"And… there is one more special mission I must entrust to you."
The Battalion Commander held up a report. It contained information about Corporal Hanna.
"A mana detection ability user… Truly a rare talent. It is important to create the proper environment when such talent first sprouts. Because an early-stage Awakener can absorb the purest and greatest amount of mana."
His gaze fixed on one side of the map. It was a rear area, removed from the front lines.
"There is the 7th Mana Spring behind our unit. It is a strategic mana supply point assigned to the battalion. Take Corporal Hanna there. The pure energy of the Mana Spring will greatly help stabilize her talent and promote her Awakening."
"Understood."
"Security is paramount there. You are to escort her personally and handle the procedures yourself."
The Battalion Commander's eyes turned toward me once more.
"I trust you will handle this matter well too, Lieutenant."
*
The next day, Hanna and I got into a jeep alone. The road to the rear was peaceful, without incident. However, Hanna was restless the entire time. She sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Hanna Meyer]
[Emotions: Anxiety about heading to an unknown place, tension at being alone with the Lieutenant]
"This opportunity isn't given to just anyone, Corporal."
Hanna jumped in surprise and turned to look at me.
"There's no need to be so nervous. This is a reward and an opportunity given to you."
"...But I still don't really know what I'm capable of."
"That's why you're going to learn. The pure mana there will teach you how to use the power sleeping within you."
After driving for several hours, the Mana Spring was located deep within a massive rocky area. The entrance was blocked by a heavy steel door, and magical runes were carved into the rock walls here and there.
Soon, heavily armed guards appeared.
"Verification complete!"
After checking the Battalion Commander's written order and my identification, the steel door opened with a heavy rumble. We entered under the guard's guidance. The inside was an entirely different world. Dimly glowing mana crystals were embedded along the cold cave walls, and the air was thick with an eerily dense mana energy.
As we walked, the guard recited precautions.
"The Mana Spring is a source of pure life and a root of rampaging energy. Awakened ones can accept its power, but if non-Awakened are excessively exposed, they may succumb to mana poisoning and, in severe cases, lose their lives. Lieutenant, you must remain a certain distance away from the spring."
We soon arrived at a massive cavern. The cave ceiling was open, allowing starlight from the night sky to pour down, and at its center lay a lake glowing with an emerald light. This was the Mana Spring.
The guard turned his head toward Hanna.
"Before entering the spring, you must remove all clothing you are wearing."
"...Excuse me?!"
Hanna was bewildered by the sudden words. Her face burned bright red.
"Artificial elements that obstruct the pure flow of mana must be eliminated. In particular, Imperial Army combat uniforms are treated with trace amounts of magic resistance, which is fatal to Awakening."
The administrator finished speaking and disappeared toward the far end of the cave. Only Hanna and I remained in the cavern. Silence flowed. Hanna fidgeted, stealing glances at me.
"...Lieutenant. I..."
I turned my back and spoke.
"Corporal Hanna Meyer, I will keep watch here. I won't go far, as something might happen to you."
Hanna seemed to hesitate briefly at my consideration—or lack thereof. Soon, the sound of fabric rustling and buckles unfastening came from behind me. Hanna's breathing felt especially loud.
I leaned against the cold cave wall and closed my eyes. But even without looking, I couldn't help but imagine.
Splash.
A small water sound. It seemed Hanna had entered the spring.
"Haa...."
Soon, a heated moan was heard. It was a voice that seemed both pained and as if feeling pleasure.
"Hah, ugh... Ah!"
But I soon corrected my thoughts. The cry that followed was clearly a sound born from pain. I couldn't endure it and turned toward Hanna.
And at the sight that unfolded before me, I momentarily held my breath.
Moonlight and the blue light of mana crystals illuminated the water's surface. At its center was Hanna. Slender shoulders and back, the voluptuous curves continuing from a narrow waist. A body honed by training, yet no less feminine for it.
Wet brown hair clung to her nape and shoulders, and her entire body was enveloped in a faint emerald glow, like the spring water. It was a sight that looked like the spring's mana was forcibly burrowing into her body. She trembled violently, hugging her chest with both arms. She was writhing in agony.
I immediately activated a skill.
[Using the skill 'Status Analysis (Lv.2)' on 'Hanna Meyer'.]
[Name: Hanna Meyer]
[Status: Excessive mana influx. Internal mana circulation is unstable, causing energy collisions. (Danger!)]
[Emotions: Extreme pain, unknown pleasure, fear and confusion due to uncontrollable mana influx]
[Hidden Trait: Mana Sense (Forced Awakening in progress)]
The (Danger!) displayed blatantly on the status window was vivid.
'If I leave her like this, she could become mana-poisoned or lose her mind.'
Taking care not to get too close to the spring, I shouted in a loud voice.
"Corporal Hanna! Get ahold of yourself! Focus on my voice!"
At my voice, Hanna barely opened her eyes. Unfocused pupils turned toward me. Only then did she seem to realize I was looking at her; her face flushed with shock and shame, but it quickly twisted again under the onslaught of pain.
"Breathe! Inhale deeply through your nose, exhale slowly through your mouth! Imagine the rampaging power inside your body. Think of gathering it below your navel, in your lower abdomen!"
Hanna's expression changed upon hearing my words. She was still grimacing, but she at least looked like she was trying to grasp something.
After a long while, the violent light surrounding Hanna gradually subsided. The tangled flow of mana that had wrapped around her body began to circulate through her like a gentle river.
"Haa, haa...."
Soon, Hanna completely collapsed, surrendering her body to the water's surface. With her face flushed scarlet, she spoke.
"...Thank... you. Lieutenant...."
Those were her last words before she lost consciousness. Fortunately, since it was the edge of the spring, I pulled her out from the spring's edge. I stretched out my arms to support her beneath her armpits and behind her knees. Her smooth skin wrapped around my palms. The skin touching my hands was burning hot like a fireball.
Only after carefully laying her on the ground did her body fully come into view.
Water droplets pooled in her collarbones and flowed down to her voluptuously protruding breasts. Her nipples were erect from the cold environment. The hair between her legs was thick. Water droplets were seeping into the wet crevice of her labia. A hot desire surged up from my lower abdomen of its own accord. But a skill seized my reason.
[The skill 'Indomitable Mind' is active.]
[It suppresses unnecessary emotional disturbance and guides the most efficient thought.]
Along with the sensation of cold water being poured over my head, the surging impulse subsided like a lie. However, my trousers were still heavy. It seemed even [Indomitable Mind] couldn't do anything about that.
I took off my military jacket and wrapped it around Hanna's wet body. Then I carefully moved her to a room.
*
The next morning, I headed to Hanna's bedroom. I knocked lightly, but no answer came from inside.
After a moment's hesitation, I cautiously turned the doorknob, just in case. The door was unlocked. As I stepped inside with a creaking sound, I saw Hanna deeply asleep on the bed. My military jacket precariously covered her upper body like a blanket.
I set down a tray with soup and bread I had brought from the cafeteria on a small table beside the bed. Reacting to the small sound, Hanna slowly lifted her eyelids. The moment her eyes met mine, they widened greatly. She hurriedly pulled up my military jacket to cover her bare chest.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Hanna Meyer]
[Status: Severe exhaustion and muscle pain due to mana rampage aftereffects. Slight fever symptoms.]
[Emotions: Bewilderment at the sudden situation, extreme shame at having been seen naked.]
I spoke while checking the information.
"Don't move. You have a fever."
At my words, Hanna flinched in surprise. With her face red, she hung her head low and muttered in a voice as small as a mosquito.
"I'm... sorry. And... yesterday... truly, thank you, Lieutenant."
I replied indifferently.
"Eat. You need to recover your strength."
While Hanna ate, I spoke.
"There will be a mana examination today. We need to check the effects of yesterday's Mana Spring."
"Sir? Did you say a mana examination?"
Perhaps because of her memory of entering the Mana Spring yesterday, Hanna's body trembled slightly.
I took Hanna, who had finished eating, to a small examination room within the facility. Inside the examination room, a medical officer in a white gown was waiting for us. While I waited outside, she expressionlessly seated Hanna in an examination chair and conducted a detailed examination using several pieces of equipment.
A short while later, looking at a glowing crystal panel, she reported in a stiff tone.
"Lieutenant. Corporal Hanna's body has begun transforming into a vessel that accepts mana. However, it is still in an unstable state. To complete the Awakening stably..."
She paused for a moment before reaching a conclusion.
"...She must enter the Mana Spring several more times."
Hanna's face turned deathly pale.