<h4>Chapter 48</h4>
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Chapter 48
In the past, Yuder hadn''t paid much attention to Kishiar''s attire. There were asionally members with unique abilities who wore odd clothes, so the fact that Kishiar often wore gloves wasn''t particrly unusual. However, on reflection, Yuder realized that since his return, Kishiar had never once worn gloves.
As soon as he realized this, naturally, a dream from the night before shed through his mind.
Could the Kishiar of his previous life have truly suffered the same injury as Yuder during the Red Stone retrieval operation? Could that be why he always wore clothing that covered his body, even needing to wear gloves?
''Come to think of it, whenever I had to meet Kishiar regrly, it was always in the darkness of the night.''
If he had been injured by the Red Stone, there would be a purplish bruise somewhere on his body. Yet, even Yuder, who might have seen Kishiar''s body more than anyone else except for his wet nurse, had never noticed it.
Kishiar always appeared out of the darkness and disappeared before Yuder awoke. The fact that Yuder had never found this odd was because, before Kishiar''s death, he had simply epted it as a part of who Kishiar was, and after his death, he had tried to bury those memories in oblivion.
If he had realized something was amiss earlier, if he had taken an interest in Kishiar''s condition, could things have changed?
"I said I didn''t need any thanks, but isn''t that expression a bit much? You''re looking at me as if I''m a ghost."
Kishiar, having noticed Yuder''s expression, asked him with narrowed eyes. Only then did Yuder manage to calm his shock andplex thoughts, shaking his head.
"No, it''s not that... Thank you."
"When someone asks, say it''s a reward I gave you for epting the position of aide."
If Kishiar said it was a reward he personally gave, even if Yuder wore it every day, people around him wouldn''t find it strange. Besides, it was even enchanted to be helpful, so not wearing it would be the odd thing.
As Yuder nodded, Nathan, who had been standing behind them, quietly spoke up.
"It seems we will have visitors soon."
"Must be the other members. Nathan, clear away the remaining food."
Kishiar nonchntly ordered Nathan, one of the continent''s top Swordmasters, as if he were a servant. There was plenty to say about such treatment, but Nathan simply followed his orders as if it were the most natural thing.
While Nathan quickly stacked the tes and disappeared into the inner room, Yuder put on the gloves he had received from Kishiar.
They seemed to be made of leather on the outside, but once worn, they felt slick, like a slightly cold liquid adhering to his hand. Even when he clenched and unclenched his fist, there was none of the stiffness characteristic of leather.
"Just as I thought, they suit you well. My judgment was indeed correct."
Kishiar proudlyplimented himself with a satisfied expression. Yuder didn''t respond. He felt no need to feign agreement with insincere politeness when honesty, however unpleasant, was preferred.
"By the way, did you confirm that none of the other members were injured?"
"Ah, yes. There were none."
Throughout his return journey, Yuder had taken the time to ask hispanions individually about any injuries. While some had minor scratches or muscle aches from climbing the mountain, no one else had sustained injuries like his own. It was a relief.
At the time of the explosion, Yuder had been closest to the Red Stone. It was just a few steps away, and he had thought he shielded everyone, but that small distance had created the current oue.
''Looking back, I should have put up the shield from the beginning.''
Regret filled his mouth with bitterness.
A whileter, a knock on the door came along with the murmur of conversation from outside. Since Nathan hadn''t yet returned, Yuder got up to open the door himself.
"Commander, I apologize. I was about to bring Yuder with me, but he wasn''t in his room... Oh... Yuder!"
"Yuder, you were here? What happened?"
As soon as the door opened, Gakane, who had been apologizing loudly with his head bowed, was startled to see Yuder and shouted out in surprise. The otherrades were equally surprised.
Yuder gestured for them toe inside as he looked at their faces filled with betrayal and confusion.
"...Come in."
Once everyone had settled into the long chairs, Kishiar greeted them as if he had been waiting.
"Did everyone have a restful night? I called Yuder here for a personal matter. I apologize for not informing you earlier."
"Ah... I see."
Gakane finally collected his surprised expression and calmed down. The Eldore siblings wore expressions of curiosity about what might have transpired between the two.
"You all look curious. Would you like to know what you''ll soon find out anyway?"
"Yes."
Between the firm responses, Kishiar gave a soft smile.
"Today, you all will apany me to the Imperial Pce with the Red Stone. We will show the Emperor the stone, and receive our reward forpleting the mission. It''s a secret mission, so we can''t celebrate in front of many, but please be satisfied with meeting the Emperor directly and receiving an award. And while we''re there, I n to appoint Yuder Aile as my Cavalry assistant."
Such enormous news came out all at once, the members were momentarily speechless.
"The Imperial Pce?"
"We''re meeting the Emperor?"
"Yuder will be the Commander''s assistant?"
Each member eximed the most surprising fact to them, and they all looked at each other. The Imperial Pce of the Orr Empire was not a ce anyone could visit. Even those born into nobility sometimes never set foot in it in their lifetime.
Moreover, the current Emperor had not shown his face at official banquets for several years, citing health reasons. It was only natural that everyone''s expressions froze in surprise at the news they''d be meeting such a person and receiving a reward directly from him.
Yuder had been in and out of the Imperial Pce countless times in his previous life, so he wasn''t surprised for that reason. But the fact that they were going to the Imperial Pce before he could convince Kishiar not to take the Red Stone to the Pearl Tower, and that he would directly meet the Emperor, whom he had never seen in his previous life, was quite shocking.
The Emperor, Kishiar''s only full sibling. In his previous life, he had died not long after this point in time, so Yuder expected his health to be extremely poor. But if he was well enough to give amendation today, the known and actual conditions might be different.
''Well, I have to tell Kishiar not to send the Red Stone to the Pearl Tower... but it''s going to be hard to find an opportunity like this. What to do?''
"If we''re leaving today... when are you nning to set off?"
"Right now."
Kishiar''s answer to Yuder''s spective question was clear cut.
"So, we don''t need to prepare anything?"
"What''s there to prepare? As long as you''re in your proper uniform, that''s sufficient."
Kishiar, who appeared to find the question amusing, rose from his seat with a smile. The members followed suit, getting up with hesitant expressions.
Yuder scanned the faces of hisrades, his gaze stopping at Kanna, whose face was unusually pale.
''...What''s going on?''
Her face was as white as a sheet, too pale for someone simply nervous about a visit to the Imperial Pce. Even a casual nce told him something was very wrong.
Yuder approached Kanna slowly, lowering his head after seeing Kishiar head towards the inner corridor to fetch the box containing the Red Stone.
"What''s the matter?"
"Ah!"
Kanna, looking as though she had been deliberately startled, stepped back a few paces, casting a nce at the others with sweat beading on her forehead.
"I''m sorry. I, I mean. That is..."
"Kanna?"
"Oh, well... I mean, if I go there... I mean..."
Kanna was trembling, stuttering, a far cry from her usual lively self. Her behavior was puzzling.
"What''s wrong, Kanna? Are you not feeling well?"
Upon hearing Hin''s worried question, Kanna stepped even further back. Her shaking head revealed a mixture of confusion and fear.
"I mean... do I have to go there?"
"Where do you mean? The Imperial Pce?"
The mention of the Imperial Pce drained Kanna''s face of all color. It was clear that she was reacting excessively to the word ''Imperial Pce''.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"No, it''s not... I mean... I apologize for talking nonsense."
"It doesn''t seem like nothing..."
Finn, standing next to Hinn, tilted his head in confusion. But Kanna closed her mouth. Their conversation was cut short by the return of Kishiar and Nathan from the inner corridor, Kishiar wearing a splendid cape.
"Alright, let''s depart now. We''ll be riding in a carriage this time, so it''ll befortable."
Kishiar, holding the box containing the Red Stone, led the way with a calm demeanor, unaffected by the tingling sensation prating his skin from the energy of the stone. Nathan and the members hurried after him.
The carriage they would be riding was already waiting at the rarely used back gate. The carriage,rge enough tofortably hold seven people, was emzoned with the emblem of the Imperial Pce. Its opulence, including thevish use of gold, was overwhelming.
Even the eight horses pulling the carriage had been reced with Misty Wind Horse, possibly for fear that ordinary horses couldn''t withstand the energy of the Red Stone. This sight drew spontaneous gasps from the members.
"Incredible..."
"Nathan, I''m counting on you to handle the coachman''s role."
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