<h4>Chapter 564</h4>


    Hi, please check out this patreon link 21 chapters per week and up to 40 additional chapters!!


    Chapter 564


    To those who followed the sage, Nahan was an enigmatic and challenging figure. Yet, they had managed to coexist well thus far because both the sage and Nahan had distinct roles that contributed to the betterment of the entire Star of Nagran.


    Whenever Nahan infiltrated ces where Awakeners were oppressed and in danger, he would rescue them, and the sage would then look after and educate these people, integrating them into themunity. While the sage focused on stabilizing their strongholds, Nahan would neutralize threats to these ces, training the Awakeners to defend the Star of Nagran.


    During the times when these responsibilities were clearly divided, everything seemed to go well. Especially in a world where the Awakeners were constantly threatened, Nahan''s terrifying abilities and awkward personality were actuallyforting.


    ''But things started to get strange as the number of strongholds and people grew.''


    Initially, those who joined the Star of Nagran were individuals who wanted nothing more than to save their lives and find a ce to hide. However, as people began to settle and time passed, there emerged those who wanted to wield their newfound powers for revenge.


    It was inevitable that among those who had been forced to leave their homnds simply because they had awakened, there would be those with grudges. Most of their targets for revenge were loathsome nobles. While the sage tried to calm and prevent them from acting out, Nahan actually encouraged them.


    Everyone knew that the reason Nahan had not returned afterpleting his mission in the west was because of Ershi, who wanted revenge against the nobles in that region.


    Nahan was close to the Awakeners who were filled with sorrow and a thirst for vengeance. There were moments when he seemed to believe that aiding their rage was his very purpose. Those who believed they should use their power for greater causes genuinely admired and deeply followed Nahan.


    ''I know hes not the enemy. If I were ever in danger or seeking revenge, there would be no one better to help me. But I still fear him. I cant fathom what hes thinking!''


    "Langbarton, are you afraid of Nahan?"


    Just then, the sage asked, as if he had read the thoughts of the Awakener named Langbarton, who nervously clenched his fists. Ashamed, Langbarton''s face flushed as he stuttered.


    "To be honest... I dont see him as a goodrade. I understand he does a lot for us, but... isnt it well-known that he really despises nobles? His visit to you now doesn''t feel well-intended."


    He expected the sage to respond with his usual warmth and talk about the importance of supporting one another asrades. After all, the sage was someone who never expressed anger and instilled faith through love and warmth.


    However, the response he received was different.


    "Yes, it is likely that he ising to express his concerns."


    "Ah You think so too, sage? But what could Nahan possibly be concerned about with you?"


    "Langbarton, how long have you been in the Star of Nagran?"


    Caught off guard by the abrupt question, Langbarton hastily sifted through his memories.


    "Over a year... definitely. I met you around the time winter beganst year."


    "I met Nahan two years ago, before the Star of Nagran even had a name. I was by his side for about that much."


    "Ah"


    Nezo was one of the four Awakeners who had followed the sage to the Crown Prince''s pce. A young man who wore sses, he seemed to have had some schrly pursuits in his past. Nezo wasnt even his real name, or so people had heard. Still, he was more concerned than anyone else about the risk Nahan posed and worried for the Sage.


    He had heard rumors that Nahan was among the oldest group of Awakeners on the Star of Nagran, but he had never expected those to be true. Unable to hide his surprise, Langbarton found himselfforted by the sage''s gentle words.


    "At that time, Nahan was a deeply pained and vulnerable individual. He believed ces like the Star of Nagran were necessary to help people like his fellow Awakeners. That belief has not changed, but it seems that his own heart might have."


    Hearing this, Langbarton looked into the sage''s eyes, still radiating warmth, and felt a deep sense of turmoil. His mind was a muddle of anger towards the ungrateful Nahan and concern for the sage.


    "How could you change, sage? Who else is there who cares for us more than you?"


    At this, the sage merely smiled, a bitter twist to his lips.


    "Thank you for saying so. However, Nahan may not feel the same way. Or even if he once did, that may no longer be the case."


    "Is it because we''re treating the Crown Prince?"


    The sage offered no reply to this, apparently not wishing to burden others with undue concern.


    "I entrust you to support our brothers and sisters while I am away tomorrow, Langbarton."


    Ultimately, Langbarton left the sage''s room, drained. He returned to his own room and scanned for the bespectacled Awakener among the others while giving cursory replies to their questions.


    "Nezo. Can we talk for a moment?"


    Langbarton and Nezo retreated to a secluded area, avoiding the others. After all, no one in the Crown Princes pce was going to pay attention to individuals as disheveled as they were. Langbarton ryed his conversation with the Sage in full, then openly vented his frustrations.


    "The Sage said not to worry even if Nahanes. Granted, Nahan has always listened to the Sage, but who knows if he will this time? The Sage has to go to a dangerous ce tomorrow with only an idiot like Diemen. What if he runs into Nahan''s gang? We have to protect him."


    "Did the Sage say that?"


    Anger red on Nezos face.


    "That damn Southerner utterly useless. I knew from the moment the Sage took him in that a day like this woulde. What can a bloodthirsty Southerner do?"


    Nezo, who had been with the Sage for the longest time, seemed to know quite a lot about Nahan as well.


    "What is it with that Nahan? What''s his issue?"


    "Well, you''ve earned the Sage''s trust to be here, so you have a right to know."


    After a moments hesitation, Nezo began speaking.


    "Years ago, when the Star of Nagran first appeared, the sage nned to lead us all in fleeing the Empire. Nahan was tasked with findingpanions to join us until we could find and to settle. But as you know, things have changed quite a lot since then."


    "I can see that"


    The early days of the Awakeners must have been focused solely on survival. But as Awakened nobles like Duke Pelleta emerged and Cavalry was formed, the Empires attitude toward the Awakeners began to shift.


    Langbarton didn''t particrly hold the Cavalry in high regard, but his ears were intact, and since arriving at the capital, he''d picked up various rumors. Whatever the case, it was true that people were less afraid of the Awakeners thanks to the Cavalry''s current exploits.


    Nearly a year had passed since the Cavalry had been established, and still, no other organization like it existed outside of the Orr Empire. Hisrades, who had recently relocated to a western outpost, unanimously reported, "The situation in the western countries is even worse than in the Orr Empire."


    It went without saying what life must be like for the Awakeners living in ces people fled from in terror. Anyone with a head on their shoulders could assume that outside the Empire was even more dangerous.


    If I''d continued living dangerously, as I did before entering the Star of Nagran, maybe," Langbarton thought, "but in the current circumstances, I wouldn''t dream of fleeing the Empire.


    Nezo nodded as he looked at Langbarton''s face.


    "Yes, most people will understand what I mean, just like you do. But that guy Nahan doesn''t get it. He''s been pestering the sage to keep his promises, even more so after encountering the Cavalry."


    "Promises?"


    "Nahan seems to think establishing a new outpost outside the Empire is a promise that must be kept. In fact, many of those who owe me their lives have said the same to the sage. They keep asking when we''ll move to the new ce."


    "I had no idea."


    "You came here alone. When the sage exins we have no ns to leave, most people ept it. There are exceptions, of course."


    Nezo''s face tensed up behind his sses.


    "In my opinion, the sage''s current course of action is clearly better for all of us. But if Nahan concludes that the sage isn''t going to keep his promises, he could ruin everything in a heartbeat."


    That couldn''t happen. Langbarton knew just how crucial the current moment was. Now he clearly understood what he needed to do. It even urred to him that the sage might have trusted him for precisely this moment.


    "Alright, let''s take the initiative. We''ll stop him from meeting the sage."


    "We will?"


    "ording to Sera, Nahan sustained severe injuries in the west and can hardly move. If we don''t seize this opportunity, how will we catch him? He''ll surely contact us first; we''ll target that moment."


    A bit of unease flickered across Nezo''s face. He was one of those who secretly feared Nahan''s abilities.


    "But you know what his abilities are like..."


    "Who doesn''t have abilities? Have you forgotten who sessfully handled things this time? Nahan won''t use his full power against us. We know that. I don''t know about the guys following him or the tricky ones like Hosanna... but Hosanna isn''t here now. Besides, we have Diemon on our side."


    "Hmm..."


    "Diemon may be annoying, but with his abilities, we can counteract Nahan''s. It may weaken us a bit, but it should be enough. To protect sage, we have no choice but to step in!"


    Finally, Nezo agreed, recognizing that this issue couldn''t be avoided forever.


    "Alright, let''s do it that way."


    The two returned to the room to share the situation with the rest of theirpanions and suggested they unite in purpose. The group, initially hesitant, soon decided to join forces. Among them was Diemon, his face flushed at the thought of bing the center of this alliance.


    "Yuder, did you hear what I just said?"


    Yuder lifted his head, noticing the small hand waving in front of his eyes. Kanna was looking at him with a worried expression.


    "...No. What were you saying?"


    "I said that Hosanna is getting much better... How much of that did you miss?"


    "..."


    Had she been talking about that? He couldn''t quite recall. Seeing that Yuder remained silent, Kanna lowered her head.


    "You''ve seemed distracted ever since I first saw you. If you''re tired, we can talk about thister."


    "No, please repeat it. I''ll listen properly this time."


    "...Really, what''s going on with you?"


    What''s going on? Something had indeed happened, something he couldn''t articte.


    Kishiar''s words from yesterday, about dreaming of the day he was executed, still lingered in his mind. Unable to respond, Yuder watched as Kanna left the spot, whispering that he should rest.


    After that, Yuder couldn''t sleep a wink all night. And so, here he was now.


    Read up to chapter 657 for just 5$ or up to chapter 939 for just 10$ on /al_squad


    [Select the $10/month n or the Foundation Establishment tier to ess the chapters]


    Hi, if you like the story, please rate and review this novel on novelupdates. Thanks!


    Check out thetest chapter 969 in /al_squad [Patreon members can ess ad-free chapters, up to 21 chapters per week and up to 40 additional chapters!!]


    Support us on Patreon to enjoy ad-free content, with up to 21 chapters released weekly and ess to an additional 40 chapters!


    For those who find it difficult to subscribe via Patreon, PayPal is also an avable option.


    <b>Please ensure you have read the tier information on Patreon before proceeding with a subscription through PayPal.</b>


    Once you have subscribed, please send your Gmail address and PayPal ID to . I will then verify your ount on PayPal and share with you the Google Doc containing the chapters that correspond to your subscription tier.


    Please use the Patreon subscription first. Only if that route is hard then use the PayPal subscription.


    Select your tier Qi Cultivating Stage $5.00 USD - month(s) Foundation Establishment $10.00 USD - month(s) Xudan $20.00 USD - month(s) Jindan $50.00 USD - month(s) Yuanying $100.00 USD - month(s)


    Check out the new project:


    <strong>Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy</strong>


    Graduate student Yi-han finds himself reborn in another world as the youngest child of a mage family.


    Im never attending school, ever again!


    What do you wish to achieve in life?


    I wish to y around and liveforta-


    You must be aware of your talent. Now go attend Einroguard!


    Patriarch!


    My future would be guaranteed once I graduate. For my future!