked towards the town together.
Interestingly, when these new recruits came, they came with their fellow decurions.
When they left, they left with their comrades from the same recruit squad.
Jonar was indeed from a clockmaker's family, and his timing was just right.
They had just arrived in the industrial district when they happened to catch up with the female workers from the textile workshop getting off work.
A group of new recruits stood in a row behind the roadside fence, standing at attention more seriously than when being inspected by Horn, with the most heroic and solemn expressions they had ever mustered on their faces.
Watching the approaching female workers, Brune slowly approached Jonar: "Jonar, I think I still have to go back to the Mosan district beforehand."
"No way, brother," Jonar looked at him with wide eyes. "Everyone else hasn't chickened out, how come you're backing down?"
Brune looked at the seven or eight new army soldiers standing on the roadside in flamboyant poses, and just smiled awkwardly:
"After all, I've returned, so I have to say something over there, otherwise it'll be troublesome if I'm treated as a deserter."
"Tsk, you're really no fun, coward, go ahead, I'll wait for you at the gate."
After saying goodbye to Jonar and the others, Brune finally returned to the insula. He stood in front of the door, looking at the sign at the entrance of the insula, standing there blankly.
This man, wearing a dashing black woolen coat, with a straight back and a tall figure, stood there, and the neighbors passing by next to him didn't dare to look up.
"Brune?!"
After standing in front of the Mosan Insula apartment number two for a quarter of an hour, Brune was finally recognized by a passing neighbor.
"Yes." The loud response, as if roaring, startled the man.
"Why are you shouting so loudly?" A new recruit who had returned early poked his head out of the window, looking jealously at the black robe on Brune's body.
"What, do you have to let everyone know you're wearing the black robe?"
"Ah, you've come just in time. Tell the Merixor Decurion that I..." Raising his head, Brune looked at the familiar face, and before he could finish his sentence, he caught sight of a familiar figure approaching.
It was Merixor.
When he saw Brune wearing a black military uniform, he immediately strode over and raised his hand high.
Brune subconsciously wanted to dodge, but his body stood still, looking at Merixor with an expression that was hard to tell whether it was dull or cold.
"Oh."
The expected blow didn't land. Merixor firmly grasped Brune's hand, his face full of smiles. "Brother Brune, it's been so long, we've become estranged. What are you doing standing at the door? Come, come, come in quickly."