Birds of a Feather (2)
“Aah! The Great Forest? We're done for. I'm gonna die!”
Cadet Loren Werner clutched his hair as if he meant to yank it all out by the roots.
“I haven't even confessed to Jennifer yet...”
Another cadet, Yann Bauman, approached and patted Loren's back.
“Think positive. Even without the Great Forest, we'd get dragged to the Estel front anyway.”
“What? They send us to the front lines before we even graduate?”
“That's what I figure. No matter how strong our empire's military is, Estel's got Magic Knights and unmatched cavalry. And the neighboring kingdoms won't just sit idle. The war's gonna drag on. Top students will get Gigants assigned slowly and become Magic Warriors, but nobodies like us? We'll get thrown into musket squads or maintenance crews early on.”
“Maintenance is one thing, but musket squads are the worst!”
“Exactly. Cannon fodder. I'd rather follow Young Master Wayne to the Great Forest.”
“But it's the Great Forest! Terrifying monsters live there!”
Yann flashed a sly grin.
“You idiot. You think Young Master Wayne's gonna fight monsters himself? Nah, he's just gonna hole up somewhere safe.”
“Hole up?”
“Yeah. With the lord off at the front, how's it look if the youngest young master stays in the territory goofing off? Adam's handling the territory, and Bran's basically disowned anyway.”
“Makes sense.”
“Plus, if he goes to the front, he'd have to fight under the lord's watchful eye. One slip and he's dead. But claim he's at the Great Forest, stick to safe Enok Fortress, then come back—who's gonna know? Everyone'll think he fought monsters.”
“Whoa! Yann Bauman, you're smart!”
Yann shrugged.
“Eh, anyone with half a brain could figure it out. But why'd they pick that loner?”
Yann and Loren's gazes locked onto Nancy.
Fourth-year cadet Nancy Oliver. Once, with her pale skin and beauty, she'd been the darling of the Gigant Academy cadets. From day one, professors and instructors had pinned their highest hopes on her—after all, she'd been brought in by Count Boltain, the territory's greatest swordsman and owner of a 1st-class Gigant.
Boltain had sponsored four students to the academy so far. The first two had risen to battalion commander, forming the backbone of the Blue Knights. The third was Snow Austin, eyeing the same rank as the first female Magic Warrior battalion commander. Expectations for Nancy were sky-high.
Sure enough, her entry blood Odd measurement was the highest among that year's freshmen.
But Nancy's promise faded over time. Theory scores were stellar across subjects, but she flunked Gigant training every time. Even in her fourth year, she hadn't mounted a training Gigant. And when her slave background leaked, no cadet would associate with her.
Her core issue: Odd overflowed inside her, but she couldn't project it outward. Odd cultivation varied by individual, as did accumulation and usage—no one could teach it directly. Hopes for Gigant-incapable cadets vanished.
Screeech!
Wayne entered after his long talk with Curtis Mueller. Quick-witted Yann stood first.
“Sir!”
The other two jumped up too.
Wayne grinned at the three cadets.
“You all know where we're headed, right?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Let's make it work from here on out.”
“Um... Young Master Wayne!”
“Yann, call me Squad Leader Wayne from now on.”
“Squad leader?”
“Yeah. I'm the squad leader, you're squad members.”
“Squad Leader Wayne, sir—what unit are we under?”
“Hmm, unit...”
Wayne pondered briefly.
“Call it the 5th Armored Battalion?”
“Pardon? We don't have a 5th in the territory.”
“We do now! You're lucky. No meddling superiors, just straight-up promotions with me.”
From that moment, the cadets sensed something ominous.
“We leave tomorrow. Pack today, assemble at the parade ground in the morning. Nancy Oliver, hang back.”
Loren and Yann filed out first.
Alone with Wayne, Nancy shrank further. She'd heard the rumors of his womanizing—not reassuring.
“Give me your hand.”
“Pardon?”
Startled, Nancy stepped back.
“I won't bite. Just stick out your hand from there.”
“Y-yes, sir...”
Nancy swallowed dryly and tentatively extended a hand. Wayne grasped it, channeling Odd like before.
Again, it hit a wall.
Wayne steeled himself.
Alright! Let's see who wins—you or me!
Activating his Odd Eye and Karian Odd Breathing Method, he hammered maximum Odd into her.
Result: Wayne's defeat.
A month's cultivation had built substantial Odd—rookie Magic Warrior level, he'd thought. Yet Nancy blocked it all.
Wayne shook his head and released her hand.
“Whew! Where'd you train that Odd?”
“I haven't trained at all.”
“What? Innate? Good. You know you've got a ton inside, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then what's the problem? Can't even ride a training Gigant?”
Nancy bit her lip, frustrated.
“I don't know how to use Odd. How to project it from my body to control a Gigant.”
Wayne, who'd blacked out from a maintenance Gigant draining him dry on his first try, couldn't relate.
'Nancy has a Gigant sync issue.'
Snow's assessment from her file. Rare, but every few years a cadet like this appeared. Most graduated without ever riding one, living ordinary lives. Odd-rich but unusable—how tragic.
And Nancy's confidence was shot; she seemed utterly unmotivated.
“I'll fix it for you!”
“Pardon?”
“I'll solve your problem. No guarantees on time, though.”
“Y-yes, sir...”
No excitement in her voice. Professors and instructors had made similar boasts before quitting.
“Stand there a sec.”
Wayne let go and closed his eyes. He began breathing Odd slowly.
Odd circulated with air, carving pathways through his body. Then he accelerated.
This was stage 2 of the Karian Odd Breathing Method. Faster breathing ramped flow speed—seeming minor, but quicker circulation pulled in more ambient Odd. Karian's past life proved it.
Ugh! Not easy...
Theory was one thing; practice another. He'd planned gradual attempts over days, but urgency pushed him now.
Wayne's body trembled faintly; sweat beaded soon after.
“Nngh!”
Grimacing, teeth clenched, Nancy grew worried.
“Young master—no, Squad Leader, sir—are you okay?”
No response.
What do I do? Call someone?
Sweat poured like rain from his brow. As Nancy pulled out her handkerchief to dab it—
“Gasp!”
She yelped, collapsing.
Odd... Odd leaked out?
Fleeting, minuscule, but undeniable: the instant it touched his skin, her Odd had been sucked in.
Standing, she reached for his arm. Even without grabbing, proximity drew Odd trickle.
Grab!
“Eek!”
Wayne seized her arm. Odd flooded in from her—four, five times faster than normal breathing.
Then it clogged.
“Don't resist! Go with the flow!”
“P-pardon? Yes!”
How much time passed? Wayne's face calmed, color returning.
“Whew!”
He released her, eyeing Nancy. She stared blankly, dazed.
“How's it feel?”
“I felt Odd leaving my body!”
Tears welled in her eyes from sheer emotion. She'd tried everything on Gigants to no avail.
Yet his mere grip had drained a substantial amount.
“Good start. I'll absorb like that occasionally—memorize the sensation. Master it yourself, and projecting into a Gigant won't be impossible.”
“Aah!”
Tears brimmed again.
“Th-thank you, sir!”
“Save it. We're done for today—long road ahead. Pack up and assemble tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Squad Leader, sir!”
She couldn't pilot yet, but feeling Odd escape sparked hope.
As Nancy left, Wayne smirked for a different reason.
This girl's a total Odd rapid charger!
Stage 2 shook him, but more Odd seeped in than usual. Unmastered, gains were modest. But grabbing her? Massive influx. Perfect for Odd shortages.
King Karian was incredible.
Developing this proved his Odd mastery.
Wayne sat, practicing stage 2 to familiarize. At this rate, stage 3 in one or two months, not three or four.
The next morning.
7th Company—500 soldiers—assembled at the parade ground. Hulking 3rd-class Gigants (three), maintenance Gigants (two), cavalry, infantry: proper troops.
Wayne's squad beside them? Pathetic. One 5-meter Gigant, Captain Jamie's maintenance unit, three squadmates with muskets and gear.
“Where's Knight Blaster?”
“Sent him on an errand days ago.”
“Errand, sir?”
“Shame he can't join us at the front.”
“The Great Forest is riskier than any battlefield. Please take care.”
“Snow, you too. Promote to battalion commander soon.”
“I'll do my best.”
Wayne had no doubt she'd make it next time.
Time dragged; no departure. Snow asked.
“Why haven't you left, sir?”
“Waiting for someone. They'll show.”
Then, from the gates, a figure sprinted desperately.
Squad member Loren rubbed his eyes.
“Huh? Isn't that the Viper?”
“Viper?”
“Instructor Viper—Curtis Mueller.”
“Nah, why would Curtis... Gasp!”
Yann spotted Viper Curtis Mueller too. Full kit: musket, sword, charging.
Senior Curtis?
Snow recognized him.
“Senior Curtis, what're you doing here?”
“Hold on.”
Curtis halted before Wayne, fist to chest.
“Sir! Squad member Curtis Mueller—sorry I'm late.”
Snow and the three cadets gaped.
“Why so late?”
“Bringing fellow veterans who wanted to join.”
“I see.”
Behind Curtis, three hauled massive Gigant transport crates on a cart, grunting.
“S-seniors?”
Snow knew them instantly. Like Curtis, aura-loss veterans who'd mustered out.