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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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A few years ago, there was a popular TV show featuring former special forces members competing against each other. One recurring segment asked them about the toughest training they’d endured. Whether Army, Navy, Marines, or Air Force, the unanimous answer was Hell Week.
I felt the same. I’d been dropped on a snowy mountain with my comrades, starving and sleep-deprived. We’d endured relentless training under the scorching summer sun, without rest. It was hellish.
Even I, a non-believer, felt that if hell was anything like that, I’d convert to any religion to avoid it. After enduring that hellish training and becoming an officer, I thought I’d never have to experience anything like it again…
But here I was, reliving it in the world of Hearts of General.
“Is… everyone alright? Any injuries or discomfort?”
“N-N-No, sir!”
Every word was accompanied by a puff of white breath. Even though spring was over and summer had arrived, a biting cold pierced through us. We were in Bialystok, Ukraine’s northernmost region, bordering Chernarus, where the 3rd Magic Battalion was stationed.
The climate was already cold due to being in the northern hemisphere, but we’d been dropped in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains, the most rugged terrain in the region.
“If you’re experiencing hypothermia, seek shelter deeper in the cave and warm up. Remember, you can use magic, but you absolutely… mustn’t… be detected.”
“U-Understood… I-I’ll inform the soldiers.”
Lumia’s teeth chattered. It was purely physiological. Even bundled in thermal gear, the cold was intense. Being a Red Mage didn’t grant her cold resistance.
“I’ll check on the 1st and 2nd Platoons deployed below. Supply Officer Roxana, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, Company Commander. No need to worry.”
Roxana was surprisingly unaffected. With her heart being her mana core, mana constantly flowed through her body, making her resistant to the cold.
“There are some advantages to this body, after all.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I stood up. The platoon resting in the cave was Sergeant Erwin Luce’s 3rd Platoon. The remaining three platoons were deployed to the south, west, and east of the cave. Having rested enough, I had to check on each platoon and assess their situation to formulate a strategy.
The goal of this training was simple: survival. We’d been dropped on a snowy mountain without any external support or supplies and had to survive for 72 hours. It sounded simple enough, but there was a catch.
The survival conditions included avoiding detection by the battalion commander and chief of staff. We couldn’t light fires easily. Using magic to keep warm or hunting wildlife had to be done discreetly.
If we were detected by Chief of Staff Josef or Battalion Commander Sony while using magic, for any reason, we’d be bombarded with spells. If that happened, we had to abandon our position and relocate. For now, avoiding magic was the top priority.
Last night, Belle Meyer, freezing, tried to start a fire with magic and was tracked down, causing chaos.
As I left the cave and headed east towards the 1st Platoon’s position, I heard a controlled voice in the distance.
“Halt! Halt! Halt! Gryphon!”
“Phoenix.”
There was no mention of infiltration teams, but knowing Sony Zeppelin, it wasn’t out of the question. We’d established this codeword just in case.
“Who goes there?”
“Company Commander.”
“Purpose?”
“Inspection of subordinate units during training.”
“Identity confirmed.”
A soldier in a white thermal suit emerged. He’d stuffed his suit with leaves.
“…What’s that?”
“The Platoon Leader said it helps with the cold.”
A makeshift insulator. Not bad for a temporary solution.
“Where’s Platoon Leader Claude?”
“On patrol with Corporal Hamel.”
“And the other soldiers?”
“Deployed in pairs, according to the plan.”
I looked around and saw another soldier aiming a gun at me. I hadn’t noticed him because I was focused on the first soldier. While we were only issued blanks for safety reasons, the thought of a real gun pointed at me sent a chill down my spine.
Their vigilance was commendable. In this world where magic was commonplace, illusions and potions could be used for deception. Claude was prepared for such situations.
“Everything seems to be in order here. Any injuries or complaints?”
“None, sir. The Platoon Leader’s method is quite effective.”
“Is that so…? I’ll share it with the other platoons. Inform the Platoon Leader that the Company Commander stopped by.”
“Yes, sir!”
They’d clearly been instructed not to salute during training. As expected of Claude Rain. A true war hero knew when to follow protocol.
The 1st Platoon was traditionally the most elite in a company, and Claude’s platoon was certainly shaping up to be ours. I was satisfied. I moved towards the next platoon’s position.
Deployed south, adjacent to the 1st Platoon, was Belle Meyer’s 2nd Platoon. No one challenged me as I approached, suggesting their vigilance wasn’t as tight as the 1st Platoon’s.
Still, they weren’t completely unprepared. Soldiers were hidden in foxholes. Or rather, they were more like igloos, perfectly suited for the snowy terrain.
“Platoon Leader Belle?”
“Ah, Company Commander!”
Belle Meyer popped her head out of an igloo. Unlike yesterday, when she’d greeted me shivering, she seemed relatively comfortable.
“What do you think? My idea. It’s easy to maintain the temperature inside.”
“Excellent. But isn’t it fragile, being made of only snow?”
“Hee hee, not at all. You haven’t forgotten what kind of mage I am, have you?”
“Ah.”
I examined the igloo closely. Even packed snow would crumble under pressure, but the igloo’s surface was frozen solid. Indeed, a 1st-grade Blyue Mage. She’d used her specialty to generate a small, undetectable amount of water and freeze it, reinforcing the igloo’s structure.
“A perfect observation post. But you won’t be able to detect enemies approaching from the rear. You should post a lookout.”
“Oh…! I didn’t think of that…!”
“It’s fine. We still have another day. I’ll instruct the other platoons to build similar positions when we reorganize later.”
“Leave it to me!”
Belle Meyer grinned and shrugged. I’d been worried about Belle, in case the extreme stress and cold triggered her memory loss again, but she seemed to be doing well. The 2nd Platoon was also in good shape.
‘Now, the only one left is the 4th Platoon… That’s a bit concerning.’
Unlike the other platoons, led by experienced NCO’s, Sergeant Hilton Calia, a newcomer, seemed to lack charisma. She was lucky her platoon members were relatively docile. A more unruly group would have been difficult for her to control.
And a lack of leadership was amplified in extreme situations like this.
I approached the 4th Platoon’s position with some apprehension. Unlike the 1st Platoon, who immediately challenged me, there was no response, even when I was quite close.
‘What’s going on?’
They weren’t hidden in foxholes like the 2nd Platoon, either. Just as I sensed something was wrong…
Bang!!!!
A gunshot echoed through the mountains.
“What the…!!”
My body reacted before my mind could process it. I sprinted towards the source of the sound, my feet sinking into the snow.
Bang! Bang!!!
More gunshots. Not just one, but several. This wasn’t an accident. What was happening? Could it be enemy forces? That would be preferable. It meant Hilton’s 4th Platoon had detected and engaged the enemy.
But if it wasn’t? Whatever it was, it was a dire situation. Even blanks were loud enough to echo through the mountains. Chief of Staff Josef or Sony Zeppelin might have already detected them.
“Platoon Leader Hilton!!! 4th Platoon!!”
“…Company Commander!!! The Company Commander is here!”
A soldier, his face brightening, finally responded to my call. The scattered soldiers turned towards me, and I saw a massive figure looming beyond them. A large, white, furry mass. Thick legs planted firmly on the ground. At least three meters tall, twice the width of a bear. And facing this furry giant was Platoon Leader Hilton.
“C-Company Commander!!!”
“Raaaaar—!!!”
It was a Yeti, a Level 2 beast native to the snowy mountains.
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