American Isekai - Chapter 141 (Patreon)

Umara and I stood outside the recruitment center, the sun above us approaching high noon.

She held my arm as we looked around, Feiden and Tana beside us. It wasn’t crowded at all, thankfully. All the third years who weren’t staying at the Magisterium would be doing their processing later, letting us fourth years have more of a streamlined experience.

Not that it mattered. There were only 23 fourth years now, and some of them didn’t even show up. Though, I couldn’t say I was pleased to see any of them. The rat bastards left us to die.

I scanned around the entrance to the building before suddenly hearing a ping, looking down at my Aerial at a message.

“Stay where you are.”

My brows raised. It was from Sawn.

A few moments later a huge magic van came rolling through, stopping in front of us and opening its side hatch.

Inside was Sawn sitting behind a table with all kinds of gadgets across it. He waved me in.

Umara and I glanced at each other before climbing inside, the door closing behind us as we took a seat. Tana and Feiden simply waited outside.

I couldn’t even greet the man before he started talking.

“This will be the last upgrade I give your Aerial. After this, we’ll be making designs for a new generation and roll yours out as a final product for wide consumption. Your current Aerial is the PsyComm model, designed to be utilized directly with the mind. Summoners are naturally the best at doing so and thus they will be the market we target. And you’ve done well testing all of its functions. Most people we give prototype products to tend to forget about the Aerials and never send messages. You use it like a limb. Anyway, put your arm in this cradle. This final upgrade will afford you the ability to send and receive messages and calls all within the comfort of your mind. We haven’t yet figured out how to do the same with visuals so you can’t send or receive images. Such a thing would require expertise in the field of illusory Psykic techniques. Which brings me to my second order of business with you. I’d like you to come to the Magic Tower under my wing and help me in my research and development division.The resources at your disposal would be vast, should you accept.”

Sawn halted his monologue with that offer, continuing to work as I pondered.

It was certainly tempting. The fact he was offering me this right in front of the recruitment center meant he had a way to simply exempt me from service. Which wasn’t difficult to think about. The only reason a summoner would enter the military was if they weren’t smart enough to get into the Magic Tower first. They were valued for their intelligence which means the Kingdom wanted to put them in places where they could advance technology and give everyone an edge. Things like magic vehicles and the Rails came straight out of the Magic Tower, and the value of those products went without saying.

And here I was, the strongest summoner yet, about to enter the military. Sawn probably thought it was a waste, and since we were acquainted, he didn’t have any issues simply throwing down the offer. There was nothing stopping me from accepting it right here and ditching military service, living a safe and lavish lifestyle in the most prestigious intellectual institution in the Kingdom.

Unfortunately, that’s not where I was needed. Not yet, anyway.

“I’m sorry, sir. I can’t accept. I have a feeling the military is where I need to be.”

“...Well you’re certainly capable enough, that much is obvious. But your mind is approaching a level equal to my own, even though I sit almost 5 Authorities above you. I’d hate to let you waste that in a place that requires more brawn than brain.”

“There’s still a lot of brain to be used there.”

“Not as much as the brawn.”

“I suppose. Still, things are changing and in the future, I’ll need strength instead of technology.”

“Technology can multiply strength.”

“It absolutely can. Which is why I’d like to propose a counteroffer.”

He glanced up at me from the devices below. My Aerial had been entirely stripped down by this point, and yet even more was being added on.

I spoke plainly.

“I’d like to assist in your work anyway. You can send me schematics and ideas, and perhaps I might have some things to add. I can also give you some of my own ideas. Things I’ve thought of, and things from my homeland that don’t exist here. As my girlfriend here can attest, I have knowledge of a different perspective, completely non-magical, yet more than capable of changing the landscape of the Kingdom. I’d like it to be used even if I can’t exploit it completely for my own benefit, because like I said, things are changing. Humanity is going to need every advantage it can get. So allow me to work with you from my position in the military. I don’t even need an official job title.”

“...”

Sawn was silent, the devices around my arm slotting new components onto my Aerial. I could feel some pulls on my Psyka as each one was installed, the devices that would be connecting the Aerial directly to my mind.

And once it was all done, he nodded.

“Very well. I accept this counteroffer. You don’t need it, but I will give you a job title, as well as compensation in the form of both a salary and intellectual property rights. Your ideas, should they prove beneficial or profitable, will be paid for. We can negotiate those details as you provide material. I will also provide you with a workstation directly connected to the Sawn Industries network. There, you’ll be able to access our repository where you can view and submit documents and artifacts. We will also be in direct contact with each other, but none of this can happen until you at least finish basic training. After you get stationed at a base, I will send you everything you need, including a contract.”

“Sounds good.”

“Very well. Until then, we shall simply shake on it.”

He stood when my arm was unlocked, the two of us shaking hands.

“I look forward to doing business with you, Mr. Cooper.”

“Likewise.”

“Good luck in basic training, as well as during your assignment. If you ever feel like you’re going to die, just say the word and I can have you transferred to the Magic Tower. Don’t allow your mind to be wasted.”

“Understood.”

I smirked a bit before leaving the van with Umara. Once we stepped out and the van left, she looked up at me.

“Look at you. Already making friends at the top, and yet turning down their most opportune offers. Do you know how many would kill for a job like that?”

“I told you, I need the military to keep me sharp. The Scourge needs to be eradicated, and I need to assist in that goal while advancing my power.”

“Yet your knowledge could revolutionize the world.”

“Which is why I’m still going to work with him.”

“...Tell me again why you can’t just bide your time and advance your Authorities without fighting? You’re a summoner, not a knight.”

She asked as we linked back up with Tana and Feiden and went into the recruitment center, looking around for the place we needed to check into.

“Because draining my power actually helps me advance. Whenever I use up all my Psyka and go to sleep, I have dreams. While I still have dreams anyway, those particular dreams help me with my formations rather massively. I think it’s because I’m recovering Psyka while dreaming so my mind gets pushed in that direction. Either way, the more often I can dream, the faster I advance.”

“Hm, that’s right. I still can’t believe you regularly have dreams. I’ve only ever had one, and that was during my enlightenment.”

“I don’t know why that is either. Unfortunately it also means I need more sleep. I can’t get by on 4 hours every night like you.”

“Yeah, you’ll have fun with that during basic.”

“Hm.”

I just grunted, earning a giggle from Umara. Sleep deprivation was certainly going to be my worst nightmare.

At some point, Feiden nudged me and pointed at one of the desks. There sat a clerk, the place we needed to check in.

We all walked over where Umara was the first to hand over her ID.

“Magisterium students, here to report for duty.”

“Ah, yes. Let me check your identification and I’ll be able to get your assignment.”

The clerk took her ID as well as the rest of ours, scanning them before producing some papers and filling out some information.

Once done, he handed back our IDs.

“John Cooper, you are designated to be Infantry, but you also have the option to go to the Academy for Intelligence. Have you decided if you would like to?”

“Yes. I’ll be doing so.”

“Understood. You will be sent to the Academy after your time at basic training.”

The clerk stamped my paper before handing it to me. The others got theirs as well.

With that, he filed everything away before nodding to us.

“John Cooper, Umara Talerria, Tana Choron, and Feiden Desmus. You have hereby reported for duty. Now, you are to proceed to your designated Halls and await further orders from the commanding officers. I suggest you get any affairs in order before doing so, because you will not be coming back out except to deploy.”

“Understood.”

“Then proceed, and thank you for your service.”

With that, we all turned and walked off.

Off on the other side of the building were some signs designating each Hall, as well as open doorways leading to them. Looking down at our papers, we found the Halls we were assigned to.

I spoke first.

“I’m in Hall 3.”

“I’m in Hall 2.”

Umara responded with a resigned tone. Looks like we wouldn’t be going to the same place.

Feiden was next.

“Hall 1.”

“Hall 1 as well.”

Tana smiled. She would be with Feiden.

With that, we walked over to Hall 1.

Once there, I looked inside and found a couple dozen knights standing around. Magisterium students weren’t the only ones being sent off today.

However, I also found a familiar face. Ponteck Gulliard.

Umara spotted him as well as the few others from our class, scoffing in disgust.

“Bastards. We should kill them where they stand. They don’t deserve to live.”

“...Hang on.”

I pat her shoulder before walking in, catching everyone’s eyes as I went straight to Ponteck.

Tana and Feiden tailed me. They had to be here anyway, but I could feel them priming for battle. If I started a fight here, they’d join me.

Ponteck turned, his longsword strapped to his back as it always was.

Black hair, tall but lean, and black eyes with hues of red. I’d never taken in his features before since I simply never saw much of him. We had never even talked until our tournament battle. He was supposed to be my greatest enemy, being Umara’s prime suitor as well as the strongest Elite besides myself. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to hate the guy.

In fact, I was here to thank him.

Once I was right in front of him, I noticed that he was just an inch or so shorter than me. Then, I spoke.

“You lured the other scorpion away, right? With a Vigor blade?”

“...Yes.”

He nodded, making me smile.

I had seen a flash of white back when we were running. I didn’t know what it was and didn’t have the time to care. All I knew was that the second scorpion had been diverted, which saved our lives.

After some thinking though, I realized that there was only one attack powerful enough to make a scorpion like that jolt and divert its attention. And there weren’t any warlocks besides Umara that could do such a thing, so the only other possibility was that Ponteck was responsible.

In fact, he was the reason that more of the students had been killed. If he hadn’t lured that thing, then we would’ve been killed and the rest of them probably would have been able to get away. The Puppet Master hadn’t arrived long after, and with our distraction, they would’ve been able to keep running and get saved.

But this man right here took the heat and gave us a fighting chance. Depending on how you looked at it, we owed each other our lives.

I put out my hand.

“You saved our asses. Thank you.”

“...You have no need to thank me. You’re the only reason any of us had a chance to survive in the first place.”

“But you still saved our asses, and at your own expense. So thank you.”

“...”

He looked at me for a bit before finally shaking my hand.

I chuckled a bit, smacking his shoulder after that quick shake.

“We need more good men like you, so don’t get yourself killed.”

“I’d prefer it if more were like you. That disgusting combat power will be valuable against the Scourge.”

“Then let’s agree that we’re not so different. Feiden! Tana! You’ve got some competition!”

“We’ll see.”

Tana muttered with an evil grin. I wasn’t sure if I should feel bad for Ponteck.

After that, I said my goodbyes to her and Feiden, giving them both hugs. Umara joined and wrapped up Tana with a bit of sorrow.

Feiden smirked.

“See you in Special Operations.”

“Heh, we’ll see if they take summoners.”

“They don’t take summoners, but they’ll take you.”

“Maybe.”

I pat his back before waving, Umara and I leaving the hall.

Then, we stood in front of Hall 2. I heard a barely audible sniffle when we stopped, smiling as I looked down.

Umara’s head hung, her sniffles gradually getting louder as she cried a bit.

I reached out and lifted her head.

“Aww, you really do love me.”

“W-Well I don’t see you crying. We’re not going to see each other for months, if not a year. Why aren’t you a mess?”

“Because I’m super manly and thus incapable of crying.”

“Shut up.”

“Haha, you’re so cute.”

I wrapped her up in a hug, which she returned in full force.

We stayed like that for a while, until the commanding officer in her Hall suddenly appeared.

I separated with a sigh, only for her arms to wrap around my neck. She planted a deep kiss. Nothing erotic, but one that tried to convey as much love as possible.

Once the commanding officer started talking, she pulled away, sniffing one more time.

“I love you.”

“Love you too. Now go on. And try not to kill any familiar faces.”

“Only if it’s convinient.”

“That’s my girl.”

I gave her a quick smack on the ass as she turned, making her flush as bit as she had no choice but to walk off.

I left with a laugh, heading into my own Hall where another officer was talking.

“...head to the Rails in about 20 minutes. From there you will be sent to Fort Lauder and undergo basic training. Your assignment afterward will be dictated by your performance and/or whatever jobs you pick out. Now line up! I want 5 equal rows yesterday!”

Everyone scrambled around, myself included, to line up as he ordered. I slipped into the middle of row 2, standing straight yet still feeling like I was sticking out like a sore thumb. The surrounding warlocks weren’t that tall, and my face at this point felt like a household name.

After that, we simply had to wait the 20 minutes. During that time, a few more people arrived, getting yelled at before eventually making all 5 rows completely equal.

Once that 20 minutes was up, another door opened, the officer yelling.

“There it is, trainees! Row 1, through the door! The rest of you, fall in behind! March!”

The first row moved with his command, following the officer out where he led us to the nearby Rails. We saw all the other Halls as well. There were 8 in total of varying sizes.

I glanced around as we started to line up near one of the docks. I quickly found Umara as well as Feiden and Tana. They found me as well, all of us smiling at each other before we lost line of sight.

The Rails arrived in front of our docks, the officer yelling as soon as they opened up.

“Inside, now! You all get the cheap seats in car 8! Hurry up, unless you want me to box you all up in the cargo bay!”

Everyone rushed forward into the Rail, heading to Car 8 before filing into the cramped seats.

After that, the officer waited around, talking to a few people before the Rail started moving.

Then, he stood in the doorway.

“Listen up! We have 3 hours until we reach Fort Lauder. The only reason you’re allowed to get out of your seat is if you’re about to shit yourself, in which case, if you come find me in the next car, I’ll direct you to the nearest window and toss you out! Enjoy these 3 hours while you can, trainees! It’ll be the last enjoyable experience you ever have!”

He slammed the door behind him, leaving everyone alone in the car.