Turning

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Chapter 321

Without restraint, Enon finally withdrew his piercing gaze only after thoroughly examining Yuder's hand, where the black stains hadn't completely disappeared. Seizing the opportunity, Yuder filled Enon in on his condition as Kishiar and Lusan had speculated. Enon only heaved a cold sigh in response to the explanation that it was recovery to this point after the magic to remove the traces of amplification succeeded.

"How long will it take for my power to fully recover, do you think?"

"Do you think I'm some sort of god? How would I know all that?"

Though he spoke those words, Enon opened his mouth again a moment later with a sullen face.

"You said your body improved after the magic succeeded, so I suppose our Commander's thoughts on this won't be too far off. But unless there's been another case like this, who would've experienced such a thing?"

Hence, Enon stated that no one could guarantee what would become of Yuder's body from here on.

"The pure power, like a poison existing within your body, that absorbs or repels outside forces, indeed seems to be continuously influencing you. To reduce the variables and ensure your condition, the body's owner must behave, but knowing you, that seems unlikely."

"Please, try to live more sensibly. Are you the only one in the Cavalry who does any work? No, with your personality, you'd probably insist on doing everything yourself, no matter what your friends or colleagues do to stop you."

Enon looked at Yuder with a mixed expression of irritation, sympathy, doubt, and a strange sense of realization, his words striking with precision as if he had read what the Cavalry's comrades had been saying.

"So, what was the reason for this action? Was it simply because you seemed to be the only one who could deal with that monster? Or was it related to your 'goal'?"

Yuder did not respond immediately, maintaining silence before finally nodding heavily.

"Yes. I thought you would answer like that."

"..."

"Was it such a dangerous monster? So much so that it had to be killed right then and there?"

"If I waited longer, it would've been too late. I had to deal with it alone when I could. Otherwise..."

Yuder's words trailed off, his gaze falling downward. All the disasters caused by the massive Pethuamet in his previous life flashed vividly in his mind once again. The shattered west, the stain of resentment and suffering on the Cavalry, and then.

The back of Kishiar, wavering on the breaking cliff.

"...It would have been too late to turn back."

Yuder erased the events that would never occur again from his mind.

"That's why I'm not regretting even after ending up like this."

Enon murmured with wide-open eyes as if he had finally found some answers, a strange energy seeming to emanate from beyond his gaze.

"Now I think I understand what you meant by the 'non-personal' goal."

No answer was returned. It seemed there was no need.

"...Then... No. I thought it was not yet time, but no, maybe not."

Muttering under his breath, Enon eventually fell silent, his forehead and eyes furrowed. Yuder waited for him to open his mouth again, but instead of speaking, Enon, who had risen from his seat, handed him something.

"...Take this."

"...This thread, how many do you have?"

"This is all I have now!"

Enon, who handed over a new thread similar to the one that had become ashes and had been cut off, exclaimed nervously. His appearance, which had seemed confused just a moment ago, had now returned to his usual demeanor.

"Don't break it again. I brought this just in case, so there won't be a next time."

"I'll try my best."

"Not try, say you understand!"

"Thanks, Enon."

Whether he had no words left for Yuder's curt expression of gratitude, Enon simply pressed his forehead and replied, "That's enough." To calm him down, Yuder proposed visiting the Magic Spring Ruins before leaving this place. But the response he got pointed out an unexpected aspect.

"The mages here thought that was the Magic Spring?"

"The Commander said it wouldn't be."

"Of course not."

Enon answered concisely and heaved a sigh towards the void, as if baffled.

"The Magic Spring isn't... like, a real spring. Even though the concentration of magic power has been getting thinner recently, and the level of mages has dropped, to have such a misconception. I don't know when the magic power began to pool here, but in my eyes, it was clearly artificially created."

"...By human hands?"

"Natural forces don't gather abnormally like this. The pure power that sustains the world has neither form nor will. Just as water can't stop if there's no place to pool, it means that someone must have dug the ground here to make the magic power gather."

"Who could it be?"

"I don't know. Probably some greedy human common everywhere."

Enon said no more. His face looked as though he regretted speaking, yet also as though he did not. For the first time, Yuder felt within his familiar yet unfamiliar expression, a weariness like that of a truly aged elder.

On the surface, Enon might seem nothing but young and not at all dangerous, but what was his true nature? What is a guardian? How much does Yuder not know about him, and will there be another chance in this life to learn the answer?

As Yuder hesitated and was about to call his name, Enon abruptly turned and said, "Let's go."

"Don't worry about useless things and take care of yourself."

And then he was gone, as swiftly as the wind. His resolute back seemed not to allow any more questions.

—---

The next day, Yuder rose at dawn and went outside. Outside the base, fellow members who would accompany him, a few members of the Pelleta Knight, those who had come to see them off, and a pile of already stacked luggage awaited.

"Yuder."

Amid the cold dawn air filled with mist, Gakane approached and lightly tapped Yuder's shoulder.

"I'm sorry I can't go with you. Rest well until we meet again in Tainu, and take your treatment seriously. I'll send you letters, so reply. And... remember what you said to me before?"

"The appointment offer?"

"Yeah. That. It's still valid... right?"

Yuder nodded, looking into Gakane's green eyes, which seemed mixed with excitement and tension.

"It's valid."

Then Gakane finally smiled brightly, clenching his fist. The crisp dawn air made his reddened hair look even more vibrant. His appearance naturally justified the nickname 'Living Rose.'

"Good. I'm going to do a perfect job here, so look forward to it."

"By the way, I forgot to mention something back then, but success isn't the only thing that counts as doing well in a mission."

"Huh?"

Yuder responded softly to the handsome man who opened his eyes wide.

"Sometimes, the best outcome is when everyone is safe, even if we fail."

"What are you talking about? If anything, that's what I should be saying to you!"

Gakane burst out laughing.

"It seems you've learned a lot from being seriously injured this time. Yuder even said all these things."

"It's no joke."

"Yeah, I understand. I'll do my best to make sure everyone returns without injury."

Gakane eagerly shook hands with Yuder, clearly in high spirits. Following him, Kanna, who appeared a little later, spoke to Yuder, echoing similar words.

"Yuder, heed the Commander's words, and never overdo it. I'm worried that your eye should be fully healed when we meet in Tainu..."

Yuder faintly smiled at Kanna, who was looking worriedly at his still unrecovered left eye. Meanwhile, as he earnestly replied to the words of Jimmy and other members who remained there, an unexpected new person approached Yuder.

"Excuse me for a moment."

As Micalin, cloaked in a mage's robe, intervened, the Cavalry members quickly withdrew, adopting a nervous stance.

"What is the matter, Leader?"

"You've suffered a lot on our behalf here, so I must pay proper respects."

However, Micalin couldn't easily speak. The old mage, who scanned the black stain left on his forehead and his left eye for a long time, sighed deeply and bowed his head.

"I, Micalin Punt, will never forget the immense favor I owe you for this incident. I'm truly thankful for saving me and our union mages. If a day comes when you need help, contact me anytime."

"...I didn't do it to erase a debt."

"That's why it's even more embarrassing. I know it's not so."

Micalin said that he himself would go to Tainu soon, and if Yuder ever came to the Western Mage Union there, he would entertain him. Although Yuder wondered if he would ever contact them again, he said nothing.

"Ah, and about the magic spell that succeeded this time."

As talk of magic suddenly emerged, the eyes of the surrounding watching Cavalry members simultaneously turned fierce. Micalin continued, a little sheepishly.

"When a new magic spell is completed, it must be given an official name to report to the academic community... If you agree, I'd like to name this magic spell 'Yuder No. 1' after you."

He asked what Yuder thought, adding that naming a new magic spell was considered a great honor. But honestly, from Yuder's point of view, it was none of his business.

"...Do you have to use my name? Are there no other candidates?"

"I won't force it if you don't like it, but other candidates... hmm."

Micalin's eyes shifted more subtly.

"Names like 'Black Death's Anomaly Destruction Magic' or 'Malignant Infinite Amplification Addiction Removal Technique' are a bit too much, don't you think?"

For a moment, Yuder doubted his ears. The expressions of the other members changed to ones of astonishment as well. Amidst their inability to speak easily, a soft yet cold voice intervened from the fog.

"To be honest, I find all three options strange, but among them, 'Yuder No. 1' seems best."

"Commander."

Kishiar was dressed in a smooth black fur cloak that reflected light like flowing water, and ash-gray gloves. On one of his shoulders, there were two silver ornamental pins, each engraved with the crest of the Peletta Ducal House and the Cavalry. Unlike when he concealed his identity by covering his face, his appearance now conveyed a concise yet definite intention to reveal himself. With a new sword added to his waist, he looked as though he could be believed to be the second coming of an Emperor from legend.

Upon the Commander's appearance, Yuder turned his head, watching his suddenly energized colleagues with slight consternation. The red eyes met his, seeming to have been waiting for this moment, and sparkled with a pretty smile.

"How about it? Opportunities to leave one's name in history aren't common."

"If that's the Commander's opinion, then I'm fine with it."

"Then let's make it 'Yuder No. 1.'"

Micalin quickly made the decision. Kishiar watched the retreating figure of the old mage, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

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