Chapter 12: The Zeon Military Academy Cadet

Compared to the Federation cadets leisurely enjoying the scenery at the dock, the Zeon military academy students were in a pitiful state. These cadets, about to participate in joint exercises with the Federation forces, were clad in camouflage uniforms and lugging rifles, struggling through mountain training in the pouring rain. Since the academy’s founding in ’62, it had adhered to a grueling training regimen of relentless monthly drills—water, fire, wood, metal, gold. The motto was simple: if you don’t die from training, you push yourself to the brink. Even on the eve of exercises, these unfortunate trainees had no respite.

“Can’t we slow down a bit? Who’s running at the front?” one Zeon cadet, his boots slipping in the mud and legs soaked, panted heavily as he complained quietly while carrying his rifle and pack.

“Who else but the Zabi family’s young master and that other guy!” a teammate in better shape said, reaching out to take the rifle, easing some of his burden.

“Don’t they fear falling like last time?” the first asked.

“Enough whining. That’s just how those two are! Save your energy — we still have four kilometers to go!” another companion looked up and saw the squad winding along the mountain path. At the very front, a purple-haired youth and a blond youth were climbing in what looked like a race toward the summit. Despite both carrying gear weighing at least 20 kilograms, their packs seemed almost weightless. As they neared the peak, their pace quickened until they were sprinting side by side.

“Damn it!” The Zeon cadets trailing behind could barely keep up and silently wished to kneel before these two young nobles, pleading for them to stop dragging them into this competition. They were mere mortals; their stamina simply couldn’t match.

Though exhausted, the rest of the cadets gritted their teeth and joined the sprint. In the military academy, collective honor was paramount. Falling behind risked severe punishment from the instructors.

“Ugh, ha, ah...” Once they reached the hilltop, the purple-haired cadet could no longer bear it and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. Beside him, the blond cadet gazed into the distance, leisurely sipping water from his canteen.

“You’ve improved a lot, Karma!” the purple-haired youth said.

“You’re no slouch yourself, Char!”

“It’s because I have a rival like you pushing me, Karma!”

“Oh? Is that so?” The purple-haired young man was about to reply when voices interrupted from behind.

“No wonder Lord Karma Zabi took first place as a team!”

Several burly but obsequious Zeon cadets quickly surrounded the purple-haired youth, beginning to attend to him with great care. Someone poured hot tea from a flask, another knelt in the mud to massage his legs. To an outsider, it might have looked like a privileged noble on a leisurely outing, but this purple-haired cadet was none other than Karma Zabi, youngest and most favored son of Duke Degwin Zabi of the Principality of Zeon.

Such displays of flattery were unsurprising, even expected. After years at the academy, everyone had grown accustomed to this dynamic. Some even begrudged their own lack of speed, for all wished to improve. Compared to toiling thirty years in the army to quietly retire as a major, being pampered by a prince was certainly easier.

Moreover, Karma was not a bad person. Though raised in luxury and at the heart of power, he was inherently kind and never bullied others at school. Academically, he ranked among the top. His only shortcoming was physical endurance, yet he never gave up, privately training harder. This was thanks in no small part to the blond cadet’s efforts.

The blond youth was Char Aznable, son of a wealthy landowner from the Side 5 colony, Texas. Since entering the academy, he always wore sunglasses, claiming a solar eye condition required it. In truth, that identity was a ruse; only one person knew his true background.

Upon entering Zeon’s academy, Karma had expected to easily top the class but found himself outmatched by Char at every turn. This sparked a fierce rivalry, though Char often teased him with a teasing tone. Karma’s eventual first-place finish was partly due to Char’s deliberate leniency. During one grueling field exercise, Char saved Karma from a serious fall, cementing their friendship. Karma even used his influence as heir to arrange for them to share a dormitory.

Rumors among cadets swirled that Karma had taken a liking to Char or that they were living together. Whether true or not, the gossip was certainly spicy.

Since sharing a room, their relationship resembled that of protagonists in a passionate manga: mutual competition and support. Karma shed his initial naivety and matured into a competent soldier. Though unspoken, Char had become a close friend. Yet, Karma could never quite fathom what his normally stoic, machine-like companion was thinking.

Karma raised his tea cup toward Char, who rested quietly nearby. “Char, have some tea! It’s really good!”

“No, thanks. I’ve already had some,” Char replied, waving a hand beneath his rain poncho, his eyes hidden behind the dark lenses.

“That’s a shame—it’s delicious. Thank you so much!” Karma’s words made the cadet who brought the tea shiver and blush before loudly declaring, “No, it’s nothing. It’s all for Zeon!”

“For Zeon?”

Char, who had been closing his eyes, suddenly opened them, the fierce light in his gaze piercing even through the sunglasses. A faint, disdainful smile curved his lips as he repeated, “For... the so-called Zeon?”

Nearby, other cadets seized the brief rest to gossip, the hot topic being the upcoming joint military exercises.

“I heard the Federation is sending their best cadets from various academies. Can we win?”

“We will! Those Federation heirs don’t know a thing about war. When the exercise starts, I’ll be the first to storm their base and tear down their flag!”

“Exactly! We don’t fear the Federation army, so why fear a bunch of cadets? I’ve already booked the victory celebration bar. The owner promised free drinks all night!”

“Yeah, and with Lord Karma leading us, victory is assured!”

Filled with confidence and eager to prove themselves against the visiting Federation cadets, the Zeon trainees were ready to show their mettle at a moment’s notice.