The Child's Resentment
Bell moved a good distance away from them before leaning back against a nearby tree and slumping down to the ground. She just stretched out her legs and stared blankly at the sky. An autumn breeze brushed her cheek. I just want to do nothing from now on.I'm so tired. Such thoughts crossed her mind. As she released her ability, her vision gradually returned to normal. She stopped thinking altogether and closed her eyes.
How much time had passed when the radio crackled briefly?
Bell's expression wasn't particularly bright as she slowly rose from her spot.
A single escort truck was lined with the captured individuals boarding one after another. Bell felt a ridiculous sense of relief that the child and mother she'd let go weren't among them. Some mercenaries eyed her warily, while the regular army soldiers shot smug looks at those mercenaries in return.
A regular army non-commissioned officer approached Major Rossman, who was confirming headcounts via terminal, and quietly whispered a report in his ear.
"It looks like the proxy attacked a mercenary."
Rossman raised an eyebrow. "No spinal injury, so no life-threatening issues, but still, attacking a civilian..."
"The mercenaries have been blabbing about it, so it's probably spread everywhere by now."
"Right. But the regular army's morale is up—they're saying the proxy stepped in and gave them a proper thrashing."
"Ha—the fox riding on the tiger's back."
Recently, friction had been building between the regular army and mercenaries over treatment issues. Rossman glanced slowly at Bell. More like a cat than a tiger, isn't she? He chuckled self-deprecatingly. Whatever the circumstances, it was still within the realm of something that could be smoothed over.
As Bell passed by Rossman to climb into the Humvee, he called out to her.
"Did you find any suspects, Proxy?"
Bell slowly nodded at Rossman's question.
"Hm, I see. Sorry for deploying a combat specialist like you on such a minor mission."
"Doesn't matter."
Bell replied curtly.
"Ever since the Grand Marshal's speech, we've been taking a hard line on this kind of incitement. Thank you for understanding."
Rossman felt ridiculous, like he was making excuses to a proxy far younger than him. With that thought, he let out a short laugh and added, "Good work. Head back."
At the major's hand signal, the platoon moved out, and Bell yanked open the Humvee door. That's when a mercenary's rough shout rang out.
"That proxy attacked one of our mercenaries!"
"So what do you want us to do about it? There must've been a reason!"
"A reason? The guy's barely speaking now. Says his neck's broken. You think he'd say that if he was dead?"
The regular army and mercenaries started bickering. The regulars glanced at Rossman. Then came his bellow.
"Quiet down! You insulting a Management Bureau proxy?"
Rossman's commanding presence exceeded expectations. The mercenary faltered briefly but didn't back down.
"We got a message saying an unidentified person was spotted! When we checked the location, he was like that!"
While some mercenaries murmured in agreement, the regulars glared at them with irritation.
"Shouldn't we investigate this?"
The mercenary pressed with an agitated voice.
Noisy. Bell stared at them silently, a weary disgust settling in. Since when had proxies been put on pedestals? Since when had the hierarchy between regulars and mercenaries started widening?
Bell slammed the door shut irritably and boarded the vehicle.
It had already been a week since Bell left. Adolf sat on an outdoor bench at the Management Bureau, staring blankly at the sky. Memories of that brief meal time. The more he thought about it, the happier it made him—and that emotion left him a bit flustered.
She sure stands out. Was it because she was so much smaller than him, stirring some protective instinct? Picturing her glaring face, like an angry white ferret, made him chuckle.
"Haha—"
Adolf laughed out loud. Just like Roland had said—if not for the situation, maybe something else would have passed between them? Useless thoughts like that popped up.
Today's the day Roland gets back. Better go meet him.
He finished his thoughts, stood, and headed to the runway.
The past few days had dragged on in boredom. Roland had gone out on a Dist extermination in a specific sector at the request of the First Barrier, Lumen Guard. Regular army protocols were long standardized, and clearing a confined area was routine. But heading out beyond the barrier at dusk was rare. Once darkness fell, even mass-produced Dists became tricky opponents. Unlit cities plunged into perfect blackness. The darkness beyond the barrier was no longer familiar.
Sitting on a bench near the helicopter pad to clear his head, he heard chopper blades approaching from afar. Soon, a familiar face emerged from the landed helicopter, waving.
"Adolf!"
It was Roland. Helmet tucked under his arm, he approached and playfully punched Adolf's shoulder. "Come to pick me up? Thanks."
"No problem."
Nearby, a couple their age embraced in reunion. Roland muttered jokingly, "No girls our age in the army?"
"You know that's puberty talking? Why so lonely lately?"
"Seeing you bring a girl to your room was a shock..."
"Don't spread misunderstandings like that. That punch wasn't enough for you?"
As Adolf scolded him, Roland chuckled and said, "Oh yeah, there was talk about Captain Bell in Lumen Guard?"
"Captain Bell? What happened?"
A faint flush colored Adolf's face. Roland, seeing this expression for the first time on his friend, feigned surprise. "Your face... you interested?"
As Roland raised a finger questioningly, Adolf rubbed his cheek with one hand. Did I make a weird face?
"Nah, she's just intriguing. Must be an interesting story."
Oh, lord. Roland closed his eyes briefly. Of all people, not that girl. He shot Adolf a worried look and said, "First thing: she snapped someone's neck. Not exactly funny."
"Oh."
Adolf was hooked from the first bit.
First Barrier, Lumen Guard. The mightiest barrier city, home to military logistics and the Management Bureau. A fusion of medieval stone fortresses, military strongholds, and cultural heritage. But Bell sat with her legs propped up on a bench in a quiet, shadowy corner of the Management Bureau building, a spot rarely visited by people.
I almost killed someone.A little more loss of control, and I definitely would have. Where did it all go wrong? Bell decided to trace back from the beginning.
The catastrophe hit, Ryan broke down, happy memories piled up in Pedro Platoon. Total war erupted.
Ha—pointless. She buried her head in her knees. No need to retrace; every path ended shitty. That's why I ended up like this. Bell berated herself.
"I shouldn't have become a proxy."
A voice suddenly intruded as she mumbled into her knees.
"Why think that, Red Eye?"
Startled, she looked up to see a blonde woman with a red armband. Eligos Caliela. The proxy with the terrifying moniker Blood Soul, direct subordinate to the Grand Marshal's guard. The last person Bell wanted to run into—the epithet she most wanted to avoid.
Eligos smiled innocently despite Bell's crumpled face. Noble air, tall and slender yet voluptuous. Undeniably attractive, but to Bell, it was all repulsive.
"Talk about bad luck. Why'd I have to run into you? Get lost."
Bell spat sharply and stood.
"Still mad?~ We used to be close~ You followed me around calling me 'sister' back then."
Eligos wore an expression like she might die from cuteness just thinking about it. Always smiling slyly, but it grated on Bell.
As Bell tried to walk past without responding, Eligos leaned in close and whispered, "If you'd just broken that mercenary's neck instead, we could've been friends again. You'd understand me a little then."
"Crazy talk. I'm not you."
As Bell pulled away, Eligos snatched her hand and yanked her into an embrace. Tall as she was, Bell tucked right under her chin.
"Let—go—"
Even pushing against Eligos's chest, Bell couldn't budge the woman's slender arms wrapped around her. Even among proxies, Eligos was a monster among monsters. Top stats across the board, plus her unique manifestation ability. That was one reason she made Bell feel so powerless—like she couldn't be stopped no matter what.
"Decided to be cold to everyone now?"
"Think about what you did! Back then. If not for you..."
Bell gritted her teeth. After total war failed, suppressing the Nantigar civil war—if Eligos hadn't been there. If she hadn't shared personal stories with her.
"That hurts~"
Eligos narrowed her eyes contentedly as Bell stilled, whispering in her ear, "Bell, you still act like a kid. Keep it up, and even I'll get tired."
"You're just a murderer. Not a proxy or anything."
Bell clamped her mouth shut, unable to continue. A faint sniffle escaped, drawing a satisfied laugh from Eligos.
"I did it for you."
Eligos hugged her tight. The words sent chills down Bell's spine—unfathomable to her. She tried to pull back while catching her breath, but Eligos continued whispering, "When will you understand me~?"
Bell squeezed her eyes shut, fleeing the words.
"Captain Caliela! What are you doing there!"
A sharp woman's voice shot at them. Eligos released her with a snap and said, "Oh, before it gets annoying, I'll head out."
Left dazed in her spot was Bell, and approaching her was another figure.
"There you are, Captain Bell."
A woman in neatly pressed uniform, exuding a heavy presence. Major Sophie Marso.
Sophie checked Bell's state, glared in the direction Eligos had vanished, and muttered low, "Those guard bastards..."
Bell bit her lip and growled irritably, like lashing out. "Leave me alone. How long you gonna play babysitter? Spying on me too."
Sophie clearly saw the venting but just shook her head quietly. Spying?Is that how she sees it? Her head ached at the deepening misunderstanding. It wasn't like that; Bell always went to the same spot when she vanished. Her one childlike trait, perhaps. Sophie rubbed her temple amid complicated feelings. Sensing the anxiety and unease hidden in Bell's eyes, she approached carefully and silently brushed Eligos's hair from Bell's shoulder.
"Shall we walk a bit?"
As she straightened Bell's clothes, the major spoke in a gentle voice. Her gaze and fingertips carried emotions deeper than words.
They hadn't walked a few steps before Bell said in a flat tone, "I shouldn't have become a proxy."
The thought slipped out unbidden. Sophie fell silent for a moment. Proxies were symbols of overwhelming power, the military's very legitimacy. She still vividly remembered the excited young Bell, buzzing like a hero in the early days. Even Sophie, seasoned through countless battles, had no answer now.
"Hate to say it, but Brigadier General Jack wants a quick word."
"Absolutely not. Not going."
"Bell, one more time: as you know, the general never wanted total war in the first—"
Before Sophie could finish, Bell kicked off the ground. In a blink, she vaulted over the wall and vanished. Sophie already dreaded what to report to Brigadier General Jack.