FMRV | Chapter 21

Memvern’s surprise attack came unexpectedly at dawn. However, thanks to Theo’s advice during the previous meeting, the Imperial Army had kept their guard up even during the night and was able to respond effectively.

“Something’s off.”

“What is?”

Theo, slashing through enemies as vigorously as during the day, muttered softly. Leo responded behind him.

“These monsters, don’t they seem less powerful than before?”

“Now that Commander Theo mentions it, it does seem like it.”

Leo casually replied while fending off the advancing enemies and monsters.

“Mile, any updates from the 5th Division?”

“None! And it’s busy, so stop talking during a fight.”

“Mile is always so charming, isn’t he?”

Theo grumbled about Mile as he surveyed the battlefield once more. This was no mere feeling. The enemy monsters were definitely weaker than before, noticeable because they had been thoroughly defeated earlier. Something had changed with them.

If the 5th Division had succeeded in their mission, there would be no reason for the lack of a report.

“Leo, I need you to take over command here.”

“What? Why me? Theo, where are you going!”

Ignoring Leo’s protests, Theo swiftly disappeared, his cloak billowing behind him.

A dark shadow loomed overhead. A paw, several times the size of a human, lunged at Luke, threatening to crush him. With a thunderous boom, Luke leaped backward. The spot where the monster’s paw had landed was now a deeply indented crater. The attack was menacingly threatening.

Luke caught his breath. From afar, the sorcerer watched the battle, and Luke was now confronting a high-level monster, one that the Monster Codex marked as particularly dangerous.

“Why don’t you come out and fight instead of hiding behind your creations?”

“This is my skill.”

It was an irritating response, but undeniable. Luke had never seen anyone, from low to high level, who could command monsters with such ease. The world of this story was, after all, filled with magic users, but knowing it and seeing it in action were entirely different things.

“You seem tired.”

“As you can see, I don’t have minions to do my bidding, so I have to do the running myself.”

“Then let’s end this.”

The sorcerer was likely ordered to secretly infiltrate the Imperial Army’s eastern base along this path, similar to what the 5th Division had attempted. People’s thoughts tend to be the same, after all.

“Fine.”

That meant, Luke could not let this creature pass. For the sake of ending this war, he had to stop it.

War brings nothing good. During the conflict, both allies and enemies fight and hate each other without fully grasping the uselessness of it all. Once the dust settles, all that remains are blood-soaked wounds.

Luke roared as he faced the gaping maw of the monster. A massive amount of magical power began to gather around the beast. Even a layperson could tell it was preparing a powerful strike.

“Do you know what’s the most important thing in a fight?”

The monster looked puzzled by Luke’s question.

“It’s who strikes first.”

With that, Luke charged at the monster with speed and agility that belied the length of the fight so far. He kicked off a nearby tree, leaping high and landing on the monster’s torso.

Both the monster and the sorcerer were taken aback as dark clouds suddenly gathered overhead, and soon, a loud crackling sound filled the air. A massive lightning strike, laden with gathered magical energy, poured down on the monster.

It was an energy far different from what the monster had been preparing. With a tremendous explosion, the beast’s pained howl echoed through the forest. After the blinding light subsided, the monster’s body slumped and fell to the ground with a thud. Luke also landed, facing where his opponent had been.

“How…?”

The sorcerer, looking flustered, collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at his disintegrating summoned beast. It wasn’t just any monster but a high-ranking one, and the force that had been gathered to summon it was immense—yet it had been defeated by a single strike from Luke.

“I’m sorry, but when you lead an army unit of the Empire, this is nothing.”

Though he said that, it had indeed been a strain. Luke had drawn on all his remaining energy for that final, decisive blow. He slowly approached the sorcerer, trying to appear unaffected.

“Stay back!”

The sorcerer struggled to his feet, reaching into his robe and pulling out a dagger, which he plunged downwards.

Blood dripped onto the muddy ground. The dagger had pierced right through Luke’s right palm. Despite this, Luke showed no sign of pain as he stared intently at the sorcerer.

“Ugh…”

The sorcerer, perhaps frightened by something, started to groan and then bellowed loudly. Something black began to emerge from Luke’s pierced palm. It was the sorcerer’s magic. As Luke prepared to act, something sliced through the air and embedded itself in the sorcerer’s shoulder.

“Ugh!”

The sorcerer’s face contorted in pain as he tumbled to the ground, clutching his bleeding shoulder. Luke pulled the dagger from his hand and tossed it aside. The first thing he saw was the sword that had flown from behind, its imperial emblem clearly visible.

The hilt, which was usually custom-made according to each captain’s taste, was plain and simple—just like Theo always preferred, skeptical of any fancy modifications.

“…Commander Luke.”

Turning around, Luke saw Theo approaching, eyes unusually wide.

“Why are you… here?”

Luke had intended to operate covertly, without being noticed. Acting independently while under suspension was a violation of military law. But perhaps he had already failed that objective, especially after carelessly trying to look after Seth.

“Well, that’s…”

As Luke chose his words, Theo surveyed his tattered appearance. Luke’s black robe was torn and useless, his condition miserable. The surroundings bore the marks of a fierce battle, and his face was scratched, with blood dripping from his right hand.

Theo tensed up at the sight.

“It’s a long story…”

“Do you value achievements that much?”

“…What?”

Taken aback by the unexpected question, Luke looked up. Theo’s voice and expression were as impassive as usual, but he seemed slightly angry.

“I asked if it’s so important to you to earn merits by defying the commander’s orders and recklessly leaving headquarters while suspended.”

“What are you talking about?”

Was Theo upset because he had violated his suspension? Given his nature as a strict soldier, it wasn’t incomprehensible.

“I think I was wrong to break the rules, but this is…”

“That’s just like you.”

“…”

“You acted independently without consultation during the naval battle with Memvern and the Harness family incident.”

Luke flinched slightly. He had a rough idea of what Theo was trying to say.

“And now, it’s the same. Principles and duties of a soldier don’t seem to matter to you. You think that earning merits and accomplishments is enough to secure a position as the commander-in-chief.”

Luke clenched his fist. In a way, Theo was right. The role assigned to him as a villain in this narrative was to be the antagonist against the hero. Being criticized by the hero was part of being a villain.

So, he should have responded with his usual nonchalance, but strangely, he couldn’t find the words. Why had he come here? Was it really, as Theo suggested, to fulfill his role as a villain and earn his rival’s recognition?

“I saw you again. Or should I say, I really saw you this time?”

No, that wasn’t it. When he heard of the war and Pale explained the situation, Luke hadn’t thought of those motives. He had been worried about his comrades going into battle, the safety of civilians, his own helplessness while confined, and a desire to help even a little.

Luke knew very well as a soldier that no one could be saved through war. That knowledge, those emotions and thoughts, had pushed him to be here.

Regardless of what he felt inside, why couldn’t he just respond casually to Theo’s words, as he always did? Why was it so difficult to put on a brave face now, when he had managed to do so with Pale and Mile before?

“I’m really disappointed, Luke.”

Ultimately, Luke remained silent. Theo secured the sorcerer and called for support using a crystal, checking on Seth’s condition until he descended the mountain and disappeared from view, leaving Luke speechless the entire time.