Beers, Rumors, and Reluctant Mentors

As night fell over the barrier city of Valhalla Disk, streetlights flickered on one by one. Roland emerged from the shower, threw on a T-shirt and black combat pants, and stepped out of his room. While waiting for Adolf, he stared blankly at the management bureau building and the city beyond, alternating between them.

The military base inside the barrier had returned to its old ways since the Aria network's reinstatement—arch-shaped automatic doors with identity verification and all. Thanks to that innovative network, things were starting to feel conveniently familiar again, like before. Even Roland sometimes couldn't quite wrap his head around it. After the Grand Marshal's speech, the transitional conveniences were cautiously rebuilding, slowly enveloping the city. He projected a hologram from his wrist receiver and sent a simple message to his friend: I'm all cleaned up. Let's head out.

Roland always thought the same thing. As time passed, he was forgetting more and more that he was trapped inside these barriers. It drew a hollow chuckle from him. Probably everyone else felt the same.

"Where we headed today?"

Adolf descended the management bureau's main entrance stairs, dressed casually in a white shirt instead of his proxy uniform. Without the uniform, he just looked like an ordinary, handsome young man with jet-black hair.

"That bar from last time was pretty good, right?"

"Eh, everything's new to me anyway, so it all seems fine."

"Lucky for us. And besides, even if you look underage, they serve you these days."

"Isn't that risky?"

"Sure, but if they get caught, it's a fine. They skip it if you look too young."

"So we just look old enough?"

When Adolf's face fell a bit, Roland cracked up and replied, "Maybe 'cause they know we're with the bureau. Oh, but that captain? She'd get bounced right away. She's so tiny."

Roland gestured at chest height, mimicking measuring her stature, and Adolf just laughed.

The pub alley in Valhalla Disk was lined with old taverns decked out in metal and dark wood. Dim LED lights glowed faintly over the tables, and the hologram TV—now mostly ornamental since regular broadcasts had ceased—hung as mere decoration in these entertainment-scarce times.

"Pool tables are still packed."

Roland glanced at the billiard tables. With amusements dwindling, analog hobbies were surging back. Rumors swirled of new entertainment from the science and tech department, but no one knew when it'd launch.

"Doubt I'll ever play."

Adolf, clueless on how it even worked, sat down after promising to learn from Roland someday. The menu had thick lines slashed through most items—wine cost a fortune, and canned snacks were rare luxuries now. The waiter recognized Adolf's face and vanished into the kitchen without a word. Soon, two beers arrived.

"Thanks."

Roland took his glass and nodded thanks on Adolf's behalf too.

"No ID check anymore."

Adolf chuckled awkwardly with a haha, clinking glasses. Clink—the cool chime rang out. Roland smirked and said, "Drinking beer inside the barriers feels kinda ironic."

"Guess there's a decent black market flow from warehouses and off-site traders."

Adolf sipped casually, and Roland shot back incredulously, "How do ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you even know that?"

"Intel network's got some fun logs lurking around."

"You're the only one who'd browse that in your free time."

"Maybe. Anyway, what's this about Captain Bell?"

Adolf's eyes lit up. What's with that reaction... He was actually interested? Roland eyed his friend closely, shrugged, and continued.

"You know the church stuff on Valhalla Disk's outskirts? The arrests after the Grand Marshal's speech for stirring up dissent."

"Yeah, I was there in Valhalla Disk. Kinda weird they sent a Lumen Guard proxy, though. Must've been exhausting."

Adolf's face hardened briefly, making Roland flinch. It was intriguing to see emotions ripple across his usually blank expression.

"Nepotism, probably. Easier to rotate outsiders like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you instead of familiar faces."

"Fair enough."

"Anyway, the key bit: During that mission, Captain Bell took down a mercenary. Boosted regular army morale, they say."

Adolf pondered, recalling intel logs. "Mercenaries have been a problem lately."

Roland hesitated at the chilly tone but pressed on. "She beat him so bad he couldn't walk. Mercs protested to the bureau."

"How bad?"

"Lucky he didn't die. Snapped his neck, apparently. How does someone that tiny pack that punch?"

Roland laughed in disbelief, and Adolf joined in. "At least she tried to hold back."

Adolf sighed in relief with a bright smile, but Roland eyed him suspiciously. That's holding back? Proxy mindset or is my friend just weird? Roland gave up pondering it.

"Oh, and surprisingly, she's got good rep in Lumen Guard? Thought she'd be super popular."

Adolf took a heavy sip, his glass barely touched. Roland smirked anew, reminded how this guy always matched him despite not liking booze.

"She seemed nice enough."

How is she nice? Roland couldn't fathom it, but watching Adolf's rare interest in a woman felt novel. Grinning mischievously, he prodded, "Bet she'd be pretty if she smiled."

Adolf paused thoughtfully, then grinned. "Definitely look good."

"Make her laugh next time. Might work."

"How?"

Roland ummed, realized his own cluelessness, and waved it off. "Tickle her or something."

Adolf frowned slightly. "Yeah... I'd probably die."

His dead-serious face cracked Roland up.

The management bureau now effectively served as the barrier city's top administrative body. Lumen Guard, as the first barrier and central bureau, oversaw all others. Under it, the Strategic Planning Division's Combat Response Unit was dedicated to proxies.

In reality, though, its sole member was Tiny Bell.

She'd once felt a thrill at having her own office. Now it was just an empty, eerie void. If there were more people, losing them would hurt worse. So she accepted the loneliness, focusing on the report before her.

Her fingers paused over the keyboard.

Self-defense? She almost laughed writing it so blankly. She'd fully intended to snap his neck. A bit more force, a sharper twist, and he'd be dead.

Eligos Caliela's image flashed in her mind—shurikens, dead bodies. Memories of her own past deeds from years ago tried to surface, but she squeezed her eyes shut to banish them. I almost became the same.

Thud. Tiny Bell slammed her forehead on the desk and slumped forward.

"...Why do I keep doing this?"

Emotions she couldn't grasp herself made every day waver. Lately, they swung to extremes, leaving her dizzy. Too isolated from people? Wild thoughts swirled.

Beep. Her wrist receiver buzzed.

Tiny Bell gritted her teeth. Training? Who the hell am I supposed to teach like this? A curse slipped out softly. Need to get this canceled.

She stood and headed straight for Jack's strategic command office.

In the strategic command office, barrier chief Jack William and Sophie Marso reviewed documents. Hologram windows displayed two personnel files.

"Been a while. New proxies, huh."

Jack felt a fresh nostalgia. Two years since the last, and two at once—unprecedented.

"Truly exceptional. Thought the proxy project halted after Nantigar."

Brigadier General Jack William scanned the candidates on his hologram panel from his desk.

Major Sophie Marso, neat in her uniform, set down her tea quietly.

"Proxies need replacements for retirees. Military prioritizes maintaining strength."

Jack flipped pages, lips tight, eyes lingering on "2nd Generation" and the project lead. 0th, 1st, 2nd—each weaker than the last. The retired science & tech proxy's notes intrigued him.

"2nd gen... Lead from science & tech? Burned out hard."

Sophie chuckled briefly. "Maybe a graceful exit."

Jack paused at Lucia's profile but recalled Rain Code's director Innocent Remar—incorruptible, so no issue.

"High Luminot adaptation, solid stats."

"Neural response, ethics, stress—all above baseline. Physical enhancement complete."

"Fits too perfectly. Feels off."

He killed the screen, tossed the papers. "Some days just align. Lets you breathe."

Sophie soothed, and Jack huffed a laugh. "Who's training them? Assignment?"

Sophie paused. "Only Lumen Guard proxy left is Captain Bell."

Jack's face hardened. "Her?"

Sophie summoned another hologram. "Aria designated her as most suitable."

Jack tsked low. "Interfering in command now? Who approved? Wanna smash science & tech."

He tsked again. Aria meddling here too? If someone greenlit it, he'd storm in and wreck it—cool his rage.

His eyes flashed feral, wolf-like gleam shifting. Sophie jumped in quick. "Sir, shifting here sheds fur!"

Jack blinked, then burst laughing. "Right, right."

He sniffed his tea. "Thanks. Still, as barrier chief, you can officially revoke or hold Aria's call."

"Chief perks, eh? Explains Red Eye pounding at the door."

Sophie's eyes widened; she turned as "Access granted" chimed and the door slid open. Tiny Bell entered, expressionless, blunt: "Reassign my training duty."

Jack smirked coldly. "Can't swap just 'cause you don't want it. Next you'll skip combat."

Tiny Bell spun on her heel. "Didn't expect anything."

She stormed out. Silence hit like a storm's eye. Sophie spoke. "Sir... She's opening up by coming here."

Jack sighed wearily. "Thought she'd ask twice. Who leaves after one? Any other options besides Bell?"

Sophie pulled files. "One each in Omotenashi and Nantigar—tech branches, tied up with Aria adaptation missions. Can't deploy."

"Combat branch?"

"Valhalla Disk standby: Adolf Mandel. Fraction-3 origin. Stable control, even temperament. Mission exp with Bell. Summary here."

She handed prepped papers. Jack smiled. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Anticipating me? As expected."

"Your adjutant."

Jack nodded, scanning. "Loyalty high, good interpersonal... Same age. Minimal clashes."

He looked up. "How's Bell lately? Merc didn't die, but still."

Sophie glanced down. "No visible issues. Mission results excellent."

"Your take?"

Silence spoke volumes.

"Drifting further. Was more human at first..."

He gazed out the window, then mused. "What about Lieutenant Ri, due back soon? Sociable, close to Bell."

"Extended on outer anomaly survey. Long-term dispatch."

Jack decided. "Fine. Assign Adolf Mandel as co-trainer. Bell'll resent me, but she needs people around."

Tiny Bell, shunning all company—it'd warp her worse over time.

"Understood, sir." Sophie added softly, "Please eat properly too."

She exited quietly. Jack leaned back heavily. Sunlight warmed the window, but weariness and loneliness shadowed his face.