You're My Commander
Morning came.
I'd gone into town at dawn to take care of something, and when I returned, the three Western Liberators were waiting for me.
Captain? Where have you been this early? Have you eaten?
Yeah, I ate. Don't worry.
That's good to hear.
Now then, Lydia. The day has finally come.
I've never hated seeing the sun rise more than I do today.
I share your anguish.
To think I have to stay behind and guard the base instead of witnessing the two of you in all your glory!
Someone has to guard the base. You want all three officers to leave at once?
I acknowledge the necessity.
Besides... having a third party intrude on a scene between the two of you and the Captain would ruin the flavor.
Even if that third party were me.
So... I shall endure. I wish you... the best of luck...!
Did Besta just hack up a torrent of blood?
Who cares?! I don't! In fact, I hope we come back to find her collapsed from blood loss!
Ah, Deputy Commander. I read something in the manual yesterday.
Be careful around hot water in that Sassy Puppy Edition!
The material turns transparent when exposed to heat and moisture at the same time!
...Ah, I got that backward! Please go somewhere with hot water!
Why does it even have such a pointless feature?!
Perhaps because its creator was a true visionary?
Ceres stared intently at Lydia's outfit.
What an unusual material.
...Could you not bring your face so close? It's making me uncomfortable.
May I pour hot water on it now?
What are you saying in front of the Captain?!
There's no chance of us going anywhere near hot water today, so don't get your hopes up!
So where are we going for our first volunteer job?
Hmm. Who around here requires the service of maids?
About that...
I pulled out a document containing a list of names.
It's a list of people who want help from you and Lydia.
I'd actually spent the morning investigating and gathering a list of residents who could use a maid's help.
So that's why you disappeared at dawn? You went out to look into this?
I said I'd help, so I wanted to do it properly.
...I'm indebted to you again, Captain. Thank you.
If you hadn't come this time, we might have stumbled before we even began.
I can't keep letting you help me like this! It would bring shame to the Western Liberators!
Let me repay you somehow.
There is something you can do.
Name it! Anything, Captain! Is there something you want me to do?
Let's find a way to overcome your nightmares.
...!
She spoke of repaying me, but I had received just as much from her.
We'd pulled off a miracle because she trusted me just as much as I trusted her.
And if, behind that great victory, there was a girl suffering because she'd had to kill her own sister with her own hands...
I'm sorry I didn't realize how much you were hurting.
That's absolutely not...
Ceres started to deny it, her face turning slightly red, but soon shook her head.
Haha. Honestly... All right, Captain.
I'll rely on you again. Help me break free from the memories of my sister.
If you're with me... I think I can do it.
Yes, yes. That's enough flirting. Can we get going now?
I can't stand this atmosphere.
Ah, sometimes a little pure and innocent affection isn't so bad...
Get back inside!
Lydia shoved Besta back into the base. Besta clung desperately to the doorway and cried out.
Ghk! Captain! Be sure to tell me how it went! Every last detail!
The door slammed shut.
Lydia wiped the sweat from her brow and straightened up.
All right. Let's go.
I really don't want to, but I might as well get it over with.
Lydia, are you sure you're okay with this?
No, I'm not.
How do you think a girl feels having to walk around dressed like this in broad daylight?
I'm going to start having nightmares too.
You don't have to force yourself...
...If it can stop the Commander's nightmares, then I have to.
For all your complaining, you really do care about Ceres.
Yes. Like I said yesterday, I made a promise.
A promise?
Since Besta isn't here, I suppose I can make an exception and tell you.
You worry about the Commander almost as much as I do, after all.
In the past, at the Western Liberators Training Camp...
I have something to say. Do you have a moment?
What? Someone still wants to talk to me? Don't you know who I am?
I do. Your name is Lydia. You took an interest in the Void Force before enlisting and learned to wield it.
That ability earned you special admission as a trainee. Since then, you've continually clashed with those around you.
...I didn't know spying on people was one of your hobbies. You must have a lot of free time.
It isn't a hobby. Research like this is tedious and difficult.
And I am not free. I made time for it between training sessions.
(...What is wrong with this dolt?)
Maybe you don't know this, but remember those people hanging around me this morning?
They all suffered some terrible misfortune and are lying in the infirmary now. Want to be cursed too?
That wasn't some vague curse. It was all a part of your schemes.
...What?
You carefully studied the trainees who regularly spoke badly about you and learned their daily routines...
Then you planned several moves ahead and lured them into traps.
Excellent tactics. I'm impressed.
Oh, so you're here to threaten me? Sorry, but that won't work.
Go ahead. Report me to an instructor.
You think I left any evidence? Want me to break something on you too?
You shouldn't threaten your comrades. My sister taught me that.
Then what did you come here for?!
To praise and encourage you.
What...?
I'm not very good at psychological warfare or strategy, so I envy you.
You have excellent qualities. You're a fine soldier.
Let's finish our training and join the Western Liberators together!
What's your game?
I wield the same Void Force that poisoned the West.
I'm a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment!
Even my family abandoned me because of it. That's how I ended up here.
And what, you want to praise me? Are you mocking me?
If that's how you feel, then I'll praise you even more.
???
Whether your weapon is a sword, a gun, or Void Force, the principle is the same.
If you can't control it properly, it will harm its wielder.
That's why you must work tirelessly to master it.
And you've never once lost control or caused anything resembling a curse.
You've worked hard. Well done. Let's keep working and earn our promotions together!
I'll aim to become Commander, and you can aim to become Deputy Commander!
You really need power like mine...? It's corrupt. Cursed.
The Western Liberators need capable people now more than ever!
I'm going to succeed my sister and become Commander.
When I do, you can stand beside me and support me with those schemes of yours.
Don't you think we'd make a good unit?
Ha... What kind of idiot are you?
...What's your name?
Ceres. The woman who will one day command you and every other Western Liberator.
Well, Ceres. Let's see if you can still look at me the same way after you become Commander.
If you can, then fine. I'll go along with your stupid ideas too.
But remember this. If you ever show even the slightest sign that you're afraid of me...
Don't worry! That will never happen.
You'd better not run away later because things get too difficult!
If anything comes up that I can't handle, I'll make you share the burden with me!
...The Commander has never broken that promise.
So a little embarrassment like this... is nothing.
That's a nice story.
Hmph. What's so nice about it? It's just an ordinary story.
Despite what she said, Lydia looked quietly pleased.
So about that part where you cried your eyes out...
She was terribly embarrassed about it afterward.
Ugh... I was just a little overwhelmed, that's all.
That idiot Commander was the only person who treated me without any prejudice...
Ah. There is one other person now.
You mean me?
Well, yes, you too, but I was talking about the Captain...
At some point, Besta had quietly slipped back out and started listening.
...
...
How long have you been standing there?!
You three never left the entrance and started telling such an interesting story, so I couldn't help myself!
Gh... Well, you've already heard it, so there's nothing I can do now.
But if I ever find out that anyone else has heard this story...
I'll assume Besta and the Captain were responsible and take my revenge.
Why me?!
The only people who knew this story were the Commander and me, and now there are four of us.
So if this embarrassing story ever spreads...
Then the culprit has to be either you, Besta, or both of you, right?
So if I kill both of you, problem solved.
You're the one who told me!
You're the one who got me talking in the first place, Captain!
After creating such a nice atmosphere between us, too!
A nice atmosphere? Please! Tell me exactly what happened— Gyaaah!
Enough! Let's just go already!
The three of us finally set off, with Lydia still fuming.
Were we really going to survive today's volunteer work?