Concept: World - Chapter 2: The Shining Star (4)

A black sedan that had been waiting nearby started its engine the moment it spotted them.

It pulled up with perfect precision in front of the three Concept Users.

A young man stepped out of the driver's seat.

He was about the same build as Ethel, with black hair and a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes.

"Greetings, Lord Slithering Serpent."

"My name is Naiji Param, a member of Flash Stride City's First Squad."

"I've been sent by our Commander to escort the three of you."

He shook hands with each of them in turn.

Though he was still young, his palms were covered in thick calluses.

Ethel couldn't help but wonder what kind of training could have left hands like that.

"Don't call me by that title."

Oenone waved dismissively.

"I haven't used that nickname in ages."

"Just call me Oenone."

"Understood, Lady Oenone."

"Please, get in."

After loading their suitcases into the trunk, Ethel climbed into the back seat beside Yinbing, while Oenone took the front passenger seat and began chatting with Naiji.

"Are you new?"

"I don't remember seeing you last year."

"Yes."

"I joined the First Squad a few months ago."

"You look young."

"Twenty?"

"I'll turn twenty next month."

Neither Yinbing nor Ethel joined the conversation.

Diplomatic exchanges between cities were better left to Oenone.

"Was 'Slithering Serpent' Oenone's title?"

Ethel asked quietly.

Just as Tia was known as the Sunflame Princess and Posius as the Hero, every city's Commander possessed a title of their own.

Slithering Serpent had been Oenone's title back when she served in Foamglide City.

"That's right."

"But she doesn't really like it."

"She says snakes sound too sly."

"It doesn't feel like a positive title."

"Didn't she choose it herself?"

"The title?"

Yinbing laughed.

"Yes."

"Titles come from all sorts of places."

"A signature technique is one of the most common."

"Her specialty is fighting with long white strands of foam."

"They look like snakes, so she called herself Slithering Serpent."

"But she's not exactly thrilled about people using it to describe her."

"What about Hughes?"

"What was his title?"

Hughes had been Commander long before Ethel was even born.

He knew almost nothing about the former leader.

"Hughes..."

"I think his title was..."

"...Drunken Phantom."

"...That sounds more like a drunkard."

"Hahaha."

"I thought so too."

"They say anyone who fought him claimed his movements were impossible to predict."

"Like chasing a ghost."

"So they called him the Drunken Phantom."

"But why bother giving everyone titles?"

"Mostly to make them easier to remember."

"I've heard every new Commander reveals their Concept to the other six once they take office."

"It helps when assembling expedition teams."

"...Although..."

Yinbing lowered her voice.

She gestured for Ethel to lean closer.

"What I'm about to say is only speculation."

"I have no idea whether it's true."

"I probably wasn't supposed to hear it."

"I've heard publicizing a Commander's Concept is actually a fairly recent practice."

"Apparently..."

"...it has something to do with the destruction of the Eighth City twenty years ago."

Long ago, humanity had lived across Eight Cities.

Then, one day twenty years earlier...

the Eighth City had been destroyed.

Official records blamed an unimaginably powerful Concept Demon.

As for what Concept it possessed...

no one knew.

Perhaps only those who had participated in the main assault still remembered.

"What does that have to do with making their Concepts public?"

"Maybe..."

"...so the right people can be found immediately during emergencies?"

"I don't know."

"Just think of it as an urban legend."

"Yinbing."

Oenone suddenly turned around.

"What are you two whispering about?"

The pair sprang apart so quickly that it looked as though Soter himself had erected a Reflection Wall between them.

"Nothing!"

"Oh?"

"Really?"

Oenone narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"We're dropping off our luggage first."

"Then we'll head to First Squad Headquarters."

"Same as last year."

"Got it."

She continued staring at the two of them.

Yinbing desperately pretended nothing had happened.

Only after several long seconds did Oenone finally turn back around.

"...That was close."

Watching the back of Oenone's head, Yinbing quietly let out the breath she'd been holding.

Ten minutes later, they were back in the car.

The vehicle soon arrived outside First Squad Headquarters.

Ethel had imagined something resembling Sunblaze City's towering headquarters.

Instead...

the building before him was surprisingly small.

It looked more like an ordinary warehouse.

Only the large sign reading First Squad confirmed they had arrived at the correct destination.

"How many squads does Flash Stride City have?"

"The same as us."

"Three."

"Three squads..."

"...and they all fit inside this tiny building?"

Naiji smiled knowingly.

"Every first-time visitor says the same thing."

"Our headquarters is probably the smallest among all the cities."

"But that's largely because of how we're organized."

"Only First Squad is based here."

"Second and Third Squad have headquarters elsewhere."

"It was the previous Commander's tradition."

"More like a strange obsession."

Oenone chuckled.

"That old man loved locking himself away to do research."

"The former Commander wasn't some strange old man!"

Naiji suddenly shouted.

The outburst startled all three of them.

Without his sunglasses, his eyes shone with unmistakable admiration.

"...Sorry."

"I lost my composure."

"It's alright."

Oenone smiled apologetically.

"I shouldn't have said that either."

"He was an extraordinary man."

An awkward silence settled over the group.

No one spoke again for the rest of the walk.

After leading them to a door painted with a lightning emblem, Naiji quickly excused himself.

Oenone pushed the door open.

"My, my."

"What took you so long?"

A gentle voice greeted them.

Leaning casually against a desk stood someone with straw-colored hair.

A white shirt beneath a light jacket.

Jeans.

Hiking boots.

Simple clothing.

Yet when Ethel's gaze reached the person's face...

he could no longer tell whether he was looking at a man or a woman.

Long, graceful eyebrows and shoulder-length hair gave an elegant, almost feminine impression.

Yet a well-built physique and sharp eyes radiated unmistakable masculinity.

Deep-set eyes.

A straight, sculpted nose.

Brilliant crimson lips.

A tall, graceful frame.

Together they formed a breathtaking beauty.

Standing before him was someone whose appearance rivaled even Kotoha's.

"So?"

Oenone grinned.

"Flash Stride City's Commanders are all ridiculously good-looking, aren't they?"

"...Seriously."

Although the person standing before him was unmistakably male...

Ethel had nearly forgotten to breathe.

That was his first impression of Hermes.

"Hermes!"

"It's been ages!"

Oenone rushed forward and wrapped him in a huge hug.

Hermes returned it—

and then instantly disappeared.

Oenone nearly stumbled forward as the weight in her arms vanished without warning.

"So..."

Hermes' voice came from behind them.

"Is this your new recruit, Yinbing?"

Both Yinbing and Ethel spun around.

Hermes was now standing several meters behind them.

Ethel hadn't seen him move at all.

"Yes, Lord Flash Planet."

"He became a Concept User just over three months ago."

"I see."

"So you're fresh blood."

"Oenone puffed out her cheeks."

"Hey!"

"Don't disappear like that!"

"You almost made me fall over."

"You always do this."

Hermes laughed.

"My apologies."

"But you're the one who's always so clingy."

"So..."

"Is he this year's horse?"

"I remember last year's was quite the character."

Oenone placed a hand proudly on Ethel's shoulder.

"That's right."

"He'll be carrying our luggage for the next few days."

"He's the rising star of our Third Squad."

"I see."

Hermes smiled warmly.

"The road ahead will undoubtedly be difficult."

"I hope you never lose sight of where you began."

"May the stars guide your path."

"Hermes loves astronomy."

Yinbing quietly explained.

"That's why his title is Flash Planet."

"He came up with it himself."

Hermes continued, almost to himself.

"The people around you will always change."

"But every time you look up..."

"...the stars will still be there."

"Watching over you from the brilliant night sky."

"Alright, alright."

Oenone interrupted with a helpless laugh.

"Don't get sentimental every time astronomy comes up."

"If we let you keep talking..."

"...you'd never stop."

Hermes answered with a smile capable of captivating anyone.

"My apologies."

"You're staying for three days, correct?"

"Planning to apply for observation duty again?"

"That's right."

"But definitely not today."

"Naturally."

"I'll schedule it for tomorrow and the day after."

"I'll let you know once everything's confirmed."

"Second Squad or Third Squad?"

"Second."

"Third Squad is on standby these next few days."

"They need the rest."

"Considering you can't fight yourself..."

Oenone looked at him with concern.

"You must've had an exhausting couple of weeks."

"It's nothing."

Hermes shrugged.

"That level of strain is insignificant."

"The others simply refuse to let me participate."

"As they should."

"If anything happened to you..."

"...it would be a disaster for every city."

"Take better care of yourself."

"I will."

Hermes nodded gently.

"Then that's settled."

Oenone clapped her hands.

"We're off to our own battlefield."

"Have fun~~"

Hermes waved them goodbye.

Leaning against the edge of the desk, he watched as the two women eagerly dragged away the "rising star" they had been talking about.

It was a scene he witnessed every year.

And for just a moment...

he found himself wishing that moments like these could remain eternal—

just like the stars.

ns216.73.217.114da2

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