Eternal Elysium

Was there any way to solve the issue without endangering myself?

Well, of course there were several ways—one was to use a detour for us when I first noticed the creature blocking us. We could have avoided it, but not completely. Our running speed would have been slowed down by a notch, as that monster would surely follow our trail as well. If that were to happen, dealing with him would be another trouble for sure.

The same could be said if I had not used myself as bait to push the swarm of churners in the maw; I could have used my backup plan for safety.

However, all of that is simply—

"Inefficient." I muttered.

Nasi raised her brow upon hearing my words, her face showing a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Pardon? Captain Asher. Do you mean to say that your priority at that time was efficiency and not survival?"

"No." I shook my head; her words were trying to peek into me. But I could tell it was out of curiosity, not anything else. "I simply mean the most efficient way to get out of a situation. Even if I find it regrettable to not get rid of churners, my team's safety was still the topmost priority to me."

"I see." Captain Nasi didn't speak further and stood up from her seat.

I followed after her.

"Captain Asher, it was a pleasure having such a pleasant chat with you. I seem to have learned a lot about you today. And hopefully in the future we can continue working together."

Nasi said, putting her hands together; her voice came as gentle as she had begun speaking for the first time. Her ginger hair moved subtly as she looked up to me.

I stared at her green eyes, lost in thoughts, before nodding.

"Yes, hopefully we can." I paused, looking at my healed limbs, before adding.

"Thank you for healing me as well."

Nasi finally gave me a subtle yet professional smile. "It's no issue. Healing others is my duty after all."

"Then I will probably trouble you more in the future." I answered with a small grin. Nasi's smile froze momentarily, her composure broken. She pursed her lips carefully; her lips then again curled up into a teasing smile as she answered back.

"Please don't come here."

"...?"

"Pfft—"

Nasi laughed as she waved her hand at me before leaving in another direction.

'She didn't really mean it, right?' I thought, looking at her distant back, my eyes wandering around the empty corridor.

I remained still, my breathing calmer than usual.

"No clue after all."

People were going missing.

I had thought that the medical wing would be a good place to check on first, as soldiers would get wounds regularly and visit this place.

Won't this be the perfect place for someone to get rid of them? But it turns out I got told I am reckless.

"Tsk"

Reckless me? Never.

I thought and started to walk toward the exit.

Nasi's points were somewhat correct, but she only missed one thing—I am not experienced in any form. Yes, I was strong, but in terms of knowledge about the battlefield, I was average at best. This was also the reason I had relied mostly on Enzo for field checkups. He and his team were much more experienced than I was; they could keep their composure in most dangerous situations, and that was something nice to see.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Walking outside, I finally reached the gates of the central office, the strange building where Commander Alos's office was.I looked at it anxiously and then started to walk inside.

Going inside, I quickly went toward Commander Alos's office, avoiding anyone who came to greet me. I was relatively new here, and my position as a captain was more than enough for people to wish to talk with me.

"Hmm."

Alos looked up at me from his desk.

"Captain Asher, is something the matter?"

I nodded, my gaze serious as I maintained a poker face, showing no changes in expression.

"Good afternoon, sir. I am here to report that my team has completed the mission of mapping the new area. During which we ended up facing some trouble."

Alos pursed his lips as he leaned forward. For a moment I saw his gaze move outside, looking at the grey sky, then at the clock hanging on the wall.

"It's already afternoon?" He muttered and turned his gaze back at me. "What is the issue, Captain Asher?"

'This guy is more worried about time?'I almost sighed heavily but managed to keep my mouth shut.

"While mapping we found a big crack on the land not far from the fallen hill. We used an alternate route to cross that maw but later were attacked by a swarm of monsters."

"Swarm of monsters? The place you speak of is not very far from here as well." Alos interjected with his voice raised. He understood that having monsters in such quantity being near the base was not a good thing, but—

"Why have we not seen anything then?"

"Because they can travel underground. They number up to two hundred or above; I and my team have managed to kill at least fifty of them, but as you can see, all we could do was escape." I told them, not hiding my regret.

Normally I didn't need to come here directly to report. Most captains would prefer to write a report, which will later be given to Commander Alos. But right now the situation was serious, and I hoped Commander Alos wouldn't waste time on meaningless riddles like last time.

"Your team managed to get rid of that many?"

Alos asked with a calm look. His hand moved forward, grabbing a cigarette from somewhere, and lit it up. I stared at him, my head tilting in confusion. He took a deep breath, pulled the cigarette in his mouth, and took a puff.

"Puff—"

My nose prickled up as the air was filled with the scent of cigarettes.

Seeing me frown, Alos chuckled and moved toward the window.

"We were lucky."

I said, taking a step forward.

"Luck is also a skill. Without it we cannot survive this world."

Alos turned his head back, and my eyes widened as the air around me started to shift at a rapid pace. Then the scent of cigarettes vanished.

"You seem to hate this smell, Captain Asher."

"I have a sensitive nose…" I paused, thinking about the hill Enzo told about. Summer has used it to attack monsters, but it ended up being destroyed, and then a maw was opened not far from it.

"I think those churners have a nest under those hills."

"I see." Alos rubbed his beard, thinking deeply; his eyes turned sharp as he gazed outside. "If they can travel underground, it can be dangerous in the future."

"Captain Asher, after writing the report, you should go get some rest."

Alos looked straight at me, his face showing no changes in expression.

"Alright, sir. I will take my leave then." I nodded and turned to leave.

Just as my hand was about to reach the door handle, I stopped.

"How is your work going?" Alos asked, I turned back slowly and saw his serious expression.

"Is there any work I am supposed to do?"

I asked, my lips curled down in displeasure.

"No, it's okay."

Alos shook his head gently and took another puff from his cigarette.

His words had almost confirmed his intention. He knows my true reason for coming here in Kalista, which certainly is not so surprising knowing that he is the commander of the central base.

Sadly I can't confirm anything, not until I find proof that he is not the perpetrator of this whole facade.

Reaching downstairs, I went straight for the office.

Inside, the place was filled with the smell of old parchments and inks. Walking inside, I took one of the empty seats as one of the workers reached me.

"Report entry," I said, looking toward her.

The woman nodded and brought me a list of paperwork.

All these things were taught to me by Franz and the guide who brought me here. Every place has its own set of rules, and I was an expert in blending and following the rules.

That's what I have always done from the moment Grandpa took me in.

He taught me things, and I accepted them.

I am doing the same thing even after my awakening. The only difference was that no one was here to teach me anymore. That thought saddened me a little. It also reminded me of the time when Mr. Thomas died.

Everyone at that time has gathered together to mourn for him.

At that time I was confused.

No, maybe I was making a wish that maybe that dreadful night would turn into a joyful event.

But only now do I realize how childlike that thinking was.

Nothing good comes out of wishes. Rather, I ended up losing more just after that night.

I sighed, leaning back, my hand stopping for a moment.

My lips suddenly curled up as I remembered something because of Nasi's words.

Efficiency.

It was not the first time someone has scolded me on that; rather, I had forgotten it because I thought of it as not such an important memory. However, it felt different now—that memory felt so close to my heart and so warm.

I didn't know how to convey it in words.

Maybe this was what it truly meant to be a human.

I smiled softly and stood up; the woman, seeing this, walked toward me.

"Are you done, Captain Asher?"

I nodded.

"Oh, yes. I am done with the report."

"I will submit it then."

"Thank you."

I didn't complain and let her take the papers from me.

Seeing the woman leave with slow steps, I also went for my room.

It was a long day.