When was that again? Ahh... Back when we were still at the camp.
"This mission is going to be a little different. You guys will be exploring the east side of the forest. While it does have some trails, most of the areas were still uncharted. Your task is to survey the area and place markers on the trees. This will make it possible for the adults to explore the area later on.
Claire's father explained our mission. It was basically just a practical test, but for some reason, it seemed like we were being used as cannon fodder. Settle down man, we're just children.
As if he sensed my thoughts, Claire's father sent me a disapproving look. I shrank back in fear and didn't speak.
"This may seem like such a dangerous mission, especially for individuals of your age group. However, this is one of the major tests if you want to pass this camp's course. A chopper will be flying closely above you, ensuring both your safety and proof that you're accomplishing the mission. But, it will only be one chopper. If it happens to not spot you in a dangerous moment, then you're done. Hunted animals will provide bonus points."
How reassuring.
"That is all. Briefing over and good luck."
As we were being dismissed, I walked casually outside of the briefing room. I pondered over why children like us were being trained as soldiers like this.
Thinking about it, something like this shouldn't even be legal. Well, I guess it's not but still, a fully functioning camp training children at such a young age to be soldiers?
Something like that could only exist in a fictional story.
I had heard from my Dad that it was just a trial program of some sort, for the country to prepare against a war. What kinda war is that? A world war?
Well, pondering over it is pointless now. I just have to finish this quickly and head back home. I really wished my mom was the one who got the custody of me...
As I was thinking of that, I saw a beautiful woman walking down the stairs. Despite looking like a teenager, she is a married woman who already had a child. Amelie Angestel. Or as I call her, Auntie.
She's my first love, my oasis in this dry desert, and my salvation in this damned world!
I quickly approached her and opted for a hug. When she realized that it was me, she smiled and received it without much thought. Such a kind angel is what helped me endure this camp.
"Ara, Leon, the briefing was over?"
"Yes, Auntie!"
"My husband and those people aren't pushing you too hard, are they?"
"Well, they just decided to send us in a suici- Ehem, a pretty hard mission. But I'll do my best!"
"Haah... Teaching children to be soldiers at such a young age is such a... Don't push yourself, I'll talk to them to go easy on you guys."
"Thanks, Auntie!"
I've decided, I want to marry her when I get older. Consequences be damned.
After that, Auntie left and I had also gone on my own way. Reaching my room, I quickly jumped on the bed as exhaustion took over my body. This is a two-bedroom. Which means that I have a roommate.
"Oh you've already arrived, Leon!"
Speaking of the devil, she was my roommate, Claire Angestel. And in case it wasn't obvious enough, she was Auntie's daughter and my friend.
"I saw you earlier! You've hugged my mom again!"
"What's wrong with that?"
"A lot of things!!!"
I see, she must feel like I'm taking all of her mom's affection. Fufu, don't worry little girl, that wasn't my intention.
"Don't worry, she's still your mom. I do not plan on taking her from you."
"...Leon, you're an idiot."
"Why!?"
Claire puffed her cheeks as she crossed her arms and sat on her bed. She didn't talk to me after that. This girl is quite moody. But she's too young to have a period right?
"By the way, Leon..."
"Hmm?"
"The next mission, let's compete."
"Stakes?"
"The winner gets to have the loser do something."
"Challenge accepted."
It was out of the blue but it's a favourable proposal for me. I'm going to ask her many things about Auntie that I'm too embarrassed to ask her!
What I didn't notice at that time, was Claire's expression.
The day of the mission came quicker than I expected. But I was always prepared. This isn't that hard so as usual, I only brought my favorite lightweight pistol with me.
Everything had gone well, as expected of me. Until that appeared.
"A deer? They said hunting will provide bonus points right? Come here..."
Having been preoccupied with the idea of the extra points, the fact that the deer looked suspicious didn't enter me.
I aimed my sights at it but I accidentally tripped on a tree's roots and the deer noticed me.
"Such a waste, now it's going to run away."
I said that but I was dead wrong. The deer, instead of running away stared deep at me. It sent shivers all over my body. That was when I noticed.
Its mouth was bleeding and its body on the other side was...
"!?"
Fully bare, with flesh out in the blue.
Exceeding all my predictions, the deer charged at me, albeit slower than how a normal deer usually runs. Is that rabid!? No, can deers even get that!?
My mind was in shambles but my instincts activated first and I managed to stand up. When it reached close proximity, it started with a lunge attack that seemed to want to bite me.
I managed to avoid it but its hooves scratched me. Did that thing just try to stand on two feet!? What the hell even is that!?
Running away from it, I didn't realize that I was already near a cliff. I tripped on another tree root and fell below. What a life.
"...Ugghh, damn it..."
I managed to stay conscious but I think my legs were broken. I looked up to see what the deer would do and surprisingly, it also fell!?
It landed a meter or so away from me. But as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the deer who is seemingly still alive, tried to stand again with its broken feet.
And it managed to do so.
"..."
I was afraid, very much so but I remembered that I had a weapon, only I seemed to have dropped it. Fortunately, it was just nearby. If I can crawl over it...
As I could see my imminent death, I exerted all the remaining energy that I could muster to crawl over to my gun. When I reached it, I hastily aimed at the deer and shot its bare heart.
The heart stopped beating. But it only took a mere moment and the deer continued advancing.
"No no no no, why the hell!?"
I was running out of options on how to put down that damned thing. Until I had thought of my last one.
All or nothing.
I aimed above and shot its head. That seemed to have worked as the deer fell.
As if satisfied by the conclusion, I lost consciousness.
The next place I woke up to was a hospital bed. I see, I was saved huh?
When I opened my eyes, there was my and Claire's standing near the door. In addition, two people were beside my bed sitting on a chair. Claire and Auntie.
When they noticed that I woke, Claire tried to pounce at me but was beaten in the race by her mother.
"Leon! You're finally awake!"
"Err, hello there Auntie."
"Hello there, your face! Just what happened to make, even you like this!?"
When she asked me that, I recalled what happened in the forest. There was an undying deer? No, it did die but only when I shot it in the head. I thought of whether to tell them what happened or not and decided against it—not knowing that that would probably be the worst decision I could have made.
Well, it's not like it would be a believable story anyway. Perhaps that deer is just affected by something? Ah, maybe a parasite, the one that makes bodies move even after death!
"Errm, I was chasing a deer for the extra points but the area that I was assigned to was actually pretty rough so... I kinda tripped and fell a lot."
When I said that, Auntie made an indescribable smile and simply looked at me. Surprisingly, it was her husband, Claire's father who spoke next.
"He's not wrong. That area is also plagued by vines and all so it's probably really hard to navigate. I, no we will keep our promise. Leon, from now on, you are free to leave the camp and it will also count as graduation. You will also be compensated for the coming years until adulthood."
As he said that, he left. Meanwhile, my Dad simply left a few words "Get well.", and followed him. I'm pretty much used to it already.
Next, I faced Claire, who seemed to be upset at being ignored, and hugged her.
"Hyaahhn!"
"You were also worried, right? I'm sorry and thank you. Well, this is probably the last time we will meet though."
"...Yeah."
Despite her antics, I'm sure she was worried about me as well. Claire will be remaining here. I don't know how long but I don't think it will be soon.
"Well, talk to you later, good luck!"
"Eh?"
As she said that, Claire dashed out of the room. I wondered why as I looked at the last person who was there with me. Auntie still had the same smile she had earlier.
Before I could speak, tears ran down her cheeks.
"Sniff! Do you know... Snifff! How much I was worried about you... Wahh!"
"Eh!? Ahh... Err."
I didn't expect that she would cry. However, feeling deeply guilty and warm at the same time, I gave her another hug, to which she responded by hugging me tighter.
I was all smiles as I saw another side of her, however, what came next was something that would haunt me for years and more.
After calming down, Auntie sat upright and began speaking.
"Now then, did you remember what I told you? I told you to take care of yourself more, did I not? And what did you do, effectively put your life in danger just for mere additional points? Do you even value your own life? Leon is still just a child so you shouldn't just blindly follow those people no matter how controlling they may seem to you. As a child, you can definitely..."
"..."
From then on, a five-hour session of sermon started.
◇◇◇
When I got back to my room, I was very tired. To be honest, being together with Auntie for over five hours was both a blessing and a curse at the time.
Although I did understand what she was trying to convey, as a child, sermons like that are my grave weakness.
"Fuhahaha! You look like a ghost, Leon."
"You've got guts to say that after abandoning me..."
"Well, I knew what was up so I excused myself. If you want to survive, you need to know when to make sacrifices!"
"..."
This girl is such a... Well, I guess I should rather thank her for giving me time alone with Auntie. As I thought of that, I remembered our deal before the mission.
"So, what do you want?"
"???"
"The deal... Err. the competition. You said the winner gets to request anything, right? I lost so you win."
"...But you got injured, wouldn't it be better to call it off?"
"Nah, it would only hurt my pride if you do that."
"Pfft! What kind of pride is that..."
A man's pride. Well, in my case, a boy's pride I guess? I also chuckled at my own words.
"If you say so then... I got one but it's simple."
"Shoot it."
"After you leave this place, Leon... Can you wait for-"
Hmm? Why did she stop?
"Can you be happy on your own!?"
"Huh?"
"Errm... I mean, can you promise me that you will live a normal life, away from things like this?"
I see, so basically she's asking me not to involve myself in anything military-related. That was my plan but... w- what is this? I feel warm and fuzzy. T- To think that she deliberately wished for something that would be for my benefit.
"Alright, I promise."
"Fufu, great!"
Claire flashed a relieved smile and it created something like a splitting image of Auntie.
It may not align my beliefs but at that time, I sincerely thought that Claire was a very attractive girl.