Chapter 8: The New Recruits
After replenishing the lost fluids, I felt a presence behind me and turned around to find two unfamiliar soldiers standing there.
They seemed a few years older than me, perhaps in their mid-teens.
I had been training with the soldiers for about two years now, so I should have remembered the faces of all of them.
"So, you must be new recruits," I said, understanding the reason why I didn't recognize them.
"Hey, you there. Are you being forced to train as a punishment? How pathetic!"
"Well, if you're that short, it's only natural. Why did you even think of becoming a soldier, shorty?"
Their vulgar taunts made me burst into laughter unintentionally.
"Hahaha, what a lack of vocabulary. And those are typical bully lines. Besides, to think that you'd come and bother me while I'm tired, hahaha."
"What are you laughing at, shorty?"
"Even though you're being punished, do you understand your position?"
They swung their arms widely and lunged at me.
It seems they're still new to training, as their punching techniques aren't quite like those of experienced soldiers.
With such movements, it's impossible for them to hit someone like me who has trained alongside adult soldiers for two years.
"Oraaa!"
"Kuruaaa!"
"Gotcha!"
Dodging their attacks, I countered by landing punches on each of their jaws.
As soon as my fist connected, both of them rolled their eyes and crumbled to the ground, sitting on their rear ends.
Before the two could collapse completely, there was someone who shouted at us.
"Hey! What are you all doing?"
Yelling at us and running across the training ground was yet another soldier I didn't know, this time a woman.
She appeared to be in her mid-teens as well, with fiery red hair extending to her shoulder blades. Her hair seemed slightly damp, either from sweat during training or from washing herself.
While I was thinking about such trivial matters, the girl who had been running slowed down with a bewildered expression on her face.
"Oh, wait? Maybe you didn't need any help after all?"
The girl, looking puzzled, is staring at the two new recruits who have fainted and fallen to the ground in front of me.
It seems that she thought I was being bullied and tried to help me.
"Well, thank you for your concern. Despite appearances, I've been training here for several years, so I'm confident in my skills."
As I express my gratitude for her concern, the girl suddenly stands upright and salutes.
"Could it be, senpai! I apologize for my rudeness!"
Soldiers are taught to obey their superiors of the same rank, but this girl's reaction is excessive.
It's another typical response of a new recruit.
Even though I'm a seasoned soldier and a prince, they casually try to use me for their own purposes. Well, I guess it's because I'm in a position to teach and have to obediently follow orders.
Oops, this isn't the right moment to be thinking about these unnecessary things.
"No need to be so formal. My name is Milimos. And you?"
"I'm Hones! Nice to meet you, senpai!"
The girl who introduced herself as Hones has become even stiffer in her attitude.
As I ponder what to do, another person approaches.
"What's going on, what's going on? You're all gathered here like this. Oh, they're both collapsed!"
This time it's a familiar face.
Sentis, a skilled soldier. One of my sword instructors and a very strong person who shows no mercy during training.
Sentis looks at us one by one and smiles cunningly.
"Mimo-boy. Did you torment the new recruits?"
As usual, he treats me not as a prince but as one of his students.
"Rude. I'm not that free. These two were attacking me, so I just counterattacked each one."
"Hahaha. So you picked a fight with the younger Mimo-boy and got beaten up. And what's your relationship with this young lady here?"
"She thought I was being attacked and ran to stop it."
"Oh, I see. That's a proper act for a soldier who protects people. Well, um..."
"Her name is Hones."
"It just took me a while to remember, but I did remember. Anyway, Hones. I'll give you some praise. Good job, good job, good job."
"Uh, hehe. Th-thank you very much!"
Hones returned the response, her expression filled with confusion as she was stroked by Sentis, as if praising a dog.
After finishing the stroking, Sentis turned his face towards me.
"So, what should we do with these two? Those fools who engage in unauthorized fights deserve punishment."
"Well, maybe Sentis' special training would be good. That would be punishment enough."
"Hey, hey. You're still so kind. But well, if Mimo decided it that way, then let's do it."
Sentis grabbed the collars of the two unconscious recruits and dragged them back to the barracks.
Hones seemed perplexed, not understanding the situation, so I lightly pushed her back.
"Come on, go after Sentis and come back. You'll get scolded by another soldier."
"Um, Senpai, don't you need to come back?"
"I don't live in the barracks, you know. Come on, go."
I gave her another push, and Hones ran back to the barracks with a puzzled expression.
I waved goodbye with a smile and then realized that my hair was cold.
"Oh no, my sweat has turned cold. And I was talking to a girl while still sweating. I hope I didn't smell weird..."
I pulled the collar of my workout clothes and smelled it, confirming that it indeed had a slight sweat odor.
From now on, I'll make sure to always pay attention to my appearance.
After all, I am the princess and marshal of the Kingdom of Nonette. If someone like me smells bad, it could affect the country's reputation.