As they all left the office, Sora sent a message to Kara using the friend-list messagiure: "Do you know why NPCs don't take part in the war? And why do people still call them NPCs when it's impossible to tell them apart from pyers unless you ihem?"Kara quickly replied, "Well, they don’t seem to mind the niame. They’re bound by stricter rules than we are, and they appeared after the update. They seem and act human, but no one really knows where they e from or if they’re truly human. My master always ged the subject when I asked about her past."
Sora frowned as he read her response, feeling puzzled about the NPCs' ins after his several iions with them. 'This means a lot and nothing at the same time' he shook his head, ign the matter for now.
As they walked, the clerk's respect toward Sora and Kara deepened. He khese twoing to be big shots, assuming they survived the ining war. Their ck of rea to the ranks they’d just been given told him they probably didn’t uand the significe of being a captain and vice-captain in a battalion.
Clearing his throat, he expined, "Being a captain means you're responsible for a pany of 100 pyers, divided into 10 teams, with each team having 9 to 10 pyers split into two squads. Only els give direct orders to captains, and above the els is the general in charge of the entire division."
Sora and Kara listened, but their expressions remained ral.
The clerk tinued, "You're now among the top 60 highest-ranked individuals in terms of military hierarchy. A lot of people would kill for the kind of privilege and responsibility you’ve just been handed." He couldn’t help but sigh. Even with all its rules, this world still felt unfair sometimes.
Soon, they reached the recruitment office, where they were asked to provide their identification tokens, meaning their adventurer's guild badge.
After receiving their military tokens, they were haheir uniforms, which had a magical effect. When they equipped them above their armor, they felt the weight of their new roles settle on their shoulders. Their interface updated, dispying options for party chat, team leader chat, pany chat, battalion chat, and division chat. They could send written messages or use voice chat for unication within their unit, but were restricted in higher rank chats.
A message immediately appeared on their s:
[Pyer Ralph Eden has joihe pany.][Pyer Kara Spirine has joihe pany.][Pyer Captain Richard Dosse is demoted to Team Vice-Captain.][Pyer Ralph Eden is promoted to Team Captain.][Pyer Kara Spirine is promoted to Team Vice-Captain.]Sora and Kara exged a ghe sudden notifications caused a ruckus in the pany chat, with fused and agitated ents flooding in.
The clerk, notig their rea to the interface, chuckled and advised, "I’m heading back to work. You two should introduce yourselves to your pany ter, when your el is present."
Just then, a notification appeared on Sora and Kara's interface:
[Summons by el Oliver Evans – Main Hall of the Adventurer's Guild]
[This is a military order by your superior. Disobeying orders result in punishment by military w.]Sora clicked on the message, which expihe nature of a "military order"—a and issued by a superior that had to be followed by subordinates.
He g Kara, who nodded, indig she had received the same message. Together, they made their way to the main hall.
As they navigated through the bustling guild, a man approached them, to guide them to the el. He wore a simir uniform and bore the same rank as Sora, indig he, too, tain.
They followed the man until they arrived at a rge table where a group of pyers was seated, ughing and chatting. Among them was a young man, probably no older than 25, with a bald head and a bright smile. He radiated positive energy, his presenanding attention without effort. This mae his cheerful demeanor, was clearly their superior.
“Ah, my new recruits!” the man called out, grinning as Sora and Kara approached.
When they firmed they were from the 5th Battalion, he chuckled. “The Vice Guildmaster really does like to send the troublemakers to me. " He waved dismissively at the others around him, who were casting envious looks at Sora and Kara. "Rex, everyohey’re mine now."
The crowd dispersed quickly, as if afraid to linger uhe el's watchful gaze.
With a weling grin, the man introduced himself. “Oliver Evans, el of the 5th Battalion. Engnd.” His badge was unlike anything they had seen before, but what truly surprised Sora and Kara was his level—105.
“Stop staring at my hair and follow me,” Oliver said, leading them towards a huge stadium in Sto. It seemed most of the army was stationed in such pces, stadiums and open fields. In this stadium, mas stood, and Oliver led them inte military tent beled "el Tent: 5th Battalion."
His expression shifted to something more serious and he said. “Listen, there are quite a few people eyeing you two. Your talents don’t go unnoticed, but I’ll crush anyone who tries to steal my soldiers. The other els and the General won’t allow their troops to get out of haher.”
Sora and Kara exged relieved looks. It seemed that the issue of unwatention had been handled.
“However,” Oliver tinued, his tone being sharper, “I’ve already received pints. Richard Dosse—your old 10th captain—has lodged oher team captains and even vice-captains are grumbling. They don't accept your positions. I silence everyone if I have to, but if I do that, you’ll both face rese, and respect is hard to win back. Everyone is limited to level 8 the war, but it doesn't mean levels do not matter.”
Sora frowhey hadn’t asked for this responsibility, and now they were stuck with people doubting their rank.
“But,” Oliver said, raising a hand before Sora could speak, “there’s another rove yourselves. Show them you deserve those ranks, and everyone will shut up.”
Before either of them could respond, he added, “If you succeed, your rades will only have respect for you.”
Sora didn’t hesitate. “We’ll solve this problem ourselves.”
Oliver nodded, satisfied. “Good. You’ve got three days before the war resumes. You’re dismissed.”
Sora and Kara left the tent, already feeling the weight of their new responsibility pressing down ohree days to earn the respect of aire battalion. The clock had started tig.
As they exited the tent, Sora and Kara exged gnces, both feeling the weight of Oliver’s words. This wasn’t just about surviving the war anymore; now, they had to prove themselves to a battalion of seasoned pyers, many of whom already viewed them as unworthy. The tension in the air alpable, but her of them was the type to back down from a challenge.
“I don't uand why they gave us high ranks if it is this annoying to vihers,” Kara muttered, her voice ced with frustration, though her eyes remained sharp with determination.
Save her a half-smile. “No, but we’re here now. And we’re going to show them exactly why we deserve these ranks.”
They walked in silence for a while, the noise of troops activity in the background as they headed toward their assigned quarters. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city of Sto.
As soon as Sora and Kara found their tents, they were greeted by a crowd hly 30 people—captains, vice-captains, and even a sieam leader.
The group stood with crossed arms, waiting, their expressions a mix of curiosity and hostility. At the front of them, a young man who couldn’t have been older thay stepped forward, his gaze cold and assessing.
Sora’s eyes narrowed as he observed the young man. His youth was deceptive, as age meant little in this world. Some of the stro pyers were uwenty, and those who had been pying since childhood had bee terrifyingly powerful.
The young man before him was no exception, and Sora ied and reized the name above his head from the earlier notification—this was Richard Dosse, the captain who had beeed.
“Ralph Eden,” Richard began, his voice carrying an edge of barely restrained anger, “I’m sure you already know who I am. I was the captain of the 10th pany. Now, thanks to you, I’m a vice-captain.”
He paused, his hands g into fists as he spoke. “I’m not the stro of the captains, so I’d have accepted being repced by someoer. But you?” His eyes bore into Sora, sharp with judgment. “You’re not qualified. You just showed up as this war is ending, and now you're the one expected to lead the pany I’ve bled and fought for with my life and my friends blood? No.”
"I get it," Sora said, his voice steady. "You think I haven’t earhis. But what do you suggest?"
Richard’s jaw tightened, his resolve clear. “I challenge you to a duel. I ’t take my rank back through a fight, but if I win, you’ll follow my lead. The pany—my pany—deserves a leader who uands them, who’s been irenches with them. If I win, you’ll let me mahe pany’s strategy. You’ll still be captain, but you’ll listen to me when it es to leading our people.”
Sora's brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected this. He had thought Richard just wanted his position back, but the guy actually cared about the lives of the pany members. There was an odd respe Sora for this man now.
“And if I win?” Sora asked.
“If you win,” Richard replied, his voice firm, “I’ll follow your orders, if you promise to not send the guys to their deaths. I’ll respect your authority ahe knee if that’s what it takes. But if you lose, you have to uand... I won’t let someone who’s never waged war and doesn't have strength to py with the lives of our soldiers.The final battle is ing, and I 't gamble with the lives of my soldiers, and won't accept their decision if it doesn't not make sense”
Kara and Sora exged gnces, both surprised. The guy wasn't just frustrated; he genuinely wahe best for his soldiers. Sora, however, wasn’t bag down from a fight. Even if Richard had his doubts about Sora’s experiehe only way to prove himself was through a.
Sora examined Richard’s level, and his heart skipped a beat. Level 95. This guy was leagues ahead of him. The pressure he felt from Richard was intense, like a mortal standing before a mountain.
The young captain's body was hoo the limit, with well-defined muscles visible beh his armor. His body f was outstanding, indig a heavy iment in body f and maybe even tanking skills.
This wasn’t going to be easy.
