High School Soldier
After all it feels like ‘challenging’

Both attack helicopters landed 50 meters from the 12th Team tent, the propeller that created the downwash and resulted in a small dust storm made the ten Conferred Alliance soldiers wonder “Is there really such an iron beast in this world?” with a frightened face.

Then, what was left on the battlefield (which could not be called a battlefield) was a blaze, black smoke that soared thick and high, and the, as well as the hundreds of corpses of the Alliance soldiers and their horses whose limbs were scattered.

At first no one expected the arrival of the two helicopters flagged Indonesia and North Korea and provide attack assistance. The previous enemy had only been ordered to cross the border and attack Team 12, and had no information if that team had such a powerful and brutal help.

The soldier who was on both helicopters descended in rapid motion, and walked up to the 12th Team was located. The face of the North Korean contingent soldiers does look fierce, but the face of the Indonesian contingent soldiers looks to feel extraordinary satisfaction after taking revenge against the enemy is more sinister according to the ten captives. If they could, they would respectfully submit to them, even if good destiny was on their side.

However, the Alliance will not accept the return of other world nations (Indonesia, Russia, and North Korea), let alone have a plan to reconcile with them. They have been hooked with the result of ‘nearly won’ obtained in the previous big war, and plan to continue fighting until getting a real victory.

Then, the ten Alliance soldiers that the 12th Team captured might kneel before them and beg for mercy so as not to be made slaves or killed. If they kneeled down and kissed the feet of the troops who had captured them, the ten soldiers of the Alliance might actually do so. They will do anything to see tomorrow, even if it is a prisoner or a dirty slave worker.

They were fearfully waiting for what the 12th Team would do and the troops riding on those monstrous iron beasts.

“We will take your captives.”

The commander of the Indonesian contingent helicopter that helped them stood in front of Nio, he was a Second Lieutenant. Clearly Nio could see an expression that showed great complacency after destroying hundreds of enemies before the sun sank.

Prisoners from Alliance-managed Guilds and Peace Forces numbered more than 30,000 people, all of whom were obtained from the previous great war. Most of the captured prisoners of war were human soldiers, but the number of monsters captured also accounted for 20 percent of the total number.

Arevelk and Yekirnovo suggested that all prisoners be made into forced laborers, or forced to assist in the rebuilding of the Expeditionary Force facilities destroyed in previous wars. They suggested the captives help on the work of rebuilding ‘turtle’ fortress, barracks, personnel residences, and other facilities. However, the phrase ‘workforced’ is a reminder of the past when the Dutch and Japanese colonial times, when Indonesia was still named ‘Hindia Netherlands’.

The Russian and North Korean contingents disagreed with Arevelk and Yekirnovo's suggestion, reminding them of their dark past during World Wars 1 and 2. Precisely at the time Russia was still part of the Soviet Union, and the forced labor camps containing prisoners of war were still very numerous, one of the most famous forced labor camps in the Soviet Union was ‘Kamp Gulag’. Although it is the past, there is still a doctrine that Russia was involved in the forced labor program during World War 1 and 2, and forced prisoners of war who came from soldiers and inhabitants whose countries were defeated to perform forced labor.

While the Indonesian contingent does not want to be labeled as ‘ invaders who have been colonized’ as happened to the nation in the past. Although getting forced labor is beneficial because they do not need to send paid workers (deaf) from several regions in Indonesia, still they are troops that are bound by international war law. They could not let the wounded prisoners of war not get treatment and let them starve just like that.

Treating captives who have killed their comrades, feeding them properly, a captive camp that is unlike a cattle pen, a, it is absurd for a world that still implements a system of forced labor for defeated enemies. The higher-ups of the Arevelk and Yekirnovo contingents could only scratch their heads seeing an army as strong as they treated the captives like ordinary people.

Arevelk and Yekirnovo considered that Indonesia who managed to defeat the enemy as big as the Alliance was a crazy nation, because it could not take advantage of the rights of the victorious troops. But when they get such a statement, the answer should be given only, “We do not want to repeat the past, precisely our nation has also experienced a period of forced labor carried out by the invaders. We are not a savage nation that forces wounded soldiers to work as hard as cattle, let alone sell them as slaves. We are a civilized army bound by international laws of war, and do not want to be an occupier ever colonized. It is just a dark history, but managed to make our nation united to become this big.”

Caring for captives was troublesome, especially those who killed many TNI soldiers in the previous war. However, international war law is a policy that must be adhered to, and it would be a light work if the prisoners did nothing like plotting an uprising or something like that.

The first impression of Arevelk and Yekirnovo after the arrival of Indonesia and its allies in this world is that they are a nation with extraordinary strength, a great nation, and very crazy not to take advantage of the rights of the victors of war. Russia and North Korea do not want their dark past to repeat itself, moreover, another world nation that looks very easy to defeat is an opportunity for great powers who are looking for something called ‘budak’. The two nations have forgotten history, where they both ‘ever’ run a system called forced labor.

Nio thought about it, precisely he almost got a call from the military court for his actions that had beaten 40 prisoners to death. However, some kind-hearted superiors had made Nio go through with it, and had only gotten a rebuke for not treating the captives like a boxing samsak.

**

Although it was almost night time, Nio and his team members helped each other to take down dozens of plastic boxes containing logistics for them. Surely they have not received any order to retreat in the near future, and they will need the need for a month ahead. Perhaps they had spent a portion of the ammunition while resisting the enemy's attack today.

The 12th team had spent 40 percent of their ammunition stockpile to counter enemy attacks, but supplies of food and clothing were still ample for the next few weeks, or at least until orders were re-acquired.

Some of the soldiers photographed a very beautiful otherworldly twilight scene with their respective cameras and cell phone cameras, and it should be a calming sight if war did not occur.

They have taken several photos since they were unveiled as Team 12, and all their behavior while serving in the 21st Border Zone is also immortalized with their respective cameras and mobile cameras. All activities from the first day to today have been photographed, including a photo of Edera who managed to capture ‘ayam purba’. Photos when male personnel compare the size of each anu are also seen, although their anu is not shown, but it can be seen clearly who the largest anu owner among male members of Team 12.

They showed the photos to their colleagues who had previously helped them. The helicopter is still parked in place, and its personnel are still enjoying a break in the 12th Team area, aka the 21st Border Zone.

Up to two moons in the sky of this world clearly appear to shine with red and bluish colors, which indicates if the night has arrived.

His team members managed to capture ten ‘ayam purba’ with the help of Hevaz and Edera. They call this world poultry as such because of its size which is much larger than ordinary chicken, which is as big as a goat. With rifles, they did not need to set a trap here and there, and only needed to wait for the horde of fowl to cross their territory.

Then, they burned all the ancient chickens that had been slaughtered, plucked, and removed his innards, then the women applied the roasted chicken seasoning made by Koki (Ratna).

In addition to the ten captives, they also captured the remaining 27 horses belonging to the Alliance's cavalry. However, none of them could ride a horse, they were only reliable holding the handle of a long black steel stick rather than the bridle. As for the relief personnel, they could not carry the horses inside the helicopter, precisely they were only afraid if the horses were to throw dirt carelessly. The horses could have been sent to serve as reserve horses for the Arevelk and Yekirnovo contingents, or in a completely mopped state they could have been cooked into horse satay.

Tonight was like the routine of Team 12 since it was sent to the 21st Border Zone, with uninvited guests of relief personnel. Nio and its members are unaware if the center monitors them with drones, so help is sent unsolicited.

The ten captives could smell the scent of grilled 'purba' chicken that seemed to be seasoned with spices that created the scent of wisdom. They saw the team and the soldiers riding on the iron monster eating giant fowl meat voraciously, and seemed to be very delicious just by looking at the expression of the person eating it.

They bit the meat without difficulty, as Ratna used a secret technique to make the otherworldly poultry's meat soft when cooked. The old grilled chicken was not enjoyed, they ended up eating again despite using otherworldly chicken meat.

The North Koreans ate quickly as they first ate roasted chicken. The only Russian in the group, Zefanya eats quietly like a princess.

“It looks like you guys forgot the rice.”

The barista, aka Hassan said that and put a medium-sized pot containing rice in front of the roasted chicken. Ungoverned, all male members including Nio and the Indonesian contingent aid soldiers scramble to retrieve the rice they almost forgot. Meanwhile, the North Korean contingent's relief soldiers Nam Ae Ri and Ro Ga Eun see with flat faces the Indonesian men scrambling to retrieve the rice available like a starving man.

Zefanya saw Nio eat without using a spoon, as well as the Indonesian man who was here. At least they have prepared something called ‘air kobokan’ taken from the small lake.

“Ratna, where to get it?”

Ferdi was looking for the existence of sambal while his mouth was still chewing.

“His fertilizer too, I didn't see it.”

Meanwhile, the author aka Arif was surprised by the crackers that should be served when eating.

“Sambles? A cracker? What is Mr Nio?”

Despite having visited Indonesia twice, Edera has never felt and heard ‘sambal’ and ‘kerupuk’. Although he had already visited the chicken noodle shop, he had not had time to taste both types of food.

“It looks like it's a good food, can I also try it?”

Hevaz seemed eager to taste the food. Then, Ratna stopped eating, and walked into the grocery storage tent after putting her plastic dishes in the place where she ate. He looked like he had expected something like this to happen, given the stomach capacity of men who were like much larger than women.

A moment later Ratna brought along a bushel and a giant clear plastic that actually contained shrimp crackers. After the close of the bushel opens, the content is ‘sambal korek’ with an extraordinary level of spiciness. Ratna knows that the eating habits of Indonesian members of Team 12 are still being carried despite serving in this other world. So that he deliberately made sambal for the members of this team, and fried shrimp crackers imported directly from Indonesia.

With such a rare stargazing due to the very little light pollution in the world, the Indonesian men eat like people who have not eaten anything for a year.

They are fine with very savory shrimp crackers with a little shrimp flavor, but when licking a little sambal on the tip of the index finger, they immediately close the eyes with tears at the tip of the eye.

“What is this food?” Ae Ri said like people eating the hottest food in the world.

“Is this food only made from chili?” Ga Eun and the North Korean contingent soldiers were seen gasping while looking for water to drink.

Seeing the North Korean soldiers here affected by the resulting food called ‘sambal korek’, Zefanya became hesitant to try the red food.

“Do you not know yet, sambal is indeed made of chili with a little salt.”

Ratna calmly explained the types of sambal in Indonesia to the North Korean soldiers, and Zefanya listened carefully to the explanation of the knowledge of Indonesian food Ratna. While Nio felt it was not wrong to choose Ratna to be a member of this team, because he and the male members could remember Indonesia from the food that the girl made.

“Again it feels indeed ‘challenging’.”

Hevaz spoke like that after taking a tablespoon full of matchsticks that were able to make the North Korean soldiers tormented and Zefanya hesitated to try it. He looked like he was eating a regular meal after taking another spoonful of chili, and eating it with grilled chicken and rice.

Edera who had tried a little also seemed to react like Hevaz, then she also tried shrimp crackers after being poked on a matchbook chili in front of her. He did feel spicy, but his reaction was not like the North Koreans who looked very excessive with the food called sambal.

“Do not until you guys are them.”

Hevaz pointed in a direction, then Nio turned his head in the direction pointed with the girl's index finger. He saw the captives wailing like saying, “Please give us a little food”. Their faces also look pale with lips that are very dry because they have not drunk anything and only swallow to wet the throat.

Then, Nio felt that he had overeating in peace when there were ten prisoners who had been injured and had not been fed since the battle was over. Everyone looked at each other, and held an emergency meeting on the theme of prisoners of war before they were sent to the camp.

“Are you able to spend this much food? Indeed this is the most delicious food we eat since being assigned here.”

Ratna looked blushed but felt proud as well when Nio said that.

“We also cannot let them sleep in such circumstances. Sleep while holding hunger and thirst, and perhaps they also endure the pain of being injured. While we sleep well because we feel full and we are not injured, even if we are injured we will immediately get treatment even if it is only a small wound.”

Nio, as the team owner felt his words were very cool, even he praised himself after saying that.

Meanwhile, Hevaz put down another cup containing instant black coffee and gazed towards the ten captives.

“Yah... I also want to become a TNI warrior that many people love. We came here not to fight, but to protect Indonesia and our home world by fighting from here. They (the captives) are just a bunch of people without weapons, and maybe their situation is very weak.”

Ferdi's words get a response in the form of a nod from everyone.

“Our food availability is enough for two months, so I don't mind sharing food with them.”

As a member in charge of taking care of all things regarding the food consumption of the team, Ratna has also estimated the amount of food in the future.

They also do not want to be punished for abandoning captives, and are known as ‘colonizers’. Nio also did not want the captives to be seen not being fed and drank when sent to the camp, the instincts of the captive guards were so sharp that they were able to distinguish the fed and the unfed captives.

**

“I should have eaten something.”

“I'm so relieved to still be alive after fighting an enemy as strong as them, at least they still let us live.”

“I think tomorrow we'll be sent to their captive prison.”

The ten captives were kept in handcuffs, and were connected by chains tied to a tree trunk. So the chances of them escaping are very small, unless they have special skills to break away from things like this.

They were the ones who decided to surrender to their enemy, so the next life was in the hands of the one who had captured them. It was a hereditary doctrine in the history of this world war, even civilians living in war-lost countries would think so.

“Yah... getting angry with the situation will also make us even hungrier, so do not complain too much.”

They can withstand the cold night air with thin clothes. Their metal armor and weapons had been stripped and stored in a tent belonging to the party that captivated them. They now only wear thin clothing that serves to coat the body when wearing metal armor that is several sides enough to create blisters on the body.

The ten captives raised their hands before their eyes after a dazzling white light hit them. The light was three in number, and there were three people who 'controlled' the bright white light.

Then, it was clearly seen that Nio, Ika, and Arif were holding flashlights to light up the path of Edera and Hevaz so as not to stumble over something that caused food for the captives to spill.

Yes... they gave the captives a chicken ‘purba’ grilled the smallest, complete with sambal and rice.

“This is for you, eat. I don't want you guys to pass out when sent to a captive camp.”

Edera and Hevaz put a dining area containing grilled chicken ‘purba’, rice, and sambal in front of the captives.

Instantly their eyes glazed after seeing the presence of food that amounted to quite a lot according to them.

Nio could imagine the reaction of the ten captives when feeling the sambal while eating. Well.. arguably giving the captives sambal is a silly idea of the young man, although some female members had prevented it but the male members supported Nio's ignorance.

Without washing their hands or anything like that, the ten prisoners immediately ate with grilled chicken, but they had doubts if the food was white (rice) and red (sambal) can be eaten. After Nio said if the two foods can produce a very long satiety, they immediately devoured it with grilled chicken. And the eagerly awaited Nio and the male members arrived.

Nio and Arif held back laughter when they saw their reaction which was like the North Korean contingent was feeling sambal. While Ika, she only looked with a flat gaze the two men who were shorter than her almost laughed. However, the men behind were heard laughing after the captives ate the chili sauce to look very tormented.

Being captives was most likely to be the laughingstock and toy of the captive party, and the captives held by Team 12 were very patient in facing it as they remained fed and not tortured in the least… although the spicy taste of the chili they ate was close to torment.

Ratna just stared flatly at Nio and the laughing men saw the reaction of the captives when eating his homemade sambal.

“Not that you guys also react the same as them after eating my homemade sambal?”

Ga Eun, Ae Ri, and the other North Korean contingents instantly stopped laughing, and apologized to Ratna and the person they were laughing at. While Zefanya just smiled looking at Nio's usual teenage-like behavior filled with ignorance.