The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 154

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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 154

“…What?”

“Keep in mind what you just learned. And I clearly said you could use live ammunition.”

Rita stepped back more than five paces from him. All the way to the edge of the platform. Then she added.

“Give it your best shot.”

She took one step forward. Wolf reflexively drew his gun from his holster. As trained, he aimed for a vital spot, the head, and fired.

“…?”

And he couldn’t believe what happened before his eyes.

Rita walked forward, tilting her head back to dodge the matan. She closed the five-step distance in an instant and came right up close, then pressed firmly between Wolf’s thumb and index finger as he tried to hide the back of his hand by bending his wrist.

His hand opened and the gun dropped with a thud. She immediately caught it and pressed the muzzle firmly against Wolf’s chest.

“Got your gun taken again?”

Her pretty smiling face now felt terrifying. Wolf began trembling without realizing it. Rita spoke in a calm voice.

“The direction of your muzzle is too honest. Your aim is slow too. When anyone can see you’re about to shoot their head, do you think the enemy will just stand there and take it?”

“…”

“And the back of the hand isn’t the only vital spot. The muscle between the thumb and index finger – if you press here hard, the hand’s grip loosens. Then this happens.”

She lowered the muzzle and explained further. Wolf couldn’t say a word and just swallowed his dry saliva.

Rita watched him quietly, then put the gun back in his holster and asked.

“Want to try again?”

“…N-no, no sir.”

“Alright. Good work, Wolf Stormguard. Return to your position.”

Wolf staggered down from the platform. Rita looked around at the stunned Mage Gunners and asked peacefully.

“Anyone else want to prove they’re not a greenhorn?”

“…”

“No more?”

“…”

No one opened their mouth.

‘These kids lack some grit. Is it because they were born and raised in a peaceful world? Back at Command when breaking in recruits, we had to beat one up and send them to the infirmary before they’d listen.’

They understood with just this? I haven’t even shown them proper gun magic yet. We didn’t even do gunslinger duels or live ammunition rapid-fire contests.

‘Maybe I should pick one more and make an example of them so everyone will train earnestly?’

Rita tilted her head as she looked over the Mage Gunners.

Though they didn’t know what she was thinking, the Mage Gunners instinctively realized her gaze was ominous and shrank back, straightening their postures and lowering their eyes as much as possible.

“Hmm… there really aren’t any. That’s disappointing.”

“…!”

At her muttering, the Mage Gunners turned pale and buried their heads even lower. Rita sighed, thinking kids these days have no grit, and opened her mouth.

“Then, let’s start training.”

* * *

From the Third Training Facility, Mage Gunners came crawling out one by one, staggering with faces drained of all spirit. Maxwell Roan, who had been waiting in the corridor for his friend’s training to end, spotted his pale friend and asked.

“What, was the special training that hard?”

“Hard, it was hard but… more than hard… sc-scary.”

“Scary?”

The black-haired Mage Gunner Killian Caine, who had joined the unit with Maxwell from their hometown, replied haltingly with a pale face.

“A mon-monster… That’s definitely not human… How could that be human?”

“What happened, what exactly went on?”

“The goal of the 2-week special training is… for all of us to create one unique technique each.”

“What?”

Maxwell’s eyebrows shot up.

“No way, unique techniques can’t just be created like that! Most people barely manage to make one in their lifetime!”

“R-right? But the in-instructor said… we’re thinking too hard about it. Then she showed us how to create a unique technique right before our eyes… and said ‘See, it’s easier than you thought, right?’… Is that human?”

“…”

“Then she told us to come up with ideas for what unique technique we need most by tomorrow… The in-instructor has some designed specifically for us, and when we bring our ideas, she’ll compare them…”

“…Hey, isn’t that Commander Olivia’s teaching method? She tells you to come up with new magic applications, and when you present them, she tears them apart one by one with logic.”

“…!”

Killian’s face became even paler than before and his steps became hurried and frantic.

“Hey, I-I-I need to go work on technique ideas quickly. See you later!”

“Uh…”

Maxwell scratched his head as he watched his friend’s figure disappear in an instant. Behind him, a voice like chirping birds was heard.

“Maxwell Roan?”

He turned around and was startled to face Lillieta, Temporary Instructor, who seemed to have just come out of the Third Training Facility.

“Ma-Ma-Ma-Matan!”

“…Call me Instructor Rita.”

She calmly corrected the title, then stared up at him as he frantically shouted “I’m sorry!”

Without saying anything, for a long while.

“…?”

Maxwell looked down at her in confusion.

Her height barely reaching under his chin. Bright blonde hair. Skin that looked so soft it seemed like it would crumble at a touch.

In her doll-like small face looking up at him, gem-like sparkling violet eyes narrowed. As her gaze deepened, pure gold eyelashes fluttered.

‘Why, why is she doing this… Why is she looking at me with those eyes…’

Maxwell swallowed his dry saliva. Somehow her gaze felt incredibly tender and wistful, making him feel strange. His heart fluttered and beat tightly, somehow…

Just as he was about to look at her more closely in an almost entranced state, he felt a chilling sensation. Like his neck was in a beast’s maw.

Maxwell instinctively stepped back and looked behind her.

Gideon was looking at him with an expressionless face. His piercing golden gaze was as eerie as a blade.

“…I-I-I’ll be going now!”

Terrified, Maxwell stammered out the words and immediately turned around and ran to the dormitory.

Lillieta stared blankly at that retreating red hair, then turned around at the familiar voice from behind her.

“Rita, he’s not the Max Pascal you know. He didn’t return with us.”

“I know.”

Rita nodded slightly and added.

“But it’s the same soul, isn’t it?”

“…”

“I’m glad he’s living safely here.”

As she smiled gently, Gid put his hands in his pockets.

“…Shall we go to the lounge. I’ve prepared refreshments.”

“Wait.”

Rita grabbed the wrist of him as he was about to turn around. When she forcibly pulled it out of his pocket, she could see his hand trembling.

She looked at that hand with a confused feeling, then looked up at Gid.

“Why are your hands shaking?”

“Mm.”

Gid rubbed his mouth with his free hand, then replied in a light tone.

“Because I’m jealous?”

“What?”

“I told you I get quite jealous, Rita.”

He shrugged and added with a smile.

“I got jealous because you were looking at Maxwell so tenderly.”

“You were jealous of that just now?”

“Don’t look at me like that, I’m confused too. This is why I tried not to get caught.”

Gid clicked his tongue and pulled his hand away from her. Then he rubbed his reddened nape and grumbled.

“It’s a bit embarrassing.”

He smoothly brushed off the situation as if it were nothing and took the lead heading toward the lounge.

Rita followed behind him, quietly watching as he put his hands back in his pockets.

Was it really just simple jealousy?

Since it wasn’t a meeting day, the lounge at Beacon Headquarters at the top of the Lighthouse Tower was completely empty.

Isaiah, the Owner of Beacon Garden, was happily running his Flower Shop downstairs, and Ethan, who practically lived here, was busy training Hanna and wasn’t around.

On the round table surrounded by plump sofas, she could see the tea set and refreshments that Gid had prepared.

Gid, sitting beside her on the sofa, poured tea for her and then filled his own cup. It was a fragrant fruit tea.

After taking a sip each, Gid set down his teacup and turned his gaze toward the window.

Having conducted intensive training all day, the sun was gradually setting and the sky was turning red. Watching the sky that had mysteriously mixed into a purple hue, he slowly began to speak.

“Then… as promised.”

His golden eyes that turned to look at her were tinged reddish from the sunset. A color like pure gold stained with blood.

He blinked those eyes and smiled innocently. A smile appeared on his statue-like perfect face as if it had been carved and etched there.

“I’ll tell you everything, Rita.”

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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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