Chapter 10: Getting Acquainted with the Job

After choosing their desired weapons, Leng Qiongling and Xisite returned to the operations room.

They found that everyone had already changed into their combat suits and picked up their weapons.

The contrast was even more pronounced than it had been in the room earlier.

The sword at Leng Qiongling’s waist was clearly much smaller than the other members’ weapons.

The other members just glanced at it, but didn’t say anything—except for Oumiyou.

“Huh? Little Leng is using such a small weapon? That might make things a bit tough later.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m more used to this.”

“Hmm, if that’s the case, then that’s fine!”

Luckily, although this person was rather casual, she still had some social awareness.

I walked up to Leng Qiongling and explained that we were about to go out on a mission, and that she should come along and learn.

“Understood! Uh…”

Leng Qiongling suddenly became a bit hesitant.

I pointed at the changing room nearby.

“As for your combat suit, it’s already been made. It’s in your locker in there. Once you’re ready, we’ll head out.”

“Understood!”

Leng Qiongling quickly went into the changing room.

Xisite also went in to change into her combat suit.

“Captain! How did you know Little Leng’s body measurements?”

“Huh? It was written in the information I received… No, no, no, I definitely didn’t have any special thoughts. I just looked so I could make the clothes.”

In the end, the members were still half-convinced.

It was true, though I did think of a few other things.

“C-Captain, I’m ready…”

Leng Qiongling shuffled out of the changing room.

Mm, she looked really good.

As expected of my aesthetic sense.

A cloud shoulder cape was draped over Leng Qiongling’s shoulders.

Instead of the usual wool, it was made of a cooler silk material.

Although it lost its warmth, it prevented Leng Qiongling’s neck from looking shorter.

The cape extended down to her waist, splitting into two tassels at the ends.

On her upper body, she wore a shirt, a vest, and a medium-length coat.

On her head was a hat similar to a cowboy hat but narrowed at the sides, emphasizing the vertical length and giving a sense of speed.

On her lower half, she wore tight pants and long boots.

I originally wanted to add a few spikes to the back of the boots, but it was vetoed.

Although the squad’s combat suits were generally black, I designed this one in a deep blue shade.

It looked pretty good.

In short, it was very nice.

As expected of me.

Because I felt that Leng Qiongling suited this more masculine style, I came up with this design.

“Anyway, it’s pretty good. Let’s go. Time for your first mission.”

“Yes!”

‘…Is it my imagination? It feels like Leng Qiongling has been trying hard to answer me in a formal tone, even though she probably hasn’t had much military training.’

‘Is she hiding something?’

‘…Well, whatever. Having motivation is a good thing.’

We took the dedicated off-road vehicle and drove out of the city gate, arriving at an endless plain.

But the off-road vehicle didn’t have six seats.

The three in the back and two in the front were already full.

So…

“Hang in there, Leng Qiongling. This counts as special training for you. You need to quickly get used to your body after being infected with the Mad Contagion. Otherwise, you’ll feel completely out of sync in combat.”

“Bye~~”

After I said that, I floored the accelerator and drove off toward the destination.

Leng Qiongling let out a complaint and then did her best to keep up.

A girl running in the morning sunlight—what a beautiful scene.

Though I wouldn’t turn around to look.

After driving across the plain for about twenty minutes, the surrounding scenery gradually became desolate.

There were no longer lush green plants or resting birds.

Only swirling dust and the occasional bone-chilling roar from afar.

About time.

I stopped the car and urged my members to get out.

They all looked like they were about to throw up.

What?

I’ve been constantly improving my driving skills.

To my surprise, Leng Qiongling had actually managed to keep up all the way without falling behind.

It seemed she had adapted quite well to her body.

Alright then, let’s begin.

“Ready?”

This was directed at Leng Qiongling.

She took a breath, exhaled slowly, and drew the longsword at her waist.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

Then I’ll go and lure the Mad Beasts over.

The method was nothing special.

I turned on the car’s speaker and played a song that could almost be considered noise.

It was a recording of Oumiyou singing like a madwoman.

She had no objections to it.

Rumble rumble rumble.

See?

The effect was pretty good.

“Alright, I’ll find a safe place to command you all. Um… Make sure to bring Leng Qiongling along. Don’t just kill everything yourself.”

I gestured to them and drove the off-road vehicle toward a nearby hill.

“Then let’s start now.”

Xisite clapped her hands and turned to Leng Qiongling.

“Miss Leng Qiongling, who would you like to follow?”

“I get to choose?”

“Yes. Although each member’s fighting style is generally bold and unrestrained, there are subtle differences. For example, I prefer to focus on severing the Mad Beasts’ bodies to impair their physical functions.”

Ah!

Xisite suddenly thought of something and clapped her hands.

“Then why don’t you all talk about your own fighting styles?”

First, Lepaxi.

“Me? Nothing special. As you can see, my weapon is rather crude with no fancy technique. So my style is something like… this.”

Lepaxi swung the giant spiked mace in her hand and slammed it into a Mad Beast that pounced from behind, smashing it directly into the ground.

When she lifted the mace, it was already a bloody mess.

“Hehe, like that.”

Lepaxi looked at Leng Qiongling, whose mouth was wide open, and chuckled meaningfully.

“So… beautiful.”

Even while wielding such a wild weapon, she exuded an elegant and dignified aura, as if she had just been dancing.

The fluttering black dress resembled mourning clothes, yet it was so beautiful you couldn’t look away.

“Pfft, Little Leng has already been captivated by Lepaxi.”

“Hehe, then you have to do a good show too.”

“Alright! Watch me!”

Oumiyou picked up a bone spear at her feet and hurled it—a missile-like weapon—at a group of Mad Beasts charging toward them.

The spear hit the ground, blasting up sand and gravel, and obliterated the rushing beasts.

Oumiyou then scratched her head oddly and turned to explain to Leng Qiongling:

“Ahhh! No, that’s not it! Although it looks like I just threw it at the pack, I actually aim for their vital points!”

But most Mad Beasts don’t need to be specifically targeted at vital points.

Oumiyou added at the end.

“Haishi, you… Ah, it looks like we’re out of time.”

On a distant hilltop, a deep red gradually spread—countless Mad Beasts.

“Come on, Miss Leng Qiongling. Um… what did the captain say? Oh, right. We’ll take you to get acquainted with the job.”