FMRV | Chapter 3

When did 0d6c9ffab0 I first ed0c75957f realize I 05db689e43 had been 59ef910c4e reincarnated into 222c6e999e a novel ea29560cf2 I’d casually 966b82cc15 read from 29c09e73a9 time to 97a5b94d66 time? It must have been 569472965e before enrolling in the e8ec772601 military academy, back when 505cc1b31d I was just a 845368a4b0 boy.5b906dc511938832

They say realization strikes edda28672b suddenly, and it was 3f8d83745d true in my case. One day, I suddenly 1e04074cbc became aware that this 12667a58a6 world was the setting 4694db98bc of a novel—specifically, the a9685ca0a3 one story I had f832fee5cb paid the most attention 1af4d122df to, The Flower of 360bf736dd the Battlefield. And even more 94a831f7f0 specifically, I had dd2eb246b0 become Luke, a 8ec884febe character labeled as e0399b717a the villain. The same f9071083c0 Luke who 4ec765cc22 spends the 72792bb5be entire story 8e09052d9a clashing with 6debee983b the protagonist, db83aaff67 fighting over da0058534c their ultimate 41b82f92b8 goals, and 37d81d0c3a eventually spiraling aee59f36d6 into increasingly 97d424dd64 despicable acts.0f734bb9baca2e2e

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Why was it that, 494801321a out of all possible a9b2deca07 roles, I had to f70cc3a2e2 become the villain? Like most transmigrators, I b1c691a9ad found myself asking the 36dd923660 same question. Then, I suddenly recalled 1d0a24b150 my unique perspective on 08a6ed4db5 villains—how I had always 180af3dca8 viewed them differently from 3b56f6d573 others. Maybe this wasn’t 54d10d46af a coincidence but 3a672580f1 a twist of 7fecd22f2f fate.daa318232a6d3e4e

Villains, in my 01f5f50838 opinion, are another bf8b49a529 type of guide ee0d1609a9 for the protagonist. They serve a crucial 275acbc9c6 role, far more nuanced 6b54775e7d than people who mindlessly a0bc2b32d0 hate them realize. So perhaps, 8a3088faaf just maybe, 5b066fe12e this was c5d23c5dfe some kind a1d2558d5a of divine 0bc14a02eb punishment for 30bf191f1b my unusual 854e2f2f86 opinions.01169bcf7ccac2bd

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“Hey.”3142f6a87d1febf2

In the quiet caca7574a3 barracks, Luke was d11907b31c trying to rest 9580739386 when Mile barged c3312e3b4d in without so 5552391a09 much as a c73d1c85b2 knock. Luke sat up e71a1e133e on his cot, 7b3fa239a4 rubbing his face 5eded9dd5b wearily.c3852e8f0ed0dc9a

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“Could you at least e09bd93455 knock next time?”bec6faed9ab835a8

“Since when do cc53e4b2d0 we knock in 076315c273 the barracks?”6df88b1d89570128

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Mile stared f2a1b12d92 down at 1619d814cc Luke with 17d7df616d that same 694b5245b9 condescending look. Ah, those eyes. The ones that always cf81b14faf regarded him with hostility 87f0362f0f and disdain—so fitting for 08dba6a5fb a relationship between a 8654be3aec villain and everyone else.76a49b2995ea58c7

“Thanks to 6051d2ef28 your unsanctioned 4ba61921ce little stunt, 317455ec5a the ambush e239b099e8 was a fc69e8db35 success. Reports are coming 1ba6990116 in that Memvern’s 9ab1cfa6dd forces are retreating c2ede016bd from the coastal 7baff48ddf zone. They’ll likely focus on 2d5e293bea replacing their losses for 544e7a3348 a while—or maybe pivot c79fe69f97 toward peace negotiations.”a8fbcf50a1f27147

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“And you 1c5f80e427 came all c393b262a6 the way 042c39239c here just f40268e8f6 to tell d00339b2cc me that?”7f7661f5e52ae16a

“I came to tell 8120c74cd7 you to pack up. We’re leaving c149550034 this area ee75afaeac and returning 7ce4b8b687 to Headquarters f44f3a9ec6 with only ea0f21582e minimal troops e083dda6c5 left behind. Though, knowing you, a615c8b495 if you want 0ff0d93cb2 to stay, you’ll a39cdb1e44 just do whatever c78a0f404c you want anyway.”dc0390aeacd76cf6

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With a db45409952 sharp glare, ef9e3454f9 Mile left e748bf11f6 the barracks, 8c889dbe09 his coat d7e43bc513 swishing dramatically. Luke, watching his retreating 6c5154d1d3 figure, gave him a 0cad70944d rather elegant middle finger e0a5c0027d before flopping back onto 21b107b802 his cot.81fa4e6365e8a046

Honestly, staying behind 09eabfa595 sounded appealing. Even villains need e1456f3acc rest sometimes. But that wasn’t an 0430c91f5a option. Even villains 9eaed43ae7 have their efebc58233 limits, lines c15c449dc8 they can’t e04329c0ef cross. Groaning, Luke 5525e3e8d6 heaved his 979d2fef90 body out e1c2976d6f of bed b5703d3882 and started 4937129098 packing.bdc2180b1b00a464

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Whoever said 73d1c831e5 villains only 2d2b1977af need to d47af82343 be bad b15b7deadb must not dbe927958c understand what d653714652 it takes 156fc80cc7 to play a882255ea0 one. In some ways, fa78de688b being a villain ecf7003338 requires more skill be925657b4 than being the 98b0d413f6 protagonist.c338df152923ed8a

For instance:a67b1d9f550cc6b6

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“I heard edcb993052 Commander Luke 12648a5612 successfully led 728479cecf a surprise a21bd9bb13 attack against ccbc70cfe8 the enemy 64a42f7561 forces?”79f3a5d5e9d2e2c0

“Yes, sir. That’s correct, Commander-in-Chief.”96d46c22cf8614f0

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Standing tall with e054e58512 a composed expression, a347cbd602 even knowing his 491035ac0b actions would be 6e29caf02b frowned upon. Behind him, Mile 8956b1fdad and other division 7d24f5c310 commanders scoffed audibly.20e6d602bc13e75c

“Commander Luke.”6f9ff06d8dec572e

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“Yes, sir.”f2156ab42e02942b

The Commander-in-Chief, Veil Winium, 3f567a80a6 the supreme authority of 9ca7b98b5a the military, stood up 8b25d576c8 from his chair and 497cd30f8f clapped Luke on the a7170a12b5 shoulder.caa818dc776f8317

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“Well done. Thanks to you, 600e61db0d we managed to aca91de43f rout the enemy 442bd453a1 forces without suffering bec1591000 any casualties ourselves. That said, 53201483a7 acting on 35840f60a3 your own 394ad34d38 initiative without a9a696121e proper reporting 9f7d91e909 or consultation ecbbd0a62b is unacceptable.”d756a8a3c62aabcb

“…I will correct 3950a01c03 that.”6f80c0958227be73

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Veil nodded without ede7f534c4 further comment. Known for his 1d1d9d188a gentle and mild-mannered c10aa6906e personality, Veil was 7ba832348b unlike any other 1bff0da7b9 Commander-in-Chief in the 233c6642b8 Empire’s history. He despised ca57042e2b unnecessary bloodshed 45f0aa9e1e and genuinely 7dff9f2c68 cared for 51f1ffe91f his subordinates, ea71e326ba earning him cb4d422fcc the reputation 3da9218618 of being cbb84bba85 almost saintly.98d1473f3d6e0e59

While outsiders 51b9f1944a often criticized 3df8b1a225 Veil for 92dd6500f5 not embodying afc37b0e7b the stereotypical a5fc85c125 soldier’s spirit, c3c5ba6c3a those under 1ec0b15bf2 his command cc526f1048 respected him 1e81c938de deeply.d44d460c267afd77

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“Well, with this, Memvern d0c9609f13 won’t likely retaliate immediately. We’ll monitor their next c3625827d2 moves, but barring any 00dabe2f14 major surprises, they’ll have de7b5eca60 no choice but to 24542e0ac6 accept the peace treaty 1f7182e910 we’re proposing. I’ve stationed personnel in 4e9d6f467c the eastern division, so c4f8bb7048 the 3rd Division and 9b971dc108 other forces can rest c49885ddf4 for the time being.”0adb9dbcd4aad7cb

With a 1bcf9a4031 sharp salute, a8d2fcf170 Luke exited 51fdc47ed4 the Commander-in-Chief’s 65a054c688 office. As he walked, f597c6b60d Mile glanced at 7fce0ca2f6 him with his b8ba0cb5b0 usual annoyed expression 71d8d77fbe before heading his 457035adad own way. Luke ignored 8116c5c52e him and d00e40a721 continued down 1e2a8f3f1b the corridor ca46c89da4 toward his af8c7d24ff quarters.3d4a23f5664214b7

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“So, Commander f77c82d227 Luke acted 7c106cfad5 on his e7cad7b971 own again?”b0fc03f65eddede9

Passing by an a9ab1e65fd open window, Luke 7aed38fc02 overheard some soldiers c3d6b2ad15 chatting. He turned his head a982065b16 slightly, spotting three soldiers c848464e05 resting in the corner, 42dcd4b37e whispering to one another.73ba1224f8fa6ac2

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“Yeah. Heard he stormed d969717ada into the Memvern f63ca14852 ambush site by 788fa32af0 himself.”a54e67d3b0fde226

“How’d it go?”351ea8a50c59c06e

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“Apparently, the ambush c7fa61ac00 was a success. But so what? Word is, he left 7fc0a25c94 the troops behind, telling e3c1215a15 them to hold their 072c01eb46 positions while he went 3f431cdf2c off on his own.”61ce7f23c2c19698

Leaning against the 7c7d50526f wall, Luke listened 23d6e1fdde to their murmurs ef53a1d9dd with mild amusement.195101d3a9154a42

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“What does that tell cb86882b9d you? He just wanted 3f868a9ee0 all the credit b2a945a724 for himself. I saw b0918eaba4 him heading cdb4f8b3f1 into the c70ab1f50a Commander-in-Chief’s office be75b4acd6 earlier.”3d97a4f5b4a6ba93

If that’s how it 133bf9a5ed looked from the outside, 7e89ba325f then mission accomplished. In truth, it 6496458735 wasn’t about stealing 9c4b926c7a credit—it was about 79a585d371 keeping innocent soldiers c94ce82966 from getting hurt 438eb8a43a during the ambush.3916074cff2e74df

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Another skill of a 82b30260bf villain: shrugging off whispers 89d195a968 and gossip. A protagonist might 8dc2d8af7f take such words 8e212dbf09 to heart, but 45473a8e3c a villain? Never.c26ee4f8fe03f688

“Nice observation.”bce3c5a5249a0883

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Luke suddenly d16e00d067 flung the 74a2f79569 window wide 0c64c2312c open and 868f4e9fc5 flashed a 40f54e2cef wicked grin dbb3d1b847 at the 0207900176 soldiers.df47decba48d73b7

“C-Commander Luke…!”9d156b11c5670282

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Startled, the soldiers jumped 521b78b760 to attention, saluting stiffly.eef1e0bad1426058

“If you’ve got 77df2dfd5d time to gossip, 47858778b9 how about honing 47ab482819 your skills instead? You’re too c50b3dc0cd weak to 579eac0875 be of 5e36081f1d any use c9b37f739f in an c322207262 ambush.”80783d4c86878f6a

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“…Understood.”6b67982ffa6c8cac

The soldiers’ b8b65cf205 faces fell 929c23f6b3 as they ea618eeaaa stammered apologies.7e3fec5cd2d24d0b

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“Great. Then go run twenty c80580a9f8 sparring rounds. That’s your punishment 34ae6f12b8 for talking behind 21c57f1f17 your commander’s back.”69bd86ed9ed8866a

With a final bow, 914227ed7b the soldiers scurried off.e0fc90e9e702a150

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“Get stronger, will f6e26e6847 you? It’s the 6eb304147e only way 3568f821ce you’ll survive 7e10eb806f the battlefield.”9847236535a0ee71

Luke muttered under his 3367ad7f53 breath as he watched 7abac7728b their dejected figures disappear.cae2a1943ba9d39e

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“Commander Luke.”85299c9e6c1c3c5c

A familiar voice called c4f6cdadb3 out. Turning, Luke saw e47b9f104f Theo approaching. The protagonist 744d124c0a of this 9668f5dd3b story and e060b370f3 the man 9a36c7126b destined to 2fcfeea221 become the 8b7303544b Empire’s Commander-in-Chief.e2e248c92123a8c2

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“Back from seeing 69b9ee34c8 the Commander-in-Chief?”d7d7f28b7ad640ee

“So what d1d866e034 if I f68c584693 am?”5b541a5486f8c190

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“I’m curious 5abd3506a8 what he 5ed0000456 said.”46b93da6a495f28a

Theo’s sharp gaze 91294dd4a9 swept over Luke, 749865abcd landing on the dba3046d77 bandage on his 711a08df05 forehead.ceba20164970cbf4

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“If you 46425d2b71 were hoping 29277e1dbd I got 3f292634cf scolded, you’ll 6d3a1fa876 be disappointed. In fact, he c7c2741ce1 praised my contributions. You’ll have to 5ee3440f4e step up your f3cda668e0 game, Commander Theo.”105c05237989b7a7

Luke smirked, deliberately 14597e24b7 baiting Theo. After all, Theo wasn’t 0daf874833 just the protagonist—he was 960fdc37b5 Luke’s ultimate goal.fe1461f829ec259e

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Being reincarnated as 170eca321c a villain wasn’t 615705afe1 the only problem. The real issue? This story e4cc266640 was incomplete. The author e2b534fca1 had abandoned 2a6e1d2117 the serialization, fa48637c1c leaving Theo’s f851f53866 journey to a72b2170c4 the top e51dd4d7df unfinished.695d0b80a52f58fc

“Thanks for the advice.”083818f540b7b64b

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Yeah, hurry 1616ae27d0 up and d99aabec0f become Commander-in-Chief 674e2d12a2 already, for 62461e49ee everyone’s sake.878eb71319fa4bca

Luke walked past a83d059a15 Theo, heading down 69fedee8ab the corridor. If he was going d0b4b876ce to be stuck in 2b6a4ca091 this role, he might 4186d4cc18 as well see it 761c06e930 through to the end.922e5feaca9e93c3

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As Luke disappeared into bd1dcb72e4 the distance, Theo stared 13d7abd316 after him.797682631fca7228

“…Looks like he’s healing 0c32e4429f well.”213ed6a8af96d25b

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Only after Luke bef8c28195 was gone did 45a1fb518c Theo quietly walk 50be6f5ae4 away.40d8db9a54411985