If We Don’t Get Married, The World Will End - Chapter 2
Translator and Editor: Hue and Tea
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Chapter 2
The bustling center of the Hwangdo and its busiest street.
“The weather is nice today!”
Leona hummed a tune, quickening her steps.
Today was the day she had been eagerly awaiting, the day of her enrollment into the Special Forces.
“It’s finally the day for the Central Command assignment! The day I’ve been waiting for!”
Leona was filled with excitement. After all, she had received a Central Command assignment, the first woman to do so in the 150 years since the establishment of the Imperial Special Forces.
The Central Command selected only the best of the best among elite graduates from various military academies. The decision to recruit female newcomers from the traditionally conservative Central Command meant that Leona’s skills were overwhelmingly impressive.
As Leona approached the main gate of the Central Command, she was greeted by a crowd of people.
“Miss Leona! Congratulations on being the first woman to enroll in the Central Command after being the top student in the Royal Academy’s Knight Department and graduating as the top student. What are your thoughts?”
Journalists, wielding magical devices for interviews, bombarded her with questions.
“Woohoo! Sister Leona! The best! Amazing! We love you!”
“Trust only Sister Leona! For the glory of the Hwangdo! Forward, Knight Department!”
Even her fan club and fellow students from the Royal Academy joined in the cheers.
The main gate was bustling with activity.
Leona greeted each person with gratitude as she walked.
As she reached the gate, she turned to face the crowd.
“Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who came here to support me.”
Leona smiled gracefully.
Her trademark red hair complemented the white Special Forces uniform, and her confident and elegant figure drew admiration from all around. “As a member of the Central Command of the Special Forces, for the sake of the empire…”
“Lord Regan! Sirs, Lord Regan is coming!”
“Oh, Lord Regan, you look splendid today as well!”
The voices of the sturdy men drowned out Leona’s voice. When Leona turned her head toward the source of the noise, various wizards in colorful cloaks, each representing different magic factions, were gathered there. Wizards who would usually quarrel over whose faction was superior were now united, shouting Regan’s name loudly.
“Re-gan! Clan-ford!”
Clap, clap, clap!
“Heaven! Earth! Magic! War!”
Clap, clap, clap!
They energetically chanted slogans, and in their hands were cute cheer sticks that didn’t quite match their enthusiasm. The cheer sticks featured a drawing of the serious-faced Regan, illuminated even in the light.
Amidst this spectacle, Leona momentarily lost focus. A low-pitched voice intruded into her ears.
“Don’t block the way, move aside a bit.”
Leona quickly turned her head to look at the owner of the voice. There, a man with a mix of silver and black hair grimaced while glancing in her direction.
Regan Clanford, the top student of the Hwangdo Academy’s School of Magic. Her tiresome fate.
“Of course, this unlucky guy got assigned to the Central Command.”
She naturally thought he would be assigned to the Northern Command where his father was.
“I have to stick with that Regan for three years.”
The mandatory service period for academy graduates was three years. The thought of having to clash with Regan continually was already causing stress-induced stomach pains.
Furthermore, his personality was abhorrent, and his abilities were exceptional. It was rare to find someone who hadn’t fallen victim to his magic among the Knight Department graduates.
Perhaps because of this, jeering voices erupted from the crowd.
“Hey, Regan Clanford, get lost!”
“You wretched magician! Don’t harass our Leona!”
“He dares to challenge our sister with a single punch! Sister, crush that guy!”
In response, wizards supporting Regan on the opposite side rose like a swarm.
“No, who blocked the way first! They must be ignorant knights!”
“Our Regan can sweep them all away with a single gesture! We kindly asked them, and look what happened!”
Feeling that things could escalate into a serious incident, Leona quickly decided to calm the people down.
“Enough, enough. Everyone! I will now go inside. Once again, thank you all for coming.”
“Before you go, can we have a photo of you two shaking hands?”
A desperate journalist, anxious to capture a moment, shouted as Leona tried to disperse the crowd.
“Uh, with me…?”
While Leona wore a troubled expression, Regan, as if this wasn’t his concern, was about to nonchalantly enter through the main gate. Leona quickly grabbed Regan.
“Hey, they’re asking for a photo.”
“Why do I have to bother with such pointless requests?”
“Oh, come on! It’s not that difficult. Besides, do we have to advertise that we’re not on good terms to everyone around here?”
In the face of Leona’s stubborn resistance, Regan thought it would be better to quickly take a photo and be done with it.
“…Fine, let’s get it over with.”
Eventually, the two found themselves awkwardly facing each other.
“Handshake, handshake!”
At the journalist’s request, Regan’s expression turned even more fierce. Nevertheless, he reluctantly extended his hand to Leona, expressing that there was no other choice. And so, at that moment when their hands met…
“Ugh!”
In an instant, Leona’s vision turned white. What she saw in the place where the multitude of people and the background disappeared was only Regan.
The back of Leona’s hand connected with Regan’s, and simultaneously, she felt a burning sensation. At the same time, an unknown voice penetrated her mind.
“[Connected to dimensional streaming.]”
“Finally! Finally succeeded after three years!”
A voice filled with excitement was an unexpected bonus.
‘…What’s going on??’
While Leona was still unable to grasp the situation, her vision returned to normal. Perplexed, Leona quickly surveyed her surroundings, but everyone else seemed calm.
Perhaps Leona alone had experienced this strange situation.
‘No, maybe this guy, too.’
Just as Leona was about to open her mouth, she noticed Regan wore a similarly bewildered expression.
“Hey, Regan. Did you just—”
“This is Leona Everhart, joining the team for the first time. Is it correct that you are Regan Clanford? The director is waiting for you both.”
An employee who appeared out of nowhere hastened the two.
In the end, Leona, feeling a sense of unease, turned away from the bewildering situation and headed toward the headquarters.
* * *
Leona and Regan were guided to the director’s office at the Central Headquarters.
“Welcome to both of you to the Central Headquarters.”
Miles, the director of the Central Headquarters, extended his hand. Surprisingly, he had an ordinary appearance, resembling a local gentleman, considering his role in such a significant organization.
“Leona, it’s good to see you. It might not be easy for a woman to adapt to the Central Headquarters, but if you ever face difficulties, think of me as an uncle and feel free to talk to me.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Director.”
“Ah, don’t be so formal. Think of me as an uncle. Or if you prefer, you can think of me as a big brother! Hahaha!”
While Leona struggled to keep a straight face, Miles greeted Regan.
“Regan, it’s been a while. How is your father doing?”
Regan’s father, Duke Clanford, was the head of the Northern Branch and commanded the Imperial Special Forces, a secret unit directly under the emperor, handling confidential imperial matters.
“He’s doing well, I suppose.”
Regan’s indifferent response created an awkward atmosphere in the room. Quickly, Miles guided both of them to the sofa.
“The two of you sitting side by side looks really good. Haha.”
Their unimportant conversation made Leona and Regan furrow their brows.
“I heard you two were often together even at the Royal Academy.”
“Not at all.”
“It’s a baseless rumor.”
Leona and Regan quickly denied any connection.
“Well, still, being in the same class, you must have gotten close. Back in my day, the Northern Branch was famous for having many beauties.”
“Enough of that. Please get to the point.”
Regan’s cold voice cut off Miles’ words.
Leona appreciated for the first time that Regan had an equal lack of courtesy toward everyone.
“Ah, right.”
Only then did Miles sneak a glance at Regan.
“Well, it might be a bit awkward to say this on your first day, but…”
Alternately looking at the two, Miles reluctantly brought up the main topic.
“…You are assigned to form a pair and carry out a mission.”
“What?”
Us? With this crazy guy? Leona barely suppressed the desire to blurt out.
“The emperor has requested your cooperation for a prolonged investigation mission at the temple.”
The temple? Leona was surprised by the sudden mention of a name out of the blue.
Why would these newly joined rookies be named for a mission by the temple?
“Cooperating with the temple is a first for us. I hope you both will handle it well, bearing the name of the Special Forces.”
“Uh…”
Leona was about to find some ground for refusal when the director, as if expecting that, spoke up.
“…By the way, if you perform well in this mission, Emperor’s Majesty has decreed that your mandatory service period will be shortened to one year.”
A reduction of two years in mandatory service…! It was a very appealing proposal to Leona, who was blinded by the desire for freedom.
Leona was on the verge of giving in on the strength of this very welcome suggestion.
“I absolutely do not want to form a pair with this person.”
Regan’s chilly voice echoed in the room, filling it with tension again.
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