Turning Chapter 1144

Chapter 1144

The original plan. Blinking his eyes, Yuder recalled something a beat late.

'Come to think of it, originally I wasn't... planning to stay only in Peletta during the vacation.'

Originally, he had planned to spend about half the time in Peletta, then visit his hometown home after a long time. Although it had become vague as his stay was extended due to unexpected anomalous cracks occurring in Peletta and encountering other incidents, but anyway, that had been the original plan.

"His Majesty the Emperor must have had a clear intention in giving exactly 2 more weeks. Though I dare not fully comprehend his deep consideration, perhaps he remembered the vacation plans he heard during the dinner celebrating the Duke's birthday."

Before, at the place where they had a modest dinner celebrating Kishiar's birthday among the imperial family while bestowing rewards for those who had returned from the South. Emperor Keilusa had asked Yuder, who had somehow been included, what he planned to do during his vacation.

'So... both Nathan Zuckerman and the Emperor still remembered the answer I gave then? Is that why they gave 2 more weeks?'

Thinking about it, 2 weeks was an appropriate period to visit the mountain valley countryside in the Central Region from the North and return to the capital. He had wondered why specifically 2 weeks, but was that choice made with such intention? His feelings suddenly became very strange.

Yuder turned his gaze to look at Kishiar's face.

His face with slightly widened eyes looked quite perplexed, and on the other hand, his mouth was subtly tense as if holding something back. The moment he saw that face, Yuder instinctively knew.

'...He remembered too.'

Before the vacation, Yuder had suggested to Kishiar that they visit his hometown home together.

Since coming to Peletta, he hadn't brought up anything related to it, so until just now Yuder had thought he had half-forgotten or given up like himself, but that wasn't the case at all.

That face belonged to someone who knew everything but had planned to just suppress it and pass over it as if nothing had happened.

'Come to think of it, he was very happy when he heard the suggestion to visit my hometown together. Happy enough to boast to the Emperor...'

Yuder truly understood both the Emperor's confinement order and Nathan Zuckerman's loyal advice simultaneously this time. Along with great perplexity and apologetic feelings.

'He probably didn't say anything knowing I had half-forgotten. Even more so since we lost time due to the sudden heat.'

It must have been even more so because he knew Yuder would feel these emotions.

Towards the two people who had lost words for their own reasons, Nathan Zuckerman added one last thing.

"Of course, you must be very concerned about the current anomalous cracks and other matters. But myself and others can now take sufficient responsibility for those things. Please consider this."

Kishiar let out a short sigh.

"I tried to tease a bit and got hit with a big one. I understand. You may withdraw."

After Nathan Zuckerman withdrew with disciplined movements, Yuder slowly opened his mouth.

"You knew that I had somehow forgotten my plans to go home, didn't you?"

"I knew, but I had half-forgotten too. It's natural since the situation wasn't favorable due to the heat. There's no need to particularly follow what His Majesty and Nathan just said, so you don't have to follow what you just heard. This won't be the only vacation."

That was close to preemptively speaking to put Yuder's mind at ease. It was also consideration to make it seem natural that he had forgotten about going home, and to let him do as he pleased by highly regarding the possibility that he might not want to leave his position in the current situation.

Yuder let out a short laugh.

"I see. I was going to suggest we go together even now... do you dislike that?"

"..."

The sight of the man who knew how to play his smooth tongue in any situation suddenly losing words.

Yuder continued speaking while capturing that face very well in his eyes.

"What do you think was my reason for creating and teaching something like a combined attack to the Northern Branch guys?"

It was to give them at least one secret weapon that could definitely win no matter what unexpected situation occurred. Only then could he entrust his back to them with peace of mind.

"Of course, it's true that I don't want to miss anything related to anomalous cracks and disasters, but if I just wait without relaxing for even a moment, I might forget what's really important."

"..."

"Weren't you the one who taught me to sometimes entrust my back to others and trust them?"

"...Yuder."

The man muttered like a low groan.

"It's just stopping by my old house to organize things briefly and return, how difficult could that be? We just need to entrust things here for a while and go."

Yuder reached out to the eyes that looked even more perplexed than before, yet had finally honestly revealed emotion.

"So, do you dislike going together?"

"How could I?"

The eyes touched by his fingertips closed gently. Kishiar leaned his head and answered sweetly.

"I'm really happy."

In his previous life, Emperor Katchian had issued numerous confinement orders to Yudrain.

Yuder had never once been glad about a confinement order.

But this time was different. For the first time, he thought it was fortunate to receive that order.

If he could see that face smiling so happily, what would be lacking even if the price was not confinement but permanent expulsion?

***

The next day. On the day before the confinement order took effect, Kishiar spent his busiest day yet.

He inspected various parts of Peletta and met again with Mick and the Cat Whiskers Trading Company people to reconfirm their contract terms. Gohum, who received a box of prototype heat symptom suppressants for awakeners sent from the Cavalry, was overjoyed with a very excited face.

"We have several 'chosen ones' in our tribe too. Though they don't have amazing abilities like those here, we plan to deliver the prototypes to them to test first before officially opening trade routes."

"That's a good idea. We'll be glad too if we receive confirmation from those who need that product."

"Yes. And about those impostors held here... no, the Wolf's Eye tribe people."

Gohum furrowed her brow and sighed. She shook off her hesitation and opened her mouth to speak with cold, firm eyes.

"After looking into various things with Trading Company Leader Mick, their intentions seem too clear to delay any longer. As soon as I return, I plan to make contact with other tribes who share our views."

"It will be dangerous. You seem to need support."

"It's fine for now. How could we call ourselves children of the stars if we can't even do that much ourselves?"

After saying that, Gohum greeted in their way by putting her hands together.

"We won't forget the trust Duke showed us. Please continue to take care of us."

"Likewise, I promise to remember your courage and always be within reach."

Gohum left. Mick grinned while pointedly pushing up the glasses he was still wearing.

"From meeting her during this time, I felt that Lady Gohum has almost no wrinkles in her essence. It's not easy to meet someone like that in business."

"She seems that way."

"Those bastards who dared impersonate our trading company, I heard from Sir Nathan that they also made a big score in the village of Southern descendants in the North. What do you plan to do with them now?"

A gentle smile appeared on Kishiar's lips.

"Since one of them seems to be quite an important figure as the chief's blood relative, wouldn't they be waiting for news from home? I'm thinking of doing it for them."

"Ah. Contact with hometown. An important matter."

Mick Shuden nodded very seriously and then grinned.

"When the bait is well caught on the fishing line, please be sure to share the news with me too. You never know where money lines will appear, like those monsters that appeared this time."

Mick held up and shook a bead refined from ground monster teeth for show. It was the teeth from that very monster that Yuder had shot down with his arrow.