Ethan's Side
"Today, I'll be conducting your combat performance test. I'm Ingrid. The test will take place in the simulation room."
We arrived at the simulation room and listened to Ingrid’s explanation of the test.
"Commander, what is going on all of a sudden?"
"A combat performance test the moment we return from an operation... that's unprecedented. Normally it's conducted before deployment."
Anis asked in disbelief, and Rapi also seemed puzzled by the absurdity.
"And on top of that, that person is the CEO of Elision. What's she doing here?"
"CEO? Wouldn't she be busy? Why is she here?"
"As a hobby..."
"Be quiet during the briefing!"
Ingrid’s sharp rebuke instantly silenced the room.
"From now on, you'll conduct mock combat in the simulation room. Forget any notion of it being lightweight. The simulation room, hailed as the Ark's technological marvel, recreates everything exactly as in real combat."
If it's hailed as the Ark's technological marvel, it must be an impressive recreation. I wondered if it even outperformed the virtual training grounds of the Great Federation.
"It perfectly reproduces various unexpected situations that can occur in battle, as well as combat with Raptures. Your task is to tactically overcome these surprises and combat scenarios in the simulation room and complete the tactical test. That is all."
I got the full rundown. By the way, she seems unusually fond of the word “tactical,” but that's a personal quirk I'll let slide.
"Any questions?"
"I don't take questions."
Ingrid dismissed Rapi's question in one cut, then turned her gaze to me. Meeting that stare made me uneasy, wondering what she'd ask next.
"Before we begin training, I need your squad's name. Ethan, state your squad name."
Finally, a matter as significant as the squad name came up. I wasn't sure if we could change it later, but if we're picking one now, I want it to stick.
"...Counters."
It was one of the candidates I had in mind when naming the unit in my past life. It was simple and straightforward, so I chose it—but I never imagined I'd actually use it.
"Confirmed. Then, Counters, I look forward to your tactical maneuvers."
The test began in earnest. True to Ingrid’s explanation, the simulation room replicated real combat almost perfectly.
To be honest, I was amazed. I knew the Ark's technology wasn't ordinary, but its capabilities rivaled those of the Great Federation. It reminded me of the day I first joined the Great Federation.
A good amount of time passed while we conducted the test.
"Ugh~ That was tough."
"We've completed the operation end report. They told us to wait here for a moment."
"Alright. Good work, both of you."
After a long stretch, the test was over. During the test, I kept thinking—no matter how I looked at it, this felt far from a simple combat performance test.
"Rapi, what do you make of this?"
"It's just a test as they said. From their perspective, we did produce some suspicious results."
"Whether we did well or not, they make a fuss. Commander, do you know anything?"
"Who knows? How am I supposed to read the thoughts of those higher-ups?"
If I could read the minds of those in the Great Federation, I wouldn't have ended up the way I did. Sometimes it frustrates me.
"It can't be a bad thing. We did earn some acclaim, after all."
"Hmm... I suppose so?"
Though many things felt suspicious, for now, we had no choice but to wait patiently. I decided to observe what outcomes the simulation room's results would produce, and what judgment they'd make.
We waited to see what the test results in the simulation room would lead to, and what decision they'd reach.
Author's Side
"How are the results?"
"They're astonishing."
Ingrid went personally to Andersen’s office to report Counters’ test results. Andersen asked her directly:
"The results themselves aren't bad. They're at a level that no one would assume they're rookies."
"Oh, really?"
"But that's as far as it goes."
"As far as it goes?"
Andersen echoed Ingrid’s puzzling remark.
"They have skills beyond what you'd expect from rookies, sure. But it's not enough to take down a Blacksmith."
"That's curious. That unit already defeated a Blacksmith, didn't they?"
"Exactly why it's even more puzzling. We didn't expect these results."
As the questions deepened, Ingrid couldn't help but ponder. The gap between the test results and the actual combat record defied easy explanation. A commander who felled a formidable opponent like Blacksmith should have similar results in the simulation.
Yet the difference between their record on the surface and these test results was so stark.
"The discrepancy is huge. Are they stronger in real combat?"
"Then let's put them into actual operations."
"There's no shortage of tasks. Let’s pick one."
"The most difficult one."
That might seem harsh for a newly commissioned commander, but Andersen's decision was final.
"In that case... this will do."
They settled on it, and the mission was chosen for Counters.
"Power plant investigation? That facility in that seaside city?"
"With this team?"
When Ethan relayed the mission orders from above, Anis and Rapi reacted in disbelief.
However, I was equally perplexed by the sudden assignment to a surface mission. What on earth was going on?
I couldn't shake the unease. I had intentionally hidden my true strength, and attracting attention now was the last thing I wanted.
When I needed to grow stronger as soon as possible, drawing unwanted attention served no one. If we stood out, it would only bring complications. I never expected things to unfold like this.
"This is too much! We barely get any rewards when we do well, and now they just keep throwing missions at us?"
"Don't be so dramatic. At least we can chat like this. If we were truly swamped, we'd have no time to talk—missions day in, day out, for days straight."
Just like I did in my past life.
"Oh, wow. So I'm a prized puppy of the mighty Central Government, huh?"
"Anis."
Rapi’s low, firm voice subdued Anis’s outburst. Realizing her mistake, Anis bit her lip and bowed her head.
"…Sorry. That was harsh."
In Anis's apology, genuine remorse lay beneath her regret. Sensing it, I offered a faint smile to reassure her.
"Who will be assigned as commander?"
"Me."
"...Excuse me?"
"...This is odd. What’s going on here?"
I tilted my head at Rapi and Anis's uneasy reactions.
"Is it really that strange?"
"The same commander and Nikke aren't normally assigned to consecutive operations. Usually there’s at least a span of three missions. It avoids putting a team that's already dealing with trouble into another operation, which can harm teamwork."
"There have been many cases where the commander disposed of a Nikke in the field. And vice versa, sometimes."
I sighed at the grim reality. The word 'dispose' from the field was familiar yet unsettling.
"Because of such extremes, they usually allow at least three missions of rest between assignments. This is definitely unusual."
"Dispose, huh... They quietly send you to the surface only to dispose of you."
[Eh... there’s no reason for that.]
An unfamiliar voice came from the comm. Startled by Shifty suddenly joining the conversation, Anis shouted.
"Ah! You scared me! Why did you jump in out of nowhere?"
[I heard the operation had begun. I came to support. If dismissal is truly the intent, we could do it right here. No need for the fuss of coming to the surface. In other words, it's a perfectly normal mission.]
"As if it's normal."
"An order is an order. I will comply, Commander."
All eyes turned to me. As the appointed commander of Counters, I had to make a decision one way or another.
I hesitated briefly, but the answer was clear.
"I trust you."
"Haha, I have no idea what you see in us to say that. Fine, we'll trust you, Commander. For now."
"Let's go. To the surface."
And so, to carry out the power plant mission, I and Counters headed straight for the elevator.
"Back-to-back surface deployments... it’s truly depressing."
"Hold on, someone’s there."
"Huh?"
As Anis grumbled about consecutive surface deployments, Rapi noticed someone near the elevator and tensed up.
Turning my gaze, I saw a silver-haired girl with glasses standing there. She stepped forward as she noticed us.
"Hello. I'm Neon."
"A Nikke from Elision?"
"Yes. I’ve been assigned to this investigation operation. I look forward to working with you."
Faced with this sudden reinforcement, I and the rest of Counters were left speechless.
"Shifty, did you hear anything?"
[Uh... a transfer order just came through.]
"Commander, did you get any other notice?"
"...Nothing in particular."
I hadn't heard anything about assigning anyone besides Rapi and Anis.
"This is suspicious. A reinforcement out of nowhere. Who's this Nikke?"
"Well, I... I think I'm a spy."
"Huh?"
"Are you crazy?"
Neon's statement made everyone raise an eyebrow.
"Ingrid. So the CEO’s order was this: support us at full power but report everything. So I am a spy, right?"
"Uh... well, that seems to be it?"
"Wow, I've always wanted to try being a spy. I look forward to working with you! I'll do my best as a spy!"
"Alright... welcome aboard, Spy."
Although she showed some shortcomings for a spy in certain aspects, we had at least filled the minimum required personnel for the mission. I decided to be satisfied with that fact.
"Got it!"
"Is this really okay?"
[I’m not sure.]
Thus, a rather unique, perhaps peculiar, squad formation was born just now.
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