Turning Chapter 1122

Chapter 1122

Even after the master and his guest had both left their posts, Peletta Castle remained peaceful. This wasn't simply because nothing had happened in the meantime. It would have been impossible if those who knew and those who didn't know why they had shut themselves in the room hadn't tried to maintain their usual attitudes, each holding their own beliefs and resolutions.

Nathan Zuckerman, the adjutant who was known to be closest to Kishiar La Orr and now making a name for himself as a swordmaster in his own right without his lord's name, played an especially large role in maintaining the castle's atmosphere with his particularly calm demeanor.

However, just because he knew how to keep his composure better than anyone else didn't mean he was completely at ease.

"Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

At a meeting between Nathan Zuckerman and the Northern Branch members in Yuder's absence, when one member suddenly frowned and flinched, Isias, sitting in the seat of honor, looked over.

"Just now, something... don't you feel it?"

"What?"

"Ah. That's right. I forgot, I'm the only second gender manifested person in our branch."

The one who scratched his head gestured towards the door with an embarrassed face.

"I thought I felt something like a scent for a moment. I don't feel it now. Must have been my imagination."

"Are there other awakeners in Peletta Castle besides us?"

"I'm not sure, but there must be some, right? This is the Commander's territory after all... I heard there were quite a few cases of people who awakened in the North coming to ask for help. Um. Right, Sir Zuckerman?"

Nathan Zuckerman, who had been lost in thought with a rare pensive expression, raised his head a little late.

"Yes, that's correct. There are people working here for that reason."

"Wow. I see. Well, even in the Cavalry, there were many awakeners who came asking for help and ended up working..."

"From what I heard, it didn't start with the creation of the Cavalry, but this place was first."

Although it had decreased as the Cavalry's prestige grew, there were still cases where people were driven out or fled from their hometowns immediately after awakening, depending on the circumstances. At such times, the one they could think of was Duke Peletta, currently the most famous and high-ranking awakener in this empire.

Kishiar had stipulated that such people should never be turned away when they came to the Cavalry and should be helped as much as possible. From providing temporary lodging and meals to mediating with the places they left, or even finding new jobs, everything was helped, so it was no different from salvation for awakeners.

Among the awakeners who received help in this way, the most famous was undoubtedly Revlin Shand Apeto. Since the incident where he escaped from House Apeto and stayed as a temporary member of the Cavalry, Kishiar officially revised and announced the regulations for this part, and many commoner awakeners received similar help.

However, although there were only official regulations, not many people knew that Kishiar had been doing this kind of thing personally little by little even before creating the Cavalry. The fact that everything was done at his own expense was also information that was not publicly known.

The Northern Branch members felt newly moved by the character of the commander they served. While they forgot about the slight scent they had felt earlier and chattered, Nathan Zuckerman quietly rose from his seat.

"Sir Zuckerman, are you leaving already?"

"Yes. I have another matter to attend to."

"Well, you must be busy since you're not just meeting with us."

The members, who had been quite afraid of Nathan Zuckerman at first but had long since grown bolder, expressed great regret.

"If only Yuder hadn't suddenly been absent due to a mission..."

"It can't be helped. With anomalous cracks appearing nationwide, the Commander and Yuder must have a lot to do."

"That's true... but still, they should rest more. Tsk tsk."

"But His Majesty the Emperor sent people to help, so..."

Nathan Zuckerman left those words behind as he exited. The knight's steps, which had been striding as usual, suddenly became as fast as if folding the ground once he entered an area where no one recognized him. The members didn't know, but the knight had a magical tool bracelet on his wrist inside his sleeve that reacted when a signal came. It had been quiet all along, but now it was vibrating faintly but definitely.

The knight instantly passed through the deserted first floor dining area of the inner castle and entered the place where the stairs leading to the second floor were. There, on the railing above those stairs, stood a figure quietly wrapped in a black winter cloak from head to toe.

Although far away, Nathan Zuckerman sensed a very strange scent from him. It wasn't the first time he had felt this bizarre scent that couldn't be expressed in words.

He had felt a similar scent when he witnessed the moment Yuder Aile entered his heat. Although incomparably fainter than then, it was enough for a swordmaster with heightened senses to notice.

"...Sir Aile."

"You came quickly. I thought it might take some time, but you're fast."

Yuder Aile replied quietly. Although his face couldn't be seen to know his expression, his voice was definitely more hoarse than usual.

His slow speech without ups and downs was the same as before... but something was a little different.

Fatigue?

To identify the nature of the air different from usual surrounding Yuder Aile, the knight first opened his mouth.

"Are you alright?"

"The Commander is healthy. There's still no problem with his vessel or body."

Nathan Zuckerman was rarely at a loss for words. Although he didn't mind being criticized for often causing misunderstandings due to his lack of eloquence, this time he thought perhaps he should have learned even a little of his lord's ability with words as others had advised.

"No, my question was... directed at you, Sir Aile."

At that, Yuder Aile was silent for a moment.

"...You mean me, not the Commander?"

"Given that Sir Aile has come here and calmly summoned me, nothing serious could have happened to my lord. Is there any need to ask again about something sufficiently knowable?"

Only then did the silent atmosphere that seemed to doubt Nathan Zuckerman's sanity dissipate.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Why would I hide my condition from Sir Zuckerman?"

That cold judgment was indeed Yuder Aile. Nathan Zuckerman relaxed a little, but he didn't withdraw his observing gaze completely. That was natural behavior for a knight who had served a lord who had endured for a long time without saying he was in pain even when he was.

Because the one up there had now become a being that Nathan Zuckerman had to protect no differently from his lord.

"As long as you're alright, that's fine. If you need anything, please tell me."

"I need food. Towels too. If it's something that doesn't spoil easily even if eaten over time, that would be better."

"I'll bring it right away."

"And... how many days has it been since I went up?"

The knight's steps, about to turn towards the dining hall, stopped. He opened his mouth, feeling the gaze that must be looking at him from beyond the black cloak.

"It's been exactly 5 days from the day you went up after being with attendant Enk until now."

"...5 days."

Yuder Aile softly repeated those words. His voice sounded somewhat dumbfounded, yet also relieved.

"It's long if it's longer than expected... and short if it's short. I thought I could end it faster than this originally...."

The latter part was barely audible even to the swordmaster's hearing. The knight, guessing that Yuder must be worried about outside matters, added words.

"Don't worry. There hasn't been any big news to be concerned about in Peletta or the empire yet."

"If there's no big news, doesn't that mean there's small news?"

"As for small news... His Majesty the Emperor has sent people to help with Peletta's work. When they arrive, the work should decrease further. They haven't arrived yet, though."

Since they've entered the North, it's only a matter of time before they enter Peletta. To come at this speed means they must have ridden Misty Wind Horses almost without sleep, so it might take a few more days before they can properly start work. Still, the fact that the Emperor had properly grasped Peletta's situation and expressed it was significant.

Yuder Aile, who would have noticed that without being told, nodded his head greatly.

"That's fortunate. Is there anything else?"

"According to informants, there's talk that Crown Prince Katchian has been accused and will soon stand trial. The capital seemed to be in an uproar over this."

Yuder Aile stood quietly for a while, then responded slowly.

"...That's really not very important news."

"Yes. This is all the news of any significance."

"I understand."

Nathan Zuckerman went to the dining hall and brought the food and towels he had prepared in advance. All kinds of items, including food, were prepared there so that necessary items could be delivered immediately whenever a call came in.

When he returned carrying all the items in a large basket, Yuder Aile asked him to put it down on top of the stairs. As Nathan Zuckerman set down the basket, a cool wind suddenly arose and the basket lifted off the ground, settling into Yuder's arms as if swept up.

There was no problem with his ability, but the wind caused his cloak to flutter, revealing part of his face that had been hidden. The swordmaster's excellent eyesight could sufficiently grasp that even in that brief moment.

In the year of observing Yuder Aile, he had never once felt overflowing vitality, abundant happiness, or a sense of full-blooded health from him. To Nathan Zuckerman, the outward impression of Yuder Aile had always been white and pale, with bloodless lips and eyes holding pitch-black darkness, and limbs with very little muscle attached compared to the power he possessed, a young man.

But that face he just saw.

For a moment, he thought he was looking at Kishiar.

Cheeks and lips imbued with a ruddy vigor, as if a corpse had finally become human. Eyes unbelievably tinged with light. Would it sound strange to say that aspects like the delicately and softly relaxed expression looked so much like his lord?

He wanted to confirm if what he had just seen was real, but Yuder had long since turned away.

"..."

Nathan Zuckerman stared at the top of the stairs where the black cloak had disappeared for a long time, then turned away without hesitation. And he went to those who were worried about them and conveyed the news that there was no need to worry at all.