The intense morning sunlight streamed through the window, exposing the shortcomings of the inn’s cheap curtains, which failed to block it out. Forced awake, Luke rubbed his dry eyes and slowly sat up, still groggy from sleep.

He looked around, his bleary gaze settling on the small room. Only then did he recall that his disrupted plans had landed him here for the night. He’d managed to find a reasonably priced room, and after failing to sleep right away, his thoughts had drifted to memories of Theo. Before he knew it, he’d fallen into a deep slumber.

Perhaps it was because his last conscious thought had been about that man’s face, but Luke had dreamed of the past—a rare occurrence for him. The dream lingered vividly in his memory, as clear as if it had just happened.

“Was Theo… smiling in that dream?” Luke murmured to himself, recalling the final scene. In the dream, he had turned back, only to catch a fleeting glimpse of Theo’s faint smile. He wasn’t sure if it was an actual memory or something conjured by his subconscious, blending reality and illusion.

Scratching his messy hair, Luke rose from the creaky bed. Whatever the truth was, it might have been the first time he’d seen Theo smile. Usually, Theo’s expression was as unchanging as a perfectly carved wooden statue. His lack of visible emotion had even sparked ridiculous rumors among the troops that he might be a ghost.

“Though I suppose smiling would suit him well,” Luke thought absently, brushing off the memory as he prepared to leave. The lingering image of Theo’s rare expression was strangely difficult to shake.

“I’m here to return the key,” Luke said as he approached the innkeeper.

“Heading out already?” asked the middle-aged innkeeper, her warm smile as welcoming as ever. She carefully took the key from him.

“Yes, I have a long way to go. Oh, could I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Where can I catch a boat?” Luke inquired.

“Head out of the inn and walk straight to the right. You’ll see a large building with a windmill on it. Turn left at the windmill and keep walking—there’s a harbor there where you can buy tickets,” the innkeeper explained, her local knowledge coming in handy.

“Thank you,” Luke said, bowing slightly in gratitude as he stepped out of the inn.

The streets of Ermen were already bustling with activity. Shops had opened early, catering to the many tourists filling the town.

Luke strolled leisurely, taking in the lively scenes around him. He saw a child tightly holding their mother’s hand, pleading for a flat peach to be bought from a fruit vendor. Across the street, a couple wandered hand-in-hand, their demeanor soft and affectionate as they explored the area.

Luke’s steps slowed as he observed the tranquil, everyday moments that seemed to radiate peace and warmth. It was a comforting sight. Then, his attention was caught by a commotion near a fish market, where a cat had snatched a fish and darted away. The shop owner, broom in hand, chased after the thief in vain.

Luke approached the stall and handed the man some money. “Here, for the fish.”

“What? Why are you paying for it?” the shopkeeper exclaimed, baffled.

“The cat was cute,” Luke replied nonchalantly.

“Cute?” The shopkeeper raised his voice, clearly not understanding the logic. He looked at Luke as if he were the strangest person he’d ever met.

“You wouldn’t be able to sell it again even if you got it back, right?” Luke reasoned, shrugging.

“Well, I guess… But listen, kid, being that soft-hearted will only get you in trouble. I’m just saying this because I worry about young people like you.”

“It’s fine,” Luke replied with a small smile. “I’ve lived a bit badly before, so I’m trying to make up for it now.”

As the shopkeeper walked away with the money, Luke waved at the cat, which had long since vanished with its prize.

Following the directions given by the innkeeper, Luke soon spotted the large windmill building. After a short additional walk, he arrived at the harbor. He stepped into the ticket office and approached the counter.

“The next boat leaves in ten minutes. There’s one seat left. Would you like it?” the clerk asked.

“Yes, I’ll take it,” Luke said, handing over the money.

After paying, he boarded the boat, guided by a crew member announcing that departure was imminent.

As the ship’s horn roared and the boat began to glide across the water, Luke found himself praying silently. He hoped there wouldn’t be any monsters this time and that he’d arrive at his destination without incident. To his relief, the journey went smoothly, the boat cutting through the waves effortlessly.

Eventually, a crew member entered the cabin to announce their impending arrival. Passengers began packing their belongings, and Luke, carrying only a small backpack, stepped out onto the deck.

The fresh sea breeze swept over him, tousling his silver hair. He slowly walked toward the edge of the deck, where the vast ocean stretched endlessly. Beyond the shimmering blue waters, a sprawling expanse of land came into view.

“Prepare for disembarkation! Please remain in your seats until further instructions!” the crew member called out.

Luke barely heard the announcement, his eyes fixed on the approaching coastline. The voices of excited passengers around him only heightened the anticipation in the air.

Before him lay the western region of the Heiner Empire, renowned as the most beautiful part of the land. It was also Luke’s homeland, Kyleum—the place where he would begin his new life.

***

"So, you're saying the person who subjugated the monster fled immediately afterward?"

"That's what I was told," Theo replied evenly, reviewing the list Sion had handed him.

"How peculiar. If the subjugation is officially recognized, they'd receive a substantial reward," Sion remarked, furrowing his brow.

"Perhaps they aren't in need of money. Or maybe they had a compelling reason to flee," Theo speculated.

"Did you not pursue them, Commander?"

Theo gave a small nod, sensing the curiosity behind Sion's question. He understood Sion’s nature—methodical and thorough, leaving no loose ends. It was likely difficult for Sion to grasp why Theo hadn’t apprehended the fleeing individual.

"There were plenty of eyewitnesses to confirm their role in the subjugation. They haven’t committed a crime, after all," Theo explained.

"That’s true," Sion conceded.

Yet, Theo couldn’t shake the inexplicable feeling he’d had that day—a gut instinct telling him not to pursue. There was no logical basis for it, but he felt as though chasing the man would have been the wrong decision. In the end, letting him go hadn’t caused any issues.

"So, this list includes all the soldiers who meet the qualifications for a captain’s position?"

"Yes, it does. I compiled it based on their academy performance and scores from the military capability assessments," Sion replied.

The military capability assessment was a system used within the Imperial Army to evaluate individual soldiers’ accomplishments. It factored in battlefield contributions, monster subjugations, and performance during internal training exercises. The scores were compiled quarterly, serving as a key metric for promotions and other significant decisions.

No one, from lower-ranking soldiers to captains, was exempt from the evaluations. There were cases where captains had been stripped of their rank due to poor scores, as well as instances where lower-ranked soldiers had leapt to senior positions thanks to exceptional evaluations. Harold, the newly appointed 2nd Division Captain, had earned his promotion largely because of his outstanding assessment results.

"Since you requested the list, I’ve prioritized the most exceptional soldiers among the current senior ranks on the first page," Sion explained.

Theo’s eyes scanned the names of the five soldiers listed on the first page, his expression unreadable. The numbers and records were certainly impressive; these individuals were clearly a cut above the others on the list.

Still, one thought dominated Theo’s mind.

"None of them come close to matching Luke’s records from his active duty days."

It wasn’t surprising. When Luke had been the captain of the Detached Force, his military capability scores had been so exceptional that he and Theo had often vied for the top spot. Expecting the current candidates to reach Luke’s level of skill and performance was likely unreasonable.

"I’ll conduct personal interviews with these five soldiers before making a decision," Theo said.

While Harold’s promotion to the 2nd Division Captain position had been planned in advance, the vacancy left by the Detached Force Captain’s departure had caught everyone off guard. Since the new appointee would need an unplanned promotion, Theo wanted to proceed with utmost caution.

"Understood. I’ll relay your decision," Sion said before exiting the room.

Theo pulled another stack of documents toward him to continue his work. Just then, a single sheet of paper fluttered to the floor.

"Oh."

Theo lowered his gaze, immediately recognizing the document. It was a record he’d retrieved during his visit to the guard station regarding the monster subjugation. Written on it was the bizarre name, "Sebastian, Age 52." A hastily scribbled note, "Back from the bathroom," was attached, both written in messy, almost childlike handwriting. It was clear the writer had deliberately used their left hand to obscure their usual penmanship.

"……."

Theo stared at the uneven script, his narrowed eyes lingering on the page as if trying to decipher something hidden within.