FMRV | Chapter 26

Luke’s house was located a little distance from Ludrain Square. Being a commander in the Imperial Army came with a considerable salary, so despite his commoner status, Luke was able to afford a fairly spacious residence. Of course, it was nothing compared to the grand mansions of the nobility.

The interior of the two-story house with a small but well-maintained yard was exceedingly simple. There were only the most basic and essential pieces of furniture scattered about, leaving little trace of everyday life. On a bed tucked in one corner of the first floor, Luke groggily sat up.

“……”

The sunlight streaming in through the window, the cozy touch of the blanket, and the clock he casually glanced at—just past 11 a.m.—all greeted him.

After enlisting and being promoted to commander, Luke had started living in the dormitory. Around 80% of the Imperial Army resided in dormitories unless, like Leo, they had special family circumstances or unavoidable reasons to live elsewhere.

According to military regulations, dormitory living was strongly recommended for all soldiers. Naturally, commanders, who were expected to set an example for their troops, followed this principle—except for Leo, of course.

Since this house was a place Luke visited only occasionally during his leave, it had never felt lived in. He had worried whether he could sleep well here when he fully transitioned from the dormitory, but that concern turned out to be completely unfounded. After all, Luke had just enjoyed the best sleep he’d had in a very long time.

Despite waking close to lunchtime, he didn’t mind at all. Freed from the endless early mornings for grueling training, Luke was savoring the unfamiliar feeling of genuine peace of mind for the first time.

“They say quitting is the cure for all ailments.”

Luke murmured, rubbing his chin. The aches that had plagued his body from constant training and sparring were gone, and the headaches from overthinking had also vanished. Most importantly, though, was the peace in his heart.

How much effort had he put in after realizing he’d been reincarnated into this novel, just to ensure the protagonist’s happy ending? He’d had to say harsh words he didn’t mean to maintain his villainous role, endure scornful looks from fellow commanders, and even withstand gossip from lower-ranked soldiers.

And that wasn’t all. To motivate Theo and push him as the protagonist, he had to maintain that damned rival dynamic. But now, he was free from all those roles.

Because Theo was the Commander-in-Chief, and he was just a retired soldier!

Luke’s lips curled into a smile he couldn’t suppress. Running a hand over his disheveled hair, he headed to the bathroom.

After a quick wash, his eyes fell on a box haphazardly placed on the central table in the living room. It was his belongings from the dormitory. Determined to leave the military as soon as possible, Luke had packed up right after Theo’s inauguration ceremony. With everyone else preoccupied at the celebratory banquet, the dormitory had been empty, making it easy for him to gather his things unnoticed.

“Might as well leave it be for now.”

As he casually nodded to himself, a document sticking out from the box caught his eye. Luke naturally reached for the folded paper and pulled it out.

Resignation Request

Applicant: Luke
Affiliation and Rank: Special Unit Commander of the Imperial Army
Reason for Resignation: Personal circumstances

In accordance with Article 25, Section 3 of the Military Code, I hereby apply for resignation under the above-stated reason and humbly request approval.

At the bottom were Luke’s signature and Veil’s signature side by side. Luke slowly recalled the conversation he’d had with Veil after the meeting that day.

“Commander, may I make one last request?”

“Say whatever’s on your mind.”

“I’d like you to personally sign my resignation request.”

“You’re asking this of me, on the brink of my retirement… Is it because you don’t want others to find out?”

“Yes. I’d like to avoid any unnecessary commotion during this time.”

To resign, a soldier had to follow the procedures outlined in the military code: write a resignation request, obtain the relevant signatures, and submit it to the administrative unit. For most soldiers, this required their unit commander’s signature as well as the Commander-in-Chief’s. For someone of Luke’s rank, however, only the Commander-in-Chief’s signature was needed.

Veil, on the cusp of retirement, had designated Theo as his successor. Luke, not wanting to stir any unnecessary rumors or create a fuss during Theo’s inauguration, had planned to discreetly secure Veil’s signature just before his departure.

On the day of the inauguration, Veil had willingly signed the request Luke presented.

“Time for lunch.”

Luke stuffed the resignation request back into the box and headed to the kitchen. With limited ingredients after being away for so long, he made do with a simple meal. After eating, he treated himself to a cup of coffee and stepped outside for a bit of sun.

The clear skies seemed to celebrate his newfound freedom, and the warm afternoon sun brightened his mood. A few others were out enjoying walks, adding a lively charm to the peaceful day.

“So pretty!”

Suddenly, a young girl passing by his house waved at him, shouting.

“What is?”

“Your face!”

“What?”

Luke tilted his head, unable to understand her words. But the sight of the little girl cheerfully chatting made him smile despite himself.

“Not sure what’s so pretty, but…”

He crouched down to her eye level.

“You’re pretty too.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

At that moment, a woman, presumably the child’s mother, hurried over and pulled her away from Luke.

“I’m so sorry. I looked away for a moment…”

The woman, clearly a commoner, bowed repeatedly in apology. Though there was no fault, her excessive humility hinted at familiarity with Luke’s reputation. After all, the locals would have heard the rumors.

“The infamous commander of the Imperial Army, ruthless and villainous.”

“It’s fine. Your daughter’s adorable.”

“Truly sorry… What?”

Luke lightly poked the child’s cheek, making her burst into laughter. The woman widened her eyes in surprise. He could guess what she was thinking without her saying it.

He’s nothing like the rumors!

But what could he do? Luke no longer had any reason to hide his true thoughts or actions. Besides, everything seemed beautiful to him now because he was a retired soldier with nothing to fear.

As he waved enthusiastically at the departing child, Luke felt a presence approaching from the side. He turned his head, saw who it was, and smiled faintly.

The uproar of the inauguration faded, and the Imperial Army regained its usual solemnity. With the war against Memvern ending on a positive note, peace seemed likely to last for a while, though nothing was certain.

The Empire’s threats weren’t limited to that one kingdom. However, the peace agreement had elevated Heinern’s prestige, once again showcasing its power to the entire continent. For now, at least, major conflicts seemed unlikely.

“Commander, here are the next documents for review.”

Theo, now officially Commander-in-Chief, was swamped with work from morning until night. He began to understand why Veil had chosen this time to step down and pass the position to him.

Adjusting to peace during calmer times would prepare him for future crises. Even Theo, known for his iron will and endurance, found the workload challenging. Visiting Luke had crossed his mind, but he couldn’t even manage that.

“Veil seems more admirable now.”

“Still, handling so much on your first day is impressive, Commander.”

“Save the flattery, Sion. I’ll need your support moving forward, so don’t hesitate to speak up.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Sion, Theo’s adjutant, nodded confidently. Having served under Veil previously, he now supported Theo as his new Commander-in-Chief.

“Should we proceed with the decisions regarding the 1st Division Commander vacancy?”

“Yes. Appoint Loena as 1st Division Commander and promote Senior Officer Harold to 2nd Division Commander.”

“Understood.”

The 1st Division Commander role required exceptional skills, as it involved managing the largest number of troops and handling various administrative responsibilities. Loena, despite being the only female commander, had top-tier abilities and an unshakeable resolve, making her a perfect fit.

“And about the Special Unit Commander vacancy…”

Sion was about to seek Theo’s input on the next topic when someone urgently knocked on the Commander’s office door and burst in without waiting.

“Theo… no, Commander!”

Leo, looking unusually flustered, rushed in, panting heavily.

“Leo? What’s going on?”

Seeing Leo so out of breath, Theo instinctively stood.

“Did you know? About Commander Luke’s resignation?”

“…What?”

As soon as the words left Leo’s mouth, a deep frown formed on Theo’s otherwise composed face.