Ruite left the dormitory and headed toward the main building.
Vilter, who was already waiting, waved his hand.
“I thought you weren’t coming and had already run away.”
“Pardon? No way.”
“Right. Since you’re the talent I scouted, you have to work under me for the rest of your life, okay?”
“The ‘rest of my life’ is a bit much.”
At that, Vilter let out a loud laugh and playfully smacked Ruite on the back.
It seemed Ruite’s bluntness was quite amusing to him.
“Let’s go in then. The Captain is in the Commander’s office.”
The two entered the main building side by side.
The Commander’s office was located on the top floor.
“By the way, are there many members who get recruited during special periods like me?”
“Not a ton, but they pop up periodically.”
“What kind of person is the Grand Commander?”
“Oh, trying to gather intel beforehand?”
“It doesn’t hurt to know. I’m a bit nervous.”
Vilter stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment as if considering how to describe him.
Ruite expected some useful information, but Vilter only said one thing:
“Well, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Pardon?”
Ruite was about to ask what kind of unhelpful, effortless answer that was, but he quickly remembered that this man was now his superior.
Without hearing anything more about the Grand Commander’s personality, the two arrived in front of the office.
Vilter knocked first. When a voice from inside granted permission to enter, Vilter smiled and met Ruite’s eyes.
The office was clean and orderly.
Perhaps because the wooden furniture had a warm tone, the atmosphere wasn’t as stiff as Ruite had imagined.
“Vice-Captain Vilter Seraike of the Research Department, reporting to the Grand Commander. And this is Ruite Everhart, the member who joined during this special recruitment period.”
Ruite stepped up beside Vilter and bowed.
The face of the man who led all branches of the Knight Order radiated an indescribable sense of pressure.
He had tanned skin, thick eyebrows, and sharp, piercing eyes that felt powerful. Strangely, he also looked somewhat familiar.
Ruite, who didn’t usually get nervous, felt his throat tighten.
The Grand Commander squinted, scanning Ruite from head to toe without saying a word.
‘So this is the silent pressure of a Grand Commander,’ Ruite thought.
“Aha! So you’re the new member of the Research Department?”
“Pardon?”
The taut tension didn’t last long.
The sharp eyes curved into a smile, and the firmly set mouth turned upward.
His voice was hearty and casual.
“Glad to meet you. I am Hale Derrick, the Grand Commander of the Knight Order.”
Hale stood up and approached Ruite.
When Ruite cautiously took the hand offered for a handshake, Hale shook it vigorously up and down.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that such a young and talented individual has sought out Ferwin.”
“Ah, yes. The honor is mine.”
The force of the handshake was so immense that Ruite felt like his arm might pop out of its socket.
“I was quite surprised when Vice-Captain Vilter requested a special entrance exam for someone. He’s never used that authority before.”
Ruite glanced at Vilter, who smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.
“Besides, the Research Department is crucial but always understaffed. I was delighted to hear you passed the exam.”
“Thank you for the kind words.”
When Hale smiled, he became a completely different person.
When expressionless, he radiated a heavy intimidation that made it seem like he could rip a beast apart with his bare hands, but talking like this made him seem like a friendly, ordinary uncle.
“Well, Member Ruite. Welcome to Ferwin. I hope this place can light your path ahead, and I hope you won’t hesitate to use your abilities for the Empire.”
“Yes, I will work hard.”
The interview ended much more smoothly than Ruite had feared.
Leaving the office, Ruite kept massaging the shoulder Hale had gripped.
“I told you there was nothing to worry about, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did. I think I finally understand what you meant, Vice-Captain.”
Despite being the leader of the Empire’s greatest Knight Order, Hale was unexpectedly laid-back and affable.
“He’s a knight to his core. Yet, he cares deeply for his members. Everyone in Ferwin respects him.”
“But he feels strangely familiar for some reason.”
“What? Have you met the Grand Commander before?”
“No, that’s impossible.”
When would he have seen the great leader of the Ferwin Knights?
And he was certain he had seen the face for the first time today.
But the aura felt oddly familiar.
“Ah, maybe it’s because of that?”
“Because of what?”
“The Grand Commander’s younger brother is the Captain of the Northern Branch. Captain Marcus Derrick.”
“Ah.”
The pieces clicked, and Ruite clapped his hands.
The mental fog cleared as Marcus Derrick’s face came to mind.
He had seen him during the Academy camp in the North.
Hale’s build and aura were similar, though even more intense.
“They’re both incredible. Anyway, there’s nothing else for today. Your official work starts tomorrow, so I’ll show you around and introduce you to the others then. Rest up today. You haven’t even finished unpacking, right?”
At the mention of the dormitory, Ruite remembered the person he’d forgotten.
He’d mostly organized his things, but he had left a sprawled-out Chester behind.
“As I explained before, you can eat at the dorm cafeteria. It’s at the end of the left hallway on the first floor. Dinner is served until 9:00 PM, so keep an eye on the time.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Right. And Ruite.”
Vilter placed a hand on Ruite’s shoulder, a gentle smile on his face.
“Welcome again. While it’s true I wanted you because of the staffing shortage, I also scouted you because I believe you’re truly capable. Let’s do our best.”
“Yes. I’ll work hard enough so that you won’t regret recommending me, Vice-Captain.”
“Haha, you’re a fun one. Go on, get inside.”
Ruite parted with Vilter and headed straight to the dorms.
The faces of the passing knights were still unfamiliar, and the uniform felt strange, but the warm welcome from Hale and Vilter had certainly eased his worries.
‘Is Chester still sleeping? Or is he awake?’
Inserting his key and opening the door, Ruite imagined what Chester would look like.
Since he’d looked so exhausted, he was likely still asleep.
“…”
Contrary to his expectations, Chester was awake.
To be precise, he looked like he had just woken up.
His hair was slightly messy, and his expression was dazed.
He was looking around the room in confusion when his eyes locked with Ruite’s as he entered.
Chester suddenly scowled.
Ruite stayed still, wondering why he was reacting that way, but then Chester began to rub his eyes aggressively.
“Hey, you’ll scratch your eyes if you do that.”
Ruite rushed over to stop him. Chester stared up at him and let out a heavy sigh.
“What kind of hallucination is this realistic?”
“I’m sorry, but could you stop turning a perfectly real person into a phantom?”
Chester froze.
He widened his eyes and stared at Ruite intensely, as if trying to pierce through him.
The eye contact felt a bit awkward, so Ruite was the first to look away.
Chester slowly raised his hand. He poked Ruite’s cheek with his fingertip.
“…It’s real.”
“Yeah, it’s real.”
Chester kept poking Ruite’s cheek.
Ruite wondered what he was doing but didn’t stop him.
Suddenly, Chester bolted upright from the bed.
With a face that finally seemed to have regained its senses, he grabbed both of Ruite’s shoulders.
“You… why are you here? And why are you wearing a Knight Order uniform…?”
“What? You didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?”
“I joined the Order. As Vice-Captain Vilter suggested.”
Ruite explained that he had taken the exam as soon as he decided and had officially joined today.
It seemed Chester really was hearing it for the first time.
“I thought for sure you would have heard.”
“How could I know if you didn’t tell me? Wait. Then what about our marriage?”
“Huh?”
It was so awkward hearing Chester mention marriage so naturally.
Ruite even let out a strange noise.
“Hmm, you really didn’t hear. I consulted with my parents before joining, and both families agreed to delay the marriage until I’ve adjusted, just like you.”
The puzzle pieces finally fit together, and Chester let out a long sigh, sinking back onto the bed.
Only moments ago, Chester had been thinking they would be married soon.
Ruite glanced at the dejected Chester on the bed.
He looked like someone truly disappointed that the wedding was postponed, which made Ruite feel strange.
“Anyway, you sure sleep well in other people’s rooms.”
Ruite decided to change the subject.
“Other people’s rooms?”
“This is my room.”
“Ah, no wonder the layout was the same but the items were different.”
That explained why Chester had been looking around the room with such a sense of displacement when he woke up.
“I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or a joke, but it turns out I’m right next door to you.”
Chester snapped his head up.
The intensity of the movement was enough to make Ruite flinch.
“Next door… to me?”
Chester is in crisis.