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Acar asked again.

He couldn’t figure out Damian’s intentions.

The Baroque Kingdom and the Iren Kingdom.

Diplomatically, they were not particularly close.

But Damian pondered Acar’s question.

This brief encounter with the enemy commander.

Even though they hadn’t exchanged many blows, Damian was certain.

‘Iren Kingdom must have this man.’

He wasn’t entirely sure why, but if they could eliminate the internal threats, Iren Kingdom could become a valuable ally against the Empire.

‘…I’ll take responsibility for my actions from now on.’

This would be Damian’s second bold move since altering the history of the Bronselian Forest with the Neokalitz Unit.

‘Even if I didn’t predict this…’

He believed this action would stir up significant ripples.

Damian spoke.

“I can’t let it happen twice.”

“…Twice?”

“There’s something like that. And you should know better than anyone that there’s truth in my words.”

There must have been signs of internal trouble.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have crumbled so quickly.

Damian continued with another question.

“Was there really nothing strange about the state of the kingdom?”

“…”

Acar fell silent at Damian’s words.

Seeing his reaction, Damian grew more confident in his assumptions.

Damian addressed Acar.

“Did you know but pretended not to?”

“It’s not that.”

Acar shook his head.

Damian believed him.

At the very least, Acar wasn’t pretending not to know.

He simply couldn’t be sure if the oddities he sensed were truly signs of a problem.

‘But…’

Things are different now.

If Acar returned to the kingdom, he would pursue these strange occurrences.

However, to make it more certain—

“There’s one condition.”

“A condition?”

“We must end the war here.”

“…Are you saying the Baroque Kingdom will take the gold mine?”

“Yes, we’ve won anyway. If I kill you here, the kingdom will just form a new unit, but do you think they’ll make any difference?”

“Don’t underestimate the soldiers of the kingdom!”

“I don’t. But I doubt a better commander than you will come.”

It was genuine.

Acar was one of the most skilled commanders Damian had ever faced.

Only Damian himself was slightly better.

‘Few in the Empire’s ranks could even react to an attack they could see but still not fully evade.’

Acar was on par with the Empire’s elite knights.

And Acar understood his own position realistically.

Unless a general came, reclaiming this place would be nearly impossible.

That’s how formidable this enemy before him was…

“Damn it.”

Acar cursed under his breath.

He fully grasped what Damian was saying.

Why did the Baroque Kingdom have to take this place?

“…If I hand over this place, I’ll be held accountable.”

“Yes, and during that process, there will be those who see you as a thorn in their side. More precisely, those loyal to the kingdom’s commanders. And if my suspicions are correct…”

“It could be related to the ones who sent me here.”

“…”

Damian fell silent at Acar’s words.

This guy…

‘…Impressive.’

Damian could connect this situation with the future he already knew, enabling him to make these deductions.

For Acar, however, who knew nothing of the future, this was purely strategic foresight.

‘It’s not just brute strength; his tactics are also top-notch.’

It’s clear.

If someone like him didn’t rise to prominence before the fall of the Iren Kingdom…

‘He likely died before the war even began.’

Probably due to internal betrayal.

It wasn’t just speculation anymore; it felt like a certainty.

“Alright, then let’s give it a try. I’ll report this to my superiors and back you up.”

“…Ha.”

Acar let out a dry laugh.

An hour ago, they were fighting to kill each other.

Once enemies, they were now seemingly allies.

But what choice did he have?

There were more important things to verify than his pride.

Acar hesitated for a moment before saying,

“…Captain Acar.”

He extended his hand to Damian, who took it and responded.

“Sergeant Damian.”

“…Sergeant?”

Acar’s expression twisted in surprise.

* * *

Just after sunrise, Acar and the soldiers of the Iren Kingdom returned to their base.

In the remaining time, they would merely go through the motions, eventually returning with the report that the operation had failed.

“…Is it really okay to just let them go like this?”

“Yeah.”

Damian replied to Hemus’ question.

It would be troublesome if they suddenly changed their minds and launched an attack, but…

‘Still…’

Damian wasn’t one to trust others easily, but as a fellow warrior, he had a sense about people.

Acar’s love for his kingdom was likely unmatched, and that’s why he had accepted this assignment without complaint, despite his exceptional skills.

‘That’s probably why he silently accepted his demotion to such a place despite his prowess.’

The Iren Kingdom likely sent Acar as their trump card.

However, that wasn’t the whole story.

It was clear that someone in the royal court had exiled him under the guise of this mission.

If he failed…

‘He’ll surely face punishment.’

If the one leading that punishment was the same person—or group—that demoted Acar in the first place…

“Now, it’s up to him to handle things. We just need to wait.”

“…Understood.”

Hemus looked uneasy but didn’t argue further with Damian.

Time passed quickly.

Occasionally, soldiers from the Iren Kingdom loitered around the base, appearing as if they might attack, but they always retreated soon after.

Damian focused on his personal training, noticing that Acar and their duel had greatly helped him.

‘The real battle with Acar was a major boost.’

It was a life-threatening fight, after all.

Although Damian had won rather easily, Acar’s attacks had chilled his spine more than once.

‘Was it my mana reacting more intensely at those moments?’

Perhaps it was due to the instinctive use of his mana during that fight that allowed Damian to secure victory against Acar.

And then…

‘The path is becoming clearer.’

The seemingly unbreakable wall of the fifth level of mastery felt like it was finally beginning to crumble.

Though only slightly, his mana hall had expanded, causing a small smile to form on Damian’s lips.

Swoosh.

Damian finished his training, opened his eyes, and slowly stood up.

The final day had arrived.

“…Is it over?”

Damian stood beside the catapult on the top of the base, gazing toward the Iren Kingdom.

Though the journey had been intense, the ending felt much calmer compared to the beginning.

“…”

Damian spotted Acar standing outside the Iren Kingdom’s camp.

Though the distance made it hard to see Acar’s expression, Damian knew one thing for sure.

He was also looking at him.

Nod.

Whether Acar noticed his nod or not, Damian acknowledged him.

Nod.

“…”

Seeing Acar nod back, Damian let out a small laugh.

Damian then walked towards the spot where the flag of the Baroque Kingdom was planted.

All the unit members were already outside, eagerly waiting for Damian’s final announcement.

“Ugh… Please.”

“P-Please just say it already. I’m getting dizzy!”

“Oh man, I feel like my heart’s gonna burst!”

The moment they had been anxiously waiting for had finally come.

Damian smiled at his unit’s excitement and pulled out the Baroque Kingdom’s flag from where it was planted in the base.

And he shouted.

“We have won! Victory is ours!”

“Wooooooo!”

“Freedom! We’re finally free!”

“We won!”

The cheers of the unit members echoed through the entire base, loud enough to make the ground tremble.

Three months after entering the gold mine base, they finally returned to the Makstri Unit.

“…Amazing.”

Seorael, who had been waiting at the Makstri Unit, looked at Damian and couldn’t hide his admiration.

“To think you’d actually pull it off.”

Just a mere sergeant.

When he was first appointed as commander, Seorael had doubted anything would change.

But Damian shattered those doubts and proved himself through sheer results.

Seorael approached Damian, grabbed his hand tightly, and embraced him.

“You’ve written a new chapter in our kingdom’s history.”

Though the kingdom could have claimed the gold mine under Makstri’s control, Seorael knew that reclaiming the base had always been challenging, even for regular troops.

Damian, however, had done it without any reinforcements, leading a ragtag group of criminals.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to your support, Captain.”

“Hmph, I’m glad to hear you say that. Also, the corps commander has ordered you to report directly after this.”

“The corps commander?”

Damian looked slightly surprised.

He had planned to report to the commander eventually, but he hadn’t expected her to be watching the entire time.

Seorael nodded at Damian’s question.

“She wants you to report in person, so get ready.”

“…Understood. I’ll make sure to give her a full report.”

“Hahaha, will you? Then I’m grateful! Hahaha!”

Seorael burst into laughter at Damian’s words.

If this report reached the commander, it would surely reflect well on him, too.

“Go greet the unit members. After meeting with the corps commander, you might have to return to your original unit immediately.”

“…Got it.”

With one chapter ending, everything seemed to be wrapping up swiftly.

Damian sighed softly as he headed towards his unit members.

Step. Step.

The shabby barracks.

The central one, supported by sturdy wooden pillars, was Damian’s.

He chuckled, remembering when he first arrived and had the men build the barracks.

The men who had initially charged at him, threatening to put him in his place.

He could still clearly recall their voices shouting, “We were wrong!” with their heads bowed.

‘…Guess I’ve grown attached.’

Damian lightly touched the barracks’ pillar.

So much has happened here.

And now…

‘It’s time to leave.’

Though it was expected, the finality of it left a lingering sense of sadness… proof that his time here had been genuine.

But soon after—

“All unit members! Assemble at the drill ground!”

Damian’s voice rang out.

His men rushed out at his command.

Watching them, Damian adjusted his uniform slightly and walked forward.

It was time to deliver his final words.