A moment later, Hina and I arrived at the briefing room door, and as we entered, the Battalion Commander was already seated inside.
"Sir!"
I shouted it out appropriately, and Hina, startled for a moment, followed suit with a stiff posture.
"Sir...!"
"Trainee 6974. And Trainee 3182. At ease."
"Yes, sir."
I plopped down into a chair as if it were nothing, and Hina carefully sat down next to me.
The Battalion Commander slowly asked us.
"What was the reason you ignored orders and acted alone during training?"
Without even twitching an eyebrow, I calmly opened my mouth.
"Based on my assessment of the situation, I judged that efficiently clearing the battlefield was the better approach."
"Are you saying ignoring orders is efficient?"
"In some cases, I believe so."
A brief silence.
At those words, Hina slightly gasped from her seat. She was tense beside me, her eyes filled with apprehension.
Just then. The conference room door opened and Elena entered.
A female officer with neatly tied blonde hair and cold eyes quietly walked in.
Elena.
She stood at attention with her lips pressed together and spoke.
"Sir."
"Company Commander, please sit comfortably."
The Battalion Commander said, turning his head slightly.
"Understood."
Elena replied concisely, then sat down next to me.
Her expression was almost blank. Her gaze quietly scrutinized me.
The Battalion Commander placed the back of his hand on the table and slowly began to speak.
"I didn't call you here to scold you, so don't be too nervous."
The Battalion Commander continued, gazing intently at my face.
"Trainee 6974. I checked your records... It seems you have no history of special procedures or genetic modifications."
"Yes. That's correct."
"However-"
The Battalion Commander displayed a file on the screen. A concise family tree and genetic profile appeared.
"You are an extremely rare case. Both of your parents underwent 'genetic modification,' yet you yourself were born through natural reproduction without any procedures."
He said, staring intently at the monitor.
"In very rare cases, if the parents' modified genes combine with a higher degree of adaptability, a superior outcome can result even without any procedures."
I thought to myself as I listened to his words.
'...It seems this world's setting is configured that way.'
As I was processing that internally, the Battalion Commander continued.
"So, I personally reported your exceptional excellence to the higher-ups, along with this training video. And..."
The Battalion Commander paused for a moment.
"...The higher-ups have decided to assign you a special posting."
'Oh?! No way... No way, a pilot?!'
This flow. This pause. This suspense.
This was clearly the timing for a pilot assignment.
I took a breath, and a small hope rose within me. But his next words mercilessly crushed all those expectations.
"A decision has been made to assign you as the top priority for a VVIP-class special guest escort mission."
My expression instantly crumpled.
'...This kind of thing, a special posting?'
A pilot?
Frontline deployment?
None of them.
It had a plausible name, but in the end, it was nothing more than a human shield with a good physique.
The corners of my mouth involuntarily drooped. Although I nodded silently, my eyes no longer smiled.
Hina, sitting next to me, flinched slightly and glanced at my expression. Elena, meanwhile, continued to listen silently with an unexpressive face.
At that moment, the Battalion Commander spoke again.
"And, as this is a VVIP escort mission, according to the higher-ups' judgment that a suitable rank is necessary..."
He paused for a moment, then continued with a light smile.
"You have been decided to be commissioned as an 'officer,' a Second Lieutenant."
Hina's eyes widened into circles.
"Second Lieutenant...?"
She looked at me as if she couldn't believe it.
But I said nothing.
"......."
The Battalion Commander must have known that my expression was far from pleased. Yet, he continued to speak his mind.
"And, Trainee 3182."
He turned his head and continued, looking at Hina.
"You have been commissioned as a non-commissioned officer, a Sergeant."
"What...? S-Sergeant...?!"
Hina's eyes suddenly opened wide. Her small shoulders trembled, and her lips lightly quivered as if she couldn't believe it.
"That's right. As a formal non-commissioned officer, you will assist Trainee 6974."
Hina looked at me for a moment with a surprised face, then nodded happily.
Her small lips parted slightly, and a hushed gasp of admiration escaped her.
"Each of you will receive about a month of preliminary officer and non-commissioned officer training."
The Battalion Commander quietly looked between the two of us.
"After that, your official assignments will be issued, so prepare your bodies and minds accordingly."
He leaned back slightly as he finished speaking.
"Any questions?"
I remained silent, and Hina also carefully shook her head.
"Good. If not, you may leave now. Your respective officer and non-commissioned officer training will begin tomorrow, so go back and pack your belongings."
"Yes, sir!"
Hina answered clearly, and I quietly stood up and walked towards the door.
***
"Elena, it seems you're quite angry."
After the conference room was cleared, the Battalion Commander was the first to speak between the two who remained.
"No, sir."
Elena replied curtly. Her expression remained calm. But a faint tremor passed through her eyes.
"No, you're not. It's obvious you're very angry."
"I'm truly not, sir."
The Battalion Commander chuckled lightly. Flipping through a few papers on the desk, he said casually.
"Your uncle asked me to look after you well... but it seems your time here is up today."
Elena's eyebrow moved slightly, very subtly.
"Is this... a disciplinary action for failing to properly control the trainees?"
"No, no. That's not it."
The Battalion Commander waved his hand. Then, he continued, looking at Elena carefully.
"It means it's time for you to move to a new assignment."
"A new assignment, sir?"
"Yes. Congratulations, Elena."
The Battalion Commander smiled and subtly pulled out a document from the desk, handing it to her.
"The Third Fleet, where your uncle is. You've been assigned there."
At those words, Elena's eyes sank slightly. She quietly took the document, held it, and pressed her lips together once.
"...You don't seem to like it much."
As the Battalion Commander casually remarked, Elena slightly shook her head.
"...No, sir."
"Are you still not getting along with your uncle?"
At those words, Elena quietly lowered her gaze without changing her expression.
"I have no personal feelings. I will follow orders."
***
"Hehe... NCO. NCO~"
Hina, unable to hide her good mood like a child, hummed and walked beside me.
Seeing her like that, I lightly reached out and gave her round butt a tap.
-Smack!
"Eek...!"
Hina let out a sound as if startled, her body flinching slightly. But she quickly raised the corners of her mouth and glanced at me shyly.
"O-Oppa... Why did you suddenly do that...?"
"Because you're making it too obvious how happy you are."
I replied indifferently, stuffing both hands into my pockets.
Hina's face flushed, and she puffed out her cheeks, then silently pressed closer to my side.
Her small shoulder lightly touched my arm. Then she murmured in a slightly lower, whispering voice.
"...Still... it's thanks to Oppa."
"If you know that, then do well."
At my words, Hina laughed playfully and tilted her head.
"Hehe. Later... should I do it for you?"
"Sure."
I nodded calmly, as if it were obvious. Hina then fell silent for a moment before lowering her voice slightly and asking.
"But... Oppa, aren't you happy about being commissioned as an officer?"
"...Not really. My goal was to be a pilot."
"Ah-ha... So that's why."
"That's why I'm wondering. Should I just desert like this?"
"W-What...?! D-Desertion?!"
Hina, startled, quickly looked around and
lowered her voice.
"Are you crazy? Th-That's a violation of military law!"
I chuckled playfully and retorted.
"Want to come along?"
"...Are you crazy?"
Hina, who had been glaring for a moment, soon added with a serious face.
"And... I heard that a mobile weapon is assigned to the posting Oppa received."
"...A mobile weapon?"
I stopped walking and turned my head slightly.
"What are you talking about?"
"You didn't know? It's a really famous story..."
Hina continued, gesturing slightly.
"The VVIP exclusive escort posting... includes one Legion as part of the basic equipment package. I heard you can even test-drive it before your assignment."
I quietly chewed on those words.
'...Mech provision?'
Just a moment ago, I thought it was just being treated as a 'human shield with a good physique,' but the story was starting to turn out completely differently.
Legion.
An advanced tactical unit.
Originally, it was a top-tier specification, assigned only to pilots with proven records, at least Lieutenants or higher.
And I'd get that just for one posting? I narrowed my eyes.
'...That's a huge gain, isn't it?'
Hina, as if reading my expression, added with sparkling eyes.
"That's why everyone envies it. The VVIP escort isn't just a facade; the equipment specs are top-notch, and the operational authority is quite broad too."
I stared straight ahead without a word. My expression still feigned indifference, but calculations were rapidly spinning in my mind.
'......Desertion is canceled.'
After a brief silence, I subtly turned my head to look at Hina and asked.
"But... why did you know that, and I didn't?"
Hina blinked, then pressed her lips together, saying with a slightly bewildered expression.
"...Oppa, by any chance... do you not use the internet?"
"The internet?"
"It's something all kids these days know... It's even on military intranet forums and in the news. There are criticisms too, saying it's too excessive for VVIP escorts."
I let out a small laugh.
"I see. That's the first I've heard of it."
"Ugh... Did you seriously just come out into the world after being locked up somewhere...?"
"Something like that."
Hina pressed close to my side. And then she quietly murmured.
"Still, it's a relief. That Oppa didn't desert... because I really thought Oppa would do it."
At those words, I quietly turned my head.
"But if I really deserted, you wouldn't have followed, huh?"
Hina, without hesitation, simply gave a small nod.
"Why would I ruin my life?"
"Today, I need to re-educate your pussy on manners."
I dragged her to a nearby empty spot and ruthlessly fucked her.