The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 153

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 153

All eyes focused on the door as it swung wide open. In the indoor training hall with its fairly high ceiling, about a dozen mage gunners could be seen gathered together, dressed in black uniforms bearing torch flame insignias.

The first reactions to appear were gaping mouths, glazed eyes, or flushed faces. This was due to Lillieta’s appearance as she elegantly wore white riding attire with her abundant blonde hair swept up to reveal her slender neck.

Rita, who had gradually grown accustomed to such reactions, simply accepted it and moved forward to step onto the platform placed before them. Lindsey, who would serve as an assistant instructor, quietly stood at attention below the platform.

Rita stood with her hands clasped behind her back, looking around at the now-quiet mage gunners before smiling brightly. Those who had been startled by that smile then doubted their ears at her following words.

“Hello, rookies.”

“….”

“…?”

The special agents blinked their eyes.

Lillieta was twenty years old, and among the special agents gathered here, there was no one younger than her. There was also no one shorter than her.

Since the special agents recruited by Beacon from across the continent were characteristically mostly commoners or lower nobles, there weren’t even any high-ranking nobles who would recognize Lillieta’s face.

Such high-ranking nobles wouldn’t abandon their status and family to join an unknown special military order, living and training together for three years.

Therefore, what the special agents knew about Lillieta was only that she was Beacon’s ‘Matan’ and her name, Lillieta.

Of course, thanks to her spectacularly defeating the Kraken during the boat outing while many citizens of the capital watched, the fact that Lillieta was the youngest daughter of the Raskail family and the name of a noblewoman who had returned after being missing for 10 years was well known even within Tritoma.

However, such noble status didn’t particularly help with authority as a temporary instructor for the special forces. If anything, it only made her an object of suspicion.

Of course, she was Beacon and Matan before being a noblewoman, but among those present, only one mage gunner from Tritoma Squad 3 had directly witnessed her sniping. Even then, because it was sniping, he hadn’t been able to see her up close at the time.

The same was true for those who had sent letters that were no different from fan mail to Matan.

The ‘Matan’ who actually appeared was much smaller and more delicate than expected. Her skin was flawlessly smooth and pale, while her arms and legs were merely slender. Her exposed neck looked like it would break if touched.

She didn’t look at all like someone who could engage in intense combat. Though it suited her reputation as the beautiful young lady of the Raskail ducal house.

‘This person is really Matan?’

‘Calling us rookies the moment she sees us.’

Whether they were flustered or not, Rita calmly continued with what she had to say.

“I’ve been asked to make you all useful over the next two weeks. So you won’t show embarrassing performances at the opening ceremony demonstration or martial tournament.”

“….”

“You’ve probably already heard roughly, but my name is Lillieta. I am Beacon, but I’m not officially assigned to Tritoma yet, so for the next two weeks, don’t call me commander but Instructor Rita.”

This was a position where family and status didn’t help with authority. She deliberately mentioned only her name.

Meanwhile, she carefully looked over the faces of the mage gunners who seemed bewildered or full of dissatisfaction.

Having expected this from seeing the names written in the letters, she could easily recognize several familiar faces.

Pascals who had been affiliated with Beacon in the future 200 years later. Former members who had been futilely lost to the Kraken. Those who hadn’t returned and thus had no memories of the Ash-covered Era at all.

Even though they were essentially different people from what she knew, the feelings of intimacy, longing, and regret welling up inside were unavoidable.

Rita looked at them fondly before smiling faintly.

‘I need to train them to be stronger than back then.’

So they won’t die so futilely like before.

She continued speaking with the same smiling expression.

“You’re all green rookies. Far from being proper mage gunners.”

To make good use of the two weeks, she needed to establish dominance. Deliberately speaking harshly, she immediately saw faces bristling with anger. Rita tilted her head.

“Some friends don’t seem to agree with what I’m saying… Good. Anyone who wants to prove they’re not a rookie?”

A large man from the front row strode toward the platform. He had such a good physique that he’d be believable as a knight or mercenary rather than a mage gunner.

‘Not one of ours. No wait, now they’re all our kids.’

Rita had such thoughts while asking lightly.

“Your name?”

The special agent answered with a grim expression.

“Wolf Stormguard… sir.”

He didn’t seem to be an Imperial citizen, and his voice was familiar. It was one of the voices she’d heard outside the training hall earlier.

Though his face said he absolutely couldn’t accept her, the fact that he at least used respectful language showed he had some discipline.

‘Well, Beacon wouldn’t have been lax about it.’

Rita gestured to him with her chin.

“Come up on the platform.”

“….”

Wolf silently stepped onto the platform. Standing on the same platform, her height barely reached his chest, and her forearms were only about half the size of his.

It was like the difference between a bird of prey and a canary. Despite the intimidating size difference, Rita calmly spoke.

“From now on, I’ll show you why I call you rookies, so watch carefully.”

Then she spread both hands to show them.

“I’m currently unarmed and have no weapons. Well, I do have my personal mage gun, but I won’t use that. So Wolf, I’m going to take your weapon.”

“…?”

“If you’re not a green rookie, a mage gunner shouldn’t let an unarmed opponent take their mage gun, right? Try to stop me.”

She added as she strode toward Wolf.

“Oh, you can use live ammunition. That means you can fire with lethal intent.”

“What?”

Wolf found himself asking back in a dumbfounded voice.

Did she just give permission to fire a mage gun at an unarmed opponent? Without being an aura-using knight or augmentation pact holder? Had she lost her mind?

“I’m not joking. Use any means necessary to try and stop me.”

Rita stopped two steps away from Wolf and spoke.

“Then, let’s begin.”

Was she really crazy?

Even while thinking this, Wolf tensed up while gripping his holster at his waist and the mage gun inside it. At the same time, he found it strange that he was feeling tense.

Getting nervous about having his weapon stolen by a woman who was also a fabrication pact holder with a much smaller build? Even when she said it was okay to shoot live rounds?

Rita approached him and reached out her hand. Wolf reflexively drew his mage gun. Just as he was about to put his finger on the trigger.

Suddenly he felt a sharp sensation on the back of his hand. And before he knew it, his mage gun was gripped in her hand, aimed at his forehead.

She smiled brightly from beyond the black muzzle.

“Stolen, Special Agent Wolf.”

“What… wha, what just….”

He couldn’t understand what had just happened. It felt like being possessed by a ghost.

“This is why you’re green rookies.”

Rita spun the gun once in her grip and raised the corner of her mouth crookedly.

“Wolf Stormguard, you just made three mistakes.”

“….”

“First mistake. A mage gunner shouldn’t give up distance to the enemy. You should have created distance from the start.”

“…!”

“Second mistake. When you’ve already lost distance, it’s too late to draw your gun and try to fire. Instead of putting your finger on the trigger, you should have struck directly with the gun.”

She continued while placing the mage gun back in Wolf’s hand.

“And the third mistake. What’s the weakest and most vulnerable part of a hand holding a gun? What should you be most careful to defend?”

Wolf blinked blankly. The expressions of the mage gunners below the platform weren’t much different. Rita let out a small sigh and raised her hand in a blade shape.

“The back of the hand.”

She lightly struck Wolf’s hand with her hand blade.

Even though she hadn’t hit with much force, Wolf’s hand naturally lost strength and the gun dropped.

Rita caught it as it fell, turned the muzzle, and aimed at Wolf’s forehead again. All in swift motions taking less than a second.

“See? If you strike precisely where the tendons and nerves pass through the back of the hand, the hand automatically loses strength through nerve reflex. You don’t need much force. Then you end up dropping the gun like this.”

Wolf’s gray eyes trembled wildly under the gun muzzle. Rita chuckled and lowered the mage gun, placing it back in his holster.

“Now then, shall we try once more?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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