— Kay, we're here! — Mira shook him to wake him up.

— He never changes — Yumi said, laughing.

— The others are already coming down — Mira said, worried. — Don't you know how to wake him up? — Yumi asked.

— He's not even that deep a sleeper... I thought just shaking him would wake him up — Mira replied.

— Let me teach you how to do it! — Yumi said, approaching Kay.

— What are you going to do? — Mira exclaimed, suspicious.

Yumi leaned down to Kay's ear and whispered:

— Master, there's a Ghoul...

Kay woke up suddenly, confused and looking around.

— He really woke up! — Mira said, surprised.

Kay tried to settle down again, but Yumi and Mira pulled him.

— We've already arrived in my country. Let's change vehicles! — Yumi said.

— Are we there yet? — Kay exclaimed, still sleepy.

— It was a five-hour trip and you fell asleep! — Yumi said.

— Sorry... Let's go! — Kay replied, grabbing her things.

— Let me carry your bag — Yumi offered.

— Thank you! — Kay said, as she loaded her weapons.

They got into the helicopter and flew to the Fourth Division base.

— Finally! — Kay exclaimed, being the first to get off.

— How rude! — Nina said, crossing her arms.

— It's kind of crowded here... — Kay observed, looking around.

— The kingdom has the resources to hire more personnel, so you must recover all the lost kingdoms in your country! — Yumi explained.

— All of them? Are there any more lost kingdoms? — Kay exclaimed.

— No, there are no more to recover now! — Mira said.

— Now? So you mean there are still some? — Kay asked, intrigued.

— You didn't know? — Yumi exclaimed, surprised.

— I see, that's it! When we're done here, we'll have another mission! — Kay said excitedly.

The recruits exchanged confused looks.

“We have nothing!” — Mira said excitedly. — You're going to finish here and go back to the base to follow my father's orders, do you understand?”

“Why are you stopping him?” — Yumi asked excitedly. — If you're scared, I don't mind lending you my division. Better yet, I can go too!

“You can be quiet! If we get the dynasty back, we won't have a day off anytime soon!” — Nina said, rolling her eyes.

“I see, so we can't go…” — Kay said, a little disappointed.

“No drama! Maybe in the future we'll go, but right now we can't!” — Mira said.

“Dan, come here for a second!” — Kay called.

“What's wrong?” — Dan exclaimed worriedly.

“Cut this out for me, it's getting in my way!” — Kay asked.

“I'm sorry, I ... — Your arm isn't healed yet! — Mira said.

— Yes, it is — Kay said, moving her arm.

— It's going to make your fracture worse. Stop touching it! — Mira said, worried.

— I'm fine. I said it would take two days to heal — Kay insisted.

— This is Kay! — Yumi said, smiling proudly.

— Mira, it's okay, my arm is already... — Kay began, being interrupted.

The soldiers of the Fourth Division approached, saluting.

— Welcome back, Captain Yumi and Vice-Captain Nina! — they said in unison.

— Come to think of it, why don't we have a vice-captain too? — San exclaimed.

— That's true! — Viviane agreed.

— Isn't it Joana? She looks like a vice-captain! — Thais said.

— Joana is a squad leader, she wouldn't be the vice-captain! — Ravena said.

— Well, she commands in a way that shows authority even over the other leaders... Could it be that she is the vice-captain and they just didn't tell us? — Thais exclaimed.

— Why wouldn't they tell us? Don't be silly. We don't have a vice-captain! — Raven said.

— Who are these? It seems like they are recruits, that's why they are acting so slovenly! They are in the presence of a captain, show some respect! — the soldiers of the Fourth Division murmured.

— They are talking badly about us... — San whispered.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

— Judging by your reactions, I think you didn't know that your captain was going to our division! — Kay said, assuming a serious posture.

— Who is this? He broke his arm and still thinks he can talk like that. How arrogant! — the soldiers of the Fourth Division whispered.

— Silence! — Yumi ordered, irritated.

The soldiers fell silent.

— You can continue, Kay — Yumi said, encouraging him.

— Kay? This guy? — they murmured, surprised.

— Are they all going on this mission? — Kay asked, looking at Yumi.

— Not all of them. I have to keep my people here on the wall to protect the kingdom — Yumi replied.

Kay positioned himself at the front of the army, observing the recruits

— I am the leader of the Fifth Squad of the Sixth Division, under the command of Captain Takemichi. I am here today with my squad to respond to your captain's call for help! Everyone in my squad may be recruits, but I assure you that their skills are at the level of veterans. So, know that any disrespect to them will be considered direct disrespect to me. And keep in mind that I was the one who trained them. — Kay gave a firm look to the soldiers around her.

— Kay! — Mira exclaimed, in shock.

— And any disrespect to Kay will be considered disrespect to me! — Yumi declared firmly.

The soldiers looked at each other, surprised, and apologized for their rude behavior.

—That said, we are here to support you — Kay continued. — We will follow your captain's plan, but you can count on us for the front line!

— No, you can't! — Mira murmured, apprehensive.

— Thank you! — Kay said, withdrawing from the soldiers' front.

— These are the soldiers of the Sixth Division. Be polite and welcome them with hospitality! — Yumi ordered.

— Alright! — the soldiers responded in chorus.

— You are dismissed! — Yumi concluded.

The soldiers dispersed, returning to their duties.

“Why did you say we couldn’t be on the front lines?” Kay asked Mira, slightly confused.

“Because... the front lines in a lost kingdom are a challenge beyond what we’re prepared for,” Mira explained, looking around.

Kay looked at her team, and saw that some of them also seemed to silently agree with Mira.

“You’re free to go. And have faith in your abilities!” Kay said, encouraging the team firmly.

“Because... the front lines in a lost kingdom are a challenge beyond what we’re prepared for,” Mira explained, looking around.

Kay looked at her team and noticed that some of them also seemed to silently agree with her.

“Have faith in your abilities!” Kay said, encouraging the team firmly.

“Follow me, I’ll show you to the barracks!” Nina said.

“You can go ahead. I have to get this thing off my arm!” Kay replied.

“I’ll take you to the infirmary,” Yumi said.

“Thank you!” — Kay turned to Mira. — I'll be right back.

Mira agreed, and they parted ways.

— Let's do an X-ray just to be sure. It's not that I doubt you! — Yumi said.

— It's a waste of resources and time. I'm already fine! — Kay retorted.

— While we're alone, I wanted to ask you a question — Yumi said.

— Tell me — Kay replied, curious.

— Takemichi never intended to recover the lost kingdoms. His idea was always to focus the defense on the inhabited kingdom. Even if he changed his mind, it would take days to recover Mineford and it would involve a large operation. It was you, wasn't it? You went there to kill the ghouls! — Yumi said, staring at him.

— What are you going to do with the answer? — Kay asked seriously.

— Nothing. I just don't want to have any doubts — Yumi replied.

— Yes... I was in a bad moment — Kay admitted.

— That's all you did to face the ghouls? Didn't you think about your safety or the safety of the people? — Yumi exclaimed.

— I didn't — Kay said firmly.

— I don't approve of that way of acting, even if it's you — Yumi said.

— Back then, I only cared about Mira and Rem. But now it's different. There are people I need to protect — Kay replied, more gently.

— So, don't be so crazy as to face the ghouls without caution — Yumi warned.

— Don't worry! But that seemed a bit personal to me — Kay commented, laughing.

— We all make mistakes, but we learn from them — Yumi said.

Kay patted her head.

— You're doing well. Don't be so hard on yourself, you're still young! — Kay said.

— Why are you talking like a wise man? You're younger than me! — Yumi said, laughing.

— It's true, right? — Kay laughed too. — You can't save everyone. So, prioritize those who can be saved.

Yumi was silent, thoughtful.

— I know, Kay — she replied.

— Call me master! — Kay joked.

— Kay! — she said, rolling her eyes.

— You're stubborn! — Kay said, smiling.

— I wonder who we get that from? — Yumi retorted, holding his arm.

— I don't know! — Kay said.

After a moment, Yumi murmured, with her cheeks flushed:

— But... if you want, I can call you "love."

— "Love," huh? — Kay was thoughtful, imagining scenarios where Mira called him "love".

— "That sounds good..." — he said, still in his thoughts.

Yumi blushed even more.

— Captain, his heart rate is high! — one of the scientists warned over the radio.

— You ruined the mood... — Yumi murmured, frustrated.

— Is this it? — Kay asked, distracted.

— Yes, it's the infirmary! — Yumi said.

The scene changes.

— There's nothing wrong with his arm! — said the nurse, after the exam.

— I told you! — said Kay.

— Then take the cast off his arm! — asked Yumi.

— Okay! — said the nurse.

A few minutes later, in the courtyard.

— I feel much better! — said Kay.

— Just don't go annoying Mira again, especially when she's in the suit — said Yumi, laughing.

— I'll remember that! — Kay replied.

— Do you want to warm up before the mission? — Yumi suggested.

— Better not — Kay said.

— So, help me with something! — Yumi asked, with a smirk.

— Since everyone is here, I'll go over the attack plan to reclaim the dynasty! — Yumi announced, with a firm and determined voice.

— Here it comes... — Raven murmured, with a slight smile, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

On the day of the mission.

“Are you ready?” Yumi exclaimed, watching her soldiers line up.

“Yes!” Mira replied. “I finished the coffee and prepared two extra bottles, just in case.”

“Great. Wake up Kay so we can leave!” Yumi ordered.

“Okay!” Mira said, leaving to call her friend.

Meanwhile, Yumi addressed the other soldiers.

“Attention, you can now get into the vehicles! Those who are going in the helicopter with us, get ready. Vehicles are already positioned near Mineford. Follow your leaders’ orders and come back alive so we can celebrate together! The food and drinks will be on the kingdom’s account, so don’t die, you bunch of idiots!” Yumi said, with an excited and confident tone.

The soldiers raised their weapons in response, showing their determination.

— May God be with us — Sarah prayed, with a serious expression.

— Amen! — Thais and Viviane said, a little nervous.

Some recruits showed signs of apprehension at the thought of what was to come.

— I found him on the way! — Mira announced, returning with Kay by her side.

— Do you really think I would stay asleep while you enjoy all the fun? — Kay said, taking a sip of coffee, with a slight smile.

— Kay! — Yumi exclaimed, smiling at him.

— Everyone who is going to use firearms, equip your silencers now! Leave your weapons loaded and locked until we arrive. When you get out of the vehicles, you can unlock them. — Kay gave the instructions firmly.

— The silencer... I almost forgot about that! — Viviane murmured, as she quickly fitted it to her weapon.

— Has everyone had their coffee yet? — Kay asked, lifting her cup.

— All that was missing was you! — Yumi replied, laughing.

— If anyone needs to go to the bathroom, do it now! — Kay said.

When no one answered, he turned and headed for the helicopter.

Yumi, Nina, and the recruits followed close behind. They settled into the helicopter, where each one checked their equipment.

Kay thought silently: "All armed and dressed in their suits... Given the number of soldiers, we have a chance of recovering the kingdom, but expecting everyone to come back alive... is asking too much."

As if reading his expression, Yumi gave him a confident look.

— Don't worry, my soldiers are capable! Your radio is already on our division's frequency. Just switch to the second band! — Yumi said.

The recruits adjusted their radios.

— Don't hold back. You've trained with me to unleash your full potential. If necessary, don't hesitate to use your suits to the fullest! — Kay said.

— Okay! — the recruits responded in unison.

Soon, the helicopters and trucks began to depart, beginning the mission.