After a long silence, Phael, now certain of the truth, slammed his teacup onto the table in disbelief.

“I thought you said you were living a quiet life?”

“Well… hear me out. I had my reasons,” Luke replied, raising a hand to calm him down before launching into an explanation about the incident at Ruben’s home a few months ago. He recounted how he’d taken down a high-tier monster and narrowly avoided being spotted by the western branch soldiers. The thought of dealing with the paperwork, investigations, and the possibility of running into familiar faces at the branch had pushed him to make a quick exit.

But that wasn’t the end of it. As Luke continued to live in the area, he had encountered monsters on multiple occasions—at Coneinium Square, during errands in neighboring towns, and more. Each time, he found himself unable to resist stepping in to subjugate them. The effort to dodge the military units dispatched to these scenes had been immense, but so far, he had never been caught.

“If you’re done with the military and want a peaceful life, you should’ve just let the army handle it. They would’ve taken care of the monsters without you,” Phael said, his tone scolding.

Luke let out an awkward laugh, feeling slightly attacked. Since when did this kid become so blunt?

“I know. It’s not that I don’t trust the Imperial Army’s capability. I just… found myself acting before I even realized it.”

Luke had sworn to himself that he would never involve himself in military affairs again after leaving the Imperial Army. He had resolved to live as a simple, ordinary citizen. But his body seemed to have a mind of its own, and with all the high-tier monsters appearing, he just couldn’t turn a blind eye.

“Besides, I’ve only taken down a handful. I didn’t expect it to cause such a stir.”

“Well, every monster you defeated was a high-tier one, so of course it spread like wildfire,” Phael countered, his tone still chastising.

Luke felt like he was being scolded but couldn’t argue with the facts. He raised his voice, insisting that he was done for real this time, and that he wouldn’t intervene, no matter what. Phael, however, didn’t look entirely convinced.

“Fine, let’s change the subject,” Luke said, waving his hand in irritation.

Phael hesitated for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, before cautiously speaking up.

“Captain… don’t you have anything you’re curious about? About me?”

“I already asked earlier. Your mother’s doing well, and you got promoted, right?”

“No, not about me,” Phael replied, shaking his head.

“About the headquarters, maybe…”

Ah. Luke finally caught on to what Phael was hinting at.

“I’m sure everything’s running smoothly. The Empire’s peaceful enough,” Luke said, his tone indifferent.

“You’re right! I shouldn’t have asked. It’s not like you have any fond memories of that place,” Phael said hurriedly, backtracking.

Fond memories, huh? Luke stared blankly into his coffee cup. His reflection rippled in the dark liquid, only to disappear as images from his time in the Imperial Army flashed through his mind like pages flipping in a storybook. And among those memories, one person stood out the most.

“…How’s Theo doing?”

The question slipped out before Luke could stop himself. The person he thought of wasn’t any of the Detached Force members, nor captains like Leo or Mile. It was Theo—the person he’d trained with every morning, argued with during operations, clashed with in meetings, and exchanged glares with almost every time they met.

“Oh, um, he seems to be doing well. He adapted quickly after becoming Commander-in-Chief,” Phael replied, clearly caught off guard by the mention of Theo but answering earnestly. He went on to explain how Theo had been reforming outdated practices, improving the military’s structure, and even attending meetings regularly to oversee operations.

“Of course he’s doing well,” Luke muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips. But it wasn’t the confident, self-assured grin he usually wore—it seemed weaker, almost fragile.

“…He hasn’t been looking for me, has he?” Luke asked, half-joking.

Phael visibly flinched, his reaction betraying him immediately.

“Well, actually… after you left, the Commander called me in,” Phael admitted hesitantly.

“Why? What for?” Luke asked, narrowing his eyes.

“He… asked if I knew where you were. He wanted me to tell him if I did.”

Luke blinked slowly, processing the information. Why? What did Theo want with him? The implication was strange—Theo trying to find him sounded almost as if he cared.

“Of course, I didn’t say anything,” Phael quickly added.

“Why would he ask you that?”

“Well, from what I’ve heard… after your retirement, the rumors weren’t exactly kind,” Phael explained, his voice growing quieter.

Luke nodded slightly, unsurprised. He had known how people would react when he left. His reputation had always been at rock bottom—there wasn’t much further for it to fall.

“Some of the captains even said your timing was irresponsible. They brought it up during meetings, questioning why you left when you did.”

Luke exhaled slowly, understanding Theo’s motives now. Theo probably just wanted to chew him out for running away, for leaving just when Theo was rising to Commander-in-Chief. It made sense. Luke’s growing unease deflated, like a balloon losing air.

“Thanks for letting me know,” Luke said, nodding faintly.

“Phael, since you’re on extended leave, stick around for the upcoming festival.”

Right. What was the point of dwelling on Theo? Luke had already fulfilled his role in the story, guiding the protagonist to a successful conclusion. He had chosen his exit.

“Yes, I’ll stay for the festival,” Phael replied with a smile.

Luke made a silent vow to focus on his present life once more.

***

The Coneinium Square Festival was one of the hallmark regional celebrations of Kyleum, held annually in Herba. It was famous for its grand scale, attracting visitors even from faraway regions, and lasted for three days. The festival offered a variety of performances, food stalls, and unique items that could only be found in the west, along with interactive activities for attendees.

“So many people,” Phael said, marveling at the sea of visitors crowding the expansive square.

The bustling, unsegregated atmosphere was a stark contrast to Ludrain Square in the capital, where zones were meticulously divided, and even attendance was influenced by the stark distinction between nobility and commoners. Here, everyone mingled freely, enjoying the festivities regardless of status.

“Apparently, the first and second days are the busiest,” Luke said casually.

It was also Luke’s first time experiencing the festival. Despite having grown up in Herba, his family had never been in a financial position to indulge in such festivities. As commoners, his parents had prioritized survival over leisure, and after their passing, attending a festival became even less of a consideration.

Drawing on information he’d gathered from Cale, Luke explained the various festival attractions to Phael, who was captivated by the lively atmosphere. Suddenly, Phael stopped, pointing at something.

“Captain, are those flowers from your greenhouse?”

Phael’s gaze was fixed on the vibrant floral decorations adorning the outer walls of a structure in the square. Even the massive sign at the entrance, announcing the festival, was beautifully adorned with flowers.

“Yeah, they’re from my greenhouse,” Luke said, a hint of pride in his voice.

“Wow, that’s incredible!” Phael exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

Luke chuckled, knowing he owed some of this success to Chess, the village head’s influence. Phael, however, seemed genuinely impressed by the exquisite floral arrangements, and so were the festival-goers. People pointed at the flowers, their faces lighting up with smiles as they admired the decorations.

“Captain…” Phael began.

“Yeah?”

“You’re seriously good at everything.”

“Oh, come on. You don’t need to butter me up. And for the last time, I’m not your captain anymore,” Luke said, shaking his head.

Despite Luke’s protests, Phael couldn’t contain his awe. “But really, it’s amazing! You left the army and immediately found something new to excel at.”

Luke scratched his head awkwardly, feeling a bit self-conscious. Compliments weren’t something he was accustomed to. He had spent his career hearing people accuse him of being selfish, underhanded, or downright nasty. Praise like this? It was almost alien to him.

“Alright, enough. Stop it,” Luke said, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks.

But Phael, seemingly oblivious to Luke’s discomfort, kept murmuring words of admiration. Finally, Luke flicked Phael lightly on the forehead, stopping him mid-sentence.

“Hey! That hurt!” Phael said, rubbing his reddened forehead and pouting.

“What’s that? Are you complaining now?” Luke teased, smirking.

“You’re the one who keeps saying you’re not my captain anymore!” Phael shot back, his tone cheeky.

Luke burst out laughing, his voice carrying over the crowd. His vibrant silver hair gleamed in the sunlight, complementing his striking features and carefree demeanor. Passersby couldn’t help but glance at him, their curiosity piqued by the radiant man laughing so freely in the middle of the bustling square.

“Is something the matter?”

Not far away, another man had also stopped in his tracks, drawn by the faint sound of laughter. He turned his gaze toward the direction of the noise.

“...No, it’s nothing,” Theo replied after a moment, shaking his head as if dismissing the thought.

“Shall we continue, Commander?” the aide beside him asked, gesturing respectfully.

“Yes. Lead the way,” Theo said.

As the aide guided him, Theo walked in the opposite direction of where Luke was, his steps steady and deliberate as he navigated the lively festival.