CHAPTER 161
After finishing my conversation with Rapha Hastel, I went outside.
A bitter smile was etched on Inferno’s face.
Seeing the weakened state of the Commander-in-Chief he had served for so long left him with a complicated expression.
“The era is truly changing now.”
Aigis, too, seemed to have many thoughts as she spoke quietly.
The era is changing.
That was literally it.
An era where the powerful and the main strata of society change.
Such eras have always brought chaos.
A new ruling class and the side effects related to it would burst forth in all directions.
Who would be the one to seize this new era?
The Emperor and the Commander-in-Chief.
Two problems lay ahead.
“It’s okay.”
Just then, Lululio spoke with a calm expression.
“The Regular Army will continue to carry on Grandpa Rapha Hastel’s will. You can count on it.”
Had it not only been her body that had matured?
I felt a sense of steadfastness from Lululio, replacing her former mischievousness.
It seemed I could trust her even more from now on.
Click-clack—
Just as I was walking with everyone, I saw someone approaching from ahead.
A handsome, dignified middle-aged man.
And the Regular Army Lieutenant General’s jacket draped over his shoulders.
I had a rough idea of who he was.
“Sir Kandelhar.”
When Inferno greeted him, Kandelhar raised the corners of his mustached mouth.
The Central Command’s candidate for Commander-in-Chief, Kandelhar.
He had appeared right on time.
His appearance was, how should I put it…
Exactly the image I had in mind.
A spirited and ambitious man from Central Command.
He was the spitting image of what you’d picture.
‘I suppose it’s also because people with this kind of vibe actually end up in such positions.’
An image is, after all, influenced by the common appearance of those who hold such roles.
It wasn't strange that Kandelhar looked the way he did.
“Oh, Inferno my boy. It’s been a while. You’re back in Central, so why is it so hard to see your face?”
The moment Kandelhar saw Inferno, he treated him with great warmth, as if genuinely pleased to see him.
There was no falsehood in it.
I could sense that he cared for Inferno.
“Yes, it’s good to see you.”
“Is work on the front lines tough? You’re always working so hard.”
“To be honest, I personally find the work at Central much harder.”
“Haha, there’s nothing easy in this world.”
Kandelhar laughed heartily.
You could tell at a glance that he was a good person.
It must be because he’s this kind of person that he can draw capital for the Regular Army from the Empire and various kingdoms.
‘And he’s a man worthy of being named a candidate for Commander-in-Chief.’
As I was observing Kandelhar closely, his gaze met mine.
Kandelhar looked at me for a brief moment, then, as if realizing something, he took off his hat and spoke.
“Aren’t you the Saint-nim?”
Does he know my face?
No, it’s more likely he figured it out by seeing the people with me.
Even if he didn't know me, Aigis has long been famous as the Divine Lord.
Anyone who reaches the rank of Lieutenant General knows the faces of the Lords.
And yet, despite knowing Aigis, he spoke to me first, even though he was uncertain if I was the Saint.
We hadn't even exchanged a few words, but I could already see his keen eye and skill with people.
He had judged the newly risen Saint to be more important than the renowned Divine Lord.
‘I heard about him from Inferno, but he’s more formidable than I thought.’
Sizing up Kandelhar, I also greeted him with appropriate courtesy.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Kandelhar. My name is Harua.”
“You know my name! It is an honor, Sir Harua.”
“An honor? I’m not really a Saint. I refused the title bestowed by the Church.”
“That is precisely what shows your character. I believe that you, Sir Harua, who refused the title of Saint, are all the more admirable for it.”
This guy is a smooth talker.
He seems to know how to make people feel good.
Is this how he manages to pull in so much aid from various countries?
There was a reason why envoys of old had to be silver-tongued.
“By any chance, did you visit the Regular Army this time for Sir Rapha Hastel?”
“Resurrection magic is of no use for one whose lifespan has run its course.”
“Oh dear, is that so? That is a heartbreaking story.”
My eyes flickered towards Inferno.
Inferno gave a silent, bitter smile.
I had thought that the Lieutenant Generals would have discussed me quite a bit amongst themselves.
But judging by Kandelhar’s reaction, he didn’t seem to know much about me.
“He is someone I have met. I had to see him one last time before the end.”

“An outstanding character! Sir Rapha Hastel must have been very pleased.”
“Yes, he welcomed me warmly despite his body being in pain.”
“I would be grateful if you would continue to be a source of strength for Sir Rapha Hastel.”
Kandelhar offered a handshake, and I took his hand.
He gave a good-natured smile, said his goodbyes, and left.
I stared at his retreating back for a moment before asking Inferno, who was standing beside me.
“Sir Inferno, Lieutenant General Kandelhar doesn’t seem to know much about me.”
“Hmm, that’s right. I suppose you’ve never met in person.”
“No, I mean he seems almost completely unaware of the situation on the front lines.”
Inferno quietly cleared his throat.
He looked as if he was already aware of this problem.
“Don’t tell me information isn’t being properly exchanged between Central and the Front Lines?”
I knew the relationship between Central and the Front Lines wasn’t great, to the point of being divided. It was natural for differences of opinion to arise when they work in different fields.
But a lack of information exchange between Central and the Front Lines was a troubling matter.
“It’s complicated, but it’s not like reports aren’t being made properly or anything like that.”
True, if that were the case, the Regular Army wouldn't have been able to function properly until now.
“It’s just that, separate from things like Central and the Front Lines, there are differences in the work each person is responsible for.”
“Lieutenant General Kandelhar is pouring all his attention into diplomacy.”
“Yes, that’s exactly it. Lieutenant General Kandelhar doesn’t know much about the situation on the front lines. To be precise, it’s more that he lacks the time to find out.”
Work is naturally divided into various fields, with each person doing their best in their respective roles.
The Front Lines have their role.
Central has its role.
A group functions because its members take responsibility for different roles and move accordingly.
Lieutenant General Kandelhar is, for all intents and purposes, the head of foreign affairs.
Could such a person also keep track of the operational situation on the front lines?
To be able to do all that, one would have to be an unbelievable superhuman like Rapha Hastel.
But superhumans like Rapha Hastel were not common in this world.
He was a good person and seemed ambitious, but his own position was ironically a disadvantage.
“I don’t think Sir Kandelhar is in the wrong.”
Inferno, seeming to share my thoughts, looked at the spot where he had departed.
“He always thinks of the Regular Army first and performs his duties admirably.”
However, the Commander-in-Chief must bear far more responsibility and work than that.
If his thoughts are biased towards diplomacy, he will only try to do the same thing even after becoming Commander-in-Chief.
People have a tendency to stick to what they know when given a position where they can do anything.
It seemed Kandelhar would be the same.
“If Lieutenant General Kandelhar becomes Commander-in-Chief, it will definitely become difficult to invest in matters concerning Black Dawn.”
Kandelhar doesn’t seem like the type to give up on Black Dawn.
But considering the enormous amount of money the Regular Army spends to catch Black Dawn, and the fact that he has always been the one to bring in money through diplomacy, he would inevitably feel it’s a waste.
Moreover, the Emperor is changing.
If Kandelhar becomes Commander-in-Chief, he will likely neglect Black Dawn in order to curry favor with the new Emperor.
His goal is to ensure the Regular Army can continue to operate actively in various countries.
Because he has his own objective, other objectives get pushed back.
And that same principle would apply to the organization as a whole.
“I suppose so.”
Inferno, as if he had already pondered this, took a quiet breath.
Kandelhar was a good man, but in the current situation, he was someone they absolutely did not want to become Commander-in-Chief.
In that case, there was only one solution.
“Let’s make Lieutenant General Anastasia the Commander-in-Chief.”
Black Dawn must be eradicated this time.
For that to happen, Anastasia must become the Commander-in-Chief.
At my declaration, Inferno drew a sharp breath.
Kandelhar certainly had the qualifications to be Commander-in-Chief.
Neither I nor Inferno were ignorant of that fact.
But right now, he could not be allowed to take the position.
“Alright.”

In the end, Inferno agreed.
“To put an end to Black Dawn, Anastasia must become the Commander-in-Chief.”
Operation Make Anastasia Commander-in-Chief.
She must win the election.

We will make Anastasia the Commander-in-Chief.
After making the decision with Inferno, we decided to go find Anastasia.

Anastasia was, as always, working on the front lines today.
So, we were heading to the Regular Army branch she would be returning to.
As I boarded the Regular Army carriage and idly stretched my tired shoulders, Babiyen peeked over from my side.
“Want me to rub your shoulders?”
I hadn't expected Babiyen to say something like that.
As a Holy Mage, relieving shoulder stiffness was something I could do anytime. But separate from that, the act of someone massaging your shoulders has a way of easing mental fatigue.
“Alright, I’ll take you up on that.”
As I offered my shoulders, Babiyen came closer and pressed down on them with her small hands.
It felt as clumsy as I’d expected, but that wasn't bad in its own way.
“Harua, you’re going to read the report, right?”
While that was happening, Aranseol handed me the report on Cruden Island.
It was perfect, as I’d planned to read it during the carriage ride.
The moment I took the report, a strange feeling came over me, and I looked up.
Both of them looked exactly like wives taking care of their husband who had come home exhausted from work.
When did things turn out like this?
Even as the thought crossed my mind, another part of me felt that it wasn't so bad.
“You worked hard today.”
“Harua is always working so hard.”
Babiyen and Aranseol encouraged me from either side.
How could I feel bad when I had people who cared for me this much?
It felt like the complicated thoughts about the Commander-in-Chief matter were starting to unravel.
Just then, Lululio, sitting in the front seat of the carriage, was quietly watching us.
“Wow, such wifely support.”
So it looks that way to you, too.
Somehow, I now had two people providing me with wifely support.