Adopted Soldier

After burning the wooden ship where Lyner's body was, the members of the Mercenary club gathered in a nearby restaurant. There were a lot of people inside the restaurant, most of them were people that came to Lyner's funeral.

Yet even in this kind of situation the Mercenary Club still drew attention. The people who were there during Lyner's funeral knew that the former students in the so called Mercenary Club were people who were close to the dead hero. They saw most of these kids near the stage, and couldn't forgot Niel who spoke with a lot of charisma.

They were supposedly Lyner's favorite students. So with their current reputation plus their looks everyone's attention was currently on them. Still the members of the club didn't mind the looks they were getting. Even Kei who was usually the most meek among them was unusually calm.

Niel seeing the changes in his companions smiled his usual smile. The usual radiant aura of Niel's hasn't changed even though he has been to the battlefield. In the face of his juniors he wish to remain the perfect senior that they knew.

"It's been a while everyone. I see that all of you are doing well... Also, what's wrong with you two?" Niel was talking about how Emily had Kei in a chokehold. She wasn't tightening the chokehold too much, but just enough so that Kei couldn't escape. Hearing Niel's question Emily started to pout.

"This fool has been avoiding me for a year now! He keeps on hiding from me. I'm getting sick of playing hide and seek! So this time I'm making sure he won't be able to escape."

Kei kept on tapping on Emily's hand while he answered.

"I wasn't doing that because I was trying to run away from you. I was going around evading the surveillance of other people due to my radio show. Also I was gathering information and needed to move a lot. I promise I wasn't doing this to avoid you." Kei tried to explain himself, even though everything he just said was only half truths.

'I hope she doesn't notice.' Kei felt Emily's grip got lighter, which made him feel relieve for but a moment, then the chokehold on him got a even tighter than before.

"Who are you trying to fool! The way you avoided my detection, and the way you changed location the moment I found you makes it clear you were trying to hide from me!"

The others were watching the two and smiled. It would seem like even after a year the good relationship of the two remained the same. Rachel on the other hand was quite curious about their situation.

"Are you two dating?" When Emily and Kei heard Rachel's question they both tilted their heads.

"..." Kei started contemplating after hearing that question. He looked at the girl who stopped her chokehold and was now thinking as well. 'Now that I think about it, what exactly is our relationship? More than friends but less than lovers?'

"..." Emily was also thinking about the question Rachel asked. She looked at Kei and started to think. 'Do I actually like this guy? Well if someone asked if I like or hate him, then I would answer that I like him, but... Is that enough to date someone? True he doesn't have the look that I like. Still I am fond of him and his ways... Hmm...'

Seeing the two went silent and in deep thought made the others a bit confused. Kei was one thing, but Emily would usually answer without hesitation. After a few seconds of thinking Emily tapped on Kei's head.

"Hey, do you want to be my boyfriend?" Everyone was stunned by what Emily said all except for Kei who was still thinking about something.

"Well I guess that's the natural progression from where we are now. I guess that's fine." Everyone was shocked in how easily Kei answered the question. It would seem that in the past year, Kei has blossomed out of his meek self and turned a bit... really confident.

"So does that mean we're girlfriend and boyfriend now?" Emily finally let go of Kei and pointed at herself then at him when she asked her question.

"Well, yeah I guess so. We're now officially dating, does that answer your question Rachel." Niel, Rachel, and Evangeline were looking at the two who became an item and were stunned by the sudden event. Everything happened so fast that they it took them a moment to fully digest the event.

"What the hell!" Rachel suddenly screamed.

"Congratulations you two." Niel simply showed his best smile and gave a thumbs up to his two juniors.

"Hahaha." Evangeline on the other hand started laughing. It has been a long time since she last laughed. Being with these people truly made her feel that there was no war going on. It made her feel nostalgic, like they were all back in that clubroom of theirs. Even though she wasn't technically a part of the Mercenary Club, but to them to her she was already a part of it a long time ago.

"Why are you suddenly laughing Eva? Do you find this funny?" Rachel looked at Evangeline seeing this once cool beauty act like this made her feel a bit weird.

"It's nothing, its just that... We might have all changed over the past year, but for some reason we still remained the same. I don't know how to explain it properly, but that's what I feel. Seeing you guys here doing these kind of things as usual made me remember the old times."

Hearing what Evangeline said the other four smiled as well.

"Yeah it's like we're back in that clubroom of ours. Where Sir Lyner is still sleeping, Sayaka is messing with Oliver while he is talking about our next event. Alex would stay beside me quietly watching. Niel would like he is now, be smiling at us. Kei would be taking down notes, while Emily would be messing around on her laptop. Then you would drop by to join in the fun... Yeah, those were the days."

Rachel couldn't help but smile while tears flow down her face. The other who were listening to what she said also started to tear up.

"Yet now... Alex has been kidnapped by his grandfather. Oliver is gone and we have no idea where he is. I haven't heard anything from Sayaka either, but I did hear rumors that Sayaka's dad has died, and she would most probably take his position.... Also now... Now, Sir Lyner is gone..."

The group suddenly turned gloomy when they remember those events. While the group was now sinking into depression as their heads were lowered they suddenly heard a familiar voice. It was the voice of someone who shouldn't exist anymore.

"What the hell are you brats doing sulking like that. Your friends have been captured, are missing, and some might be heading towards their deaths, sulking wont help you there. So instead of feeling sorry for yourselves, how about you brats go out and find them yourselves."

When the club members heard what the familiar voice said they all raised their heads. Was it possible, was there teacher actually alive. Was he able to actually fool everyone. It was surely possible if it was him. The group then started to look around trying to find where the voice came from. Yet they saw no one resembling Lyner, instead they saw Niel touching his throat.

"Where you the one who did that?" Rachel asked Niel, who responded by showing a vicious smile that was similar to Lyner and answered in his normal voice.

"Yeah I was the one who did that, I was the one who was talking in Sir Lyner's voice. Don't blame me for doing that, it's because you guys made faces the look like the end of the world was coming. If Sir Lyner was here I'm sure he would have said the same thing."

Hearing what Niel said the others wiped the tears from their faces. Niel was right if Lyner was here, he would most probably say the same thing. Seeing the others finally perking up, Niel spoke to Rachel.

"Rachel now that Oliver and Alex aren't here, you are the only one left of the original starting members. I guess leadership should fall under you. So leader what should we do?"

Everyone was now looking at Rachel. Feeling everyone's gaze on her, Rachel closed her eyes and sighed. She then looked back at her fellow club members and smiled confidently as she announced.

"Isn't it obvious what we're going to do next. Of course we the Mercenary Club are going out, to save our friends!"