The Company Commander has returned

Episode 18 - Procurement

As I moved closer, I swung my arms behind my back.

With a sharp snap of my bent waist, I straightened and slashed my sword.

The blade aimed for El's slender, pale neck, driving forward with a heavy force.

Instead of the expected sensation of slicing flesh, the clang of clashing metal echoed.

El easily deflected my strike.

"Hmm..."

Her reaction was rather dry, as if assessing my skill.

I didn't stop after being deflected once.

I relentlessly targeted her neck, attacking with a savage ferocity that left no room for her to counter.

Lowering my stance, I moved deeper in and slashed upward, gripping the hilt tightly.

Again, I aimed for her neck.

El calmly positioned her sword where she expected mine to strike.

Just as I anticipated the deflection—

"So, it is innate magic..."

I noticed her skin darken, her body emanating heat and wisps of smoke.

The Red family's swordsmanship drew explosive power from this transformation.

In that instant, El's sword struck downward with tremendous force.

Like swinging a hammer, she struck repeatedly.

Though I managed to parry by angling my sword, I felt like a nail being hammered into the ground.

Barely holding on, I was overwhelmed.

Each clash drove my feet deeper into the dirt.

Her next strike came fast.

"Ugh!"

A horizontal slash from right to left.

I barely dodged by bending backward, my body arching like a bow.

Her blade sliced through strands of my hair.

The maneuver left me gazing skyward.

Sunlight poured down, stinging my closed eyes.

Even with my eyes shut, I felt the intense glare.

In that moment, I noticed a mirage-like shimmer in my vision.

The same afterimage her sister, Bell, left behind with her techniques.

And then, predictably, an explosion followed.

I quickly retreated to put some distance between us.

The difference between her and Bell became clear.

Even after using the technique, she stood firmly, unwavering.

"Will you keep your eyes closed this whole time?" she asked.

"You haven't changed."

I pressed forward again, targeting her neck relentlessly.

"I don't know what trick you're pulling by keeping your eyes closed," she said, "but your attacks are too simple!"

Ignoring her, I kept pushing.

As I repeated the same pattern, she adjusted her responses accordingly.

After deflecting several strikes, she seized the opportunity to raise her sword high, channeling a scorching heat.

Her sword descended like a fiery comet.

In that instant, I twisted my wrist and angled my blade flat.

I stood on the same ground as before—

The spot where the sunlight had blinded me earlier.

The blinding sunlight reflected off my blade, striking her eyes.

"Ugh!"

El instinctively shut her eyes tightly, just as I had before.

I quickly grabbed her collar, disrupting her balance.

Using her momentum against her, I slammed her into the ground.

The impact shook her, forcing her to drop her sword.

"Ugh!"

Her weapon rolled across the dirt.

As she tried to push herself up, I held my blade to her neck, stopping her.

Then, I slowly opened my eyes.

Her flushed cheeks weren't just from her family's fiery traits.

"Mago," the chief instructor called.

"Lower your sword."

The declaration signified my victory.

Sheathing my blade, I extended my hand.

El took it, pulling herself to her feet.

"I'll keep your loss a secret," I teased.

"Don't bother..." she muttered, brushing the dust off her clothes.

"Mago actually pulled it off on his own," Oscar grumbled.

"So that's why he kept targeting her neck," Kinjo replied.

"What?"

"Mago kept his sword high the entire time, focusing on the upper section. It was all to reflect the sunlight in her eyes when the moment came."

"Wait, from the beginning? Are you serious?"

"Yeah. He misled her into thinking he was only aiming for her neck. Each strike forced her gaze upward, making her vulnerable to the reflection."

While they talked, I picked up El's fallen sword.

"Miss El, you'll need this for your next sparring match..."

Before I could finish, the blade shattered into several pieces.

The standard-issue weapon couldn't withstand her destructive strength.

***

Elizabeth Red.

"Take it easy, El."

She stared blankly at the bulletin board displaying the grade rankings.

"J-just like the instructor said..."

Her face was a mask of shock.

It reminded me of how Bell had mumbled to herself with her head against the board not long ago.

The resemblance was uncanny.

"This means she can't get into the Special Ops, right, Mago?"

I had no choice but to nod.

"How did Bell end up 41st...?"

"The written test was her downfall."

I swallowed the part where I'd surpassed her, causing her rank to drop even further.

Her gaze traveled to the very top of the list, where my name stood firmly in the first position.

"Mago, do you get along with Bell?"

Just yesterday...

— What are you guys saying? Something about Louis?

I recalled Bell's piercing eyes.

"We get along... well enough. We're close."

"Mago."

She called my name with a serious expression.

"Do you know why I took on the role of a special instructor?"

It had been bothering me for a while.

She wasn't part of the Imperial Army and had no apparent ties to the head instructor.

Furthermore, during her stay here, Bell had left the training center temporarily, not for family matters, but for another reason.

"Is it because of Bell's grades?"

She nodded as if I'd hit the mark.

"I got a letter about her grades dropping significantly and wanted to help her somehow, but Bell was already gone..."

She paused for about three seconds.

"So, I have no choice but to rely on another trainee."

"That would be me?"

"Mm... Yes."

I'd defeated Bell in a sparring match and currently held the top spot. My skill was proven.

What she wanted was for me to help Bell raise her grades.

Now that I understood her intentions, it was time to take control.

The initiative was already in my hands.

"Why should I?"

When I asked, El couldn't come up with an adequate answer.

She hesitated, fumbling for words.

"The fourth exam splits trainees into odd- and even-numbered groups based on current rankings. Bell and I are both in the odd group, so I could help her. But I see no reason to do so."

I played my card swiftly, hinting that favors should be mutual.

The fourth exam would eventually be interrupted by a demon invasion. In other words, nobody would get points anyway.

"Mago, don't you need anything? You can tell me honestly."

I needed a decent weapon, but I'd already taken steps for that.

What I wanted from El was for her to stay here for an extra day and contribute during the second invasion defense.

"Then stay at the training center for one more day."

"Huh? That's a bit difficult. I promised to stay only until the fourth exam..."

"That's what I want. Otherwise, I can't help Bell either."

"Are you asking me to hide somewhere?"

"If necessary."

"What difference does it make if I stay another day?"

"If I, someone who's been selfish in every exam so far, suddenly decide to help Bell, it might raise suspicion."

"Suspicion?"

"If anything like that happens, you can step in. If Bell's sister, who's been hiding, suddenly appears, it would look more like you orchestrated the cheating rather than me."

"Cunning."

El grimaced.

"You'll have to take that much risk, El."

She lowered her head, staying silent for a moment.

Eventually, she spoke.

"...Fine. It's a deal, Mago."

El extended her right hand.

"Alright."

I grasped her hand lightly.

I remembered how ink as black as night had dripped from my clenched fists last night.

For the upcoming invasion, I needed two things: people and weapons.

People were secured.

Now, for the weapons.

On my way back, I glanced at the armory.

A training officer stood guard.

Bringing weapons from the armory to the exam grounds was impossible.

It required the officer's approval and a valid reason, neither of which I had.

"Mago, what are you doing here?"

The officer's voice broke my thoughts.

"Nothing, sir. I was just walking and ended up here."

"Don't linger. Head back."

"Yes, sir."

Orc mannequins were lined up outside the storage.

One of them lay in tatters, shredded to pieces.

The one Bell had destroyed.

"Sir, don't you think that one needs replacing?"

"Hm? Oh, yes, it does. We're expecting replacements soon. They'll be used in the next training session."

It had been the same in my past life.

The supplier would deliver the mannequins.

It would be the last chance to bring in supplies before the invasion.

"Bell better be training well."

***

"Why were we the only ones kicked out?"

Bell demanded an explanation.

"We weren't kicked out. We have our own mission to accomplish."

"Amon, do you think we're being hated?"

"Don't be ridiculous. And listen to me."

"Then what exactly is this situation?"

"Bell, this is... ace suppression. We're not being hated; we're being strategically sidelined."

"By the instructors?"

"Exactly. Four days until the fourth test. They're sidelining us to weaken us and level the playing field with the other trainees."

"Hmm..."

"So, we're the aces—"

"Then Mago should have been sent here, too."

"Huh?"

"You said it's suppression. Then shouldn't the top trainee, Mago, be here?"

"Well... yeah."

"Use your brain."

"Coming from you, that's rich."

At that moment, Amon suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Bell, honestly, I know it too."

"Know what?"

"That something's off. 'Mission' my ass, we're just running errands. Why am I buying cigarettes for the head instructor? Damn it, with this much free time, I can't figure out what else I'm supposed to do!"

"I've got something to do."

"What?"

"Mago asked me for a favor. I don't know how he knew we'd be sent out here, but still."

"Mago asked for a favor?"

"Here, look."

Bell pulled out a piece of paper.

Amon examined the back of it closely.

"The edges are burnt. But, Bell, why are you only showing me the back?"

Bell twisted her wrist to reveal the front.

"Because you wouldn't understand it anyway."

Adding that remark, she continued.

"Hmm..."

Amon squinted at the handwriting on the front.

"Yeah, I really don't get it. What language is this?"

"How would I know?"

"Is it some kind of code?"

"That's what I think, yeah."

"What are you going to do with it?"

Bell pulled out another piece of paper.

"I just have to take it here. It's probably a code used in that place."

The second piece was a map.

Without hesitation, they followed it to the marked location.

Unbeknownst to them, it was a bandits' hideout.

They even knocked politely.

A bandit peeked out through the gap in the door, his rough face contorted with irritation.

"Who is it?"

He asked gruffly.

"Hello."

Bell bowed his head politely.

"A... ah, hello."

Amon added, bowing slightly behind him.

"This isn't a place for kids."

As the bandit moved to shut the door, something caught his eye.

'Military uniform?'

He discreetly took note of the navy blue color.

Then, his gaze fixated on their clothing, scrutinizing the emblem on the left side of their chests.

An inverted longsword insignia.

Trainees. Trainees... the last batch...

It suddenly clicked for the bandit like a bell ringing in his mind.

'Their batch!'

The bandit promptly swung the door wide open.

"What brings you here?"

His tone was now polished, bordering on courteous.