Chapter 1180. Rohen Was Preparing to Rise

“The schedule hasn’t been set yet, right?” Kathy asked.

“Yes, but I think we’ll know soon. It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but based on the supplies and the atmosphere, it’s not hard to figure it out. It’s highly likely we’ll be leaving in two weeks—no, one week at the earliest,” I[1] answered.

“This is a problem as well,” Kathy said.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“I’m sure our commander is stressed since some are complaining that it’s too soon while others are complaining it’s not fast enough,” Kathy said.

Kathy, also known as Arhendel’s Seductress, let out a particularly loud sigh. It felt like it was only yesterday when she was filled with doubts before the Saint Bell operation and was questioning the capabilities of the Saint of Flower and Fertility.

Now, she was a devoted follower who cared for the Saint of Flower and Fertility more than anyone else.

“Don’t you agree? If they’re just going to sit back and tell us what to do, they should be in the commander's seat. Tactics, my ass. Those primitive fools were given access to tools for civilized people, and now, they’re telling us what to do. You’d think they were the commander, not the Genius Commander,” Kathy complained.

“...”

“Am I wrong, Jonia?” Kathy asked.

“I agree,” Jonia answered.

“I’m sure they’d learn their lesson if they were all thrown out there to figure things out themselves. Even beasts understand the concept of gratitude, but those fools don’t. If it hadn't been for the commander, Saint Bell, Arhendel, and even Rohen would have been destroyed. Don’t you agree?” Kathy asked.

“I agree,” Jonia replied.

“Except for the commander, who would know when the right time is? If he announces that we’re leaving tomorrow, there must be a reason behind it. Do you agree, Aleria?” Kathy asked.

“Yes, you’re right, Kathy. The reason they’re trying to adjust the deployment schedule is because they think the commander’s opinion is the most important,” I answered.

“

Hmm

, so... how have things been for you lately, Aleria? Have you found joy in life or something?” Kathy asked.

“What are you talking about? You—”

“Why are you playing dumb, Aleria? You were assigned to the security team, and now you can see the commander up close. Have you been checking him out every day?” Kathy questioned.

“Checking him out? Don’t say strange things like that. I didn’t volunteer for that reason,” I argued.

“It’s because I’m jealous. Why did I get denied?” Kathy complained.

It made me seriously wonder if she was asking out of pure ignorance.

‘It might be more of a character issue.’

I couldn’t figure out why they suddenly summoned the security team. There were rumors of an attempt to kidnap the commander before the Army of the Forsaken Saint incident, but headquarters had never shared the details.

What was important to me was the fact that I applied and was accepted into the team.

There was a basic test, and I had to go through eight rounds of interviews, so it’s clear how strict their standards were. They asked me things like what I did on Earth, my background in the cities I was active in, and my ideologies.

They even asked about the tiniest details. They needed security personnel to be deployed immediately, so they were running out of time to recruit people. Despite that, it was still undeniably the hardest experience of my life.

Naturally, Kathy, Arhendel’s Seductress, was disqualified for many reasons.

Regardless of whether the scandals about her were true or not, her brief time in prison had to have been a massive red flag. Although it was just a minor offense of damaging an inn’s property while drunk, there were many competitors, so it was inevitable that it became an issue.

“Anyway, Aleria, isn’t it about time you shared some information with us? What has the commander been up to these days?” Kathy asked.

“I told you that I can’t share any information, Kathy. It’s the same as when you normally see him. He’s not always at the command center... and you’ve been seeing him often lately,” I answered.

“...”

“He’s been spending time with his party members... and it seems like he’s been spending time with the Flower and Fertility Familia, but... he’s been spending time with his party members. Of course, that’s excluding the time when he works,” I added.

“You know that’s not what I want to hear, right, Jonia?” Kathy asked.

“I agree,” Jonia answered.

“Even if he’s doing other things, I can’t tell you. I wish I could tell you... but it’s top secret... and even if I did tell you...” I paused.

“...”

“He really hasn’t been doing anything else,” I continued.

“Forget it. If you didn’t want to tell me, all you had to do was say so. You’re so stingy... Let’s go, Jonia,” Kathy said.

“I don’t want to,” Jonia said.

“

Tsk.

”

As long-time friends, seeing her upset bothered me, but that was all I could tell her.

The commander's daily routine, if anything, was boring.

Just taking care of basic tasks assigned for the day would take up most of the day. He was often up at dawn, and he was often sorting out documents. Once he was done with that, he would head out to the field to check out the soldiers’ training. He would also check the supplies every day.

He rarely had free time, but when he did, he would always spend time with his party members. Whether it was during meal times or free times, the party members would gather to talk or laugh together.

Quite a few people were already aware of that, as one could spot him all over Saint Bell.

If I had to pick out a moment where the others couldn’t see him, it would be...

“...”

“...”

It would be during a time like this.

It was a sight I would see upon returning to work, and right after parting ways with Kathy and Jonia.

The commander was staring up at the sky.

“...”

He would stand alone in silence and stare up at the sky.

It was an expression he never showed to the people closest to him.

Lately, he had been looking at the sky with a sad face. Obviously, I didn’t know the reason.

What was happening to him, and what he was feeling... those were things that someone like me, a lowly soldier, could never know.

“Lee Ki-Young,” Woo Hyo-Yeol called out.

“Yes, Mr. Hyo-Yeol,” Lee Ki-Young answered.

“

Ah!

Hyo-Yeol oppa. You’re trying to nag him again. You just worry about yourself and stop stressing out, Mr. Ki-Young. You’re running the mood. Here! You should drink some as well, Dam-Hye unni,” Lim Chae-Ryeong offered.

“What? Why are you suddenly—”

“It’s fun, so we’re all going to get drunk together!” Lim Chae-Ryeong shouted.

Whenever he was spending cheerful moments with his party members, he would smile as if he were the happiest man in the world and that the moment was extremely important to him.

Upon returning to his room at night, however, an indescribable silence would always engulf him.

“...”

It was the same the next day, the day after, and the day after that...

Perhaps it was because of Kathy and Jonia...

I wasn’t trying to find things to tell them, but because of Kathy’s ridiculous question, I couldn’t help but look more closely at things others couldn’t see, except for me.

Perhaps that was why I could take a closer look at the shadow behind the title "Saint of Flower and Fertility." It was an absurd thought... a thought that shouldn’t have crossed my mind, but... he looked as if he were preparing for death.

“Mr. Ki-Young, when I suggested we eat together, I wasn’t suggesting that we eat

every

meal together!” Lim Chae-Ryeong shouted.

“Was I being... bothersome?” Lee Ki-Young asked.

“Chae-Ryeong,” Nam Goong-Seon mumbled.

“Unni! I obviously meant it in a good way. No! That’s definitely not true! I never! Never thought you were bothersome! I mean, I’m only human, so I do need time alone from time to time, but when else will our party gather together like this?” Lim Chae-Ryeong said.

“I’m glad you think so,” Lee Ki-Young said.

It was like he was trying his best to spend as much time as possible with the people he cared about.

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

“Mr. Hyo-Yeol, there’s something I need to tell you...” Lee Ki-Young said.

“What is it? Have you thought about

that

?” Woo Hyo-Yeol asked.

“No, it’s not that...” Lee Ki-Young answered.

“It’s time for me to train now. As for you... is there nothing else for you to do?” Woo Hyo-Yeol asked.

“I-I don’t really have much to do. If you could spare a moment—”

“I’m sure I told you it’s time for me to train,” Woo Hyo-Yeol interrupted him.

“

Ah

... in that case... I’ll just watch,” Lee Ki-Young said.

“

Hmph

.”

Lee Ki-Young looked as if he wanted to capture even the smallest moments of the people he cared about. He’d watch his party members train during his short break or go out of his way to spend their free time together.

Wherever his party members were, he would be there.

He sang with the party’s bard, chatted with the woman named Lim Chae-Ryeong, and talked about Woo Hyo-Yeol behind his back. During those times, he looked really,

really

happy. He would sometimes drop his always calm, dignified, and graceful demeanor by awkwardly spitting out curses that villains would say.

Then, he would open his eyes wide and smile quietly while gesticulating.

“

Hahahaha!

I didn’t know you could say something like that, Mr. Ki-Young!” Lim Chae-Ryeong laughed.

“...”

He would sometimes pray with the party’s priest, who had recently become a holy knight. He also often had debates about Rohen’s theology, and shared stories about an old warrior named Raymond Bolt. During those moments, he looked as though he was desperately swallowing his sadness.

Moreover, he often told his party members that his grandpa was still alive.

“It sounds cliche... but he lives in our hearts,” Lee Ki-Young said.

He often said that his grandpa was alive as long as he was remembered, that his grandpa would always be with them, and that he was laughing, chatting, crying, and loving the world with them. He talked about that the next day and the day after that.

In my eyes, it seemed like a silent cry, telling them not to forget about him and that he would always be with them—that he would always be laughing, chatting, crying, and loving the world with them. It was like he was desperately crying out to them.

Woo Hyo-Yeol interrupted him as if telling him to stop talking nonsense, but Lee Ki-Young was still smiling. He probably knew that was just his way of talking because I did the same. The two seemed like they would never get along, but I could tell they trusted each other. Now, I was able to smile while watching the two of them.

Around this time, he would occasionally write something.

I had no idea what he was writing, but he looked really focused.

“Commander, about the expedition plan...” I said.

“Not yet. Please wait a little longer. I’ll make sure to make an announcement,” Lee Ki-Young said.

He was constantly writing, even while working. He was still spending most of his time with his party members, but he would sometimes leave early to write. I thought perhaps he was writing about the conversations he had with his friend, a letter he wanted to write to them, or things he wanted to tell them.

He continued writing the next day, the day after that, and the day after that.

He was always looking up at the sky with sorrowful eyes, yet he would smile when gazing at his friends. He would stare at Woo Hyo-Yeol whenever the latter was training, and he would talk to him from time to time.

He would sing songs under the starry sky with No Dam-Hye.

He would laugh like a child whenever he chatted with Lim Chae-Ryeong.

He would talk about theology with Nam Goong-Seon.

And he would honor Raymond Bolt...

He was preparing for death.

He smiled, preparing for death.

He wrote, preparing for death.

He was letting out a silent scream, as if desperately fighting back, while preparing for death.

And when he finally stopped writing...

“...”

“...”

Rohen was preparing to rise.

1. Aleria’s POV ☜