Ch.211210. Special Forces (2)

# 210. Special Forces (2)

A military uniform with a design quite different from hers.

This uniform I was wearing was like the symbol of the Special Forces.

“It feels… newer than I expected.”

Though I’d worn it countless times before, putting it on now felt quite fresh.

Almost like wearing it for the first time.

“Of course it feels new, since you’re wearing it for the first time.”

“First time… I guess that’s right, not incorrect.”

I couldn’t say it was correct, but I couldn’t say it was wrong either.

It wasn’t my first time, yet it was.

I entered the imperial palace with her, who had come to escort me.

Then I saw numerous people before my eyes—many palace officials and Special Forces members were waiting for me.

Among those people, the first one I spoke to was, naturally, him.

“So you really made it after all?”

“All thanks to Your Majesty.”

“Do you truly believe that?”

I turned my head at that question.

Though I had been speaking flattering words, I didn’t want to continue until the end.

And it seemed I didn’t need to.

“Of course, this is the result of all your hard work.”

I looked at the two people who were listening to those words from the same position, the same place as me.

People from the same class as me.

Unfortunately, their faces weren’t familiar.

They seemed like people I’d seen somewhere, but I couldn’t tell who they were.

‘Who are they…?’

Given that I couldn’t remember them, they probably weren’t particularly famous.

Or perhaps they had died early…

Before I could dwell on such thoughts, the appointment ceremony began, and everyone’s attention focused on one place.

“Now we will proceed with the 150th Special Forces appointment ceremony.”

*Clap clap clap clap!*

With Andre’s announcement came the sound of applause, and only then did it start to feel real.

Among the three of us, Andre specifically pointed at me.

“Now, 150th class representative, Sergeant Albert Veros. To the platform.”

Hearing those words, I climbed onto the platform where he stood.

Then he spoke.

“Do you swear to uphold the warrior’s code and devote your life to carrying out special missions?”

Looking back now, those were such clichéd lines, but at the time, they seemed really cool and impressive.

Recalling when I first joined the Special Forces, I answered his question.

“I swear.”

“I, Reinhardt Macael, in the name of the Emperor of the Kainis Empire, appoint you to the position of Special Forces.”

After those words, he handed me the appointment certificate.

I received it and continued the dialogue.

“Sergeant Albert Veros, from this moment forward, swears to ensure the prosperity and safety of the homeland as a member of the Special Forces.”

*Clap clap clap clap!*

Hearing the applause of the many people, I clenched my left hand into a fist and brought my feet together.

Then, placing my right hand at the edge of my eyebrow, I shouted.

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty.”

He also assumed the same posture as me, and after he lowered his hand, I followed suit.

With this, the somewhat tense appointment ceremony came to an end.

The Emperor came down from the platform with me and spoke to me.

“You did well? Even though no one probably taught you?”

“I am honored, Your Majesty.”

“Is this how you’re going to act now that you’re in the Special Forces?”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll stop.”

“It does make me uncomfortable, extremely so.”

“Understood.”

It’s something I’ve always thought, but this person subtly disliked such formalities.

Despite looking like someone who would kill you if you didn’t show proper respect.

He looked at her and spoke.

“More importantly.”

“More importantly…?”

“I’m giving you your first special mission.”

“Already? What about the training?”

When you join the Special Forces, you typically receive training for the first few months.

Not just physical training to better carry out missions, but also mental training like knowledge about Special Forces laws.

Yet he was already trying to assign me a mission.

“Is it necessary? Don’t you already know all of it anyway?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Then it’s settled, Sergeant Albert.”

“Yes.”

“From this moment on, protect my daughter, Elizabeth Micael, until the day you leave this world.”

The expected content.

He has no idea how much effort I put in to hear those words.

But it doesn’t matter.

What’s important is that I finally heard them.

I responded to his words, his eyes filled with a distant look.

“Understood, Your Majesty. I will carry out this mission even if it costs me my life.”

“Now you sound more reliable.”

“Are you saying I wasn’t before?”

“What a ridiculous question.”

It sounded like he was just saying things.

Nothing had changed except my position.

Just as I was about to return to her after hearing those words, he held me back.

“Have you found out about what I mentioned before?”

“You mean… the shadow that appeared around Her Majesty the Empress?”

“Yes.”

“About that, not yet.”

His face suddenly darkened upon hearing those words.

It seemed he was anxious about it, just like me.

“But it’s not just visible around the Empress; I’ve seen it around quite a few people.”

“What do you think it is?”

“The only thing I can think of is… that.”

“That…?”

I continued in a calm voice.

“What Your Majesty is thinking right now.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Quite obvious.”

“If it’s really that…”

“We need to stop it somehow.”

The only thing I can think of now is that the shadow shows a person’s fate.

And specifically, a fate related to death.

In other words…

‘It means they’re going to die soon.’

Of course, this is just my speculation.

But it seems fairly accurate.

The timing when the shadow started appearing was similar to when [Sword of the Distant Abyss] rose to S+ rank.

“Though I’m not sure if it can be prevented even if we try, please be careful.”

“And Elizabeth…?”

“It’s not visible on her, not yet.”

“Not yet…?”

“If it’s what we think it is, it will eventually appear on anyone. Don’t read too much into it.”

The situation seemed quite sensitive.

He had seemed so composed back then.

Certainly, as time passes and these events draw closer, it’s natural to feel anxious.

He must know all too well what kind of being Solomon is.

“What are you two talking about so intently?”

“Nothing much.”

“You always say it’s nothing… always.”

“You’re getting good at speaking informally now, aren’t you?”

When I asked that, her face turned bright red.

It seemed she hadn’t even realized she was speaking informally.

She bowed her head deeply and said what she wanted to say.

“Anyway… congratulations on joining the Special Forces.”

“Thank you.”

“Now you’ll have to go through that training… good lu—”

“I don’t have to do that training.”

Hearing those words, she looked straight into my eyes, startled.

She was quite surprised.

“Who said so?!”

“His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Ah…”

“You didn’t tell him that, did you?”

“Probably not?”

“What do you mean ‘probably not’?”

“I didn’t.”

She seemed to be hiding something.

Of course, it doesn’t really matter if she tells now.

Especially to the Emperor.

He’s not the type to go around talking about it.

“So you received a mission right away?”

“Yes, he gave it to me immediately.”

“What is it?”

“What do you think? Want to guess?”

She pointed at herself and said.

“It’s to protect me, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But he gave it to you right away… that’s really rare.”

“I guess that means I’m a parachute appointment.”

“What…?”

She was taken aback by my different way of speaking.

For her sake, I spoke like my original self.

“It must be because I’m so perfect.”

“Yes, that’s how you should put it.”

“You like some strange things.”

I unconsciously looked at the military uniform she was wearing.

Then I blurted out the question that came to mind.

“By the way, when are you going back?”

“I’m not going back anymore.”

“Why?”

“There’s not much time left, so he told me to just stay here from now on. Even if the unit splits up, I should go then.”

And it was true that it was too early to return, with military meetings and other matters still pending.

I could still stay here for now.

For now.

“Come to think of it, it’s a bit strange.”

“What?”

“Why isn’t everyone else here? Reina, Elin, and Reikel came, but…”

Those three came, but the rest were nowhere to be seen.

They must all be busy.

She and I approached our party members, whom we hadn’t seen in quite a while.

Then Elin said to me.

“Congratulations?”

“Never mind that, is everyone okay?”

Naturally, my attention was drawn to faces other than the ones I usually saw.

Reina was one thing, but for some reason, Reikel had come to the appointment ceremony.

“Better than you.”

“I thought Chris would come, but you came instead.”

“He’s probably sleeping right now.”

“Sleeping?”

“Yeah, he was planning to come, but he probably couldn’t wake up.”

That was an unexpected reason.

Such a trivial reason… I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard it.

“If we wait a bit, he might still come.”

No sooner had those words ended than I felt a familiar energy from far away.

I shifted my gaze to where that energy was coming from.

There, two men were running toward us.

I let out a hollow laugh at the sight.

And she had the same reaction.

“Well… they sure got here fast.”

“Indeed, and father and son are late together.”