Chapter 7

“I’ve actually been thinking about it for a while now.”

Since I remained silent, Commander Balthazar nodded with confidence.

“Kairon, you’ve been acting strange today. You must feel it too, but today you seem like a completely different person. Don’t you think so, Abelin?”

“…… I think so too.”

“See, even Abelin agrees. Kairon, don’t just stand there, say something. Anything at all.”

His insightful voice, which not only saw through people’s intentions but also made them spill their guts.

Feeling like I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer, I cautiously opened it.

“It was… intuition.”

“Intuition?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Thinking there was a demon in front of me, I used the instinct to survive to pull out a story.

“No matter how I thought about it, it was strange. Commander Rajeing leads the 13th Division, but he has never properly completed a mission. Not even simple supply or rear support missions. Isn’t that right?”

Commander Balthazar nodded at my words.

“That’s true.”

“Honestly, I was angry. As you know, Commander, I’ve lost several subordinates I cared about because Commander Rajeing didn’t provide proper support.”

The story of losing subordinates.

It was true that every time I thought about it, I felt a surge of anger.

The only time I drink is when there are casualties in our Vanguard.

Commander Balthazar, who knew this well, looked at me with sympathy in his eyes.

“So, I took advantage of the time when there were fewer eyes watching, as the soldiers had gone to eat, and attacked Commander Rajeing. To prevent it from escalating into a commotion, I deliberately went into an empty tent. There……”

I closed my eyes tightly.

“I’m sorry to say this, but I attacked Commander Rajeing. I punched him in the face.”

“You attacked a comrade first? And it was you?”

Commander Balthazar’s eyebrows twitched.

“You know the consequences of attacking a comrade, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course I know. Execution, regardless of the reason. But I couldn’t bear it when I thought of the subordinates I lost because Commander Rajeing didn’t provide timely support.”

“…… It’s a good thing. If Rajeing hadn’t been a demon, it would have been you, Kairon, who would have been dealt with, not Rajeing.”

While I bowed my head, Commander Balthazar took a deep breath.

“It’s a relief.”

“Huh?”

“I said it’s a relief. I couldn’t just leave Rajeing alone, who has been causing nothing but harm to the Vanguard, so I was thinking about what to do. Haha……”

Commander Balthazar patted my tense shoulders.

“It’s actually a good thing. So, did you beat that demon up before dealing with him? I must admit, there were times I wanted to beat him up too.”

“Commander……!”

“But listen.”

The hand patting my shoulder suddenly tightened.

“Kairon. Do you know why Abelin is making that face?”

At his words, I looked at Abelin.

Abelin was staring at me with wide eyes after hearing my story.

“Earlier, Abelin told you, didn’t she, that you keep lying. Think about it. Even Abelin, who fights with you at every opportunity, knows when you’re lying. But……”

Commander Balthazar added with a satisfied smile.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know? You’re skilled at controlling your emotions. There’s no way you would have hit Rajeing.”

Commander Balthazar’s reasoning was accurate.

I had never, in this life or the previous one, handled anything emotionally in the Vanguard.

“Don’t worry about the charge of attacking a comrade. I won’t hold you accountable for lying to me either. But, from now on, don’t say anything. I want to hear the story from a different perspective this time.”

Commander Balthazar slowly turned his gaze to Abelin.

“Abelin.”

“Yes……!”

“You said you fought together, didn’t you? This time, you tell the story. But……”

Commander Balthazar emphasized with a strong voice.

“Only you must tell the truth.”

“…… Yes, I swear.”

After a moment of hesitation, Abelin nodded heavily.

“Since when were you with Kairon?”

“From the beginning. We were talking after the Vanguard’s training and were about to go eat dinner together. So, Kairon’s story is wrong from the start.”

Abelin glanced at me.

“Kairon didn’t wait for the soldiers to leave to attack Rajeing.”

Commander Balthazar nodded with a very satisfied expression at Abelin’s statement.

“I knew it. Kairon isn’t the type to do that. By the way, you two were going to eat dinner together?”

“Huh? Ah, yes……!”

“That’s not a lie, is it?”

“I swore, so no.”

“Haha, good. I was already surprised that you two fought together, but to think you were going to eat together too, that’s too much. Go on.”

Commander Balthazar smiled contentedly, breaking the tension once.

His intention to make Abelin feel comfortable and speak freely was evident.

Truly, not just anyone can be a respected commander.

With a more relaxed expression and voice, Abelin spoke again.

“And Kairon attacked Rajeing because……”

I swallowed a drop of saliva without realizing it.

“Rajeing provoked him first.”

“……?”

But that’s a lie, isn’t it?

My eyes widened, but fortunately, Commander Balthazar didn’t notice as he was looking at Abelin.

“Rajeing provoked him first?”

“Yes. As you know, Commander, Rajeing is famous for shamelessly laughing off even when he causes trouble for other units.”

Abelin frowned before continuing.

“But today, Rajeing was especially strange. As soon as he made eye contact with Kairon, he made a bizarre laugh. He even said things like ‘pathetic humans’……”

“‘Pathetic humans,’ huh.”

Commander Balthazar also frowned along with Abelin.

“That’s infuriating. To think demons see us that way…… But why did Rajeing suddenly do that?”

“I don’t know. But Kairon grabbed Rajeing by the collar and dragged him into the tent. He pressured him, asking why he was acting like that, and then……”

Abelin gestured to the embers remaining in front of us.

“Rajeing transformed into a demon, and a battle broke out.”

“Hmm……”

Commander Balthazar crossed his arms and closed his eyes, lost in thought for a long time.

But then he nodded.

“I see. Now it makes sense. I can always trust your words, Abelin. But let me ask you one thing. Kairon?”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Why did you lie to me?”

“That is……”

I hesitated, not knowing how to answer, but Commander Balthazar lightly patted my back.

“Don’t answer now. It’s not easy for someone like you to lie. There must be a good reason and story behind it. I’ll come find you later. Then you can tell me. And,”

Commander Balthazar took out his military token from his pocket and handed it to Abelin.

“Commander, what’s this?”

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Take this and go eat the most expensive thing in Cresnig. You’ve been through enough.”

“But Commander……!”

“Ah.”

Commander Balthazar turned around before Abelin could say more.

And as he walked away leisurely, he said,

“Thanks to you two, the Vanguard has overcome a great crisis. I know it’s not much, but since this matter must be kept secret, this is all I can give. Enjoy your meal!”

Commander Balthazar walked away like that.

“Whew……”

“Shall we go eat?”

“Yeah. I’m really hungry now. Really……”

We walked towards the outside of the fortress.

For a long time, in silence.

“…… Why,”

I broke the silence first by asking Abelin.

“Why did you lie? You even swore.”

“And you, Kairon? You lied to Commander Balthazar himself.”

“I……”

“Enough. Don’t say anything.”

Abelin cut me off.

“Like you, I did it because of intuition.”

“Intuition?”

“I just felt that way. That in this situation, protecting you was the right thing to do. The Kairon I know isn’t the type to scheme with dark intentions. So, there must be a reason you lied.”

“Abelin……”

“In return, consider this as paying off a debt.”

“A debt? What debt?”

“You promised to treat me to a meal in exchange for being my sparring partner. That’s it, that!”

“Haha, what are you……”

What more could I say here?

Just.

“Thank you.”