"Could one of you fetch the Duke?”
When the knight, who had taken the lead in guiding and cooking, said so, a slight sense of guilt grew in people's hearts. As if expecting this, Yuder heaved a small sigh under their gazes and rose from his seat.
'Yes, I suppose it would be burdensome for anyone to meet with a high-ranking individual alone. I understand.'
Even Yuder, who had been the deputy commander assisting Kishiar and later lived for years in a high-ranking position, was not eager for such a situation. How much more burdensome would it be for the others?
Nevertheless, he decided it was better for him, who had returned after living about ten more years, to act for these younger ones with promising futures.
"...Commander."
As the knights said, Kishiar was standing next to the horse, which was tied to a tree near the creek, not far from the dining area.
Even though he was standing in a dark place, he looked strangely bright, as if surrounded by light.
'I remember that was some sort of lineage effect... but I can't remember.'
"It's time for you to eat."
"Ah, has it come to that already?"
Kishiar turned around.
"You came all the way here alone. It seems you are the most trusted among the ten."
"That's not quite the case."
They all must have quickly noticed that there was no better person to put off troublesome tasks than someone who wouldn't be scared no matter where he was placed.
People quickly recognized those who provided an opportunity to hide behind them.
Yuder walked ahead without looking back, a few steps in front of Kishiar. It was proper etiquette to either walk ahead of or behind a superior, so Yuder thought it would be better to walk where Kishiar couldn't see him.
"When your name was called out earlier..."
However, if words came from behind, it was ultimately futile. Yuder stopped his silent walk.
"You looked incredibly surprised. Did you really not anticipate it? That I would call your name."
"...My ability is not to read the future."
He simply remembered what had happened in the future. But this time, everything that had happened then had changed. How could he not be surprised?
Even so, he hadn't expected Kishiar to notice and bring it up when they were alone.
"Right, of course. But it was quite refreshing to see such an expression. It was interesting."
"...Is that so? Should I say I'm glad to have entertained you, Commander?"
Yuder's voice was icily calm. His tone was polite, but the meaning behind his words was the exact opposite. There was no one here who did not understand that.
"Hahaha."
Kishiar laughed.
"So, are you discontented with following me? If you want to go back, you can go back right now."
"I will fulfill my duty."
Yuder answered as succinctly as possible. Whether he liked Kishiar or not, turning back from here was absolutely not an option. He had a goal to protect Kishiar, and the Red Stone, with his own hands.
"You're really fearless. That's why you're interesting."
"..."
Without responding, Yuder turned his body and began walking again.
"Yuder Aile."
"..."
"I like you. Would you consider opening up to me and getting closer?"
Yuder halted for the second time. He turned around to face an inscrutable smile.
'Why is he doing this?'
Had this happened before? No, they had never engaged in a mission together before, making any comparison impossible. Yuder, in a state of slight confusion, looked at him and opened his mouth.
"...I have been trying to respect you, Commander, with all my heart. If that was not enough..."
"I know. That's not what I'm talking about."
"I apologize, but my social skills are a bit lacking since I have lived alone in the mountains for so long. If I have misunderstood something..."
Inwardly, Yuder tried to understand Kishiar's intentions while outwardly making excuses. Kishiar raised a corner of his mouth in a grin.
"So you're saying no."
"..."
"Alright, I understand."
"Commander! Over here!"
Before Yuder could respond, a knight not far from them shouted in their direction. Yuder had to move towards the group, missing his opportunity to speak to Kishiar.
Two days later, Kishiar maintained his usual demeanor until they reached the location of the Airic mountain range where the Red Stone had fallen.
He didn't engage in personal conversation, only opening his mouth to manage the interactions between the knights from Peletta and the Cavalry members.
Unlike the Imperial Knights, the knights from Peletta showed no hostility towards the Cavalry members. It was impossible to know what they were thinking internally, but outwardly their behavior was impeccable.
The Cavalry members assumed this was because their master Kishiar La Orr was an Awakener, but Yuder thought differently.
'If it was just because of that, they wouldn't behave so impeccably.'
The Peletta Knights were the first group Kishiar La Orr created after receiving his title. Consequently, they were also the first to be disbanded after his death.
'They are very blindly loyal to their master.'
Even after only three days together, it was clear how they felt about Kishiar. To them, Duke Kishiar La Orr was not just a master but a true 'Lord' deserving of all respect.
How could such blindly loyal men have agreed to disband without any action when Kishiar died in the past?
'Well, I can't know what happened during those two years, even though they are showing loyalty now.'
Regardless, there would be no disbandment due to their master's death this time.
"Over there! I see the flag of the stationed army."
At that moment, one of the Peletta knights at the front shouted loudly. As he said, not far away, a flag was tied high on a tree, fluttering in the wind. It was a red background with a golden lion, the imperial flag used by the Orr Empire's army.
"We will be arriving soon, please slow down."
Whistles were heard here and there. Yuder too blew his whistle, signaling his Misty Wind Horse to slow down.
The Misty Wind Horse was indeed an extraordinary mode of transportation. Its speed was incomparable to that of a living horse and its tireless endurance was impressive. But its most astounding ability was its capacity to bound forth at great strides, without making a sound, and without causing much strain to its rider.
Despite having ridden almost nonstop for three days, minus time for meals and sleep, fatigue was barely visible on the faces of the travelers, a testament to the horse's exceptional ability.
Had they traveled on real horses or in carriages, they would not only have not arrived yet, but exhaustion would have been visibly etched on their faces.
The group followed the guide knight, slowly approaching the entrance to the temporary imperial army base set up at the foot of the mountain range. Before long, a barricade constructed from large logs and soldiers standing guard with spears in hand came into view.
"Identify yourselves. State your affiliation and purpose!"
"We come under the Emperor's command. In our company is the brother of His Imperial Majesty Duke Kishiar La Orr, the commander of the Cavalry and the master of the Peletta Knights."
At the knight's booming voice, the soldiers immediately straightened their stances.
"Please wait a moment. We have relayed the message and someone will soon come to greet you!"
Yuder felt his Misty Wind Horse snorting out a cold breath with a purr. Each time the horse's mist-like mane, which disappeared like smoke, touched his skin, he felt a chill as if touched by ice.
As a life form not born naturally, his body instinctively rejected it. Because of this, he had avoided riding these horses unless absolutely necessary in the past.
'I can tolerate it, but it certainly doesn't feel good.'
Yuder hoped for the arrival of those who were supposed to greet them so he could dismount from the horse.
"Your Grace, welcome. We have been awaiting your arrival since we received the order."
Finally, people appeared from within. Leading several armored soldiers was a middle-aged man with a sharp demeanor who immediately saluted upon seeing Kishiar.
'...Isn't that man the Southern Army's General, Count Gino Bordelli?'
For a moment, Yuder doubted his eyes. It was a familiar face. Everyone knew that after the Red Stone fell, the army sent by the Emperor was guarding the area thoroughly, but he had never thought that a man of the general's rank would be here in person. Even the Yuder of the past would not have known this fact.
Gino Bordelli was not wearing armor like the other soldiers. He only wore a military uniform with a gold lion brooch, bestowed by the Emperor, on his shoulder and a blue cape over it. But the aura he exuded was heavier and more intense than anyone else present.
At first glance, he appeared to be in his forties, but Yuder knew that in reality, he was at least twenty years older than he looked.
