“Right? You’re the person from the ship back then…”

The man approaching Luke, face slightly flushed, seemed to have recognized him. He quickened his pace, and Luke’s memory quickly filled in the blanks. It was one of the sailors from the ship Luke had taken—the one that had been attacked by monsters. He vividly recalled the sailor’s desperate attempts to lead him to safety during the chaos.

“Yes, that’s me,” Luke replied with a polite smile.

“I thought I might be wrong from a distance, but it is you! You’re the guy who broke my stuff!”

The freckled man clapped his hands together, bringing up a detail Luke had nearly forgotten. Luke laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

“Ah… Sorry about that. I should have compensated you…”

At the time, Luke had been swept up in the aftermath of the monster subjugation and immediately dragged off by the city guard for debriefing. Reimbursement had slipped his mind entirely.

“What? Don’t worry about it! Thanks to you, I’m still alive. Well, my wages got docked for the broken telescope, but that’s beside the point.”

Got it. This bright, freckled man had a knack for cheerfully poking at sore spots. Luke shook his head with a faint smile.

“Actually, I tried to thank you after the incident and even went to the guard station to find you. But they told me I couldn’t get any information since I wasn’t an official party. I was disappointed, but I guess fate worked it out for us to meet again here.”

If the sailor had been granted access, he likely wouldn’t have found much anyway. Luke had spread enough false information during his escape from the guards to cover his tracks.

“Thank you again for what you did back then,” the man said, bowing deeply at nearly a ninety-degree angle. Luke waved him off, insisting it wasn’t necessary.

“So, you live here?” Luke asked, noting the man’s casual clothing and the unmistakable air of a local.

“Yes, this is my hometown,” the man replied. After the incident on the ship, he had quit his job. He explained how, during that terrifying encounter with the monster, his life flashed before his eyes, filling him with countless regrets about unfinished dreams. Luke, who had simply been doing his job, hadn’t realized he had profoundly impacted someone’s life.

“You’re my savior, Luke. Not just for saving my life, but for helping me realize something important about it. By the way, I’m Cale.”

Cale went on to share that he now lived with his parents in Herba, not far from Luke’s new home.

“So, you’re the one who bought that property? The whole village has been buzzing about it,” Cale said with a grin.

Apparently, rumors were flying about the buyer of such a high-value plot of land. Some speculated it was a wealthy noble or an affluent businessman. The truth—that Luke was merely a retired soldier looking to enjoy his remaining years—was far less dramatic.

When Luke mentioned he was heading to the square to shop, Cale eagerly volunteered to guide him. Along the way, Luke learned that Cale’s family ran a small ranch and that Cale spent his days helping out there.

In return, Luke casually mentioned that he had lived in Herba as a child. This revelation caused Cale to jump in surprise.

“Over there, you’ll find the cheapest groceries,” Cale said, pointing to one shop. “But don’t bother with that one; their prices are high, and the quality doesn’t match.”

Having a local guide proved invaluable. Thanks to Cale, Luke managed to find everything he needed at reasonable prices.

“So, you’ve just come down from the capital?” Cale asked as they walked.

“Yes.”

“Wow. That’s impressive. I don’t think I could make such a big decision.”

“I’m not sure someone who quit their job the moment they realized they wanted to can talk about decisiveness…” Luke quipped, prompting Cale to burst into laughter.

“And I didn’t have much attachment to the capital anyway,” Luke added.

He had been eager to leave, feeling no regret about the life he was leaving behind. The capital held nothing he would call sentimental.

“Really? Not even one thing? You lived there for quite a while, didn’t you?” Cale asked, tilting his head.

Luke hesitated. His job as a soldier had suited him, but he hadn’t enjoyed it. The work drained not only his body but also his spirit. Once he realized he had transmigrated into a novel, his sole focus had been reaching the story’s conclusion. His mind had been consumed with fulfilling his role and ensuring Theo’s success.

Regret…?

‘…You don’t seem very pleased about my appointment.’

An image of Theo suddenly surfaced in his mind—standing in the grand hall, radiating authority as the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief.

“So, you do have something!” Cale exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Huh?”

“That look on your face just now—it was a dead giveaway.”

Luke quickly denied it, dismissing Cale’s observation as a mistake. There was no way he would harbor lingering feelings about Theo.

“This square is enormous,” Luke commented, eager to change the subject.

“It’s the Coneinium Square. It’s second only to Ludrain in the capital,” Cale explained proudly. The Coneinium Square, located in the heart of Herba, was one of the largest and most vibrant plazas in Kyleum.

Cale also pointed out the military branch office nearby, noting its importance in case anyone needed assistance. Luke nodded absently, his interest waning.

Together, they strolled around the square, taking in the sights. The merchants were unusually generous, offering free samples with cheerful smiles. When Luke expressed confusion, Cale joked that it was because his face was so radiant it must be attracting their goodwill.

“Now that your shopping’s done, shall we head back?” Cale suggested. Luke agreed—it was time to return and settle into his new home. However, as they passed a man selling newspapers in the center of the square, Luke paused.

“Give me a moment,” he told Cale before purchasing a copy.

Unfolding the paper, Luke skimmed the front page. Unsurprisingly, it featured news from the capital.

[Exploring the New Leadership and Imperial Army.]

As expected, the article highlighted the changes Theo was making as Commander-in-Chief. The mention of a new captain for the Detached Force caught Luke’s eye. While he had anticipated it, the confirmation brought a strange sense of closure. The army was a machine that replaced old parts with new ones seamlessly. It was no surprise they had already found someone capable to fill the role.

“Well, good for them,” Luke muttered, folding the paper in half.

As he prepared to tuck it into his bag, a smaller ad at the bottom caught his attention:

[Quick Monster Subjugation by Expert Mercenaries!]

“Interested in mercenaries?” Cale asked, peering over his shoulder.

“Not particularly. It’s just surprising how many there are these days,” Luke replied.

Though the army handled most monster-related issues, private mercenaries had gained traction due to the increasing number of monster sightings. Luke nodded thoughtfully but dismissed the notion of joining such a group.

“What did you do in the capital?” Cale finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

“I was a knight in service to my lord,” Luke said vaguely. It wasn’t a lie—he had served the Emperor and the Empire. Satisfied with the answer, Cale marveled at Luke’s “knightly” aura, making Luke chuckle softly at the exaggerated praise.