Chapter 24: Hazard Pay and Occupational Accidents

Zishan had faced many dangerous things since arriving in Cyrune.

He had been chased by armed soldiers, nearly turned into a pincushion, accidentally run toward an enemy camp, fought a Highland Griffin that should have killed him several times over, and spent the last hour getting beaten around by a Level 700 Commander.

Somehow, standing in front of Corporal Tagum felt more uncomfortable than all of those combined. After all, the Corporal had not stopped staring at him since recognizing his face.

Zishan responded in the only reasonable way he could think of.

So, he smiled. Widely.

Not his normal smile, either. This was the kind of smile people wore when they had absolutely done something wrong but hoped the other person had somehow forgotten about it.

"Good afternoon, Corporal Tagum!" Zishan began as he saluted.

Tagum’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Zishan nodded at him again. "Beautiful weather we’re having."

There was smoke covering half the eastern horizon. Something exploded far beyond the defensive walls. Several wounded soldiers were being carried past them.

Tagum looked toward the battlefield for a moment before returning his attention to Zishan. "Beautiful."

"Exactly."

[The System detects an unusual amount of cowardice from the Dumb Host.]

’It’s called diplomacy.’

[The System has reviewed the Dumb Host’s previous behavior and found no evidence supporting that claim.]

’Shut up. I’m trying to fix my relationship with my boss.’

That relationship had unfortunately begun with Zishan calling the man a lapdog. The worst part was that Zishan could not even pretend he had forgotten about it because Tagum clearly remembered every fucking detail.

The Corporal finally turned around. "Follow me."

Zishan immediately followed without any hesitation.

He had already decided that he would behave properly from now on. Commander Holtz might have maliciously placed him under somebody who already hated him, but Zishan was capable of adapting to difficult circumstances.

He had survived worse, and he hoped he could adapt well to his current situation.

Surely, getting along with one angry Corporal would not be harder than escaping an entire battlefield.

"Your assignment papers say you were a Volunteer Auxiliary before Commander Holtz personally appointed you as a Soldier," Tagum said as they walked deeper into the camp. "Level 20?"

"Correct," Zishan replied, closely following the Corporal.

"The minimum Level for a Soldier is twenty-five."

"Also correct."

"And you somehow skipped Recruit."

Zishan’s chest rose slightly. "Very very correct! Hehe..."

Tagum did not mind how he answered that and kept walking.

They continued walking between rows of reinforced tents and supply stations. The camp was considerably larger than it had looked from the transport area. Soldiers were carrying weapons, repairing damaged barriers, sorting crates, and moving between defensive sections as officers shouted instructions over the constant noise coming from farther east.

Tagum pointed toward one section of tents. "Your sleeping quarters are there. Your unit rotates between supply protection, casualty retrieval support, reinforcement duty, and defensive assistance whenever the forward formations request additional manpower."

Zishan actually listened carefully. Then, something important entered his mind. "Do we get additional pay for battlefield assignments?"

Tagum stopped walking.

Zishan almost walked straight into his back.

The Corporal slowly looked over his shoulder. "You arrived less than ten minutes ago and you’re already asking about that? Do you have a whole family of at least twelve to feed?"

"No? I don’t have a family. But that’s why I’m asking early. Apparently, to me, financial planning is important."

Tagum’s expression hardened.

Zishan nodded seriously. "My future self will definitely thank me for this!"

For several seconds, Tagum appeared to be deciding whether answering the question would encourage him.

Unfortunately for him, Zishan was capable of continuing without encouragement. "And if I get injured while working, that’s covered, right? Insurance or something? Because technically Commander Holtz transferred me here, so if something happens to me, this should count as an occupational accident. Also, do Soldiers get paid more if they almost die? Because I’ve almost died several times today and—"

"Soldier Walker."

"Yes, Corporal?" Zishan blinked his eyes a couple of times.

"Stop talking."

Zishan immediately closed his mouth.

’See? I can follow orders.’

[Congratulations.]

’Was that sarcasm?’

[The Dumb Host survived nearly twelve seconds without making his superior regret meeting him.]

Zishan’s eyebrow twitched. He wanted to argue, but that would technically violate the order he had just received. He therefore continued walking while silently insulting his System.

Tagum brought him toward one of the central coordination areas where several Soldiers were waiting for assignments. Most of them immediately straightened when the Corporal approached.

Zishan also straightened. Maybe a little too much, because his back became so stiff that he looked like someone had shoved a metal rod through his spine.

Tagum noticed. "What are you doing?"

"Standing like a true professional, sir!" Zishan replied with a salute.

"You look constipated."

Zishan froze for a moment.

[The System likes this Corporal already. The Dumb Host should step up in remedying the System’s relationship with him.]

’Nah... you’re helpless... so, no thanks!’

Tagum moved toward a wooden table covered with several maps and reports. "Commander Holtz may have decided you’re qualified to wear that badge, but don’t misunderstand your position here. You’re still Level 20. I don’t care what happened during whatever assessment he gave you."

Zishan nodded, because this was basically nepotism if you removed the part where they were actually related. Commander Holtz had personally shoved him past the normal starting rank, so Corporal Tagum’s sentiment was fair.

Then, Tagum continued, "You might have impressed the Commander somehow, but skipping Recruit doesn’t suddenly make you special. You’re not the first person to receive a wartime field appointment."

Zishan could accept that too, except he still felt really special somehow. His feelings should be valid regardless of what anyone would say.

"From what I’ve heard, you spend half your time screaming, the other half running your mouth, and somehow convinced people that recklessness counts as talent," Tagum remarked.

Zishan’s eye twitched. He closed his eyes briefly and breathed in and out. ’Endure... endure... endure...’

Tagum finally looked directly at him. "Maybe Commander Holtz was feeling generous."

Zishan lasted approximately one more second and spoke without thinking. "Maybe you would’ve been promoted already if you spent less time studying Commander’s ass."

"..."

"..."

A mind-boggling silence spread out like a wave. Even the System did not talk or reply to what he said.

Meanwhile, Zishan’s mouth remained slightly open. His brain finally caught up with what his mouth had done.

’F-Fuck...’

Tagum slowly turned his entire body toward him.

Two nearby Soldiers suddenly became extremely interested in the supplies they were arranging.

One of them picked up the same crate three times.

Zishan considered several possible ways to save the situation. Apologizing was probably the smartest option. Claiming temporary insanity might work too. He could also explain that this was simply how people from his homeland communicated with authority figures.

Instead, he smiled. "It was a joke, Corporal. Don’t take it seriously. Hehe. It’s also a cultural one."

Tagum stared at him, but his jaw quickly tightened.

Zishan’s smile became increasingly desperate. "It’s a very popular joke from the place where I’m originally from."

[The System would like to know which culture encourages insulting superior officers.]

’NOT NOW.’

Tagum took one slow breath through his nose. Commander Holtz had assigned this person to him.

Personally, at that.

The Commander whom Tagum respected more than almost anyone else in the military had apparently looked through every available unit in the eastern forces and somehow decided that this particular human disaster belonged under his supervision.

Perhaps, it was a test.

Tagum had experienced difficult assignments before. He had guarded collapsing defensive lines, led exhausted Soldiers through retreats, escorted injured officers through hostile territory, and once spent six consecutive days sleeping less than two hours at a time.

He would not lose his temper because of one Level 20 idiot.

"Soldier Walker."

"Yes, Corporal?" Zishan froze, feeling the strictness of Tagum’s voice.

But before Tagum could continue, somebody approached from the eastern side of the camp. The man wore the insignia of a Sergeant.

Several Soldiers immediately straightened as he passed.

"Corporal Tagum."

Tagum turned toward him and saluted. "Sergeant!"

"We need another body at Forward Medical Section Three. The fighting shifted south, and they’re exposed along the western side. Two escort Soldiers were injured during the last push."

Tagum’s attention immediately sharpened. "How close?"

"Close enough that the Healers are already pulling patients farther back. We need somebody who can defend the area until the next rotation reaches them."

Zishan quietly listened. Forward Medical Section Three was apparently exposed; two of its escort Soldiers had already been injured, and somebody needed to be sent there immediately.

He had wanted battlefield opportunities, sure, but being volunteered for one of the dangerous ones barely twenty minutes after arriving was another matter entirely.

Tagum glanced toward the Soldiers assigned around his coordination area. Several were already preparing supply transfers while others had been assigned to defensive positions around the camp.

"I can’t leave this section," he said. "I’m supervising the current rotation."

The Sergeant nodded. "I know. I just want you to send somebody else."

Tagum looked around. Then, his eyes stopped on Zishan.

Zishan’s expression immediately changed. ’No. No. No...’

Tagum continued looking at him.

’Don’t do it.’ Zishan scrunched his face, trying to convey his thoughts through non-existent mind-eye telepathy.

The Corporal’s irritation seemed to fade for the first time since Zishan arrived. Then, he grinned at him. "Soldier Walker."

’THIS FUCKING BASTARD!!!’