al_squad

Turning Chapter 788

Added 2024-01-07 05:37:06 +0000 UTC

Chapter 788

"What?"

Enon furrowed his brow in confusion.

"It seems the strange crack that appeared in the south this time might not be the last of it."

Yuder elaborated more on the Southern merchants he had captured, and the speculations he and Kishiar had made after interrogating them.

"When Aton was questioned, he said it's not over; the incident has already begun. I hope not, but it reminds me of the great Southern earthquake from the past life, or a similar disaster. We're preparing for the possibility," he explained.

If the speculation was correct, Enon would eventually witness the crack himself. Not a pleasant thought, indeed.

Listening, Enon sighed as if the mere thought gave him a headache.

"So much has happened. Now, I clearly understand why you called me," he said.

Yuder expected him to curse the situation, but instead, Enon fell silent. He crossed his arms and stared intently at the table, seemingly lost in thought.

“I've heard enough about the current situation. It's time to organize my thoughts.”

Being with Enon usually meant noisy conversations amidst his shouting. Thus, this silence was a rare moment. Not wanting to disturb Enon's contemplation, Yuder silently watched him.

Enon usually expressed his emotions intensely, so his smooth, sculpted face, like a carefully crafted porcelain doll, wasn't easily noticeable. Unlike others with striking looks who attracted attention everywhere, Enon's appearance somehow remained less memorable.

'Even the Cavalry members think so.'

They often said Enon was handsome, but nobody delved deeper or showed excessive interest. It was as if they forgot about his looks until his name came up, then remembered him as 'the handsome pharmacist.'

Even when comparing him to Gakane, who often became the center of attention for his looks, or Kishiar, whose presence captivated everyone, Enon's unobtrusiveness was peculiar. Yet, no one seemed to find it strange.

Perhaps his ability to live freely in the 7th Wall District, despite his appearance, without being widely recognized, was the biggest proof that he wasn't human.

Suddenly, Enon lifted his head, as if concluding his thoughts. Noticing Yuder staring at him, he leaned back with a puzzled expression.

"Is there something on my face?"

"No."

"Then why look at me like that?"

"I was just looking. Is there a reason I shouldn't?"

"No, but... it's unusual for you."

Confused and slightly suspicious, Enon rubbed his cheek as if to check for something on his face.

"Anyway, as you said, how this situation in the south is resolved could become a pivotal point affecting the entire Empire and the capital, right?"

Nodding in agreement, Enon continued with a serious expression.

"In truth, under normal circumstances, I should prioritize the capital. That's the duty given to a guardian who has contracted with Luma to protect the seven walls of the capital."

After speaking, Enon muttered, "But you know what?"

"Upon reflection, I've realized from your story that prioritizing one's mission above all else may not always be the best approach. It's a perspective I've never considered before."

Enon's gaze deepened, as if looking into a distant place.

"Listening to you, it's clear that 'the me of the past' certainly lived by prioritizing my mission. I would never have left the capital, remaining indifferent to the major currents of humanity."

Yuder knew well how Enon had lived. Originally, he was an inconspicuous pharmacist in the most rundown alley of the Seventh Wall District, rarely showing personal interest in external matters. Even when disasters and political turmoil erupted throughout the Empire, his stance remained unchanged.

Yuder had always found Enon's knowledge extensive and his generosity towards the wounded remarkable, yet there was something transcendental about him.

That was how Enon had lived his life, prioritizing his mission.

"But even I, who lived that way, eventually left the capital. After my death... I mean, after reabsorption and reformation, I left a message indicating my wish to help you again. It probably means that meeting you changed my mind. In other words, even 'I' had acknowledged that you were right."

Yuder's heart raced at this revelation.

"Reabsorption and reformation mean..."

"As I said before, if I hadn't returned after leaving, it would mean death. That's reabsorption. And not being able to remember upon meeting again, that's reformation."

It was a concept difficult to grasp. As Yuder blinked, Enon calmly added, "When the protection of the Seven Walls is in peril or my body faces irrecoverable harm, I can abandon it and return as part of the Seven Walls. From a human perspective, it's akin to dying."

"..."

"But it's not the same as human death. If the Seven Walls regain stability, depending on the circumstances, I can reform and return. However, I would be like a newborn in all aspects, including memory."

It was an unimaginable explanation, yet Yuder had to admit that Enon's last letter precisely matched this concept of reabsorption and reformation.

'Enon must have chosen to leave the capital, believing in my words...'

Back then, Yuder doubted everything and felt that no one believed his words, including Enon. Only after reading Enon's last letter did he regretfully realize Enon's sincerity, but it was too late for them to meet again.

Yuder found it hard to fathom Enon's trust in him, revealed in his last letter, and his heart to mention their reunion despite knowing he could die and leave the capital.

How could he have trusted him so much?

Yuder recalled Enon, who often scolded him upon his frequent injured returns, calling himself "brother." His chest tightened with emotion.

Yuder reflected on what it might have been like if he had candidly shared his thoughts and objectives with Enon back then, exchanging ideas and assistance. He wondered if anything could have changed if he had been able to talk freely about the disasters and the seeds of destruction he had witnessed, like now, instead of realizing it only after death. It seemed almost comical to him now.

'Sigh... I really was foolish.'

Yuder, gazing downward, sighed deeply and then looked at Enon, grateful for the current moment made possible by not repeating the same mistakes.

"I have been thinking... After returning here, perhaps you, in your past life, had foreseen the day I would come back to meet you again."

"How could that be? I don't have such abilities."

"Had you experienced this reabsorption before?"

"A few times. During the period when I was still inept at handling my physical form."

Enon grumbled about how those past failures had led him to establish his current way of living.

"Do you have any guess where you might have gone after leaving the capital?"

"Well, that's obvious. Where else but Gyllandr Hill?"

Gyllandr Hill was where the Archmage Ruma had last stayed and a place Enon had previously mentioned he should visit.

"Enon. You haven't gone there yet, have you?"

"No. I've been too busy because of someone."