An outcast dropout, surviving on the frontier and rising to become an S-ranked counter-magician.

Hmmm... I'm tired.

'Aren't you used to that, Julia?　You've been there for two years, haven't you?

''Senpai says so... but the truth is, Dusk still leaves me nervous, or rather... afraid, after all...''

''Well yeah. It's been two years alone in that twilight.

Back in the seventh ward city, we were having a meal when we came to the military quarters. The time was already close to night. Since it was dinner, my senior and I had come to the dining hall. Then Sherry and Sophia came from the other side.

''Yoo-hoo, you two........''

Sofia, you look tired.

'That's what you need to hear, Julia. I'm already having a hard time training...seriously...

But Sherry seems to be okay with it?

'Sherry is special!　It's kind of like I'm getting even stronger lately, or maybe I'm becoming a physical idiot.

What?　That's what I thought!

You're still being a pain in the ass.

The four of us eat as it is, chatting and laughing. By the way, it seems that Sherry and Sophia are now part of the 76th squad. However, it seems that neither of them are going out to the danger zone of twilight yet. According to them, after training a little more and seeing how things go.......but Sherry is in pretty good shape, and it seems that they're judged to be able to go out to the danger zone right away.

The talent was always there. I wonder if it is blossoming like this. The indomitable will to go on even after that attack. I can only admire her so much.

''Come to think of it, Yulia and Eira-senpai are in the same squad, right?

''It's super gorgeous to have two special class anti-magicians or something like that! It's kind of like an image that could go anywhere in the twilight.

Not really....

Yeah. Actually, the danger zone takes on a different dimension from about level 4 onwards. So does the strength of the demons, and most of all the intelligent demons... goblins, orcs, ghouls, trolls, harpies, cyclops, undead, vampires, liches, demons, medusas... ...They're all over the place. And above all, they are strong. They behave in an organized manner that normal demons don't have, and they are as intelligent as humans.

Sofia says so, and she is correct in her perception. Twilight has a different dimension, starting around level 4 in the danger zone. When I was wandering around too, I would basically run away from that place. There were times when I would fight, but even then I would run away as soon as I felt death. And I don't know everything about Dusk either. What I do know is only a part of the whole. Which demon is in which place.......I don't have a perfect grasp of such things.

''Well, let's get going now, shall we?''

When the senior said that, we got up and went back to the dormitory to rest. We've already done what we have to do today. All we have to do now is sleep.

And as we are walking back to our quarters, a group of large men appear in front of us.

'Hey hey. You have a good status with all the girls.........................Special Class Counter-Magician-dono. No, is it Major Curtis?

A man with a large build. He is close to 5'9" tall and has quite a bit of muscle and a stocky body. His shoulders are broad and his belly is narrow, with a beautiful inverted triangle. His hair is cropped black, and his image is stern........

'I'm Nick Bream. My rank is second lieutenant. Now, Mister Major may I have a moment of your time?

'Well...'

While I was saying this, a wall of people lurked around me and Ensign Briem, and a wall of people formed around me. Before I knew it, everyone else was gone.

'What?　Hey!

In the blink of an eye, it's like he and I are facing off against each other. And the gathered onlookers shout in unison.

'Nick, don't lose!'

"Even a child is a master class demon!　Be careful!

No, I'm going to bet on a master class antagonist.

I'm Nick!

Well, well, well, I bet, I bet!

Oh, that thing you were talking about I don't know what I'm gonna do.

"I'll call you, newbie. You're so cute!

For some reason, the betting has begun. Eh.........what is this?　Maybe he's here to bully me, a new guy, or something...?　The atmosphere is kind of cheerful for that.........it's a festive situation....

"Well, Ensign Briem. What's this...?

Hmm?　Well, it's called a contest of strength. Now, let's see what an extra-grade anti-magician can do!

Do you use a weapon or something?

That's dangerous. It's just a hand-to-hand combat.

Well, to say no, I mean.

None.

So, right?

They have already been surrounded and even more mysterious bets have begun to be made.

"There is physical strengthening. I will continue to fight until my opponent says he's beaten me.

...eh... yes.

When I looked closely, out of the corner of my eye, I saw that everyone from the 7th Special Squad was also taking part in the bet.

Well.........let's go!

A moment later, he kicked the ground as hard as he could and the body of Ensign Briem loomed in front of him. As expected from being in a twilight combat unit, it seemed that his body was not an apparent one. But if it's like this........

I quickly dodge and use my momentum to pay off his legs and knock him down to the ground as it is.

Would you like to go on?

Of course!

For the next few minutes I kept throwing him around. He's certainly good with his body and has good mobility. But he's still slow. And his attacks are a bit monotonous. He seems to be feinting, but if you look at his gaze, it's easy to see where he's trying to attack.

''Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Yikes. It's a bakémon....

The moment Ensign Bream surrendered, the onlookers who were around him erupted into a boil.

''Ooohhhhhhhh!

Wow, you're a f*cking genius!

Yeah. I didn't know that Nick was so out of shape.

d*mn, I knew I shouldn't have bet on Nick.

I'm glad I took a chance on Yuria-kun.

Each one is a mock battle this time?　They are exchanging their thoughts on the

''Major Julia Curtis. My apologies, I'm very sorry!

Ensign Briem bows his head in a bang.

'Hey, that's not so sudden. And respectful speech is fine. And this is something you do to help the newcomers get used to it, right?

Haha, you got it right. Well, it's more like a baptismal rite of passage. But I usually end up beating up the new guy and this time I'm the one who got beat up.

Ensign Briem was pretty good, too, sir.

Oh, I don't want to be flattered. And you can call me Nick. Welcome to the Dusk Fighting Force. I'd like to see you in action.

I'm fine with Julia, too, Mr. Nick.

You don't have to call me "sir. You can call me Nick, Major.

Nick smiles with a toothy grin. At first I didn't know what to expect, but apparently I'm welcome.

Well, it's good to see you, Nick.

Yeah. It's a pleasure to meet you, Julia.

We would give each other a firm handshake.

As a soldier, I worried not only about the mission, but also about these relationships. I was the youngest person ever to become a special-grade anti-magician, and since I became a soldier, my rank was major at the age of 15. Normally, you would be in your thirties at the earliest to become an officer. And yet, I reached that position in an unusually short period of time.

That's why I thought there would be a lot of difficulties, but.......everyone in the Seventh Boundary City's Twilight Combat Unit seemed to welcome me regardless of my age.