Final Training, Tangled Emotions
Time flew by in the blink of an eye. Before they knew it, the third day had arrived. Bell still seemed utterly indifferent, but the daily feedback reports she compiled allowed Lucia and Kelun to closely analyze their own tendencies, strengths, and shortcomings. Adolf, watching her, seriously wondered if she might actually have a hidden talent for education rather than being a proxy.
The final practical exercise was designed to test reactions to unexpected attacks and real-world combat effectiveness, using a simulation provided by the Tech Management Division. Lucia and Kelun were still buzzing with excitement and joy, chatting nonstop with Adolf the whole way instead of the stoic Bell.
What's so damn funny, and why does that guy fit in so well with them? Bell felt a twinge of gratitude deep down for these trainees who had followed her instructions so obediently, but she had no intention of showing it. Even when Lucia persistently tried to strike up conversations, Bell kept her responses to the bare minimum. And yet, Lucia never stopped entirely—she just dialed it back a notch, still harboring warm feelings toward Bell.
Bell would never have guessed it, but in Lucia's eyes, she came across as the perfect female proxy: gruff on the outside but quietly looking out for everyone.
As they entered the Tech Management Division corridor, a round, transparent orb spun rapidly, glowing like it was on fire. It was the aggregated data core of the Aria system. Countless active signals flickered in and out around it, radiating light like the sun. Researchers in white lab coats surrounded it, projecting multiple holograms and exchanging heated opinions. They barely glanced at the proxies entering the room.
Only one man in glasses spotted Bell and hurried over. He looked no older than his thirties, dressed in a rumpled lab coat, but the staff around him watched him anxiously as he moved.
"Captain Bell, long time no see. Need more ammo? Thinking of trying a new weapon?"
He bombarded her with questions, grinning nonstop. Bell frowned slightly.
"With Red Eye's abilities, you could handle any weapon just fine. Your muscle response metrics are unusually high, too. Or how about checking out the latest development ourselves? Oh, and we could upgrade your custom weapon."
Bell nodded perfunctorily a few times. The man before her was Ruben Stein, head of Lumen Guard's Science and Technology Division. Amid scarce resources and rigid systems, he was a genius among geniuses—developing practical weapons, converting fuel systems for dusty fighters in storage, and pioneering missiles.
"Test room."
Bell cut him off curtly, recalling the endless tests he'd put her through when she first became a proxy. Undeterred by her curt reply and attitude, Stein kept chatting amiably.
"You've really changed, you know. Everything's set up—just head on in."
"Mr. Stein, come quick~!"
Someone called from nearby.
"Yeah, yeah, got it. Captain, let's talk next time. Oh, and—"
Stein turned to Adolf, as if seeing him for the first time in ages.
"You've been through a lot, Adolf."
Before Adolf could respond, Ruben vanished like the wind. Bell quickened her pace again, so he tore his gaze from Stein's retreating back. A puzzled look crossed Adolf's face. Understandable—Stein was a stranger to him. Probably just because they made my custom weapon, he thought, dismissing it.
Lucia and Kelun gawked at the Tech Management Division in awe, peering around with fascination.
It's gotta be impressive the first time...
Bell glanced away indifferently, then spotted Adolf craning his neck around despite his tall frame. For some reason, a meerkat popped into her head, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
Entering the test area revealed a circular training ground. The floor was lined with sensor panels in a round track pattern, walls bristled with ejection devices and support drones on standby, and the center housed a high-speed simulator for real-combat scenarios.
"This test mimics real threat levels. Better if the superior demonstrates first."
Bell finished her brief explanation and looked at Adolf. This time, unlike before, she felt a spark of curiosity toward him.
"Lieutenant. You first."
He stepped onto the round training platform without hesitation. Scanners activated, the lights dimmed, and a small red light blinked on the floor. With a whir, drones launched, followed by the sharp bang of the first shot.
"A gun...?"
Kelun blurted out in confusion. Bell replied,
"Won't kill you. Rubber rounds for testing."
"D-does it hurt if you get hit?"
Lucia sidled up to Bell, looking up at her with teary eyes. Bell thought it was cute for a split second before going stone-faced.
"A regular person would whine all day, but for proxies, it just stings at first and heals quick."
It was true. Their enhanced bodies shrugged off non-lethal rounds without a bruise—hardening and recovery reflexes far beyond human. Monsters, basically. Bell turned back to Adolf.
Bang-bang! The drone launchers zipped around, firing rounds. Adolf dodged while swinging his training sword to deflect them. The second and third threats came fast—he dropped to one knee to evade, spun, and counterattacked. Hits and dodges flowed seamlessly; even unavoidable shots he tanked while keeping steady footing.
After three threats, the test ended, and analysis data appeared on the panel.
"Impressive, Senior."
Kelun said to Adolf.
"Still got a long way to go."
Kelun saw it as humility, but Adolf was inwardly disappointed—similar scores to before, despite all his experience. Who even makes top 10%? He masked his bitterness.
Bell glanced at him sidelong before speaking.
"That's how it's done. Tank the unavoidable threats while minimizing damage."
She swallowed, and Kelun stepped up, gripping his sword and eyeing the machine. The test began: he reflexively dodged the first, grazed on the second, lost balance on the third and dropped to his knees. As it ended, Bell checked the data panel.
"Low evasion. Delayed responses. Reflexes solid, though—reaction speed top 15%, but response rate drags it down."
Kelun wiped sweat from his brow, looking sheepish. Bell glanced at his disappointed expression, closed the panel, and added,
"Not bad for a first try when your powers haven't fully manifested."
Kelun met her eyes briefly, then smiled faintly and nodded.
"...Yes, ma'am."
Adolf, seeing Bell busy, turned to them warmly.
"Thanks to Captain Bell's constant efforts, you two should have a sense of your specialties now. Focus there, and you'll maximize your traits."
Bell shot him a glare—he was praising her again, which felt burdensome—but he just kept smiling.
"We call that 'manifestation.' Not everyone gets it—having a standout trait is the exception."
Adolf smiled at Lucia and Kelun.
"Mine never manifested. But I think that's fine."
It was a gentle reassurance that flashy traits weren't necessary.
"Sword mastery is standout enough."
The words slipped from Bell's mouth unbidden.
"Haha—really? Glad it looks that way."
But that one remark lingered oddly. She stared at his face a moment before looking away. Setting up the next test, her mind kept replaying it. Why's he always so damn positive? She was starting to find him intriguing.
"Lucia. Your turn."
Lucia trembled as she stepped onto the platform, unable to hide her tension.
"Ready? Starting."
Bell eyed her anxious face and activated the test. Drones whirred to life. Bang! The first round flew; Lucia curled up to dodge, but the barrage from all sides made her collapse.
Bang-bang!
"Eek!"
She huddled, arms over her head, shaking in terror. She'd endured somehow, but losing her parents months ago, suddenly becoming a proxy, standing here—it all felt unreal. Bell and Adolf were fine, Kelun always chatted, but she was scared. She'd pretended otherwise, but she just wanted a normal life—
Rounds pelted her body. Even proxies felt pain if caught off-guard. Several slammed her side and shoulder, shaking her.
"Sob, it hurts—"
That instant—faster than Adolf moving to help—silver hair flashed as someone stood before Lucia. She slowly looked up at the small shadow over her head.
Bell shielded her, tanking shots aimed her way while deflecting or dodging the rest. Her red eyes looked down, surprised but melancholic—far from her usual stoicism.
Lucia sniffled in shock.
"...Senior?"
Bang-bang! Rounds kept coming; refusing to let Lucia move, Bell took them all on her body. Thud! Thud! Gunfire echoed, rubber impacts thudding dully.
Adolf steadied his forward lurch, impulse screaming to rush in. His eyes caught the stop panel.
Boom! Drones retracted swiftly. Bell slammed the panel so hard it dented slightly.
"Lieutenant, what the hell? Break it and you're paying."
Her irritated voice flew at Adolf. He didn't reply, turning to Kelun instead. Silence blanketed the room.
Bell, seeing his unfamiliar demeanor, wondered if he'd finally had enough. She looked down at Lucia slowly.
"Aren't you a proxy? What's so scary about this?"
Lucia whimpered,
"...Sorry. I'm scared..."
Bell's eyes flickered. She steadied her breath, about to stop—but something welled up inside, forcing her words out.
Like this, you'll just get hurt someday—like me.
"Scared? Run away in fear, and you lose everything."
Like me.
Her sharp tone made Lucia bow her head. Bell looked away hastily. She knew better than anyone those words aimed at herself too. Do I even have the right to say that? It felt like a bitter, unfunny joke.
Lucia looked up slowly.
"Sorry... Senior... Doesn't it hurt? You took all those..."
"It hurts."
Bell snapped curtly, then raised her small hand. Lucia flinched, eyes squeezing shut. Bell lowered it gently onto her head.
"Sigh—but I've endured worse. This is nothing."
Guilt and pent-up emotions surged in Lucia. Seeing Bell like this amid the chaos felt like it burdened everyone, so she fought back tears.
"Sorryyy. Sniff—I never wanted to be a proxy. But without this... I have nothing left."
The shocking confession left Bell reeling.
"How'd you pass the psych eval?"
"I knew what kind of proxy they wanted... So I wrote to match."
"What they wanted, huh."
Bell's face hardened at the absurd answer; Lucia ducked her head. I'm done for. She squeezed her eyes shut.
But Bell's mind raced with thoughts from Lucia's words.
I'm a proxy now, but what am I even fighting for? Guilt? Atonement?
Feeling her tangled thoughts, Bell slowly released her power. Lucia kept her head down.
"Sigh—"
Bell sighed again, crouching to meet her eyes. Lucia was younger but taller, making the scene comically reversed.
Who's comforting who here?
Bell gave a self-deprecating smile.
"Some people want it but can't have it. Think of this as your chance."
"Huh?"
"A chance to protect someone. That kind of power."
Lucia watched Bell's downcast gaze—confusion, resignation, loneliness.
"You're just starting. If you resolve yourself, give it your all... you can protect a lot."
Bell stood. Lucia froze, chewing over her words. Protect a lot? Her dying mom. Dad's lab accident during research. Powerless. Utterly powerless. Nothing she'd stopped or fought for on her path here. The day Rain Code's walls left her alone, meaning gone. Can I stop that?
Lucia wiped her eyes. Bell rested a hand on her hip. Too soft. Really. Such an idiot.
"That's enough."
"I'll try once more!"
Lucia shot up like a reanimated undead, eyes resolute despite her puppyish face.
"Just so you don't misunderstand—this test doesn't decide if you stay a proxy. It's basically a civil service gig."
Bell said dryly.
"I'll do it anyway!"
Bell chuckled inwardly, a hint of envy mixed in. These trainees had it good compared to her. Her shoulder throbbed despite healing; as she reached for the panel again, Adolf slipped in.
"I'll handle it. Kelun got a cold compress—rest."
Bell eyed Kelun's worried gaze and the compress. When'd he get that?
"I'm fine. No fuss."
"Rest."
Adolf's tone was firm, unlike usual. Bell looked up—his face was creased, black eyes staring intently down at her.
Caught off-guard, she snatched the compress from Kelun and plopped into a chair.
Why's he pissed? Annoying.
Bell pressed it to her neck, deciding not to dwell.