No Need to Elevate Me

The White Eraser naturally could not be classified as evil; otherwise, it would never have become a color Eraser. Subordinate to Regiment 404, this regional squad had been founded at the very inception of the Ninth Army. In truth, it possessed an illustrious history and outstanding military achievements, and its combat prowess had always remained formidable. It was just that... over the course of history, it had gradually evolved. Little by little, it had become a testing ground for the faction of "radical or extremist young officers" who constantly sought to change Azure. It served as their vital base and stepping stone to nurture newcomers, accumulate military merits, and advance through the ranks. To be specific, Qi Shantong's military career, for instance, had originated from the White Eraser. He had served as captain of the White Eraser for nine whole years. During that time, he accumulated merits all the way up to senior colonel. A senior colonel captain... what an absurdly high tier of officer was that?! In the entire army, only an Eraser could possibly have someone like that. "Hahaha..." Inside the stifling major general's office, Qi Shantong's trademark manic laughter broke out again. It went on for quite a while before abruptly cutting off. "Alright. First, give me a detailed report on the specifics of this mission." He suddenly sat down and asked with complete gravity. "Reporting to the Head Instructor, regarding this mission, I already submitted a detailed mission report during my stay at the medical station," Han Qingyu replied. "Say it again." "Understood, Head Instructor. At that time, we received a transmission from base ordering us to confirm the Cleansing Faction's stronghold. The three of us infiltrated... and were suddenly ambushed by a large number of enemies and modified humans..." Han Qingyu gave his account exactly as before. "We fought bloody to the very end, and had no choice but to break out while wounded. The mission was a failure." "Is that so?" "That is so." "However, according to my own deduction after surveying the scene in person, the battle seems to differ quite significantly from your account... Are you truly certain there was nothing suspicious about you?" Qi Shantong tilted his head slightly down while staring up at Han Qingyu, an expression that made one deeply uncomfortable. "Deductions, is it?" Han Qingyu met his twisted gaze and smiled. "Then I could just as well deduce that Head Instructor Qi had malicious motives when you had Regiment 425's recruit camp equipment officer, Wen Jifei, take part in this operation." Their gazes clashed, and Han Qingyu did not yield an inch. Back when he was still at the medical station, he had already made up his mind—since he had no desire to become one of their kind, then when dealing with a dangerous person like Qi Shantong, rather than pretending to play along only to be constrained at every turn, it was better to simply tear away the pretense and break with him outright. That might actually be safer and more liberating. "Are you suspecting a superior officer?" Qi Shantong leaned forward, his glare pressing in on Han Qingyu. "Not really. I can believe that Head Instructor Qi didn't know beforehand that it was a trap, that the enemy was formidable, nor would I ever be so audaciously bold as to suspect a major general of colluding with the enemy..." Han Qingyu returned his gaze with an equal measure of intensity, speaking slowly, "However, please don't tell me you didn't know, Head Instructor... that Wen Jifei is merely an equipment officer—and a Dice." Even Lao Jian and Milla knew information like that. Han Qingyu would never believe Qi Shantong didn't know. "Ha, hahaha! I really am admiring you more and more." Qi Shantong didn't utter a single word of excuse, changing the subject instead. "So, your mind is made up? You're going to the Golden Eraser?... Going to stay with that bunch of bastards who do nothing but guard the old gates for the rotting corpses of Azure?" "There is no need for Head Instructor Qi to trouble yourself over that." Han Qingyu touched the source energy block in his pocket. "Though I do indeed quite like the Golden Eraser." "...You have backbone," Qi Shantong said, suppressing his temper. "So you're truly not worried about..." "You're mistaken, Major General Qi," Han Qingyu said in a low, earnest tone. "Quite the contrary: I am a person with very little backbone. Not only am I afraid of dying, but I'm also afraid of getting sabotaged, afraid of being targeted, afraid of 'accidents'..." The look Qi Shantong gave him grew slightly puzzled. "That's why, while I was at the medical station, I already contacted Tu Zi and Xin Yaoqiao separately. I told them that because I rejected an invitation from the faction Major General Qi belongs to in the Ninth Army, I seem to be targeted right now and feel terrified... So if any 'accident' happens to me in the future, I asked them... to make sure they don't look in the wrong direction." Qi Shantong: "..." Since his faction had always been radical and out of line, there were naturally plenty of people within Azure who were on guard against them and constantly seeking an excuse to suppress them. "If Head Instructor Qi has nothing else, I'll take my leave." Han Qingyu stood at attention, saluted, then turned on his heel and strode toward the door. He opened the door. "You arrogant bastard! Just because people have been calling you a once-in-a-decade recruit, you really think you're something special?! You don't appreciate being elevated." Behind him, the White Eraser lieutenant whom Qi Shantong had introduced earlier as Liang Ge uttered these words with rage and threat. Han Qingyu stopped in his tracks. He didn't turn around, nor did he look back. He smiled silently, then said: "Indeed, I don't... Because there is no need to lift, nor any need to elevate me... Whatever I want, I will climb up on my own ability and seize it with my own hands." With that, he walked out the door. In the end, before even leaving the camp, he had completely offended Qi Shantong. Was that a bit foolish? Perhaps, but it felt truly exhilarating. *** At nine that night, Milla stood on the small balcony of the instructors' building facing the mountain, looking up at the starlight. "I'm sorry, brother. Little Milla let you down again." She had envisioned countless times the moment she would wear a captain's epaulets, go to Mount Nine Armies to pay her respects, and tell her brother. She had thought it would finally come true this year, but the outcome was disappointing once more. "An orange or an apple?" A figure stood downstairs, carrying a bag of fruit, looking up as he asked. "I..." "Can't choose? Then one of each." As Han Qingyu spoke, he tossed them up one after the other. Milla had no choice but to catch them in turn. Thinking for a moment, she put on a brave front and said, "Did you come to comfort me? You really don't have to. I've gotten used to this over all these years. You're the one who should think carefully about which squad to join." "No, I came to apologize to you." "Huh? Apologize? Why apologize?" "Because the person who told the army leadership that you're not suited to be captain... was me." Milla: "..." "You can throw the apple at me. I won't dodge." Han Qingyu lowered his head, bracing himself to take the hit. With his current physical condition, it wouldn't hurt much even if it actually struck him, but not knowing whether it was coming or when it would hit was still rather nerve-wracking. Milla raised her hand, brandishing the apple, then the orange. In the end, she peeled off a piece of orange peel and threw it down symbolically. "Why, why did you do that?! Do you have any idea how... how humiliating this is for me right now? Everyone thought I was definitely going to become captain this year. I thought so too, and I even went out of my way to the recruit camp to pick people, but in the end..." "Because you really aren't suited for it. I was afraid something would happen to you if you became captain." "...Because I'm only Grade E?" "No. It's because you can never make the most correct, rational choice on the battlefield in time. You'll want to take care of everyone, but you can't." "So I'm just too useless after all." "No. On that point, it wasn't just you. Even Captain Wang Liuzheng of the Red Eraser back then couldn't do it either." "...Oh." It was true; what Han Qingyu said made sense. Milla asked herself the same question and quickly came around to understanding it. Yet she was still indignant, so she kept a cold face. "I get it. You can go now." "But I'm not finished yet. Can I come up and tell you?" Han Qingyu asked with a smile. Milla hesitated for a moment... At the base of the wall not far away, Wen Jifei, He Tangtang, Liu Shiheng... "Whoa, whoa, whoa, that shameless bastard! He actually went upstairs?!" "That's crossing the line." "Have some decency." "..." Naturally, Han Qingyu actually stayed for less than three minutes, offered a bit of advice, and came right back down.