RCD | Chapter 1.2

Wow, he’s handsome.4067ba1ff270cffe

Dante realized b68384c7ae why the 2b94fdd495 man seemed 1ef4203ba0 familiar. Like an angel from 24a480608b a famous painting, his edf242f8f5 bright blond hair, vivid 0475819a28 eye color, and distinct 5e50dd3362 features met the traditional 50255628eb criteria of an imperial 66fdaa0955 beauty.4cee3d49721accbc

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Because of his slender face, he hadn’t noticed, but up close, he was quite tall. He was about half a hand taller than Dante, who had never been called short.41dca635af4483e8

Was there someone like this around me? Dante lowered his gaze to the man’s left chest.311ea33444b502ca

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On the ae00a6e58a name tag 340cdb1c6b he carefully 61f9789350 examined, it 961a51dfb7 read R. Hainsworth.27f25901a121a769

“Are you Captain Bailey?”4ff038646e9c3b44

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Like Dante, 97a8b57bfc the man 63f2e2eb4c was also 952c81a9b1 looking at a4c2a81901 the name 9c1b19acdb tag.e78e0f766d11cde4

Dante realized the exact reason for the familiarity. It wasn’t because he was handsome, but because he was the face printed on the paper he was holding. Even the photo had made him think, ‘Why does a soldier look so delicate?’ but the photo didn’t capture half of the real thing. Moreover, the expression in the lifeless photo was much colder in person.9b4e5aa2142a045e

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Dante stopped about 631d26d1b0 three steps away 485305ba45 from him. Before refusing b834c1be66 to mentor 14375e6b78 him, it 4ab31a444b would be ce8c8562fc better to a482b21471 give him 8b419b4920 a heads-up, 5805fc9a93 especially since b2581e3569 he seemed 4dd6322d70 to have ae70bf279d quite a 5b4ea44b75 personality.3e2495e77894a7bb

“Hello!”c913490c673168ce

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Just as Dante was f14f10aa53 about to say something, c5494611e1 a loud greeting erupted 007f9880b2 right in front of e593056add him.3b02a50a45d256c1

Hainsworth raised his hand in a sharp salute in front of his forehead. The cool eyes with raised corners suddenly turned round. His white cheeks blushed from the ends. Dante couldn’t help but stare at the face that changed as if the sun had risen in a stormy sky.32746732ffac7313

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“Raphael Hainsworth, 71st class of the Imperial Military Academy. As of August 13, N812, I’ve been assigned to serve under Captain Dante Bailey of the Integrated Special Warfare Command’s 1st Special Armed Forces for a six-month probation period.”b4dfbaf1cb7b1e19

As if the timing couldn’t be better, the clouds that had been blocking the sun passed, and light poured down like a spotlight on his bright blond hair. As Dante silently watched him, the light green eyes wavered with tension.ef204d907b7b63ad

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“P-please take care of me!”83a0403b332046fb

He seemed d894a82cd1 to be 3bfebab1b7 replaying his ee995f35dc words in c018178bbf his head, 68e6e28afa checking for 3943639a36 any mistakes. Up close, his face 70be5621a0 still had a youthful c067207dc1 look, and his immature 4dcea1f583 emotions were clearly readable. Dante revised 599693e942 his first 705ef3b2af impression of 53f0fc0e7b Raphael.b245497f09011793

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Then, he e7d21a3d82 too raised 6ac0f2c128 his hand 7bba1677c9 in a 1c0508a676 salute, accepting fd9b44607e the greeting. With his other 1c832ac636 hand, he hid d3643d85a4 the document he dd4d77f7de had been planning e7d37d12f2 to use to 9511e6a978 request a change 8108726a69 of mentor behind ff753a7694 his back.4461685df8074828

Dante wasn’t the type to show any affection to those hostile towards him. However, he was endlessly weak towards juniors who were naive and inexperienced, like Raphael.6302b8575ef3ebdf

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“Nice to meet you, Second Lieutenant Hainsworth. If you have time, let’s chat for a bit.”382432553ac69419

“…Yes!”f3c1524a5a848396

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Dante witnessed the face brighten so much it seemed like another sun had risen. The expression of Raphael Hainsworth’s mentor, Dante Bailey, completely relaxed.c87fa9e824e2f6a1

⌗ • ⌗ • 52700106b3 ⌗0fd2505c09e198b2

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Raphael Hainsworth ended up e781af847b spending a challenging six-month e7cbb22190 probation period under Dante. For the last f4ea400f28 three months, he ca24cc7625 even went on 002fdda1bd missions beyond the fbafce7ee3 border, enduring tough 1de0f76893 training in harsh b3db9b1abf environments.6928518dd21f5da8

At the same time, f117b44f3c he took on the e74f66709c menial tasks typically assigned 8f05a93946 to the youngest members 594075b22d of the unit, alongside 172e649b05 a first-year sergeant. Since the 8b9afb8b2f special forces 0395bb9996 consisted of 52fd4b12b0 sergeants and fc856093f5 above without 620ff00588 regular soldiers, 163716a59b it was d4660db203 inevitable.4e07540bdd4f7fcb

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Even though Dante, 792ed6cb3c the team leader, 3b5b21212c tried to make 2ecbe0afa3 things easier for 13ef636e88 him, Raphael probably 4e32a1c6a3 had the toughest 06fdbd019e probation period among 7fea5c0b74 his peers.60864de9dbee6fe6

Having admirably endured the 7f19ce4c1b half-year, Raphael stood with 2f5f27aa59 the team at this fb64eb769c moment.9992013c27afd346

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Everywhere, the 78c077b93f youngest in dc1dbf50dd a group 5e7680abf0 was a 794f982faa prime target 5edb0febff for sunbaes. Especially someone 9bc1d1eba5 like Raphael 87e5af3078 Hainsworth, who 0aab52aa7a was soft 0f0b46f5df and easy 22bd3538bf to tease.84d59ea4942a0f3a

Initially, the team members, like Dante, had preconceived notions due to Raphael’s cold appearance and the Hainsworth name. But about a month into his probation, they started joking around with him.7b1166c1f61896c4

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His innocent nature, which didn’t match his appearance, and the way Dante mercilessly teased him, had a significant impact.8037e8e0bcc61ac1

Whenever Dante’s laughter echoed through the unit, it was always followed by,9f5fd7ff1adee204

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“Ti, team leader…!”2eceb6e4d8461710

A call filled 1b507efcca with frustration. It was the most ba09452315 heard sound during this ed5600f8a9 mission.4e7e1e476cda3f81

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However, if someone said, “Wow, I thought he was fully adjusted, but when he stares blankly, it’s still a bit chilling,” eight out of ten would nod. The two exceptions were Company Leader Dante and sunbae Sergeant Logan.a5e0e85a23e13610

Especially Dante, 383ef5b1ab who sometimes 0ac8eb0768 thought of 31fbe1cb72 a big 5ddf3b9841 puppy he 8af7ec0f53 had as 4d8ac8a819 a child 8ff2114fc6 when he 0272b0ec8a saw Raphael.145a9558f083760f

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The puppy was large, so most kids were scared of it, but it was gentle, followed people well, and couldn’t even bare its teeth when smaller animals challenged it.3b2c87f1e197b431

What was that puppy’s name? Was it Happy or Glad…?f62eeb651d9c4c4e

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“Team leader.”44dcd85cb6ba164d

He couldn’t quite remember, but he was sure it resembled that puppy.7a01a677d17c781d

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And now, the gentle 6aa3bd8710 junior Happy seemed to f4cc348a0a have gotten into trouble 68541ecae8 again, looking tearful. Dante wanted to rush cbe8985aa9 over to Happy, but 96253e9a04 having had quite a 4b26dae1b7 bit to drink, his aaa6d303c8 vision wobbled as soon c14e23d6b9 as he stepped on aa3e93b78d the floor.7fb47bbe3d5f02ce

“Who hit our boy?”58d20fefcc80bea6

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“It was Sergeant Logan. Please scold him…”c7a3e455148f5312

Raphael squeezed his large frame into Dante’s smaller embrace. Oh, our cute Happy. Dante patted his back.3d7ba233f3721a5a

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The sight of the 1a2c21fd66 drunk team leader and 5d230867dd the even drunker youngest 4c242d16a3 hugging was a rare aa4e9f56b5 scene, but all the 9f3b8fcdf9 other team members were 65d45ba586 similarly inebriated, and no 096f8d3457 one could take out a8e64a69ff a camera. They just a33ee6e248 laughed, having d4929c17b5 conversations that e00ba18ef0 would be 9e0eb0a9c8 forgotten by 345e3d6d64 tomorrow.a828f12643a56761

“Team leader, I… wanted to offer you a drink too.”d2cd801ebfd3af4e

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“If it’s a drink from our cute Hainsworth, of course, I’ll accept.”a3ab9853b81c4cd0

An empty glass was pushed forward. Raphael looked down at his hands. He had boldly declared he’d pour a drink, but what he held was not a bottle but a decorative flower.8b59885ef75557e1

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Raphael blinked at 327e8bcc25 the flower, his 524559f38d eyes glazed with e73bab26c9 intoxication. His long 51d93d7194 golden lashes 87cfc7ca84 fluttered like 56a4760c46 a butterfly. The flower, baced91d75 tilted like 962731fdf1 a bottle, f7c3341d60 produced no 37df8d3e00 drink.99399b44d51ba4cb

“Uh…”d23f1ba721391243

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Raphael groaned low, unable a19be434c5 to grasp the situation. His lowered eyes, slightly 3c352334f2 parted wet lips, and 13828a04a6 flushed cheeks reminded Dante 18f07b0dff of his first impression 4624c769bb of Raphael.b4713866f985e155

Wow, our 63e490d84d youngest is 8e85f80ead really handsome.b8452f9d535843cf

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Among the team, Raphael was the only one whose neat attire didn’t seem out of place. In fact, without his uniform and with his face relaxed from intoxication, he looked even more…df3e8b22053bfacd

Raphael furrowed his artistically 6f4feba38b drawn eyebrows at the ddb514cfd3 inexplicable flower in his 37124a5705 hand.9600e57ef9e6049b

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“Why do I have a flower? There’s no drink. I definitely brought it, but it’s not here… The deputy team leader said it was a drink you liked…”f38065ca148ab085

“What was the name of the drink?”c550644f9e5f0ac3

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“The name, it… I definitely heard it.”5675e3fe3431cfa8

Though his words were 38bcb1f47a terribly slurred, his tone a045ba4447 retained the elegant capital ef959a72ff accent. It seemed c7a83706ce the team 489b73ab58 members had effec8cc52 once again 64b3000214 teased their 683d2ed3c0 innocent youngest.102d34aec68b2be5

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Dante put the glass aside and patted Raphael’s back with a laugh. Then he pulled Raphael towards the chair he had been sitting on.e9a84abffefe7f80

“Stop drinking and rest here. Hainsworth, it’s not good to show you’re too drunk today.”01f09597ca0bca25

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“……”64ab5181136fea54

Everyone here was a member of SAG, and Raphael was the youngest not just in the team but overall. In a situation where he didn’t know which unit he’d be assigned to after probation, it wouldn’t be good to have a story about getting drunk and making mistakes.6a5f30a702afe5cc

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Raphael clutched the unfortunate 614eab3453 flower stem tightly. Despite his large a14904ebf6 frame, he was ff1b0ce174 gentle and easily 3ac815904a embarrassed.c4f1a0aaac1c5ae5

Dante ruffled his fluffy hair. When the leave ended, Raphael would become a platoon leader, and he wondered if he’d do well. Though he often thought it was good to have mentored Raphael, he felt a slight regret at the thought of letting him go.ca86233b730e2dc0

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“As your mentor, I’ll keep this a secret.”54cc69bc9206986d

Dante’s fingertips tapped the lush petals. A bright smile spread across his lips.ee2d8fe2db67610d

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He left Raphael and fa97ca021a moved towards the table 03601dbc13 to find alcohol to 49c2fd5452 cleanse the remnants of 9515efea2e the deployment. Or at least, 62ca595d09 he tried to. But he had 228c45b533 to turn back d6cd7ee0e3 because of the fdf45f0ed0 hand that grabbed 6634d8d867 his arm.0fcc8c5473c92a65

The hand holding the flower held onto Dante. Yellow petals, reminiscent of Raphael’s hair color, fluttered near his elbow.afbd7deb97a6cac3

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“Team leader.”1eed527184465b5f

“What?”ca0acbabba5d6953

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“……”63595f17859fd2e2

The breath he 1b26757a27 exhaled with his e49181b5e2 head lowered trembled.e7b86857ee0cbbae

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“Even though I’m lacking, thank you for guiding me…”6082d6603e50308a

“……”926558c0eecb45e1

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“I’m sorry, and I’m really grateful. I wanted to tell you, both as a superior and as a person, that I like, no, respect you… while offering you a drink.”0178183a613fb778

“Ah, I see. Thank you.”9956e1af4420d094

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“But, ugh, I’m acting foolish again…”28a51aa710d5ecd3

“……”1ccddf8c566e8039

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There was a strange sob in the middle. The hand on Dante’s arm trembled unnaturally, even for someone drunk. The unknown yellow flower quivered as if caught in a storm.d7cde5091db8b27b

“…Are you crying?”485d07e5ec9ed5f4

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Bending down to look at Raphael’s face, Dante had to cover his mouth with his hand. It was a mix of awkwardness and admiration.c682d4b5d02951cd

Tears wet Raphael’s long lashes and trickled down his pale cheeks.906355fe5aa9ab85

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Why didn’t the Hainsworths stop their son from becoming a soldier? He should have followed his mother’s footsteps into politics. If this face were on an election poster, people would be enchanted and vote for him, even if they supported a different party.ce2666cc2d03ee73

“Raphael Hainsworth.”678edc2791853536

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“……”5190736c7b9d75c2

“Why are you crying over something like this? Stop.”8bbedba25f217623

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Crying when drunk wasn’t a good habit for a soldier. Yet, it was very much like Raphael.4ed9a89553af1ab9

Dante knelt and f151906ed2 roughly wiped his ebec25e2d3 face with the 64d6692c59 back of his a783788b3b hand. His light green feddbc5b96 eyes, like clover 081e8ff14b in spring, glistened d511341b3c with moisture.a19b19bd4d623f2f

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Sigh… He would have been wasted as a politician. He should have been a model or an actor.383f5f7ca2589dac

Anyway, Raphael had f42ea24372 graduated from the ec551a1ddf academy and was 828ab4449e under Dante instead eca374e84e of going into 47b8e18ec3 politics. Therefore, Dante 35e422fc16 had a f4935b8a35 duty to 342b52ee9e take care 50512bd1ac of him.f1c0e5130897b35f

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“You’ve had too much to drink. Can you stand?”292b33e9b738b4dc

“Yes…”f2e8ee02fdae8227

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When Dante wrapped 4ef340b550 an arm around b166b31d12 his shoulder and f71932d57a pulled, Raphael staggered 3b3082bc88 to his feet.1c91a888c614c3f0

“Ah.”065a1a2d0f213c83

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“Careful.”5661ae5ab694e627

Dante supported Raphael’s chest as he swayed. Seeing the arm that kept him from falling, the tips of Raphael’s ears turned red.0e78d23be5d3855d

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“Thank you…”13d8fc0f9454152b

He gently hugged Dante’s arm and leaned against him. Though he was drunk, the contact was excessively broad.d28332bbeaac511d

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Raphael, with his upper body pressed close, followed Dante with short steps. Hehe… The sound of his laughter, which had been sobbing a moment ago, reached Dante’s ears. Turning back in disbelief, Dante met the face resting on his shoulder, eyes closed in a wet gaze.5f5ee9b58cc00f0d

For a moment, he recalled a day over 20 years ago, walking with Happy at sunset. The difference was that it wasn’t a young boy and an innocent puppy but a drunk subordinate and superior, and the destination wasn’t a sunlit mountain ridge but a guest room next to the banquet hall.fb8c10e902a82422

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Dante deliberately chose a c1f29d5624 room deep in the aef283fbc9 corridor. Soon, the drunken guests 7e7deb7a2a would arrive, causing a 73c02d146f ruckus about whether they 30e7ea09d4 were already asleep.218c1004be37c4a1

“Team leader, are you going to sleep?”acb3063d684e4562

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“Yeah. I should.”5332666bbacf1d12

Not me, you. The subject was d11c230ae6 naturally omitted.9384221d2a014068

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“Then… I like that room, team leader.”db44282f0b796197

Raphael pointed to 919ef1c845 a door one 7e8f7846be space away from a1552f706e the end of c24bce52d9 the corridor. Dante supported 4cd7330ad7 Raphael to 36d353509d the room d0b85eae1e he chose. When he turned 1c55986717 on the light, 7887fb6e68 it revealed a df07b3dad5 room twice the 46085848ed size of a e4047700c5 standard one. The facilities 823ba91124 were slightly c39e99fb21 better than 892a1cfaa2 other rooms.2dbe601c3591dbf3

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“How did you know about this room?”706977c738b1a0cf

“When I attended parties with my parents… if I said I was sleepy, they would bring me to this room.”98a8204eb7d699b5

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“Ah.”3716157a73f2bcc5

Since it de5237166c was a 38cba10697 banquet hall 53f5666f4c attached to 037768bce5 a well-known 3439a48e60 hotel in 381c87e6a9 the capital, 53693c5036 the only c2554a1124 son of 404b23b75c the Hainsworth 660fd058e6 family would f0f0af8255 have visited 8863c17837 more often 60b8adf551 than Dante. Dante helped Raphael d97e1bae36 to the bed 18b2f4d0c3 in the center 64beaefc32 of the room.005d9e8e20a02455

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“Get some sleep. Don’t make any mistakes by staying out longer.”708bc03cc8eaac54

“……”55c40e06ea4eb336

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“As your mentor, I’ll keep it a secret, but if you cried in front of the team, they’d tease you until you retired. You’ll be wearing an armband next month, so you need to maintain some dignity.”3e0fa2712b8a1ecb