I Will Fulfill the Role of the Villain

Chapter 51

Theo, after addressing urgent matters at hand, set off for Kyleum, where the Western Division was located. He chose not to bring any companions. Sion, as his aide, was well-versed in the Commander-in-Chief's duties, so Theo instructed him to remain at his post to handle any unforeseen situations.

Typically, military protocol dictated that when the Commander-in-Chief was absent, the Captain of the 1st Division assumed temporary command. Roena, who succeeded Theo in that role, was one of the most reliable officers in the army. Theo had only needed to provide her with a brief summary before leaving headquarters without issue.

“The square is quite lively,” Theo remarked.

“It’s because of the festival,” replied the soldier who had come to greet him from the Western Division. With an awkward smile, the soldier began enthusiastically recounting the festival's history, claiming it was one of the most famous in the region. Clearly, the soldier hadn’t expected to be tasked with guiding the Commander-in-Chief, as evidenced by the beads of sweat rolling down his face.

“We’re almost there,” the soldier added.

As they walked further in, the bustling atmosphere gradually gave way to quiet. In the distance, the familiar Imperial Army flag could be seen fluttering. The purple emblem of the Empire swayed under the clear blue sky.

“Attention!”

Upon entering the division grounds, a loud voice boomed from inside.

“Salute the Commander-in-Chief!”

Following the lead of Kalon Wild, the Western Division’s commander, the soldiers snapped to attention and raised their hands in a synchronized salute. Theo came to a halt and returned the gesture. As soon as he lowered his hand, the soldiers brought theirs down in unison, as if connected by a single thread.

“I thought I mentioned this wasn’t necessary,” Theo said.

“With all due respect, it is,” Kalon replied, adding that it wouldn’t be right to greet the army’s leader without proper formality.

“Let’s head inside, then,” Theo said.

As he took the lead, the formation parted cleanly down the middle, allowing him to pass through and enter the building.

“It’s been quite a while since we’ve met like this,” Theo remarked as he sat down in Kalon’s office. Despite the close connection between the division and headquarters as part of the same army, their responsibilities over different territories meant they rarely interacted unless it was a time of national crisis.

“Yes, indeed. How have you been, Commander-in-Chief?” Kalon inquired.

“Same as usual.”

At that moment, the soldier who had guided Theo earlier entered cautiously, placing a tray of tea on the table. The refreshing aroma suggested it was a simple mint tea, but the taste was exceptionally smooth. The subtle sweetness added to its appeal, making it a surprisingly captivating drink.@@@@

“How is it?” Kalon asked.

“It’s good. This isn’t your standard herbal tea, is it?” Theo replied.

“These tea leaves are exclusive to Kyleum. They come from the Swendy flower, which is notoriously difficult to cultivate. It’s rare to find, but recent harvests have been more successful,” Kalon explained.

Theo nodded slowly as he watched the heart-shaped petals floating and blending into the tea.

“Well, let’s get straight to the point,” Theo said, setting his cup down.

Kalon took a seat across from him and nodded in agreement.

“I received reports that the number of high-level monster exterminations in the Western Division has decreased. At the same time, I’ve also heard rumors.”

“Are you referring to the peculiar mercenary?” Kalon asked cautiously, as though he had already guessed the subject. While it was information Theo had initially dismissed as hearsay from merchants, the fact that Kalon brought it up suggested there was more substance to the story.

“I’d like to hear the details about this mercenary,” Theo said.

"Well... it’s a bit unusual," Benjamin replied, sounding uneasy.

"Unusual how?"

"The reporter came in person... and brought the monster with them."

Benjamin’s words caused both Kalon and Theo to widen their eyes in surprise.

"I think you’d better take a look at this personally."

"Commander, if you’ll excuse me for a moment," Kalon said, bowing slightly to Theo. Theo, after a moment of consideration, stood as well.

"I’ll come too," he said.

Both Kalon and Benjamin seemed startled by this, but there was no one present who could argue against Theo’s decision. He followed them out of the room at a measured pace. Kalon’s office was on the second floor, while the areas accessible to civilians were concentrated on the first floor, as was standard in all military outposts.

Descending the stairs behind Benjamin, Theo caught snippets of a conversation coming from one of the rooms.

"So, I was walking through the forest when I stumbled upon it. It looked cute at first, so I thought it might be an animal, but no matter how I looked at it, something seemed... off," a voice said.

The person speaking, presumably the one who had reported the incident, was gesturing animatedly while speaking to a soldier seated across from them. From behind, their figure seemed oddly familiar to Theo.

Kalon entered the room first, prompting the soldier to jump to their feet upon seeing him. Theo stepped into the room shortly after, and the moment he entered, the reporter turned toward the door.

"...."

The two locked eyes, their gazes meeting in midair.

"...Phael?" Theo said, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"C-Commander..." Phael stammered.

Standing before Theo was none other than Phael, dressed in civilian clothes instead of his military uniform. He shot to his feet, his eyes wide like a startled rabbit, his mouth agape, and his body frozen in place.

"What are you doing here?" Theo asked, his tone sharp.

The familiarity between the two caught the attention of both Kalon and Benjamin, who glanced between them in confusion.

"You know him?" Kalon asked.

"Yes. He’s a member of the Imperial Army’s administrative division," Theo explained.

At this, Phael’s face turned a ghastly shade of pale. The soldier who had been listening to Phael’s earlier explanation tilted his head in confusion.

"A soldier? But earlier, he told me he was just a tourist visiting for fun."

"Ah, well, that is..."

Phael gulped audibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing conspicuously. He started sweating profusely and fidgeting nervously, his entire demeanor screaming that he was hiding something.

Theo’s sharp gaze narrowed as he took a step closer.

"Phael, what’s going on?"