Chapter 369

In the darkness, a swift exchange of attacks left a few among the members slightly wounded, but Kishiar was untouched, not even a crease in his clothing. The members caught their breath at the sight of a wall, collapsed as though bent by a sword, in a very neat ruin to the point where the roof was visible. It was clear to anyone who looked that it was Kishiar's doing.

Although he simply stood there and did nothing, he felt somehow different than usual. Just holding his sword wrapped in blue sword energy and suppressing a smile, no one dared approach him. Kishiar, gazing indifferently at the night sky through the gap of the broken wall in the silence, withdrew the energy from his sword and sheathed it a moment later. Only then did the chill that had been lingering around him vanish as if it were a lie.

"Is everyone safe?"

"Yes!"

Kishiar's cool gaze moved from the blood scattered on the ground to his own hand. He sensed that one more person had been caught besides Graham Willhem, but after the smoke cleared, no one was there.

Kishiar recalled the teleporter from the Star of Nagran that his assistant had met at the Apeto Duke's mansion. It appeared that the young man from the South was here.

"It's unfortunate, but... I'll have to postpone returning the favor for putting my assistant in prison."

The members looked outside just in case, but naturally, there was no sign of the escapees. Kishiar handed over the limp Graham Willhem to the members and ordered them to clean up the surroundings. Shortly after, Ever and other members who had finished searching the mansion joined, and Nathan Zuckerman arrived leading the Knights.

Except for two servants who had luckily hidden and survived, everyone who had stayed in the mansion was killed or gravely injured by Ershi's hand. Graham Willhem, who woke up in Baron Willhem's house, pleaded for his life with half his mind gone. The Baron could no longer deny who had killed one of his siblings and left another in such a state.

"If they hadn't insisted on killing everyone in the mansion, we might not have been able to rescue Graham."

However, that terrible vengefulness had tripped them up, and the Cavalry could not miss the opportunity.

After hearing Kishiar's entire story, Yuder fell into thought for a moment.

"If you heard the name Hosanna, it seems certain that the Awakener with teleporting ability was there. I must ask Robel about it too."

"There's quite a bit I'd like to ask him as well. But let's rest today and do that tomorrow."

It was a gentle but firm voice. Yuder, who had intended to ask Robel immediately, agreed to wait.

"Did Graham Willhem say anything to them?"

"He hadn't come to his senses when I left. We'll know soon when we go back. Baron Willhem formally asked for our help this morning."

Of course, he only asked for help in capturing those who were disturbing Tainu, keeping his lips sealed about the secret trade. But that alone had already achieved the goal.

"My assistant, alone in the cold place, must be waiting for me anxiously now since I said I would listen to the story in detail after bringing him back."

Kishiar said, smiling, and his face did not show any signs of fatigue.

Many people were out in front of the returning Baron Willhem's mansion. The Cavalry members who came out to greet Yuder, Enon and Lusan, Nathan Zuckerman and the Peletta Knights, and Pruelle, holding a cat. Funnily enough, among them, the homeowner, Baron Willhem, seemed the most out of place.

With a very uncomfortable face, Baron Willhem, who had been enduring, quickly approached Yuder and opened his mouth just as Yuder landed.

"Thanks to the information provided by Sir Aile, I've heard that my brother Graham was able to escape the hands of the lawless. I also heard that you had a hard time during the investigation due to a small misunderstanding yesterday."

"Yes."

"Despite my orders to investigate courteously, Knight Commander Phil and the Knights did not listen to me. I plan to speak directly to them, so please calm your mind. I also hope that you will help us with your abilities in the future. If you need anything, just say it."

Whether disgusted by his sudden change of attitude, Finn Eldore, who was standing in the back, secretly made a retching gesture. Having seen men like Baron Willhem in his previous life more than once, Yuder simply reacted calmly.

"Then, Your Highness, I will visit you again soon."

After the Baron disappeared, Pruelle, who was holding a cat, came up and congratulated him.

"Congratulations on coming back, Sir Aile. How do you feel?"

"Thanks, I'm fine."

"I'm glad I could help. When I asked if it was alright to go out to greet you in the presence of Duke Peletta, he graciously allowed it."

So far, Pruelle had maintained the official stance that he had only had personal meetings with Kishiar, who had found the cat for him. The fact that he was an Awakener, the identity of the cat he had brought, and other details remained a secret known only to Kishiar and Yuder. But from today, as the Cavalry formally developed into assisting Baron Willhem and others, Kishiar seemed to intend to reveal his closeness with Pruelle a little more.

Those who knew that the first prince had gone to the security management team for Yuder yesterday were not as guarded towards Pruelle as they were towards Baron Willhem.

In the eyes of the members who each threw a word of hardship to Yuder, there were not only simple worries and comforts but also some unfamiliar emotions. Yuder was caught among them, who came to pat his back and bump fists, and only returned to the quarters with Kishiar after a long whirl. Stopping at the sight of the magic stove, which had not been there yesterday, burning with warmth and light in front of the fireplace, Kishiar playfully asked,

"How does it feel to be back?"

"...It's only been one night."

Kishiar laughed at the trembling answer.

"It was a night like 10 years."

"Are you planning to go see the Baron right away?"

"I plan to do so after seeing my assistant change clothes and lie down."

Yuder looked down at the formal attire still weighing heavily on his shoulders.

"I just remembered... I have something to tell you."

"What? I hope nothing else happened while you were in prison."

"...It's something like that."

At Yuder's words, Kishiar's eyebrows went up slightly.

"Yesterday, while I was locked up, I kept hearing strange noises from somewhere. The soldiers thought it was the sound of wind leaking, but I thought it was strange, so I went out for a while to check."

"...You went out?"

"Of course, I wasn't caught."

Kishiar stared at Yuder, who answered calmly, for a long time, then tilted his head.

"...So, what did you find?"

"I found the mark of the Tain family engraved on the wall in the place where I judged the sound came from, and I remembered it, but I think we need to compare it with the book that Pruelle Van Tain gave us to check."

Yuder detailed the location and condition of the mark he saw, as well as the structure of the stairs. After listening quietly to the story, Kishiar sighed and replied after it all ended.

"I figured you wouldn't rest even in prison, but you've managed to get quite a lot done."

"I'm sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about? So, how's your body?"

If Yuder was going to get scolded for acting on his own, he was prepared to accept it, but he did not sense any anger from Kishiar. When Yuder replied that his health was fine, Kishiar quietly pointed to the place where the change of clothes was laid and ordered him to rest.

"The security management team has now become our new workplace, so we'll look into that part soon. First, wash and eat. I've ordered Lusan and Enon to come, so you can receive treatment as well."

"There's no need for that..."

Yuder, continuing to speak, nodded his head upon seeing Kishiar's casual smile.

"Understood."

"That's a good answer."

The man, smiling a bit more deeply, reached out and brushed Yuder's eyes. Unlike the night before, today his hand felt a little colder. His body temperature had returned to normal.

Strangely enough, it was only then that the reality of having "returned" truly sank in.

"Yuder, it seems like you've lost weight overnight. No matter the investigation, how could they be so harsh as to make you spend a night in prison... These people really have no compassion."

—---

"Why didn't you eat more than that? You usually eat more."

Yuder, squeezed between Lusan and Enon for a meal, received nagging under the name of treatment as Kishiar had foretold.

"I already ate bread in prison."

"Is that all they gave you?"

"They gave me water, too."

"... If I didn't know what kind of person you were, I would have thought you were joking and slapped you."