Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Promotion Evaluation
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After an envious farewell remark about how a magician's talent could make cooking easier and more creative.
Loan left El Toro's kitchen.
He had gained something, and yet he hadn't.
It was a little disappointing that he couldn't bring back any useful news for Magda and the other senior mages.
The seniors seemed to feel similarly, but Magda, as if reading something in Loan's expression—
"It seems you've had an epiphany. If you've gained something, that's all that matters."
she said, patting Loan's head.
Loan was grateful for Magda's consideration.
It was still too early to unravel the inspiration he'd found in the kitchen.
Besides, the plan itself stemmed from their own shortcomings, which made him even more cautious.
"Let's go. Everyone's waiting."
At Magda's words, he left the restaurant to find the seniors from the Faith and Stability Divisions resting here and there on the beach.
Lucas, who was among them, spotted Loan and waved his arm wildly. Beside him were Hans, Oscar, and Sienna.
"Loan, a message came from Commander Hans. They say it's about you!"
Lucas shouted, his impatience showing.
As Loan joined them, Hans smiled and said,
"Loan. A message has arrived from headquarters."
"Is it about me?"
"It contained an order from the Governor-General for you to participate in the second-half evaluation."
"Evaluation? What do you mean..."
In response to Loan's question, Hans nodded, his expression strangely excited.
"It means you've been nominated for a promotion."
Loan was stunned.
He had casually asked the Governor-General about it when he left the Union for his mission, but he never expected to actually undergo a promotion evaluation.
It felt like receiving a reward for his merits in advance.
Oscar continued.
"It's an unbelievable pace, but when you think about it, it's not entirely out of the question. Your achievements so far have not been small."
"Thank you. I didn't do it all by myself..."
"You did most of it alone."
"..."
"What about me? Was there any mention of me?"
Lucas quickly asked Hans.
Wondering if he, too, would be taking the promotion test.
"Instead of getting distracted, you should train harder. You're not ready yet."
Perhaps he knew because he was his father.
Oscar hadn't missed the fact that Lucas had exchanged several glances with Enji from the Stability Division after arriving in the coastal town.
Lucas, too, didn't seem to have high hopes, shrugging off his disappointment.
"Congratulations. You'll become a Runner before me, but don't forget we're still friends."
"The evaluation hasn't even started yet..."
Though he said that, Loan couldn't help but feel a little excited himself.
* * *
The Faith and Honor Divisions, who had remained in Varzino, decided to stay one more day at the beach before returning to the Union early in the morning. The Stability Division would return as soon as they finished their remaining duties.
Even so, given the nature of their missions, it would be a while before they saw the Stability Division again.
Loan was disappointed, but for some reason, Hans seemed to feel it even more strongly.
The two of them walked together along the beach, which was now pitch black as darkness fell.
"For me, it was a place I admired from the perspective of an ordinary gourmet, but it seems to have been a source of another awakening for you, Loan."
He asked this, even though Loan hadn't said anything specific.
Loan's reply mingled with the sound of crashing waves.
"I saw what effort truly is. Perhaps my way of contributing to the world lies there."
Hans interpreted the vague words in his own way.
"Someone whose talent reaches the heavens speaks of effort. That's a story I'd like to tell my division members."
Loan was revered as a saint within the Stability Division.
For such a person to talk about living diligently was almost embarrassing to hear.
"You praise me too much. The Commanders see me as more than I am."
"Is it just us? Soon, the world will know. And before anyone else, the wicked will."
A warning-like piece of advice followed.
His name becoming widely known meant he was more likely to become a target for Grave.
Furthermore, the monumental event of curing ghouls couldn't be hidden no matter how hard they tried, so Le Tell would surely treat Loan as a public enemy among the Union.
Hearing this, Loan actually looked relieved.
"That's even better. If they come looking for me, it will save me the trouble."
"Still, you must always be careful. Of course, I don't think you're one to become complacent, Loan."
"Thank you for your concern."
"I wonder where and what kind of food we'll share the next time we meet."
"I hope you stay healthy as well, Commander."
Hans gave a simple smile and headed back to his lodgings first.
Loan, who planned to enjoy the night breeze and the sound of the waves a little longer, took a few steps before unconsciously hiding behind a large rock.
In the distance, Enji and Lucas were talking alone.
Normally, he would have approached them and offered some well wishes for Enji, but her expression was unusual, making him hesitate.
He spent some time behind the rock, though he'd done nothing wrong.
A moment later, Enji, looking quite angry, walked right past him without making eye contact.
Loan approached Lucas, who was standing alone on the beach, and asked,
"For a farewell, that looked pretty serious. Is something wrong with Enji?"
"Oh, she said she's a priestess, so she can't be in a relationship."
He said it nonchalantly, but Loan, who was listening, was startled.
Romantic feelings and relationships between men and women were nothing more than stories from novels to Loan. He wasn't interested in them either.
But now that he was facing it in his daily life, his curiosity was piqued.
"Did you ask her out?"
"No. She brought it up first."
"Then why was she so angry?"
"Because I told her I had no intention of doing so. That I have someone else in my heart."
"Sienna?"
"No. Commander Lydia of the Harmony Division."
"..."
He was speechless.
He had prided himself on being well-versed in the romantic emotions between men and women from reading a considerable number of romance novels, but he couldn't understand Enji's or Lucas's feelings at all.
However, one thing was vaguely clear.
"Lucas, I think I'm starting to understand your type."
"What is it?"
"You're attracted to people you can't have."
"Is that so?"
Lucas pondered this for a moment. Then he frowned and asked back,
"That means Commander Lydia and I can't be together."
"Yeah. I have a strong feeling about that."
"Well... I still haven't sorted out my own feelings yet."
"That's not what I meant."
"Then take me with you next time you go to the Harmony Division to see the Commander."
"Why?"
"I need to be sure, too."
"About what?"
"I need to see one more time if she's the one I'm meant to protect with my life."
"Fine, whatever."
Loan walked along the beach for a while with the incredibly confident Lucas.
It was the last night of this mission.
* * *
The next day.
After a calm farewell to the Stability Division, promising to meet again, the Faith and Honor Divisions began their journey back to the Union, seen off by the enthusiastic residents of Varzino.
Loan, who had become famous as a hero, had a large necklace of flowers and shells placed around his neck and had to respond to each of the tearful goodbyes from the village girls before he could catch up with his group.
Lucas, riding his horse at the back of the line, offered some sage advice.
"Since we have to travel all over the world, it's a good idea to find someone to settle your heart on quickly. Otherwise, you might get needlessly restless."
"I don't think you're one to talk..."
Trailing off, Loan suddenly felt a twinge of envy for Lucas.
He wondered what it would be like to have the kinds of feelings a person his age should have and to live a life true to those feelings.
*If I hadn't entered the shelter...*
*Would I have spent an ordinary teenage life with similar worries, just like Lucas?*
*It's not important.*
Nothing was lighter than the weight of the phantoms he tried to bear within himself.
Five years from now.
He refocused on preventing the apocalypse and protecting people and his own life.
With various thoughts running through his mind, they quickly passed through the Varzino region and reached the bridge district.
"Ah... my young kinsman has returned."
The torchbearers, whom he hadn't seen in a few days, greeted Loan warmly.
They exchanged thanks.
Loan had given them the gift of extended life, and they, in turn, had provided immense help for the Union to achieve victory.
*I should leave a record here, too.*
Even without him, a systematized record of the magic that drew the lives of others into the brazier was needed so the torchbearers wouldn't have to burn their own lives.
*Things like this will probably happen more often from now on.*
He had a feeling they would.
As Loan resolved to redefine his concept of magic, the seniors from the Faith Division who remained in the bridge district offered their well wishes.
"I heard. You've achieved great merits."
"That's why you're up for promotion. I've never seen one this fast."
"I'm sure you'll do well."
He hadn't even taken the evaluation yet, but everyone was treating it as a foregone conclusion.
Questions he hadn't had the chance to ask naturally came to mind.
He asked Sienna, who was smiling beside him.
"How does the promotion evaluation work?"
"First, your merits are confirmed. Next, you prove them."
"Prove them?"
"You demonstrate your skills through a written exam and a martial contest."
At the mention of a written exam, Lucas, who was listening nearby, jumped in surprise.
Loan chuckled and asked,
"Who are the opponents for the contest?"
"Other OZs being evaluated for promotion like you. But there won't be anyone from your year. It's rare for someone to accumulate as many merits as you have."
The OZs didn't just consist of newcomers like Loan.
There were seniors who had joined last year, as well as those who had remained in the OZ rank for several years.
All of them wanted to be promoted to Runner.
Unlike the entrance exam Loan had taken, the opponents in this promotion evaluation were individuals proven to be at least his equal, or even superior.
"The merit confirmation should be fine, but I'm not sure about the contest. The thought of competing against seniors..."
"Says the kid who burned the Vice Commander's mustache right after joining."
Loan's face quickly turned red at Sienna's teasing remark.
Loan knew that Vice Commander Oscar hadn't simply gone easy on him.
"You don't need to worry too much. The opponents you've faced so far... they weren't weak."
Indeed, Baldur alone had a higher level of aura emission than Sienna.
Of course, that wasn't an absolute measure of skill, but the fact that he had defeated such opponents earned Loan a great deal of encouragement.
A few days later, they were back at the Union.
The tall castle walls he had seen as a child still looked just as high.
He felt reassured.
Seeing Director Lazarus, who had come out to the west gate to greet them, reminded him of that day, and he felt an even greater sense of welcome.
Oscar, the mission's commander-in-chief, exchanged words with him. Magda, the Commander of the Honor Division, had long since entrusted everything to him and returned to her quarters.
"The Faith and Stability Divisions. We have returned after completing our mission to support Varzino and repel Libertha."
"You've worked hard. Your achievements were so astounding that they've caused quite a stir even here."
"It doesn't seem to be just about that. It's because of the promotion evaluation, isn't it?"
The atmosphere in the streets was strangely excited. Loan could feel it too.
"Of course. The Union's promotion evaluation is like a festival that ushers in the summer, isn't it?"
Lazarus's gaze naturally fell on Loan.
Seeing the new badges on his right chest, Lazarus's smile deepened slightly.
"The evaluation is tomorrow. It's a bit early, considering you must be tired from your journey."
"No. I'm fine."
They were mountains he had to climb eventually.
He was just climbing the lowest of them a little sooner.
No special preparation was needed.