FMRV | Chapter 36

#36

“These days, a 52-year-old in his prime hunts monsters, huh? There’s a reason the Empire is thriving, after all.”

“Huh? Oh… uh…”

The face of the guard who had returned the document to Theo gradually hardened. It was a mistake not to have checked the contents thoroughly in his rush to make up for a recent error. The guard inwardly cursed the silver-haired man. Not only had he escaped, but he also falsified the documents.

“I don’t know why he escaped, but it’s clear that the management was sloppy, given that he was a key witness in the monster subjugation.”

“I’m sorry, Commander. I’m ashamed.”

Theo set the document back on the table and shook his head.

“I’m not your superior, so you don’t need to bow your head. Just make sure to keep your guard up as a member of the guard.”

The sharp criticism and straightforward advice made the guard bend even lower. The fact that the Commander did not issue harsher orders was already a blessing.

“Let’s officially recognize his contribution to the monster subjugation under military authority. Please handle the report from the marine side well too.”

After all, there were many eyewitness accounts that he had killed the monster. The reason Theo had come this far was to investigate the process of monster subjugation and any peculiarities about the monster, but since he had escaped, there was no longer a reason to stay here. Moreover, since it was only an intermediate level monster, there was no need to get overly heated about it.

“Yes!”

Leaving behind a sharply delivered response, Theo smoothly exited the guard building. As he did, the blazing sunlight seemed to pour down as if it had been waiting. Perhaps because it was midsummer, the sunlight felt unusually strong.

Suddenly, the figure of a person in a robe who he had seen earlier crossed his mind. Although he had only seen the back, something about the way they climbed over the fence lingered oddly in his memory. It might have been because they seemed unexpectedly skilled, but what bothered him more was the oddly familiar movement. Though he couldn’t pinpoint what was familiar, he couldn’t easily shake off the afterimage.

As Theo returned to the military, some members of the 1st Division appeared, resting near the Magic Preservation Zone. Judging by their dirt-covered combat uniforms and slumped shoulders, it seemed their monster subjugation mission had been quite tough today.

“Wow, it was tough even though it was just an intermediate monster.”

“It was one of the higher-powered intermediates, really tough. The battles feel harder these days.”

They continued their conversation while quenching their thirst with water. It seemed they hadn’t yet noticed Theo’s presence.

“Is it not just me who feels it?”

The raw stories shared by the freshly returned soldiers resonated clearly with Theo. Eavesdropping on others’ conversations, especially those of subordinates, was not appropriate for someone in his position. In a military with a rigid hierarchical structure, the lower-ranked members were often the ones who struggled the most. It would not be right to interfere or restrict them even when they were freely discussing and sharing their thoughts with colleagues.

‘I should leave before they notice.’

Theo quietly turned around, planning to take a side path rather than the main road leading to the headquarters.

“Could it be because of the Special Task Force’s activities being halted?”

But then, the next words made Theo stop dead in his tracks.

“The Special Task Force?”

A younger soldier with an innocent face, seemingly fresh to the service, asked with wide eyes.

“Ah, you joined this month, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then you might not know how things work in the field. There’s a procedure to our monster subjugation here.”

“A procedure?”

“It’s more like an unwritten rule that’s become common practice over time. When a monster appears, the Special Task Force is the first to respond.”

The junior soldiers listened intently, their eyes sparkling with interest as the older soldiers explained.

“They’re the most mobile unit. Their job upon arrival is to minimize the damage the monsters might cause to the surrounding area and to identify their weaknesses.”

Then, when the main force arrives, they share the information gathered, aiding the rest of the troops to engage more smoothly. This method had significantly reduced the time and damage caused by monster subjugations since its introduction.

“Well, most of the time, by the time we got there, Commander Luke had already killed them all.”

“Right. The commander would be annoyed, asking if we stopped by the restroom for how late we were.”

The soldiers reminisced about the past, clenching their fists tight, then relaxed, dropping their shoulders again.

“But honestly, I kind of miss that annoying face.”

“Now that I think about it, he was a real powerhouse.”

But now, without such a Special Task Force functioning properly and the subjugation units having to do everything from start to finish, the intensity of combat had definitely increased compared to before.

“So, the commander isn’t around anymore?”

The innocent question prompted an awkward smile from the senior soldiers.

“Hey, don’t mention that person carelessly anywhere you go.”

“Why not?”

“A lot of commanders don’t like him. Especially be careful in front of the Commander in Chief. They didn’t get along well. But I guess you won’t be talking to the Commander in Chief anyway.”

After a brief, dreamlike break, the soldiers began to get up. As the newcomer followed the seniors towards the headquarters, he suddenly looked back.

“Why?”

“Oh, nothing. I thought I saw someone there. But I must have been mistaken.”

“You must be really tired. Let’s go and rest.”

With that, the soldiers trudged away, their bodies sagging with fatigue.

“Sebastian! Over here!”

Far off, a passerby shouted, and Luke flinched. The person called ‘Sebastian’ smiled brightly as he passed by Luke.

“That scared me.”

Luke’s heart was still pounding from having written a false name on the guard station personnel form. He hadn’t expected Theo to follow him. Surely, if it had been Theo, he would’ve sensed something odd from the left-handed writing on the note. If that voice calling for Theo hadn’t made him turn around, Luke would have had to face him again right there.

He didn’t want to run into anyone from the Imperial Army Headquarters again, especially not the very last person he wanted to encounter. Why on earth had he come to handle things personally, instead of leaving it to his subordinates? He was still a strange one.

“I’m not wanted, am I?”

Luke stopped in the middle of the street, lost in thought. Although he had run out without thinking, considering everything, he had been detained by the guard on account of the monster subjugation and hadn’t even been investigated before he escaped. He was starting to worry about the repercussions.

“This got messed up right from the start.”

He was supposed to have reached his destination by now. Instead, he had been dragged off by the guards after killing the monster, wasting time until it was almost evening.

The delicious smell from nearby shops starting their evening business wafted towards him. The street lights began to illuminate the darkening street, creating a scene worth seeing.

One of the southern villages of the capital, Eremen. The village was quite large, boasting a traditional and unique culture that made it a preferred tourist destination. Luke had been in the capital for quite some time since joining the army, but this was his first time visiting this central area.

“Hey, silver-haired sir!”

Just then, a vendor called out to Luke, who was standing there dazed.

“You look like you’ve had a tough day. How about some barbecue at our place?”

Luke’s eyes widened further. How did he know he’d had a tough day? Despite recognizing it as a solicitation, he couldn’t resist the tempting smell.

“Make it a one-person portion that looks like two, and I’ll consider it.”

“Ha, you’re a funny guy! Alright, I’ll throw in extra!”

Originally, he should have been dining on gourmet lobster on a luxurious ship, but the damned monster had spoiled that. Thanks to that, Luke’s stomach was almost sticking to his back. Luke smiled and followed the vendor into the restaurant.

“What’s your name, sir? I think you’re the handsomest man I’ve ever seen in this village. Are you a local?”

“Uh, Sebastian. I’m not a local, just a tourist.”

Luke grinned and set down his bag in a convenient spot.