HSBA Delta Branch: Where Paths Cross Again - CHAPTER 4

[Late Evening — City Restaurant | 10:13 P.M.]

The restaurant had already quieted down.

Only a few tables remained occupied.

Soft instrumental music played faintly overhead.

Dim golden lights reflected across polished glass windows while rain droplets slowly slid outside.

Near the farthest corner of the restaurant—

A lone woman quietly sat beside the window.

Ravielle.

A finished dinner tray rested untouched beside her.

Cold tea.

Half-finished rice.

A spoon she no longer held.

And in her hands—

A brown envelope.

Slightly folded from how tightly she had been holding it for hours.

Her discharge papers.

Official. Finalized. Irreversible.

Her fingers slowly caressed the edge of the envelope again.

And again.

Like she still couldn’t fully believe it herself.

No more deployments.

No more command briefings.

No more recruits.

No more operations.

No more military service.

Just—

Silence.

Ravielle lowered her head slightly.

Dried tears remained faintly visible on her cheeks.

“…What do I even do now…?”

Her voice was barely audible.

For the first time in years, she felt completely lost.

Earlier that morning, she had officially left the service.

And ever since then—

Everything felt wrong.

Every job she tried applying for asked the same thing:

“Relevant experience required.”

Relevant experience.

Ravielle almost laughed bitterly remembering it.

Because how exactly was she supposed to explain years of military service to normal civilian employers?

How was she supposed to explain combat leadership?

Field operations?

Survival command?

Tactical instruction?

None of it seemed to matter outside the military world.

Her fingers tightened around the envelope again.

“…Maybe Dad was right…”

Her voice cracked softly.

“…Maybe I discharged too early…”

She swallowed hard.

Her grandfather supported her decision entirely.

But her father—

The disappointment in his eyes earlier—

Still hurt.

Ravielle lowered her head further.

Then—

A familiar older voice suddenly spoke nearby.

“…Ravielle?”

Her eyes widened instantly.

She immediately wiped her cheeks quickly before lifting her head.

And froze.

Because standing only a few steps away—

Was an elderly man she recognized immediately.

Headmaster Gaius.

Beside him—

A younger man in formal attire stood alert and composed.

Zachary.

The personal bodyguard of Headmaster Gaius.

And the father of Trainee Ysabelle.

Both of them had clearly just finished dinner as well.

Headmaster Gaius blinked slowly upon seeing her face properly.

Then, recognition fully settled.

“…It really is you…”

Ravielle immediately stood respectfully.

“…Headmaster Gaius…”

Zachary looked surprised too.

Because he recognized her name immediately from old military discussions his father-in-law once mentioned.

Headmaster Gaius stared quietly for a moment.

Then, a faint smile appeared.

“…You grew up already…”

Ravielle gave a small embarrassed smile despite her red eyes.

Headmaster Gaius chuckled softly.

“…Last time I saw you… you were still following your father around the military camp.”

That memory hit instantly.

A younger Ravielle.

Tiny boots.

Oversized military cap.

Trying to imitate soldiers while proudly marching around.

Headmaster Gaius smiled warmly.

“…You used to say you wanted to follow your grandfather and father’s footsteps.”

A pause.

“…Did you?”

That single question—

Immediately shattered Ravielle’s composure.

Her lips trembled.

Then—

Tears suddenly fell again.

Headmaster Gaius immediately became alert.

“…Ravielle?”

Zachary straightened instantly too.

Ravielle quickly covered her eyes.

“…I-I did…”

Her voice broke.

“…I followed them…”

“…I entered the Marine Corps…”

“…And today…”

Her grip tightened around the brown envelope.

“…I got discharged…”

Silence.

The atmosphere softened immediately.

Headmaster Gaius slowly sat down across from her.

His expression calm.

Gentle. Understanding.

“…I see…”

Ravielle laughed weakly through tears.

“…And now I don’t know what to do anymore…”

“…I entered society today and suddenly realized…”

“…I don’t belong anywhere…”

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

“…Grandpa supported my retirement…”

“…But Dad…”

She lowered her head again.

“…I disappointed him…”

Headmaster Gaius quietly listened first.

No interruption. No judgment.

Only patience.

Then—

He spoke calmly.

“…Your father was probably just surprised.”

Ravielle remained silent.

Headmaster Gaius continued gently.

“…You are his only daughter, Ravielle.”

“…Who else would he support if not you?”

Her eyes slowly widened.

“…He spent years worrying whether you’d survive deployments…”

“…Whether you’d come home safely…”

“…Whether you were eating properly…”

“…And now suddenly you retired without warning.”

He smiled softly.

“…Of course he became emotional.”

Ravielle slowly looked down again.

Guilt quietly settling deeper inside her chest.

Headmaster Gaius leaned back slightly.

Then—

Unexpectedly—

He spoke again.

“…Would you like a job?”

Ravielle blinked.

“…What?”

Zachary smiled faintly beside them.

Headmaster Gaius calmly folded his hands.

“…HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch needs instructors.”

“…Especially people with real field experience.”

Ravielle stared quietly.

Headmaster Gaius continued.

“…You already trained recruits in the military before.”

“…This won’t be completely unfamiliar to you.”

“…You would help guide future trainee bodyguards.”

Ravielle looked stunned.

“…B-But I don’t know anything about HSBA systems…”

Headmaster Gaius nodded immediately.

“…Which is why you won’t enter as a full instructor immediately.”

“…You’ll enter as an instructor-in-training first.”

“…Different environment. Different students. Different methods.”

“…But your foundation is already strong.”

Then he smiled warmly.

“…And my grandchildren will guide you step by step.”

Ravielle froze slightly.

Because earlier—

She truly thought she had nowhere left to go.

Yet suddenly—

A door had opened.

Right in front of her.

Headmaster Gaius continued calmly.

“…I’ll personally process your papers.”

“…You won’t need to start as a normal trainee.”

“…You’ll directly join the instructors team under supervision.”

Ravielle stared at him quietly.

Emotion slowly building again in her eyes.

“…You’d really do that…?”

Headmaster Gaius smiled softly.

“…Your grandfather once watched my back in the field.”

“…Your father served honorably too.”

“…Helping you now is the least I can do.”

Ravielle’s lips trembled slightly.

Then—

BZZZZZZZZT.

Her phone suddenly exploded with nonstop vibrations.

Ravielle jumped slightly.

Headmaster Gaius blinked.

Zachary looked amused.

The phone kept vibrating continuously.

Again. Again. Again.

Ravielle slowly looked down.

Then froze completely.

Messages from unknown numbers yet somehow familiar to her.

From:

Britney.

Sapphire.

Skyrish.

Amethyst.

Bailey.

Raphael.

Nexcialine.

Sahm.

Patrick.

Blade.

Bryce.

Louie.

All at once.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Because despite changing her number—

They still remembered her.

Still cared enough to search for her.

Still messaged her.

Ravielle slowly opened the messages.

And immediately—

She almost cried again.

[Britney] Why did you change your number without informing us?

[Sapphire] We spent THREE YEARS messaging your old number.

[Skyrish] YOU DISAPPEARED.

[Amethyst] Changing your number without telling us was cruel, you know. We thought we’d never hear from you again.

[Raphael] Do you know how worried everyone became?

[Bailey] At least tell us you’re alive properly!

[Nexcialine] YOU OLD WOMAN ANSWER US RIGHT NOW.

[Sahm] We seriously thought you were ignoring all of us this whole time.

[Patrick] THREE YEARS, SQUAD LEADER. THREE. YEARS.

[Blade] We kept texting your old number like idiots.

[Bryce] ANSWER BEFORE WE ALL LOSE OUR MINDS.

[Louie] We kept hoping one day you’d finally reply... and now you suddenly have a new number?! We really thought something happened to you.

All flooding messages nonstop.

Ravielle covered her mouth.

“…They still remembered…”

Headmaster Gaius suddenly laughed warmly.

“…Go reply before your phone explodes.”

Ravielle immediately became embarrassed.

“…S-Sorry…”

As she hurriedly unlocked her phone—

Headmaster Gaius accidentally caught glimpses of some unknown numbers and immediately recognized it.

Britney. Sapphire. Nexcialine.

Immediately—

A knowing smile appeared on his face.

“…So it was my grandchildren disturbing your phone earlier…”

Ravielle froze.

“…Ah…”

She immediately bowed her head slightly.

“…I’m sorry…”

Headmaster Gaius chuckled softly.

“…Take your time.”

“…Reply first.”

Ravielle nodded quickly.

Then immediately began typing rapid replies.

Apologies. Explanations. Reassurances.

Telling them she was alright.

That her discharge was planned.

That she simply changed numbers and forgot to update them.

That she never forgot them either.

And somewhere far away—

Inside the HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch Hidden Masters Office—

Several instructors visibly relaxed almost at the exact same time.

Instructor Bailey nearly collapsed into her chair dramatically.

“…SHE REPLIED.”

Instructor Raphael exhaled heavily.

“…Finally.”

Instructor Skyrish pointed aggressively at Instructor Britney.

“…YOU SEE? SHE’S ALIVE.”

Instructor Nexcialine looked emotional again.

“…I almost cried earlier…”

Instructor Sapphire quietly closed her eyes briefly in relief.

Meanwhile—

Instructor Faye and the others exchanged glances.

Because the sudden tension earlier—

Had completely disappeared from the Phantom Crest Squad members.

Instructor Azhette narrowed her eyes slightly.

“…Their old friend replied…”

Instructor Jonathan nodded quietly.

“…Definitely.”

Back inside the restaurant—

Ravielle finally finished replying.

Then immediately bowed apologetically toward Headmaster Gaius again.

“…Sorry for that…”

Headmaster Gaius only smiled warmly.

“…Feeling better now?”

Ravielle looked at her phone quietly.

Then—

For the first time that night—

She smiled genuinely.

“…Yes…”

A small pause.

Then, she looked at him properly.

“…Headmaster Gaius…”

“…I’ll accept your offer.”

His eyes softened immediately.

Ravielle continued sincerely.

“…And I’m willing to undergo proper training too.”

“…I want to do the job properly.”

Headmaster Gaius smiled proudly.

“…Good.”

“…You won’t regret it.”

Then—

He suddenly asked casually.

“…Where are you staying tonight?”

Ravielle blinked.

“…I was planning to book a hotel…”

Immediately—

Headmaster Gaius frowned.

“…Absolutely not.”

Ravielle looked startled.

“…H-Huh?”

Headmaster Gaius crossed his arms firmly.

“…It’s already late.”

“…And you’re alone.”

“…You are my junior brother’s granddaughter.”

“…I can’t allow you to wander around the city alone tonight.”

Ravielle immediately shook her head politely.

“…I don’t want to trouble you…”

“…Nonsense.”

Headmaster Gaius interrupted gently but firmly.

“…Come stay at Gaius Mansion tonight.”

“…We’re heading there anyway.”

“…And I still need to prepare your instructor processing papers tonight.”

Ravielle looked stunned.

“…T-That’s really okay…?”

Headmaster Gaius chuckled warmly.

“…Ravielle.”

“…We both came from the Marine Corps.”

“…Different generations.”

“…But still comrades.”

Then—

His voice softened.

“…So allow this senior brother to help his junior sister adjust after discharge.”

That sentence—

Hit Ravielle deeply.

She slowly lowered her head.

“…Thank you…”

“…Really…”

Headmaster Gaius smiled gently.

“…You’re always welcome.”

Then—

He slowly stood.

“…Are you alright now?”

Ravielle wiped the remaining tears from her face.

Then nodded softly.

“…I’m okay now.”

Headmaster Gaius smiled.

“…Good.”

“…Let’s go.”

[Outside The Restaurant | 11:03 P.M.]

Cool night air greeted them immediately.

Zachary respectfully opened the restaurant door first.

Then the three slowly walked toward the parked black vehicle nearby.

Zachary quickly opened the rear passenger door for Ravielle.

As Ravielle carefully entered—

Headmaster Gaius instinctively covered the top of her head gently so she wouldn’t bump into the car roof.

“…Careful.”

Ravielle blinked softly.

“…Thank you…”

After she settled properly—

Headmaster Gaius closed the door carefully.

Then Zachary escorted Headmaster Gaius toward the opposite side.

Covering the older man’s head as well before helping him inside safely.

Once both were seated—

Zachary closed the doors securely.

Then entered the driver’s seat.

The engine started quietly.

And slowly—

The vehicle drove off into the night.

Toward—

The Gaius Mansion.

Toward—

A new beginning.

And somewhere far away—

Inside the HSBA Delta Branch Hidden Masters Office—

Instructor Britney quietly stared at Ravielle’s newest message again.

Then—

Very softly—

She smiled.

“…Welcome back, Squad Leader…”

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