The Inauguration Ceremony (2)
The captaincy I had been thrust into without understanding a single word of it.
Thanks to the strict hierarchical atmosphere, the inauguration ceremony had been held abruptly yet produced no commotion whatsoever.
“The 0th Divine Squad……”
“By the way, there are up to the 6th Divine Squads.”
The captain’s inauguration ceremony held in the Divine Realm was far more lavish than I had imagined.
All preparations had moved with perfect efficiency, and the time required was shorter than expected.
“I still don’t understand. Why am I the captain?”
“Because you are the most suitable person to take on the captaincy.”
Yet because the preparation time had been so short, the inauguration itself had also been conducted in a surprisingly brief manner.
It felt as though they had skipped all formalities and simply selected only the essential parts, rushing through everything in secret.
The number of attendees had been so small that one could have counted them on one’s fingers.
“It is said that virtue becomes talent, and talent becomes divine authority.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Not only can you connect your virtue to talent, but your character is also exceptionally suited to the captaincy.”
All the events had passed in the blink of an eye, leaving my mind in a complete daze.
Even though a full day had passed since the ceremony ended, my head still felt hazy.
It seemed I would need a little more time before I could fully accept the situation.
“Merely being kind is not enough to accumulate complete virtue.”
“……”
“Not seeking personal gain, not encroaching on others’ domains, and quietly enduring the life given to you with fortitude.”
“……”
“And the mental fortitude to become infinitely cold when necessary is very important.”
The tea garden in the center of the wide garden in front of the Holy Palace.
Having been invited by Orbelia, I had attended the tea time.
Yet I still could not understand why I was receiving such lavish treatment after only just entering the Divine Realm the previous day.
“In short, your talent has far exceeded the ordinary level.”
“I didn’t accumulate that much virtue while living, did I?”
“That is why it is called hidden virtue. Not only others, but even yourself without realizing it.”
Orbelia spoke in this calm tone and lightly touched the clear tea in her teacup to her lips.
“By the way, have you heard anything about the Divine Squads from Cecilia?”
“Ah, that person who stood beside the Goddess all day yesterday?”
“Yes. Cecilia is the captain of the 1st Divine Squad. She possesses exceptional skill in many aspects.”
A woman who had never left the Goddess’s side for even a moment, like an aide.
I remembered that her sharp eyes and red hair suited her very well.
“Until you become accustomed to this place, Cecilia will assist you from the side for a while.”
“That’s too much of a bother… I can manage that much on my own.”
“There is no need to apologize. Even if she helps, she will not be stuck to your side all day.”
Orbelia, as if seeing straight through my thoughts, spoke in a low voice with a faint smile.
“You do not have to take the captaincy too heavily. Acting as usual is perfectly fine.”
The leisure that emanated from every movement she made was truly supreme.
“The 0th Divine Squad was created solely to protect me.”
“……So the original squad was correct?”
“Oh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“Because it didn’t feel like it had been hastily assembled.”
At my hesitant question, Orbelia lifted the corners of her mouth in a strangely meaningful way.
“What can I do? What can I do? In any case, that is not the important part.”
“Ah, it is not that important?”
“Of course not. What is important now is that someone with such outstanding talent as you has entered the Divine Realm.”
Orbelia’s next meaningful words followed.
“As the Goddess ruling the Divine Realm, I could not be more reassured. I am very satisfied.”
Upon hearing those words, my mind became strangely blank.
Yet it did not make Orbelia’s actions seem suspicious or unpleasant.
Although I had been pushed somewhat against my will, at least some freedom had been guaranteed.
Moreover, I had wanted to try being a captain at some point.
“I am glad you are satisfied. But when will I be able to meet your subordinates?”
“Subordinates?”
“Yes. From what I saw of the others, they were all leading their subordinates, weren’t they?”
How many members did the 0th Divine Squad have?
If too many, one person would be overwhelmed; if too few, it would not make sense.
Somewhere in the middle would be just right……
“Oh? Cecilia did not say anything?”
“Yes?”
“The members of the 0th Divine Squad are only you, one person.”
But contrary to my expectations.
The calm answer that flowed from Orbelia’s mouth was nothing short of shocking.
“N-no subordinates at all?”
“Yes. The 0th Divine Squad is a unit that does not require multiple members.”
“Then, doesn’t the captain have any meaning?”
“Why? Even without subordinates, the captain is the captain?”
“It gives off a too bright and cheerful feeling…”
Before my words ended, Orbelia quietly placed the teacup she was holding on the table.
“I said earlier that you do not have to take the captaincy too heavily.”
Orbelia’s next low, heavy words followed.
Suddenly my spine felt strangely cold.
“You simply need to act as usual.”
After saying that, Orbelia took a small breath.
Suddenly, an inexplicable strong pressure wrapped around my entire body, whitening my mind.
“By the way… where did you put the white outer garment I gave you yesterday?”
But that was just a moment.
My dazed mind snapped awake a bit late at Orbelia’s next quiet question.
“……Ah, because it was too fluttering, I just left it in the room.”
The tea time with Orbelia ended somehow.
To calm my strangely settled mood, I decided to take a walk around the area.
Like the palace built in the Divine Realm, every part of the surrounding scenery exuded a fantasy-like atmosphere.
I could not find any modern atmosphere from my previous life anywhere, but the strange unreality was perfect for cooling my head.
“……”
Still, the reason for the captaincy remained unclear.
The answers Orbelia had given during the tea time were all vague, making my mind even more complicated.
If I just acted as usual without any worries.
How many people could act as usual after hearing such meaningful words.
- Thud, thud…
While wandering aimlessly as my feet carried me.
- Rustle, rustle…
The presence of someone nearby came from somewhere.
“……?”
The faint rustling coming from the lush bushes in the garden.
I stopped my steps and fixed my gaze on the direction the sound was coming from.
“Please come out, please……”
Eventually, a woman’s voice came out softly.
The voice carried a strange sense of hesitation.
I tilted my head slightly and slowly walked into the bushes.
Then, after a while, a woman wearing clothes similar to the special unit uniform appeared from beyond the bushes.
“Wait, please……”
“What are you doing over there?”
The woman lying on the ground, diligently searching for something.
She had a youthful face that looked like she had just become an adult.
“Hi, hiiik……”!!
The unknown woman screamed like she had seen a ghost when she saw me.
Her complexion rapidly paled, sweat poured like rain, and her unfocused eyes shook violently.
“What? It’s a kid……”
But that was just a moment.
Then, seeing my small body, the woman felt some unknown relief.
I stared at her and tilted my head even more curiously.
“I thought you were the captain……”
“What are you looking for here?”
“Ah, um… I lost my sword……”
The thing the woman was desperately searching for on the ground was none other than a sword.
I did not know which squad she belonged to, but a soldier losing a sword.
“……Should I help you look for it?”
“Oh, if you do, I would really appreciate it! The time was quite tight, you know.”
Upon saying that out of pity, the woman immediately smiled brightly as if she had been waiting, nodding vigorously.
“Since lunch time is about to end. So I have to find it quickly.”
“Did you lose it while resting here?”
“……Yes.”
She must have just been lying down resting, but how could she lose a sword as precious as her life?
It did not make sense in many ways, but since time was short, I started searching the ground thoroughly with her.
“If it is not a bother, can I ask which squad you are from?”
“I am from the 1st Divine Squad. My name is Herea.”
“Ah, so you are from the 1st Divine Squad.”
“You?”
“The 0th Divine Squad.”
Even while hurriedly searching for the sword, Herea answered quite kindly.
Though she was a bit clumsy, her personality seemed incredibly kind.
“The 0th Divine Squad? Ah, it means unassigned, right?”
“Yes?”
“There is no 0th Divine Squad. If unassigned, it is just unassigned.”
But that thought was just a moment.
“Seeing that you have a sword at your waist, it seems like your assignment is imminent?”
“Ah, this sword was given to me by the Goddess yesterday……”
“I do not know where I will be assigned, but I hope it is not to the 1st Divine Squad.”
Herea, who seemed to have finished organizing her thoughts, started spewing incomprehensible words.
“The 1st Divine Squad is a combat unit, so it is really ruthless.”
“……Really?”
“Yes. If you get assigned wrongly, you will be rolled around by Captain Cecilia until you die.”
So the 1st Divine Squad was a combat unit.
Now I understood.
“That is why I wanted to take on defense or escort missions in the 3rd Divine Squad if possible……”
“Assignments seem random.”
“Probably. Everything depends on the Goddess’s will.”
The 3rd Divine Squad specializes in defense and escort.
It was surprisingly well organized.
“From what I see, you seem to have come to scout before assignment. If it is okay, would you like to watch us train?”
“Ah, is that okay?”
“Next time is sparring. We will compete with each other’s swords. It should be quite interesting to watch.”
It felt like things were progressing too smoothly.
It was a bit out of place, but since I had not used a sword in a while, I was curious in many ways.
“I would love to.”
“Then, after finding the sword, let’s go to the training ground together.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“It is nothing special. Anyway, you will be assigned to the Divine Squad soon.”
Although the assignment was already complete and I had taken on the captaincy by accident.
If I reveal that I am a captain who does not even know how to swing a sword properly, it would be embarrassing.
For now, let’s just keep quiet.
“I would like to swing the sword at least once.”