"Great work, Ethel!"
"We couldn't have done it so smoothly without you!"
"You did an excellent job."
As soon as Lyle's team returned, they immediately gathered around Ethel, expressing their gratitude. Without him, today's operation would likely have ended with far more casualties.
Instead of accepting the praise, Ethel looked directly at Lyle.
"I'm sorry... for using you as bait."
In truth, during that critical moment, it hadn't been Lyle's own decision to charge forward and draw the demon's attention. It had been Ethel's order. Even knowing there was a high chance Lyle would end up trapped in an unavoidable attack, he had still given the command.
Lyle merely shrugged, completely unconcerned.
"As long as it worked out, that's all that matters. I trusted you, and I trusted Captain Oenone. That's enough for me. But now you owe me one."
He extended his hand.
Ethel accepted the handshake.
Of course, he had no idea that the favor would eventually involve dressing up in full punk fashion and walking through town beside Lyle.
A few minutes later, Abby's squad returned from farther away, every member wearing an excited grin.
Voices overlapped as everyone enthusiastically discussed what they had just accomplished. For many of the newcomers, it felt like they had achieved the impossible.
Oenone simply watched them with a gentle smile. There were many thoughts on her mind, but seeing the smiles on her teammates' faces was enough.
"Ethel."
Yinbing quietly called to him from the shadows. She raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to keep quiet before beckoning him over.
"What is it?"
"Do you have a driver's license?"
"Huh? Yeah, I do. Why?"
"You're driving on the way back."
"...Why—"
Yinbing opened her palm.
It was covered with burn blisters. Some had already burst, with clear fluid still seeping out.
"What happened?"
Ethel frowned in confusion.
Hadn't Yinbing erased the steam completely? Why were her hands covered in burns?
"My Concept only erases Force itself. Once the Concept has altered reality, I can't erase the results."
Seeing Ethel staring blankly, Yinbing rolled her eyes.
"In other words, I can erase the steam."
"But not the heat the steam leaves behind."
"Then why did you jump straight into it? Are you insane?"
"I was wearing the protective suit Captain Oenone made for me."
Because of the suit, the rest of Yinbing's body had remained completely unharmed.
But because of her own Concept, her hands automatically erased Oenone's Concept on contact, leaving them completely exposed to the extreme heat.
Watching Ethel's expression, Yinbing rolled her eyes again before lightly knocking him on the head with her forearm.
"I've jumped in like that countless times. Captain Oenone and I have been fighting like this for over ten years."
"You'd better get used to it."
"Then why call me over? I thought you didn't want everyone else to know."
"They're all so happy right now. I don't want to ruin it."
"It's nothing serious anyway."
"So... you're driving us home."
"Alright."
"Thanks, Ethel."
The two stood quietly off to one side, watching the others celebrate like excited children.
Eventually, Oenone finally got everyone moving again, reminding them that it was already getting late.
---
Neither Abby nor Lyle questioned why Ethel was driving on the return trip.
As the adrenaline from battle faded, both of them quickly nodded off in the back seat.
"So?"
"How was the Third Division?"
"Exciting... but without any real disasters."
"I figured."
"You're the only one who saw every danger."
"Any questions? Better ask while everything's still fresh."
"There was one thing."
"Those bombs containing Captain Tia's Concept."
"I thought Force couldn't be stored."
"Normally, it can't."
"But once it's transformed through a Concept, it can remain stable."
"Take Lyle's rain clouds, for example. They can stay there indefinitely unless he dismisses them himself."
"So there really was Captain Tia's Concept inside them?"
Yinbing shifted around until she was curled comfortably in the passenger seat before continuing.
"Yep."
"Imagine there's a miniature sun sealed inside."
"The energy is so unstable that we have to lock it inside an incredibly durable casing."
"So we put dozens of locks on it."
"And then Abby's Concept removes those locks..."
"...and just like that, you've got a ready-made bomb."
"You're quick."
"Our philosophy is simple."
"There's no such thing as a useless Concept."
"If you're a Concept User, we'll find some way to make your ability useful."
"That helmet of yours was created the same way."
After saying that, Yinbing let out an enormous yawn.
Although she'd only participated in the final assault, she'd expended a tremendous amount of energy.
Her role had been brief—
—but also the most dangerous.
Now that the tension had faded, exhaustion finally caught up with her, and before long she drifted off to sleep.
Seeing that, Ethel decided not to disturb her.
He simply drove in silence.
---
By the time they returned to Central Headquarters, Ethel gently woke the three sleeping passengers.
Still rubbing their eyes, they climbed out of the vehicle.
One glance at Oenone's truck told him everything.
Everyone over there had fallen asleep too.
"Alright, everyone."
"Go get some rest."
"Tomorrow evening, six o'clock in the lounge."
"Dinner's on me."
She received only a few half-conscious responses.
Everyone was utterly exhausted.
After the group dispersed, only Ethel and Oenone remained in the parking lot.
"That's what happens after too much excitement."
"You completely crash."
"I was exactly the same when I was younger."
"What does Captain Tia think?"
"I don't know."
"But at least... now I have a few bargaining chips."
"I'll find a chance to talk to her."
"Come on."
Oenone grabbed Ethel's hand and started walking.
"Where are we going?"
"Dinner."
"You're the only one left who can keep me company."
"Captain's orders."
"I don't think that's what a Captain's authority is for."
Despite the complaint, Ethel followed her anyway.
"So."
"What do you feel like eating?"
"Meat."
"I happen to know quite a few excellent restaurants."
"I'll show you."
The two continued chatting as they walked side by side.
At last—
the long day finally came to an end.
ns216.73.217.139da2
and then Add to home screen.