I Will Fulfill the Role of the Villain

Chapter 65

Phael, Mile, and Leo. Who else might there be?

Luke’s thoughts wandered to the Imperial Army Headquarters. How would they react if they saw this?

Two men who had clashed as rivals for the future leadership of the Empire, growling at each other in every meeting, wielding swords as if to kill during training bouts—now lying together in the same bed.

The scene from just moments ago replayed in his mind. Luke, unable to ignore the sight of Theo trying to sleep on the floor despite his large frame, had reluctantly suggested they share the bed. Watching the Commander-in-Chief curl himself awkwardly on the hard floor made it clear: if they left things as they were, Luke wouldn’t sleep at all, let alone rest.

After several rounds of refusal, Luke finally managed to drag Theo into bed. Ten minutes had passed since then. The two men lay on the bed, their bodies turned in opposite directions. However, even with Theo beside him, Luke still found it hard to close his eyes. Perhaps it was the awkwardness of sharing a bed that kept him awake.

“...Can I ask you something?”

A low voice broke the silence from behind him. Surprisingly, Theo was the one to initiate the conversation.

“What is it?”

“Why did you settle in Kyleum?”

“It’s my hometown.”

Luke added that he had lived there before attending the military academy.

“Then that mansion...”

“I bought it when I moved here. You know I’m a commoner. How could I have grown up in a mansion like that? It was just a small, modest house. After my parents passed away, I stayed there alone.”

Luke, who had been lying on his side, now shifted to stare at the ceiling. Theo, too, had turned onto his back, and Luke could feel the gaze coming from beside him.

“...I didn’t know your parents had passed away.”

“Didn’t you?”

Well, it wasn’t surprising. Luke had been so focused on fulfilling his role as the antagonist that he hadn’t formed close relationships or shared personal details with anyone. Not that he regretted it—he realized this now only because he was talking to Theo.

“If I asked something I shouldn’t have, I apologize.”

“It’s fine. I’m not a child. It’s nothing to fuss over.”

Besides, Luke’s parents hadn’t been particularly loving or devoted. When he first realized he had transmigrated into this character, he’d briefly wondered if this villain would have turned out differently had he been raised with love.

“Maybe that’s why I’ve always been comfortable being alone.”

The tension in Luke’s voice softened, and the awkwardness that had lingered between them began to dissipate. His eyes grew heavier, his body finally succumbing to the pull of sleep.

“...Is that still true now?”

Theo hesitated before asking the question, but this time, Luke didn’t respond. Or rather, he couldn’t. The only sound from his lips was the steady rhythm of his breathing. His eyes, fully closed, signaled that he had drifted into sleep.

"The air here is completely different from Herba," Luke remarked.

Herba, where Luke’s home was located, was a city known for its flourishing floriculture and dairy farming. Its air was naturally clean and refreshing, and its open landscapes were considered a hidden retreat in Kyleum for seasoned travelers.

Podina, on the other hand, was its complete opposite. The air was heavy and murky, tinged with faint traces of mana in the atmosphere. This was to be expected in a city dotted with mana stone mines.

Renowned for its mining industry, Podina was well-equipped with facilities for extracting, refining, and selling mana stones. This practicality, however, meant the city lacked the elegance or attention to aesthetic trends found elsewhere. The buildings were utilitarian, reflecting the city’s industrial focus.

"Let’s move," Theo said, consulting a map as he took the lead. The smugglers’ hideout was located in the outskirts, slightly removed from Podina’s central district.

Their decision to investigate Podina before the Laitus organization’s territory wasn’t arbitrary. The lack of information from the captured informant, combined with the fact that the Western Division had only recently begun preliminary investigations here, suggested that this smuggling ring was relatively new.

Additionally, the discovery of the fluffy creature in the Empire was recent, and the timing of its appearance coincided suspiciously with this organization’s emergence. Both Luke and Theo had deemed it prudent to start here.

As seasoned soldiers, they navigated the unfamiliar town with ease. The further they moved from the bustling central area lined with mana stone shops, the weaker the ambient mana in the air became.

"Is that it?"

At the end of the street, a modest building came into view. Beneath its sharp triangular brown roof, various mining tools, including shovels, were piled up. On their way here, they had passed several similar buildings, a common sight in a city dominated by mining.

In Podina, where miners formed the backbone of the economy, it was only natural for facilities catering to their work and rest to be scattered throughout the city. However, this building stood out. It wasn’t in the bustling central district, and the tools piled outside were rusted, suggesting neglect.

Unlike the merchants at Conenium Plaza, who freely interacted with anyone and everyone, these smugglers were a mystery. They had left no discernible trail of information.

The two men hid near an alley and observed the building. Even after some time passed, no one entered or exited the building.

"Luke, your mana detection skills are better than mine, right?" Theo asked.

"Well... yeah, I guess." Luke scratched his head awkwardly at the unexpected compliment.

"See if you can sense any trace of a monster’s mana inside."

Normally, Luke wouldn’t have complied with such an order, but perhaps the praise had softened him. He closed his eyes and focused silently.

"..."

After a few seconds, Luke’s eyes snapped open. Without a word, he darted toward the building, Theo following close behind.

Reaching the door, Luke flung it open.

"...I knew it. There’s nothing here."

The room was completely empty. Not a single trace of a monster—or even human activity—could be found.

"It seems they’ve already relocated their hideout. They must have caught wind of the Western Division’s preliminary investigations."

"They’re this meticulous?"

As the two exchanged their thoughts, a faint crack echoed nearby. The sound of a branch snapping underfoot. Though it was subtle, both men heard it clearly. Exchanging a quick glance, they hurried outside, turning toward the direction of the sound.