Chapter 22: Chapter 22

The war had come to an end. With Mambern having lost its primary weapon, their momentum had completely collapsed—a predictable outcome. The Imperial Army capitalized on this, relentlessly advancing until they drove Mambern out of the eastern territories. This brief war concluded in a decisive victory for the Empire.

For a conflict that had started on such a grim note, its abrupt conclusion felt almost anticlimactic. Yet for the Imperial Army, victory was only natural. Weakened by their defeat, Mambern had no choice but to kneel before the Empire, and the process of drafting a one-sided peace treaty proceeded smoothly.

“Well done, everyone.”

Inside the meeting room at Imperial Headquarters, Veil surveyed the captains seated around the table with a proud expression.

“I am pleased that not only were our losses minimal, but also that we managed to bring this war to a swift conclusion.”

The captains all bowed their heads in unison, as if rehearsed.

“Now then, how is Seth doing?”

“He’s in the medical ward receiving treatment. He was poisoned by the enemy’s dark magic, so the focus has been on purging it,” Leo explained. Veil’s face darkened slightly, though it was clear that Seth’s condition wasn’t critical. Before Luke had secretly entered the mountains, Seth had led the 5th Division into Uric Mountain to carry out their mission. However, the summoner, who had been lying in wait, ambushed him from behind.

“Most importantly, His Majesty was deeply impressed by this campaign.”

If this war were to be recorded in the history books, it would surely be remembered as "the shortest war ever won." The Imperial Palace had been gravely concerned upon hearing that Mambern had attacked with monsters. Yet the war ended in just a single day, so their reaction was only natural.

“And Theo, your contributions were particularly significant in this war.”

“…You flatter me. It was a victory achieved by everyone working together.”

“You really ought to be less humble. It was thanks to your timely handling of Mambern’s summoner that we secured such a valuable victory.”

From across the table, both Mail and Roena nodded in agreement with Veil’s statement.

“Yes.”

Despite the compliments, Theo simply bowed his head in silence, offering only a curt response. Leo glanced at Theo but then quickly turned his gaze away.

“Mambern will soon send representatives to the Empire to negotiate a peace treaty. The treaty is expected to be finalized in short order.”

Of course, while it was called a peace treaty, it was little more than a document filled with oppressive terms that offered no benefit to Mambern. From the Empire’s perspective, they could almost feel grateful that Mambern had been foolish enough to start the war. After all, this gave them the perfect pretext to impose any terms they wished without opposition.

Other neighboring nations had already begun criticizing Mambern, questioning why they had recklessly provoked a foe they couldn’t possibly defeat.

“Once the peace treaty is finalized, there will be a ceremony at the palace to honor the military’s achievements. Be sure to prepare for it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And once everything is settled… I plan to step down from my position.”

The unexpected announcement brought the meeting to a halt, with all the captains, except for the absent Luke, widening their eyes in shock.

“Commander, what are you saying…?” Theo asked, his face betraying his unease.

“I’m not getting any younger, and I can’t hold this position forever. A person must know when it’s time to step aside.”

“But…”

It had been anticipated that Veil would eventually step down as commander, but his term still had over a year remaining. No one had expected him to leave before completing it. The idea that he would step down early was entirely unforeseen.

“I was always worried about whether the issues with Mambern would be resolved during my time as commander. But now that it’s been taken care of, I feel relieved. I’m glad this could be resolved completely under my watch.”

Veil had long intended to make resolving the prolonged tensions with Mambern the final act of his tenure. For years, the two nations had failed to reach any meaningful agreement, stuck in a state of truce rather than peace. Veil knew that a mere ceasefire was meaningless, and he had dedicated himself to ensuring that the conflict was properly concluded before he left his position.

As things turned out, the war had ended more smoothly than anticipated. Mambern had fully capitulated without further resistance, effectively bringing the long-standing conflict to an end.@@novelbin@@

“The selection of the next commander will be decided through discussions with the council and the Imperial Palace. You’ll be informed soon.”

Seeing the downcast expressions of the captains, Veil offered a wry smile, joking that they shouldn’t look so gloomy when he hadn’t even officially retired yet. And so, the meeting continued smoothly.

All the while, one chair remained conspicuously empty.

***

"Looks like you have something to say to me?"

Luke stared at Fale, who was seated across from him, stealing glances in his direction despite his tray being piled high with food.

“N-No, sir.”

“If you’re curious about something, just ask. You’ve got three seconds.”

“T-Then…!”

Fale’s voice rose immediately as if he’d been waiting for permission, but when the other members nearby turned to stare, he quickly lowered his voice and raised his hands defensively.

“Just one thing…”

“Hurry up and ask.”

“It’s just… was it you, sir?”

Fale’s question was full of holes, missing any specifics about the action he was referring to. But Luke didn’t press him to elaborate.

That day, Luke’s disappearance—sneaking off to the battlefield—was something he knew Fale wouldn’t fail to notice. And yet, he hadn’t silenced him. It was a calculated risk, born out of trust. Watching Fale lower his voice and awkwardly broach the topic only confirmed that Luke’s decision had been the right one.

“What does it matter? What’s important is that the war is over.”

Luke paused briefly before burying his face in his food.

That day, he had descended the mountain alone and returned to headquarters. Knowing Theo had caught him sneaking onto the battlefield during his suspension, Luke braced himself for any consequences that might follow. This was, without a doubt, a severe violation.

Yet Theo never reported Luke’s actions. The credit for capturing the summoner naturally went to Theo, the only officer to respond to the situation. Seth, incapacitated during the battle, was in no position to refute it. It seemed Seth’s memory of the events was hazy, likely due to the effects of the dark magic he’d been exposed to.

“Still… it’s a relief that you didn’t get caught,” Fale said suddenly.

Fale’s newfound loyalty felt both awkward and, strangely, a little reassuring, easing the tension Luke hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

“Don’t you feel wronged?”

“About what?”

“That the credit for what you did went to someone else…”

From the way Fale hesitated, it was clear he was being extra cautious because the credit had gone to Theo—Luke’s rival. Their relationship was notorious, after all.

“Of course I’m bitter. Bitter enough to go mad,” Luke replied with a sarcastic drawl. “But what can I do? If word got out that I violated my suspension, I’d be stripped of my rank. This time, I went overboard because I was too blinded by ambition.”

He emptied his tray as he spoke, his tone light but with a hint of genuine reflection. To some extent, his recklessness during the war—driven by anxiety and a desire to act—was something he could admit to himself.

“Don’t worry, Captain. I’m on your side,” Fale said with a determined tone.

Luke froze mid-motion. It was the first time since his transmigration that someone had said something like that to him. It felt oddly foreign, like hearing a newborn’s first words in a language he didn’t know.

“Don’t go bragging about that. That’s an order,” Luke said, shaking his head as he stood. He walked out of the cafeteria, leaving Fale behind, grinning like an idiot. The warm midday sun bathed Luke’s face, a stark contrast to the blood-soaked chaos of the battlefield he’d left behind just yesterday.

“Really disappointing, Luke.”

As he absentmindedly stared at the sky, Theo’s words from the previous day echoed in his mind. For some reason, that single line had stuck with him, refusing to fade.

How had it felt to hear those words? It had been different from the usual. But why? Questions like these had been following him since last night. He was no stranger to scornful glares or biting criticism. In fact, he’d come to expect them, taking them in stride because they were all part of playing his role.

And yet, Theo’s words from yesterday clung to him, stubborn and unshakable.

“What does it matter if he’s disappointed? I didn’t have a choice,” Luke muttered to himself. It was just a fleeting feeling, he told himself. Nothing had changed. His goals, his responsibilities, his role—they all remained the same.

“So, Captain Theo really took down the monster…”

Murmurs in the distance caught his attention. Turning his head, he saw Theo approaching the cafeteria with several members of the 1st Division in tow.

“Oh… Good afternoon, sir!”

The soldiers snapped salutes upon spotting Luke, prompting Theo to stop as well. The scene created a stark contrast: Theo surrounded by his men, and Luke standing alone. A tense silence fell as the soldiers exchanged uneasy glances between the two captains.

“Go on ahead.”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldiers hurried into the cafeteria, leaving the two of them alone. Theo’s gaze dropped to Luke’s hand, now wrapped in clean white bandages.

“You didn’t report that I broke protocol. If you had, you could have had me removed from here entirely.”

Luke’s tone was mocking, but there was genuine curiosity behind the words. Why hadn’t Theo turned him in?

“I don’t stoop to dishonorable tactics, unlike some. And I certainly have no intention of using underhanded means to surpass you,” Theo replied coldly.

“For someone like that, you sure had no problem taking all the credit.”

“If you’d like, I can correct the record right now.”

The air between them grew icy. The camaraderie they had briefly shared during their visit to the plaza seemed a distant memory.

“Theo, you’re right. I don’t care about duty or principles. All I want is a higher position, greater honor, and more power.”

Luke’s belated retort spilled out, words he hadn’t been able to voice in the mountains the day before.

“So whether you’re disappointed in me or not, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“Understood. I’ll take my leave, then.”

They moved past each other without a second glance, their paths coldly diverging as if nothing had ever connected them in the first place.