TMLLT 57

Chapter 57

“A Pillar to Lean On”

Several Elche knights, including the commander, had been sent on the mission.

“They’re on their way now. Judging by the time, they should be arriving at the headquarters soon.”

Roitz started walking, and I quickly followed at his side.

“Since only part of the team returned, that means the rest are going back, right?”

“Most likely. We didn’t hear that the subjugation was completed.”

I shelved the topic of the beast-killing plan and bombarded him with questions instead.

This wasn’t unrelated to the Edikal Forest mission—especially because Roitz (or rather, I) was deeply tied to it.

In the original story, one of Roitz’s biggest achievements was leading the subjugation of Edikal Forest.

Which meant he would go there too.

“Then… are you going to Edikal Forest, Sunbae?”

“What if I am?”

“Then I’ll have to go with you.”

“If I go, you’ll follow me, Serdin?”

“Of course.”

“…Really?”

“I’m your direct subordinate. It’s not like I have a choice, right?”

“…Yeah, that’s true. You’re right, Serdin. You understand well.”

This mission was definitely tied to me too.

I followed Roitz closely, asking question after question.

He had a slightly complicated expression but still answered each one patiently.

And just before we left the training grounds, he suddenly turned back and said,

“Serdin, about what you wanted to say earlier.”

“Yes?”

“Meet me at the Setta Tree at 8 p.m. Tell me then.”

I nodded firmly.

Yes, tonight I’ll finally say it!

A notice went out: everyone was to gather at 6 p.m. to welcome back the subjugation knights.

Senior knights, including Roitz, gathered separately first. I hid in a quiet corner of the library to wait.

‘Sunbae, I’m going to kill that beast… No, that’s way too blunt.’

I randomly opened a book in front of me, but I wasn’t reading it at all.

I was running mental simulations on how to bring it up with Roitz.

‘Maybe I should have practiced conversation skills instead of sword skills.’

When it came to serious topics, I had no idea how to approach them.

‘Should I just light the Choro Incense without saying anything?’

Actions speak louder than words, right?

No, that would backfire before I even got started.

“Ugh…”

I buried my forehead on the desk and glanced sideways out the window. The sun was sinking in the west.

6 p.m. was approaching.

That’s when the shout came.

“The subjugation knights have returned!”

Under the fluttering Elche banner, the returning unit finally arrived.

I stood up and looked into the distance. The long line of knights was approaching.

I hurried out of the library and headed to the central hall. Along the way, I met Manon and Aaron and entered together.

“Have you ever seen knights right after they’ve come back from a mission?” Aaron asked.

Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t.

“This is my first time.”

“I have,” Manon said calmly.

“What were they like?”

Just then, the doors opened, and the returning knights entered.

“They all looked completely exhausted. Whenever I think about what it means to be a knight, I remember that look.”

I had never given much thought to what people looked like after returning from a dangerous mission.

But seeing the knights walking in, I swallowed hard without even realizing it.

Their uniforms were dusty, some torn. Their faces lit up faintly at the sight of headquarters, but they also screamed for rest.

Their tired faces told me exactly what kind of place Edikal Forest was.

Their footsteps echoed through the central hall. We lined up on either side, greeting the returning knights.

‘But… where’s the commander?’

It wasn’t Commander Winchers who stepped up to the podium to give the briefing.

It was his adjutant, Deneb.

“Knights returning from Edikal Forest total…”

Deneb’s voice was low and heavy. All of Elche’s knights stood in perfect posture, listening intently.

I was no exception, nor was Roitz standing far ahead.

“…The situation in Edikal Forest is unusual.”

After giving the forest status report, Deneb paused before speaking again.

“And Commander Winchers…”

Silence fell.

As with everything in life, missions didn’t always go smoothly.

Being a knight was an honorable profession, but that honor came with serious danger.

Even if you were alive and well now, the next moment was never guaranteed.

You trained and honed your skills to cling to that certainty… but certainty could never fully guarantee your next breath.

“The commander…”

Deneb bit his lip as he spoke.

“…”

Another heavy silence followed.

“…Deneb, don’t make it sound like I’m dead.”

The silence shattered as Commander Winchers walked in, looking a bit awkward.

“Commander! Please rest first—”

“No. I have something important to say.”

To everyone’s immense relief, the commander was alive.

But his left arm was gone, replaced only by white bandages and empty space.

He announced that he would be stepping down from his position.

“The next commander will be…”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence.

Everyone’s eyes naturally turned toward the same person.

The senior knights, even Vice Commander Yurien, already knew what was coming.

“Roitz.”

A few seconds passed before Roitz answered firmly,

“Yes.”

“I believe you’ll do better than me.”

In Elche, refusing the commander’s position was not seen as virtuous.

So even though his face was stiff, Roitz didn’t say no.

Applause surrounded him.

‘So this is when Roitz becomes the commander…’

Now it was official.

Just like in the original story, Roitz had become the commander of Elche.

That meant the starting point of the original plot was approaching fast.

He would no doubt achieve great success in the upcoming Edikal Forest mission.

His position would solidify even further, cementing him as the commander Roitz Velkyrente of Elche.

‘But I wasn’t even supposed to be here when the original started.’

In the original, Serdin Bibi had already been killed by Roitz’s beast.

I felt an odd, heavy sensation in my chest.

I stayed quietly at the edge of the crowd, sneaking glances at Roitz.

The moment Roitz was named commander, a mountain of tasks fell onto him.

I still went to the Setta Tree at 8 p.m., but I wasn’t sure if he’d be able to come.

‘Roitz… is really the commander now.’

My feelings were complicated.

I felt like I should be happy for him, but I didn’t know if he was happy about it.

And for me, it just meant the original plotline was catching up fast.

“Guess he’s not coming.”

The clock on the distant tower struck 8, but there was no sign of Roitz.

I unfolded my arms and started to walk away.

“Serdin!”

After just a few steps, I heard Roitz’s voice.

He ran up to me and stopped me.

“Sorry. My talk with Commander Winchers ran long.”

“It’s okay.”

We sat on the bench beside the tree.

Roitz told me what he had discussed with Winchers, when they would be heading to Edikal Forest, and other details.

“Anyway, Serdin, what did you want to tell me?”

Finally, it was my turn.

I couldn’t just blurt out I want to kill your beast, so I tried to lead into it.

“Sunbae—no, Commander—you’ll do well.”

I wanted to set the stage: I was cheering him on, and that what I wanted to do was out of good intentions, not bad.

But before I could say anything important, Roitz looked at me calmly and said,

“Yeah, I know.”

As expected of confident Roitz—he already knew he would do well.

But then he said something I didn’t expect.

“When I lose confidence… I have someone who keeps me steady.
Thinking about them makes me feel like I can handle Edikal Forest too.”

I hadn’t expected that Roitz even had moments of doubt, let alone that there was someone who kept him going.

“There’s someone like that for you?”

“Yes. They’re like a pillar I can lean on. It’s fine to at least say that much.”

“That’s… a good thing. Whoever they are.”

I said I didn’t know who it was, but…

‘Wait… is he talking about the Necroquad?’