Volume 1 Chapter 22 Apprentice
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Soldier Trainees have to go through basic training at the Training Camp first.
Every morning, we wake up and do a marathon, some stretching, and basic physical training. In the morning, we have classes, and in the afternoon, we do specialized training to become soldiers.
I was in a Large Room for new recruits, and there were already 5 senior Soldier Trainees there. Since we joined at different times, those who completed the required classes and specialized training would graduate and become official soldiers.
Then, based on their skills, they would be assigned to actual units. If someone couldn’t graduate after 6 months of training, they would automatically be discharged.
I decided to focus on military training for the first month without complaining. My main goal was to get used to the military and become an official soldier as soon as possible. I planned to look for a place to live and ways to return to my old world later.
Even after becoming an official soldier, new recruits in the Royal Capital usually work nearby for a few years, so I figured I’d have time for that later.
In my room, everyone was Beastfolk, but they all came from the outskirts and didn’t seem to have a bad view of humans. They treated me normally, like the people from Tokura Village, which was a relief.
I knew that if I stayed isolated, I would just struggle, so I made an effort to get along with them. To avoid any unnecessary questions later, I told them that I left the village with a girl I promised to be with in the future, and they seemed a bit jealous.
The training was pretty tough, but since I had been training hard with Ms. Sharlin, I had built up my strength and managed to get through it. At the end of each day, I collapsed into bed.
After a month of training, the first day off finally came. Here, new recruits train for 6 days and then get one day off. The only holiday is the king’s birthday, which won’t come until next year.
”Hey, is that her? The girl standing by the fountain!”
Helusal, a Beastfolk in my room who is around my age, asked me. I was supposed to meet Puruun today to discuss our plans, but my roommates wanted to see her and followed me.
”She’s super cute! Man, you’re lucky to be so close to her, Yuuta!”
”It’s not like that! We’re still just friends!”
”Come on, that sounds like you’re saying you’re a coward!”
”Just leave me alone… You’re satisfied now, right? Go away!”
I shooed away the onlookers and walked over to Puruun.
”Yuuta!”
Puruun looked really happy to see me after more than a month.
I had just received my first paycheck since joining, so I had a little extra money, and we went into a café together. We shared updates about our lives, and it seemed like the training was pretty similar for both guys and girls.
Well, it is basic training after all. I was relieved to hear that Puruun was keeping up with her training, but she told me she was more worried about my classes. I realized I still had a lot to learn about this world.
In the morning, we went shopping for things we needed, and in the afternoon, we checked out real estate agencies to look into apartment prices.
Right now, the military dorms provide 3 meals a day and no rent, so I wasn’t planning to rent an apartment right away.
But since Ms. Akari and Melon would be traveling soon, I needed to gather information early.
I chuckled a bit when I saw property listings on the agency windows, just like in my world.
”Wow, the prices are higher than I expected. I wonder if I can afford it with a military salary.”
In front of the 4th real estate agency, Puruun murmured.
”Yuuta, wait here for a sec. I’m going to ask the staff a few questions.”
She went into the agency and came out a little while later.
”How did it go?”
”Yeah. First, I asked if there are any cheap places for humans. Then, they suddenly said, ‘We don’t have any places to rent to humans!’ So, I asked if there were any cheaper places for Beastfolk, and they told me to check out Downtown. They said maybe humans could rent there.”
”Downtown, huh… that sounds like a sketchy area. I wonder where exactly it is.”
”Well, we need to gather more info. But let’s save that for next time and just enjoy today.”
”But it’s still early in the day!”
”What are you talking about? It’s a holiday in the Royal Capital, so let’s go on a proper date! Aren’t we going to have some fun today?”
”Oh, did you hear that? But that was something Helusal said…”
”Ha! You’re blushing, Yuuta! It’s cute! Don’t worry. We can’t do anything crazy outside anyway, so I’ll let you off with a normal date today.”
”Haha…”
So, Puruun and I had a date where we mostly window-shopped to save money, and since Puruun kept asking, we shared a quick kiss at the end and promised to meet again in a month.
* * *
The day came for my training break, a month later, when I was supposed to meet Puruun.
I had gotten the location of Downtown from Ms. Humari (Mr. Agohige’s daughter) at the merchant guild during my last training break. She felt sorry for me, saying it’s tough for humans to rent places.
She even offered to talk to a real estate agent she knows, but she said she couldn’t negotiate the price, so I thought I’d ask her for help if I really needed it.
It was already getting pretty chilly as autumn deepened. The Royal Capital is warmer than Tokura Village, but it was still getting colder every day, and I wanted some winter clothes.
It seemed like Puruun was thinking the same thing, so we went together to look for winter clothes.
”Today, I brought this.”
Puruun said, unbuttoning her shirt to show me. I was a bit surprised, but then I realized it was the necklace from before.
”I thought I messed up last time. So, I decided to use this for negotiations from now on.”
But I wondered if the charm really helped with discounts. Maybe if people liked her more, they’d be more willing to negotiate.
Ms. Humari had told me not to let Puruun go to Downtown alone, and I could see why. It looked dangerous, with drunk people lying around half-n*ked. We tried to stick to busy areas as we walked and finally reached the real estate office Ms. Humari mentioned.
Even if they had a place for us, I thought, Melon wouldn’t be able to walk around here.
I decided to ask anyway, making sure not to leave Puruun alone, so I went inside the store with her.
Luckily, the dwarf who helped us was really nice. He didn’t make any rude comments about humans and listened to Puruun’s needs, showing us some suitable rental options.
”Yeah, this price might work. But it’s going to be tough to get to the Military from here. And that street looks dangerous… I wonder if Melon will be okay.”
Hearing Puruun say that, the store manager asked,
”Which way did you come from?”
”Oh, we came straight west from Royal Capital Central Park…”
”Oh, I see. Even locals don’t go that way much. It’s dangerous. It’s a bit of a detour, but if you go north first and take the main road, it should be fine. There are more shops that way too.”
We thanked the manager and left the store. Following his advice, it didn’t feel dangerous at all. There were supermarkets and shops bustling with people from Downtown.
”Anyway, after I get hired, I won’t even know where I’ll be assigned, so worrying about commuting now doesn’t make sense. I think it’s fine to set up a base around here.”
I agreed with Puruun.
I’ve got a place to live now, so next, I need to find clues to go back. I should visit the person Mr. Goetec introduced me to. I thought about this and brought it up to Puruun, but her response was like this.
”Sorry, Yuuta. Actually, I might have the Military’s main hiring test soon. So, can I focus on that first?”
What?! I haven’t even completed half of my required credits yet…
”Well, I guess there’s no choice. I’ll check things out on my own during training break. If you need to reach me, just leave a message on the dorm’s board for now.”
In this world, there are no phones, so there’s a message board at the entrance of the Military dorm where you can write things you want to tell people inside. But, personal information isn’t protected at all.
”Got it. If anything comes up, I’ll write it on the board… So, Yuuta, what are we doing today?”
”What do you mean, another date?”
”Yeah. I heard from a senior in the Military that there’s a place called Date Cafe around here. Want to go together?”
”Date Cafe? What’s that? I mean, I thought we’d just go to a regular cafe on a date, but if they’re calling it that… do they have some special services for couples or something?”
”Yeah, I’m not really sure, but when I said I was going downtown today with my boyfriend, my senior recommended it.”
”Okay, then let’s check it out.”
”Yay! Let’s go!”
So, following the map Puruun got from her senior, we entered the Date Cafe in downtown. We paid for 2 hours and one drink at the entrance, and when we went inside, I was surprised.
It was almost completely dark, with just a tiny candle here and there, barely enough light to see our feet.
”Be careful until your eyes get used to the dark.”
Said a male staff member, guiding us to our seats.
There was a slightly bigger sofa for 2 and a small table, and I thought, okay, this is where we relax together. But then I heard some strange moaning sounds. Is someone feeling sick and resting?
Once my eyes adjusted, I looked around and saw more sofas like the one we were sitting on. There were no dividers, so I could see what other customers were doing…
Wait? I was shocked.
Next to us, there were Beastfolk, a guy and a girl, clearly n*ked and hugging each other, and I could see parts of them that shouldn’t be visible!
At that moment, I realized this place wasn’t a cafe but more like an Adult Entertainment Store.
(This place is bad!)
”…Yuuta. This place is something else.”
I could tell Puruun was clearly shaken.
”What should we do? Should we just leave?”
”…But we already paid to get in, so let’s just calm down for now.”
The staff brought us herbal tea, but Puruun didn’t even touch it, looking around nervously.
The couple next to us seemed to be getting more into it, making moaning sounds as they were getting it on. Of course, they could see us too, but I wondered if they cared.
”Y-Yuuta… I’ve never seen people doing that before… They really do stuff like that. And this smell… it’s such a s*xy smell… It’s the same smell as the day before we left for the Royal Capital, when you and Mama Akari were together… you two were doing this…”
Oh no. Puruun seems really off.
”Hey, Puruun. Are you okay? Stay strong.”
”Ah, Yuuta. I feel weird. My lower body is all tingly. I think I’m getting excited at such an odd time…”
Puruun said this while putting her hand inside her own shorts, looking like she was touching herself. It must be because of that necklace. I was feeling super excited too, but this situation is not good!
I decided to pick Puruun up like a princess and said goodbye to the staff as we left the store.
There was a park nearby, so I sat Puruun on a bench to let her rest.
”Yuuta… why did we leave the store? That was a waste. I’m ready anytime. Look…”
Puruun, with her eyes half-closed and looking drowsy, pulled my face closer with both hands and inserted her wet fingers, coated with her love juices, into my mouth.
I stopped her and said,
”Calm down, Puruun. That place is for satisfying sexual desires, not nurturing love! I do want to have s*x with you, but I don’t see our relationship as purely physical. So, when we make love for the first time, let’s do it in a more appropriate place.”
Upon hearing my words, Puruun seemed to regain her senses and started crying softly.
”Okay… I understand, Yuuta… I was scared.”
Well, she may have a grown-up body, but her mind is still that of a child. After that, I escorted Puruun back to the dormitory and gave her a light kiss goodbye.
But I might not be able to sleep tonight if I don’t find a way to release my own sexual tension somewhere.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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