Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 55 - Counting Beers

Chapter 55 - Counting Beers

I ran the numbers again, my mind spinning as the implications sank in. Out of the original 100 pairs competing in the second round of the Licensure Examination Tournament, only three pairs will ultimately walk away with a license. Just three. That stark reality made it nearly certain: Myrrh and I might have to face Michelle in our final two matches.

Michelle and Aurelio—third-year legends, and the top-ranked WAIFU and WEEB operators—stood like an immovable mountain on the horizon of this tournament. The thought of battling them sent a nervous shiver through me. They were obstacles so massive, it was hard to believe we'd ever climb over them. And yet, despite their looming reputation, we'd barely scratched the surface of what they were capable of.

"Drones," Cindy had said when we talked about Michelle earlier. Drones? The word felt alien to me as a weapon. My own clearance level wasn't high enough to access that kind of technology, but it made sense. Third-years operated at a Clearance Level of 25 or higher, so who knew what other surprises they had in their arsenal?

Part of me wanted to pray—not for victory, but to avoid facing Michelle entirely. Yet, the gambler in me whispered a different tune. What if we took the risk? What if Myrrh and I managed to stand toe-to-toe with the third-year dean's listers and beat them? 

It wasn't just about the licenses anymore—it was about the challenge, the thrill of pitting ourselves against the best. The conflict gnawed at me, a strange mix of fear and excitement twisting in my chest.

I glanced over at Myrrh, who was absorbed in a video call with Fei. The glow from her screen highlighted her lime-blonde hair as it shifted slightly with every movement. In the background, Neil lounged in his hospital bed, eating orange slices like he didn't have a care in the world. His nonchalance was almost contagious.

"I saw your battle earlier, Myrrh! It was such a close call, but you were amazing!" Fei exclaimed, pumping her fists in excitement. Her vibrant energy leaped off the screen, her admiration evident. "What was that mysterious wing thing you did? I've never seen anything like it!"

"Ahaha..." Myrrh's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she scratched her cheek, clearly flustered by the praise. "That's Zaft's secret weapon. You'd have to ask him for the details," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of bashfulness.

Myrrh smirked at me, a teasing glint in her blue eyes. I narrowed mine in response, shooting her a glare that I hoped conveyed my annoyance. She knew exactly what she was doing. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Series was meant to be a secret, but the Lightning Storm weapon—her so-called "Blade Wings"—wasn't entirely hidden from the public. Documentation and videos of its use were all over the social media, though most people wouldn't bother digging that deep.

For our close friends, though—the ones who understood the true nature of Myrrh's Ultimate—the weapon's sudden transformation might raise some eyebrows. Myrrh didn't want to outright lie to them, so she'd conveniently left the responsibility of explaining—or not explaining—the truth squarely on my shoulders.

Great.

The thought made me sigh internally. Even if I did spill everything—the WMDs, the Machine God, all the classified details—I doubted anyone would take me seriously. It all sounded too fantastical, like something ripped out of a low-budget sci-fi film. Maybe that was the silver lining: I could technically tell the truth without any real consequences.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Fei on Myrrh's camera, her wide, curious eyes lighting up as she spotted me.

"Hiya, Zaft!" she chirped, waving enthusiastically. Her energy was almost childlike, and I couldn't help but smile a little. "What was that weapon?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.