"All right. Touri Medical Platoon, please assemble."
After leaving Captain Aria's room,
Verdi gathered his unit in a corner of the military academy grounds.
""…Yes, Lieutenant!!""
"Good response."
On the ground, infantrymen who appeared to be his subordinates had already begun training.
The members of the medical platoon saluted Verdi, their faces turning pale as they wondered what they would be made to do and what kind of brutal training awaited them.
Maybe Captain Aria was a bit too threatening?
"Nice to meet you all. I'm Second Lieutenant Verdi, and I will be your commanding officer. No need to be scared. I don't plan on acting as harshly as my cousin."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
"However, I will be strict in the event of any mistakes during training that could be life-threatening—mistakes that could put not only you but the entire unit in danger. Making an error such as not being on time is completely unacceptable."
"I apologize, Lieutenant."
"Make sure to be more careful from now on."
Verdi lightly warned us, probably repeating this because it was an important matter.
"Now then, we'll start with physical training. But I want you to treat this as if you're actually on the battlefield, not just a training session."
"Yes, Lieutenant!"
"I have arranged for you to be taught by an instructor from the military academy. He is a professional in infantry training. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have."
"Thank you, Lieutenant."
I glanced over to see a scary-looking man with a beard holding a baton and an intimidating smile on his face.
He has several scars on his face and looks like a military veteran.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Instructor."
"Understood."
After telling the instructor that, Verdi smiled faintly at his stiff subordinates and hurriedly left.
I'm sure he has a mountain of things to do now that he's become a second lieutenant.
"Now then, let's begin your training."
"Yes, Instructor!"
"First, let's start with some warm-up exercises! After you've loosened up, put on all your equipment and gather on the ground!"
The training we were being given was clearly the infantry's regimen.
For long marches, the medical platoon also needed the physical endurance of regular infantrymen.
We started with a long-distance run in heavy equipment, then had a lot of practical training, such as practice in close-combat defenses and landing, and training in how to spot magic traps.
"Hiiiiiii!! I'm going to die, I'm going to die!"
"This is nothing compared to stage rehearsals… Actually, it's pretty tough!"
During the long-distance runs, we all had to run again whenever someone's timing was off or they tripped.
Every time someone failed during the trap detection training, everyone was made to do squats as punishment.
The concept is trying to teach that one person's mistake is everyone's mistake…
"Lakya! It's you again, you idiot!"
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!"
"Because of you, everyone has to suffer again. Now, return to the starting point, full speed!"
For someone who had been living peacefully in the capital up until now, military training seemed to be too much for her.
As time passed, everyone's complexions became paler.
The only one who was fine was me. I was used to doing a similar daily routine because of Platoon Leader Garback.
"We have to do this every day? You can't be serious…"
"My legs… my legs hurt…"
"There's still more to go, you rookies!"
The new recruits who joined the infantry had to go through this kind of training over several days before deployment.
I apparently was exempt from this because I was already a medic.
***
"Alright, that's the end of your training session."
"Thank you, Instructor."
As the sun began to set, the Touri Medical Platoon was finally told that its training was over.
"Hah… hah…"
"This is… tough…"
Although the platoon members were young and physically fit, they were all exhausted.
Cale, a former football player, is bent over on the ground drenched in sweat.
Even Cale hadn't developed the stamina of a regular soldier.
"Are the infantry still continuing their training?"
"Yes. In fact, this is just the beginning for them."
On the field, the infantrymen are still standing in formation, guns aimed at their targets.
It appears that the infantry's training will continue.
"Now that their fatigue has reached its peak, they can conduct effective combat training. There is no value in infantrymen who can only fight when they are in top condition."
"I see."
It's critical for the infantry to be able to fight while exhausted.
That's why after the basic training, they finally begin actual combat training.
But combat training is unnecessary for us in the medical unit.
That's why we were the only ones who were able to finish early.
"That was tough. So this is the military…"
"I want to take a shower…"
…Hmm.
Even though we were allowed to finish early, it would be strange for us to rest just because we finished training early.
Like infantrymen, medics who can only provide medical treatment when they are at full strength and energy are not a significant asset.
Even if you've been up all night for a week, you still need the mental strength to continue working calmly.
And if the infantry is still training, then we should do something too.
"Now, to everyone in the medical platoon, we will soon begin a lecture. Please reassemble here after a 30-minute break."
"Eh…"
With this in mind, I decided to start a study session for us medical soldiers.
If I can, I want to learn something from Cale as well.
"Huh, weren't we done for the day?!"
"We've only done physical training today. Do you remember what branch you're in, Lakya?"
"Eh, uh…?"
To be honest, now was the only time we could dedicate to medical training.
From tomorrow onwards, we will be given more physical training during the day.
After the physical training, we will have to do practical training. That would definitely be useful training for us medical soldiers too.
"Umm, what kind of lecture are we going to have?"
"First, we'll discuss some case studies. After that, we'll practice healing magic. Make sure to have a proper meal during this break."
"Whaaaat?!"
A scream-like voice rose from my exhausted subordinate.
Maybe she thought she could take a break now?
But unfortunately, we don't have that kind of time.
Especially since there are a lot of people like Lakya and Arunoma who are amateur medics.
"Alright, dismissed. Oh, and I'd like Cale to also help with the training content."
"Got it, Little Boss."
It is important that they grow even a little before going to war.
If possible, I'd like to practice treating the injured people from today's training.
If there are no injuries, I'll have to cut myself and let them practice healing magic on me.
Maybe I should discuss that with Verdi as well.
***
"Lieutenant Verdi, this concludes my report for today."
"Yes, good work."
After finishing the training as part of the medical platoon,
As the platoon leader, I had to report today's activities to Verdi before going to bed.
The platoon leader is required to report to their immediate superior the results of the battle, damage situation, equipment loss rate, etc…
It is likely that Platoon Leader Garback also reported to Major Renvel via radio after his subordinates had gone to bed.
"Touri, you look like you still have some energy left."
"That's because Platoon Leader Garback assigned me a training regimen. In hindsight, that was rather considerate of him."
"Ah… I thought that was a bit much, though. Making medics imitate scouts is too much of a burden."
It was certainly a huge burden, but I don't think we need to worry about that when we have medics rushing to the front lines.
Rather than worrying if it's a burden, I am more grateful to have been given training that helped me survive.
"That training was extremely useful in helping me survive in Marshdale. I'd love to continue my training as a scout."
"…Scout training, huh? Well, I'm sure Allen could teach you if you asked him."
"Oh?"
Senior Allen is a veteran scout and my scout mentor.
He taught me many things on the Western Front.
The fact that his name was brought up meant…
"Wait, is Senior Allen part of your battalion, Lieutenant Verdi?"
"Yes, I had him transferred because we're acquaintances, and I knew he would be easy to work with. He's a veteran and very reliable."
"Oh, that's good news."
That means Allen Platoon is also a part of Verdi Company.
Now if I need advice or have something to discuss, I can meet him even after we depart.
Maybe he was even among the people still training today.
"Then, would it be alright to request training from Senior Allen or other scouts in the unit? There are many things I could learn, such as how to be more cautious of my surroundings."
"Yes, but you should be careful when choosing which scout to ask for training. One of my subordinates actually begged to have us do 'counter-interrogation training' for the medical platoon."
Verdi looked displeased as he mentioned the unfamiliar name of the training.
…What is this disturbing sounding training?
"What is counter-interrogation training?"
"It's training to make you resistant to torture so that you won't reveal secrets if you are captured by the enemy. It's mandatory when advancing to a higher level as a scout."
Oh, I've heard of that kind of training.
It's a kind of grueling training where you're tortured by allies to keep them quiet under enemy torture.
It makes sense for scouts, who may have to infiltrate enemy lines alone, to undergo such training.
"It's a pretty harsh training, and apparently at the beginning, they are made to be completely naked, trampling on their human dignity. I think they wanted to do that to the medical platoon, which is mostly women."
"If the Lieutenant deems it necessary, then our platoon will accept it. However, at the moment, I believe there are other skills that should be prioritized over training against interrogation by the enemy."
"I agree. Besides, there's no way they'd share important military secrets with the medical platoon."
I see.
If you're serious about undergoing training to be a scout, this is the kind of training you will be required to undergo.
They want to impose that on us, the majority of whom are women.
…I wonder what that soldier's reasoning was for proposing it to the medical platoon.
"For safety's sake, I would like to know the name of the soldier who made such a suggestion."
"His name is Warrant Officer Faris."
"I'll remember that."
Warrant Officer Faris. Let's share that name with the platoon just in case.
He's potentially dangerous.
"Touri, It's great that you have ambition, but please make sure you focus on your basic training first."
"I understand."
After saying that, Verdi gave me a salute. It was a sign that it was time to go back.
I immediately returned the salute, bowed, and left the room.
Verdi looks really busy. It would be a nuisance if I stayed too long.
"Good night, Touri."
"Thank you for your hard work"
There was a mountain of paperwork piled up on Verdi's desk. He likely still had a lot of work ahead.
I guess the more you get promoted, the busier you become.
Looking back now, when I was in Garback Platoon, being a low-ranking soldier who could sleep as long as the training was done and the work was finished was quite an easy position.
Promotion is just a thankless job where the danger to life stays the same, but the workload only increases.
***
The following morning…
"…Umm, Platoon Leader Touri."
"Is something wrong?"
It's the second day since we gathered as the Touri Medical Platoon.
Today, we were once again called in the early morning to join the infantry's basic training under Verdi's supervision.
"…I've searched everywhere, but I can't find Lakya anywhere."
"Eh?"
I had asked the head nurse, Elma, to wake up the sleepy Lakya so that we would arrive on time.
However, in the early morning, Elma reported that Lakya was missing from her bed and had vanished without a trace.
"Is she in the bathroom or something?"
"No, I already checked around there."
Now that I think about it, right after finishing training, Lakya's face turned pale and she collapsed.
Last night I woke her up and made her take part in a lecture and practice healing magic while she was in a dazed state…
"…Lakya's belongings are gone too."
"…"
Was the training too tough for her?
Lakya, the 15-year-old rookie medic like me, seemed to be attempting to desert.