Turning Chapter 800

Chapter 800

"To receive such praise from a teacher who was always so strict is overwhelming. But tell me, General."

"Yes?"

"Have you not heard the rumors that I am not the only swordmaster?"

"What?"

General Gino blinked in surprise.

"I thought you would have heard. Rumors claim there's another swordsman here who can wield the Aura, not just me."

"Well... I did hear such talk, but naturally, I assumed it was a distortion of the truth..."

General Gino's skepticism wasn't unusual. Ordinary people, ignorant of the truth, eagerly believed the rumors of two swordmasters, but those with even a slight knowledge of swordsmanship knew better.

Once, the Empire boasted dozens of swordmasters, but now, scouring the entire continent, one would be hard-pressed to find even ten. This number dwindled further when considering only those actively revealing themselves.

In Yuder’s previous life, the longstanding tradition of the Orr Empire that only a swordmaster could be appointed as General was broken after General Mook and General Gino before him. The Empire had no choice but to fill the ranks with others.

'Emperor Katchian found it deeply humiliating,' he reminisced.

Due to the lack of swordmasters, Yuder Aile, the leader of the Cavalry, had to engage in duels, disguised as sparring matches, with renowned swordmasters from abroad to prove the Empire's might.

General Gino, most aware of the shortage of swordmasters, would have questioned his own judgment had he believed the rumors immediately.

"It's not a distortion. It's all true," Kishiar cheerfully revealed the truth to General Gino.

"The protagonist of those rumors is none other than my adjutant, Nathan Zuckerman, standing right beside me."

Nathan Zuckerman, standing behind Kishiar like Yuder, indifferently received the astonished gazes of General Gino and his subordinates, bowing his head. His revealed identity seemed to be of little concern to him.

In fact, as long as it was Kishiar's wish, he appeared utterly indifferent to whether his power became widely known or remained unrecognized.

General Gino, looking at Nathan in disbelief, muttered, "Good heavens... You? Really?"

"..."

"I still vividly remember you as a young servant... To think you became a knight, I assumed it was merely an honorary position, but what exactly happened?"

"Nothing special. It's just Nathan's talent and potential was that exceptional," Kishiar replied, not Nathan.

"Remember, General? When you were teaching me swordsmanship long ago, Nathan was always watching from behind."

"Yes, I remember. You insisted on letting the servant observe and even bet me on it."

"That's right. Even then, Nathan could perfectly mimic what he saw me practicing."

Kishiar replied with a mischievous smile.

"It's just a case of a promising seed growing tall. I've always regretted letting such talent go to waste by my side, but now I'm glad to properly introduce him."

General Gino seemed profoundly moved by these words.

Lost in thought, he gazed at Nathan Zuckerman before nodding gravely and bowing his head in deep respect.

“I had thought the lineage of swordsmanship talent in this Empire had met its fate... but it seems it was merely my aged ministerial eyes blinded by narrow-mindedness. Your presence enlightens me. Even when establishing the Special Forces, I've come to realize so much more."

"Ha, what are you saying with such words?"

"No. If not for your words, didn’t you guess that I would’ve challenged that knight to a duel to prove his aura?"

"Hmm? Were you going to do that?"

Kishiar tilted his head and blinked, a completely natural expression.

To Yuder, it indeed seemed like the general had acted first as he anticipated.

'Well, there's no need to request a duel for evidence just to reveal that Nathan Zuckerman is the real swordmaster. That would be an inquisition, not an honorable method.'

"Sir Nathan Zuckerman. It's truly regrettable and I am sorry that I've only recognized your talent now."

"I don't think there's any need for the general to apologize. I've learned that a knight's purpose is not to seek someone's recognition."

Nathan Zuckerman's response was concise and neat. General Gino looked at him anew, scanning him up and down several times.

Yet Kishiar, unsatisfied, interjected again.

"General. Among the rumors that reached the south, have you not heard of the hero of the Cavalry? Surely there must be stories."

"...Ah, are you referring to that member who performed greatly in the West?"

General Gino's voice and expression subtly differed from before. Yuder easily guessed that he must have also heard various rumors about himself.

"Yes. Without him, even a swordmaster couldn't have caught the massive monsters raining down like rain so quickly and without harm. He's also a skilled swordsman. Since he's here, how about exchanging greetings? It would be an old acquaintance for the general."

"Ah... Is that so?"

Upon hearing he was an old acquaintance, General Gino blinked and looked around. The office, as usual, was filled with many people.

Yuder, standing near Kishiar, thought the general would immediately spot him, but Gino merely glanced at Yuder and looked away nonchalantly.

"Hmm..."

After scanning faces unfamiliar to him, General Gino's gaze lingered on the members he had met during the Red Stone retrieval mission.

Finally, his gaze stopped on whom he thought most plausible – the dazzling Cavalry's Rose, Gakane Bolunwald, with bright red hair, vibrant green eyes, a kind beauty, and a sturdy physique.

"Is it that person? When I briefly saw him before, I thought he was unusually tall and striking... With such an appearance, in many ways... Ahem. I can understand why there are widespread rumors."

"...Ah..."

"...Ugh!"

Gakane, meeting the General's gaze, was both embarrassed and the surrounding members quickly turned their heads, biting their lips to suppress laughter.

"That's not him, General. My assistant is right here; I don't know where you're looking."

"What?"

At Kishiar's call, General Gino, who had been sharply scrutinizing Gakane, looked flustered. Yuder silently kept to himself as the General belatedly turned his way.

"No, that... young man? To catch a huge monster alone and be so renowned across the capital for an extraordinary appearance that caught the Commander's eye... I naturally assumed..."

General Gino's gaze flitted bewilderingly back and forth between Gakane and Yuder. It seemed he had not the slightest inkling that Yuder was the protagonist of the rumors.

"I'm puzzled why you mistook, having heard the correct rumors. Isn't my assistant the one endowed with sufficient stature and ability to vanquish monsters, not to mention overflowingly beautiful?"

"Ah, of course… That young man also appears tall enough and… well… handsome, I suppose…"

However, calling Yuder Aile 'overflowingly beautiful' in front of Gakane and himself was fraught with many problems. Yuder, in an attempt to salvage the situation for the perplexed General Gino, sighed and spoke.

"Please, Commander, cease this jest that puts others in an awkward position."

"Jest? I've never once spoken insincerely about my assistant."

"If you continue to embarrass the General further, I would have no choice but to leave here for the sake of rectification."

"That won't do."

Kishiar straightened up, smiling radiantly.

General Gino let out a small sigh and gave Yuder a glance filled with slight gratitude.

The conversation that followed flowed smoothly without any personal matters.

General Gino decided to stay at the Charloin Southern Army base, not far from the Cavalry's southern branch, and promised considerable cooperation with the Cavalry. He seemed to take very seriously the opinion that the strange crack and monsters that appeared earlier might reappear.

Before leaving the branch after the conversation, the General looked alternately at Nathan Zuckerman and Yuder Aile with a significant gaze and left a meaningful farewell.

"I had been contemplating retirement, but seeing such talents makes me realize many things anew. Next time, I shall visit with my Adjutant, who unfortunately could not join us today."

After everyone, including the General, had left, Yuder, now alone with Kishiar, seized the moment to speak.

"I had no idea General Gino was considering retirement. Maybe that's why he disappeared in the previous game."

"That could be."

"Do you know who the Adjutant he mentioned is? Someone important?"

The fact that he specifically mentioned bringing the Adjutant next time piqued Yuder's curiosity.

"I believe it's Gino's protege and successor. I heard the skills are quite commendable. Rumored to be a future swordmaster, along with the Imperial Knight's commander. Gino has been quite worried about his Adjutant’s recent lack of progress in swordsmanship; he might want to bring that person to broaden the horizons."

'Hmm… Gino's protege and successor. Could it be… that person?'

Yuder recalled someone from his previous life who succeeded General Gino as the Southern Army General. A person who became General without being a swordmaster and faced much gossip, seldom visiting the capital and thus having almost no acquaintance but not a good reputation.

The new Southern Army General wasn't fond of the Cavalry, often failing to cooperate in times of need.

'That person wasn't the only one like that, but thinking about the southern earthquake and what followed still irritates me.'

"Could I know the name of this person?"