I thought I would be in the hospital for a month.
That was what Bhringi said.
But...
I think I got more than a miracle.
I recovered.
In one week.
Even Bhringi couldn't believe it.
"Fogo..."
He stared at the medical report.
"Your bones should not have healed this quickly."
I smiled.
"Guess I'm lucky."
He looked at me suspiciously.
"Or you're just impossible."
"That works too."
During my recovery, someone unexpected came to visit me.
Shivansh.
The same person who had been there when I first entered the Wing Corps.
He stood beside my bed.
"You look better."
I laughed.
"That's because I am."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then his expression became serious.
"We will find Tobisa."
I looked at him.
"You sure?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"He's a Wing."
"And Wings don't abandon their own."
I smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
While I was recovering, I heard about Marie's progress.
She had already completed six missions.
Six.
And she had killed nine demons.
"She's getting stronger," I thought.
But honestly...
I wasn't surprised.
Marie was always stronger than she looked.
After I healed...
I did something that even the old Wings called insane.
Something that had never been done in elf-troll history.
I went through three cities.
At the same time.
I didn't hide.
I didn't search.
I became the target.
Every demon in those areas noticed me.
And chased me.
Hundreds of demons.
All following one person.
Me.
People thought I was crazy.
Maybe I was.
But I needed to get stronger.
Because next time...
I wasn't going to lose someone.
The demons surrounded me.
I smiled.
"Alright."
"Let's see how much I've improved."
I grabbed my katana.
"Nature Breathing..."
"Sixth Form!"
Nature Wheel!
My blade spun like a storm.
Demons were thrown backward.
Before they could recover—
"Fifth Form!"
"Hurricane!"
A powerful wave of wind-like energy tore through them.
The remaining demons charged.
I planted my feet.
"Seventh Form..."
"Stone Shield!"
Their attacks crashed against my defense.
But they couldn't break through.
One by one...
They fell.
By the end...
Twelve demons were gone.
I stood there, covered in dust.
"Twelve."
I looked at my katana.
"Not bad."
I heard Senjuro say that.
My achievements didn't stay hidden for long.
A few days later...
A message arrived.
Promotion confirmed.
Tom Fogo has been promoted to Low Wing 4.
I stared at the message.
"Already?"
Marie looked at her own watch.
Then smiled.
"Looks like I'm joining you."
She had also been promoted to Low Wing 4 after three days.
Tobisa would have definitely made a joke about us getting promoted too quickly.
The thought made me quiet for a moment.
But I couldn't stop.
Not yet.
Shivansh came to congratulate us.
He smiled.
"It's not like everyone can reach this level in a month."
He looked at both of us.
"People die trying."
"But you two didn't."
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm proud of you."
Those words meant more than any rank.
Then...
Another mission arrived.
I opened my watch.
Mission: Escort and transport.
Objective: Take 38 Low Wings to the furthest district.
I looked at Marie.
"Thirty-eight?"
She nodded.
"That's a lot."
But then I noticed something.
The transportation method.
My eyes widened.
"Wait..."
"We get to use a train?"
Marie smiled.
"Yes."
I grinned.
"Finally."
"No walking for five hours."
"No mountains."
"No deserts."
"A normal mission."
...
At least...
I hoped it would be normal.