Death Reaper

P.S. I change some terms with more pleasing sounded words. Powered Exoskeleton -> Exosuit; Equipment Tent -> Armory Tent.

"Yes, The Death Reaper," Lilian said excitedly, her eyes sparkling childishly, "Who doesn't know the legend about a young female sergeant from the Central Army's Logistic Brigade who, even without a mecha, dared to storm deep into the first level Predator Arachnoid Motherbrood's nest in Myrkviðr? With a pair of black sabers in her hands, she singlehandedly slaughtered the entire nest, even killing two Motherbroods, and rescued a group of scientists who were trapped in the expedition, including the well-known genius and also General Armstrong's daughter, Jeanne Armstrong. They say with every swing of her saber, one monster would be sliced apart! And her movements were so fast and nimble that her enemy couldn't even catch her shadow! From then on, the young female sergeant has been worshipped as the Death Reaper. What do you think of my story?"

"Uum… it's so wicked?"

"Don't you think so?" Lilian gave Keiko a wink and teasing smile, "Isn't that the reason why you got the Ernesto First-Class Merit, your excellency Second Lieutenant the Death Reaper~?"

Keiko didn't reply, only let out wry laughter. Though she seemed calm on the surface, her palm broke out in cold sweat, and she screamed inwardly, 'That's not me, okay?! That's not me…! Well, technically that was me, but…. Aaaah!'

Lilian didn't notice her mental struggle and asked curiously, "Honestly, Lieutenant Keiko, why did you move to the Western Army from the Central Army? You're Miss Jeane's savior after all. How could General Armstrong willingly send you to the military base in such a remote area?"

"I don't know either. This is an order from the people above." Keiko replied. This official answer would not have any flaws, so she answered without much hesitation.

Lillian nodded in approval and said, "I really don't understand what the people above are thinking."

"But Lieutenant Keiko, can you tell me if Miss Jeanne is as beautiful and intelligent as the rumors say?" She asked again.

'Duh, why does this girl ask so many questions? I don't remember this Jeanne either,' Keiko really has a hard time dealing with a chatterbox like Lilian.

Thinking quickly in her mind, she replied after a while.

"Why are you asking me again? You should have seen Miss Lannie's picture."

"Indeed, but I don't have the honor to witness the real person with my own eyes," Lilian said regretfully.

"Well, it's actually not much different from the photo." Keiko spurted a lie without batting an eye.

"For real? I really want to see her with my own eyes." Lilian's eyes lit up.

What kind of person was this Miss Jeanne who captivated Lillian? Although Keiko was curious at the moment, she still prayed that Lillian, who was a blabbermouth, would stop talking to her.

Fortunately, Second Lieutenant Leoz, who had never uttered a word all along the trip, had already led them out of the southern bunker and arrived at the large armory tent.

This big tent was as spacious as a basketball court with more than one roof on top of it. Keiko entered her account, took her new combat uniform under the guidance of the logistics soldiers, and then tried the new exosuit.

All soldiers' exosuit wear was arranged in a neat and orderly manner and stored in the armory tent according to the soldier's number.

During non-combat periods, these equipments' power sources need to be charged and adjusted by the logistics soldiers. When the soldiers gathered for an emergency mission, they would go to the tent to wear the exosuit first. Skilled soldiers only needed less than ten seconds to wear it.

In Keiko's era, the exosuits were only a concept product and were not widely used and It ran on a hybrid fuel.

Today, they were as common as guns, and their energy sources had also been replaced by a new and more efficient energy source that Keiko heard about for the first time—source crystal.

Source crystal was a new type of ore produced after the outbreak of nuclear war and the great change in the earth's crust.

The source crystal could generate as much energy as a small nuclear power plant, yet it was safer and more durable than the latter, so it became widely used.

Mechas and exosuits, including vehicles and other vehicles, were now using this new energy source as their main fuel.

'It's not as difficult as I thought it would be…'

Although this was the first time she wore the exosuit by herself, her movement wasn't awkward at all. The movements and steps seemed to be engraved in her instinct, and she finished wearing it naturally.

"What a pity, Lieutenant Keiko. I can only accompany you here since I still have other tasks to do next."

"Yeah, what a pity."

Despite what she said, Keiko was secretly overjoyed that the girl was finally leaving.

"Then we'll see you again tonight."

Lilian smiled and saluted Keiko, then glanced at Leoz, and turned to leave.

"Second Lieutenant Lee, please come with me. I will take you to meet Antonio."

"Sorry for the trouble."

The taciturn Leoz finally spoke, which was replied to by Keiko with a nod.

---

Keiko met Antonio in the lieutenant's tent in the southwest of the camp.

Her savior was not much different from the image she imagined.

The Italian sergeant of the mecha brigade was tall and strong, with short blond hair. His face is angular, his green eyes are sunken, deep, and charming. He was a very charming man.

It just seems to be a bit rigid and obedient, like a typical soldier who takes military orders first.

"Second Lieutenant! It's such a pleasure to see you again!" Antonio said excitedly after saluting Keiko and Leoz.

"Thank you very much for saving me, sergeant, I admire your courage and perseverance." Keiko smiled. If it wasn't for this silly soldier who carried her to Sleipnir, she would have ended her short life now and gone to meet God. Therefore, this gratitude comes from the heart.

"Second lieutenant, I'm not worthy of your praise. Compared to when you were still a sergeant like me, your deed was something more admirable than me."

Antonio said quickly, the tall man, who was nearly 1.9 meters tall, was ashamed. He blushed in a hurry.

Keiko was taken back for a moment, realizing that he was talking about the "Death Reaper". A feeling of powerlessness appeared in her heart. She just smiled and nodded.

"Are you injured?" Keiko asked again.

"I'm fine. Thank you, Second Lieutenant, for your concern."

"Do you get along well with Lieutenant Leoz?"

"It's quite good, Lieutenant. Lieutenant Leoz is a rigorous and pragmatic soldier. I've learned many things from him."

"Well, we are in the right-wing army now. We should be more careful when we talk and do things, lest we offend powerful people and provoke disaster. There will be a bonfire party tonight. You can prepare it and report to my tent at 6 o'clock in the evening. In addition, tomorrow at noon, we are going to leave Sleipnir and let you know in advance."

Keiko noticed that she used the way her superiors dealt with subordinates. She used to be a commander in the army anyway, and she understood how to talk to the soldiers under her.

"Ma'am, Yes Ma'am!"

Antonio answered loudly, with his feet together, with a "snap", standing at attention.

Keiko was silent for a while, thinking about what else she had to say to Antonio in her mind, and finally remembered that there was still something she needed to confirm.

"By the way, did Lieutenant Lu Diyun and Lieutenant Seol-Hyun Ae contact you?"

"I have spoken to the lieutenant in person and reported our current situation. Second Lieutenant Seol-Hyun Ae did not contact me. After all, I am your direct subordinate."

"Seriously? I'm troubling you."

Keiko frowned, pinched her chin, and thought about what she should prioritize next, then replied absentmindedly.

"Second lieutenant is so serious, you have been in a coma before, I just do what I should do."

Keiko was taken aback by his response. Seeing that the sergeant was so excited just because she casually said "trouble", she felt that she had underestimated the charm of the original owner of her body. More reason for her to quickly get a better understanding of this "Keiko Lee".

"I'm still not fully recovered yet, so I'm going back to the medical tent first to get a rest."

She added just before stepping out of the tent.

"And, remember to report at six o'clock."

"Ma'am, yes ma'am!"