Lioness in a Wolf Pack

Snacking on her kebab while the others in line clapped for the General, whose speech was very interesting and emotional, really made one think of their purpose in life and all that. Mitsuna observed the other higher-ups who didn't seem quite pleased about her lack of a reaction.

The General dismissed the applauding soldiers.

"Everyone here, get to know each other. The people in this squadron will become your new brothers and sisters. You will move out the day after tomorrow at daybreak, towards your first-ever warzone."

As people started speaking to one another and discussing both the magical bullets and revolver they had received, Mitsuna could only glance at the forming groups of 'comrades' with no intention of joining them.

Throwing a glance at the General and other higher-ups who started to seemingly mingle amongst themselves, discussing the new soldiers mostly, Mitsuna saw no reason to stay there.

'I wonder how much I could modify the revolver before it self-destructs... actually, let's try not having it implode or explode.'

With a final glance at her fellow soldiers, she saw a man in a nearby group attempting to wave her over yet she decided to act as if she didn't see it due to the red-haired kid with anger problems talking within the group. It's better to avoid annoying people like that, is what she thought as she turned away and started walking towards her inn.

'I should ask to get my money back since I'll be leaving overmorrow.'

Before she could walk too far away, however,

"Sniper."

The General spoke to her.

Stopping in her tracks with a quiet sigh, she turned back around.

The General along with most of the other higher-ups present were there.

"Why don't you introduce yourself to your new comrades and superiors?"

He asked with a neutral tone, seeming actually curious.

"Is that a necessity? I'd rather get back to the inn."

"It is no necessity, yet your superiors other than myself here wish to learn more about your character."

Mitsuna glanced at the higher-ups, most of whom seemed displeased by her mere presence.

"I doubt the 'character' of a simple soldier would interest 'superiors' like you lot."

"Sniper. Each soldier, regardless of rank, is treated as a comrade on this continent. Less as superiors or inferiors. Though this is most likely news to you."

"The way they're looking at me says otherwise, old man."

Most frowned at the comment about the General, some didn't seem to mind.

"Who do you think you are talking to?"

One of the superiors asked.

"If the old man's statement is true, then just a comrade. A work associate at best."

She replied with a simple glance at the man.

"So can I go, I'd rather not take part in this 'scene' any longer."

The General sighed, most groups and soldiers were now also looking their way.

A gathering of higher-ups talking to one soldier would be a strange sight anywhere.

"You are free to go."

The General dismissed her before turning away and taking his leave, the higher-ups followed.

Mitsuna did the same, paying no heed to the looks of the soldiers and some cross higher-ups.

'Can't I ever just come and go without suddenly being in the centre of a whole scene?'

The General, along with a small gathering of the higher-ups later convened in his office.

"Sir, with all due respect, why is someone with a personality like her's here with your approval? They have no respect."

The General, sitting behind his desk flipped through a few pages, leaving the room silent for a moment before speaking.

"Here."

Pointing at a small amount of pictures in the document after turning the paper around at the gathered higher-ups, he spoke.

"This file contains all the information about her that I could scrape up. This is her."

The first picture was of a girl with white hair sitting on a bench, asleep with a bottle of alcohol in her hands.

"This is..?"

"That's 'Mitsuna' from the latest Sword Saint Festival, right? This latest dark horse?"

"Correct. The soldier you saw today and 'The Saint who Disappeared' are the same person."

The General answered the posed question.

"As I and most of the viewers of the event saw, in the finals she as well as the other 'Generals' fought against an unknown intruder. Though the feed cut out abruptly, she was one of the only survivors and as stated by the others who survived, she was the one who drove away the intruder. The testimonies are within the file, page 36."

The General turned to the page where the testimonies were written before pointing at one in particular.

"This also includes my testimony as I was there at the time, discussing trade with Hendriks, brother of the Sword Saint."

"... So why is a swordswoman in the sniper platoon?"

One of the higher-ups asked after reading through the page.

"She has good aim. Both with and without a Gun. Page 51."

The General flipped to a picture of her flicking a bullet at a distant target.

"There is more, of course."

He continued.

"The one who left the Sword Saint on death's door because of a 'bout'."

The aftermath of the dojo and the state of the Sword Saint were detailed.

"At the Festival, the intruder turned out to be the Maniac of the North."

A picture and details about 'Percy' as well as his fight with Mitsuna and the aftermath left behind in the Bloody Desert were detailed.

"A testimony and loose description from the well-known party -Grace of Wind- hints towards her solo multi-clearing the Dungeon 'The Cave Below Olympus' until it's recorded Level dropped. Her detailed 'Skills' have yet to be verified but 'Diverse Thread Creation' is supposedly one of them along with a strange Debuff Skill."

A picture of a dungeon filled from top to bottom with silk and thread details the events.

"Her recent escapades are not something to scoff at either."

The General flipped to the last few pages of the document. His eyes were narrowed.

"There is no record or testimony that speaks of how she arrived on this continent nor where she originates from. The information about her is lacking."

The General placed the document on his desk.

"The reason she has no 'respect' is that she views us all as so far beneath her that we do not deserve respect. That is what I believe after gathering all the information that I could about her."

There was an air of silence and dread that filled the room.

"Then, if I may ask. Why is she in the position of a soldier and why is she even working for us here?"

"... She has no definite reason to assist our kingdom, our side of the continent. The best possible guess is that it is simply one of her whims. I managed to swindle her into joining the military as a soldier as giving her a deserved position is outside of my influence. Although they are loose, she has morals so she most likely will not simply leave without a proper reason."

"Taking this all into account, General. I must inquire."

One of the higher-ups asked with a deadly serious expression.

"Why allow an unknown variable like her to even join us?"

"The answer to that is simple, Lieutenant General Don. A Tide-Turner like her most definitely cannot fall into the hands of the enemy."

The higher-up grumbled in worry.

"Learn more of her character, her motives and so on while she works. We are walking a fine line here. Do not act overly confident or superior. Do not act overly humble or inferior. This is something I have put into practice myself while dealing with her. We tread carefully around this sensitive bomb. Our pack of wolves now holds a lioness."