[INDEF. HIATUS] Regrets and Wishes: One More Chance

Chapter 25 - First Military Gathering

There is one group that can't be seen anywhere. Well, it's because we've already given them their jobs. They are none other than Souei's squad, which we call the Black Night Squad (Kokuya).

Just a few minutes before the sunrise, we personally came and talk to them who already gathered and grouped themselves under a tree. We asked Souei if he was already done with the recruitment. He answered yes, so we retrieved some personal information regarding his squad before actually giving them their first tasks.

This squad consisted of five kijins in total: Souei and four other kijins whom he'd deemed as the worthiest of all.

Kurotaka, a black-haired male kijin well-versed in gathering little yet precious information just by observing from far distance, like a hawk searching for its prey. Sakuya, a black-haired female kijin who excelled in preventing crucial information from spreading further, like the night blooming and covering the sky in dark. Aomi, a dark-blue-haired male kijin who mastered reconnaissance and infiltration, no matter if the enemies hid themselves in someplace as deep as the ocean. And Atsuki, a female kijin with dark blue hair who was great at disclosing information about enemies like the moonlight shining through the dense trees of forest at night.

How about Souei? Well, that guy needs not to be questioned. He can do all what the four can do perfectly—a dreamboat as he always is.

We look back at Hakuro's fight. Both Gobta and Rigu—ah, the old habit slips out again. I always call him that way since the previous timeline. Seems like I'll just call Rigur Nisei as "Rigur" as I always used to do before, while Rigur Issei as "Issei".

Both Gobta and Rigur are struggling so hard, yet over there, Hakuro is just casually dodging their swings and slashes like they are nothing.

And oh, boy...look at them right now! They've practically been black and blue from all those bruises and scratches. Hakuro mercilessly hits them every time they show a tiny opening. Of course, they are obviously using wooden swords, not real swords.

At first, they didn't seem to want to cooperate with each other, perhaps believing that to become a captain, they should rise to that position by themselves and their own efforts, not helped by the others. But, realizing that they couldn't beat Hakuro individually, they begin to coordinate their movements.

And one can see that it's Gobta who is basically the leader here. He'll give some kind of signal to Rigur whenever he sees a chance to attack an opening. After that, they'll attack Hakuro together. But needless to say, it's still futile until the end.

...

Somewhile later, the fight is finally finished. Gobta and Rigur have each successfully landed a light hit on Hakuro's lower arm at the same time. Though, I'm sure he deliberately loosens his guard. "The fight is over!" declares Hakuro.

Both of them, obviously exhausted, just let themselves fall onto the ground. Hakuro laughs while stroking his goatee just as usual. After looking at them with a satisfied face for a moment, he turns his attention and begins to walk towards us.

"Rimuru-sama, Ciel-sama," he says while stopping in front of us, "this old man is going to report to you about the result of our selection this time."

"So," I reply, "who do you think suits better for the captain position?"

"The little hobgoblin over there—Gobta—is the winner."

"Huh?" The hobgoblin lifts his face from the ground and looks at us with a perplexed expression. His face is basically swelling with all those bruises. "Me?"

"May we ask if you have any particular reasons as of why you decided to choose Gobta?" Ciel asks, even though we already know.

"You see, ma'am, when they were finally willing to put aside their personal pride and began to work together"—he turns his eyes at Gobta for a second—"it was mostly Gobta who led their synced movements. He, indeed, has the brightest talent as one of those who will lead our soldiers."