I was always at the bottom of the hierarchy. People med me for my timid nature because many people like me triumphed in their social life. They might be correct but they were also wrong. I used to fight the unjust things done to me. I did that a lot of times until I just decided to ept my predicament to avoid more pain.


    People asked me to be more outgoing but I am not that kind of person. I would rather have a few people I can call friends than have hundreds of people surround me just because they think I am fun. I couldn''t be what I was not and I still can''t. Why could I not be epted just by being myself? I wondered a lot.


    People are born with wickedness. Some manage to control it and some don''t. The people in my surroundings happened to be thetter. The things they did to me made me lose faith in others. The betrayal that I had led me to conceal my feelings. Revealing them made me feel exposed. I felt like giving people a way to exploit me by doing that.


    The first thing I thought when Ilschevar told me he would help me get stronger was how I would conceal my feelings. I was excited because I would finally be able to hide my feelings. My desire to be unreadable peaked at that moment. Not long after, I got what I wanted. Unfortunately, I didn''t learn how to hide my feelings. I forgot how to express them.


    It felt good for some time. I enjoyed the wondering look people gave me as they tried toprehend me. When I got used to it, a dilemma assaulted me. I began to wonder how I should treat others because myck of sympathy had made me an apathetic person. I rely on my logic and the morals I learned growing up ever since then.


    Despite so, the way I see people changed. When they are close, I consider them friends. When they are not, I consider them tools. It is hard for me to not categorize them that way. Much to my horror, the line between those two is getting blurry these days. As I look into Valeria''s eyes, I am reminded of that fact.


    Valeria wants an answer. I have always relied on my logic. I orient my actions with goals. So far, I have done nothing without a particr purpose. Valeria has be painfully aware of this fact and she can''t help but doubt me. Considering who she is, it is not surprising she worries that I may be using her for my hidden agenda.


    "I am emotionally impaired, but that doesn''t mean I can''t feel. Maybe, that was the case but no longer. I am still learning, but I am sure of what I feel toward you. Look into my eyes and tell me what you think."


    This is a gamble. Both of us are emotionally impaired. Valeria may not be able to see past my emotionless eyes. I am afraid this will be the end of our rtionship. I will be saddened if it turns out to be the case…or will I?


    "I see…" Valeria mutters as she looks down. "I can''t see the love in your eyes." My heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach. "But I can''t recognize one even if you inly show me." It calms my heart slightly.


    "I can see your fear of losing me, but I can''t tell in what way you mean it." I hold my breath, waiting for her next words. "At this point, though, I don''t care about it. I have be irrational. I just want to be with you."


    I release my breath slowly just so I don''t look relieved. Being perceived as such will insinuate that I wasn''t confident in myself. Valeria would treat it as if I was relieved that she didn''t see past my mask. She hasn''t explored her emotion much, so she doesn''t know the difference.


    Forcing a soothing smile to creep up my face, I put my hand behind Valeria''s head and push it close to my chest. She buries her face in my chest, wrapping me in a hug that is stronger than ever. As I caress her back, I feel likeforting myself. I make a mental note to be more expressive with my feelings toward her.


    "Do you want to strengthen our bonds?" Valeria asks timidly.


    "I prefer calling it soul-bridging," I remark yfully.


    Valeria says nothing but I can see her pale neck reddening. I smile in triumph and swipe her off her feet. She doesn''t yelp, but she shoots me a bewildered look once I carry her like a princess. I take her to our room and we immediately indulge ourselves in our activity.


    ….


    An hour passed in the blink of an eye. It is nowhere near enough, but duty is duty. Someone is already waiting before our door, adamant about making us feel ufortable. I sigh as I get up, parting from the sweaty Valeria lying on the bed. Her chest serenely heaves up and down as she looks at me bitterly. She doesn''t want to part yet, but she can''t do anything about it.


    Using simple Wind Magic, I get rid of the faint yet easily detectable smell in the air. My Spatial Storage shes and I am wrapped in my clothes.


    "You didn''t feel it, did you? You didn''t sweat," Valeria points out.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "It is kind of hard to feel hot after what happened to me." I shrug.


    Thest hour was not only used to satisfy our biological urges. We talked about what I had been doing and what I nned to deal with the matter in Lysimork. Ilschevar always leaves me alone whenever Valeria and I engage in ''that'' activity, so it was a perfect time to talk. Even if he didn''t, Valeria had made a precaution by somehow rendering the Demon King''s Mark useless.


    After kissing the still-tired Valeria on her forehead, I teleport outside the room. I knew whom to expect the moment I felt her Mana, but seeing Eliseus here still makes me quirk an eyebrow. I am wondering why she is willing to help me. After all, even if Haletha considers her a good friend, she doesn''t feel the same.


    My paranoid mind makes me think that she is nning to take me out during the heat of the battle, but I quickly cast the thought away. Eliseus looks too happy to have such a thought. It is as if she just wants to spend some time with me. I pity her for her awkward nature. Doing a mission with me has always been her only way to "hang out" with me.


    I don''t n to lower my guard around her; but at this point, I can''t help but pity her. I should ask her out someday.


    "Is it the Alpha Legion?" I ask.


    "Yes," Eliseus answers simply.


    The Legions that Velucanmands are named following the Greek letters. From Alpha to Kappa—they are sorted by their capability. Alpha is the best Legion under him. I am part of the Alpha Legion and so is Eliseus. This means Ilschevar''s trust in me is high. He won''t lend such a valuable Legion easily otherwise.


    Walking with Eliseus, we head to the field before the Barrack. The Alpha Legion is already waiting for me, greeting me as soon as they see me. Eliseus spares me onest nce before joining the others. I wonder why she acts like it will be ourst time together but shake my head soon. It is quite frustrating trying toprehend her.


    "March!" I shout as I point at the Teleportation Gate leading to Antares.


    The Legion looks at me in bewilderment for a few seconds before doing what I said. I can tell what they are thinking: "Why are we not going straight to Lysimork?" The answer is that I want to fool the Temple. It is also to lure out the betrayers among the Dark Elf. By making it seem like we won''t help Lysimork, they will be more eager—the former toe out and the former to attack.


    I am sure the Temple won''t bother to order Rectusomine to attack Antares if Lysimork is sure to be abandoned. It will focus its soldiers on Lysimork to sessfully take the Dark Elf Kingdom down.


    Days pass in the blink of an eye. Five days have gone by and my tomfoolery works splendidly. More and more Dark Elves show their true selves. They have be more confident in their victory because of theck of help that Verniculos provides to Lysimork. Weeding them out is easy work for Hadrian''s ck Merchants.


    By the time the war starts, Lysimork won''t have to worry about getting backstabbed. Though, Haletha is bing more nervous the more the days pass because I haven''t been answering her calls.


    The Teleportation Gates connecting Lysimork to Antares have also been sealed, further supporting her dreadful assumption. Fortunately, she doesn''t order anyone to destroy them.


    Some more days passed and Luxibrae finally makes its move.


    "Commander, are you going to ignore the call again?" Maxine asks as I read through the report Hadrian gave me with Millonia on myp. "You should tell your allies what you are going to do, so they don''t panic. A misunderstanding at this time will only ruin the dynamics."


    I wholeheartedly agree with Maxine, but I don''t mean to change my n. Lysimork needs to face its dire time for it to seed. One should fool his ally to fool his enemy. I will properly apologize to Halethater.


    ncing at Aurelia standing slightly behind me through the corner of my eyes, a light smile finds its way to my face. She is ring at Millonia who is smirking cockily at her. Ah, she is so clueless about my n for her. I will also apologize to herter.