Turning Chapter 1133

Chapter 1133

"You've come."

Yuder bowed his head in return as he received Nathan Zuckerman's greeting. The loyal knight was already waiting in front of the first floor stairs before Yuder came down, just like before.

'Impressive. Unlike last time, he noticed even though I came down without giving a signal in advance.'

Yuder was genuinely impressed by his perceptiveness.

Unless it was someone with power that made common sense meaningless like Kishiar, the ordinary swordmasters Yuder had dealt with weren't this alert. Compared to ordinary people, they naturally had much better senses, but that didn't often manifest significantly even in front of Yuder, who usually moved around without revealing his presence much.

Yet Nathan Zuckerman reacted very quickly to Yuder's faint presence. It was possible because Yuder wasn't trying to conceal himself with all his might, and Nathan had been focusing all his attention on the presence from the upper floors of the inner castle from the start, but still, Yuder wanted to acknowledge that it was impressive.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

The knight asked, seeming to have felt Yuder's gaze.

"I was just personally admiring Sir Zuckerman's abilities. You're here right away even without a magical tool signal, aren't you?"

It was an honest answer, but Nathan Zuckerman showed signs of bewilderment, slightly furrowing his brow as if he had received praise for the first time. It was very different from the indifferent, business-like attitude he had shown when dealing with Yuder who had just entered the Cavalry, or the observing gaze he had revealed while raising his guard later.

"It was only possible because I kept my senses open towards this direction while awake. Still, noticing Sir Aile's presence without a signal wasn't such an easy task even for me."

"You say that, but didn't you come at exactly the right time? From what I can tell, it seems Sir Zuckerman's skills have reached an even higher level than before... am I wrong?"

"...You're right."

The knight admitted honestly.

"After returning from the South, I had some personal realizations. Thanks to that, there have been some changes recently in my aura, which had been stagnant for a long time."

His face was slightly relaxed, perhaps because it was talk related to swords.

It seemed that the battles with monsters he had experienced in the South, and watching Meghna Kurlieva who had newly become a swordmaster, had been quite stimulating for Nathan Zuckerman as well.

'I heard that improving one's skills after becoming a swordmaster is more difficult than before becoming a master, but he's become stronger than before. This must be another difference from the previous life...'

In his previous life, the last time Yuder saw Nathan Zuckerman was his back silently following Kishiar as he left for Peletta. His figure, not mixing words with anyone and guarding one step behind his lord, looked more like a large rock than a person.

Probably at that time, unlike now, he lived without paying any attention to his own achievements. Even after Kishiar's death, perhaps continuously.

The knight who had seemed impossible to understand what he was thinking, in a different sense from Kishiar back then, now clearly looked like a person. He was not a rock, but a knight who knew how to devote himself sincerely to the sword as much as he devoted his loyalty to his lord.

'It would have been good if I had known this fact in my previous life too.'

Feeling a bit of regret, Yuder politely conveyed his congratulations.

"Congratulations."

"No. I'm still far behind my lord."

After saying that, Nathan Zuckerman looked behind Yuder and continued speaking.

"And to tell you first, two days have passed since you last came down. My lord... seems to still be in that state."

'Two days...'

That meant the time spent after receiving the bread and towels and returning was two days. Adding it up, the total time spent in heat was about a week, so it couldn't be considered faster than expected.

'But it's fine. It's enough that Kishiar spent it well without any problems occurring.'

Although the conversation they had at the end seemed to have made Kishiar a little sad again, Yuder was fine. What was important to him was the single truth that Kishiar La Orr had trusted and relied on Yuder at any time, in any moment.

If Yuder was fine, Kishiar would be fine too. The eyes of happy trust he had received throughout the heat made Yuder Aile able to stand firmly.

Yuder nodded and answered.

"The heat itself can be considered over now. He conversed well with me earlier."

He explained that he had stopped him from coming down here for now, thinking it would be better to proceed after fully recovering, and that he was sleeping now. Nathan Zuckerman's eyes brightened.

"That's a relief."

"So, was there anything unusual during those two days? If possible, I'd like to go check on the Northern Branch now."

At that, the knight moved his eyebrows slightly as if hearing unexpected words.

"As before, there was nothing that required Sir Aile to take action immediately. Wouldn't it be better for you to rest more?"

"It's fine. I want to assess the surroundings more directly before the Commander wakes up, so don't worry."

After Kishiar fell asleep, Yuder put him on the bed, tidied up the room, and left immediately. Even for Kishiar, he had an instinctive feeling that it would take at least a few hours to wake up this time, so he wanted to do what he could before returning.

'Kishiar will surely try to work continuously from the moment he regains his reason, so I need to reduce whatever I can before that.'

"But."

The knight hesitated. Judging from his expression, he seemed to have concluded that Yuder looked unwell due to the winter cloak covering him from head to toe and his hoarse voice.

'I want to explain that it's just my voice, I'm fine...'

Thanks to sleeping and eating sufficiently while interacting with Kishiar, his energy was fine, no different from usual. He had wrapped the cloak from head to toe unavoidably because of various marks left on his body, but that didn't mean it was so uncomfortable that he couldn't move.

But before Yuder could say anything, Nathan Zuckerman beat him to it.

"...Actually, when the helpers sent by His Majesty the Emperor arrived, they also delivered a letter containing an imperial order. When I opened it, it said that as a price for disobeying the imperial order, both the Cavalry Commander and his aide would be ordered an additional two weeks of confinement after their vacation ends."

"What?"

"If you don't believe me, here, I brought the letter."

Nathan Zuckerman really handed over a small rolled-up letter from his chest. When Yuder unfolded it, there was indeed the Emperor's signature stamped on the paper, with an order written to additionally command two weeks of confinement for Kishiar La Orr and Yuder Aile.

'What is this.'

"So even if you want to work, I'd like to recommend that you rest more if possible."

It was an utterly absurd reason. However, Yuder also had a reason he couldn't back down. He didn't want to be away any longer for Kishiar's sake, and to confirm the signs of destruction.

Yuder hesitated and then opened his mouth.

"But doesn't His Majesty the Emperor's order take effect after the 'vacation' ends? That's not now, is it? It might seem stubborn of me to say I want to work, but in fact, I'm also the one who wants to return to the Commander's side as quickly as anyone. If Sir Zuckerman helps, it could end faster, wouldn't that be more reasonable?"

"..."

"Please help a little."

Nathan Zuckerman finally closed his mouth. After pondering for a moment, he let out a small sigh and slowly raised his hand to give a brief salute. It was the Peletta Knights' signal for 'I will follow your order'.

"I understand. My lord would have said the same if he were here. It's not like you're trying to run away from me, and if I go with you, it should be fine. Is visiting the Northern Branch all you want?"

"That, and..."

In the middle of continuing his words.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook slightly.