From Jenny's Embrace to the Frontlines
After coolly unloading in the academy bathroom of the fallen kingdom, a pleasant languor began to wrap around my entire body. Her face and hair had gotten messy, so she showered again, and I washed up with her before stepping out.
"Then let's hit the sack."
Click. The lights went out, and darkness like heavy curtains filled the room. I could vaguely make out Jenny lying on her bed, pulling the covers over herself. Ignoring my own bed entirely, I headed straight for hers. Sensing my approach, she cracked open her lightly closed eyes.
"What is it now?"
"On days when these side effects hit, if I don't hold onto something, I might unconsciously set the bedding on fire."
"And?"
"I figure it'll be fine if I hold you, Senior Jenny, and sleep."
"......"
I didn't wait for her reply. I lifted the blanket and slid into bed beside her. It was super single-sized at best, meaning we'd have to press right up against each other for two people to fit. Just in case she tried to push me away, I kept spinning my bullshit.
"It's bedtime for everyone—if I light a fire in here and cause a commotion, that'd be a problem, right? How lucky that there's this simple solution."
"Well..."
"And with how chilly the night air is these days, catching a cold would mean non-combat losses, wasting national resources. Thanks to my ability, my body's always warm, so I can serve as your personal heater all night."
Smoothly draping my arm over her as I spoke. It wasn't entirely bullshit. If I circulated my ability lightly through my body, it got nice and toasty, like a human heater. Without the ability, you'd probably have to be seriously ill to run that hot.
Jenny quietly stared at the arm now resting on her.
"......What truly annoying side effects."
"But hey, being able to prevent problems with something this minor is a blessing. I've heard in severe cases, people lose all logical thinking. That's why the test subjects need handlers."
"Handlers, huh...... Fine."
With that, Jenny closed her eyes again. I warmed up my arm and slowly shifted it closer. She'd changed into comfy sleepwear for bed, so the curves of her body transmitted directly through my arm. Despite her stiff tone and demeanor, it felt soft and yielding. Hiding something this nice under that rigid uniform was such a shame.
Gauging her reaction, I gently tugged her shirt up and cautiously stroked her belly. Fresh from the shower, her smooth skin glided under my palm. A little higher, and I could faintly feel her ribs just below her breasts.
Breasts are a good size, but she needs to eat more.
She was a bit on the skinny side now—a little more meat on her, and she'd be perfect to hold. I pressed my body closer. Now I had her hugged like a body pillow. Lucky the weather was cool; otherwise, sticking this close would've been awkward.
Sliding my hand higher, I kneaded her water-balloon-like breasts. That texture never got old, no matter how many times. It was purifying, almost.
Is this why people play with fidget toys or slime monsters?
Maybe it was the warm living heater beside me, but as I toyed with her soft breasts, Jenny drifted off to sleep.
"Snooore......"
Cute.
Her dainty face, with its tiny breaths, looked angelic. I spent a good while groping her body before finally slipping into sleep myself.
BOOM!
"......!"
A eardrum-shattering explosion jolted me awake. I scanned the room—it was just as we'd left it before sleep. Not a dorm noise, then. Jenny, who'd been sleeping beside me, sprang up like she hadn't just dozed off.
She stripped off her pajamas in a flash and changed into her uniform.
"Min-ho, get dressed quick."
"Got it."
Using high-speed thought to savor her impromptu strip show, I finished gearing up. As I donned my uniform and grabbed my pistol and knife, sirens wailed through the academy.
WEE-OO-WEE-OO-WEE-OO!
"Emergency. Finish prepping in three minutes and head to the central plaza."
"Yes, Senior Jenny!"
From the explosion and sirens, it sounded like a terrorist attack or intruders. Fully geared, I followed her out, summoning the guidebook en route.
Was there an event like this in the original?
There is a description in the story of the academy being raided.
Casualties? What was the outcome?
There are only mentions of casualties on both the rebel and academy sides; no detailed records exist.
To me, that meant this probably wasn't a big deal. If it were major, the protagonist would've gotten tangled up, and it'd be detailed.
Just as my mind eased, a ominous thought struck.
......Was Jenny Windfield among the academy casualties?
Unknown.
The guidebook gave no clear answer. But I had a gut feeling my hunch was right. Excluding my special case, Jenny was an elite who'd become a full Proxy right after turning adult. Most Proxies in the original were over 30—even the protagonist. For someone this capable not to appear? Something must've happened.
Like getting caught in a terrorist attack...
Irritation surged; I clenched my fist. Could be just paranoia. But even then, it didn't matter. I didn't want her dying on me. I'd just found the perfect partner, and losing her in a day? No thanks.
The guidebook said the rebels took hits and retreated, but I decided inwardly.
Every bastard who set foot in this academy gets exterminated.
Stewing in murderous intent toward the intruders, we reached the central plaza. Headmaster Grayham and the instructors oversaw the assembling cadets.
Once enough had gathered, the headmaster spoke.
"Good. That's Squad 2. Follow your squad leader instructor's orders and move out immediately."
No pep talk—just dry commands. Pointless anyway; it'd waste time. The earlier group looked like Squad 1, already headed to fight.
We followed our Squad 2 instructor toward the booming explosions.
BOOM! Rat-tat-tat!Aaaagh!
As we closed in, screams pierced through the blasts and gunfire.
The lead instructor glanced back briefly.
"Rebels lack our systematic training. They rely on ranged shooting and explosives. Use your abilities aggressively in combat."
"Got it!"
His words sparked a question.
Why do they have explosives when we don't?
After the war's end, the defeated Hailum Kingdom signed a treaty banning production of all weapons except those for public order.
Handguns okay, but no grenades or bazookas.
The rebels use homemade explosives or looted gear from soldiers who defied surrender post-war.
What a fucked-up world.
That's why Moralis Lab does human experiments and develops Telos to skirt the treaty. And it works, too.
We hit the battlefield fast. Everyone scattered to cover.
Click.
I followed Jenny, leaning against cover and drawing my pistol. Acrid gunpowder and metallic blood stung my nose. Glancing over, I saw a Squad 1 cadet crumpled, half his body blown away.
Not a pleasant sight.
Brushing it off calmly, I peered at the enemy lines. Couldn't get careless, or I'd end up the same.
Rebels used a crumbled wall for cover. Heads popped up like whack-a-mole.
Bang!Thud.
Before his eyes showed, a bullet pierced his forehead; he toppled back. He'd planned to spot us and duck, but with high-speed thought, he was a slow-rising target.
Then, a grenade arced toward our cover.
Shoot it down? Will it explode?
As I hesitated, a fierce gust blew from beside me. My uniform flapped; dust swirled in a vortex.
Whoooosh!Pop!
The grenade burst into the air and flew skyward. BOOM! It detonated harmlessly overhead.
I turned to the source of the wind. Amid whipping hair, blue eyes met mine calmly.
Jenny Windfield.
"......I'll leave covering fire to you."
"You got it."
Whoosh!
Her gesture whipped up a dust cloud, engulfing part of the rebels' wall.
Cough cough!
Unprepared enemies hacked away.
Huuuh!Thud-thud-thud!
I held my breath and charged into the dust.