"Good. That's enough sparring for today. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's mock match!"
By the end of the afternoon training session, Ethel was sprawled on the floor, completely exhausted.
Every day since joining the Third Squad had been packed. Mornings were devoted to physical conditioning and endurance drills. Afternoons were spent in one-on-one combat training against Bing.
Ever since the first day—when Ethel had managed to defeat her once—he hadn't won another match.
Bing no longer allowed him to dictate the pace by closing the distance. The moment the fight began, she accelerated to full speed. Most of the time, Ethel couldn't even see her punches before he was knocked to the ground.
During those sessions, he gradually realized something else.
Bing was deliberately showing him her techniques.
Perhaps it was her own way of helping narrow the gap between them.
The move that gave Ethel the biggest headache was her Twelve-Strike Straight—a barrage of twelve lightning-fast punches produced by strengthening her arms with Force. Under normal circumstances, it was practically impossible to dodge.
The most terrifying part was its nonexistent wind-up.
She could unleash all twelve punches from almost any position and at any moment.
"I spent years developing that speed," Bing said proudly. "Ten years as a vice-captain isn't just for show."
"If everyone fought like you, that'd be terrifying."
"They don't." She laughed. "Most people focus on controlling more Force and pouring in as much as possible to maximize destructive power. That's the fastest way to kill demons—overwhelm both the demon and its Concept with sheer force."
"For a martial artist, that usually means training a single finishing blow strong enough to crush a demon outright."
"My style—using Force to boost speed instead—is actually pretty rare."
"So why didn't you go down the same path as everyone else?"
"Because this suits my Concept."
She smiled.
"For a Concept user, nothing is more important than developing in harmony with your Concept. Once I figure out what yours is, I'll help you decide how to develop it too."
That conversation had stayed with him.
Evenings were free time for most squad members.
The others usually went out together after work.
Ethel, however, stayed in his room working overtime.
His version of overtime was watching videos.
A few days earlier, after finishing his scan, Ethel finally understood why he hadn't seen Quate or Michael on the nineteenth floor.
They'd been waiting in his room.
When he opened the door to change clothes after finally getting some free time, the two large men were already sitting inside.
"About time you got back."
"...Why are you in my room?"
"To deliver this."
Quate pointed toward the wall.
Mounted there was something that definitely hadn't been there that morning—
a massive flat-screen television.
"Why is there a TV in my room?"
"So you can watch this."
Michael held up a flash drive.
"It contains recordings of our sparring matches with Tia."
"It'll help you learn how we fight," Quate explained. "Understand each person's habits, recognize our weaknesses, and know exactly when we'll need your warning."
"We're not expecting you to watch everything right away," he quickly added.
"We just wanted to get it to you first."
Since then, every night, Ethel had studied the footage.
Only one match per evening.
He watched frame by frame, analyzing how they dodged attacks and how each person was eventually hit.
But the night before the mock match, he decided to give himself a break.
Only to discover everyone else already had plans.
With nothing to do, he wandered aimlessly through headquarters until he stumbled across an elegant little bar.
Drunken Night.
The name almost seemed intentionally modeled after Sunblaze City's naming style.
He stepped inside.
The place appeared empty.
"What can I get you?"
"A Long Peninsula Iced Tea."
Ethel took a seat at the counter.
Moments later, an amber-colored cocktail slid toward him.
Recently, he'd been deliberately pushing himself to complete exhaustion.
If he was tired enough, he wouldn't dream.
Tonight, however, without his usual evening studying, he worried he wouldn't be exhausted enough.
So he decided to simply drink himself to sleep.
As he sipped the cocktail, he watched the bartender polish glasses while thinking about tomorrow's mock match.
Just what is Bing's Concept?
She had said it was the reason she'd developed speed instead of raw power.
Could her Concept itself possess overwhelming destructive force?
Then why wouldn't she focus even more on increasing power?
Maybe it's something like Concept: Poison—multiple consecutive hits stacking damage?
That seemed plausible.
Or maybe it's a support-type Concept that mainly helps teammates...
His instincts told him that wasn't it.
There were simply too many Concepts in this world.
Guessing one correctly was almost impossible.
"...Annihilation..."
He murmured.
Could it really be related to destruction?
Frowning, he took another sip.
His alcohol tolerance wasn't particularly good.
Once he finished the entire glass, he'd probably struggle to walk in a straight line.
"Drinking a Long Peninsula Iced Tea all by yourself?"
A woman's voice came from his right.
Ethel turned in surprise and only then noticed someone sitting in the shadows at the far end of the bar.
Captain Tia leaned forward just enough for her face to emerge from the darkness, looking at him.
"Are you trying to imply something?"
"Captain Tia?! What are you doing here?"
Ethel blurted out. He had never imagined running into his captain at a bar.
"Am I not allowed to be here?"
Tia asked calmly, her expression unreadable.
"N-No. I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
Even so, Ethel couldn't relax.
Running into your commanding officer after work—during what was obviously her private time—was about as awkward as it got.
Fortunately, he wasn't drunk yet.
Unfortunately, all he wanted now was to escape.
An uncomfortable silence settled between them.
Ethel kept sipping his drink. If his body could handle it, he would've downed the whole glass in one gulp, but his miserable alcohol tolerance forced him to take it slowly. At the same time, his mind desperately searched for anything that could break the suffocating silence.
Unexpectedly, Tia spoke first.
"Have you settled in?"
"I'd say so. A regular schedule, daily exercise... it's a surprisingly healthy lifestyle."
"Pfft."
His half-joking answer caught her off guard, and she let out a quiet laugh.
Perhaps it was the alcohol.
For the first time, Ethel felt that Tia seemed... human.
"I heard you're having a mock match against the Third Squad's vice-captain tomorrow."
"Yes."
Three days earlier, Ethel had accompanied the First Squad on his second deployment.
It had only been a minor city demon.
To the First Squad, it had barely qualified as a mission—it had practically been a public demonstration for the citizens watching nearby.
Ethel had observed from a safe distance, recording every movement of the First Squad with his own eyes.
Naturally, they hadn't encountered a Concept Demon.
"Make the most of it," Tia said. "Bing is an excellent opponent to learn from."
"I will, Captain."
She fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"I worry about you."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"I'm the one who brought you into the Combat Corps."
"Please don't think of it that way. I chose this myself."
"I changed your mind."
Her voice remained calm.
"Your life is my responsibility now."
"Captain... you don't have to carry that burden."
"I remember the name of every person who died because of me."
"I won't forget them."
Oene's words echoed through Ethel's mind.
Tia's pushing herself too hard.
The woman before him wasn't the battlefield hero, the Sunblaze Princess.
She was simply an ordinary person carrying far more expectations—and guilt—than anyone should.
Perhaps realizing she'd already said too much to one of her subordinates, Tia didn't continue.
"I should be going."
She finished the last sip of her drink.
"I can only have a little. I'm still on duty."
She stood.
"Good luck tomorrow."
"I'll be watching."
Without another word, she walked away.
Watching her retreating figure, Ethel couldn't help but feel there was only one word that truly fit her back.
Lonely.
An hour later, Ethel lay on his bed.
The alcohol had worked exactly as he'd hoped.
The only reason he was still awake was because he kept replaying a conversation from a little over a week ago—
the one that had taken place in his apartment.
"Because your ability can help."
"I want your power."
"You don't believe what I told you?"
"No... Well, if there's a reason you can't tell me, that's okay. I'm just nobody, after all."
"It's not classified."
"I'm just worried that once you hear it... you might change your mind and decide to join."
"That's okay."
"I want to hear it."
Back then, Ethel had answered without hesitation.
His curiosity had reached its peak.
"Back when I was still just a Force user... I had someone precious fighting beside me."
"He saved my life countless times—not just on the battlefield, but in everyday life as well."
"In his final battle, he saved me once again..."
"But he couldn't save himself."
"I watched the light fade from his eyes... and I could do nothing."
"From that day on, I swore that if I ever had the power..."
"I never wanted to watch someone die in front of me again."
"I..."
"Ethel."
"That's why I came to you personally."
"Your Concept can help me achieve that dream."
"I know a future with absolutely zero casualties is impossible."
"But I still want to borrow your power..."
"Help me protect the people I couldn't protect."
"Through your eyes..."
"I want to see a world where no one has to die anymore."
At that moment, determination had filled Tia's eyes.
It was the first time Ethel had seen even the slightest crack in the flawless hero everyone admired.
She wasn't perfect.
She was simply an ordinary person flying toward the sun—
willing to let her wings burn away if that was the price.
Moved by the conviction behind her words, Ethel had accepted her invitation and joined the Combat Corps.
Compared to Tia's lofty ideal, the darkness haunting his own heart suddenly felt so small...
So insignificant.
He hoped his arrival could ease the burden on Tia's shoulders.
He hoped the day would come when it was no longer only Tia protecting Sunblaze City—
but Sunblaze City protecting Tia as well.
And the first step toward that goal...
was becoming a true warrior.
Someone capable of standing beside everyone else on the battlefield.
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