Chapter 1: Do You Like Me? (1)

“Commander!”

“Commander!”

“Aaahhh!!!”

I shot up, finding myself on a hard bed.

But there was something strangely familiar about the discomfort.

I was sitting on the very bed I slept on every day.

“What, what’s going on? What happened? Am I alive?”

“Of course, Commander! You’re very much alive. Although, I’m curious how the great Commander Kayron ended up oversleeping.”

“That voice…?”

The voice belonged to the one subordinate who could enter my chambers without permission, shake me awake without hesitation, and somehow get away with it.

The most loyal and reliable officer I’d ever had—and the one I missed the most because he’d passed away long before me.

“Plymouth!”

“Yes, Commander Kayron! It’s me, Plymouth. Huh? Why are you making that face? Are you feeling unwell—ugh!”

The relief and joy I felt couldn’t be contained—I had to hug Plymouth right then and there.

“What are you doing?! This is awkward and inappropriate! Commander, let go of me immediately!”

“Just stay still for a moment! It’s been so long—I just need to hug you!”

“So long? We just saw each other a few hours ago!”

“A few hours ago…? Wait.”

I let go of the struggling Plymouth and asked seriously.

“What day is it right now, Plymouth?”

“What do you mean, Commander? I don’t understand.”

“The year, month, and day. Tell me.”

“It’s the 10th of July, in the 38th year of Aurelius.”

I froze.

The last thing I remembered was the day the Wrathful Archdemon appeared.

On that day, Emperor Aurelius died, and his daughter ascended the throne, marking the third year of the Charlotte calendar. That date had been the 10th of July, three years later.

It seemed impossible, but Plymouth’s firm and familiar muscles beneath my hands felt undeniably real.

As unbelievable as it was, I had returned to the past.

I became even more certain as I reveled in the texture of Plymouth’s strong yet soft muscles.

“I missed this so much… this firm yet supple muscle of yours…!”

“You’ve completely lost your mind, Commander. Did you drink alone last night? Anyway, get up quickly! You can’t be like this on such an important day.”

Plymouth set me upright, ignoring my antics, and began stripping my shirt to help me into my armor.

As expected of the most capable officer I’d ever known, his hands were skillful and efficient.

Still dazed, I allowed Plymouth to dress me while I tried to recall more information.

“Plymouth, why is today important?”

“How could you forget?! Today’s the day our Black Iron Brigade faces off against the Silver Guard in a mock battle!”

“Our brigade… against the Silver Guard? Wait, that means…”

As I was recalling who led the Silver Guard, heavy footsteps echoed outside my room. The deliberate yet angry pace could only belong to one person, if my memory served me right.

Bang!

“Kayron!”

The door was flung open with a loud crash, and the person stormed in.

My eyes widened at the sight.

“Kayron! What is the meaning of this? How long do you intend to keep me and my guard waiting?—Ah!”

The woman, her face filled with anger, froze mid-sentence. Her cheeks turned bright red.

“W-why aren’t you dressed?! This is indecent and utterly shameless!”

“This isn’t my fault. You’re the one who barged in and broke my door.”

“If you’d been ready earlier, I wouldn’t have had to barge in! Honestly, you’re always so…!”

Yes, this was how things should be.

On the day the Wrathful Archdemon appeared, we’d been leading our respective forces to battle. Even in those final moments, we’d bickered like mortal enemies.

Since the day we first met, that’s how it had always been between me and Avelin.

Yet, this infuriating woman had turned back alone to save me, sacrificing her life in the process.

‘Life is truly unpredictable,’ I thought.

Though I couldn’t understand why I had returned to the past, the sight of Avelin arguing with me felt oddly comforting.

But I couldn’t forget one thing—back then, this woman had left something on my cheek…

Slap!

“Ahhh?! What was that for?!”

Avelin flinched, her shoulders shaking as she stared at me in shock.

“There’s a reason for this. I needed to confirm whether this is a dream or not.”

The last thing I remembered from that day was the soft touch of Avelin’s lips brushing my cheek.

“If that was the goal, you could’ve just pinched yourself! Why hit yourself so hard that it makes such a horrifying sound…?”

“By the way.”

I cut her off, staring intently.

“W-why are you looking at me like that?!”

“Why are you still standing there?”

“What do you mean? I’m not—”

“You just called me indecent and shameless. So why are you still staring at my bare chest?”

“…!”

Avelin’s face, which had started to cool, turned crimson once again.

Avelin finally realized she had been staring at my bare chest all this time and sharply turned her head away.

“I wasn’t looking!”

“You were definitely looking.”

“I wasn’t!”

“Well, it’s not like staring will wear it out. If you want, feel free to look some more.”

“How can you say something so shameless with a straight face? You’re no better than a beast!”

She had already seen everything, so what was the point of denying it?

Avelin had stared at me long enough to thoroughly examine every muscle in detail.

And yet, even as she trembled with indignation, she didn’t leave the room.

“Hurry up and put on your armor. I need to be able to pummel you properly!”

I couldn’t help but wonder.

Avelin always claimed to hate me more than anything in the world. But… could that really be true?

If not, then when did her feelings start to change?

Could it be…? Maybe… just maybe…

“Hey, Avelin.”

“What now?”

I took a deep breath, steeling my nerves.

Then I boldly threw it out there.

“Do you… like me?”

“…….”

Avelin’s trembling shoulders suddenly stilled.

When she slowly turned to face me, her gaze was the most chilling I’d ever seen.

I immediately knew I’d made a grave mistake.

Even Plymouth, who had been helping me into my armor, froze mid-motion and stared at me in horror.

I had to apologize before things escalated any further.

“I’m sorry! That was out of line. I take it back.”

“I’ll never forgive you.”

“…Ah.”

It was already too late.

Avelin bit her lip, then, without hesitation, drew her sword.

“You’ve not only insulted my eyes but also my pride. Pay with your life!”

The fury in her charge was far sharper and more menacing than when she’d risked her life to save me in the past.

“Whoa!”

I dove backward to dodge, but my bed wasn’t so lucky—it was sliced clean in half.

“My bed!”

“Where do you think you’re going? Come here, Kayron! I’ll cut you down just like this bed!”

This chaotic, unreasonable side of Avelin was oddly reassuring, but the situation was genuinely dangerous.

The room was already sparsely furnished due to my simple lifestyle, and at this rate, Avelin might chop everything in two.

I had no choice but to…

Crash!

I grabbed the nearest coat to cover myself, threw it on hastily, and leapt out the window without hesitation.

“You’re jumping out the window?! Aren’t you ashamed to call yourself a knight?”

“I’m not a knight; I’m a warrior! I’ll run, and you can honorably use the stairs—”

I stopped mid-sentence, sensing a strange chill in the air.

Though I’d jumped outside in a hurry, all I could see around me were silver-armored figures.

“What are you doing, Commander?”

Plymouth leaned out the window, shouting.

“Our Black Iron Brigade is over there! This isn’t the right direction!”

Which meant…

“It’s Kayron! The man Avelin-nim hates more than anyone in the world!”

“Perfect! Let’s capture him and present him to Avelin-nim!”

I had landed smack in the middle of Avelin’s devoted Silver Guard.

They surrounded me instantly, making it impossible to escape even for someone like me.

Just when I thought it was all over…

“Out of the way, you fools!”

“We’re taking back our commander!”

Cheers erupted as the Black Iron Brigade stormed in to rescue me.

The distant Black Iron Brigade surged toward us with fierce determination.

“Defeat those pale weaklings and rescue the commander! Charge!!”

“The dark ones are coming! Silver Guard, prepare for battle!!”

And so, the mock battle between my loyal Black Iron Brigade and Avelin’s Silver Guard began.

Both my subordinates and Avelin’s soldiers latched onto my arms, pulling with all their might to claim me as their own.

“Give us the commander! Even though he’s embarrassingly shirtless, he’s still our proud commander!”

“No way! We’ll deliver him to Avelin-nim and earn her favor!”

Amid the chaos of their tug-of-war over me, a loud thud shook the ground.

Everyone froze.

“…Kayron.”

Avelin’s voice, quiet but piercing, called my name.

The chill that ran down my spine at that moment was no small thing.

That was definitely not the voice of someone who liked me.

Her eyes, sharper than any demon’s, glared at me with a terrifying intensity as she spoke.

“Are you ready?”

“R-ready for what?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

Avelin let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head in disbelief as she muttered to herself.

“Do I like you? Me? Liking you? Ha…”

Then, gripping her sword tightly, she declared with unwavering resolve.

“The mock battle is canceled. Today, I’m going to kill you once and for all!!”

--- The End OF The Chapter --

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