Retribution Paladin, Switch to Heals!

Even by Marine Headquarters standards, the New Marine Recruit Camp's combat field training was a major event, roughly equivalent to... a collective internship before university graduation?

Therefore, Marine Headquarters attached great importance to every combat field training exercise. Not only did they arrange dedicated intelligence guidance, but even Marine Admiral Zephyr, the Chief Instructor, would sail with the ship to minimize the chance of accidents.

The Trainee Warship, packed with Training Camp cadets, set sail. Instructor Shuzo remained at headquarters, while Instructor Gumir accompanied Chief Instructor Zephyr aboard the warship to record the cadets' results. Once this training exercise ended, Instructor Gumir would be transferred to the G-2 Branch on the Grand Line with the rank of Commodore, where he would face the growing number of pirates flooding into the Grand Line and put his justice into practice.

Several Vice Admirals who had come to see them off, all former students under Zephyr, had served as assistant instructors for the Elite Squad over the past few months: Vice Admiral Squirrel, who taught swordsmanship; Vice Admiral Dalmatian, who taught martial arts; and Vice Admiral Burning Mountain, who taught military strategy.

Wright naturally knew of these famous and formidable Vice Admirals. However, since Zephyr had personally taught all of Wright's courses these past few months, Wright had not had many chances to interact with the three assistant instructors. The three Vice Admirals, on the other hand, were very interested in Wright and held him in considerable affection. They were all Zephyr's disciples, after all, and Wright was practically their legitimate "junior brother"—one being specially groomed, at that!

But unlike the others, who were nervous, composed, indifferent, excited, or otherwise emotional, Wright currently... felt like he had a sentence of "MMP" he did not know whether he should say.

As an experienced healer who had spent fifteen years as a Retribution Paladin, what had been the most welcome sight to his teammates—and the one that had left him wanting to cry without tears—during those unbearable days?

"Group's up! Get your potions, flasks, food, and bandages ready and join! Need DPS!"

"Retribution Paladin, group!"

XXX has invited you to join the party.

"Gather at the instance entrance, buff up, and get ready to start!"

"Emmmm... healers are hard to find. Hm? Hey, Retribution Paladin, switch to heals!"

Wright jolted awake from his fantasy and recalled how Zephyr had sought him out before boarding.

"Wright, based on my assessment, your combat strength should have reached Commodore level. So, for this combat field training, you have a separate mission."

"Great!" Wright was delighted. That was only natural. If he acted alongside those classmates, what training or achievements would they even have? Unless he did not make a move—but then what would be the point of him going?

Teacher Zephyr really had thought this through. Thumbs up!

"Mhm. This combat field training will last one month. Your mission will be assigned after the training ends," Zephyr said impassively.

"?"

He would only be assigned a mission a month later? Was he supposed to remain on standby at headquarters? How boring...

"You're thinking that staying on standby at headquarters would be boring, aren't you?"

...Teacher Zephyr, you truly were a seasoned education expert! Did you teach mind-reading? Oh, wait, he knew that one.

"Don't worry. During this combat field training, you'll accompany them throughout. Your healing abilities are exceptionally powerful, and you possess several different methods of healing. That has never appeared in any previous Training Camp."

Zephyr stared at the wide-eyed Wright. "As a warrior, I understand your desire to take the field and kill enemies. Your actions during your time as a Pirate Hunter showed your hatred for pirates."

"But likewise, your kindness toward civilians proved that you did not hunt pirates merely because you hated them. You even spared those who had committed no evil and were only 'defined' as pirates because they posed a threat themselves. That shows you possess the conviction to 'protect.'"

"To protect civilians and the weak, you eliminate evil pirates, heal civilians, join the Marines, and strive to grow stronger!"

"Oh, Teacher Zephyr, you make me sound so great that I'm embarrassed! Ahahahaha..." Wright tilted his head and smiled smugly, looking not the slightest bit embarrassed...

With a dark expression, Zephyr reached out with one large hand, straightened Wright's face, and squeezed until his little face was distorted. "Does that look like embarrassment to you?! Stop ruining the mood for me!"

"I'm telling you this because—"

"The Training Camp's combat field training has a Death Quota. With me watching over things, deaths are less likely, but on a rapidly changing battlefield, even a Marine Admiral cannot look after every single person. Every cadet who suffers severe injuries and can no longer advance, or even has to leave the battlefield forever, is a loss to the Marines—a loss to the vast majority of the weak. These elites are the backbone that will protect the weak in the future!"

"Every year, the Training Camp's combat field training claims cadets. If those cadets had been able to grow smoothly, the Marines would be even stronger than they are today! Their suppression of pirates would be stronger! They would be able to protect even more weak people!"

Zephyr released Wright's cheeks, his mood somewhat low. Wright stopped joking as well, his expression turning solemn.

"So, Wright, since you possess healing abilities and a heart that wishes to protect, I ask this of you!"

"At least for this class of the Training Camp, please use your abilities to protect the cadets as much as possible and minimize their casualties. At least for this class, do not let those damned pirates snuff out our colleagues of limitless future potential!"

"Wright, can you promise me?"

Wright looked seriously into Zephyr's eyes. Where Zephyr's eyes had once shone sharply, they now revealed only endless sorrow and regret. The "Non-Killing" Admiral had quietly trained countless elite Marines over so many years, striving to uphold the position of a Marine Admiral and practice his own justice. Such a man absolutely should not have met such an ending!

Wright slowly smiled. "Please rest assured, Teacher Zephyr. With me here, as long as they have not been unlucky enough to get their heads cut off, I can save them and restore them to perfect condition."

"Actually, I'm pretty afraid of dying. Compared to trading blows with pirates, staying in the back and saving people is safer and easier..."

Zephyr could naturally tell that Wright did not mean it, and he could not help smiling. "You brat, you've been at headquarters for so long, yet you still haven't gotten rid of that glib tongue!"

Wright pulled a face, then saluted Zephyr. "Teacher Zephyr, I guarantee I'll complete the mission. From now on, please call me 'Gold Medal Support'!"

Zephyr shook his head with a helpless smile and patted Wright's shoulder. "On behalf of the cadets, I thank you, Wright. Your presence has given their futures endless possibilities."

"Go prepare to board. I'll head out first."

Wright watched Zephyr's imposing figure turn and leave. Though that figure still carried an overwhelming sense of pressure, Wright knew that he had already borne too much misfortune—

"With me here, your misfortune ends now, Teacher Zephyr!"

"There's still time... I need to become stronger!"

"But still, I really did switch to heals after joining the party. Could it be that Holy Light was fated to be support..."

After that surge of righteous passion, Wright could not help feeling dejected...