"Do you miss your hometown, Yuder?"
Kishiar, as usual, wore a gentle smile.
Yuder didn't attach much significance to the question. However, Gakane, who was sitting next to him, was incessantly shifting his expressions. He seemed to believe that the commander was scolding Yuder indirectly.
'Kishiar is not the type to do that. He's indeed a bit eccentric, but….'
Ah, another unnecessary thought. Yuder shook his head and briefly replied, "No."
"As you said, I have no family, and no lingering regrets, so I do not miss it. I only feel that I should go back someday to tidy up, as I left without doing so, not knowing I would be accepted into the Cavalry."
"That's a valid point. I hadn't considered it. After we successfully complete this mission, I'll have to give everyone a few days of leave."
At Kishiar's smooth response, Gakane's eyes widened in surprise.
Not only was Yuder's audacity to converse so casually with the commander, who held a high noble title, shocking, but so was Kishiar's easygoing nature. He did not reprimand Yuder for his insolence and even casually mentioned future plans.
"Um… Commander, is that okay?"
"What do you mean?"
Gakane cautiously composed himself and posed the question.
"Deciding on something like a sudden leave for everyone..."
"Of course, it's okay. I have the discretion to make such decisions. I won't change my mind, so Gakane, you too should start planning ahead."
Kishiar gave a slight wink. Gakane had always thought of Kishiar as a person of great dignity, his conduct fitting his imperial lineage. However, seeing Kishiar's casual demeanor, all thoughts disappeared from Gakane's mind due to shock.
"I'll... I'll go get some water."
Yuder watched Gakane rise shakily and disappear, guessing the kind of shock he must be feeling.
Those who judged Kishiar by his outward appearance were bound to be shocked by the discrepancy with his true character. Yuder had once been the same.
On the surface, Kishiar might appear as a dignified commander with a handsome face, reflecting his divine lineage, but that was not all there was to Kishiar La Orr.
He was an imperial family member, who never married and maintained an insignificant noble title until his death. He was a womanizer, indiscriminately sowing seeds of scandal with countless individuals.
Now, the newly formed Cavalry needed to establish discipline, so he maintained a calm demeanor externally. However, once you peeled back one layer of his mask, he casually winked at his subordinates. That was another side of Kishiar.
The Cavalry members would probably have to get used to this aspect of his.
'Come to think of it… Now that Gakane is gone, this is the only time I can speak privately with Kishiar?'
Despite the lapse in conversation, Kishiar remained seated next to Yuder. After hesitating for a moment, Yuder opened his mouth.
"May I ask you something?"
"Only if it wasn't about disappointment in my unfitting behavior as a leader."
Kishiar responded as if he had been waiting. Yuder sighed lightly and shook his head. Could a mere member dare to do so?
"Of course not."
"Really? You, Yuder, seemed like someone who could."
What did he mean by someone who could? But Yuder knew well that digging into that here would only waste time.
Pointlessly making unnecessary comments to break down the opponent's walls and guess their intentions was one of the things Kishiar used to do well in the past.
"Fine. If not, then what are you trying to say?"
"Do you know that among the southern army soldiers who have stayed here for two years guarding the Red Stone, there are unusually many Awakeners?"
As there wasn't much time, he went straight to the point.
"From what I heard from the soldier who guided us yesterday, the ratio was significantly higher than expected. If you add them all up, there are dozens of Awakeners in these mountains."
If Kishiar had asked why he suddenly mentioned this, it would have been quite a conundrum as to where to begin the explanation. However, fortunately, he seemed to understand right away what Yuder intended to say.
His playful red eyes immediately became serious.
"...I have never received such a report."
"I heard they were mostly ordinary soldiers."
"And they didn't even apply to the Cavalry."
Why didn't they apply to the Cavalry, why didn't anyone think to report it as an unusual occurrence when there were so many Awakeners, how much had Kishiar realized?
Yuder quietly waited for his response.
"If it's true, then we need an investigation. Originally, the military is not something I can interfere with, but if what you say is true, this is not a normal situation. The words you just said, they are based on the truth, right?"
"Of course."
Kishiar's reaction was more favorable than Yuder had expected. With a calm face, Yuder nodded. It was something that would come out sooner or later if they investigated anyway.
Kishiar, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, stroking his chin, turned his gaze with a soft chuckle as if he had finished sorting things out.
"Well, I didn't expect that the serious thing you wanted to talk about with such a grave face was this."
"..."
"I heard you're not particularly interested in your comrades, but it seems you're quite interested in the Awakeners?"
"I..."
What should he answer here to smoothly move on and establish a not-so-bad relationship with Kishiar in the future? Underneath his emotionless face, Yuder was having a fierce internal debate.
"It's not that I'm interested... I just thought it could be dangerous. Since you, the leader, are the one commanding us, I thought it would be best to tell you about matters related to the Awakeners."
"Dangerous... Unmanaged Awakeners gathered in one organization, it could be."
It was a fundamental answer, so it probably didn't feel strange. Kishiar murmured lowly and slowly nodded.
"Interesting. It's curious that so many Awakeners appeared in this one place. I wonder if it's because of the Red Stone."
He turned his gaze towards Yuder as if contemplating something.
"What do you think?"
Yuder maintained a moment of silence. What should he respond? Would it be better to feign ignorance and take a step back in this situation? However, it was him who had brought up a matter that a normal, commoner-originated awakened individual wouldn't even care about to Kishiar.
'He seems to want to know how far I've thought.'
In that case, he could just show him. After all, Kishiar would have already speculated about what Yuder could answer.
Yuder slowly opened his mouth.
"When the Red Stone fell, its emitted power caused awakenings across the entire continent. If such a powerful force can do that, isn't it not coincidental that many awakened individuals would come from among those who stayed closer to it for a longer period?"
"Right. I also think the same."
Kishiar smiled like a teacher who had finally heard the answer he was seeking.
"However, those who haven't reported to me about the unique awakening ratio among the soldiers here even after two years since the stone fell probably didn't think that way. You've quickly noticed this anomaly and even reported it to me, which is a matter they might have considered insignificant. I admire your ability. Is that observational and judgmental ability part of your awakened ability?"
"...No, you're flattering me."
"It's not flattery. It's sincere."
With a single sentence, Kishiar had rated all the soldiers here, including General Gino, as inferior to Yuder. As Yuder hesitated about how to respond, Kishiar's red eyes sparkled like a clever beast, without a hint of his usual languor.
"Hmm. Indeed."
"Yes?"
"I proposed before that we should get to know each other better. Would you seriously consider it? I promise you won't be disappointed."
His voice was sweet, more like throwing a charm towards someone he liked rather than talking to a subordinate. Any ordinary person would have blushed at such words, but Yuder, on the contrary, became calmer.
"I'm already your subordinate, Captain. You've been more than generous with me. I'm not sure what you mean by getting closer here, but…"
"Oh? So, you're going to dodge it this time?"
Kishiar grinned, pulling up the corners of his mouth.
"Well, fine. I'm the type who feels more accomplished when I break down a higher wall."
A high wall. It was not an expression that someone of imperial lineage would use to a commoner.
"Just as I said, you're already my subordinate, so let's take a long-term view."
That was a declaration that he wouldn't give up on his intention. As Yuder's eyes twitched, Kishiar stood up from his seat. It seemed he was about to set off again.
"Yuder Aile. If you notice any strange circumstances in the future, feel free to report them to me anytime. If I'm not around and you meet my deputy or other people, feel free to talk to them as you would to me. I'll let them know."
"…Understood."
For a single conversation, it was a remarkable achievement. It was also a gesture that proved Kishiar had a significant interest in Yuder's mind and abilities.
'He's certainly no ordinary man.'
