Turning Chapter 1045

Chapter 1045

"Speaking of which, your birthday. The registration documents only list it as late May, did you deliberately not specify the exact date?"

Yuder vaguely recalled the day he went to apply for the Cavalry. 'That's where I met Kanna.' At that time, like other applicants, Yuder answered a few perfunctory questions from a low-ranking manager, which included his birthday.

Both in his previous life and now, Yuder had answered the same way, simply stating late May. The reason was simple. "No. I really don't know the exact date, so I answered like that."

Among the poor commoners who were busy making ends meet, many didn't care when their children were born. However, Yuder's case was slightly different from theirs.

"The grandfather who raised me wasn't with me from the moment I was born. Originally, he was a relative living elsewhere, and after my parents suddenly passed away, he happened to get in touch and took me in when I was left alone. So, I couldn't know my exact birthday."

"...I see." Kishiar replied slowly. Yuder lightly shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing.

"It happened when I was too young to even remember losing my parents, so it's alright. I heard that the entire village where we lived was damaged by a suddenly appearing monster, and such incidents still happen occasionally, don't they? It must have been hard for my grandfather, though."

Originally, monsters tended to appear in limited areas. Although it was unknown when they would appear, if one knew roughly where they would appear, it was easy to avoid them. Through long experience, humans had found lands where monsters rarely appeared and built villages there.

However, if knowing meant being able to avoid them perfectly, why would they have become humanity's long-standing enemy? There was no perfect regularity to them. Sometimes they appeared in areas where they hadn't before, and occasionally, monsters with completely different and dangerous forms emerged, causing great damage before there was time to respond.

Those who had often faced monsters, like Yuder, and the nobles knew that such incidents were quite common, but for commoners with low education levels who lived in one area their entire lives, it was a terrifying thing. Therefore, among commoners, there were many who feared and believed that those who had suffered such damage and had to leave their hometowns were cursed.

In other words, it meant that Yuder also had conditions that could easily instill fear in people for similar reasons.

Yuder guessed that this was probably why his grandfather couldn't properly settle in the village and ended up living in a renovated hunter's cabin located a bit further away.

"Still, my grandfather was a good hunter, lumberjack, and gatherer, so we didn't have much difficulty living. The villagers were also quite simple and kind."

His grandfather had apparently traveled around and worked in various places in his youth, so despite being a commoner, he knew how to read and write and was good with his hands. With those skills, he often helped others in need without receiving anything in return, and there were some who came to request his assistance.

"He was a good man. Now I understand why my assistant is an excellent hunter and knows about various herbs and trees as well as Her Majesty the Empress."

"I don't deserve such praise, but... Yes. As you said, he was a good man."

The daily life he had spent with his grandfather was now weathered and blurry. However, some memories still remained deeply engraved in Yuder, like traces. While Yuder was lost in thought, trying to recall those traces for the first time in a long while, Kishiar asked in a low voice,

"Was that all you heard from your grandfather about your parents?"

"Yes."

"You never felt more curious?"

"No. It was something that happened before I could even remember, so what could I do? I thought it was enough that my grandfather took me in and cared for me without any shortage."

"The same went for your birthday?"

"That's right."

The more plentiful and delicious meals his grandfather used to prepare for him around late May. The toys he made by carving wood himself. Sometimes he was curious about the world at the foot of the mountain, but he didn't feel like his current life was particularly lacking. So it was alright.

'Come to think of it... If I hadn't joined the Cavalry, I might have lived in the mountains my whole life.'

If he hadn't become an Awakener at the age when youthful curiosity was at its peak. If he hadn't wondered whether others really possessed abilities like his own, there would have been no reason to go to the capital.

"Anyway, for that reason, in the previous game, I had roughly designated May 25th as the official date. It's not very noble-like to just brush it off as the end of the month, so what can I do?"

"May 25th."

"You don't have to remember it."

"How could I not? After receiving such a wonderful gift, that wouldn't make sense."

After saying that, Kishiar tightened his grip on their clasped hands. Their bodies drew even closer together, and Yuder could feel his body heat. Lips that seemed to hold warmth, as if they were hotter than the flames emitted by the magic stone fireplace, pressed down on Yuder's forehead.

"Thank you. There must have been things you didn't want to talk about, but you told me everything."

"It doesn't matter since you were the one who asked. You can ask more if you want."

"No. This is enough for today."

Once, twice, thrice. His lips lightly touched and lifted from his forehead to his hair and to his ears, repeating the action.

"Because I've already received a gift that's far too much."

His Majesty the Emperor might be a little disappointed, but it was the best gift his brother had ever received. Whenever he heard that whispered voice, the inside of his body shivered. Yuder finally realized that Kishiar's skin, which had been cold, now held the same warmth as his lips.

As soon as he realized that, all the changes in his surroundings that he hadn't noticed until now due to being distracted by the information about Kishiar's birthday rushed into Yuder's mind like a tidal wave.

The two bodies that had almost half-overlapped without him knowing. The sensation of their intertwined fingers tickling his skin amidst the body heat pooled between them. The gaze of those red eyes that shone vividly even between the firelight and the darkness. The man's scent that enveloped his entire body tightly like a formless touch.

That scent conveyed to Yuder the deep happiness Kishiar was feeling, and at the same time, an inexplicable longing.

And along with it, a much thicker and redder desire than usual.

He wanted him.

"..."

When he felt that, the inside of his stomach fluttered. As if a fire had been lit on the wick soaked in oil in the deepest part of his being, a hot sensation came over him.

Why hadn't he noticed it until now? Within the dangerous tension that had been pulled in an instant, Yuder looked at the man's eyes again. He was smiling a little awkwardly.

"Oh my. I've been caught."

"...Since when have you been in that state?"

"To be honest, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I'm always in this state, but... To be more honest, well. It was probably from the moment you were too lovely?"

When was that supposed to be?

Even after hearing the answer, he had no idea. While he was thinking that, the fingers that dug preciously into his hair that had flowed down to his cheeks and ears kept moving without stopping.

"Hmm... But it's alright. I'll go back now, so don't worry."

"Your hands don't seem to want to, Commander."

"I apologize. That fellow is currently enchanted by you and not easily controlled."

Kishiar laughed softly and slowly stopped his hands. After taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, much of the heat that had been deepening in his eyes until just now had disappeared.

"I can't do more than this since I have to leave early tomorrow. So, sleep well."

Yuder grabbed the man's hand as he tried to get up. Kishiar turned his head. Yuder gazed at the face reflected in the still-burning magic stone fireplace, cleared his throat lightly, and slowly opened his mouth.

"I don't like it."

"..."

"It's still a long way until morning. So..."

"..."

"Just stay until that fireplace burns out completely."

Kishiar's hand twitched. He lowered his eyes and lifted the corners of his lips as he remained silent.

"Are you sure? You might have a hard time tomorrow."

"What does it matter?"

Yuder tightened his grip so that he couldn't escape. The man slowly started to be drawn back in.

"The one who just lit a fire in me leaving like that, I dislike it even more."