Chapter 14

“I wonder if he got the reward money properly.”

Luke stretched his stiff body this way and that as he stepped outside. He was heading to follow the procedures after submitting the disciplinary confirmation forms to the administration. From afar, someone was approaching, radiating an overwhelming presence.

“Luke!”

It was none other than Mile, stomping forward to stand in Luke’s path. A cool breeze blew between them, making the air even colder.

“What exactly are you scheming?”

“What do you mean?”

“Everything, pretending to admit your crime, then somehow slipping out of the charges with that flimsy excuse, ,it all makes no sense!”

“Ah, well… I suppose from your point of view it might be a bit confusing. You even planned to squeeze one powerless subordinate to bring me down, and yet it didn’t go as you expected.”

“How did you even…?”

Mile pressed his lips together tightly, frowning. The one who suffered the most from this incident would probably be himself, the one who got the disciplinary action, but the one who would feel the most rage was clearly that guy. The one he had wanted to torment and kick out had, in a single day, become the hero who solved the family corruption case.

“Did Fael spill everything?”

“You’re a little harsh on my subordinate.”

“…Then why did you admit the crime even though you knew everything?”

“Well… the matter’s already settled. Do I really have to explain everything to you now?”

“No way… you… you did it… for your subordinate?”

Mile’s brow furrowed deeply. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] His words were much like the question Fael had once wondered aloud.

“Ah, Mile. Just in time, we meet.”

Luke smiled faintly and raised his fist high. Around it, chunks of ice began to cling and quiver. With a downward motion, he brought his fist down toward Mile.

Bang—!

“W-what are you doing?! Are you crazy?!”

Mile narrowly dodged the attack and collapsed onto the dirt floor. The ground where Luke’s fist had struck was deeply indented, clearly showing that he had put all his strength into that single blow.

“Hey.”

Luke squatted to meet Mile’s level, crouching before him.

“Let’s just end this amicably. I’m willing to quietly let go of the fact that you orchestrated this little play with Fael.”

Luke’s eyes hardened for a moment. His usual smirk had vanished, replaced by a sharp, resolute expression. Mile felt a chill crawl across the back of his neck.

“So, keep quiet too. Don’t blab about Fael being involved, or anything else for that matter.”

Luke extended his hand toward him. Shadows crept over Mile’s face, and he instinctively shrank back, but Luke only gave a casual tap on his shoulder. It was a warning: leave the true depths of this incident beneath the surface.

“I trust you understood that.”

Luke’s expression returned to normal as he slowly stood.

“L-Luke! How dare you use magic while under disciplinary status?! In the military, no less?!”

Finally overwhelmed by shame, Mile jumped up and began making ridiculous complaints. Luke, however, turned and waved the paper he had in hand.

“Sorry, but I haven’t even gone to submit my disciplinary request yet.”

Mile huffed and stomped, glaring at Luke’s departing figure.

******

Later, Luke woke to find himself sitting on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was well past 11 a.m.

When had he last slept in this late?

He slowly raised his torso and stretched. Normally, unless it was leave, rising this late would be unthinkable for a soldier. He was supposed to start the day with morning training.

Not to mention, he had to maintain the rivalry dynamic with Theo. That meant he had to follow his own soldierly routine to some degree. Theo never skipped training, which had forced Luke into the miserable early morning sessions as well.

“Disciplinary leave… might not be so bad after all.”

It was the first day of his suspension. Surprisingly, Luke thought it wasn’t such a terrible thing. Temporarily stripped of his military status, there was nothing he could do at headquarters. Official participation in training or deployment was impossible, and even private training was forbidden.

All he could do here was eat and sleep. The reason he wasn’t kicked out completely was so he could feel the helplessness of a soldier forbidden to act, and reflect on his wrongdoing.

Indeed, the military was ruthless everywhere.

“I’m hungry.”

After showering, Luke prepared to leave his room. Since he wasn’t allowed to wear his uniform, he opted for casual clothes. Normally, a soldier had to maintain impeccable appearance, but he didn’t care; he was unemployed for a month, after all. His silver hair fell freely around him.

Luke considered a quick lunch and decided to head to the small cafeteria on the first floor of the dormitory. While there was a separate mess hall, he didn’t want to go there; it was always crowded, and he’d feel like a monkey in a zoo.

On the first floor, turning right led him to a small café. Such facilities had once been unthinkable in the military, but recently the empire had begun installing them to guarantee soldiers’ rights.

Luke ordered a salad and soup and sat by the window. Looking around, he noticed a decent number of soldiers, though not as many as the mess hall.

“Even on suspension, you come here to eat?”

“I couldn’t possibly eat there… too embarrassing…”

“But still, shameless. You did commit a crime, after all. And you used a subordinate to do it.”

“Hey, let’s go. Lost my appetite anyway.”

Officers and soldiers alike whispered criticisms about Luke openly. Previously, complaints were hidden, but after the supplies’ incident became public, the criticism had become blatant.

In the strictly hierarchical military, subordinates talking about their superiors was unthinkable, but the atmosphere of this organization allowed it. Some captains, including Mile, now openly showed hostility toward Luke. Their soldiers followed suit, emboldened by Luke’s suspension, knowing he couldn’t punish them.

Luke let out a deep sigh, turning to the window. Why did the weather have to be nice right now? Sunlight poured over the grounds, illuminating the units running basic training.

After his food arrived, Luke focused on eating. Then he heard footsteps approaching from the entrance. The café clearly had more visitors than he realized.

Luke ignored them, concentrating on his meal, but the steps seemed to come closer. Shadows fell across him. He looked up slowly to see Theo standing there, not sitting opposite as expected, but directly at his side.

“…I didn’t tell you to sit.”

“Then my apologies. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] May I?”

“If I said no, would you stand up?”

“No.”

Luke narrowed his eyes at this strange presence appearing in the dorm café. Theo didn’t belong here.

“Your hair… let down.”

“Does that matter now? Why are you here?”

“I came looking for you. The others said they saw you here.”

“Sorry, Captain Theo. I’m currently under suspension.”

Theo raised an eyebrow at Luke’s formal tone.

“I know.”

Luke set down his fork irritably.

“Judging by your expression, you haven’t been informed yet.”

“Informed about what?”

“During your suspension, you’ll have a monitoring soldier assigned.”

“What?”

Luke’s question prompted Theo to explain simply. Although Luke had deliberately embezzled supplies, the act wasn’t entirely legal. The higher-ups decided that even though he was on suspension, the seriousness of the embezzlement warranted having someone watch him, for appearances as well.

“Without my consent?”

“Did you ask for consent before acting independently?”

Luke had no response.

“Ah, understood. So, who’s the monitor?”

Luke picked up his utensils again, unconcerned.

“It’s me.”

At Theo’s words, Luke dropped his utensils in shock.