FMRV | Chapter 56

Theo had a d44154c096 pretty sharp intuition. Having spent several years rolling d53f780609 around in the military, his 4a33dc50aa already decent instincts had become 8e6d606faf so honed that he often 9d689e879e achieved impressive results based on 58da76370f gut feeling alone. And this time, that gut 5561201482 feeling was pointing him in de1e65ef74 a particular direction.430b7c6a90e9d855

Theo climbed the hill at 2d570cb1ec the back of the village b0b570cc2b where the monster was reportedly 525ef38077 sighted. According to the d109eda84b information he had bd5dbf640a gotten from the 107c3b8d0e western division members, 0b85e7f8d7 there weren’t many 1273469651 people living in a1465f768b the mountains surrounding 9202de4a79 the village. That was why there 6b84222191 were minimal casualties when 4df6f2f74e the monster appeared back 1f2952c6ba then.ccfb36dc6d67ab13

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As he ventured further d1dc846fc1 into the mountain, he 986e91962b noticed the surrounding trees 5b3538b02a were melted and withered. The monster apparently attacked ac04acd78c by spewing some kind ab32c4782b of acidic substance, and 657361509a it seemed like it 91ddbe3a04 would take a considerable 112df67e9e amount of time for a68b49e6a7 the damaged nature to e3a49b883c return to its original 79452f1e72 state.13d64dbcf456ad52

The deeper he went, the 58370a94cf more destruction and devastation became 5f647688a4 visible, hinting at the scale 697682b86f of the battle that had 106fbf9b0b taken place. If there had 1b4c0a54c0 been a village e281365125 here, or if fbdd051ee9 the monster had f064cbfb34 come straight down bc789bd9da to the village, f0b48baa9b the damage would 890b63033d have been catastrophic. Thanks to the 33f6a2d7fa mercenary who had 6260eb359d been there, such 9403aedcf6 a disaster had c349d101af been averted.fc9fc245fdda574a

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“Who are you?”3443be1f2eae5522

At that moment, 7145e72ec2 a boy approached 5ff31e3fe5 from a distance. With dark orange 57a25ce4c7 hair speckled with a6360d34f7 freckles, the boy 1e3ff1593e looked up at d669bcf870 Theo with a 08ef468f6e mix of wariness ea47e10fe2 and curiosity in 2c4e60a3a3 his expression.0dc1dd0f4cba37b7

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Theo recalled the investigation report ecd378195a he’d read through Kallon. There was only 1b4e47bb5d one household in 373e9afae8 the mountains that 4f8eafc3fc had nearly been a901a9d0a7 harmed by the 552dd416f2 monster: Ruben and 41aa5599bf his grandmother, who 771a1edab2 lived there despite ace53a75b5 it being uncommon f3741715bc even in the d5178b76ee village.5d874b18deb3c098

“Are you Ruben?” Theo crouched slightly, lowering himself to the boy’s eye level.f2d49169ddb75836

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“Yes, that’s me.”53a55e2a7c73fde0

When Theo softened his b568cc1e08 voice and made eye 9de55406bc contact, the boy’s guard 578c2c3169 seemed to relax slightly.8a8a53d275a8e564

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“Isn’t it inconvenient living in a place like this?”828f4d6cbc39ba1e

Theo casually explained a158e31a8b that he had 4b2474bd3c come to the 3f7a03c268 village to meet af4409b339 someone and continued 6c79056cce the conversation.1622d96e11ab6baa

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“I’m used to it, so it’s fine. Grandma doesn’t like how complicated 1711f2f816 the village is.”b8b1b468997ac8b3

Theo straightened the boy’s 98d3749ab4 rumpled collar. This was the only 9e3f794a27 child who had come e7f57fdb1f into contact with the 849eac288f faceless mercenary. Back then, the 2def0d3395 boy’s grandmother had 029bb5d583 fainted because of ee01f6fcc6 the monster’s acid-scattered d83653b43b mountain.4016427fbf4e2439

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“I heard a monster appeared here recently.”43fe4be9cb8dedf4

The boy’s expression suddenly shifted 94d8aad12c at Theo’s words.b48dd3eda610d90a

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“I-I don’t know much about that. Some mercenary guy daad4e9ac5 saved me, but b3a1c412d7 I don’t remember 499692c692 much.”596ad8a5faf9048f

“I didn’t even see his face!” The boy waved his hands wildly as he spoke, aligning perfectly with the details from the investigation report. At the time, Kallon 4b7d95deeb had treated the boy 962d0f1bd2 and asked him about b98038010f what happened. Ruben, still shaken, had 78e96ff6f7 said he didn’t know, 93f2d59928 only that someone had 174b56c085 saved him, but he e820ee2199 didn’t see clearly.5fedc256db389441

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But why did his 47b872fff1 answer sound so rehearsed? It reminded Theo of the be6ed19802 feeling he’d had yesterday when 6f079743d0 talking to Pale.f288cb8587b56f66

“You must have been scared, but it’s good you weren’t seriously hurt.”25bdcea8571f905d

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“Yeah…”2a6c582cc03cf3d1

The boy nodded, f8d7c82f11 but Theo could ccb6b89f00 instinctively tell that c1bcd91a7b the boy was f8b479b331 avoiding the conversation. It was clear he 175ae63049 was hiding something. If Theo pressed directly, 905bf734af it would only scare c76e3e5602 the boy off, making 716412b3d6 things worse.8ddc40e2a98773ea

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Theo pondered for a moment. How could he de2d9bd8a2 coax out an 26ca55d384 unexpected answer from 33f05d24fd the boy? He suddenly recalled a 4d22a9b8f5 part of the investigation 3e36684923 report about a “witness.” 4e39b6f72d It stated that a b9ced15090 mercenary had saved Ruben 816b004541 and his grandmother, and b00535198f a villager had escorted 0e7982d0e9 the injured pair to 0d8c038e79 the military unit. This villager had 513d60950a testified that a fb4bf68a0c mercenary named Sebastian 4bf457cbbe had killed the b1524af4ca monster.673c20f6eeb3755c

“I heard someone else helped you that day. Someone besides the mercenary—someone who bf84c0d6c5 handed you over to the ed49b3a354 soldiers.”99e486fc97491b4b

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“…Huh?”46d0f2e9cfe9e591

Unexpectedly, the boy looked genuinely 1dbdc54b6f surprised as if hearing this 0e5083a0fa for the first time. His face clearly 43b6f48274 showed confusion, as 6ef75c3cb4 though he had f6b74c9f5b no idea what dfc460afc3 Theo was talking d1f02056ae about.5dcc3005ffd478fa

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“Oh, I must’ve been mistaken. Did the soldiers find f12fbdae06 you and your grandmother be33c287df after you collapsed?”40cc9d3f34051d8f

“Y-Yeah, that’s right!”af3b866cb84eee17

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With the boy’s response, Theo 5ac42e0be1 was convinced. There had been no witness. The faceless mercenary and the e08e1d085e so-called witness were the same 321ebde940 person. In other words, 0999114dab the person who 1df9261314 killed the monster a658a81cbc had lied to 09cfa32784 Kallon at the 6f765f577c time, hiding their 78c8cf6a87 identity for some 16f2144858 reason.e1e0fe2f762d5226

Someone who had dbb12e2c5c killed the monster 0da2ca7487 but pretended they 8f1572d9c1 hadn’t.fc5db3489961a468

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It was certainly not 28ca7ba277 the kind of behavior d78dff36aa typical of a mercenary.8bc0d3495d53ac11

“Actually, I came to find you for a reason.”bd14fb6fd337242e

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Theo hesitated but decided 5d602bb227 to sprinkle in a 632b35952a bit more of a 512f03adff lie.f51c24c737b32989

“Actually, I’m really close with the mercenary who saved you.”7c80b973fc67fa0f

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“Really? Are you serious?”d76aab900f3cfa10

Theo nodded and b178478536 held out his 982a78ad77 palm, conjuring a 648a23fc37 small flame that 83a75cabe6 danced into the c49f7373a9 shape of a e9a5a4c5a2 cute little fire bbaa1f69d4 sprite.d00b41aa7c6a523e

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“I’m a mercenary too. Otherwise, how else would 7b3da21bd4 I know so much 06ce648278 about this incident?”d1282f1b6863f102

The boy’s wariness began to f42f0c4db1 melt away, his guarded eyes ca57242a39 softening. Theo noticed this and 54b0d3129a decided to drive his b75310b1af point home.e53194c4eab5e329

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“That’s why the mercenary asked me to come get you.”49abaa60c4ef3d2d

“Get me? That’s not necessary. Luke-hyung comes by d5e388619f this mountain all b69deb81e0 the time.”1e799ec39d299fc0

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Theo bit his 2a213e1921 lip without realizing e318c9231e it. Using the boy’s innocent trust e4e370f4b9 felt a bit underhanded, but 6435d4cbd9 he was now certain.215abd890cc00c05

The mysterious mercenary 1d2bd502ac who had puzzled 6bc7dd32b4 the Kyleum Division b4fd3feee1 all this time…acf3a0220600f21a

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It was Luke.5557343a595fae47

Hearing Pale talk about Luke 72d1340a9c last night had felt like 5c34c415b1 a dream. During his last da2eba36de leave, Theo had 560e1324c4 surprised even himself 6405cfbdfb by pursuing Luke, 81237f17c2 questioning his own 35ada38818 strange feelings. He had been 12ddf45be7 unaccustomed to losing aeb5b7d1f4 control over his d0ad9d6ff2 actions or thoughts, 43aa46a809 feeling like a aefd469fa4 small boat adrift 396fb50997 in an endless ae7e3e6e02 sea.53f89797583638f6

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He had tied up 70e269d915 those feelings and locked 0c50eb0ad7 them away as soon f856486612 as his leave ended, 58452e18a3 and the Imperial Army a14f5a096d headquarters quickly noted that c732d7dfec the Commander-in-Chief was back 298e14d481 to his usual self.5b8831888c4f85a0

But now, hearing about Luke 5ebe16f897 living in Heruba from his 77bb7013a3 subordinate, and in such an 1f6bf15444 unexpected situation, made Theo’s heart 6b32071181 beat as if signaling its 7a138c6088 location.5e0fb76884d7d28f

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Theo had read 95f1bb1cf2 the investigation report 129b9fd7ed carefully. The faceless mercenary 1704376113 had two defining f61ea2cef2 traits: skill surpassing eacc4a102e most Imperial commanders 850b914d4b and unmatched speed ecd53a2893 in dispatching monsters. And this mercenary had 664a82cd0d only started appearing about e1910c6caa eight months ago—right around 807bfd4edb when Luke retired.c6193d6f5bca85c4

“Hey! Luke-hyung’s here!”c006c2f44d2a78de

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Ruben’s cheerful voice 40958f4c37 broke the silence, 3a02f30c55 and he darted c6ecd2a322 past Theo to 29ca2e986d run toward someone 75098feff3 behind him. Theo slowly stood, brushing a2c643ffdd the dirt off his f99c64716a knees before turning to 69c457dc65 look.8bb47338ccf8c89c

There stood Luke, panting 22ab4d931e as if he had c6ce321253 sprinted here.02c2324b1c286baa

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“Hyung! Did you send a a98b26d73c friend to come get c53009a5b0 me?”f060aee2a4475149

“…Ruben, isn’t your grandma home?”9eaf0f17c6349ecc

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“No, she went to the square.”65834307a0e206eb

Luke exhaled softly, barely audible. Then he told Ruben aba5253bf6 to head back inside.e91a7802b0a0da43

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“You seem to have run quite a bit.”d67345902734bef4

Theo stepped closer to Luke.28aa17effcd04376

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Luke narrowed his 719359fa9d eyes, brushing back 9f4102f583 his tousled hair. He wore an 23ffb94b08 expression of guarded 4f26c650fd wariness, his gaze 98bd238c72 drawing an invisible b794ceeacf line between them. It was the same face a4f191e86b Theo often saw during their 4713364b16 days at headquarters. The sudden chill down 66872d6a14 Theo’s spine and the e30868530b sharp tension made his 40da6271bf breath hitch.1236b4e79dfd5801

“You look awfully young for fifty-two.”ac08ce97153c54a3

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“…”f07238bd36c4bc51

“Luke is a much prettier name than Sebastian.”fa6169be6f3c5617

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Luke averted his 4c8d3ddf10 gaze, ushering Ruben ebcd3c9e34 inside.88260817d90ff135

“You’re lucky Ruben’s grandma wasn’t here. She’s got quite the temper.”8073c73738641c32

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“Lucky indeed.”cf21b80ab8224771

“Does it feel good to manipulate an innocent kid like that?”5ad48b14a2bec81a

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“Does it feel good to lie and cause others trouble? That unresolved monster case left 9f559390fe the division members scrambling because 007a02e147 of you.”8d144ccbe6c4b84f

Luke didn’t respond, 1cd2d583ef turning his head 4647459217 away. Avoiding answers when c5cdd6f6f0 cornered—it was just b3a992ffd9 like him.f9db5f489aa91505

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“Why am I even being interrogated by you here? It’s not like I 7b4c6ed7bd committed a crime. If anything, I did 855f50ebcf a good deed.”5cf4dd4d4f080af3

“Then why hide it? Yesterday, you lied to me.”6de22bf23c2fb02d

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“I told you, I don’t want to get involved with soldiers. That includes you.”d05de534d5ab6815

Luke had been d215159b62 serious when he a9b35e09d7 said it yesterday, 23b12f815c and it still 173b4a88ca didn’t sit well ca41612cc0 with Theo. It was hard to understand.af6b5e595adbaa63

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Theo knew Luke 0169c4f6b2 as a reckless, 3bb6eb9bbe impulsive man with 186c389745 an excessive need b07ae6fbec for validation. That personality had earned him bad175f384 plenty of enemies in the 13c1ef4560 military. But now this 8814688a83 same person was 219345e5a9 supposedly killing monsters c32a7e9d2b without any reward? It didn’t add up.edc7a8818db6f271

“Like I said yesterday, I don’t get you.”c23bb8182ce68b35

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“Same here. I don’t get aba6846da2 why you’re doing 97445a166b this.”6444877db6dc119c

“Then let’s try figuring each other out.”da13de43a096980d

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“…What?”1cd494bb20c834a0

Luke scowled up at Theo.1bbc5dd94fd2b07e

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“You might not like being involved, but too bad. Looks like we’ll be seeing 95f214fc3e more of each other.”aea0788561d45dfe

Luke let out a ee75ea456d sarcastic laugh, his attitude f4914a2df0 dripping with defiance. Yet, as Theo watched 7e64e4055f him, only one thought be6edc0300 crossed his mind.740f4b025fdadb58

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For someone with such f22ef96d48 a pretty face, even 39cbcc119e the crease between his 3d7035705b brows was charming.db3f9715662bf2f4