17 Living in Pain

The mock battle is officially over and the unconscious vice president is surrounded by the member of the student council. Rin and Azusa are among them, with the loli trying to call the infirmary with her terminal.

"Ah, that was an incredible performance, Tatsuya-kun. I was really surprised that you managed to win against Hanzou."

Praise escaped from Mayumi's lips, she doesn't seem to care for Hanzou wellbeing and more interested in how Tatsuya achieved his victory, you can see it in her eyes, insatiable curiosity. Leon is starting to recognize her pattern.

But before she can speak out her curiosity, someone interrupted her midway and the words died in her mouth.

"That's great, Tatsuya-kun!" said Leon as he slapped Tatsuya hard on his shoulder, it makes him flinch slightly, but he showed no other reaction.

Leon ignored the pout on Mayumi face and didn't turn his eyes to her even for a second. He had a feeling that if he did, he's going to be defeated in various ways.

He continues, "It didn't matter how you were able to win the battle, you can formally join the public morals committee now..."

He paused for a moment, then glanced at the unconscious Hanzou with an amused smile.

"Isn't that right, vice president?"

Everyone is confused by Leon's remark, Hanzou is still unconscious and may need further treatment from the infirmary, so it's impossible for him to answer Leon's question.

But under everyone surprised gaze, the unconscious figure of Hanzou is starting to twitch as though hesitating whether to wake up or not.

After a few moments, Hanzou finally opened his eyes. He then slowly trying to stand up on his feet, his gait is awkward and wobbled just like a real hospital patient. It's very convincing, but everyone is looking at him with a weird gaze.

"...Ugh, right... you have...proved to be someone who able to hold your ground and resist the enemy's attack, so it's not impossible...to join the committee." his face flushed from being exposed by Leon, but for the sake of his dignity, he didn't stop and continue his part as an injured person.

But the loli, Azusa is apparently quite oblivious to the vice president predicament and still trying to call the medic.

In the end, Hanzou had no choice. He reluctantly agrees to Leon's inquiry and flees from the room in a hurry, trying to escape from the embarrassing moment of his life.

Today, Tatsuya formally joins the public moral committee. Although Mari is somewhat doubtful with the battle outcome, her responsibility as the chief is still her utmost priority.

Not to mention the losing side, Hanzou didn't raise any objection either, so she decided not to pursue the matter any further.

"Let's go, we are going to visit the committee HQ."

Mari gave the new members an order. From her tone, it's clear that she will not accept any form of refusal.

Meanwhile, Leon started to sweat bullets when he recalled the state of the HQ, it's a bloody mess.

So, his mind started to spin faster than lightning, trying to find a reason to ditch the sinking ship, but someone already caught him by the arm.

"Leon... where do you think you are going?"

Mari stopped Leon who was trying to escape from the scene. Even though she is a woman, but her hold is very tight.

"Ah, Mari-senpai... I'm going to the committee HQ."

Leon's mouth twisted into a wry smile.

"Is that so... but unfortunately, our HQ is not that way, follow me."

Leon is dragged away by Mari, she also sent a glance towards Tatsuya, prompting him to follow her, leaving the rest in the practice room.

The Committee HQ is not that far from the practice room, it only takes a few minutes of walking, but it was uncomfortable for Leon with all the staring from other students. He felt as if the corridor had grown longer than usual.

It's their first time seeing something like this, so they seemed to be surprised, especially the upperclassmen. To think they would be able to witness Mari-senpai, the thorny beauty pulling a young man along the school corridor. This is more than just a rare occasion, so the students gave Leon a gaze filled with envy and resentment.

Tatsuya silently followed them from behind, his eyes twinkled with mirth that made Leon want to punch him in the face. He should have attacked Tatsuya without asking for permission in the practice room earlier, Leon cursed in his mind.

Three minutes passed and Tatsuya happiness is short-lived when he saw the state of committee HQ. But under Leon shocked gaze, he asked Mari if it's okay for him to clean the room. She also somewhat taken aback by Tatsuya request, but happy nonetheless.

But in the end, the two lazy students ended up helped Tatsuya to clean the HQ, they are uncomfortable to stay still and chat when Tatsuya alone trying to clean the whole place.

-Beep-

As Leon opened his mobile terminal, he can't stop himself from clicking his tongue.

"Leon, you look annoyed, what's wrong?" Mari asked in wonder.

"Ah, it's nothing. I've gotten a lot of spam lately..."

"You may want to visit the technical room on the second floor. They will be able to help you with it."

"...There's no need. I will figure it out by myself."

Leon rejected Mari's suggestion right away. Somehow, the idea of letting other people touching his private stuff is making him very uncomfortable.

So, if possible, he will take care of it by himself. It's not like it's a serious problem. In the end, it's just a mere annoyance to him.

If he only knew...

==============================

In the City of Roswell, New Mexico, USNA. There is a solemn exchange between two people clad in Stars uniform inside the Stars Headquarters, they're USNA military organization that has the reputation of being the most powerful force of Magicians in the world.

One of them is a man, he seems to have absolute authority in his posture and military uniform. It's clear that he is someone influential from the high place.

The man slowly opened his mouth to speak to a beautiful woman clad in the same military uniform.

"Major Angelina Kudou Shields, as of now, you're hereby released from your duties."

"!!"

The woman addressed as Major Angelina was taken aback by the words of her superior. She was lost for words because she is the ace of stars and one of the strongest magicians in USNA.

So, it's impossible for USNA to abandon her.

It's never crossed her mind even for a second, the pride and awareness inside her as the strategic-class magician didn't allow it, even if it just an imagination.

She knew this well, that's why a bad feeling started to emerge in the pit of her stomach.

Her bad feeling proven to be true when her superior continues his words.

"Your new mission is Search and Destroy. First-Lieutenant Walker has been identified as a deserter and you are hereby ordered to find and eliminate him at all cost."

"...Deserter? How is that possible..."

Disbelief could be seen in the blue eyes of blond-haired beauty called Angelina.

Once again she received an unpleasant mission to execute one of her comrades by her own hand.

"Major! This is an order! there's no need for doubt. He has been ignoring the message from the HQ and didn't submit any report or intelligence. This can be considered as treason. Thus, he must be eliminated at once."

"...Understood!"

Angelina gave the man a military salute before leaving the Stars HQ to prepare for her mission. It's not her first time to assassinate her former comrade and it's not going to be the last either, such is her duty.

In Angelina apartment, she stood in front of a portrait with three children in it, The one in the middle is Angelina, she was hugged by two children with a happy smile on their face.

Looking at the portrait, Angelina expression is calm, but deep sadness was depicted in her eyes and her voice is dripping with grief.

"God may forgive me... but I never can..."