Due to the lack of support and also realizing that if he protested, Johan would lose, he decided to remain silent and observe the situation. Although his heart was filled with dissent, he knew that now was not the right time to express his feelings.
After the brief introduction, the entire class 2-B was directed by one of the soldiers to undergo job identification. The grand hall was filled with the bustling of footsteps and the anxious whispers of the students. Jobs were the system that determined one's future in this world, and everyone had to go through the identification process to know their role.
The soldier leading them appeared authoritative, with shiny armor and a sword at his waist. "You will be directed one by one to the altar for job identification. Stay calm and follow the instructions carefully," he said loudly and clearly, providing a bit of reassurance amidst the prevailing anxiety.
The students began to line up, and the atmosphere in the hall was filled with whispers and speculation. They tried to guess what jobs they might get, filled with hope and apprehension.
Johan stood in line, his eyes darting around. His friends seemed to be trying to calm themselves, though some still appeared anxious. Beside him, Katase Lori, a classmate known for being intelligent and calm, tried to encourage those around her.
"Come on, we can get through this. Everything will be okay," she said with a gentle smile, though there was a hint of tension in her eyes.
When Lori's turn came, she stepped forward to the altar. Soft light enveloped her body, and a few seconds later, a voice emanated from the altar announcing her job. "Katase Lori - Mage."
The students clapped softly, feeling relieved that one of them got a strong and honorable job. Lori smiled in relief, though there was still concern about the uncertain future.
Mitsuki Nouya, known as the student who always diligently practiced kendo, stepped forward confidently. "Mitsuki Nouya - Swordsman," echoed the voice from the altar, making Mitsuki smile satisfactorily.
Momo Nouka, who always helped her friends with her kind heart, stepped forward with nervous steps. "Momo Nouka - Healer," announced the voice from the altar, making Momo smile in relief and the students clapped to encourage her.
Touka Misaki, known for her agility and strategic prowess in games, stepped forward with a curious expression. "Touka Misaki - Thief," announced the voice from the altar, making Touka nod in satisfaction.
Several other students also stepped forward one by one, receiving various jobs. Some jobs seemed ordinary, while others were more unique and rare.
Sasaki Touya, charismatic and always leading his friends, stepped forward with unwavering confidence. "Sasaki Touya - Hero," echoed the voice from the altar, making the entire room applaud in admiration.
Kitahara Nora, who always topped the class with her intelligence, stepped forward calmly. "Kitahara Nora - Sage," announced the voice from the altar, making Nora smile faintly.
Minami Aoi, who always appeared calm and caring, stepped forward gracefully. "Minami Aoi - Holy Maiden," announced the voice from the altar, making the students whisper in admiration.
Inukai Jun, who was always firm and protective of his friends, stepped forward with a determined face. "Inukai Jun - Knight Templar," echoed the voice from the altar, making Jun nod with resolve.
The four of them seemed to have their own destinies already embedded within them. Out of dozens of students, only the four of them had uncommon and very special jobs. The aura of heroism and responsibility was clearly evident around them.
However, it wasn't just them who had uncommon jobs. Johan would soon find his own fate in this new world.
When Johan's turn came, he stepped forward to the altar with heavy steps, feeling the gaze of his friends on him. Soft light enveloped his body once again, and the altar began to glow brighter. After what felt like an eternity, a voice from the altar announced his job. "Johan Anderson - Modern Soldier."
The room instantly fell silent. The students looked at each other, confused by the strange and uncommon job. Johan himself felt a mixture of surprise and confusion. 'Modern Soldier? What does that mean?' he thought.
...
{POV JOHAN}
Drowning in deep confusion, endless questions swirled in my mind. 'Modern Soldier? What does it mean? Military soldiers in my world!' Although I tried to piece together speculations, I still couldn't identify it with certainty.
As I was still trapped in uncertainty, slow steps approached me, bringing someone filled with an aura of kindness and wisdom. The gleam in their eyes emitted warmth that momentarily halted my confusion. The dim light in the school hallway reinforced his mysterious aura.
"This is the first time I've heard of such a job, dear," he said softly, trying to encourage me. His voice echoed in the hallway, piercing through the silence surrounding us. "Perhaps you're destined to be a warrior, but what does 'modern' mean?"
I hung on to every word he spoke, trying to digest the meaning of each sentence. The high ceiling of the hallway reflected the uncertainty I felt. "I'm not too sure, but maybe it's like soldiers in my world," I answered hesitantly, gazing at the cold floor.
"If so, that's great!" He nodded with a faint smile that warmed my heart. The gleam of the evening light entered through the window, illuminating his hopeful face. "Stay strong, dear. Perhaps you have a bright future ahead!" He said, patting my shoulder with hope, his voice gentle yet full of conviction.
I could only nod lightly at his words attempting to instill encouragement. The sound of muted footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway. Although my heart was still burdened by doubts about the idea of war discussed by the previous king. The dim sunlight reflected the worry in my expression.
As I returned to my place, the atmosphere around me turned darker. Various whispers containing mockery occurred around me, sounding like thorns piercing the peace of my mind. They seemed to know more about my job than I did myself, and they spoke as if being a soldier was pathetic.
They were still unstable, trapped in their narrow views of life and the world. Their doubtful and mocking gazes implied their ignorance of the true complexity of the world. They failed to understand that being a soldier in modern earth was crucial for a country's security. They didn't realize that being a soldier also had its own achievements and was a noble choice.
Although those whispers tried to crush my spirit, I chose not to care. I had to remain steadfast and confident in my choice, even though it might be difficult to understand for those too fixated on narrow perspectives.
Suddenly, the whispers grew louder, demanding answers. I heard some students talking among themselves.
"Have you seen Johan? What job did he get? I can't imagine him being part of our forces!"
"Come on, maybe he'll just be a burden to us. Isn't it clear he's not warrior material?"
"I agree. How could someone like him be useful in battle? It seems like we'll have to be prepared to bear the extra burden."
Their conversation pierced my heart like a knife. It felt like being stabbed by unspoken sharp words. But I couldn't allow myself to be ruled by despair. That's why I had to understand this Job.
...
Status
After the identification process, we were informed about how to understand our respective jobs. One of the soldiers explained the Deus Machina system, which is similar to the RPG system in a video game in our world. This system assists and guides every individual in this world about their jobs, providing necessary clues and directions to understand their abilities and roles in the upcoming battles.
With Deus Machina, each individual can explore their potential and better understand how they can contribute to the ongoing war efforts. Although initially I felt doubtful and confused about how my job would play out, with the help of this system, I felt somewhat relieved that there was guidance available for me.
Activating it was quite simple, just saying "Profile" directly or even in your mind.
"Profile." Since everyone had already done it, there was no reason not to do it as well.
Then a status window appeared displaying personal information, like in a RPG-themed video game.
Name: Johan Anderson
Age: 17 years old
Job: Modern Soldier
Stats:
Health (HP): *****
Strength (STR): ***
Defense (DEF): ***
Speed (SPD): ****
Intelligence (INT): ***
Skills (SKL): ****
Abilities:
Tactical Assault: Allows the user to plan structured attacks, increasing accuracy and effectiveness.
Advanced Firearm Proficiency: Mastery in using modern firearms with a high level of skill, providing an advantage in long-range combat.
Adaptive Combat Training: Enables the user to quickly adapt to various combat situations, enhancing survival skills and response to threats.
"Wow..." was all I could say, the word escaping from my mouth. Is this serious!? I almost couldn't believe that I was part of something so extraordinary like this. The sensation of wonder still enveloped my mind, as if I were thrown into a fantasy world far from everyday reality.
My eyes glanced at the people around me who were also amazed by their own statuses. They, like me, seemed to be caught in the whirlwind of wonder and disbelief. Each expression on their faces conveyed a mixture of admiration and confusion, as if they too were still trying to process the information that had just been given.