Concept: World - Chapter 1 A New Concept Wielder (4)

Ring... Ring... Ring...

Still lying in bed, Ethel reached over and silenced the alarm.

Another early shift.

At least, that was what he thought.

It wasn't until he was halfway through brushing his teeth that he suddenly remembered—

He'd already quit yesterday.

"...Right."

Since he was already awake, going back to sleep felt like a waste.

He might as well start the day.

Ten minutes later, Ethel sat at his tiny table, absentmindedly chewing on a slice of toast while checking the balance in his account.

He had enough money to last about a month.

Still, finding another job as soon as possible would be wise.

If anything unexpected happened...

There was no one he could turn to.

Truthfully, if he looked for work as an Force User, he could probably find a decent-paying job immediately.

The Combat Corps wasn't the only career open to Force Users.

"Why are you an Force User?"

The voice buried deep within his memories echoed in his mind.

A chill ran down his spine.

Ethel shook his head.

No.

He'd keep looking for an ordinary job.

A knock sounded at the door.

He tilted his head.

It couldn't be the landlord.

He'd already paid the rent.

That only made it stranger.

He didn't have any friends who would visit unannounced.

Opening the door, he found an extremely suspicious-looking person standing outside.

The visitor wore an oversized sun hat and large sunglasses that completely hid their eyes.

Despite the sweltering weather, they were wrapped from head to toe in long sleeves and long pants, leaving not a single patch of skin exposed.

"Mr. Ethel?"

A deep male voice came from beneath the layers of clothing.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm from the Central Administration Building."

The visitor produced an identification badge.

"Would you mind if we talked?"

Ethel glanced at the badge.

It was genuine.

"...Did Sot send you?"

"No."

"I'm with the First Division."

"The First Division?"

The badge indeed bore the First Division's insignia.

Ethel remembered Sot's warning.

"She'll definitely come looking for you."

So he hadn't been joking.

The First Division really had come.

Even though joining the Combat Corps was out of the question...

Making an enemy of them sounded even worse.

After a brief hesitation, Ethel stepped aside.

"Please, come in."

"...Your place is rather small."

"Yeah."

Ethel walked over to the refrigerator.

"I don't exactly make much money."

He opened the fridge and stared at its nearly empty contents, wondering what he could possibly offer his guest.

"You don't have to trouble yourself."

"I can't just let a guest leave thirsty."

After searching for a moment, he finally found a bottle of juice.

"I may not mind the heat..."

"...but dressing like this in the middle of summer is still uncomfortable."

Ethel froze.

That wasn't a man's voice.

Slowly, he turned around.

No crimson warning lines appeared before his eyes.

The familiar voice in his head remained silent.

Whoever this person was...

They had no intention of attacking him.

The visitor removed the hat.

Then the sunglasses.

Golden hair spilled down like a waterfall.

Brilliant golden eyes met his own.

Within those eyes...

It was almost as if a tiny sun burned.

For a brief moment—

Ethel's mind went completely blank.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

The woman extended her hand.

"My name is Tia Eos."

"I'm the Captain of the First Division."

Only after several seconds did Ethel finally react.

He shook her hand briefly before awkwardly offering her the bottle.

"...Here."

"Thank you."

Accepting the drink with a gentle smile, Tia took a seat at the table.

"I heard from Sot that he'd discovered a new Concept Wielder."

"He did."

Ethel sat down across from her.

He'd expected the First Division to summon him to headquarters.

Or perhaps send a representative.

He hadn't imagined that the captain herself would come.

"First..."

"I'd like to apologize."

Tia lowered her head slightly.

"I'm sure Sot used a rather unpleasant method to bring you in."

"It wasn't that bad."

"He just took me in for a test and let me go afterward."

Both of them knew it was little more than polite conversation.

Neither chose to point that out.

"I've already read the report."

"But I'd still like to hear it from you directly."

"Mr. Ethel..."

"Would you tell me about your Concept?"

"I can see attacks coming toward me."

"They appear as red lines."

"Concept: Heart."

Tia nodded thoughtfully.

"A remarkably powerful support Concept."

"I doubt someone like Captain Tia needs an ability like mine."

"Your division already has the lowest casualty rate in history."

For the briefest instant—

A trace of heaviness crossed Tia's smile.

Then it disappeared.

"Protecting my team is part of my duty."

She looked back at him.

"May I conduct a few simple tests?"

"...Tests?"

"I'd like to better understand how your Concept works."

"...All right."

"Thank you."

Tia smiled.

"First..."

She simply looked at him.

"Do you see anything?"

Ethel waited.

"...Nothing."

"So merely intending to attack you isn't enough."

She nodded to herself.

"What about this?"

Golden light shimmered within her eyes.

Force overflowed from her body.

"...Still nothing."

"I see."

"So your Concept can distinguish genuine killing intent."

She seemed to be organizing the information in her mind.

"Then..."

"How about this?"

"A few red lines appeared."

As he answered, Ethel casually stepped aside, avoiding several tiny rays of light that likely wouldn't have hurt him even if they'd connected.

"Interesting."

Tia raised a finger.

"And now?"

"Anything?"

"...Yes."

"A lot of red."

"What would you do?"

"Nothing."

"I'd stay where I am."

The instant he answered—

A wave of scorching heat surged toward him.

Just before reaching his body...

The flames split apart, flowing harmlessly around him.

"That will be enough."

Tia withdrew her Force.

"If we continue, we might damage your home."

She studied Ethel with newfound interest.

"Mr. Ethel."

"Yes?"

"I understand you have your reasons for avoiding combat."

"But I'd still like to ask you properly."

She met his eyes.

"Would you be willing to join the Combat Corps?"

"...I'm sorry."

Ethel answered without hesitation.

His decision had already been made.

"I can guarantee your safety."

"I believe my division's survival rate speaks for itself."

"I'm not afraid of dying."

That was the truth.

Fear of death had never been the reason he refused to fight.

"...I thought as much."

Tia gave a small nod.

"Then I can guarantee you a better life."

"I don't need one."

"As long as I can get by, that's enough."

"You could become a hero."

"I'm not interested."

A brief silence followed.

"I see."

Tia lowered her eyes for a moment.

"Then..."

Here it comes.

Ethel sighed inwardly.

He was certain she'd start talking about duty...

About protecting others...

About fighting for the city.

And that was exactly the kind of earnest persuasion he was weakest against.

"...Then let's stop here."

"Huh?"

"You're a citizen of Helios."

Tia's voice remained calm.

"Which means you're someone I'm responsible for protecting."

"I could never force you into joining the Combat Corps for the sake of some noble cause."

"If you ever change your mind..."

"...just let me know."

For a brief moment, Ethel wondered if this was simply another recruitment tactic.

A strategic retreat.

But the expression on Tia's face was utterly sincere.

She was disappointed that he had refused.

Yet she had no intention of pressuring him any further.

"Then I suppose that's all."

She rose from her seat.

"Do you have any other questions?"

"...Actually, yes."

Ethel looked up at her.

"Why did the captain of the First Division come here personally?"

"I'm only a Lost One."

"Was it really worth disguising yourself just to recruit me?"

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had a feeling he'd regret asking.

Even so...

He wanted to know.

The First Division didn't recruit Lost Ones.

In fact, it hardly recruited anyone at all.

There were countless rumors as to why.

Some claimed the First Division accepted only the elite.

Others believed its members had fought together for so many years that newcomers simply couldn't fit in.

There were even conspiracy theories suggesting that Captain Tia looked down on everyone else and refused to accept anyone she deemed unworthy.

Whatever the truth was...

One fact remained unchanged.

The First Division never recruited.

Which made it all the stranger that its captain had come to recruit him herself.

Tia fell silent.

After a long pause, she finally answered.

"...Because your ability can help."

She met Ethel's eyes.

"I want your Concept."

Rather than answering his question...

Her words created a sense of distance.

As though she were evaluating Concept Wielders solely by their usefulness.

Hmph.

Ethel caught something hidden beneath that detached answer.

"You don't believe me."

Tia blinked.

"...No."

"If there's a reason you can't tell me, that's fine."

Ethel gave an awkward smile.

"I'm just an ordinary nobody."

To his surprise—

Tia slowly shook her head.

"It's not classified."

"I simply..."

She hesitated.

"...was worried that if I told you the truth..."

"...you might change your mind."

"...and decide to join."

That answer only made Ethel even more curious.

In the end...

He chose to open the box temptation had placed before him.

He wanted to know what lay inside.

After hearing Tia's reason—

Just as he'd feared...

He regretted asking.

And just as Tia had feared...

It changed his mind.

The following morning, the headline at the top of every newspaper in Helios read:

A New Concept Wielder Appears!

Helios Welcomes Another Lost One.

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