In the spacious training ground, young faces stood at regular intervals.

Thick logs were laid across their narrow shoulders like stepping stones. They bore the heavy weight of the logs pressing down on their waists and legs with grit and determination, their faces flushed red as they looked forward. At the sound of the signal whistle, they all rolled their feet forward in unison.

-In the hall of learning on a modest hill. Oh, the embrace of Hamelin.

On the ground, where sand was scattered, small and deep footprints rapidly appeared as children, carrying logs several times their size on their shoulders, began to march in military-like school uniforms. Clenching their fists, the children shouted, feeling a strange bond forming through the medium of pain.

-To vanquish our enemies with all our blood and sweat….

But that only lasted a brief moment. The pain made them forget everything else.

As they moved, the sound of the whistle wavered, and the heavy logs pressed down on the children even more. As the pressure that seemed to crush their flesh was added, the children grimaced more intensely.

-For our glorious country, we advance, devoting our lives….

The march was coming to an end. The voices that had been straining gradually lost their strength. The children, nearly at their limit, moved in step towards the finish line, visible ahead.

-Forward, forward.

They advanced in time with the lyrics of the song.

And at the same time the leader crossed the finish line, the song ended.

-Towards the future of the Military State.

***

“Aghh! I’m so out of breath!”

I threw away the whistle I was blowing and gasped for air. My clothes, soaked with sweat, clung stickily to me. It was hard to tell where my skin ended and my clothes began.

One of the training curriculums in secondary military school, log marching.

It was for the sake of building physical strength and unity of the students, who were not yet seasoned soldiers... Or so they said. But in reality, it felt more like the country was picking on us deliberately.

“Unity and teamwork, my foot. All it does is increase politicking, at best.”

Everyone's height was different. Whether it was their stride, shoulder height, or even the rhythm of their breathing, absolutely nothing matched. Yet, because the log forced them down, they had to exert all their effort in synchronizing their breathing.

After all, if they didn't, the log would tilt or roll off, and someone would face harsh punishment.

“Aghhh ouch, my shoulder. Ugh. If I end up with an uneven shoulder or I don’t grow taller, it’s all this damn school’s fault….”

I was grumbling during a short break when I heard the light footsteps of someone approaching.

I didn't need to look to know who it was. After all, while the grueling training left everyone else groaning on the ground, there was only one person who could walk around so effortlessly.

Historia approached me without a single drop of sweat, looking more bored than exhausted.

“Ria. Just who I needed. Come and massage my shoulders for mEEEEEEEEAGH! I TAKE IT BACK! I SURRENDER!”

Such tremendous pressure! What a grip! It’s heavier than the log itself!

Only after I, swept away by the pain, kneeled and surrendered did Historia finally release her grip.

“Huey. You remember our promise, right?”

“What promi… AHHHHH! I REMEMBER! I REMEMBER, SO STOP!”

The grip on my shoulder vanished. I massaged my shoulder, looking at the owner of that grip.

In the dusty training ground of Hamelin, Historia alone stood out. She wasn't the slightest bit out of breath and her long hair, fluttering at her waist, was dust-free. Though not visible in this state, if one were to roll up her sleeve, they would realize more acutely.

After all, where there should have been bright red pressure marks, her shoulder would be clean and unblemished.

Her appearance would be as if she alone had skipped the march.

“Thanks for joining the log march. We were short on people today, so it was a bit precarious. But thanks to you, we had no stragglers!”

“Save the sweet talk. So. The promise. You’re going to keep it, right?”

“...Uh, about that.”

“If I filled in for your lacking numbers, you’d spar with me for an hour. I’m fairly certain that was the promise, wasn’t it?”

But to be honest, it really wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she carried the log by herself today.

Though she was perhaps not the strongest existence in the Military State, Historia was definitely its strongest student.

Born with an exceptional talent for Qi Arts, she had mastered the Geon and Gon by the age of eighteen. Her strength already surpassed that of a field-grade officer, comparable only to a general officer. The only thing missing was her rank and the sparkling star on her shoulder.

She, who could lift a long while sitting, had joined the march that she didn't really need to, only because of the condition I had set.

“Ahhhhh. Ugh. I’m going to get beaten up so badly again.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. Your condition was that we don’t use Qi Arts anyway.”

“Not using Qi Arts doesn’t mean I won’t get beaten up, you know? It makes no difference. How about sparring with someone else who’s good at using Qi?”

“I don’t want to. Others are swayed by their own power. And the instructors hold back. You’re the only one I can truly exchange proper blows with.”

That wasn’t exchanging blows; it was dodging hits in advance with Mind Reading. And whenever Historia got fired up not long after the spar started, I ended up getting mercilessly beaten.

But what else could I do? A promise was a promise.

“Sigh. Fine. Alright. I’ll take a beating today. If you really want to hit me that badly.”

“In the first place, if you hadn’t wasted your time and had seriously learned Qi Arts, you could have been more than capable of being my opponent. Isn’t that so?”

“I don’t think so.”

Even with the cheat-like skill of Mind Reading and the condition of not using Qi Arts, I would still get beaten one-sidedly, thus showing the severe gap in talent. I didn’t really think learning a bit of Qi Arts would change anything.

Historia, dissatisfied with my lukewarm attitude, seized the opportunity to vent the complaints she had continued to hold.

“You’re weird, you know? Why waste time on pointless things like log marching?”

“Pointless? How could you say that? Log marching greatly helps with building teamwork and physical conditioning, you know?”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean. Listen up, Huey. I’m saying this once again, but…”

As if to coax me, who was merely sitting quietly, Historia spoke deliberately, enunciating each and every word clearly.

“There’s no need for you, the top student, to sacrifice yourself for them.”

Historia, with a rough sweep of her hair, looked around at everyone. Her gaze was indifferent, a tad different from when she was looking at me, as if she was just looking at pebbles on the roadside.

The most apparent emotion was irritation.

After entering Hamelin, the endlessly weak and young classmates were nothing more than existences who held Historia back. The only friend who could possibly match her was probably me.

And while I was diligently fulfilling the role of class president, Historia believed that I was unable to pursue my own intentions because of them.

Was that perhaps why? Historia spoke as if her words were directed at me but loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Leading a group of rabbits will only make you a head rabbit at best. Associating with stragglers or those destined to be stragglers will only hold you back. Please, I’m begging you. Treat your time preciously, Huey.”

Her words practically gouged the hearts of the children.

Yet, no one who heard Historia's words contradicted her. Though their emotions were completely their own, none could act on them and meet Historia's gaze.

They just clenched their jaws and turned away.

Since Historia did not mock them outright, the sense of inferiority felt by the other students only grew larger.

“Your time is far more precious than that of those without courage or spirit. Those destined to fall behind. Please don’t waste it on something so meaningless.”

A single strong individual could overpower a thousand. Historia was one example of that. An overwhelming powerhouse.

I meant that quite literally too. After all, during joint combat training, Historia had once defeated all the students of Hamelin... except for one person.

...Except for that one person.

Upon hearing Historia’s voice, a boy, who had not participated in the march and was reading in the shade, scowled and approached.

“Seriously? Try using your brain for once in your life.”

A boy with bright red hair, scholarly yet irritable in appearance, walked towards us. He slammed his thick book shut and tapped his forehead.

“Do you still not get it? The world isn’t all about beating up and breaking things. As the top student, the class president, and the role model for all students, Huey is currently trying to score some points with the Military State.”

Upon his sudden appearance, Historia sighed shortly, as if she knew this was coming.

“Did I ask, Lankart?”

“Since our illustrious top student is so busy with managing his image, I, the second-ranking student, will answer on his behalf. Can’t you tell? Anyway, take note.”

Whisk.His finger pointed at the instructors. The instructors on the platform, who had commanded the log march, were discussing something while looking in my direction.

While glancing at an instructor who was whispering so as not to be heard, Lankart smirked and spoke.

“You see, our ever so greedy top student plans to become ambidextrous. Not only does he plan to handle oddballs like me and you, the left-handers, but he is also showing he can manage those ordinary right-handers to the instructors.”

What Qi Arts was to Historia, magic was to Lankart. To be more precise, he was a talent who stood at the opposite extreme from Historia. The sole Arcane of the Military State.

Lankart Spendry.

He was a mage who had awakened his Unique Magic, as well as a mage-scholar. An unparalleled genius who was merely affiliated with Hamelin, but was, in fact, already leading Mage Officers. Even instructors found it difficult to confront him.

But of course, that didn’t apply to Historia.

“Right-hander? Left-hander? There you go again, saying things only you understand. Lankart, have you never found that an inconvenient way to live?”

“You slut. Look at you, muddying up my point just because you’re so unwilling to acknowledge your own ignorance.”

The genius of Qi Arts and the genius of magic. The duumvirate expected to lead the future of the Military State... would snarl at each other upon sight. Historia, crumpling the water bottle in her hand, glared at Lankart.

“Do you really think Huey is like you? A calculative grade-chaser?”

“No. He’s far more exceptional in that regard than I am.”

“It seems people only see what they want to see, huh.”

“I’d say I’m more objective than someone like you, who is blinded by infatuation. Don’t you think so?”

Lankart, despite Historia's sharp hostility, approached calmly. After entering within striking range without hesitation, he sighed with a tone of mockery.

“There are plenty of Qi Practitioners in the Military State. No matter how strong a bitch, no, a boar like you is, securing a spot among the Five Star Generals is the best you can hope for. You might be very important, but in the end, you’re just an important component. A mere part. The giant machine that is the Military State will still function well without you, albeit with a slight difference in performance. But it’s just that. A slight difference.”

If one were to adopt a cynical and calculative view of the world, they might share Lankart's perspective. To him, everything that existed was merely a phenomenon to be explained, understood, and utilized.

He, who possessed a mindset more befitting of a mage than even mages themselves, regarded me as if seeing a kindred spirit.

“In contrast to that, Huey occupies a rather unique position. Less adept in magic than me. Less adept in Qi Arts than you… But proficient in all areas. Capable of assigning people where they’re most needed. Popular among the dregs for his extensive knowledge. The only one who can communicate effectively with outliers like us. Huey is the only one with such talent.”

“...So, what you’re trying to say is that all his actions are calculated?”

“Exactly. Huey is aiming to become Command itself.”

This was not a speculation but a conviction for him. Lankart spoke without a single trace of doubt. If anyone heard him, one might think he was the Mind Reader instead, huh.

While facing him, Historia picked at her ear and replied dismissively.

“You’re like a big fish in a small pond. What a narrow view on things. You must think everyone sees the world as you do. You see, you’d know if you directly faced and interacted with Huey, but-”

“...Ahhh, agh. I didn’t expect a hardheaded bitch like you to understand anyway.”

“...By the way, why are you so intent on picking a fight today? Is it your inferiority complex speaking? Got a death wish?”

With that, Historia hurled the crumpled water bottle at Lankart. It rocketed through the air with a shockwave that went Boom. Its force was enough to be lethal upon impact.

However, neither Historia nor Lankart felt particularly threatened or concerned.

The bottle twisted in mid-air as if caught, then smashed into the ground nearby, disintegrating upon impact.

As if knowing from the start her his attack would not reach, Lankart remained unfazed.

“How barbaric. This is why I detest talking to idiots.”

“...You seem to have a lot to say for someone who’d be nothing without their magic.”

As usual, the two bickered endlessly. Yet, an actual fight never ensued.

Because I always mediated between them.

But today, I was tired too. And I worried that staying any longer would result in getting caught and beaten up by Historia. So, I left them to their quarrel and quickly vacated the scene. Unaware of my departure, they continued to growl at each other.

***

I walked through the training ground. While the sand rustled below me, a myriad of emotions could be felt amidst the children struggling to recuperate from the log march.

Pain, sorrow, envy, regret, fear, inferiority, and despair.

And resentment towards me.

Unlike the two with their shining talents, my aptitude was rather ambiguous.

Lankart and Historia had reached unparalleled heights in their respective fields of magic and Qi Arts. As such, while they were so far beyond reach that others couldn’t even dare to look up at them, I was merely a step or two ahead.

No one would resent natural disasters. It was only natural to find it difficult to harbor personal feelings against entities so vast they were beyond comprehension.

Meanwhile, I was no natural disaster. Even though I was the top student, it was probably me, struggling right in front of their noses, who they would resent even more.

Such dark emotions headed towards me.

Instead of the stars in the night sky, who they couldn’t bring themselves to hate, they directed their bitterness towards me, an ordinary person who dared to mingle freely with them.

I crossed the land swirling with dark emotions, heading towards the instructor calling for me.