Bab 4: Useless Weaklings, Ten-hut! Pt1
Fritz, Christina, and Betty were all relaxing in their free time. They were trying to find new tactics.
After all, they still needed to gain some merits.
The lowest ranking team always had to be broken apart and reordered, making new ones instead.
"We're running low on points." (Fritz)
"Is that new to us…?" (Christina)
Though they were a compatible team, they just weren't strong enough to take on many criminals.
Especially those who dipped hands into the occult.
Limiter Inverters weren't the only special weapons in the Earthland Domain. Others also existed here.
Some granting users special skills.
Also known as 'Divine Weapons'.
If not for many underground factions living in Faustus City, it would be easier on the students.
But that wasn't the biggest problem faced.
Those with special abilities made a pretty penny by selling guns and weapons to mafiosos in the dark.
It made even average missions more difficult.
"We shouldn't worry that much." Betty made the two who were worrying the most look towards her.
They wondered if she had a solution, but…
"Isn't it fine if we're rearranged to better teams? I think it'll benefit-" Of course, she was interrupted.
"No!" Christina was having none of that: "We're making this work. I'm NOT finding a new team."
She suddenly ran up and grabbed ahold of Fritz without shame, and the youth just stood there.
Since he was used to this by now…
He was proud that his resistance to beauties has been steadily increasing thanks to his teammates.
"I agree with her." Fritz gave his opinion.
"Fritz~" Christina hugged him harder, but he pried her off and made his independent thought clear.
This wasn't for her.
"All of us has our own secrets and weaknesses that make it hard for us to work with 'normal teams'. It was because of this we were put together in the first place. So we shouldn't give up." Fritz gave a reasonable explanation for why they shouldn't split.
But Betty could feel something more to this.
"Is that REALLY all?" A devious yet lazy look appeared in her eyes… all to make him insecure.
More unsure of her intentions.
He lowered his head. Fritz started to become red in the face while looking down to avoid any gazes.
Especially the one coming from behind him.
Then spoke: "What? I'm more comfortable here."
A proud smirk appeared on both the demoness girls. They were giggling when he said it out loud.
"Being honest is so hard, isn't it?" (Betty)
"Not another word from you. I'm serious." (Fritz)
"Fine… Then what do you think we should do? I'm expecting a good plan from our leader." (Betty)
"We should get someone strong on our team. Is that okay with you guys?" Fritz asked the rest of the squad lightly. It was important that they gain an 'Attacker' so they could independently do work.
Otherwise, they'll be inferior to other teams.
"You better not be choosing a girl." The sniper of their team and surveillance expert snorted at him.
Christina was the one in charge of all that.
Without her, the team had no eyes.
Which was why despite how nonsensical it was, her opinion mattered more than it looked on surface.
"...What does their gender matter?" Fritz scoffed.
"I don't want more rivals." Christina glanced at Betty before acting like a spoilt brat without shame.
It was quite cute…
The sense of entitlement she had towards them. A point she only brought up when feeling threatened.
Fritz had also made eye-contact with the team's medical and maintenance expert at the side.
Betty shifted her lab coat a little… Gazing back.
Only to see the words of: {I have no idea what she's talking about.} Written clearly in her eyes.
"Ahem... Anyway, this can't go on." Fritz slapped a bunch of papers on the table before the other two.
It was a load of different things stacked together.
Statistics, reports, measurements, graphs…
No matter how much they acted as support for the other Squads, it was hard to get much credit.
Even though they could sort through data easily.
Since attack type missions weren't working, they had no choice but to find a different area of work.
The Academy was flexible so long as merits were earned properly. Without being able to trade.
As long as they did something capable of earning merits, they would safely work past their problems.
"I could always make a torrent gun-" (Betty)
"And accidentally kill our targets?" (Fritz)
"Fair point, but have any better ideas?" (Betty)
"Why not sell information instead?" (Christina)
While Betty and Fritz were busy bickering, the only person good creativity surprised the two of them.
Her proposal wasn't impossible.
"...You know, that's not a bad idea." Betty agreeing with her made this plan sound a lot more feasible.
Even if it had never been done before…
Their squad could make a lot of credits by selling information on new targets out at a fixed price.
Thus, earning them merits in a different way.
Fritz stroked his chin after hearing a positive response for the smartest person among them.
It looked like things would turn out well.
He was a little unhappy that they couldn't complete missions themselves. Make their name known.
It was actually unfortunate.
If it weren't for the fact that none of them were actually suited for combat, they'd be a big deal.
But now they were only a group of oddballs.
One with a peculiar set of specialisations.
Their team had never failed to find a target. The only problem was what to do AFTER finding them.
Fritz tiredly looked down on his holster of Paper Charms. A feeling of regret overcame him.
Ever since 'that day', the strength of his magic had weakened. Though their versatility remained, he was unable to attack others with the same ferocity after losing the fires that once drove him forward.
Where would they be if he still had 'fangs'…?
Such a though flashed through his head.
However, the reality was that his electricity and flames merely hurt people; not knocking them out.
Just as he was about to help their team set up an information grid, someone slammed on the door.
Kicking it open with an ear splitting bash.
"Are you all working hard~?" The three of them unconsciously saluted to bigwig that arrived.
All of them recognised the Academy's Principal.
No one was unaware of Celest Vagabond, the 'Hero of the People' and the man who was saved the world. It was like seeing a legend in the flesh. The three students were visibly honoured to greet him.
"Yessir!" The three of them answered at once.
"Then I have a reward for you guys." The old man smiled before bringing someone before them.
The moment the scarlet-haired beauty walked into Fritz's sight, his traumatic memory triggered.
Scenes he wanted to forget has resurfaced again.
He was barely able to stop himself from enjoying that red fog from his eyes. Grasping at his heart.
Emotions were hard to suppress.
There was no way he'd be able to forget the dragon who broke his 'fangs'. Never in his lifetime...
The one who created their team's biggest flaw.
A meekness overcame him, but his teammates were unaware. Looking at the new arrivals.
Valry introduced herself quickly:
"My name is Valry Vegabond. I'll be assigned to your team from now on. Feel free to ask anything."
"What are your measurements?" Betty asked her real 'innocently', causing her to take a step back.
Valry's first impression wasn't good.
Her hand held the big retractable blade holstered behind her waist. It was an unconscious response.
"Except that." (Valry)
"Why not?" Betty openly checked her… 'assets'.
"Are you a pervert?" Valry shivered in disgust.
"Yes." Of course, she was an open perv.
"Then stay away from me." Valry was guarded when the big chest girl made weird body motions.
Betty's worm-like fingers were lifted in the air...
Celest coughed and left the two to their own devices. He was concerned about Fritz's state.
'Looks like this is going to take time.' He always felt it was a waste that such a competent Magi wasn't able to bring out his true potential. One of the reasons he chose this Squad was to 'heal' him.
And the only way he knew how was the direct path.
Unless he overcame his own weak heart, there was no way he'd be useful a student of this Academy.
"Squad Leader, Fritz Lazrik." Celest called the boy by name, causing the youth to focus once again.
"I'm at your service!" Fritz greeted the famous hero before him with just a little bit of apprehension.
Just a little bit…
He was trying to look as confident as he could.
"I'll be leaving my granddaughter in your care. Take this as an opportunity to finish a mission." Celest spoke while leaving a Mission Folder in the youth's hands. The man then patted him on the shoulders.
Feeling the acknowledgment from the Academy's Principal, Fritz puffed out his chest in honour.
"I will!" (Fritz)
"Now that's the spirit! Okay, see ya~" The old veteran quickly left with a playful smile on his face.
Fritz was frozen on the spot at such ridiculous actions that didn't suit the word 'Hero' at all.
Why did it feel like he was passing a burden...?
He wasn't able to put his finger down on what he was missing, until Christina loudly blurted out:
"Aren't you the 'Red Queen'?!" The blondie drew everyone's attention again with her words.
It was now that he was able to match Valry's face with the rumours he'd heard around the school.
They'd heard that the granddaughter of the World's Hero, Valry Vagabond, was a loose cannon.
Although there wasn't much circulating in the Academy other than her nature, it was enough.
He felt the need to make her feel welcome.
"Err-Ummm... It's good to see you again." Fritz was able to say without betraying his intense emotions.
Valry took a passing glance at him. She was unable to connect the 'fangless tiger' he was now to the sabertooth she once fought in the past. Her memory might be good, but HE was too different.
Where was the spiky-haired savage from her memory? It made sense she didn't recognise him.
It was like comparing a mild-natured pushover to an explosive hothead. None of the dots connected.
"And you are?" Valry's plain reply turned him to stone. It caused the youth to look down painfully.
Christina felt sorry for him, but at least she didn't have to worry about Valry having interest in him.
She spoke up in a 'supportive' manner:
"I think we can definitely be friends!" (Christina)
Fritz didn't know what to say as the blondie gave a thumbs up. Was she amused by his painful look?
Whose side was she on?!
"I didn't come here to make friends." (Valry)
"Don't be like that~" (Christina)
"Both of you better keep your distance. I don't like those who get too close to me, even allies." (Valry)
"O-okay...?" (Christina)
"Do you have something to eat?" (Valry)
"I could make some." Fritz saying this didn't make her any more hospitable. She brushed it off.
"Then go make me 'some'. I'm hungry." Valry boldly laid down on the sofa like she was part of royalty.
The three teammates didn't know what to say at her attitude. This was the first time it happened.
"Hey, who do you think we are?!" Christina was the first to blow up, making the beauty to sit back up.
"...Teammates?" Valry raised her brow.
"And THIS is how you treat us?" Christina was livid.
"What's wrong...?" The scarlet-haired prodigy seemed serious in not knowing what she'd done.
No, was this just her being out of her element?
Perhaps it really was the first time anyone had been out on equal standing to someone like her.
Making her unable to adapt.
"Now this is cute~" Betty immediately latched onto the trace of 'Gap Moe' she sensed in the beauty.
Pacing to the back of the sofa, her smiling face leaned over to ask the girl in a whispering voice:
"You just want to eat with us, right?" (Betty)
Valry gazed at the mischievous demoness with a confused face, then blushed with a red face.
"What makes you think that?" (Valry)
"Oh, then you're just ordering our Leader around without even a self-introduction?" Betty 'inquired'.
"We don't need to know each other." Seeing that the rest weren't total pushovers, the scarlet-haired beauty got back up. Then she snatched the Mission Folder given to Fritz before continuing:
"We're going to split after I graduate again." Valry waved the papers while heading towards the door.
But just when she got to it, the papers vanished in her hands. A silence engulfed the whole room.
The one in most shock being the scarlet beauty.
Even with her inhuman senses, she couldn't grasp when the papers had been taken from her hand.
'What happened…?' Valry only had that thought while turning her head dangerously to the culprit.
Only to find it back in Fritz's hands again.
'When did he do that?' The phenomenon was both mysterious… and somehow a bit familiar to her.
"Where were you planning to go with 'our' Mission Folder?" Fritz was now enraged by her actions.
He couldn't believe she disrespected them like this. Was she truly the person in his memory?
She could disregard him, but he couldn't accept such open disregard for his teammates at all.
That was one line she couldn't cross…!
For a brief second, Valry felt that his eye colour had changed in his fit of rage, but then doubted it.
Thin strands of red mist burned around his iris.
The oceanic dark blue eyes she had seen was probably just an illusion from his intense stance.
She took a step back.
Only to find that the discolouration had vanished.
Still, he was giving her a rare rebellious look that no one had dared to give her in her entire time here.
Did Cadets have more guts these days?
"What's with that look? I was about to get the job done myself. So just give it here already." There was a sigh in her heart as she spoke. It was as if even arguing about this was just wasting her time.
Valry headed towards him and reached out for the papers, only to see him run behind Betty's back.
Yeah, there's no way those eyes were real…
'That' sabertooth tiger wasn't here.
Valry stopped. She hugged her chest in caution towards the 'proud pervert' used as a meat shield.
"...That's cheap." (Valry)
"What is~? Now, do you have any interests in cosplaying?" Betty backed him up appropriately.
She didn't find faults in Fritz getting support from an ally. It wasn't really that cheap nor conniving.
Because that's what teammates do...
"Hey, didn't you say we're teammates just a second ago?" Christina grabbed her by the wrist.
"I did; So what?" (Valry)
"If you're our teammate, then let us handle this by ourselves." The brat flipped the tables on her.
"W-what? I didn't get that." (Valry)
"If you can do a mission on your own, then why can't we? Fritz, nod your head if your fine with this." Christina was moving along like a bulldozer before the beauty could regain her composure.
The squad leader unconsciously nodded, only to see Valry get mad at him. This wasn't a joke to her.
"Why do I have to listen to him?!" (Valry)
"Because he's the Squad Leader." Christina brought up military law without missing a beat.
Both her teammates were surprised she was able to talk Valry into a corner without any help at all.
It was like she was defeating her single-handedly.
"That's-" (Valry)
"Are you going against the chain of command? Isn't it normal the Squad Leader gets to choose~?" It was then Valry realised that she had misinterpreted the dynamics of this Squad's power structure.
With Fritz acting like a pushover, Betty and Christina became the ones making the decisions.
The youth became just a figurehead controlled by these two scheming girls. They ganged up on her!
"...What do you want?" Valry knew when to fold.
There wasn't anything to gain from making an argument with the squad she was assigned to.
She didn't want to waste more time here.
"We're either doing this together, or we're leaving you out? You pick." Christina puffed out her chest.
"…Fine." Valry admitted her defeat.
"Yes!" The girl duo gave a high-five to each other before looking at their 'Leader' for confirmation.
"This is better for us." Fritz nodded his head.
"Right~?" Christina excitedly came forward and started talking more enthusiastically to Valry.
Only Betty noticed the difference in his condition.
"Ara~ Are you feeling okay?" She looked more closely at his condition, but he waved her off.
"Never better!" Fritz smiled with a pale face, but this sort of 'kind' answer only made the girl worry.
"Then why hide behind me." (Betty(
"Because I trust you." (Fritz)
"Really now...?" Betty couldn't hold herself back from smiling when he showed a rare appreciation.
"Then can you do something for me." (Betty)
"Like what?" (Fritz)
"Don't make me bored!" (Betty)
"I'll try my best." He finally took a step away from her and personally read through the folder first.
The more he looked into it, the more his face started to darken. Something was definitely up.
"What's wrong?" The medic finally asked.
"Nothing... Anyway, we got to make sure she's listening to us when we're on this mission." (Fritz)
"How do you plan to do that?" (Betty)
"I thought you'd have some bright ideas." Fritz saw how they tamed her earlier and shrugged at them.
Betty looked like she was thinking about it. She started watching Christina be overly-familiar with the beauty. It was like that brat knew exactly how to discomfort her. Purposely pressing her buttons.
Cutting into their conversation, she pulled Tina back and directly confronted Valry's large ego.
"You think you can do Missions yourself?" (Betty)
"Didn't I say as much?" (Valry)
"Then about this plan. You can be our main attacker, while Fritz will be acting support." Betty glanced at the youth beside her, seeing that he was secretly trying to tell her not to put them together.
"So I'm being partnered with 'him'?" The beauty herself also seemed reluctant to pair up with him.
She'd normally refuse to have partners, but getting some 'support' made him her errand boy in a way.
"Don't worry. He won't get in the way." (Betty)
"What makes you so sure?" (Valry)
"He isn't much of a fighter himself, but Fritz is great at using Charms to make up for it." Betty's words went through Fritz's heart and caused some damage. His ego was harmed without any warning.
"If he isn't on my level, he's just in the way." (Valry)
"You've misunderstood. What I'm saying is that only YOU will be fighting. He'll just do cleanup." As if to compromise, Betty shook the girl's hand and handed her own leader off on a silver platter.
Was this considered betrayal?
"That's fine with me." Valry's positive answer made the boy glare at Betty like she was his worst enemy.
"...Let's work hard together." But as squad leader himself, Fritz had to make do with this sorting,
"Whatever... Anyway, what will we be doing?"
"Home Reconnaissance. Christina will stay here with me while you two find where our Squad will hit. Investigate in the field, send back some clues, and then we'll get this Mission done in a jiffy."
"Isn't a sniper supposed to come with us?" (Valry)
"What's the point of being around without a target to hit? Just go on a date and talk more." (Betty)
"That's-" Valry felt backed into a familiar corner.
"Okay. Bye~!" Betty pushed them out of the room and closed the door. An awkward silence arose.
The two decided to just get on with the Mission.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone