Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 1613: Chapter 95: Fox and Mouse Game (5)_2

"Little... Instructor," Houdel carefully asked, "I’ve accepted you docking my points. But shouldn’t we each get ten points for this errand?"

"I’ll add you [extremely crude profanity]!" Kadar couldn’t bear it any longer, took a quick step forward, and gave Houdel a hard kick in the butt, almost losing his boot.

Houdel nearly flew forward.

Kadar staggered a few steps and let out a roar, "Take him back!"

-----------------

On the way back, Little Majiya took advantage of Pretty Boy’s inattention, urged Warhorse to catch up to Houdel, and rode alongside him.

"Does it still hurt?" Little Majiya asked softly.

Houdel sat on the saddle in an awkward position and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth, "Half of my butt is numb."

"Why did you provoke him? If it were me, I’d kick you too," Claude caught up and complained, "And at this point, what’s the use of points? We got so many points from that battle at Jade Crossing, it should be enough regardless."

"What do you know! You can’t imagine how important points are!" Houdel looked around, then whispered to his two friends, "I heard that points not only determine if you can graduate, but also your destination after graduation. High points mean you can go to a good place; low points mean you can only go feed pigs!"

"Then you’re doomed," Claude laughed heartily, "You’re definitely going to feed pigs!"

"Screw you!" Houdel fumed, "You’re not much better off than me. If I go feed pigs, don’t think you can run away!"

But his voice sounded somewhat lacking in confidence.

-----------------

Houdel returned to the dormitory in a state of unrest, lay down on the bed as soon as he walked in, but tossed and turned, unable to sleep no matter what. So he threw off the blanket and got up to count his points.

It was impossible to figure out how many points he lost, so Houdel started calculating who had fewer points than him, like a runner being chased by a lion.

He looked from left to right across the dormitory, then from right to left.

After the encirclement battle at Jade Crossing, many beds in the dormitory were empty. Some cadets had died, some were lying in the hospital, and some who had lost their nerve on the field were locked up in the Military Police Team’s jail.

After such a grueling battle, Houdel thought that no matter their background, the remaining cadets all deserved to be called "comrades."

But you can’t have it both ways; the bad news was, no matter how he looked, Houdel couldn’t find anyone with fewer points than him.

"I’m screwed," Houdel was on the verge of tears, "Am I really going to feed pigs?"

Just then, Houdel felt someone standing behind him. He turned around—it was his "fellow villager."

The person had lost a lot of weight; he hadn’t seen him for a few days, and his cheeks had sunken in. Houdel took a moment to recognize him.

"Sit, sit," Houdel quickly pulled him to a seat on the bed and curiously asked, "Weren’t you in the hospital?"

"Missing fingers don’t stop me from walking," the fellow villager grinned, "I sneaked out while they weren’t paying attention."

"Why sneak out?"

"To come see you."

"What’s there to see about me?" Houdel scratched the back of his head, and suddenly remembering something, he urgently and somewhat ashamedly asked his fellow villager, "By the way, did Pretty Boy give you extra points for the [Firm] battle?"

"Is it really important?" the fellow villager was puzzled.

"It’s very important!" Houdel grabbed his arm, "It’s really important."

The fellow villager thought for a moment and slowly said, "I don’t think so... No."

"Thank heavens!" Houdel cried tears of joy, hugging his fellow villager and slapping his back hard, "Brother! You’ve really saved my life! Brother!"

The fellow villager was at a loss due to Houdel’s unprecedented show of affection but tried to pat Houdel on the back with his intact right hand.

Houdel realized his overreaction, stepped back, and wiped away his tears.

The fellow villager smiled, "But the points, whatever, doesn’t matter much to me."

"How can it not matter?" Houdel said anxiously, "Points are very important!"

"I mean, to me, it doesn’t matter," the fellow villager was silent for a moment, forcing a smile, "I’m... retiring."

"What?" Houdel was surprised.

"Retiring due to injury," the fellow raised his left hand, missing all but the thumb and index finger, "It’s already decided. I leave after being commissioned."

"Why?" Houdel was upset. At this moment, he was more indignant about his fellow villager’s situation than his own points, "Even those with missing limbs can stay in the army. Why are they pushing you out for losing a few fingers?"

"It’s not being pushed," the fellow villager reassured Houdel, "I want to leave of my own accord."

"Why?" Houdel didn’t understand.

"Because I’m a coward," the fellow villager laughed, "The battle at Jade Crossing made me realize I can’t be a soldier. I’m not as brave as you, Houdel. I’m not even as brave as I thought I could be. I... never mind."

The fellow villager sniffed and deliberately changed the topic, "I’m grateful to you, without you, I’d be in the Military Police’s jail, waiting to be kicked out for cowardice. Going home whole but with no way to hold my head high."

I’m also thankful to Lord Mason. He allowed me to retire with honor, to leave the army in a dignified way, go back to Iron Peak County as a lieutenant. That makes my rank higher than yours—though temporarily, since you’ll certainly become an officer, maybe even a general..."

Houdel didn’t know what to say, so he just nodded stiffly.

The fellow villager laughed, "But I know deep down, I’ll always be a coward..."

"Don’t say that," Houdel quietly stopped him from self-deprecation.

"Alright, I won’t say it anymore. And I shouldn’t bother you. I should get back. Otherwise, they’ll find out I ran off," the fellow villager seemed to have said all he wanted, getting ready to leave.

"I’ll... I’ll see you out," Houdel stood up as well.

"It’s just a few steps," the fellow villager waved his hand, "No need to see me off."

"Oh," Houdel pulled at him, shamefully asking, "What’s your name again?"

"We’ve been sharing a dormitory for this long," the fellow villager looked at him in surprise, "You don’t know my name?"

"I’m so used to your nickname," Houdel told a little lie, "I forgot your full name for a moment, and your name is so long, who can remember it?"

The fellow villager didn’t expose Houdel; he smiled kindly, "Then make sure to remember this time; my name is Merry, Merry Pingpi. Don’t forget it again."

"Merry Pingpi," Houdel swore, "I definitely won’t forget."

"Houdel," Merry grasped Houdel’s hand, "I won’t forget you either. When it’s all over, after we’ve fought all the battles, you must come back to Iron Peak County, and we’ll meet again then."

"I will."

Merry gave Houdel’s hand one last squeeze and walked away without looking back.

Houdel looked at his retreating figure, his chest filled with unexplainable emotions.

-----------------

On the other side, Winters returned from a report at the Great Hall and was having a meeting with Skur Meklen who just finished talks with Matteo Konar, and Gessa Adonis, who was waiting to enjoy the fruits of their labor.