Everyone, this might be sudden, but have you ever heard of the game genre FPS?
This is a collective term for games under the acronym the word FPS means: First Person Shooter.
Games with a first-person perspective are very difficult to play.
Depending on your setup, your field of vision may be poor, you could often get motion sickness from the screen, and most importantly, you can't react when you're flanked from a blind spot.
And so, one would often find themselves in unreasonable situations where they suddenly die even though they were just running normally.
However, this is also an interesting aspect of FPS, as there's this sense of pleasure from brainstorming how to exploit the opponents' blind spots and killing them in an unreasonable manner.
I was a god in FPS games.
I had outstanding situational awareness, aiming skill that was off the charts, reflexes to react in a spur-of-the-moment firefight, and above all, the ability to read my opponent's thoughts.
Having all these at a high level, I became the World Champion of a certain Battle Royale game.
I even had sponsorship from a company and became a pro gamer.
In peaceful Japan, I am just a game addict.
In the world of warfare, as long as I wielded a gun, I was without peer.
In the 2D world, that is.
War in games is just for fun.
When the fighting is over, you can have stupid trash talks with the people you just shot to death, and even laugh together afterwards.
[———–ra!]
[Geh.]
However, in a real war...
Soldiers who are killed by a shot in the head will spurt out darkish droplets and foam from their noses and mouths, never to speak again.
[Oraaa, brat! Don't just stand there, I'm gonna ram you!]
[Eh, ah, yes.]
The Platoon Leader———— A young man almost as old as I was back in my previous life, pushed and killed the soldiers who attacked him.
Thereupon, giving a reprimanding order to those around him, he bravely stepped into the enemy's territory.
I, who was tasked to follow him, could only run behind the Platoon Leader.
[We will occupy this hill area. Follow me!!!]
Amidst the shouts and screams of agony, with the foul stench of human waste and rotting flesh, I stomped on a watery substance that I can't quite make out.
On this day, I, who was participating in a war for the first time, ran up the hill that used to be the enemy's territory, sticky from being covered in someone's bodily fluids and grease.
58m. That is the distance we have earned ourselves in this war today.
It's a distance covered while repeatedly advancing and retreating, using the lives of many people as stepping stones to move forward.
Approximately 800 people. That is the number of casualties of my comrades in arms today.
Even though we've only advanced the front line by 58 meters, 800 people died.
Human lives are exchanged for distance.
Distance which is, in other words, territory. In other words, today our borders have expanded 58 meters.
[GAHAHAHAHA! A big victory, eh, brat?]
[...Congratulations. You have the courage and command befitting of a Platoon Leader.]
[You're lucky your first battle was under my command. I'll put your life to efficient use with all my might, so you can be glad and die without regrets!]
As of today, I am a medic who was assigned to the Western Front———— in this battlefield against a neighboring country.
H- Hahahaha.
[I'll gain us a meter from your life!]
[I intend to play my role splendidly for the country.]
[Don't worry. When you die, I'll be sure to tell your heroic tale to your bereaved family.]
Ahh, what madness.
My name is Touri Noel. Touri is my first name, and Noel is my surname.
In my previous life, I was a hardcore FPS enthusiast living in Japan.
In this life, I was born with a different gender and became a girl.
Incidentally, Touri is the name I got from the director of the orphanage, and Noel is simply the name of the orphanage.
Both my parents were apparently caught up in the war and died in a bombing.
However, as the village they lived in was engulfed in flames, there was a villager who happened to be alive and ran away with me in his arms.
He left me in an orphanage and disappeared.
I was then taken in by the Noel Orphanage and raised there, so I took the surname Noel.
Noel Orphanage is by no means a wealthy orphanage.
They take care of orphaned children until they reach a certain age, but when they're old enough to support themselves, they are advised to start working and earning money.
As an example, I was forced to go to work when I turned 15 and reached adulthood.
[You... have the potential for Healing Magic.]
[Eh, is that true?]
[I'm sure, with enough practice, your talent will shine. I wonder, would you be willing to serve in the government?]
At that moment, I was discovered to have an aptitude for Healing Magic during the conscription examination conducted by the state.
Users of Healing Magic are rare. So...
[Even if you weren't eligible to work for the government, you would at least be a target for conscription because of your aptitude for Healing Magic. Choosing to voluntarily enlist comes with various benefits and privileges, you know?]
[...…..]
[Besides, you'll get paid a lot of money. Your orphanage would surely be more prosperous as well.]
I was left with no choice but to serve in the military.
[Thank you, Director, for all you have done for me.]
[...Touri, don't push yourself too hard, okay? If you get injured, don't hesitate to come back.]
To be honest, I didn't really mind being assigned to the military.
Based on my game performance in my previous life, I was confident that I could be a good soldier.
Besides, unlike Japan, this world I was reincarnated to has always been at war.
You never know when or where you will lose your life.
If that's the case...
[If the war ends, I will come back here again.]
[Touri...]
[Please be well.]
As a soldier, I can also contribute to the orphanage's finances through "death gratuity for recognition of service".
Even if I die, those funds can be used for them to take in and raise another orphan like me.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to the Noel Orphanage.
And so, since I could never know when my life might end anyway, I wanted to use my life for the benefit of the orphanage.
Incidentally, there were two recruits from the orphanage who served in the military this year.
Myself and a mischievous boy, Bernie Noel.
Bernie and I were the same age and had played together since we were small children. One could say we were childhood friends.
He told me that even if he joined the military, he would still come visit me.
It was reassuring to have even one acquaintance when going off to war.
However...
He was caught by surprise on the first day of his deployment and was surrounded by enemy Fire Magic, in which he was burned to death.
Since we have the same surname, Noel, I was treated almost like a family member, granting the privilege of seeing Bernie's corpse.
Even though he had been talking to me with a smile yesterday, he now lays dead with a pained look on his face, his body full of blisters and his eyes wide open.
It was very painful to see the death of a boy who was my only acquaintance in the army and my childhood friend.
There's no way this is true, right?
[Yesterday was a disaster when things suddenly had to get into a battle. It's only been a day since then, and I suppose even the enemy needs to catch their breath.]
[...Yes.]
The day after being suddenly sent out to the battlefield...
I found myself receiving orientation from the Platoon Leader once again.
[Alright. I heard you can use Healing Magic. For the time being, I'll have you stay behind me...]
[I can't use it.]
[...Hmm?]
At this point, I realized that there had been some kind of big misunderstanding.
It's true that I became a member of the military because I was found to have an aptitude for Healing Magic, but I still have not learned it.
Let alone being taught Healing Magic, I was sent to the battlefield without even a detailed explanation of military regulations.
I was just told that I had to learn on the spot.
[...Then, brat, what can you do?]
[I can't do anything.]
[Then why are you even here?]
I didn't come here because I wanted to.
I was sent to the battlefield with almost no choice in the matter.
Well, I'm not going to say that because I would be beaten up if I did.
[Even if I can't do anything, I still want to serve my country.]
[Hah! Your attitude is worthy of an adult, little brat. You're so cocky!]
[...Guh!!!]
In the end, I was hit anyway.
[The you right now is just a nuisance, a trash, a parasite that contributes nothing! Imma introduce you to the veteran medic, so quickly get your skills up to par.]
[Thank you very much.]
What a terrible war. Is this perhaps how wars really are?
Even with all the fantasy elements here, I thought it'd be a world where wars were fought more peacefully.
Like, Hero's Magic would go Boom! or a Dragon's Breath would go whoosh!
[Then follow me. Don't step on the corpses around, they're full of maggots.]
[...I will be careful.]
There was no such thing as Heroes. War, just like in my previous life, was nothing more than humans killing each other in a bloody conflict.
As expected, even in a fantasy world, war is a filthy and muddy affair.
[You have been assigned to Garback's unit as a newbie huh. You have my condolences.]
[....]
I was taken by the Platoon Leader to the place where I was told to go and learn, and there was a kind-looking lady wearing a nurse's cap.
She was a beautiful woman with a charming mole under her left eye and large breasts.
[That guy's an idiot... Erhem. He only thinks about assaults, so it must be hard for those who have to go along with him.]
[No, I just arrived at this new post so...]
[Ara, is that so? Then, that is something you will realize soon.]
What I heard from the kind-looking lady was insults to my superior officer.
Technically speaking, this lady is apparently a higher ranking officer than Platoon Leader Garback though.
[Garback is a good assault infantry, because the thrill of killing enemies outweighs his fear of being killed. He fearlessly charges into enemy lines, and with his exceptional abilities, he achieved quite a lot on the battlefield.]
After saying those words, the veteran medic looked troubled.
[It's just, he's known for using his own subordinates as shields. If he thinks he overextends into the enemy camp, he'll use his subordinate as a scapegoat and was the first to flee.]
[...…..]
[Moreover, he does such a thing without any remorse. He goes as far as to say that his subordinates' deaths are a lot less of a loss than his own.]
She said something I didn't want to hear.
[My name is Gale. Head Medic Gale, with a rank equivalent to Second Lieutenant.]
[Ah, please excuse me. I'm Second Class Medic Touri.]
[Unnn, nice to meet you. I will teach you the minimum skills as a medic. I will also tell Garback to take good care of you, so live as long as possible.]
I see.
From what Gale-san told me, it seems that I had the worst type of superior officer.
[However, I'll tell you this now, but no matter how stupid his orders may be, make sure you obey your superior officer's orders. Garback is the type who mercilessly executes anyone who violates his orders.]
[Understood.]
[I heard that if someone was executed for disobeying orders, the bereaved family will not receive any death gratuity. If you're gonna die anyway, it would be better to die under that idiot's orders.]
By that logic though, it sounds like it's already decided I will die sooner or later.
I thought that by coming to the battlefield, I could put to good use some of the FPS skills I had developed in my previous life but...
In the first place, every action of a soldier is dictated by their superior.
It's rare for one to have the opportunity to make decisions and take actions on their own.
[Well, try your best to live longer. I will be in your care from now on.]
Even though war in games is so much fun, war in real life is just hell.
Due to how half-hearted the fantasy elements were, I realized that I was being a little too optimistic.
Ahh, I now resent myself for volunteering to be a soldier. I should have run away not caring about shame or honor, not even worrying about the orphanage.
But as I've already descended to hell, it can't be helped anymore.
I will just do my best to desperately struggle.
[Errr,
[Ara, you're good.]
For the first three days of my assignment on the Western Front, there were no major battles except for that one on the first day.
During that time, I, along with several other new recruits, received lectures from Head Medic Gale.
[Congratulations, you are now officially Medics.]
[Thank you very much.]
The Head Medic's lecture was easy to understand, and all of us new medics were now able to use Healing Magic.
If one can use Healing Magic in any form, they are apparently recognized as a medic.
Even if our current Healing Magic is nothing more than pseudo-Healing Magic that can only treat minor scrapes.
[There are several dozen medics on this battlefield. Looking at it another way though, there are only a few soldiers on this extensive battlefield who can use Healing Magic.]
[Yes.]
[You five are very valuable assets. I hope you work hard.]
At the top of those several dozens of medics was the lady in front of me, Head Medic Gale.
I heard that there are nearly 100,000 soldiers camped on this battlefield.
Percentage-wise, the medics are about 0.04-0.05% of the total soldiers.
It seems that users of Healing Magic are extremely valuable.
[Touri, you have a slightly higher amount of mana. So, if you persist, you should be able to use Healing Magic two times.]
[Two times huh.]
It seems that my Hoimi[1] can be used 2 times based on my mana. For someone with a magical profession, wasn't it a bit underwhelming?
Medic Chief Gale, who was giving a lecture in front of us, has already used Healing Magic about four or five times during class.
[Yes, that's a great number for a novice.]
[For a novice...]
[One's mana can be trained after all. If you survive and accumulate experience, you will be able to use your magic more often. If you can use it more than 10 times, you can be transferred to the rear as an excellent specialist.]
I see, so the point is that I'm still at a low level, so the number of times I can use it is still low.
And as a reward(?) for increasing my mana, I can transfer to a safer location.
...Isn't it more like the opposite?
[Ummm. With all due respect, wouldn't it be more efficient to send out the Healing Magic-users to the frontline after we gained experience in the rear and become able to use Healing Magic more times...?]
[We don't have the time, space or facilities to slowly train medics in the rear. This country is already on its deathbed, you know? So much so that they'd suddenly send a girl who can hardly be called a soldier on the frontlines.]
Ahh, as I thought, the country really can't afford that huh. If Healing Magic-users are so valuable though, I'd like to ask them to treat us with care.
This war has been going on for more than 10 years. I'm sure that all the soldiers and leaders who were excellent in their own way have died in the line of duty.
I think that's why such a stupid policy has been in place.
[Ah, that's right. Touri, I will teach you
[
[Yes. If you're gonna follow that Garback, you will need to have some way to defend yourself in case of emergency or you will die instantly. This magic was originally for armored Tanks, but most of us Medics also learn it.]
"Those of you who are interested, stand beside Touri." After saying this, the Head Medic cleared her throat once.
I'm very interested in that magic. I mean, doesn't it seem directly related to my own survival?
[This
[A barrier, is it?]
[It will protect you from weak attack magic, arrows or projectiles. It can't defend you against a gun or Middle-Tier or greater Magic though.]
A light purple glass-like plate appears at the end of the Head Medic's palms.
When I touched it, I found it to be a plate with a reasonably good amount of toughness.
[It can save your life in a dire situation. Not only yours, but also your comrades'.]
[Ohh...]
[Touri is required to learn this, but as for the other kids, if you're interested, you can also practice it.]
This certainly seems useful.
In a game in my previous life, I felt like I saw a hero with a skill similar to that. That guy's barrier was able to defend against anything, even bullets.
This kind of advice from a veteran medic is very much appreciated.
Let's make sure we learn the skills taught to me and prepare for Garback's unreasonable demands.
Thus began my life in an otherworld war without any cheats on hand.
Still, at that time, I had no way of knowing that.
This war, which had been going on for more than 10 years, was still only in its "early stages".
This war, which would later be called the "East-West War", continued to claim more and more victims at an accelerating rate from the year I served in it.
The true madness, where people are treated as disposable commodities, not considered human beings, had yet to unfold.
But at that time, I was only frightened by my first contact with war.
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