One of the main reasons Yuder had initially paid little mind to the news that a special forces unit was being formed was because he knew the military's morale significantly deteriorated.
The soldiers in front of him lacked confidence in their strength and couldn't imagine a future better than their current circumstances.
How could such people have possibly come together to form a special unit? Could it have been that someone with power secretly helped them establish it by offering a sweet reward? Perhaps someone like the emperor who had promised glory to the special forces while driving Yuder towards death.
Yuder opened his mouth, looking into their eyes.
"This power can certainly be an enormous opportunity. Be sure to understand its value properly so you can grasp the opportunity when it comes. And if you need help with this matter, feel free to seek me out at any time."
"You seem to know more about this power than we do... but how are we to know who to look for?"
Emon asked with a hesitant expression. Instead of replying, Yuder picked up a metal fork that was lying on the table.
A moment later, a thin stream of water swirled above the fork, forming a beautiful spiral. Upon witnessing this, Emon and Sunz's eyes widened in astonishment.
"I am Yuder of the Cavalry."
Yuder purposely didn't mention his rank. It was likely to win him more favor from them.
"I've only been in the Cavalry for a few months myself. I'm not much different from you all. However, I believe in the future that this power can bring about. I hope that you too will come to understand its true value."
That was all. There were no ulterior motives. By stating this upfront, he preemptively eliminated any potential for misinterpretation.
Yuder stood up, looking at Sunz and Emon, who had stunned expressions. He had seen all he needed to see. It was time to leave.
"Thank you for showing me around the village, Sunz. I'll be on my way now."
"Ah..."
Yuder turned his back before Sunz could speak. Young soldiers were laughing raucously, completely oblivious to what had transpired at the corner table.
Even after he had left, the two men behind him sat in silence for a long time, unable to utter a word.
The next day, the Cavalry, together with the Knights of Peletta, all left their lodgings at dawn. Kishiar was waiting for them in front of the base they had seen last night, alongside General Gino.
"I'm not sure if you all managed to get a good rest last night."
Despite the fact that he had said he was going to drink with General Gino, Kishiar looked completely unweary.
"As I mentioned yesterday, we will start retrieving the Red Stone from today. For today, we will identify the location of the stone and assess the extent to which we can approach it, and gather information."
Yesterday, General Gino had said that a strange energy was emanating from the Red Stone, making it difficult for ordinary people to even approach it.
However, people who were skilled enough to use Aura, particularly General Gino, could approach it quite closely. The Cavalry could not predict how they would perceive this.
"If during the journey, anyone feels it's too difficult to approach due to the strange phenomena caused by the stone, they should stop walking and report to me before starting their descent. There is no shame in descending. That, too, will be helpful in gathering information."
'Well, with General Gino, the Swordmaster, by our side, we wouldn't need to worry about the nuisances.'
Yuder reinterpreted Kishiar's words from his own perspective. Kishiar's rhetorical skills, able to sugarcoat any message, were still amazing.
If Yuder had been in that position, he would have bluntly told the nuisances to immediately descend and stay out of the way.
'If they get into trouble while descending, or after they have descended, I would have threatened them, saying I won't let them off easily.'
"Now, let's move."
Despite many people's concerns, Kishiar said he would lead the way. He did say that he would keep General Gino right behind him, but the Pelleta Knights, who had the duty to protect him, showed clear signs of anxiety. Yuder, knowing Kishiar's ability, was not very worried.
'Rather... I should find the right moment to say I want to talk, but I wonder when that would be.'
Kishiar moved forward without hesitation, as if he knew the path ahead. His steps were light, like those of a man out for a stroll. If it weren't for the divine sword hanging at his waist, one might truly believe it.
Not long after they began walking, the traces of human footsteps gradually disappeared. The birds that had been chirping from the trees also became invisible, leaving only the dense forest and the occasional sound of the wind.
'So far, I don't feel anything unusual.'
Yuder was keenly observing the aura surrounding them as he moved.
The steep uphill began, but the Cavalry, who had undergone rigorous training, ascended the mountain without showing any signs of fatigue. Yuder felt as if he was returning home, which was quite invigorating.
'After all, having grown up in the same mountain range, it's not an exaggeration to say that I've returned home.'
The clear and majestic energy of the Airic Mountain Range, which he hadn't walked in a long time, seemed to welcome Yuder.
To the Yuder of eleven years ago, it would have been a few months since he last visited, but the current Yuder, who had lived and died without setting foot in his hometown for a very long time, was experiencing this feeling after a long time.
Before joining the cavalry, he would wander these mountains alone, chopping wood and digging up medicinal herbs. He spent his days endlessly repeating the cycle of wandering all day and returning home to rest before sunset. He never felt lonely living alone. Probably.
Others asked how he could live alone in a mountain teeming with monsters and wild beasts, but Yuder never found the mountain scary. It must have been his natural disposition.
Even though he was much more naive than he is now, the essence of Yuder back then wasn't much different from the present.
'A creepy human who only knows himself, ignorant of emotions.'
Yuder recalled the words others used to describe him during his youth.
Would those who couldn't even meet his gaze out of fear back then say the same about the current Cavalry and Yuder?
"There's a spring over there. We'll take a short break."
About two hours into their silent trek up the mountain trail, Kishiar gestured towards a spot and declared it was time for a rest. As he had indicated, there was a spring up ahead, seemingly man-made.
A man-made spring with no signs of recent human activity. It was evidence that until two years ago before the Red Stone fell, humans had relatively free access to this area.
The party members each found a rock or tree stump to sit on and rest. Some approached the spring to drink water. Yuder watched Kanna chatting with the Eldore siblings, thinking that Kanna and Hinn had become quite close since they had shared the same accommodations the night before.
Kishiar was discussing something with General Gino, a map that they'd taken out from their belongings in hand. Would there be an opportunity for a personal conversation with him until they retrieved the Red Stone and returned? If no such opportunity arose, Yuder wondered if he might just have to approach him directly.
"Yuder."
Just then, Gakane sat down next to Yuder. Despite the fast-paced climb up the mountain, Gakane looked perfectly fine, without a single drop of sweat on him.
"Feeling anything yet?"
"No."
"Me neither. Seems like everyone is fine so far."
Could the Red Stone really be up there? Gakane murmured, looking up at the sky. It was a cloudless, clear day.
"Where did you live? Is it far from here?"
"Hmm... It would probably take a few days to get there."
"That's quite far. It would have been nice to drop by if it was closer, after we finish our business."
Yuder studied Gakane's regretful face, trying to understand his intention. Was it just an extension of him inviting Yuder to visit where he lived?
Yuder himself didn't particularly want to visit the place he used to live, so he found Gakane's words hard to understand. If he were to take a vacation, he could visit, but only to tidy up the house.
In the past, when he became a Cavalry Commander, he had tidied up his original house and spent his whole life in the barracks. He had no longing for the house where he used to live.
"There's not much... to see there."
"But it's where you lived. Don't you want to go back and see it, even for a little while?"
What would Gakane think if he said no here? Yuder was lost in thought and only noticed the approaching presence behind them later than usual.
"Go back where?"
"Commander."
As Gakane startled and tried to rise from his seat, Kishiar raised his hand to stop him. He seemed to have finished his conversation with General Gino and was now alone.
"Did you have other business besides the mission?"
"No, no."
Gakane seemed rather intimidated by Kishiar, their commander. Yuder saw him looking for help and calmly opened his mouth.
"My hometown is around here."
"Hmm. Your hometown?"
Interest flickered in Kishiar's red eyes.
"I see. So it's relatively close, then?"
"Not exactly. The Airic Mountains are quite vast."
"So you were discussing visiting it if it were nearby."
Finally, Kishiar seemed to piece together the conversation that had been going on between Gakane and Yuder.
"Yes."
"I see... Yuder. I remember you didn't have a family, do you miss your hometown?"
