Right at that time, the man with black hair turned his head upon hearing a voice from afar.
At the moment their eyes met, Dagon recognized him through the terrifyingly dark pupils beyond the locks of hair.
'That man...! He's the one I encountered in the Great Sarain Forest!'
Memories of the events just before the Western Base disappeared flooded Dagon's mind. There had been a time when a strange monster appeared in the Great Sarain Forest, growing increasingly larger and undying despite the attacks.
Dagon, a member of the attacking squad tasked with protecting the village, had not known then that the creature grew with each assault, rendering all their desperate efforts futile. While debating whether to return to the village for an emergency evacuation, a mysterious Awakener suddenly appeared.
“Cease your attacks and step back. I will handle this from here.”
Leaving behind words akin to a suicide wish, the man bravely faced the monster alone, proving his words true. Ultimately, he led the monster to a cliff's edge and triumphantly defeated it.
Afterward, Dagon had to urgently close the Western Base and relocate south, hence never encountering the man again. Learning that he was a member of the Cavalry visiting the Great Sarain Forest, Dagon had shuddered at the thought that he might have been captured.
But the incredible, almost inhuman strength displayed by the Cavalry's man, making the vast Great Sarain Forest seem to respond and judge under his command, remained an unforgettable scene in Dagon's dreams.
In fact, this memory played a significant role in Dagon's decision to apply to the Cavalry, despite having the option to go elsewhere after escaping the Southern Base. He suspected that most of his fellow attacking squad who had escaped with him had chosen the same path due to that day's events.
Now, that unforgettable face stood before Dagon once more.
'Here, at the Cavalry's branch, it's natural... But now he'll know who I am...!'
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})As Dagon's body tensed in a mix of fear and uncertainty, the man's eyes narrowed. Approaching them, a palpable tension rose among Dagon and the other Awakeners.
"Did you come from the desert?"
"Ah... Yes, yes."
Dagon barely managed to respond, his voice strained and barely audible in his overwhelming anxiety.
'What if he recognizes us and orders our immediate arrest? But I haven't done anything wrong then or now... But if he discovers we're from the Star of Nagran, the others said they'd kill us all... But now that we've left there... Are we safe? What should I do?'
As these thoughts swirled chaotically, Dagon felt his limbs twitch involuntarily and cold sweat bead on his skin. Then, the black-haired man let out a short breath, a sound that might have been mistaken for laughter if not for his unchanging expression.
“You've come from quite far. Are you all together?”
"Yes... Yes."
The fact that so many Awakeners knew each other before even applying to join the Cavalry was unusual. Moreover, their collective decision to apply was even more extraordinary.
However, Dagon was too overwhelmed to contemplate further. He failed to notice the subtle emotion that flickered deep within the eyes of his interlocutor upon hearing his response.
"It seems so. Understood. The first test can be taken immediately upon application. It should not be too difficult for you, so there's no need to be overly anxious."
"Uh... Uhh, oh, yes. Not too difficult, right, yes."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Dagon blurted out a response, utterly unaware of what he was even saying.
"I would like to observe, but I have duties to attend to right now. I hope you all achieve good results."
With those words, the man, having briefly and neatly excused himself, nodded and turned away. Dagon watched him leave in a daze, finally snapping back to reality only after the man had completely disappeared.
'What?'
Did he not recognize me?! Amid a mix of relief and an inexplicable sense of loss, a Cavalry member assisting with the application process smiled and spoke.
"Wow. It's rare for Yuder to initiate conversation with someone. The fact he mentioned passing the first test so casually suggests he sees potential in your abilities."
"Yuder...? Is that his name?"
A colleague beside Dagon cautiously inquired.
"Yes. I thought you would have recognized the name... Haven't you heard? He's famous for single-handedly defeating a massive monster in the Great Sarain Forest. Yuder Aile, the Cavalry's top fighter and assistant to the Cavalry Commander. I thought he became quite well-known after receiving a title that's nearly impossible for a commoner to attain..."
"..."
Dagon's colleagues, still bewildered, finally seemed to grasp something, swallowing hard. It appeared they had just realized that the man they had encountered was the same monstrous figure who had transformed the landscape of the Great Sarain Forest.
'Well, it makes sense. No one here but me was part of the attack squad until the end...'
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Dagon sighed deeply. As he was still recovering from the shock, the member in charge of the applications continued to chatter excitedly.
"Yuder is really something else. I don't know how many of you will become our colleagues, but if you join the Cavalry, remember well what Yuder says. You might think I'm exaggerating, but his words have never been wrong. He's the pride and spirit of the Cavalry! If he spoke positively about your first test, it means he's already recognized your skills."
"Uh... Haha. Hardly. He must've been just saying that because we're applicants..."
"Praise? He doesn't do that. He just states facts."
"..."
"That's the spirit of the Cavalry!"
The member grinned and gave a thumbs up.
It seemed he believed that one couldn't join without understanding 'the spirit of the Cavalry.'
'What exactly... is this spirit of the Cavalry?'
Dagon couldn't grasp it at all. Watching the member, who seemed to trust the Cavalry's assistant more than the Commander himself, Dagon briefly doubted whether this was alright, but eventually, he chose not to comment and let it pass.
Shortly after completing their application forms, they all passed the first test with ease, creating a new legend within the ranks about 'Yuder Aile, who could discern an applicant's success upon first sight.' This unfolded just an hour later.
—---
Yuder paused and looked back while walking down the corridor of the building. Kishiar and Nathan Zuckerman, disguised with magic tools, and Kurga seemed fine, but the three protest participants, who had been dragging their feet as if on death's door, stopped in their tracks, startled by his gaze.
Without uttering a word, the mere meeting of their eyes had them panic as if facing their doom, evoking a sense of disdain in Yuder.
'These faint-hearted souls, so easily startled by the slightest disturbance, had the audacity to challenge the Cavalry.'
What he had done just before entering the branch was quite straightforward.
He had asked Kurga to identify the three who had been most active and frequent in the protests. These individuals were singled out – a mage, an administrator, and a common citizen, all vehemently condemning the Cavalry at the forefront of their respective groups.
'It's obvious, considering they spend their days and nights here protesting instead of doing their actual jobs.'
These three were specifically chosen to represent and voice the hostile intentions of their groups against the Cavalry.
Until now, the Cavalry had deliberately refrained from responding to their provocations, maintaining an attitude of 'we're just following orders already approved by those above.' They only communicated cooperation recommendations from the Emperor, the High Minister, and the Court Mage Office, as per the law.
However, if they were the sort to quietly back down with just such 'recommendations,' the situation wouldn't have escalated to this point. Those who had powerful people behind them did not seriously listen to the recommendations of a powerless, reclusive Emperor, a High Minister engaged only in bureaucracy without real power, and a Court Mage Office far less influential than the Pearl Tower.
Until now, these individuals, backed by powerful entities, had managed to live without any problems.
But not anymore.
Yuder exchanged a glance with Kishiar, then stepped forward towards the protesters, ready to speak.
"The Commander of the Cavalry, whom you've been so eager to confront, is here now. Let's have a serious discussion about what your grievances are."
Naturally, no one believed his words.
