Chapter 708
"I don't know how true my speculation is yet. But it's something I can never forgive."
Kanna clenched her fist.
"That's why I asked for these people to be declared dead. That must be what the one who ordered to bite the tongue wanted. If we do as they wished, won't they come out of hiding?"
"I see, so that was it."
After Langbarton and Ella barely survived biting their tongues, the Cavalry publicly announced the incident, but with a twist: they reported that the two had died. Gakane recalled hearing about several communications between the three Deputy Commanders and the Sun Palace before this announcement was made.
Gakane, one of Cavalry's most skilled members, was not a Deputy Commander. He lacked the authority to decide or even give an opinion on such major matters and didn't know why the announcement differed from the truth until now.
'Well, I had thought our Deputy Commanders had their reasons.'
Kanna, Ever, and Steiber had evolved into responsible leaders since their initial appointment. He believed they must have had a valid reason for their decision, one even the Emperor had approved.
With this confirmation, he felt reassured.
"It was troubling how well those people were hiding, making it hard to follow them. Thanks to you, Kanna, we might soon see results. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Remember how I once used my abilities to read from the items you and Hinn brought from their lodging? Only those with abilities useful for hiding remain by the Sage's side now. It's naturally tough, but you, Gakane, have managed to track Nahan's whereabouts following His Majesty's command."
Emperor Keilusa had tasked Gakane and intelligence members with this critical mission. With the help of Kanna and other skilled members of the Cavalry, Gakane successfully guessed the direction Nahan had headed.
"Yes... He left the capital without looking back and went south."
Nahan had disappeared through the capital's southern gate. Though it was early to conclude, Gakane felt he must have headed to the southern region.
"Having fully broken with the Sage, Nahan must feel the need to gather his supporters and declare independence. With the western base gone, he likely headed to the central or southern base."
"If he went to the southern base, Yuder and the Commander might soon find him. That would be good."
"Exactly. Nahan won't escape if Yuder catches him, especially since he seemed unwell."
Kanna and Gakane both thought of the last of their fellow initiate, a friend whose whereabouts never worried them, bringing a slight smile to their faces.
"Let's head back now."
"Yes."
"Ah, you're leaving already? Take care on your way back, and I hope to see you again soon."
"Yes, Priest. Don't overdo it yourself and return to the base early!"
After exchanging farewells with Lusan, they returned to their base, only to encounter an unexpected message.
"Gakane! Kanna! Both of you are here! There's just been a message from the Sun Palace."
Ever, who usually had a calm demeanor, approached them with a rare intensity in her expression.
"A message? What about...?"
To Gakane's bewildered reply, Ever held up two fingers.
"There are two important pieces of news. The first is about an incident in Charloin, near the southern branch of the Cavalry, where the Second Prince of the Herne Duchy was murdered by an Awakener. Consequently, the Cavalry is now under significant suspicion."
"Could it be that Nahan has already reached there?"
Kanna asked with a grave expression, to which Ever shook her head.
"That's impossible. Hosanna, who can teleport, is right here with us."
"Still..."
"Regardless, we can't just sit back and trust that the Commander will handle everything. We must be ready to support the south at a moment's notice. That's an order."
"Ah... What's the second piece of news?"
Gakane inquired, prompting Ever to turn towards him.
"The second piece is that Baron Renbow, the noble under surveillance, is currently heading towards the outskirts of Fourth Wall District. His Majesty believes that the Sage might appear where this noble is. We have been ordered to select members skilled in stealth and disguise to follow him."
"Ah, then I shall leave immediately!"
Despite having just returned from work, Gakane turned to leave without a word of complaint.
"Hold on, Gakane. Haven't you forgotten that both the Sage and Nahan's sides have seen your face before?"
"...Ah."
Gakane halted abruptly. Watching his faltering steps, Ever smiled slightly.
"No, I don't mean you shouldn't go. Of course, we sought you out for a reason. Your Shadow Clone is an amazing ability, after all. But this time, you mustn't take the forefront. Support the others discreetly with your Shadow Clone. Can you do that?"
"Of course! But who else will be going...?"
"Hinn and Finn, who haven't been exposed yet, and those who recently passed the second recruitment and are about to become official members. Hinn and Finn are already waiting outside, and the others are..."
As she trailed off, her gaze shifted towards two figures who emerged.
"Hello..."
"It seems like it's been a while since we last met, both of you."
A slender, fair-faced young man with a delicate smile, Revlin Shand Apeto, stood beside his companion, a young man with intelligent eyes and golden-red hair, Pruelle Van Tain. These two, after staying with the Cavalry as temporary members following a series of events, were among the first to submit their official applications and pass the tests in the second recruitment. Though the recruitment process wasn't over, they were effectively official members now.
"We've heard the story. There are many leisure spots in the outskirts of Fourth Wall District frequented by nobles. Deputy Commander Ever suggested that we would be suitable for naturally blending in and identifying any suspicious individuals, so we immediately agreed."
Pruelle said with a smile, explaining their involvement.
"So... Are the five of us going?"
"No. We'll also take Nipollen, since we need to find the Awakener. Technically, I'm just going as Nipollen's guardian."
Pruelle joked, displaying a humility unexpected from the first son of the Tain family, known for his exceptional transformation ability.
"But will it be okay with so many of us? If there are too many people..."
Kanna, concerned for Nipollen, who spends most of his days as a cat due to his fear of people, questioned. Pruelle cheerfully reassured her.
"Oh, certainly. The lake and the forest walk are lush, so it shouldn't be too uncomfortable for Nipollen. And Priscilla... Hmm. With a bit of support from my sister, I plan to officially visit the private space of the Tain family, which is nearby. That's why I judged it to be fine."
Pruelle, after renouncing his rights as the heir to the family, had officially cut off ties to some extent and joined the Cavalry. However, he still kept in close contact with his siblings. A down-to-earth young man, who introduced himself to everyone simply as Elle, without any attachment to his lineage or surname, had decided to rely on his sister's help after a long time, a choice made to ensure the utmost safety of his youngest sibling, Nipollen.
"Ah... I see. I was worried over nothing."
"Not at all. You don't know how much both Nipollen and I are truly grateful for your constant concern, Deputy Commander Kanna. And to you as well, Deputy Commander Ever."
"Me?"
"Nippy really loved the cushion you made last time."
"Ah..."
Even in a serious situation, the mood suddenly became very warm. Pruelle, having expressed his gratitude to Ever, made a pleasantly happy face and gestured to Gakane.
"Shall we go then?"
—---
Yuder soon found the mansion Kishiar had mentioned. It was nothing less than the embodiment of a traditional noble family's mansion, appearing quite ordinary.
The people passing by seemed utterly peaceful, making him wonder how he would ever locate Nathan Zuckerman amidst them. However, Yuder successfully found his counterpart without much difficulty.
It was because Nathan Zuckerman had stealthily approached him from behind in the blink of an eye.
"You've arrived."
Nathan Zuckerman, in his inconspicuous attire, gestured to Yuder.
"Follow me," he beckoned, leading the way to a tree near the back door of the mansion.
[BL] Bermuda
Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.
Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.
"Since when have you been watching me?"
Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.
"From the very beginning."
[BL] The Mist (Same author as Turning)
In the autumn of his 18th year, after winning the high school kendo championship finals, an unexpected accident occurred.
Due to that incident, Kang Mu-heon lost one of his legs, his closest friend, and his promising future. He closed off his heart and shut himself away alone.
A few years later, the world's first real virtual reality game <THE MIST> was announced, where even those with physical disabilities could play in healthy bodies.
By chance, Kang Mu-heon encountered it and began a new life as the mage Kapros, facing unexpected meetings, reunions, and days of change....
***
"Why was someone like you born into this world to make me so miserable? Do you understand when I say it like this?! You were born with talent for the sword, a bright personality, everything - you must have been laughing at me always lagging behind! Did you even know how pathetic I felt because of your stupid hypocrisy? A genius? What does any of that matter!"
Seung-jo's cries stabbed at his heart, wailing as if he were crying even though he wasn't, but there was no time to think further. He quickly clutched my stomach, got up, and ran towards him.
He looked surprised for a moment, but he was desperate.
Just as the car was about to reach us, he shoved Seung-jo hard. Right after Seung-jo fell and rolled away with wide, startled eyes—
Screech!
Bang! With an impact that felt like his whole body was being shattered, he flew through the air.
And in that brief yet long moment of floating in space, he remembered his reflection in Seung-jo's eyes for the last time.......
***
[ Then in THE MIST, may you become the master of infinite possibilities. ]
Whoosh!
When his vision returned after everything went white, he was standing in the middle of a bustling town. Amidst the clamor, countless people were busily going about their business here and there.
He looked down at himself, standing dazed and wearing clothes of unknown origin. When he touched the sleeve, he felt the texture of fabric as real as reality. His hair felt the same, and even when he touched the wall of a nearby house, he could clearly feel the solid, cold surface.
Is this... VT?
It seemed like a joke. It truly felt as if he had come to another world and was touching everything.
As he stood there unable to think due to the shock, he suddenly remembered the biggest reason he had decided to play this game, and snapped back to attention. His two legs were still as they had been when he first stood.
'Can I really walk?'
He first stepped out with his left foot, then very slowly put strength into his heavy right foot. It felt like cold sweat was running down his spine.
And then,
He lifted it,
Moved it,
And took another step to touch the ground again.
So easily. As if there had never been any problem with this leg from the beginning.
"Ah..."
At that moment, something that was neither joy nor emotion shot up his spine. Suddenly feeling a lump in his throat, he lowered his head and leaned against the wall. His right foot, bearing his weight, was doing its job perfectly.
"..."
Holding back the tightness in his throat, he took another step.
It didn't hurt. It wasn't heavy. His leg was no longer a useless piece of wood that ached.
Damn it, to be able to walk so easily like this.
To be able to run so easily like this.
He had wished even in his dreams for the day to come when he could walk and run like this again.
And so he walked again, kept walking, slowly getting faster, until finally he started running like a madman through the entire town.
***
"Kap. ...There seems to be a misunderstanding. That's not what I meant."
Just as he was thinking he should throw a punch, Yu-wan sighed with a troubled look and said.
A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding when he said with his own mouth that he didn't think of me as a friend?
"I didn't expect to receive such a question suddenly, so my explanation was probably too brief. Let me rephrase."
Yu-wan reached out his hand, his face completely changed from before - intense yet resolute - as he stared at him. As he didn't reject the hand suddenly approaching his face and kept his gaze fixed, his cool large hand touched his cheek completely.
A shiver ran down his spine at that moment.
"I'm sorry to say this to you, but I don't see you only as a friend. ...This is the complete answer."
Check out the new project 2:
[BL] Cloudless Sky
Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.
"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."
In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.
"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."
And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.
"For now, until then, let's sleep..."
As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.
'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'