Rainer cleared his throat and looked him in the eyes, smiling.
"You know I never did thank you for saving me back then."
Commius frowned, feeling uneasy at how unfazed Rainer acted despite what he said.
It wasn't the reaction he had hoped to get out of him; he wanted to see trepidation and terror in his eyes, but he got neither.
"...Was it when I was addled with wine? Back when? I cannot recall."
Commius frowned, confused, but Rainer couldn't help the vicious glint in his eyes.
"When you pulled me down that ladder, remember? Mere moments before the boiling oil came down? Notice how I stopped being enraged by you? It was because I thought of this: That every time you turned in your bed, every moment you stretched, any day you look at your reflection in your shiny helmet before putting it on, you'll remember me and you'd think, 'Oh! How I wish I'd left that damned slave alone! I wouldn't be looking like the Roman version of the Fire Lord's abandoned son! I wouldn't have to feel like a living hell right now!'"
Rainer watched as Commius's frown gradually deepened and nodded with a gloating smile.
"I guess that stolen 'Corona Muralis' doesn't feel as good to have right now, does it, scoundrel?"
*Bam!*
Commius flew into rage, hitting him across the face. Rainer answered with a quick hook that connected nicely against his jaw, which was immediately followed by an uppercut.
However, he missed, his punch merely glancing against Commius' nose toward the sky.
It didn't take long to discover why though.
He had shifted his balance so quickly he hadn't accounted for the weight on his back. The thick metal spear and shield, which was currently slowly but inevitably pulling him back, down to the ground.
*Duh!*
Rainer hit the ground hard with a loud clatter, and Commius was quick to capitalize.
He jumped on him and began strangling him with an enraged frown.
Rainer desperately struggled against him, subconsciously thinking of possible moves to enact that would free him from this position. However, due to the metals weighing him down, most were made impossible.
Rainer's eyes became red, trying and failing to pry the grubby hands off... He was utterly outmatched in terms of strength.
"O-okay! Tim—Time out!"
He desperately croaked, but by the look in Commius' eyes, he really meant to kill him.
At this moment, Rainer felt regret with a tinge of embarrassment.
'I can't believe I'm being handled like a helpless turtle toy! Hmm, reminds me of a certain British Vtuber plushy I used to own... Oh no! Past lives are flashing before my eyes!'
As Rainer panicked, soldiers excitedly gathered around, jeering and cheering at the spectacle.
Rainer glanced aside.
'A little help here?! Anyone?!!'
He needed aid, but they all seemed content to watch. To witness what they probably felt was an anomaly in their camp get blotted out of existence.
Realizing this, a certain distress filled his eyes.
'Hey! You guys should help! I can't die! If I die, the Roman Empire–wou—would lose out on so–so many things...'
Rainer gradually felt himself slipping into unconsciousness.
"Cease this unruliness!"
An authoritative command quietened the soldiers, and an officer broke through the crowd.
"Ah! It's Centurio Vellocatus!"
"Oh! Our new Chief Centurion?!"
The soldiers excitedly exclaimed in whispers.
The chief centurion was the centurion leading the first century, and was known as the most senior centurion wielding significant power under the Camp Prefect.
Vellocatus promptly appeared behind Commius, yanking him up and back with ease, despite being considerably less muscular than him.
Commius stumbled back from the force of the pull, staring daggers at Rainer.
"Centurio Commius! You will act as befits your rank, and not as a wet-eared recruit!"
Vellocatus heatedly objurgated.
Grimacing in pain, Rainer sat up, rubbing his neck as he squinted to get a good look at his knight in literally shining armor.
He soon recognized the man as the officer who had questioned him while he was on the cross.
'What was his name again? Vell–Jell—Jello?'
"Centurio Vellocatus will be an excellent Chief Centurion!"
He suddenly overheard a soldier heatedly arguing with another in whispers.
'Ah! Yes, Vellocatus! Wait! He got promoted?! He looked like a signifier or something? Now he's the most senior centurion? Nice!'
"Do not disgrace the Lord Praefect again with your actions!"
Vellocatus warned below his breath, forcefully leading Commius out—but not before casting an odd glance Rainer's way.
Rainer didn't forget to flash a smile in appreciation of course.
As soon as they left, Rainer dropped back into the dirt with a tired groan, closing his eyes.
'Now that's a soldier with the Roman spirit! Vellocatus, eh? I'll just call him Vello from now on! His a really swell guy!'
As Rainer took a moment to regain himself, he overheard the soldiers around chattering amongst themselves.
"That's the daemon? He seems pretty weak to me."
"He said he is the son of Mars."
"Son of Mars? Hah! He hardly even did anything when we got ambushed! I'd expect the son of Mars to single-handedly chase the raiders off!"
Rainer's expression twitched.
'You serious now?'
"He did kill a daemon on his own though."
'...Yeah, kinda. That Daemon seemed nerfed, though.'
"I heard he's good with instruments. He likely played a flute that made the daemon sleep, then slayed it!"
'Surely you jest? It was just a predator, distracted by my alluring soul.'
"No wonder Commius went for his throat, he didn't want to be sung to sleep!"
'Don't believe it! And no, that bastard just has a throat fetish!'
The soldiers made idle conversations around him, some amusing, most mocking. Meanwhile, Rainer silently recovered as he took it all in.
Feeling better, he suddenly drew himself up with a heavy grunt, startling some soldiers.
Rainer dusted himself, picked up his spear, and looked around with a smile.
"Thanks for the help guys! I really appreciate you cheering me on down there! You're good men!"
He confidently ingratiated and abruptly walked away, leaving behind a small crowd of befuddled soldiers.