Chapter 29:

Chapter 29:

“Whatever you imagine, I’ll show you and more.”

Scarlett’s clear laughter echoed through the training ground.

“Hahaha, I love that attitude,”

Scarlett added, patting Abel on the shoulder to ensure she wasn’t just talking.

“Then I’ll have a reward for you beyond anything you can imagine, so be sure to do well.”

“Alright!”

“Well, then, I should get going. I still have work to do.”

With that, Scarlett slowly made her way out of the training center. Only after she had left did Abel turn around to look at Lupus.

“Hmm.”

Two days. Two days to ride Lupus and go against the blade tail.

‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I wasn’t too worried about the battle itself. This was because I had ridden Tito and had a proper real battle just a week ago.’

‘If it’s the tail blade, it’ll be a little more tricky.’

But it won’t be comparable to the life-or-death experience Abel had in the past. Instead, the professors who will be there will make him nervous.

‘I’ve decided to keep a low profile for now, but this is an exception. If I decide to keep a low profile, I’ll end up with a bad grade.’

Above all, simply fighting well would not raise suspicion.

‘They can’t call me a spy just because I’m talented and fight well.’

He had to be careful of ‘suspicious behavior,’ like using in-game knowledge to gain benefits that no one else knows about. It was easy to raise suspicion, and he would refrain from openly taking advantage of that for the time being.

“Alright,” Abel said, sorting out his thoughts and moving closer to Lupus.

It was already quite late in the day with Scarlett’s unexpected visit. Today wasn’t the only day to train, so he had to wrap things up and get back. He had to get up early tomorrow to prepare. Stepping closer to Lupus, Abel touched the cold metal and spoke.

“In two days, you’ll be able to run properly, not just move around like you did today.”

The words were directed at Lupus, but he didn’t answer. With the shutdown, Lupus’s consciousness must have subsided. Abel turned away after saying that.

»————- ★ ————-«

Abel stood on one corner of the large playground and stared at the sky. The sky was just as blue today.

“Abel!”

Daniel called Abel’s name and ran toward him. He’d just finished a workout and was exhausted, but Daniel was lively as ever. Abel asked, lowering his head.

“How do you always have so much energy?”

“Huh? I guess it’s because we finished earlier than usual today!”

“I didn’t.... ask you that. Let’s go.”

Abel felt he would lose energy by continuing the conversation, so he started walking. Daniel followed close behind and spoke.

“You’ll be there early, won’t you?”

“Of course, I will. They said we could come early and check the battlefield with the Gigants.”

“That’s right. Ah, May, come here!”

Daniel suddenly shouted while raising his hands in the middle of their conversation. Standing on one side, staring blankly into space, May flinched at Daniel’s cry.

Daniel quickly ran to her and dragged her. Abel still wasn’t close to May, but he didn’t need to worry about the awkwardness.

“Isn’t that why you spent yesterday wielding a wooden sword? This is rather.......”

The room was silent for a moment as Daniel did his share of talking for the three of them until he felt the urge to shut his non-stop chattering mouth.

“Abel! Daniel!”

Hannah came running towards them, her red hair whipping around her. She spotted May when she was close enough to greet her.

“May! You’re here too!”

“Yeah.......”

“You seem more energetic today!”

“Yeah.......”

“Temerin.”

“Yes?”

Temerin, who was about to turn away, stopped dead in her tracks at Abel’s call.

Abel said to her, “Do you personally see anything that could be improved?”

“Huh, personally?”

Temerin looked around in surprise. She seemed afraid the other engineers might overhear, which wasn’t a strange reaction. Temerin was only an assistant engineer, after all. Of course, her timid nature probably played a part.

“Um, of course, you don’t have to tell me if you’re uncomfortable with it.”

Abel had no intention of forcing anything, so he said while stepping back. Temerin’s mouth twitched slightly, but then she seemed to muster up her courage and spoke up.

“Actually...... There is.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But I’m afraid It’s quite difficult to explain briefly.”

Abel didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Then, could you meet with me later to talk about it?”

“Later?”

“Yeah. I have a private training room, and I believe the engineers’ workshop is right next to it.”

Temarin blushed at Abel’s suggestion and hesitated but soon nodded.

“Alright.”

Abel was so impatient that he set the exact date and time on the spot. He couldn’t stand still, so Abel ended his conversation with Termerin and checked on Lupus with his own two eyes. Meanwhile, the other cadets had arrived, one after the other. When Abel confirmed that June and Lian had come, he turned and spoke loudly.

“Everyone gather round!”

Abel shouted, and all the cadets walked towards him without hesitation. Abel made eye contact with each of them before speaking.

“We have about half an hour left, so let’s go over the plan again. Everyone still remembers the details, right?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

They had already planned how to fight, so Abel simply reminded them.

“The most important thing in combat is formation. The blade tail is very agile, and its tail can move very freely, so it can be hard to move.......”

Even though they already knew it, the cadets listened to Abel’s plan. If they had not shown up for this lesson and anything went wrong, it would be their fault for not showing up. Despite her half-drowsy eyes, even May stayed awake to hear Abel’s plan.

“Now, does anyone have any questions?”

After his explanation, Abel asked, looking around the room, but no one answered. So he nodded.

“Okay, then let’s ensure we don’t make any mistakes and do it perfectly.”

“Okay. Everyone! Class is about to begin!”

Just at the right time, Jacqueline clapped her hands together, signaling the start of class. Abel and the other cadets quickly lined up in front of Jacqueline.

“Any moment now, the professors will arrive to observe today’s class. When I give the signal, each of you will go and stand in front of your preferred gigant.”

“Yes!”

Jacqueline looked to one side, smiling with satisfaction at the cadets’ response. Soon enough, a group of what appeared to be professors walked up from the direction Jacqueline was looking.

Among them was Scarlett, Abel’s patron. Scarlett, who was having a conversation with the other professors, smiled when she spotted Abel.

“Alright, everyone, to your gigant!”

Jacqueline ordered the cadets once the professors were close enough. At her command, everyone stepped forward to their gigants. Abel, too, walked to the side of Lupus’s cockpit, with a pace that was neither slow nor fast, and stood there, ready to climb into the cockpit at any moment.

Awwww!

With a piercing cry, the bladed tail was transported while trapped in a cage. Abel looked at it without thinking, then stiffened.

Ba-thump

Suddenly, a searing heat surged up from his chest.

[To be continued.]