Rewinding time slightly from the moment the fight broke out.
Early morning. I had arrived at the Commander's office and found myself deep in thought.
I'd been planning to find a weakness — something to exploit whenever she became an obstacle.
Because I still couldn't get a read on Adelaide's weak point.
*Nothing obviously subpar. That's exactly what makes this type such a nuisance.*
She was a hexagonal type — evenly distributed across every domain.
Physical ability, cognitive capacity, reflexes, judgment: all above average.
No issues with her eyes or ears. No chronic ailments to speak of.
Of course, "above average" only meant so much at the B-rank level.
Even accounting for that, she was more than capable enough to be called an all-rounder.
For someone like me who needed a weakness to exploit, she was a deeply inconvenient type of Valkyrie.
*On top of that, she's growing in real time. She was C-rank just a year ago. Every ability is climbing steeply as she cuts down Erosion Species. At this pace, A-rank is well within reach.*
And it wasn't for nothing that she was a fan-favorite character in the original work.
Adelaide was growing in real time, on top of everything else.
Physical strength, combat experience, unique ability — all of it.
Given enough time, she had the talent to reach A-rank.
The more I learned about her, the more of a headache she became.
Was there really no simple way to keep her in check?
I'd love to find something that could deal with her in one clean move….
I must have been sitting at my desk looking visibly lost in thought.
The Commander, who had just arrived, glanced at me and spoke up.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
"Oh, Commander. I was reviewing the file on Adelaide, who transferred in yesterday. She's quite impressive."
"Is that so?"
"I'd need to see her in action to be sure, but… she seems like she's on the stronger end of B-rank."
My intentions were transparently impure, but there was nothing outwardly suspicious about what I was doing.
I answered casually, as if it were nothing, and the Commander took my assessment with quiet seriousness.
Valkyries operate in squads as a basic rule, and forming those squads is ultimately the Commander's prerogative.
He seemed to be filing away what I said as a reference point for his own judgment.
I watched him sink into thought, and then a notion struck me.
Maybe the Commander would notice something I hadn't.
He was the protagonist type, after all, and sharp to boot.
Right. Nudging him in the right direction wouldn't hurt.
I reached a quick conclusion and carefully steered the conversation.
"There is… one thing that's been nagging at me, though."
"What would that be?"
"Here — there's a section where her previous Commander evaluated her. Apparently she has a general lack of cooperative spirit."
"Yes, it does… say that."
A lack of cooperative spirit — wasn't that a character flaw?
I thought as much, and let my mind drift back to the night before.
The memory of meeting Adelaide for the first time.
She had been, in every sense of the word, a doll-like Valkyrie.
Not simply in the sense of being pretty like a doll.
More like the feeling of having no idea what was going on behind those eyes.
*— Adelaide, is there anything you like to eat?*
*— Not particularly.*
*— Oh. Then is there anything you dislike?*
*— I don't know.*
*— …In that case, may I choose the dinner menu?*
*— Do whatever you want.*
Completely indifferent to her surroundings. A total my-pace type.
The polar opposite of Spica, who overflowed with enthusiasm in every direction.
She certainly didn't come across as someone with a gift for cooperation.
But it wasn't only that cold, distant quality she had.
Because something else had happened when we all went out for soup dumplings.
*— Wow! So this is what dumplings are! There's nothing like this in Grizid, so I've never seen them before!*
*— To be precise, these are soup dumplings — dumplings filled with broth. The way you eat them is to place one on a spoon like this—*
*— Hff, hhhh, hff….*
*— W-wait! These are hot, you can't put the whole thing in your mouth at once!*
She'd popped a dumpling into her mouth without a second thought and then frozen in place like something had short-circuited.
I'd been startled enough to shove a glass of cold water into her hands, and she'd trembled from shoulder to shoulder as she gulped it down.
Had the Commander recalled that same moment?
He'd been mulling it over, and now he spoke with a slightly sour expression.
"Rather than a lack of cooperative spirit per se…."
"It's more like… a strange lack of common sense?"
"Ah. That's exactly what I was trying to say."
Adelaide did have a problem with cooperation, no question.
But if you pressed the point, it felt closer to a deficit of common sense.
That didn't seem like it would become a decisive weakness.
Thinking about it that way, this line of inquiry felt like a dead end.
I'd been turning it over in my mind when I looked up at the Commander.
"I think it might be worth having a direct conversation with her."
"Yes. I was thinking the same thing."
If I didn't know, I could just ask her directly.
I decided to use the Commander's interview to draw out her weakness firsthand.
Knock, knock.
Not long after, someone rapped on the door of the Commander's office.
I jumped to my feet and called out that they could come in.
The door swung open, and a blue-haired Valkyrie stepped into view.
A cool-type beauty with not a single eyebrow twitch to betray her expression.
It was Adelaide, summoned as requested.
"Welcome. Would you like to take a seat on the sofa?"
"Sure."
I guided her — standing there blankly — over to the sofa.
Only then did she move, dropping into a seat with a soft thud.
The Commander naturally settled into the spot across from her.
Perhaps sensing that diving straight into business wasn't the right move, he opened with small talk to ease the atmosphere.
Whether she'd slept alright the night before.
Whether there was anything she needed.
How she'd found breakfast at the cafeteria that morning.
Maybe it was because more than a month had passed since he arrived in Lumia.
The Commander, who had once been a novice, now carried himself with a certain ease.
I found myself watching their exchange with a faint sense of novelty, when the Commander cleared his throat and moved to the point.
"Adelaide, do you know why I called you in today?"
"Not really."
"As of yesterday, you're officially part of Lumia. That means you'll need to be assigned to a squad. That's what I'd like to discuss today."
"A squad…. Okay."
Adelaide nodded as if she understood.
Since Valkyries were required to belong to a squad as a matter of course, she seemed to recognize it as a necessary step.
The Commander asked her with a measured seriousness.
"Do you have any preferences for how the squad is composed? Perhaps certain types of unique abilities you have poor compatibility with, or a particular kind of teammate you'd prefer. I'll accommodate Adelaide's needs as much as possible."
Squad compatibility was paramount.
For instance, if a Tanker had an ability that scattered frost, and the Dealer had an ability that breathed fire—
They'd end up canceling each other out.
These things had to be carefully considered when forming a squad.
I quietly pricked up my ears.
If there was something Adelaide found uncomfortable here—
That would be the concrete weakness I could use to get under her skin.
I waited in quiet anticipation for her answer.
But after thinking it over, she looked at the Commander and then, with those unreadable, indifferent eyes, betrayed me.
"…Not particularly."
"Not particularly — meaning?"
"I don't have preferences. Compatibility is something I can adjust to."
Apparently she didn't have compatibility issues. Or so she believed.
It was possible she only thought that about herself.
Without seeing her fight firsthand, there was no way to judge.
What am I supposed to do with this.
Should I try isolating her by targeting her poor social skills?
No — someone this my-pace wouldn't even flinch at something like that.
While I kept my expression neutral and continued my serious deliberation, the Commander finished processing her answer and assigned Adelaide to a squad.
"In that case, for the time being, you'll be a provisional member of Boramae Squad. I'll let the squad leader know, so please get your bearings with them for now."
"Understood."
The purpose of calling Adelaide in had been fulfilled.
With the conversation concluded, she moved to rise from her seat — and then, out of nowhere, turned to look at the Commander and said something completely unexpected.
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Of course. Is there something on your mind?"
"What do you think… strength is?"
"Strength, you say?"
For a moment, the Commander's gaze flicked toward me.
An expression that said he had no idea what this was about.
But how would I know what she was thinking?
All I could do was return a look that said the same.
In the end, the Commander turned back to Adelaide.
And then, with quiet courtesy, he asked her in return.
"Forgive me, but I'm not sure I follow the intent of your question. What kind of answer are you looking for?"
"Just… I was curious what you think strength is."
"Ah, if that's what you mean…."
Out of nowhere, the Commander's gaze landed on me.
This time, unlike before, it wasn't a look of confusion — it carried some kind of intent.
It lingered for a moment, then returned to Adelaide.
"Not breaking down and moving forward even in moments of despair. And never giving up hope no matter how hard things get. I think that might be what strength is… that's how I see it."
"…."
Adelaide blinked and looked at the Commander.
It was the reaction of someone who hadn't expected that kind of answer.
And listening from the side, I let out a quiet, inward scoff.
*Wait — is he talking about me?*
It felt like an overreach on my part, but I had been careful to show only my best side in front of the Commander.
So it wasn't strange that he might think of me.
We had even made eye contact for a moment just now.
Honestly, it was a laughable mistake.
To be taken in by an illusion I'd constructed myself, without even knowing it was all fabricated.
I mocked the Commander silently and kept my face perfectly blank.
In the meantime, Adelaide seemed to have absorbed every word she'd been given.
She nodded slowly and opened her mouth.
"I see. Understood."
That was the entirety of her response.
A sudden question, followed by an indifferent reply.
But watching Adelaide closely, I caught it.
A faint flicker of interest in the gaze she directed at the Commander.
The moment I noticed it, I felt, for some reason, a small prickle of irritation.
"I'll be going, then."
"Ah, yes."
She turned slowly and made for the door.
And for just a moment, our eyes met — Adelaide's and mine.
Those doll-like eyes, utterly unreadable, impossible to see through.
For one brief instant, I was reflected whole in those clear, transparent irises.
Then she walked out of the Commander's office.
Off to introduce herself to the squad she'd been provisionally assigned to, most likely.
Alone together in the room, I felt a faint, nagging frustration settle over me.
*In the end… I still couldn't find Adelaide's weakness.*
Should I slip something into her food?
Or make a move while she's asleep?
Of course, getting caught would mean it was all over — so neither was realistic.
Mildly irritated, I turned to look at the Commander as a convenient outlet.
"Commander."
"Yes? What is it?"
"About what you said just now…. Do you think someone like that actually exists?"
I already knew the answer. I was poking at him on purpose.
What kind of reaction would it draw out of him?
Maybe he'd make a satisfying expression — one shadowed by regret for the past.
Holding that expectation, I was conscious of the hidden camera.
"Yes. I'm certain they do."
But his face wasn't what I'd wanted.
A faintly wistful quality, as though he were recalling something fond.
The anticipation in my chest went cold.
That wasn't what I was after.
Ah — right. Three weeks had already passed.
I realized the wound inside the Commander's heart had begun to heal.
*He's already past the pain…? What remarkable resilience.*
This won't do.
As quickly as possible, I need to find a way.
I quietly clenched my fist and steadied myself.
The Commander and I returned to our usual work.
Upgrading the facility had left a mountain of tasks piled up.
We spent nearly the entire morning chained to our desks, wrestling with paperwork.
After breaking for lunch separately at the cafeteria, I was on my way back to the Commander's office to resume work.
In the middle of the corridor, Adelaide stopped me.
"So you're the strongest person in Lumia. I thought it might be something like that."
"That's…."
"So, Leila. Spar with me."
I wasn't really in the mood to play along right now.
Then again — venting my irritation might improve my mood a little.
And this was as good a chance as any to find that weakness of hers.
Keeping the dull weight of my mood buried somewhere deep, I accepted Adelaide's proposal without hesitation.