CHAPTER 31

All those who thought they would pass the entrance exam were here.

Among the new recruits, Nova Feltum was particularly noticeable.

I thought I should wait a long time for Nova to join, but fortunately, Nova was also included in the new recruitment test.

'I was going to raise Nova well when he joined, but it turned out well just in time. However… It is difficult for Nova to be the only one who can be selected for the special forces.'

I thought I'd bring two new recruits.

Even if one seat was filled with Nova, the other was the problem.

Not only was there no one better than Nova, there was no one one one rank lower than Nova.

Usually, a unit consists of seven people. This is because the number of people who can enter a dungeon is limited.

No more than a specified number of people may enter, but no more than that number may enter.

The minimum number of people in the dungeon entry limit was seven.

Of course, the size of the dungeon or the level of difficulty changed the number of people.

I also had an obsession to fill seven people as I was building a "unit."

'Should I bring in another to fill the seven, or shall I play a dungeon try with six, even though it's a waste of experience?'

I pondered for a while, but soon came to a conclusion.

Life is a challenge.

Clearing the dungeon with six people would be a little tough, but I decided to trust the people I had chosen.

'And there's August, too. If we fight like hell, we won't die.'

August's joining certainly made the special forces rough.

I made up my mind and went to visit Meyer after the initiation ceremony.

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"I knew it. You don't come to me unless you have something to do. Isn't that right?"

Meyer said as if he were teasing.

There were no other eyes on me, he still pretended to be close to me, although he deserved to do it moderately.

Maybe they want to fool even me.

The frightening thing is that I might be really fooled if he goes at this rate.

The special treatment given to me by those in power was as sweet and intoxicating as alcohol.

I shook my head. Don't be fooled. Don't be fooled.

My relationship with Meyer is just about as good as it gets.

Superior and subordinate. The degree of cooperation for the greater good.

If we get a little more intimate here, I'll just end up eating myself alive. Because if I cross the line, I'll start to expect more from him without even knowing it.

I know all too well how useless that can be.

It's proof that I've been abandoned by Fabian without going too far.

I pulled myself together, neither confirming nor denying his joke, and said it outright.

"I'm taking Nova to Special Forces."

"Nova?"

I gave Nova Feltum's pre-transfer application and his personnel evaluation form.

Of course, Meyer would remember Nova even if I didn't have to give him this stuff.

He was a talented man who joined Meyer's elite unit in the first round.

Of course he will grow well on his own, but he will grow even faster with my help.

In many ways, Meyer has no reason to refuse.

However, Meyer's expression was very strange. He didn't like it…?

I asked, trying to get a good look at his face.

"Yes, Nova Feltum.... Is there a problem?"

"Maybe there's a problem I don't know about… Or else Nova has a use for it that I've thought of."

"It's not that."

Meyer answered in a snap. However, he did not pander to the reasons for his dissatisfaction.

I was anxious, trying to figure out what was going through Meyer's mind.

Be may not be happy that I'm taking the next generation of aces with me all the way.

Nova was the "super rookie" of the jockeys this time, and by all accounts an outstanding talent.

It was true that bringing in and raising such a Nova would not have any great dramatic effect.

Maybe he misunderstood that I was trying to do things easily? I hastily excused myself.

"Of course, Nova is so talented and sincere that you could leave him alone, and he would still produce good results. But if I can help him a little, he'll be able to raise his level even faster…"

However, the more I spoke, the more wrinkles appeared between Meyer's eyes.

At the end of a long time, a sigh flowed out from Meyer's lips.

"Okay. Then that's what you'll do."

No, but your expression says something different than your words…!

Why does he like Nova so much?

As I was wondering whether to ask or not, Meyer suddenly opened his mouth.

"You and Nova must've gotten along pretty well the first round?"

"Pardon?"

"Even the first round, you and Nova, you were hanging out a lot."

That's… How the hell do you know that? No, why do you know that?

I was so embarrassed that the title in the voice of Meyer's heart was reduced from you to you.

It would be so, and the meeting with Nova was conducted very carefully under the guise of coincidence… I've been thinking.

It was information for the assassination of Meyer, so it should not have been caught by the Black Knights, and somehow he handed over information about the dungeon, so it was difficult to get caught by the Fabian expedition.

Fortunately, Nova kept my words of secrecy to himself, but…

All of that seemed to have been for naught to Meyer.

Indeed, Nova respected Meyer.

No matter how much I look like a sister. Even if Meyer had asked where the information came from, he wouldn't have been able to keep quiet.

'So you know I tried to assassinate you through Nova, right?'

Thinking about it gave me goosebumps.

Should I just ask him? But I just couldn't do it.

It's because I was afraid of whatever the answer was.

If he didn't know about the assassination attempt, it would be a scrape, and if he knew, it would have been a problem.

My heart was pounding, and I felt like it was going to jump into my throat.

In that way Meyer continued his words in a serious face.

"There is nothing wrong with being close. But remember to remain objective, Jun Karentia."

"… What?"

"I mean, you have to take Nova."

So… And that's it?

Now, what Meyer's saying sounds like telling me not to get too close to Nova, is it my mistake?

Meyer added with a sigh.

"I honestly don't want you to take Nova with you. If you break him, I'm in trouble too."

"What do you mean, break him."

Meyer's statement came out of the blue.

Perplexed, I chuckled, but Meyer's low seriousness was there.

"You or my decision will cause Nova to die in the dungeon… Then?"

"No way…"

For a moment, I was at a loss for words. I've never thought about it before. Meyer laughed bitterly.

"You can't be sure what will happen in a dungeon."

His long, thin fingers were tightly intertwined.

"So far, I've been sitting on the sidelines because there's no one who's connected to you in the first round, but it's just in time. I'll take this opportunity to tell you. Not only Nova, but also Sevi, the monk, and August, draw a line in advance for everyone around you. The members of the expedition are merely components for the overthrow of the Demon King."

Meyer's words were blunt and strong.

My heart was pounding in a different way than before. I replied with an awkward smile.

"I appreciate your concern, but that doesn't break it. I'm not comparing myself to the Commander, but my background as an expeditionary force is no less extraordinary. I can endure well enough."

"It is better not to experience it than to endure it. You can experience something bad twice, and it will still be bad. You will never get used to it. It's not that you get used to it, it's just that it's worn you down."

"…"

"Their deaths will be more painful than you think. It's different from the first time. You survived longer the first time, and now you have to bury yourself wondering if it's your fault that they died this way the second time."

"… You say that like someone who has been through it."

Meyer smiled instead of answering.

He smiled his usual confident and dignified smile, but underneath it, I caught a glimpse of the tragic past he had walked through.

It was only then that I could realize why there was such a difference in Meyer's reputation between the first and second time.

The first round, Meyer was a dignified superior and a hero.

He could mix with the people around him in an appropriate way, and he had room and consideration for others…

Regardless of what was going on in his mind, the Meyer I had come to know through Nova and the others was such a person.

However, in the second round…

Look at people, who are frightened by the sight of him taking care of me.

It was clear that he had deliberately kept his distance from the members.

As a result, the strongest of them still had an unapproachable dignity to him, but apart from that, he became an unapproachable alien species.

It was only natural.

Unlike me, who knew the eventual future of this world, all of this must have been like a storm to him.

To a great extent, my position is that of a bystander, he was the core of the story.

The weight of him being young again would probably be much heavier than me being young again. There would be no comparison.

It was only a few days ago that I entered the second round, but Meyer must have entered the second round earlier than me.

I thought I knew what had happened in the meantime, even if I didn't ask.