Chapter 68

I'm standing in front of the outdoor cooking area, facing a small pot.

A low flame and a shallow layer of oil. I scatter the intended ingredients and cook them slowly for a long time, but... I can already sense that it’s not going to turn out well, and I’m pretty sure it’s not just my imagination.

Still, I wait foolishly, hoping for a miracle to happen, until the fire from the logs I threw into the stove dies out. It’s a waste of time...

"Hey, Mom, if you keep cooking it so slowly, it’s going to burn."

"Shut up. If you don’t like it, do it yourself. I’ve been doing it this way for a long time."

"You don’t have to be so harsh, you know."

Looking at the stove a little further away, I see a family roasting a whole lamb. It’s a bold dish. It looks like a lot of work, and I don’t really want to do it myself, but I’m a bit envious.

Ah, but there’s no sauce. This world really lacks a good sauce.

...But it’s okay. This dish will be delicious with just salt. No sauce is needed. With butter and salt, it should be perfect... or so I thought, but it doesn’t seem to be coming together at all...

"Mongrel-senpai, what are you making?"

"Oh? Rina and... Gorilliana, it’s been a while."

"...Hello, Mongrel-san."

The ones passing by were Rina and the giant, gorilla-like swordsman, Gorilliana, who still doesn’t look like a woman.

It’s an unusual pair. Looking closely, Rina is holding a bird with its feathers plucked. It seems they were out hunting just now.

"This... I was trying to make a new dish, but it’s not going well. I think it’s a waste of time to keep trying, so if you want to use the stove, feel free."

"...What is this? It looks like corn."

"It’s corn. Dried corn. I’m frying it in oil."

"Ah... you didn’t grind it into flour?"

"In my perfect plan, this corn was supposed to expand and become delicious, but..."

"What kind of grain is corn in your world, Mongrel-san..."

What I was trying to make was popcorn.

I’m not sure how to make it, but I thought heating dried corn in oil would work... but it just burns. It’s a clear failure.

The smell is similar, but... smell alone isn’t enough. Texture is 99.9% of the food...

"Then... I’ll use the stove..."

"Sure, go ahead. You can even use this oil if you want."

"Thanks! I’ll share some meat with you, Mongrel-senpai!"

"Great. I feel like I’ve recovered some of my losses."

I couldn’t make popcorn, but I got to eat some sautéed bird.

It’s a familiar dish, but meat is meat. It’s delicious.

"Iron and Bronze class promotion exams, huh?"

"Yep. Gorilliana is going to oversee the Bronze class promotion, and I’m helping with the Iron class archer exams."

"Rina, you’re finally becoming an examiner... that’s quite a milestone."

"I’m just assisting, but I’m nervous."

After a light meal, we’re heading to the guild.

It’s interesting that Rina and Gorilliana are becoming examiners, so I plan to watch them.

"...Can I do it well... I’m worried..."

Rina seems nervous, but Gorilliana looks even worse.

She’s still a person whose appearance and personality don’t match.

"You can take the exam too, Mongrel-senpai."

"No thanks. I’ll just be a spectator."

"You should try to get promoted..."

"Well, I’m fine. More importantly, you need to guide the newbies well. It’s a sad story if someone who doesn’t fit the role gets promoted, for everyone involved."

"...Hearing that, I’m even more nervous!"

It’s not uncommon for guild members to get seriously injured or even die shortly after being promoted from Bronze to Silver.

They get overwhelmed by the new situation and opponents. Passing the exam with full effort is one thing, but maintaining that level of performance on every mission is another. Examiners need to consider these aspects.

Well, there’s a sort of manual for the exams, so just follow it and screen the candidates.

"Uooooooh!"

"...Monotone, next."

"Okay! Here I go... haaaaaaah!"

"...Alright... next."

In the guild’s training area, the young Bronze class swordsmen are sparring with Gorilliana.

They’re using wooden practice swords, and Gorilliana is wearing partial light armor. There are many of them, but even with the skill gap, it’s tough to fight without armor.

"I’ll throw it now!"

"Okay!"

Rina is conducting a test for archers, where they have to shoot at a disc thrown from the side. Hitting the center is the best score. It looks like a game, and I might want to try it. The distance is close, so there’s a chance I could hit it.

Wait. If I become an archer, I could fit in perfectly at my current Bronze 3 level.

Then I wouldn’t have to listen to so much criticism... but no, that’s not possible. I have no confidence in my archery skills at the Bronze level. I’m better off as a swordsman.

"■■■■■■■■-!"

"Whoa, that was a shock."

Suddenly, a roar like a wild beast’s echoed, and it turned out to be Gorilliana’s voice.

The promotion exam is over, and now she’s wreaking havoc among the newbies with a wooden morning star in both hands.

She looks like a barbarian that needs to be eliminated.

It’s as if she’s lost her mind, but her combat skills are still intact.

"Ugh... don’t get too close..."

"Cut the handle! That’s the end, right!?"

"Don’t be ridiculous!"

There’s no coordination. Cutting the handle of Gorilliana’s morning star would end the test, but she has the strength of a Silver class. Using two morning stars, she’s moving in a way that makes it difficult for even an Iron 2 or 3 to get close.

"Gorilliana-senpai, you’re being ruthless..."

"Oh, is Rina’s part over?"

"Yes, I just assisted. ...The close-range combat tests are always like this, aren’t they?"

"Like what?"

"Isn’t it really strict?"

"No, that’s just right. Gorilliana is doing a good job."

"Is that so?"

Is that what you mean by the way Gorilliana just swept a morning star and sent someone flying?

That’s normal. I focus on skill in my battles.

"The real Sungreil’s planet soldiers fight like that. Some are even more barbaric, swinging wildly and charging recklessly while shouting holy verses."

"They’re really scary, aren’t they?"

"They are, especially the devout ones."

The more devout ones are often sent to important battle lines, making them even more troublesome.

I don’t think their doctrine promised a better afterlife for those who died in battle...

"Phew... it’s over. ...I’ll give extra points to the two who managed to attack the handle during this mock battle..."

Oh, the berserker mode is over.

It’s a mess. It’s a good thing it was a mock battle. In a real battle, everyone who fell would be minced.

"...Mongrel-senpai, have you ever been involved in a war? Probably."

"Yeah, I have. In Strohbe, and I was conscripted by the guild to go to the battlefield."

"Really?"

"Rina, you’re from the north in Dryden, so you might not hear many war stories from adults. Most battles end in a standoff, but if you’re assigned to a real battle, it’s hell. Especially if you’re a Silver class archer, you’ll be highly valued. Be careful when you’re trying to rank up, Rina."

"...Yeah, war is scary."

"Yeah. It’s about killing other humans. It’s scary."

What’s scary is that we, the common people, don’t know why we’re being attacked or why we’re attacking when we’re conscripted.

Commanders give rousing speeches to boost morale, but it’s hard to know how much of it is true.

And we have to risk our lives for such vague reasons. It’s unbearable.

"Alright! I hit it! Promotion and extra points!"

"Hehehe, we might become soldiers a bit earlier!"

...Well, most people just fight with the idea that they’re killing the enemy because they’re the enemy.

Some even want to be soldiers and join the military.

...That’s where I feel the temperature difference in this world, or this country.

"...Mongrel-senpai, do you dislike fighting Sungreil?"

"Huh?"

She asked hesitantly. Ah, it’s because of my race.

"It would be a lie to say I don’t dislike it, but it’s not because they’re from Sungreil. I dislike killing humans in general. You know, I don’t take human-targeted missions. That’s the kind of person I am."

"Ah, right. That’s true."

"Do you dislike it, Rina?"

"I do... but I can’t say it too loudly."

"That’s how everyone feels."

War is something to be avoided. That’s a common belief in my previous life, Japan, but not so much in this country.

Anti-war people are even criticized. It’s hard to find people to talk to about this.

"I hope there’s no war..."

"Yeah."

The war between Halperia and Sungreil has been recurring sporadically.

It’s peaceful now, but who knows what will happen. I don’t think they’ll start a war during the planting season, but that’s just my hope.

War doesn’t consider the convenience of the common people at all.