First Mission

2 weeks later. In Choliac's incomplete Fleet's hangar. The gates were left open, and hundreds of people were walking while it was still early in the morning. Yet, the hangar was nearly filled up.

At this moment, nobody noticed, but a person nobody liked walked in with a glowing-eyed, insanely universal, cosmic beauty walking beside him. Besides her innate elegance, pride, and definite features, her eyes were like a child's looking at things she had only heard of before, finally seeing them with her own eyes from up close. Her eyes became more dashing when she looked at the Supreme Battleship several kilometers away from the open hatch, whose array formation formed a barrier to act as a window wall.

"Hyaaah," Milyy wore an obscure, golden sheath dress with a longer skirt, exposing her shoulders and arms. The rosy paleness of her skin made it more contrasting with anything else in the hangar, even as the light and surroundings were neatly decently decorated. She looked at Heian Ciemnosc and grabbed his right arm in her embrace simultaneously. She looked at him admonishingly as if mad, but her eyes' joy exposed her contentedness. "Why didn't you tell me it was this spacious?! Woooaaah! That's a Frigate, right?! So different from the Blauw Empire's navy..."

"Ah, a Cruiser! So that's why they can fit in the Carrier, huh... No wonder Sister Alyona grinned so much after I asked her. Woah, Heian Ciemnosc, which is your Frigate?!" Milyy said, pointing and staring everywhere before pulling and pushing him lightly. She was childish, but her charm also came into effect, and Heian Ciemnosc felt slightly more relaxed walking with a beauty wearing his recently created dress for his wife. The process was simple. He showed her various styles and asked which. Then, Milyy chose whichever she liked the most, a color, and Heian Ciemnosc took her measures by hand and tongue.

In the end... Heian Ciemnosc and Milyy talked about life several times before completing her dress. However, Heian Ciemnosc came with his Faction uniform, all Earth grade. The grading wasn't that uncommon, and some had more than 1 spare set, but it was still a luxury that all soldier units, even auxiliary units, had to struggle for several months before gaining a complete armor set and weapon from the Faction. When it was known Heian Ciemnosc could make these, and for a negligible —free— price, he was sought by many females, of course.

"Over there, let's go," Heian Ciemnosc said as he aimed at the Frigate, whose commander still wasn't letting go of every opportunity to put extra heavy weights on Heian Ciemnosc's shoulders at every training they had. Even last week, when another space exercise took place, Heian Ciemnosc suffered the heavy responsibility of racing through tiny gaps and under enemy fire to ensure he was fast and agile enough to remain in the Team, which he was already officially part of. What the commander did was illegal, but since Heian Ciemnosc accomplished her requisites, nothing happened, so there was no proof of anything.

"Ahem, excuse me, young ones." But then, an aged voice sounded towards them. Milyy's eyes focused, and she looked at the old fellow walking towards them with wide eyes as if meeting an obstacle to enjoying a good time with Heian Ciemnosc's coworkers. On the other hand, Heian Ciemnosc looked at commander Choliac with surprise, wondering what the oldie planned. But the latter didn't give any thrill to the notion, as he said to Heian Ciemnosc before looking at Milyy solemnly.

"Greetings, Heian Ciemnosc. Your performance these days was tremendous. I hope you will improve soon... Madam, you are welcome to come here any time you wish. It's your hangar if you so wish to. A sister from our Chairwoman's is another mother for us, her soldiers." The oldie's words were well welcomed by Milyy as Heian Ciemnosc's eyebrows rose, and the people around them became silently overwhelmed. The sister of what? Wait, no... They bullied the partner who is a sister of who?!

"Aah~, I see!" Milyy's feline eyes relaxed and returned to look like a Human's. She extended her right hand towards the old commander, who bowed even more deeply as she said, "Thank you for your words. I will be coming here more habitually, hehe. They come at the right time. I was starting to feel reaaally bored being locked in my husband's bedroom from morning to noon without him. Sigh, I'm itching to know space as much as your people do, eeeh!"

"Hum, hum, hum!" The old commander chuckled with his mouth closed. He elevated his tone as he said. "You are one for each other. The intelligence and beauty of your children will be unprecedented!"

"..." Murmurs echoed everywhere. Knowing their old commander well. The fact he was acting so well-mannered with someone other than his superiors meant only one thing... respect! However, what was more was that the person he showed respect to was seemingly the outcast's partner? And they were married?! While they shocked each other silly, Heian Ciemnosc and Milyy were chatted up by the craft old fox before being allowed to meet with Heian Ciemnosc's Frigate people.

Heian Ciemnosc walked Milyy, who was all smiley and looked like a princess showing her prince husband off. When they arrived before the Frigate's spot, the sub-commander greeted Milyy, ignoring Heian Ciemnosc. "Greetings, madam. It's an honor to see you. For your information, and whenever you wish, our commander will be waiting for you inside the Frigate. She hopes to see you soon, if possible."

"Aaah~, I will be there some time, then. Thanks," Milyy faced the sub-commander and said without much emphasis. The sub-commander nodded and sidestepped, making Heian Ciemnosc imaginarily shake his head. If only he was treated with the respect of an Auxiliary Soldier, he wouldn't feel weird seeing his sub-commander act like a little dog before his wife.

Walking towards his Team, Heian Ciemnosc was dearly embraced of his right arm by Milyy, who wouldn't let go even if he tried pushing her away. But why would Heian Ciemnosc do that? She was already fighting for his reputation, and it felt goddamn good to have her by his side. He didn't plan to use her to get into the good side of the others. He wasn't that childish anymore, and she was his wife. However, Milyy had her designs and had planned to boost her husband's image. How could she fail?

"... Hey, Heian Ciemnosc, I take it you knew what was up. Good..." Beto stepped forward and presented himself before Heian Ciemnosc with a good-natured, tall, and reserved woman by his side. His right arm was on her lower back, and she smiled politely at them. Beto seemed to want to ask something but fell short of words as he probably felt too inferior to do so. Milyy tilted her head to the right, and just as she turned to Heian Ciemnosc, he politely said, "This is my wife, Milyy. I met her when I was still in the Wrath Nihility Academy."

"Woah, wife?! So amazing! Damn, gurl. We'll be taking you to some chatting before letting you inside the Frigate. Who knows how long you will stay there." Cara came over with a chick as well. However, they didn't seem to be in an amorous relationship, but as comrades. Probably because they didn't want or couldn't find a suitable suitor. She walked over and dragged Heian Ciemnosc's Milyy from his arm. With a Soul message, Heian Ciemnosc told Milyy it was okay, and she left with the girls.

Milyy knew about the females in his Team. He has been telling her everything during the 2 weeks he's trained with them, so how could she not? However, even with Heian Ciemnosc's reassurance, Milyy didn't want to stay with other women for long, let alone males. She'd probably disappear them with a thought if anyone dared approach her, as she 'similarly' did to him by accident.

'Hmm... Now that I think about it, Master saved me. If she hadn't told Milyy about me and how to become my wife, she might've not stopped, even if I was supposed to be her mom's one and only disciple.' Heian Ciemnosc became pensive as Beto came over to him, with his girl also taken away by the queen of the Team, while the Team's mommy was pulled with 'boredom' written all over her poor soul.

Pat! "Hey, Heian Ciemnosc," Beto placed his left arm on Heian Ciemnosc's shoulders and neatly brought him where the macho males were left alone. Clanton seemed to have brought someone, also taken away, but a guy was beside Moy. However, like Cara, they didn't seem to share an amorous bond and came here just as friends. As Heian Ciemnosc and Beto walked there, Beto commented to him, "I didn't know you had such skills. Well, I mean... those 'rumors' and that our Chairwoman says nothing about them... But what I'm trying to say here is... wow!"

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"Mnn... I get what you're saying," Heian Ciemnosc politely said after Beto simply shook his head and exaggeratedly blinked. Beto could tell something from his words and no longer spoke about Milyy. He nudged his head upwards in the guy's direction beside Moy and said, "He is Loan, and contrary to his funny name and possible title, he's timid. Mn, he's just a friend from Moy. Clanton's partner was a hot chick, shortie, but very fresh. I'm saying this so you don't mistake them for easy prey and go after them."

"Huh?" Heian Ciemnosc wasn't amused as he turned towards Beto quizzically. Beto understood and commented, "Usually, when this happens, in the first 2 or 3 years. Even when the newbies know what this is about and what to expect from others' words, some tend to think they can hit anywhere they set their gazes on. This includes both males and females."

"That really happens, huh?" Heian Ciemnosc narrowed his eyes and commented. Beto nodded and reaffirmed his words, "Of course. It is precisely because of their delusional minds that a drama or 2 happens yearly, but it's expected. It's just... nobody wants their Team to have that shame, and much less after our previous incident, you know?"

"Ah, I see..." Heian Ciemnosc said, not offering much wording. Beto patted Heian Ciemnosc's left shoulder before letting go, as they were within the boy-male circle of their Team, and asked with a cheeky grin. "Why? Don't tell me you are now worried about your wife? Judging by her attitude... she should be in the Third Step... right? Nobody in that Step dares to try something against another in the same without the superiors' knowledge. It's like they're their second parents or the ones they never had and all that stuff."

"Mm, no," Heian Ciemnosc shook his head. Then, he casually looked at Beto and said in a curious tone, "So, how does it usually go?"

"Well, believe it or not, it's like a curse. Whoever the delusional newbies pry on, that person might end up wallowing someplace with their desired target. Actually, whenever these delusional folks try something, they go after other newbies who are just as delusional. Only a few times have some newbies go after the older generations, like us and my partner. Anyways, why are you asking?" Beto explained.

"Oh, nothing. Hey, one more thing," Heian Ciemnosc shook his head dismissively, and Beto nodded. When he added those words, Beto felt a premonition but couldn't tell what it was. Beto looked at Heian Ciemnosc and waited for the latter to say something. Heian Ciemnosc asked, "How long has it been since your partner became an Auxiliary Soldier?"

"She's a Soldier now, and it's been 3 years. Why?" Beto answered. Heian Ciemnosc nodded once slowly, then pouted and nodded slightly repeatedly. "So that's why she sent me a Soul message telling me how many days I have before she can no longer receive me in her bedroom!"

"PTUUUUI!" - "Puchi..." - "...!"

Moy spilled a drink he was having, making a mess on the floor. The silent guy stared at Heian Ciemnosc and Beto, his eyes widening at the last moment with alarm. Clanton tried holding his chuckle, suddenly bending over and holding his stomach, but ended cracking several seconds later.

"Hahahaha!" - "Dammit...!" When Clanton's laughter sounded in the boy's group, Beto threw a glass he barely held and hadn't taken a sip to the floor. He was annoyed and bothered but showed no rage towards Heian Ciemnosc, only to himself for falling for it. He shook his head and reclined on a box behind him with arms spread, "Siiiigh!"

"..." Heian Ciemnosc remained silent as he watched Milyy chat with the girlies. She wasn't feeling out of it completely, from the looks of it, but she constantly looked towards him, begging him to bring her away. Unfortunately, Heian Ciemnosc only walked towards her to pick her up 20 minutes later. When they left his team members and leader. They entered the Frigate to see the commander. There was no business. The commander just wanted to meet Milyy after hearing about her from the other Security Elders.

... Heian Ciemnosc and Milyy spent a couple hours there, with the commander ignoring him 95% of the time, which was an improvement. If this was the Heian Ciemnosc from before, it would've been a 110% ignoring rate and not a diminutive 95%! As Heian Ciemnosc began feeling his wife's efforts and the old commander's helpful, loud words, the time for his training neared closer.

Milyy was invited to stay with the commander as they would carry out space exercises. However, Milyy refused and went with Heian Ciemnosc towards his free spot, where they boarded the Ornament. However, Milyy promised to visit after today's event, and a lot, especially during space exercises, and that she would accompany the commander to watch Heian Ciemnosc's spectacular growth in his individual, strategic, and formation piloting techniques and logistics.

With such wise, hidden-meaning words, Heian Ciemnosc saw the commander look at him with narrowed eyes that weren't about to force him into an exhaustive hell, but... praisingly!

Afterwards, Heian Ciemnosc brought Milyy into space in the Ornament. The beginning was as usual. Slowly cooperating to come out of the hangar and set their formations before taking a different empty space for every spaceship to train their Fighters and movements within their vessel.

There, Milyy experienced what Heian Ciemnosc had gone through without her. How could he?! It was so much fun! Exciting! And she could even imagine the enemy coming at them, trying to destroy them, but being destroyed back in return for thinking they could harm the Crimsonbreaking Faction! However, she forgave him. After all, not only did Heian Ciemnosc bring her to a party, and one where it was pretty everywhere, filled with spaceships and the universe as a window. She was now in his Fighter, feeling all the tremendously—sudden movements and tugs in space as their bodies were under heavy pressure in the Ornament.

Although she was a being, the sensation didn't go away, even though she wasn't afflicted. What Heian Ciemnosc experienced in his first training, Milyy was going through it now and enjoying it to the best of her heart's joy. Heian Ciemnosc was too busy following orders, but he did not miss his wife entangling her arms around his neck and thanking him with hickeys and smooches all around his face before returning to her seat. Once, twice... time and again.

. . .

After 7 hours of space exercises, Heian Ciemnosc's Fighter unlatched from the Frigate and slowly flew to his empty spot.

Whoosh- thud-ank~!

The Ornament slowly moved forwards until it arrived at Heian Ciemnosc's spot before descending with a sound claiming the end of the training. Its cabin's windows opened, revealing Heian Ciemnosc and Milyy, as the latter smiled wonderfully, dazing half the hangar, as the other half was resting on the floor, sitting or lying down in relaxation.

Step, step, step, step, step, step!... Thud, thud.

Just before Heian Ciemnosc landed his feet on the hangar's floor, still sweating from the training, and picking Milyy's waist as she came down, smiling at him with hunger in her eyes. Several types of. Heian Ciemnosc heard footsteps of many people rushing towards each Second Step Team in the hangar. Heian Ciemnosc looked at Beto, somewhat alarmed but mostly calm. Beto looked at him and gestured him to calm down coolly as he walked to meet up with a few Third Step soldier units walking towards them, not from this hangar, but the main Fleet.

"Hmm!" Milyy looked at Heian Ciemnosc and said, placing him in sudden confusion at her antics. Before long, she held his ears and cheeks for several seconds before letting go. During her playtime, she smiled, and her eyes were contented. Then, she faced the front, and that was when Beto returned to the Team after talking with the main Fleet's soldier units.

"Regroup," Beto called out slightly. Everyone else was waiting, with only Heian Ciemnosc not knowing what was happening, while Milyy, the long ears, heard it despite the Third Step barrier placed around Beto and those soldier units.

Beto looked at everyone before setting his eyes on Heian Ciemnosc for a few extra seconds before relaying the news to the whole Team. "We have a mission. In 3 weeks, we'll go with a merchant fleet. They aren't much, just 3 small-sized and 1 medium-sized vessel. We'll escort them to a mobile station from a Fourth Step organization. This is purely to ensure they can send their goods. The likelihood of being attacked is high, but the priority is what's in the vessels, nothing else."

"Heard!" - "Got it, boss." - "Understood, what else?" The Team responded to the team leader, and Heian Ciemnosc rapidly understood what happened. They were notified of a mission. And they had to secure whatever terms the Crimsonbreaking Faction had arranged with the employer. Since Beto emphasized the importance of the materials and the fleet they ought to protect over the lives of the merchants, it was clear it would be dangerous.

Then, Beto looked at Heian Ciemnosc and said, seemingly in a professional way, and not because Heian Ciemnosc was a member of his Team. "Heian Ciemnosc, you must participate in another 3 space exercises to be eligible for this mission. There's another one in 3 days. The one today was arranged because of the event. The next one will be a bit harsher, with only fighting simulation. This information was supposed to be known to non-leading figures a day before, but I'm telling you now."

"We are down 1 Fighter, and our Frigate will remain in the Carrier, so we need all the hands we can get. But we are Crimsonbreaking. We do not ask for joint missions, and we refuse any other! There's no one in this world who can fight side by side with us. Be it by strength, capability, or honor!" Beto said, placing his heart in every sentence.

"I understand, team leader," Heian Ciemnosc cleaned his palms on his uniform pants. His itchiness wasn't satiated, but Milyy held her hands and narrowed her eyes, which looked at him encouragingly and seductively like a cat's craft gaze.

"Good, we'll wait and see if you are lucky enough to have so many space exercises after these 3 days. Mm... today, you've shown great improvement. I can almost ensure you can fight head-to-toe with a peak Second Step cultivator. Keep it up." Beto said, leaving those encouraging words behind as he grabbed his chick's ass and furiously walked her out of the hangar. Even if it was a rotten apple, that chick had to pay, no?

"..." - "..." On the other hand, the rest of the Team left Heian Ciemnosc and Milyy alone, not caring about him and not wanting to bother her. The pair of stupid lovebirds looked at each other, and the light in Heian Ciemnosc's darkest eyes indicated how much of a goddess Milyy would feel like tonight. Ah! Today, Hong Mei was visiting Heian Ciemnosc, too... It was bound to be a first and special night...

...