Chapter 5: Refusal

"Have you heard? That kid from the Yale Family wiped out all the bandits. He even took down the Crimson Fiend Mercenary Corps!" "Come on, that's got to be an exaggeration. Isn't he just a spoiled rich brat? All he ever does is get into fights and chase women. Everyone knows he's a disgrace to his family." "I don't buy it either. This guy brought so much shame to the Yale family. Everyone in Regalburg knows about it. I bet it was all thanks to Alice if they managed to complete the mission." Throughout the military camp, whispers spread like wildfire. Most people were aware of the long-standing feud between the Yale and Lashbrook families. The infamous incident where Joshua had secretly peeked at Abby while she was bathing had caused an uproar. The Lashbrooks were so enraged that they forced Joshua's parents to apologize in front of Regalburg's most prominent families. As for Joshua? He had been made to kneel in humiliation the entire time. It was a disgrace he could never live down. Inside a tent, Hammer stepped in and was surprised to find Joshua sitting cross-legged, eyes shut, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead. What caught Hammer off guard wasn't just the sight. It was the powerful energy radiating from Joshua, engulfing the space around him like an invisible force field. "Mr. Hammer, something wrong?" Joshua suddenly opened his eyes and asked with a calm smile. "Oh... Marshal Greywolf wants to see you," Hammer replied, noticing that the strange energy had vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. Joshua glanced at Hammer, stretched lazily, and let out a yawn. "Not interested. I want to go home." In truth, Joshua had been meditating, trying to regulate the energy within him. Since his rebirth into this body, his abilities had weakened significantly. What was once divine-tier had now dropped to a mere sovereign level. He could barely use even a fraction of his former power. Worse, the energy core in his mind flickered in and out of stability, leaving him with a constant headache. At first, he thought he could finally enjoy a peaceful life in this new world, free from the burden of strength. However, his battle with Bernard had shattered that illusion. No matter which world, there would always be powerful enemies. He knew there were people even stronger than Bernard out there, and there were people he needed to protect. Power wasn't just necessary. It was essential. Before Hammer had entered, Joshua had been attempting to draw energy from nature, but only a tiny fraction responded—nowhere near enough to meet his needs. The only time his energy core had truly surged was when he had slaughtered the bandits. It seemed that only through combat could he fully awaken his powers. "Joshua, I don't think you understand your position," Hammer said, his frustration bubbling up. "You're a soldier. When a superior officer summons you, it's an order, not a request. A soldier's first duty is to obey." Hammer was growing irritated with Joshua's attitude. The man had no sense of propriety. Marshal Greywolf was no ordinary officer. He was one of the top three warlords of Eastania. Countless people would kill for a chance to meet him. And here Joshua was, acting as if he were the one doing Greywolf a favor. "Mr. Hammer, I have no interest in meeting some general. I want to go home—" "If you won't come to me, I'll come to you." Before Joshua could finish his sentence, a deep voice cut through the air, and Greywolf stepped into the tent. "Marshal Greywolf!" Hammer immediately saluted, shocked that the esteemed general had come to see Joshua. Greywolf nodded and turned to Hammer. "Leave us. I want to speak with him alone." Hammer shot Joshua a glare before exiting the tent. Meanwhile, Joshua studied the man before him. Greywolf was a formidable fighter. The barely concealed force radiating from Greywolf suggested that he had trained in an advanced form of inner strength from an Ancient Martial Sect. Greywolf, in turn, scrutinized Joshua. The Yale Family's good-for-nothing son was proving to be quite an enigma. Even now, Joshua's posture was relaxed—entirely at odds with what one would expect from a skilled warrior. "You're Joshua Yale?" Greywolf finally asked as he settled into a chair. "That's me. And you're Marshal Greywolf?" Joshua replied, his tone light and casual. Greywolf gave a slight nod and got straight to the point. "I hear you don't want any honors. You want to go home. Why?" "No particular reason," Joshua replied honestly. "First off, I'm not even really a soldier. Second, I believe the most important thing in life is being with my family and living happily. I don't want to deal with unnecessary troubles. So, I'd appreciate it if you could approve my request." Joshua wasn't lying. In his past life, he had been an orphan in a world ravaged by chaos. Now that he had been given a second chance, he wanted to be with his family. He knew how much pain and humiliation his past self had brought upon them, and he tried to make amends. "I need to think this over. Wait here for my decision." Greywolf turned and left the tent. Joshua yawned and flopped back onto his bed. Awakening his abilities was a step-by-step process. There was no rushing it. Early the following day, Joshua slung a military backpack over his shoulder and left the base. Greywolf had approved his request, and the higher-ups had already instructed him to keep this matter low-key. The more discreet, the better. After all, five special forces soldiers had been lost, and sensitive information had been leaked—secrecy was paramount. Before leaving, Joshua signed a confidentiality agreement, swearing never to disclose anything about what had happened. However, Greywolf's words lingered in his mind. "If you're meant to shine, you'll shine no matter what. In this world, battles exist everywhere. Some trouble is unavoidable." Stepping out of the tightly guarded military base, Joshua stretched lazily. He had never been the type to enjoy being tied down. A carefree life was what he wanted. In his previous life, he had fought endlessly through the apocalypse. Frankly, he was sick of it. Now that he had been reborn, he only wanted to enjoy life for once. But would things go the way he hoped? "Marshal Greywolf, Joshua's file has a missing entry here." Hammer approached, holding a folder, and handed it to Greywolf. Greywolf flipped through the file and saw a blank space under "Combat Power Rating." After a moment of thought, he wrote down "Unknown." Then, he instructed Hammer, "Send his file to the National Security Agency. Classify it as top secret." This was the first time Greywolf had ever given such an evaluation. As one of Eastania's three top warlords, he had seen countless soldiers, yet Joshua was an enigma. Greywolf couldn't tell if Joshua had been faking incompetence all this time or if something had triggered an explosive surge of potential, turning him into an elite soldier. Outside the base, Joshua strolled casually along the wide, open road. This was a restricted military zone—only army vehicles were permitted. It wasn't until he had walked a fair distance that he realized he should have asked Greywolf to arrange a ride. He had no idea how he would even get to the airport. "Hey, buddy! Mind giving me a lift?" He waved down a military jeep and grinned. "Huh? The camp is in the middle of training right now. How'd you get out?" the driver asked suspiciously. "I got kicked out," Joshua said with an awkward chuckle, gesturing to the backpack slung over his shoulder. The moment he finished speaking, the jeep sped off, leaving him in the dust. It was clear from the driver's look of disdain—getting kicked out of the army was a mark of shame. No matter where he went, he'd probably be treated with the same contempt. But if he hadn't used this excuse, there was no way he could've left the military so easily. Greywolf had explained the stakes and implications to him very clearly. Joshua didn't care about reputation or honor. He just wanted out and agreed without hesitation. "Damn it!" he muttered, cursing under his breath as he continued walking. Vroom! The roar of a military motorcycle echoed from behind, but Joshua had already decided not to bother hitching another ride. A dishonorably discharged soldier wasn't going to be welcomed anywhere. Not that he cared—it had nothing to do with him. He wasn't the same Joshua as before. He'd take responsibility for everything his past self had done, but that didn't mean he shared the same interests or aspirations. "Hop on. You're just gonna leave without saying goodbye? That's rude." The motorcycle pulled beside him, and Alice removed her helmet, flashing a smile. "Alice? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you still be recovering?" Joshua had a good impression of Alice. Ever since he enlisted, she had looked out for him. Plus, there was something admirable about a woman who could hold her own in the military. "It was just a minor injury. I've been fine for a while now. Get on, I'll take you to the airport." Joshua nodded and climbed onto the back of the bike. Alice was a skilled rider, and as she revved the engine, the wind rushing past brought a refreshing chill. "You don't want to be a soldier anymore? You're just throwing away all that honor?" Alice asked, her voice laced with both surprise and regret. More than anything, she was unsettled by the thought that she might never see Joshua again. "I'm done with it. It's exhausting. I want a simple life—that's what matters most to me," Joshua replied with a relaxed smile. "You think it's that easy to walk away? There's nothing here you'll miss?" she pressed, her tone hinting frustration.