Chapter 315: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield[R-18] (33)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 315: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield[R-18] (33)
Early in the morning, Hina, Su-hyeon, and Adele were waiting for me in front of the mansion's main gate to see me off.
I looked at Hina.
"Don't forget what I told you."
"Okay..."
Her eyes were red. Hina nodded silently. I stroked her head.
"I trust you'll do well."
Next were Su-hyeon and Adele. Neither of them looked happy.
It was obvious they didn't want me to leave.
"I'm not skilled enough to get myself killed somewhere. So don't you worry."
"Yes... but please be careful."
Adele held out a black card.
"You can use this to buy whatever you need."
I looked at the card's surface and asked, "Is it okay for me to just take this?"
"If you don't even let me do this much, I'll be seriously mad."
I smiled at her words and hugged Adele. Su-hyeon also approached silently and let me hold her in my arms.
I left a short kiss on each of the three women's lips.
"I'll call often."
"...Okay."
I turned and headed for the waiting vehicle. I quietly got into the back seat and closed the door.
The car started smoothly, and the scenery outside the window slowly receded.
Hina, Su-hyeon, and Adele.
The three women remained standing right where they were.
I opened the window slightly and raised my hand for a final goodbye. Adele was the last one to keep her hand up.
*
The vehicle slowly came to a stop.
The orbital station.
This was where I had to transfer to a transport ship heading into space. After getting out of the car, I checked the ship number displayed on my terminal.
‘A-12.’
Following the signs, I passed through an underground passage and saw a pure white transport ship waiting.
Its surface was matte and smooth, and the front windshield was completely blacked out.
It had a different feel from other military transport ships. Quieter, more luxurious, and more solid.
A private transport ship of the Licencia Group.
As I approached, an auxiliary platform opened automatically. Small guide lights lit up at my feet, leading me aboard.
Inside the platform, the Requiem was loaded. A crew member from inside the transport ship approached and greeted me.
"You must be Second Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun. We will escort you safely to the space station."
The interior was tidy.
Two women in crew uniforms guided me to my seat. Each seat was marked with a number and a name, and mine was right next to the hangar space where my unit was stored.
As soon as I sat down, the door closed with a light vibration.
「Boarding complete. Commencing takeoff preparations.」
A vibration traveled up from under my feet.
With a smooth propulsion, the ship soared upward. There were no windows, but I could feel the sensation of ascent throughout my body.
I took a silent breath.
A monitor turned on automatically.
【 Approaching G-03 Docking Bay 】
【 3rd Fleet, 7th Mobile Squadron, Tannhäuser 】
【 Time until docking: 00:13:42 】
As the transport ship docked, a short, automatic mooring chime sounded.
「G-03 docking complete. Connecting external docking bridge.」
The door opened, revealing a bridge connected to the ship's interior.
I followed the indicated path inside. Gray metal floors, walls periodically studded with unit insignias and communication equipment. Then, a man approached me. Judging by his rank insignia, he was a sergeant.
"You must be the new second lieutenant. We've been waiting for you. Please follow me. First, you'll greet the captain, and then we'll proceed with the formal assignment process."
I nodded and followed him down the corridor.
Passing through the central hall and entering the meeting area to the right, a modestly decorated staff room came into view.
When we arrived at the door, the sergeant knocked first.
"Second Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun has arrived."
"Send him in."
As I entered, a captain in a black uniform was sitting behind a desk.
He looked to be in his early fifties, with a face that suggested he was a man of few words.
I stood at attention.
"Sir! Second Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun, reporting for formal assignment to the 3rd Fleet as of today."
The captain nodded and opened his terminal. On it, the Requiem's data and information were organized.
"I heard you were a pilot personally designated by Licencia."
"That is correct, sir."
He swiped his finger across the screen and said, "I don't know what your relationship with Licencia is, but try to move quietly and not stand out. Around here, attitude comes before skill."
"I'll keep that in mind, sir."
"Good. The official procedures will be relayed by the operations staff shortly. You're assigned to the 7th Mobile Squadron. Your unit will be stationed in Hangar 2 within the Armeo."
I saluted and left the room. As I closed the door, the sergeant approached me again.
"We will now proceed to the hangar. You need to check the maintenance status of your unit."
I followed him without a word. As we walked down the corridor, the only sound was our footsteps. We crossed from our current ship to a new one.
Is that the ship called Armeo?
The transport ship arrived at the Armeo, and I followed the sergeant to the hangar.
The metal doors opened, revealing a spacious hangar. From that moment, the atmosphere was different. Murmurs, laughter, whispers.
The inside of the hangar was noisy.
"Wow, is that really an A-Class unit? And made by Licencia?"
"That's insane. Who the hell got something like this?"
"Isn't he Adele Licencia's... you know?"
A man snickered, raising his little finger.
"Could be... I heard from a mechanic earlier that this is a custom Valkyrie."
"Hah... I'm so jealous."
At the end of their gazes was the Requiem, painted black.
It was fixed on a rail.
Even powered down and standing still, its presence was extraordinary.
The NCO standing next to me sighed and said, "Geez, Captain Basques. What are you doing here?"
The slick-looking man turned his head. With a faint smile, he stuck his hands in his pockets and slowly approached.
"Just checking things out. Heard a monster like this was joining our unit."
"That's enough, sir. This is the new second lieutenant."
The men and women who had been watching all turned their heads to meet my eyes.
The man called Captain Basques spoke first.
"Captain Lionel Basques. I'm the leader of the 7th Mobile Squadron."
I replied curtly.
"Second Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun."
Just then, a high-pitched voice rang out.
"Eek~ A handsome rookie. I was so annoyed because our squadron only has ugly guys~"
A woman walked forward. A tight pilot suit, slightly messy hair.
She tilted her head, a smirk on her lips.
"I'm Carla Stren. Same rank. Let's get along, honey~?"
She gave me a playful smile and poked my chest with her finger.
"It's a pleasure."
Then, someone next to me chuckled.
"There she goes again. Always hits on the new guys."
It was a tall man with a slow way of speaking.
"First Lieutenant Gareth Lee."
Next, a quiet woman approached me. Black bobbed hair, a neat pilot suit.
"First Lieutenant Mina Yuhara."
Her voice was clear. Her gaze darted more often toward the Requiem than my face.
"Second Lieutenant Lucian Kane."
A man greeted me with an indifferent, quiet tone.
Finally, there was a man who had walked slowly from the end of the corridor. Black hair. His expression was nearly blank, and his eyes were sharp.
"Ron Brandt."
He said just that, then added while keeping his eyes on me, "A pilot who operates a unit like that... I expect your skills to match."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that."
Laughter erupted from those around us.
"Ooh, the rookie's got guts."
"Ha, don't tell me another weirdo has joined."
"Quiet down. In front of someone you just met."
Their reactions were all different. Lionel Basques raised a hand.
"Alright, everyone, that's enough. Isn't it time to welcome the rookie?"
At his words, some shrugged, while a few others dispersed, seemingly uninterested.
"Hmm, a few people are missing, but shall we go have some fun with who's left?"
"I'm in~ I'm totally in!" Carla exclaimed in an excited voice.
It was then.
A cold female voice came from behind me.
"Captain Basques. I'm afraid you'll have to postpone Second Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun's welcome party."
Everyone's gaze turned simultaneously. I turned my head too. A familiar face was standing there.
A woman with her golden hair tied back neatly.
Elena?
"Oh, Vice Commander."
Lionel's face stiffened as he corrected his posture. The others straightened up as well.
She met my gaze. Her eyes were unreadable.
"Second Lieutenant Jin Seo-yun."
"Yes."
"I need to have a word with you."
She turned and walked away. I followed her silently.
The corridor was quiet. Only the sound of our military boots echoed in a steady rhythm.
After a few steps, she stopped.
In front of an empty observation room. She turned back to face me and spoke.
"I'll be blunt. If you act like you did back at the training camp... I will never forgive you."
I remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Don't tell me you're still holding a grudge over what happened back then."
At my words, the corner of her eye twitched minutely. A momentary reaction. No matter how emotionless someone seemed, it wasn't that they truly had none.
She was just acting like she was suppressing her emotions.
I smiled playfully and took a step closer. Elena flinched and took a step back.
Another step.
Her back was against the wall.
"Major, why do you keep backing away?"
"B-Because you're suddenly coming closer...!"
A suppressed tremor laced her voice. I looked down at her and chuckled softly.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of acting on my own like I did back then."
Elena bit her lip slightly. She tried to keep her expression calm, but her gaze wavered.
"...I'll take your word for it, for now. So, would you please move?"
Instead of answering, I tilted my head slightly.
The distance between us was small.
So close I could feel the movement of her breath.
"Still, it must be fate that we met like this. Let's get along."
Elena's brow furrowed slightly.
"...That's enough. Move. That's an order."
I let out a short laugh. I decided to stop teasing her here.
As I took a step back, Elena quickly turned away. She composed herself and looked at me again with a neat posture.
"Second Lieutenant... Hah... Never mind. I'll be going, so you should get going too."
With only those words, she quickly departed, disappearing down the corridor.
I watched her retreating back and muttered to myself, "Well, it won't be boring around here."
When I turned my head, at the corner of the corridor...
...were two familiar faces.
Captain Basques and Second Lieutenant Carla.
They were pressed against the wall, holding their breath, secretly watching me and Elena.
"You can come out now."
At my words, Basques cleared his throat and revealed himself.
"Haha, we've been caught."
Carla followed him out.
"Honey~ Honey~ What's going on between you and the Major? Are you ex-lovers?! Don't tell me you're in a love triangle with Lady Adele Licencia?! This is a total soap opera~!"
I didn't answer.
"Wait, look at his face. Is it for real?! Oh my~ Oh my~!"
Carla cupped her cheeks, lost in her own fantasy. Beside her, Basques also looked intrigued.
"Is it true? C'mon, tell me."
"That's a secret."
"Hey~ Don't be like that with us. Just tell us a little."
"Yeah. Just a little~ A hint, at least."
I let out a short breath.
"It's a personal matter, so I'd appreciate it if you both would stop."
Carla pouted and said, "Aww, no fun!"
"I'm no fun either."