RCD | Chapter 1.2

Wow, he’s handsome.7ceaa5bc391c0d08

Dante realized why the 5be1338154 man seemed familiar. Like an angel dd1258b3b3 from a famous 388ee976a3 painting, his bright e75e67e3a5 blond hair, vivid bb49fad8a8 eye color, and 8a223571d7 distinct features met 47ba178335 the traditional criteria 93d0cedf9d of an imperial 973ecde965 beauty.b5ac2397cb66cbfc

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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.26f3654ca1d6f1a1

Was there someone like this around me? Dante lowered his gaze to the man’s left chest.a8c9f450482692c6

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On the name tag 37633155ab he carefully examined, it 6ab63f2f6b read R. Hainsworth.d185d50ba93ba2ff

“Are you Captain Bailey?”93b83b6d765c2cfd

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Like Dante, 6fdc8a6370 the man 3d62f28675 was also a190ac4433 looking at 3dd6033239 the name f03b5b61b6 tag.603886856943a8ba

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.ece3e19d9c3635ee

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Dante stopped 4e5e1414bb about three 52b03a7d14 steps away 7d39f863a1 from him. Before refusing to mentor 6207ab3869 him, it would be cb9a2ab44e better to give him d690fbb248 a heads-up, especially since f1d623eb87 he seemed to have c0daa9042e quite a personality.c1bb739d3eed75bb

“Hello!”945f3387ef140446

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Just as Dante 682758bc68 was about to 83d310ad14 say something, a e8404beacf loud greeting erupted 800fdcd9c4 right in front 32810b92f5 of him.4998554afe5dfc1b

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.6321af3577e36cb7

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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.”527381d2296b42ee

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.7816fbc30c702910

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“P-please take care of me!”8e60b45ad9dfbefd

He seemed ab974600ea to be 1c9ba9723c replaying his 823c5570f8 words in edd02607b4 his head, dfdb1f0558 checking for 96da1c4600 any mistakes. Up close, 633ad8ff47 his face 98bc1173d8 still had 96ceb0bc1f a youthful dfd3e7350f look, and 1631945907 his immature fa2fe0832f emotions were a952c7ed69 clearly readable. Dante revised his first 6de8a381c6 impression of Raphael.19aaaf335e2da234

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Then, he e4f19a3555 too raised 2e7d5fde1a his hand 481fd3d103 in a 29b2623097 salute, accepting 8e64acdd9b the greeting. With his other hand, 090a26736c he hid the document aa0d477f02 he had been planning 012afdcca6 to use to request 552f8c0536 a change of mentor 27cc94e540 behind his back.38d475be69053a1a

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.8ef2e22b05003dca

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“Nice to meet you, Second Lieutenant Hainsworth. If you have time, let’s chat for a bit.”a7915b7f40e09efe

“…Yes!”7e45749839d49213

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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.1114951b247eaedf

⌗ • ⌗ 2c56ac329b • ⌗b98aa1a5fb08e1b6

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Raphael Hainsworth ended 5ff9dc7cd7 up spending a 2680c63464 challenging six-month probation e515ece718 period under Dante. For the last aa208cac88 three months, he 6636976420 even went on 39bb959b79 missions beyond the ed6e59044c border, enduring tough 3fa19df48c training in harsh cee9d6f646 environments.575cdb293447a609

At the 2f4818e590 same time, e30b3b259e he took 9c936531d4 on the fe3b103c6c menial tasks 3e65d42c46 typically assigned ac1c2b5f36 to the 7775ae9819 youngest members f8f9baabca of the 0cba4f317c unit, alongside 212da3e893 a first-year fc363d6b14 sergeant. Since the special forces 78ac378201 consisted of sergeants and 0d6f09b398 above without regular soldiers, b2d0c050c1 it was inevitable.3a57f4151aaeca52

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Even though Dante, the 8f2ed0826f team leader, tried to 25e277c26a make things easier for c1466d1d33 him, Raphael probably had 5f0aed8bdf the toughest probation period 662fb7c76f among his peers.3df932f87f16a974

Having admirably endured 8147f69f87 the half-year, Raphael 1cba051cfc stood with the 177949ac79 team at this a765690336 moment.a78b5c08a51ce28c

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Everywhere, the 560e6499f0 youngest in a743a8759d a group 1c50ae5609 was a 6b12fafa93 prime target 4e28120654 for sunbaes. Especially someone like Raphael e7925f39cd Hainsworth, who was soft 12e85b785c and easy to tease.adba531d9a952c93

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.54a92e9d2eb2692a

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His innocent nature, which didn’t match his appearance, and the way Dante mercilessly teased him, had a significant impact.9860b6ce0998f644

Whenever Dante’s laughter echoed through the unit, it was always followed by,266b6b8155632e2d

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“Ti, team leader…!”3adefb575ae7c8b6

A call 221ca0e43a filled with 12dca74de8 frustration. It was c5bf35605a the most 7e09214ecd heard sound 07209758bc during this 39cb7f43e1 mission.aecd7ad8b5f5f24d

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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.209b16d5cbf93814

Especially Dante, who sometimes 5b158ae528 thought of a big 1da92f1294 puppy he had as 291390b11b a child when he a815a4c101 saw Raphael.5fc5424d6fd8e691

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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.1ef40059006643d7

What was that puppy’s name? Was it Happy or Glad…?f66f831726f77660

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“Team leader.”eff96a353eb7108c

He couldn’t quite remember, but he was sure it resembled that puppy.8776feee78681d73

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And now, the gentle d705750e79 junior Happy seemed to 3c3029149c have gotten into trouble 1fc49d5648 again, looking tearful. Dante wanted 7c5a5b0e1b to rush 56293958c8 over to df52dd31e7 Happy, but 71e06b49fa having had 05a2702e31 quite a 200281df19 bit to 8da0567437 drink, his 27e6b38156 vision wobbled cd53c4c38d as soon 44427a89ca as he 42c7995e30 stepped on b7d75cf4ad the floor.4b568d28b17553ec

“Who hit our boy?”befbcb71abf84fdb

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“It was Sergeant Logan. Please scold him…”78e42826da365be0

Raphael squeezed his large frame into Dante’s smaller embrace. Oh, our cute Happy. Dante patted his back.43ed166479f66cfa

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The sight of the 0750713715 drunk team leader and 4bb1d4056f the even drunker youngest a978b399d3 hugging was a rare 729a814245 scene, but all the 263af98dfb other team members were 38aecb3238 similarly inebriated, and no 3585122d91 one could take out e540eb87f5 a camera. They just laughed, 9673c029f5 having conversations that 393bdd8275 would be forgotten 948d7ede17 by tomorrow.5e02c014a1952dd6

“Team leader, I… wanted to offer you a drink too.”58d2ffdb73d5fe3c

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“If it’s a drink from our cute Hainsworth, of course, I’ll accept.”c1a9b2574d8df054

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.d2148af443c7d006

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Raphael blinked ce167d00f5 at the 2e0bc731e6 flower, his 9000422dd0 eyes glazed fbcfe97665 with intoxication. His long golden lashes b403e91859 fluttered like a butterfly. The flower, tilted 36faff56df like a bottle, 305feb6347 produced no drink.2f68d678b78e1edb

“Uh…”ca2938bd3d23b37d

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Raphael groaned eb62078f0a low, unable 4dd37e4dde to grasp 9b38f996fe the situation. His lowered 9637e6ee74 eyes, slightly d92a76a38a parted wet d6b894fc51 lips, and 1f4973fc9d flushed cheeks 1ea3297240 reminded Dante 845a34c71b of his 8619125307 first impression eb917e4cc1 of Raphael.bbb9b191b182258a

Wow, our youngest 6091dcabdd is really handsome.e7340fa07a660e23

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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…708b3615e1e20208

Raphael furrowed his artistically ee48e786b7 drawn eyebrows at the f4f3f4ab43 inexplicable flower in his 5009ac68d7 hand.a47ab7077ce47cb0

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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…”c54cc7261e2213da

“What was the name of the drink?”bd64e56a02b22500

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“The name, it… I definitely heard it.”8de88cf3193eba95

Though his words were 63af96aec9 terribly slurred, his tone 0ac37d5a23 retained the elegant capital 22441b4339 accent. It seemed 0973953b0b the team c4cd2d0394 members had de32c9fef7 once again e577f4c626 teased their 58025dfe2a innocent youngest.e86cc639bdf7753f

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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.ae81754b78fc0887

“Stop drinking and rest here. Hainsworth, it’s not good to show you’re too drunk today.”a5b978d063afda6a

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“……”bc0f06482c1b7dd9

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.463df3f98496c1b6

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Raphael clutched the 2b042b946a unfortunate flower stem 57a84977b1 tightly. Despite his 243d04ca66 large frame, 7bca6a4f24 he was 7fc51f4fba gentle and bfe6da7f3d easily embarrassed.94162f00d2330fd5

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.29e9ceb9eb64d2b4

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“As your mentor, I’ll keep this a secret.”4a22d95766150a35

Dante’s fingertips tapped the lush petals. A bright smile spread across his lips.fcaccebd85b03a3c

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He left Raphael 1340207216 and moved towards 9c5c493ce0 the table to e8e3982252 find alcohol to 9515e5a38b cleanse the remnants 114eb04d16 of the deployment. Or at 82e36fc64a least, he f2513c89f9 tried to. But he 555d6a923e had to e52709a5a7 turn back d2668ba2d9 because of ee913e2682 the hand 03d8d5cd9a that grabbed 1a5143b53a his arm.e2910caf8f414c69

The hand holding the flower held onto Dante. Yellow petals, reminiscent of Raphael’s hair color, fluttered near his elbow.18ca947018987fe2

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“Team leader.”ed0625601fed6415

“What?”89514b651b502eeb

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“……”6e7f80d8154f9eff

The breath b326595f51 he exhaled 0910707090 with his ba35f7f6a0 head lowered 4f75e2cf8e trembled.a216c1c24e636ce9

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“Even though I’m lacking, thank you for guiding me…”940a8742873221a5

“……”e1afdcd356b40d31

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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.”75a2697dd056874d

“Ah, I see. Thank you.”2f4f31b2adf1b878

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“But, ugh, I’m acting foolish again…”892aa0a4d84b9cbd

“……”1cdd966cf1a836e5

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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.4cb5f7d1e0c3e411

“…Are you crying?”f6ec3d1f0ebd0b48

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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.be8967772d640341

Tears wet Raphael’s long lashes and trickled down his pale cheeks.5daf7a10786c171a

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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.a5e6696dd56f095c

“Raphael Hainsworth.”d4cafd77036d06b5

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“……”769d7c617a971a9a

“Why are you crying over something like this? Stop.”dc1a6419b3dfe8d3

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Crying when drunk wasn’t a good habit for a soldier. Yet, it was very much like Raphael.d91711875cb283ea

Dante knelt and roughly 7e29e02137 wiped his face with 4a74bed04e the back of his c6698a0940 hand. His light green 73837855cb eyes, like clover a37efb2ee0 in spring, glistened c476d905b2 with moisture.5ac744b8725c9954

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Sigh… He would have been wasted as a politician. He should have been a model or an actor.862c8cc2b79298d7

Anyway, Raphael d6ca612f66 had graduated e52cf41cd1 from the 4110f9c30a academy and 39a7d20b4c was under d847823877 Dante instead a8ad0e069f of going 8b62bc81ae into politics. Therefore, Dante 9fc3704bee had a d0afc4ae08 duty to 7248c9260b take care 0cbc6ae669 of him.de8391fed4c7c37f

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“You’ve had too much to drink. Can you stand?”a825a99de5b1e8e2

“Yes…”04f2b063b19b7295

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When Dante wrapped 6a391a9d7a an arm around 0b4108ae4a his shoulder and 49965adbc2 pulled, Raphael staggered 9f15e9882d to his feet.fc7231d622bf7c22

“Ah.”d7a63098285d138c

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“Careful.”8df8c62ed7a09e73

Dante supported Raphael’s chest as he swayed. Seeing the arm that kept him from falling, the tips of Raphael’s ears turned red.b8d95ed94d213c51

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“Thank you…”0d8f4b7a57c3cee5

He gently hugged Dante’s arm and leaned against him. Though he was drunk, the contact was excessively broad.8f921493e44d62c8

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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.a38dda1bc63c496a

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.e0e3d29f7156623d

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Dante deliberately chose a 7d3578242a room deep in the d13474e458 corridor. Soon, the 807ff531b3 drunken guests 6de7aff0fa would arrive, f1d83aab72 causing a 04650780d5 ruckus about 9910adffb1 whether they 55bc5067b7 were already ba13cbdd07 asleep.b43c390c2891d5d7

“Team leader, are you going to sleep?”1ff2bd1aec021a7d

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“Yeah. I should.”c95206488d59b584

Not me, you. The subject was 3fdb3c549c naturally omitted.950ce3fae2bd0e6a

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“Then… I like that room, team leader.”8ba67a3800b53035

Raphael pointed 9b8d08f938 to a f0d92ed060 door one 3e52feecf3 space away 83c852abbd from the 9c5146b015 end of 6a74a669c2 the corridor. Dante supported Raphael to e681af450e the room he chose. When he turned on 2b9b41ca2d the light, it revealed f886c8201b a room twice the 2591869913 size of a standard eeb20c3226 one. The facilities were 739c7e203d slightly better than 39bbb02766 other rooms.c28750e72794b030

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“How did you know about this room?”4fc868fca21127f3

“When I attended parties with my parents… if I said I was sleepy, they would bring me to this room.”b9c1cf431e9c913a

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“Ah.”247fe41eafef96e8

Since it b11fbcbf9f was a b24a843c01 banquet hall 7133c4e944 attached to 010a2a1de9 a well-known e6ef635d59 hotel in f9bc832ab0 the capital, f287f0ddd9 the only 4bb8518f76 son of f783492777 the Hainsworth 4ac281b1f6 family would e43a76e7a7 have visited 162095a691 more often ad3a3e3cab than Dante. Dante helped Raphael to 48bbef5960 the bed in the 17f9fe4c42 center of the room.adf3839f33d78935

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“Get some sleep. Don’t make any mistakes by staying out longer.”1242ec8767f954f4

“……”ee0e5c6df6fb0f34

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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.”7e16c780592297da