Chapter 25: One-Man Army

Scent (2)

Comet took out her suit as the day of the ceremony arrived. She examined the suit this way and that.

"I just hope it doesn't look too awkward on me. It's practically the first time I'm wearing one with this body, so I don't know if I'll adapt right away."

『It's just clothes, how awkward can it be?』

"Suits are obvious like that."

『I guess you wouldn't know.』

"You can tell when someone looks awkward in a suit."

She put on the skirt and slipped her arms into the white blouse. There was a knock on the door. It seemed Dan Ga-yeon had arrived.

"Come in!"

Dan Ga-yeon cautiously entered. She was scrutinizing Comet's attire, probably thinking to herself, 'Today, Comet isn't in her pajamas.'

Comet smiled.

"Should I have greeted you in my pajamas?"

"No…! No."

She was resolute.

Comet shrugged and buttoned up her blouse one by one.

『Seeing that commoner, I think I understand what you mean by awkward.』

At the Princess's words, Comet looked at Dan Ga-yeon. Dan Ga-yeon was wearing a black suit with pants. A sword hung at her side. As it was an official government event, she was dressed more formally than her usual casual work attire.

Dan Ga-yeon moved her shoulders slightly, feeling the stiffness of the suit. And she unnecessarily straightened her clothes.

Comet chuckled at the sight.

"Officer Dan, it suits you well."

"Really?"

"Yes. It suits you. You look like a proper member of society."

"Really?"

Dan Ga-yeon was pleased.

Comet smiled lightly as she tied her ribbon tie.

『I wish that commoner was always as reliable as she is during battle.』

"Isn't it better this way?"

"Pardon?"

"No, just talking to myself."

『I don't think so.』

"It's just a lack of experience. She's better at raids with more experience than I am."

Comet put on her suit jacket and straightened her clothes.

As Comet finished dressing, Dan Ga-yeon, who had been waiting, spoke.

"Let's go now."

"Just a moment. Officer Dan, come closer."

Dan Ga-yeon approached, looking puzzled. Comet reached out her hand.

"Your tie is askew. Let me fix it for you."

"Ah, thank you."

"It's nothing between us."

Comet paused while adjusting the tie.

"I think you tied it a bit strangely. It'll come loose again if you tie it like this. I'll just redo it for you."

Comet untied Dan Ga-yeon's tie. Then the tie was looped around her neck again. Hands grasped the tie and moved.

"It's hard to even tie a tie without the internet."

"I know, right?"

"How long will it take for the data center in Seoul to be restored?"

"I'm not sure about that…"

She crossed the tie, wrapped it around, and then passed it through. She pulled it tight, wrapped it again, passed it through, and tucked it in.

Comet paused for a moment and met Dan Ga-yeon's eyes. Dan Ga-yeon looked puzzled. The tie tightened, wrapping around Dan Ga-yeon's neck.

Comet smiled with her eyes.

"Is the pressure okay?"

"I think it's okay."

"That's good."

The Princess clicked her tongue.

『You're doing all sorts of sly things. Does this amuse you?』

Comet ignored her.

"Let's go now."

"Shall we?"

They left the room and got into the car. The ceremony was being held at a hotel, so it was quite a distance from here. Through the car window, she saw a civil servant taking pictures of a fallen utility pole. They must be planning to reinstall it.

Comet watched the passing scenery for a while before turning to look at Dan Ga-yeon, who was driving.

"Is it that uncomfortable for you to drop the honorifics?"

"Huh? Ah, of course. Comet, you'd be uncomfortable too if someone younger than you was the only one dropping honorifics."

Comet smiled.

"I use honorifics even with people younger than me, so that wouldn't happen."

"No…"

Dan Ga-yeon was speechless. The steering wheel turned. The car cornered and spun around. The debris of a building that was partially blocking the road flashed by.

Comet rested her chin on her hand, leaning her arm on the closed window frame, and looked at Dan Ga-yeon.

"You used informal speech to me during battles. You can do that normally too."

"That's just a habit from our gaming days… I was trying to fix it back then too."

"Really? When did you use informal speech so comfortably with me during battles in our gaming days?"

Dan Ga-yeon hesitated.

"It's okay. Tell me."

"…When your attitude was bad and the person who kept ruining the raid was about to get kicked out of the next party."

Comet scratched her cheek.

"I was uncooperative, I guess."

"Yes, that's right. Please do it properly."

Apart from her hesitation just now, her attitude was resolute.

"I see. I plan to be uncooperative in the future too, so you can treat me comfortably."

Dan Ga-yeon briefly turned to look at Comet while driving. She seemed to have lost her words.

"Don't worry. Officer Dan, you can do well without me."

"No, is that something to say?"

Dan Ga-yeon muttered.

Comet clapped her hands.

"Well done. That's how you should do it."

Dan Ga-yeon moved her lips but then closed them.

『Are you tormenting her?』

As the Princess spoke, Comet lowered the window. The sound of the wind filled the quiet car. Comet whispered to the Princess.

"Princess, don't you feel that we're getting closer?"

『You have an amazing way of thinking. What if that commoner breaks off the relationship?』

"I don't know. That's impossible regardless of Officer Dan's will. She's weaker than me, after all."

Comet said that and then suddenly became curious, so she turned to look at Dan Ga-yeon.

"Officer Dan, what's your Strength Stats right now?"

"Stats? Just a moment. Stats…"

Dan Ga-yeon's gaze lingered in the air as if she was checking her status window. And then she told her the number. It was lower than Comet's.

There was the problem that Mana Stats were quite important even for martial arts types, and there was also the reason that Comet's assimilation rate had greatly increased after the rift incident. There was also the fact that Dan Ga-yeon's original total Stats were not at the maximum value.

"But why are you asking about Stats?"

"Just wondering. I suddenly wondered who would win if we arm-wrestled."

"I would have won if you hadn't raised your Strength Stats so much."

Dan Ga-yeon grumbled. It seemed her pride was hurt that she was being pushed back by strength even though she was a martial arts type.

The car arrived at the hotel. Soldiers were controlling the area around the hotel. Comet wondered if someone even more important than the Chairwoman was coming, seeing that guards were posted around the surrounding buildings as well.

Following the guidance, they moved to the Grand Hall. The Grand Hall was as spacious and luxurious as any hotel's Grand Hall, but the decorations and composition were somewhat restrained.

Round seats were visible. Comet went to the seat with her name on it and sat down. Dan Ga-yeon sat next to her.

"But why here, of all the hotels?"

"Huh?"

Comet pointed to one wall. It was the direction of the podium. It had been partially destroyed during the rift incident, revealing the outside. It looked very dangerous, and the sunlight was ruining the atmosphere of the Grand Hall. The wind was whistling in as well.

"You'd think there would be at least one intact hotel in Seoul."

"Ah, that? I heard they chose this place because of that."

"On purpose?"

"Yeah. This ceremony is supposed to inform the citizens of Seoul about the government's achievements. But the Chairwoman thought that holding the ceremony in a perfect place would be counterproductive, so she chose here."

Dan Ga-yeon looked behind her. There were media cameras and people who appeared to be journalists.

"They'll probably use photos and videos that subtly reveal that part for media reports. To give the feeling that the government has achieved results even in this difficult situation. Since only saving the Seoul area isn't something to be proud of. They're emphasizing that they're working hard and making efforts."

Come to think of it, the direction of the media cameras was subtly off. They were filming the podium, but they were subtly skewed towards the broken wall.

Comet shook her head. They really live a hard life. I should stay away from the political arena.

They had arrived a bit early, so there was some time to wait. Comet spent the time looking around and gradually fell into a strange mood. It was a new, unfamiliar, unsettling, and awkward feeling.

She hesitated to tell Dan Ga-yeon about this feeling, so she whispered to the Princess instead.

"Something's not right."

『What is it?』

"I don't know if I should be here."

『Why do you think that?』

"Honestly, doesn't a prison suit me better than a place like this?"

『Do you want to go to prison?』

"No. But still."

Comet shook her head slightly.

『Then be proud. You deserve to be here.』

"I haven't really done anything."

『You taught my magic and participated in the relay operation, didn't you? That's enough.』

"The magic was just a momentary whim. I did the relay because I was asked. If there had been no whim or request, I wouldn't have done anything."

『But you did it, didn't you?』

"…I guess so."

『That's enough.』

Comet wanted to argue, but it was difficult. She could definitely argue, but somehow it was difficult. Perhaps it was because there was a desire to be persuaded somewhere in her heart.

Not long after, the Acting President and the Chairwoman attended. The tight security must have been because of the Acting President.

The ceremony began.

"We will now have the national anthem."

A fairly large Korean flag was hung on the podium.

The emcee recited the pledge.

"Before the proud Taegeukgi, I solemnly pledge to devote my loyalty to the eternal glory of a free and just Republic of Korea."

A national anthem instrumental played from the speakers.

There was a bit of static mixed in, as if the speakers were broken.

The wind entered through the broken wall, causing the Korean flag to flutter.

#

The Awakened who had carried out the blocker operation went up onto the podium. The Acting President awarded them medals one by one. Boys and girls presented bouquets of flowers to the Awakened.

Comet, waiting near the podium, muttered to Dan Ga-yeon.

"There are so many people over there, but only the two of us are going up to receive it?"

"Yeah..."

Dan Ga-yeon affirmed in a nervous voice.

"Oh..."

The Awakened, having finished their group photo, came down from the podium. Comet and Dan Ga-yeon went up next. Flashes burst, and the sound of cameras echoed in succession.

"Ugh..."

Dan Ga-yeon groaned softly.

"Don't worry. Your suit looks good on you."

"That's not the problem..."

After a few procedures, the Acting President pinned a medal on them. The Acting President smiled and said quietly.

"We meet again."

"Indeed."

"I hope we have many more occasions to meet in places like this."

"...It's an honor."

Once again, a few more procedures passed. Two girls holding bouquets of flowers came up.

Comet felt familiar with one of the girls approaching. She couldn't remember right away. Slowly, as if floating up, an unimportant memory drifted and became clear.

The girl who had been rescued from the Necromancer stood before Comet. The girl smiled brightly, unlike when she was trapped in the magic circle, shedding tears.

The girl said softly.

"Thank you for saving me."

The bouquet was handed over.

For some reason, Comet found it difficult to receive the light object before her.

Instead, these words came out of her mouth.

"...I wasn't trying to save you."

The girl paused and met Comet's eyes. Comet didn't know what emotion to convey to the girl at this moment.

After a moment, the girl smiled faintly.

"But I was saved, wasn't I?"

The bouquet was embraced.

Comet slowly wrapped her hands around it to hold it securely.

A fragrance was felt.

It was sweet.

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