"Aquila, take good care of Karon…."

"Don’t worry, Salvia. I’ll keep practicing."

"Salvia! P-please, take care!"

Karon’s eyes were welling up with tears as he bid me farewell. In the end, I couldn’t just walk away. I pulled him into a tight hug.

"I’ll discharge first and wait for you, so let’s meet again then, Karon."

"Yes…!"

After saying my final goodbye to Karon, I took a deep breath and looked at the path before me.

A senior from Gamma Platoon had already walked this road for their discharge. Now, it was my turn—along with Blue and Damian—to take this path toward our promotion.

Behind me, Aquila stood, watching over me as I left.

"Hoo…"

"Salvia, salute!"

Swords were raised high, forming a pathway for me.

The road ahead led to my new unit. And at the same time, it was the final step in leaving Cledore Mountain Battalion behind.

***

Every time the wagon hit a rocky patch, it jolted violently.

To reach Snowy Mountain Battalion, I had first taken a cart down the mountain, then switched to a horse-drawn carriage. The ride had been long, and as expected, the carriage’s suspension was terrible. It made me long for the comfortable transportation of my previous world.

The closer I got to Snowy Mountain Battalion, the more I could feel the temperature drop.

My breath turned visible with every exhale. The frigid air stung my skin. I pulled my thin military uniform tighter, fastening it all the way up to my neck, trying in vain to block out the cold.@@novelbin@@

"Time to disembark!"

"Understood."

And finally, when I stepped out of the carriage, what lay before me was a mountain covered in ice.

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