Ga and Andrew rode together in a supply wagon, moving slowly along a forest path. Infantry soldiers marched around the wagon, forming a protective escort.

  “…The most absurd piece of paperwork I’ve ever received,” Andrew said, skimming the document in his hands, “was a bunch of Viking brats demanding to establish a new settlement in Sandvika—and insisting that I personally witness the coronation of their so-called Viking king. And now this is even worse.”

  He scoffed.

  “This time, it’s you. You volunteered to join the Sandvika Viking settlement—the same post-war orphan kingdom formed by those Viking kids from Oslo.”

  He folded the document with clear contempt.

  “That also means you don’t get to regret it and come crawling back to our Roman camp looking for your mommy. So tell me—are you exceptionally brave, or just exceptionally stupid? We’ll find out soon enough.”

  Andrew’s utter lack of faith in her future made Ga glare at him in silence.

  When the group reached a fork in the road, Andrew handed off command to his deputy, instructing him to lead the soldiers and supply wagons back to the camp. Andrew himself would take Ga alone, on foot, down the other path.

  “Alright, brat. Let’s see if you can even make it to the Viking kids’ settlement.”

  Ga dragged a suitcase nearly as tall as she was and followed behind him. Though the case had small wheels, the uneven ground made it brutally heavy. Her legs were far shorter than Andrew’s long strides, forcing her to half-run just to keep up.

  “H–Hey,” Ga panted from behind, trying to slow him down. “Are you… strong?”

  “Don’t call me hey,” Andrew said without stopping. “It’s Centurion. And what do you mean by ‘strong’?”

  “…Fighting,” Ga replied between breaths.

  Andrew glanced back at her.

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  “So you’re finally getting scared, huh? Afraid that once you enter the Viking settlement they’ll bully you, and I won’t be able to help because I’m just one man?”

  “No…” Ga seized the moment while he slowed, hurrying forward and dragging the suitcase up beside him.

  “Then what?”

  Andrew casually reached down and lifted the suitcase.

  Ga froze as he raised the heavy case effortlessly above her head.

  “I was just… asking if you’re strong.”

  “Just asking if I’m strong?” Andrew repeated.

  “Just asking if I’m… strong?”

  He burst into laughter.

  Then, without warning, he drew back and hurled the suitcase in the opposite direction—nearly a hundred meters away. It slammed into the ground and burst open, scattering its contents everywhere.

  “Hey! What the hell are you doing?!” Ga shouted.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Andrew snapped.

  His expression hardened as he took several heavy steps toward her. His towering figure radiated pressure, forcing Ga to retreat instinctively.

  “First,” he barked, “I told you not to call me ‘hey.’ And even if you remembered my rank, you still have no right to question me—because you don’t even understand what you’re doing!”

  “You haven’t evaluated anything. You don’t even know how weak you are. And you want to know how strong I am?”

  He leaned down, voice roaring.

  “You’re not brave. You’re just walking here to die, you little shit!”

  Andrew pointed toward a fortress rising on the distant horizon.

  “See that? Those Viking kids had enough time and strength to build that. They’ll have plenty of time to drag you inside and invent new ways to torment you every single day. And your mind will be trapped there forever. Do you understand me?!”

  Ga stammered, trying to form a rebuttal.

  “I—I want to—”

  Andrew didn’t let her finish.

  He kicked her.

  Ga hit the ground hard.

  “Tch,” Andrew clicked his tongue. “I didn’t even feel any weight when I kicked you. That’s how pathetically weak you are.”

  He turned away, voice cold.

  “Now listen carefully. Go back. Pick up your things. Take the left turn into the forest—it’ll connect back to the road leading to our camp.”

  “You’ll stay there for a few days and think about your stupidity. I’ll sacrifice my leave and my pay to knock some sense into Felix and get you reassigned to another damned Roman city.”

  “You’ll live the damned, happy childhood a damned brat is supposed to live.”

  “While you’re there, you’ll help with cleaning and cooking as thanks to me. Got it, you little bastard?”

  After delivering his brutal lesson, Andrew stormed into the forest, leaving Ga alone—defeated and small.

  As he walked, Andrew slowed deliberately, half-expecting Ga to follow.

  But time passed.

  He was nearly back at the camp.

  Still no sign of her.

  “…Damn it,” he muttered.

  Andrew sprinted back to the camp, climbed the watchtower in a rush, snatched a spyglass from a guard before the salute was finished, and scanned the road.

  He expected to see Ga heading back toward the fork.

  She was nowhere to be found.