Retribution Paladin, Switch to Heals!

Even at Marine Headquarters, the New Marine Recruit Camp's combat practicum was a major event—roughly the equivalent of... a collective internship before university graduation?

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

The Trainee Warship, packed with Training Camp recruits, set sail. Instructor Shuzo remained at headquarters, while Instructor Gumir accompanied Chief Instructor Zephyr aboard the warship to record the recruits' results. Once this practicum ended, Instructor Gumir would be transferred to the Grand Line's G-2 Branch with the rank of commodore, where he would face the ever-increasing number of pirates flooding into the Grand Line and uphold his own justice.

Several vice admirals from Zephyr's school had come to see them off. They 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 hand-to-hand combat; and Vice Admiral Burning Mountain, who taught military strategy.

Naturally, Wright knew of these famous and powerful vice admirals. However, since Zephyr had personally taught all of Wright's classes over the past few months, Wright had not had many chances to interact with the three assistant vice admirals. The three vice admirals, on the other hand, were very interested in Wright and rather fond of him. They were all Zephyr's disciples, making Wright their legitimate little junior brother—one who was receiving special cultivation, no less!

Yet unlike the others, who were nervous, calm, indifferent, excited, or otherwise emotional, Wright was currently... feeling like, I have one damn thing to say, and I don't know if I should say it.

As a seasoned healer with fifteen years of Retribution under his belt, what had been the most welcome sight to his teammates—and the most tear-inducing nightmare for himself—during those unbearable days?

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

"Retribution Paladin, group!"

XXX has invited you to join a party.

"Meet at the instance entrance. Buff up and get ready to pull!"

"Emmmm... healers are so hard to find. Huh? That Retribution Paladin, switch to heals!"

Wright jolted awake from his fantasy and recalled what Zephyr had said to him before boarding.

"Wright, by my estimation, your combat ability has reached the level of a commodore. Therefore, you have a separate mission for this combat practicum."

"Great!" Wright had been delighted. That was only natural. If he acted together with those classmates, what would they even be practicing? What merits could they possibly earn? Unless he did not make a move—but then what would be the point of him going?

Teacher Zephyr really had thought things through. Thumbs up!

"Mm. This combat practicum will last one month. Your mission will be assigned after the practicum concludes," Zephyr said impassively.

"?"

He would not be assigned a mission until 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 are a veteran education expert! Do you teach mind-reading? Oh, I can do that too.

"Don't worry. During the combat practicum, you'll accompany them for the entire duration. Your healing abilities are formidable, and you possess several different methods of healing—something 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 slay enemies. Your actions during your time as a Pirate Hunter prove your hatred for pirates."

"On the other hand, your good deeds toward civilians also prove that you do not hunt pirates solely out of hatred. You even spare those who have committed no evil and were merely 'defined' as pirates because they posed a threat. This shows that you possess the conviction to protect."

"You eliminate evil pirates, heal civilians, join the Marines, and grow stronger—all to protect civilians and the weak!"

"Oh, Teacher Zephyr, you make me sound so great. You're making me embarrassed, ahahahaha..." Wright tilted his head and smiled smugly, looking nothing like someone who was embarrassed...

With a dark expression, Zephyr reached out and straightened Wright's face, pinching his little cheeks until they warped. "Does that look like embarrassment to you?! Stop ruining the mood for me!"

"What I'm telling you is this—"

"The Training Camp's combat practicum has a Death Quota. With me watching over things, the chance of deaths is relatively small. But on a battlefield that changes in an instant, even a Marine Admiral cannot look after everyone. Recruits who suffer severe injuries and can no longer advance—or must even leave the battlefield forever—are each a loss to the Marines, and a loss to the vast majority of the weak. These elites are the backbone who will protect the weak in the future!"

"Every year, recruits are lost during the Training Camp's combat practicum. If they had been able to grow smoothly, the Marines today would be even stronger than they are now! 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 serious.

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

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

"Wright, can you promise this old man?"

Wright looked solemnly into Zephyr's eyes. The eyes that had once shone so brightly now revealed only boundless sorrow and regret. The "Unkilling" Admiral had silently cultivated countless elite forces for the Marines over so many years, striving to uphold the stance of a Marine Admiral and practicing his own justice—someone like him absolutely should not meet such an ending!

Wright slowly smiled. "Please rest assured, Teacher Zephyr. As long as they aren't unlucky enough to have their heads chopped off, I can save them and restore them to perfect condition."

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

Of course, Zephyr could tell that Wright did not mean it. He could not help but laugh. "You brat, you've been at headquarters for so long, yet you still can't break that glib tongue of yours!"

Wright made a face, then saluted Zephyr. "Teacher Zephyr, I guarantee that 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 on the shoulder. "On behalf of the recruits, I thank you, Wright. Your presence has given their futures limitless possibilities."

"Go prepare to board. This old man will head on ahead."

Wright watched Zephyr's broad, imposing figure turn and leave. Though that figure still exuded overwhelming pressure, Wright knew that he had already shouldered far too much misfortune—

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

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

"But... so I really am switching to heals after joining the group? Could it be that the Holy Light is destined to be support..."

After all that impassioned resolve, Wright could not help but become dejected...