Chapter 32: Chapter 32

The Commander-in-Chief had a private residence separate from the barracks where captains and regular soldiers stayed. Theo had just stepped out into the slightly unfamiliar space. The dawn air was a bit damp, and a thick fog hung over the ground, suggesting the weather might not hold.

He made his way toward the training grounds for the morning drills. Despite becoming Commander-in-Chief, Theo’s mindset hadn’t changed much.

When one looked at the history of past commanders, their approaches generally fell into two categories. Some refrained from participating directly in battle, choosing instead to lead from behind with exceptional strategy, while others led their men by example, stepping into the front lines to crush their enemies with overwhelming force.

Veil belonged to the former group, while his predecessor was firmly in the latter.

Theo recalled the conversation he had with Veil when he took over the position.

“Theo, have you thought about what kind of Commander you want to be? How you want to lead the Imperial Army?”

“I won’t give up on either.”

At that, Veil had laughed heartily, remarking on Theo’s rare moments of ambition. It might have been a difficult sentiment to understand, but it wasn’t bravado. Leading with brilliant strategy from the rear and cutting down enemies at the front—Theo had no intention of giving up on either.

Dwelling on a dream from the previous night was a waste of time. He pushed such thoughts aside as the training grounds came into view. It was a familiar place, one he had frequently used during his time as Captain of the 1st Division. But something was odd—there was a presence inside. It was rare for anyone to use the grounds at this early hour.

The only people in the Imperial Army who would train at such a time were himself and Luke…

Theo froze for a moment before quickly pushing the door open.

“Ah, Commander.”@@novelbin@@

Leo stood inside, wiping sweat from his brow, and saluted Theo with practiced formality. The sudden interruption brought Theo back to his senses. What was I even thinking? He couldn’t understand what had crossed his mind.

“Captain Leo, training at dawn? The sun must be rising in the west today.”

“That’s harsh, Commander.”

“Forget it. Speak casually for now. It’s just the two of us.”

Theo wasn’t the type to form close friendships, either within his unit or the Imperial Army as a whole. He wasn’t particularly sociable and didn’t see much importance in such bonds. Even so, there were still a few people whose company didn’t trouble him.

Leo was one of them. Despite being from a renowned marquis family, Leo wasn’t like other nobles who relied on their status to show off. He lacked both vanity and ambition, and his cheerful, easygoing nature made him universally well-liked. It wasn’t just Theo—anyone would have described him that way.

“I overdid it at a banquet recently and put on some weight, you know? If the guys found out, they’d never let me live it down, so I had to sneak out here early.”

Leo sighed, patting his stomach. Even through his thin training shirt, his toned abs were obvious. Theo couldn’t see where this supposed weight gain had happened, but he didn’t care enough to ask.

“And you’re fine telling me? What if I spill the secret to your men?”

“What? You wouldn’t… would you?”

Leo’s expression shifted to mild panic, as if he hadn’t thought that far ahead. In response, Theo picked up a practice sword and tossed it to him.

“If you beat me in a spar, I’ll keep it a secret. You’ll get a good workout either way. How about it?”

Leo groaned but picked up the sword reluctantly.

“Please, go easy on me…”

The sound of their blades clashing soon echoed through the empty grounds.

“Hah… hah… Seriously, you didn’t hold back at all…”

When the sparring ended, Leo was drenched in sweat, panting heavily. Theo, by contrast, looked as calm and composed as when he’d first entered.

“Hold back? Sorry, but I wasn’t even being serious.”

“That’s even worse…”

Leo let out a defeated laugh and gulped down water to soothe his dry throat. Theo, too, sat down to catch his breath. After a moment, Leo glanced at him before moving closer.

“What are you planning for the open captain position in the Detached Force?”

“I asked Sion to gather candidates for me. I’ll choose someone from the list.”

“I see.”

Leo nodded thoughtfully.

“I’ve been thinking… Maybe Luke had this all planned from the start.”

Theo paused mid-motion, the towel in his hands stilling.

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe he always intended to leave the military if he didn’t become Commander.”

Theo considered this carefully. It was true that Luke had left the moment the next Commander was announced. He’d secured Veil’s signature, quietly arranged for the administrative work to be processed, and left with such precision that it had to have been planned in advance.

“You’re probably right.”

He couldn’t help but feel foolish for assuming Luke would stay.

“Did you know he left the capital?”

“How do you know that?”

“When I heard about his retirement, I wanted to find him and try to talk him into staying. But he was already gone by the time I tracked him down.”

The Detached Force might have seemed insignificant because of its small numbers, but it was one of the Imperial Army’s most essential assets. Many believed its performance determined the success or failure of entire operations.

After Luke became captain, the force’s success rate had increased dramatically. Naturally, Leo was concerned. The army had plenty of talented people, but finding someone to replace Luke immediately seemed nearly impossible.

It wasn’t just about the reason Luke left—it was about what he’d left behind.

“Wait. You already knew Luke was gone, didn’t you?”

Theo gave a short nod.

“How?”

“…I went to see him.”

Leo’s eyes widened in surprise. For Theo to move personally was unexpected, to say the least.

“Why did you go?”

Leo might have considered begging Luke to return, saying something about how the captains’ workloads would increase in his absence. But that was Leo. Theo was different. He was calm, reserved, and their relationship had always been one of rivalry.

“…”

For once, Theo didn’t answer right away. His deep, dark eyes made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

“There was no particular reason.”

After a brief silence, Theo’s response was casual. Something in Leo told him not to press further, so he simply nodded.

“Where do you think Luke is now?”

Leo groaned as he stretched and stood up. The first hints of dawn were beginning to peek through the training room windows.

“Who knows?”

“Knowing him, he’s probably off somewhere nice, living comfortably all on his own.”

Leo smirked, waving as he left the training grounds. “See you at the drills later, Commander.” He saluted dutifully before disappearing through the door.

Theo sat there for a moment, reflecting on their conversation. Soon, he rose as well, readying himself for the day.

Luke had already left. He wasn’t a soldier anymore. There was no reason for Theo to care about him or to keep thinking about him.

***

“Everyone, get inside! A sea monster has appeared! Move to the cabins immediately!”

At the urgent shout of one of the ship’s crew members, the citizens who had been enjoying the cool air and the peaceful view on the deck began screaming and rushing towards the cabins. The tranquil atmosphere turned into complete chaos in an instant.

“What are you doing? You’re in danger out here!”

A crew member shouted towards a man still seated at one of the tables on the deck, his robe pulled low over his head.

“Ha… Some luck I have.”

“...Excuse me?”

“I spent a fortune to board a fancy ship for once, and now— a sea monster?”

“What are you even saying right now—?”

Just then, a massive wave surged toward the ship, causing its hull to rock violently. The crew member stumbled, bracing against the wall to keep his balance, but the man at the table stood up, appearing surprisingly unbothered.

“May I ask a question?”

“A q-question? About what…?”

“If I deal with the sea monster, do I get some sort of reward? Like a lifetime of free passage or something?”

The crew member blinked, dumbfounded. He was utterly bewildered that this passenger could spout such absurdities in such a dire situation.

At that moment, strange ripples appeared in the water near the ship. The sea churned violently, forming a massive whirlpool that soon spiraled upward into a towering column of water.

“H-hiiik!”

The terrified crew member let out an incoherent shriek, but even as the chaos unfolded, the robed man remained unshaken.

“This is looking bad already, huh?”

The crew member, cowering on the ground with his hands over his head, slowly lifted his gaze. The robe the man had been wearing fell to the deck, landing lightly beside him. Bathed in sunlight and whipped by the sea breeze, silver hair glimmered brightly.

Dropping the facade of an ordinary passenger, Luke carelessly tossed aside his pack and turned toward the sea monster with an irritated glare.

“Just my luck,” he muttered, his voice dripping with annoyance.