Summary:
One-shot, one kill. These words are associated with trained snipers all over the world.
In reality, I am one of them and the training I had since childhood made me who I am as a sniper when I first tried to shoot a safe gun designed for target shooting for people all ages at the age of 6.
The interesting game, Infinite Dendrogram? I am one too there, they don't even know my face because of that mask I wore.
Unlike the 'inferior' quality snipers in that game who failed to take down a moving target when I observed them with my scope at that time, I showed them, including the Infinite Dendrogram community, what a real one with real-life training, in the words of gamers, a pro, can do.
Seriously though, at one time in my Infinite Dendrogram life around the time I started playing, there's this group who asked me such a question of why I am able to grasp it and what's the secret.
I teasingly gave them a reply: "Family tradition dating back to the American Revolutionary War, all thanks to my ancestor who recreated and kept the written accounts that'll later become known as sniping today. Now, now, everything's classified if you ask what kind of training I've been through including real life."
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, Slice of life
Tags: Alternate World / Alternate Universe, Childhood Friends, Childhood Love, Original Character MC, Original Character Heroine(s), Younger Love Interests, Older Love Interests Protagonist Strong from the Start, R-15, Polygamy, Unique Weapons User, Secret Organizations
A/N: Discord Link - 5zKT5MFPEY
Note to remember: Besides this site, this anime fanfic is also available in Web Novel, Wattpad, Scribblehub, Ao3, and Foxteller. If you want to see the appearance of the heroines and the MC, feel free to go check ScribbleHub and look for its Glossary because I inputted their pictures and profile.
Volume 2 -Der Beginn der legende
Training, Rescue Operation, And Chill At The Range
With one of the squads securing the ground, the squad leader gestured to us to get off our heli which we did like others doing the same thing.
"Alright lads! It's time to search for survivors! Caesar since you are fluent in Japanese, you are to serve as one of the translators for us and anyone else from our side."
"Roger that, Danny. Is there something else you would like us to know?"
"Stay alert and try to reassure and comfort any of the survivors while the Japanese Search and Rescue Teams are on the way to our marked location. We are to gather them and give them a treatment."
"Okay." remarked one of my squadmates, Jeff. "What if we encounter a bear though? Will we have to shoot it?"
"Jeff, if there's a need to, Caesar will shoot it with his Sharpshooter rifle. Anyway, Caesar, watch our six and surroundings."
We then started searching for the survivors of the crash site.
'Bear, huh? I hunted one with Dad and Grandfather Noah in the UK two months ago.' Keen on senses as me and others watched the surroundings, I listened attentively to the environment for 'assurances'.
Earlier after we finished training with the Japanese Marines while on the way to return to the base for us to prepare our return to the UK the day after tomorrow with tomorrow being the rest day, one of the helicopters spotted a crash site which caused the rest of us to do an emergency search and rescue operation after being granted the permission to do so.
When I heard it during that time, it made me think of the accidents caused by the unmanned vehicles, lack of maintenance to the vehicle, environment, and fault of the driver.
Whatever the case was, maintenance will always be maintenance. Never treat them the same way as AKs.
"Alright, we found them. They're somewhat closer to your age. Students probably." said Danny as he then said to me. "Caesar, go ahead and ask one of them. Oda-san and the other marines will be there with you."
'They're all girls. Judging from their uniforms, it would mean that they're a female varsity team.' I thought, looking at the curious gazes and looks of relief and glad from the survivors when they saw us.
"Roger that." Hanging back the safely-locked Sharpshooter rifle first, with other Japanese Marines behind me, I approached one of the survivors as I pulled down the balaclava, the part of my uniform, to show them that we're the good guys who will rescue them from the accident.
'...I need to ask one of them first.' I thought before asking out loud to the makeshift camp(?) in hopes of getting a response. "[Nihongo: Anyone of you here okay, need treatment or food? If so, please do tell us because our units saw the crash site which led to this, a rescue response. Don't worry, we already called them. We will give you help provided you cooperate with us. Also, please do let us know what happened and your needs.]"
Looking at each of them, from my sight, their body languages spoke of surprise, gladness, and relief from what I said to the students who saw our group's arrival. Their faces though, some majority, looked surprised because of me, the foreigner, speaking their language as they whispered amongst themselves with one of the girls talking to one of the students who appear to be one of the leaders for their survival and guidance.
The girls then give way, bringing a view of a black-haired Japanese girl with violet eyes who was leading the group.
From her stride, she's the brains and a leader for their group's survival. Her hair and eyes, it's similar to Alice and Aunt Natasha's.
The girl started talking. "[Nihongo: Sir, it's a bus crash. We discovered one of the wheels went flat.]"
"[Nihongo: I see. That makes everything from the lack of proper maintenance. ]" I said in understanding as I then fired her a question. "[Nihongo: How long have you girls been here?]"
"[Nihongo: 4 hours and 30 minutes, sir.]" replied the girl.
"[Nihongo: Okay.]" I said. "[Nihongo: No need to call me sir though since you all appear closer to my age group.]"
"[Nihongo: Eh, really?]"
"[Nihongo: Really. I'm currently 16 years old. Joined the Royal Marines last year.]" I replied.
"[Nihongo: Oh, I didn't expect to meet a nii-san who is older than me by 2 years which makes me relaxed then because I have an older sister who is the same age as you.]" commented the younger girl."[Nihongo: Since you're from Britain, you may call me, Katsumi.]"
"[Nihongo: Well then Katsumi-san! I'm Caesar, one of the translators decided by my squad leader. If you need help, please do ask because I know what it feels like to have a sibling as a big brother.]" I said to her, thinking about Tsukasa and the younger girls, and my younger brother, Julius.
"[Nihongo: Thank you, Caesar-san.]" said Katsumi with her small smile. "[Nihongo: On behalf of everyone, we appreciate all the help we need.]"
"[Nihongo: You're welcome.] " I replied to her with a smile of my own as I then turned my attention to my squad and others. "It's a green light, guys! Permission confirmed."
"Yosh! Let's get started!" enthusiastically said Danny.
After the whole ordeal was done, one of the guys out of nowhere lent me a guitar while we waited for the transpo carrying medical personnel and so to arrive in our location.
As for me, I had no idea if it's okay for a protocol but since everyone's fine with it as a way to wait for the arrival of the transpo for the medical supplies and whatevs, and to entertain them while they get some attention from the combat medics, I decided to go along with it.
The one to blame was Danny of course. He wanted to hear me sing in Japanese. When that older easygoing friendly marine put me in that spotlight, one of the guys comically produced a guitar out of nowhere like magic.
"Alright, I'll do it." I said, accepting the guitar for me to borrow and entertain. "For this request, I'll be singing one of the old Songaloid songs, Senbonzakura by Hatsune Miku."
'Well, I covered it with a different arrangement made by me, Caroline, Mom, and Bernie.' Tuning the guitar and giving a couple of tests, I heard the chatters and some other marines chatting.
What I didn't anticipate, however, were the reactions of the survivors.
"[Nihongo: Eh!? Songaloid? If it's with that guy, it might turn out to be okay to hear than to die from boredom.]"
"[Nihongo: Maybe. But at least he is entertaining us while we wait.]"
"[Nihongo: I agree. Hmm, Katsumi-chan seemed to be interested. She got her cellphone's camera directed at the marine.]"
"[Nihongo: Is that alright?]"
Ignoring the comments, I started to play the guitar.
What I didn't expect later on after returning to Britain was that there'll be a video connected to the incident, a singing Royal Marine who sang Japanese songs like a local.
Having arrived at the base we used for training with the Japanese Marines similar to the way in the past in courtesy of the Japanese government's reforms, I took a sip of a tabular of vanilla-flavored ice cream given to us by the staff for a way to freshen us a bit while we waited for food in the form of an announcement where the other survivors including the girl named Katsumi Himekawa together with her friends had some food and checkups done by the medical professionals.
This newer base had sections for the civilians and the military personnel like the Philippines' Camp Aguinaldo in a way I could say this is the Japanese version of it. It had shops and establishments including ranges open to the civilians too. Why though? It was all thanks to the recent reforms done by the Japanese government to give way and introduce gun sports to the next generation who will represent Japan.
Watching the marines doing their fun at the training range by target shooting while I stood outside as I saw one of them taking down notes in their DOPE book(?), I couldn't help but to remember the day I took up target shooting for the first time when I was 6, meeting Alice and my friends, the competitions I had for my alma mater, me representing Britain and the Philippines, and me suggested by the Royal Marines to be one of the representatives in one of the long-ranged shooting contests for the military and law enforcement agencies.
'This brings back memories. I never thought to imagine those moments again.' Completed consuming the ice cream as I smiled at the thought of the days being trained by Dad, Grandfather Noah, and Lolo Ferdi in the ways of sniping and shooting, I properly disposed of the consumable at one of the trash bins intended for this consumed consumable.
'I'm bored. Oh well, I'll have fun with a small round of target shooting here.' Choosing that, I went to one of the sections to borrow the L115A4 Sniper Rifle in 338 Lapua Magnum for my own fun of target shooting at the range, my own way to kill my boredom.
"[Nihongo: Have a nice evening of shooting at the range, sir.]" said the Japanese Marine.
"[Nihongo: Thank you very much.]" I thanked the guy.
With papers okay and signed, I entered the same range and started setting up the rifle and its bipod for the occasion.
Done zeroing the scope and put on the ear protection, I adjusted my position as I looked through the scope to observe the target first.
The range of the target was 300 meters. It was meant for warm ups.
'300 meters, 6 m/s East. A bit tweak to the zero.' Adjusting it slightly, I peaked slightly to check what I am doing.
'There.' Slightly okay as I turned the safety off, I observed and waited for seconds.
'Off you go.' The moment the timing came, I pressed the trigger.
BANG!
'A bull, huh? Nothing satisfies me besides seeing my girls and being an otaku who can speak Japanese without subtitles.' I jokingly thought as I operated the bolt in order for that bolt-action rifle to reload.
'Next is 350. I can do that.' Like what I did before, I fired the next shot
BANG!
18 shots of straight bull's eye later, after I collected the brass in a brass collector and the safety procedure, with the folded target papers in my pocket for my keeping and the safely-locked sniper rifle folded inside the case, I left the range and returned the borrowed rifle to the same guy who was stationed there.
Having returned to the same spot, Danny and the other 2 familiar marines were there for me.
"Another round of bull's eye eh, Caesar?" cheekily asked the older marine.
I nodded. "Yeah."
"Oh geez, you mad lad." commented Danny with his grin. "Aren't you blessed by the White Feather or something? The first time we met last year, you made those same rounds when Bren made you try it."
"I..I do not know. I've been into target shooting since I was 6. My father and my grandfather taught me." I said. "They trained me into that ever since starting with precision air rifle. Not bragging but it really happened."
"6!?" said Jack, one of the marines. "That must have been a nice childhood then, eh. I'm really proud to have you represent our country and our branch."
"Thanks, Jack." I said as I let out a smile. "Is there one of you guys who would like to ..you know ask? I'll be going to the Reserves after we return to our country…. I believe it's to ask me now because we might not be seeing each other that much."
"Let's see...why 6 years old?" asked Jeff.
I chuckled a bit as I answered his question. "Jeff, you can say it's a decades-old family tradition practiced by my family for many generations."
"Interesting." commented Danny with his same grin. "Care to start, Caesar?"
"Starting with my ancestor who fought in the American War of Independence, he wrote in his diary about the Yanks doing what we call sharpshooting today. He kept writing that and the description of fighting methods." I said. "After that, one of my ancestors, the one who was part of 65th Rifles, did fairly in his service. Old habits die hard from ignorance during that time but yeah my family got a long line of military history including World War 1 and 2. Long story short, it all started from the American War of Independence."
"Cool then!" commented Danny in understanding. "We'll wait for you at the table since I'm hungry. Make sure you go there soon, you hear me?"
'At least I do not get bored with them around.' I smiled as I watched them leave.
"[Nihongo: Ah, Caesar-san!]" called out Katsumi behind who I was surprised to see. Behind her were her friends.
"[Nihongo: Good evening, Katsumi-san.]" I greeted her. "[Nihongo: Didn't expect you to seek me out while others were at the temporary rooms after I'm done at the range like 25 minutes ago. Aren't you supposed to be having a rest for tomorrow?]"
"[Nihongo: I did but I wanted to thank you for helping us.]" said Katsumi.
"[Nihongo: No problem, Katsumi-san. We are only doing what we need to.]" I said, smiling a bit . "[Nihongo: We really do appreciate people thanking and appreciating our work]"
"[Nihongo: Oh. Still you entertained us.]" said Katsumi with her smile.
I laughed a bit as I joked as I remembered something hilarious. "[Nihongo: What can I say? My buddies wanted me to sing like they wanted me to join the Royal Marine band. I am only doing what I feel like to liven you girls up provided I'm given permission and approval to do so. The Royal Marine Band? It's an honor and fun to do but I respectfully decline. I would rather sharpen my skills and train for the contests.] "
They giggled.
"[Nihongo: Caesar-san,]" said Katsumi. "[Nihongo: Kaori-chan got a question.]"
"[Nihongo: Okay then. What's your question, Kaori-san?]"
"[Nihongo: Are you Caesar Augustino?]" asked the brown-haired Japanese girl, Kaori. "[Nihongo: Your voice sounded like him.]"
'At least the issued jacket I currently wear does not have an indication.' I thought before smiling. "[Nihongo: Yes, yes, I am.]"
"Wow." said Kaori in a surprised and excited tone. "[Nihongo: I can't believe we met him in real life. He's right in front of us.]"
"[Nihongo: He's handsome in person too…]" commented Mayumi as her ember eyes looked at me as I noticed she started to blush slightly.
'Not that I don't mind cute and beautiful girls looking at me all day, how will I deal with this kind of situation? It's not like I am asking someone to make me Rance Sengoku or Kirito in real life and bless me with plot armor, ridiculous OP stats, and a harem of beautiful girls.' I thought while maintaining the cool facade outside.
"[Nihongo: Mayumi-chan, Kaori-chan, I believe we should give Caesar some space because he might have a work or task we might not be aware of.]" said Felicia, which Katsumi agreed with what she said.
"[Sorry, Felicia-senpai. We did not mean to.]" said Kaori as she and Mayumi faced me and apologized."[Caesar-san, we apologize for our reactions. We were excited..you know.]"
"[Caesar: Apology accepted. I was unsure to be honest.]" I said. "[Nihongo: How about we take a picture of us together under the condition that you'll have a signed copy of the unblurred photo for yourselves to keep to yourselves not even those who don't know? If you promise me, you girls got yourselves a secret we all share.]"
"[Thank you, Caesar. We honor that.]" said Felicia as she and Katsumi looked at their three friends with Felcia's other younger sister, Lilliana, counted. "[Nihongo: Isn't that right, girls?]"
"[Nihongo: Yes!]" replied Mayumi, Kaori, and Lilliana.
"[Nihongo: Thank you very much girls. Okay, let's start and then I will send each of you through your emails.]"
The girls smiled.
After we were done, I asked Felicia and Lilliana if they know a girl named Hanabi Sanada who lives in Britain. It might be a strange question to ask a person who bore the same surname similar to the case of a former US president of the previous US Republic and dentist but I can see Hanabi's sort of blueish-white hair who I knew very well in Felicia.
When I asked them, the two looked surprised as the two looked each first and back to me.
"We do. [Nihongo: We're her sisters.]" answered Felicia. "[Nihongo: She told us she got a boyfriend and graduated early last time we chatted in Virtuaparty.]"
"Thank goodness." I said, feeling relieved of confirmation and securing Hanabi's happiness of this surprising unexpectedness and a coincidence how we rescued them from the accident."[Nihongo: She'll be happy now to know that her sisters are okay. She's very fond of you.] It would be bad if things didn't go as they are today. I always think of that first for my younger brother."
"Yeah.." said Lilliana. "[Nihongo: We adore her very much. Still I can't imagine you, Caesar Augustino, being her boyfriend. Talk about surprise.]"
The girls behind her, including Katsumi who had a small smile, nodded their heads.
"[Nihongo: As her sisters, thank you for looking after her and thank you for saving us.]"
"[Nihongo:You're welcome.]"
"[Nihongo: Also, Caesar-san, please call me Lily without honorifics. Our friends and family call me that.]" said Lilliana.
"Okay, Lily." I said to her with a smile.
With the picture and the selfie photo sent that left the happy and satisfied girls, I took up some pork ramen for dinner and took a table where Danny and the other marines were at.
"Took you some time, eh Caesar?" asked Danny.
"You can say that, Danny." I said. "I made friends with them because of that request. No regrets I say."
"You're welcome, Caesar." commented Danny with his grin. "The one thing we need to do for those cases is to raise their spirits up before they go home."
"I see." I said in understanding. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks Danny."
"No problem."
"Danny, can I go home early in Britain tomorrow?"
"Why though Caesar?"
"Two of the survivors turned out to be sisters of one of my girlfriends. Forgive me for saying this but is it possible to do so?"
"It would have been different if it's the Old Era, Caesar. Fortunately, we can." answered Danny. "All you need to do is to sign the papers and tell your reasons."
"Once more, thank you very much Danny. I'm calling them over."
"You're welcome."