Yuder's gaze was neither focused on the middle-aged man known as the Sage, nor on the bespectacled young man who was speaking to him. What had truly caught Yuder's attention was a timid young man standing at the farthest corner, clutching the hem of his cloak tightly.
‘His face looks much younger than I remember, but the reddish skin indicative of southern heritage, the long scar on one ear, even the color of his eyes…’
He looked strikingly similar to the 'Sage' who would reveal himself years from now, if one disregarded age.
In Yuder's mind, the face of the 'Sage,' whom he had personally executed for bewitching Emperor Katchian in his past life, resurfaced.
The current 'Sage' of the Star of Nagran had been an extremely elderly man with long hair when he revealed himself years after the Star of Nagran's internal demise. His back hunched, he found it difficult to walk without a cane, and his skin was full of wrinkles. To anyone who saw him, he appeared to be close to his final days. Such an elderly Awakener was exceedingly rare, so much so that Yuder had never met another like him.
Kanna never referred to the Sage from this timeline, who existed prior to the residents of Star of Nagran, as an old man. She had said he was somewhat advanced in age, which meant around the same age as Steiber or just a bit older. Other descriptions and actions thus far hardly resembled the 'Sage' Yuder had killed.
The 'Sage' had garnered an undeserved title of 'spiritual mentor' and had led many followers, but he was neither moderate nor meticulous. The reason he could attract so many followers despite his inconsistency was his ability to scratch people's hidden ulterior motives with cruel words nonchalantly.
The 'Sage' blamed the weakness of the world on the weak, preaching that the superior should punish and make them repent. When secretly applying his awakened ability, he could achieve astonishing effects even with a minor mental power that barely changed people's moods.
Had Yuder not boldly dragged him in front of Emperor Katchian to interrogate him, had he not rattled the man by recalling that the name of his cult, 'Star of Nagran,' coincided with a long-gone terrorist group, Yuder might have met an earlier end. Emperor Katchian's trust in the man had been that deep at the time.
Therefore, Yuder had never been particularly convinced that the 'Sage' he killed in his past life was the same as the Sage of the Star of Nagran existing in this timeline. The Sage of this era, at least on the surface, acted contrary to his own actions, leading Awakeners while meticulously hiding from the state.
He did know in his past life that the man he killed had some connection with the current Star of Nagran. He had always intended to gladly deal with him if they ever crossed paths again, but...
‘I never thought I'd encounter him so young, here of all places.’
Yuder scanned the young 'Sage’s' face, tinged with a mixture of disappointment and puzzlement.
‘How is this possible? It's only been 11 years. Could that old appearance in my previous life have been conjured by his abilities?’
At that moment, another young man standing beside the 'Sage' gently tapped him on the back and spoke. Although the voice was too soft to catch the words clearly, the name caught Yuder's attention.
"...Let's go, Diemon."
'Diemon. Different from the alias he used in my previous life. I wonder if that's his real name.'
Yuder committed the name to memory. Only then did he turn his gaze toward the middle-aged man whom the youths had called Sage.
The man looked like any middle-aged man one might encounter from the Empire. His grey-white brown hair and smiling face gave off an impression of kindness that anyone would feel, and his eyes were incredibly warm.
"Let's go inside, Sage. It's cold. If you're planning to go out tomorrow..."
Pressured by the awkward yet caring gestures of the young men, the middle-aged man, referred to as the Sage, entered the house. Among them was the 'Sage' from his previous life who timidly held out his hand and mumbled.
Yuder swallowed a cold, sardonic laugh at the sight.
"...They've gone in? If that house is their new base, we won't have to follow them immediately. What do you think, Yuder?"
Hinn grinned as he asked, his tone suggesting that he was open to any course of action. Yuder finally shifted his gaze away from the closed door and looked around at everyone.
"...I agree, there's no need to follow them right away. But I think I've found out something important."
"Something important? Like what?"
"Their true identities."
"Huh? They're Awakeners, aren't they? What else is there?"
"We all know about the Star of Nagran group that we chased in Tainu, right?"
Feeling the eyes of his comrades upon him, Yuder spoke slowly yet gravely.
"They're not ordinary Awakeners. They are definitely part of the Star of Nagran. The one they called the Sage seems to be their leader."
"The leader of the Star of Nagran? That old guy?"
Finn, who had personally confronted the Star of Nagran in Tainu, widened his eyes in disbelief and quickly turned his head toward the house where the Sage and the young men had entered.
"What? I thought Finn said you had captured all of them except one."
"That's only part of it."
"So...we've hit the jackpot, then?"
Hinn swiftly came to a conclusion. Her eyes, cute as a water fairy's, twinkled uncontrollably with excitement.
"What should we do? Charge in right now?"
"No. Other than coming to treat the Crown Prince, they haven't done anything yet. We need to prioritize gathering information. I'll report to the Commander, and as for surveillance..."
"I'll handle that part."
Enon, who had remained silent and withdrawn up to this point, suddenly spoke up. Everyone except Yuder looked at him with puzzled eyes.
"Can you handle surveillance alone? How?"
"I've lived in the capital for quite some time and know people here and there. Monitoring a single house should not be a problem."
His nonchalant tone seemed to reassure the team, as a 'I see' expression faintly dawned on their faces.
"That makes sense. If you've been living here, then..."
"So that's why Yuder brought you along."
"...I'll attach my shadow to that house as well. That way, we can at least detect when they leave."
Gakane added softly. His abilities had advanced considerably during the western mission; not only could he manifest his shadow as a separate entity, but he could also use it to track specific targets. One of the new skills he'd acquired was the ability to attach his shadow to someone and detect their movements.
‘I had heard the story while returning from the West, but this was the first time I actually saw it written down. I was struggling to grasp its full implications.’
Yuder inquired to get a precise understanding of Gakane's ability.
"So, up to what distance does this work?"
"The further the distance, the less I can perceive. But within the range between here and the Cavalry headquarters, I can sense comings and goings even in my sleep."
"Wouldn't it be noticeable once attached?"
"If it's hidden in places like the shadow of a wall, no one would know. No one has ever noticed it during training either."
"That must be really convenient. If I had that ability, I could slack off in the training ground until I sensed Yuder or the Commander approaching."
"Finn."
"Just kidding."
With a stern look, Yuder, arms crossed, stared at the closed door of the house. After a moment, he made his decision.
"Fine. It seems like the best we've got so far, so let's go with it. Proceed cautiously with the remaining tasks and investigate in your own ways."
"Understood."
Once the conclusion was reached, Finn left, stating he had other matters to attend to. Yuder took one more careful look at the lodging where the Star of Nagran was staying amidst his hurrying comrades.
'The Sage, and Diemon.'
The current Sage and the one who would be a Sage in the future.
It felt incredibly strange that due to unforeseen circumstances in his previous life, he was seeing both of these individuals here together.
'When I return, I’ll report this and call for Kanna. I should also visit Hosanna, and Gayle and Doyle brothers, whom I haven’t seen in a while.'
But before that, there was one more thing he had to do.
"Gakane."
Yuder whispered softly, avoiding the eyes of the noisy Eldore siblings and Devran. The red-headed young man, who was walking a step ahead, slightly tensed his shoulders.
"Let's talk when we get back."
"..."
…
When they returned, the Cavalry headquarters was in the midst of practicing a dance. The members were so engrossed in learning the aristocratic dance for the first time that they hadn't noticed a few had stealthily slipped away and returned.
The Eldore siblings ran towards their practicing comrades with bright faces, while Devran grumbled and disappeared with a reluctant expression.
As for Gakane, he was quietly observing his practicing comrades with a face that hardly ever displayed his usual smile.
Yuder spoke as he watched him.
"If you're going to practice dancing too, we can talk afterward."
"I... already know how to dance."
Gakane answered softly.
"Don’t you need to practice, Yuder?"
"I also know how to dance."
While it was true that Yuder was planning to dance man-to-man with Kishiar, since the dance's basics were already known to him, he wasn't as pressed for time as those who were starting from scratch.
"I see…"
"Anyway, if neither of us needs to practice, there's no need to stay here any longer. Follow me."
Yuder led Gakane to a secluded area. It was next to a large tree near the training ground, a place where members rarely visited at this hour.
"You’ve seemed off since yesterday. Is it because of what the Commander said? The thing that's been bothering you?"
"…Yuder. About the dance with the Commander. Do you really have to be the one to do it?"
Instead of answering the question, an unexpected counter-question flowed from Gakane. Yuder blinked twice.
"What?"
"While I understand the idea of changing the criteria in light of the second gender consideration, and the Commander always thinks in the right direction, so I believe it's a well-considered decision. But… why does it have to be realized in a situation that hinges on your future? Why does it have to be you?"
At the end of the rapid-fire words, Gakane bit his lip tightly. Blood rushed to his cheeks, making them flush, and beads of sweat formed next to them.
"Yuder. The social circles where nobles gather are truly terrifying places. If you start off like that, your future won't be that of a promising new star in the Cavalry; you'll be forever overshadowed by the Commander. People might not realize how terrifying that is... but I do."
Check out the new project:
Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy
Graduate student Yi-han finds himself reborn in another world as the youngest child of a mage family.
– I’m never attending school, ever again!
‘What do you wish to achieve in life?’
‘I wish to play around and live comforta-‘
‘You must be aware of your talent. Now go attend Einroguard!’
‘Patriarch!’
My future would be guaranteed once I graduate. For my future!
Yuder's gaze was neither focused on the middle-aged man known as the Sage, nor on the bespectacled young man who was speaking to him. What had truly caught Yuder's attention was a timid young man standing at the farthest corner, clutching the hem of his cloak tightly.
‘His face looks much younger than I remember, but the reddish skin indicative of southern heritage, the long scar on one ear, even the color of his eyes…’
He looked strikingly similar to the 'Sage' who would reveal himself years from now, if one disregarded age.
In Yuder's mind, the face of the 'Sage,' whom he had personally executed for bewitching Emperor Katchian in his past life, resurfaced.
The current 'Sage' of the Star of Nagran had been an extremely elderly man with long hair when he revealed himself years after the Star of Nagran's internal demise. His back hunched, he found it difficult to walk without a cane, and his skin was full of wrinkles. To anyone who saw him, he appeared to be close to his final days. Such an elderly Awakener was exceedingly rare, so much so that Yuder had never met another like him.
Kanna never referred to the Sage from this timeline, who existed prior to the residents of Star of Nagran, as an old man. She had said he was somewhat advanced in age, which meant around the same age as Steiber or just a bit older. Other descriptions and actions thus far hardly resembled the 'Sage' Yuder had killed.
The 'Sage' had garnered an undeserved title of 'spiritual mentor' and had led many followers, but he was neither moderate nor meticulous. The reason he could attract so many followers despite his inconsistency was his ability to scratch people's hidden ulterior motives with cruel words nonchalantly.
The 'Sage' blamed the weakness of the world on the weak, preaching that the superior should punish and make them repent. When secretly applying his awakened ability, he could achieve astonishing effects even with a minor mental power that barely changed people's moods.
Had Yuder not boldly dragged him in front of Emperor Katchian to interrogate him, had he not rattled the man by recalling that the name of his cult, 'Star of Nagran,' coincided with a long-gone terrorist group, Yuder might have met an earlier end. Emperor Katchian's trust in the man had been that deep at the time.
Therefore, Yuder had never been particularly convinced that the 'Sage' he killed in his past life was the same as the Sage of the Star of Nagran existing in this timeline. The Sage of this era, at least on the surface, acted contrary to his own actions, leading Awakeners while meticulously hiding from the state.
He did know in his past life that the man he killed had some connection with the current Star of Nagran. He had always intended to gladly deal with him if they ever crossed paths again, but...
‘I never thought I'd encounter him so young, here of all places.’
Yuder scanned the young 'Sage’s' face, tinged with a mixture of disappointment and puzzlement.
‘How is this possible? It's only been 11 years. Could that old appearance in my previous life have been conjured by his abilities?’
At that moment, another young man standing beside the 'Sage' gently tapped him on the back and spoke. Although the voice was too soft to catch the words clearly, the name caught Yuder's attention.
"...Let's go, Diemon."
'Diemon. Different from the alias he used in my previous life. I wonder if that's his real name.'
Yuder committed the name to memory. Only then did he turn his gaze toward the middle-aged man whom the youths had called Sage.
The man looked like any middle-aged man one might encounter from the Empire. His grey-white brown hair and smiling face gave off an impression of kindness that anyone would feel, and his eyes were incredibly warm.
"Let's go inside, Sage. It's cold. If you're planning to go out tomorrow..."
Pressured by the awkward yet caring gestures of the young men, the middle-aged man, referred to as the Sage, entered the house. Among them was the 'Sage' from his previous life who timidly held out his hand and mumbled.
Yuder swallowed a cold, sardonic laugh at the sight.
"...They've gone in? If that house is their new base, we won't have to follow them immediately. What do you think, Yuder?"
Hinn grinned as he asked, his tone suggesting that he was open to any course of action. Yuder finally shifted his gaze away from the closed door and looked around at everyone.
"...I agree, there's no need to follow them right away. But I think I've found out something important."
"Something important? Like what?"
"Their true identities."
"Huh? They're Awakeners, aren't they? What else is there?"
"We all know about the Star of Nagran group that we chased in Tainu, right?"
Feeling the eyes of his comrades upon him, Yuder spoke slowly yet gravely.
"They're not ordinary Awakeners. They are definitely part of the Star of Nagran. The one they called the Sage seems to be their leader."
"The leader of the Star of Nagran? That old guy?"
Finn, who had personally confronted the Star of Nagran in Tainu, widened his eyes in disbelief and quickly turned his head toward the house where the Sage and the young men had entered.
"What? I thought Finn said you had captured all of them except one."
"That's only part of it."
"So...we've hit the jackpot, then?"
Hinn swiftly came to a conclusion. Her eyes, cute as a water fairy's, twinkled uncontrollably with excitement.
"What should we do? Charge in right now?"
"No. Other than coming to treat the Crown Prince, they haven't done anything yet. We need to prioritize gathering information. I'll report to the Commander, and as for surveillance..."
"I'll handle that part."
Enon, who had remained silent and withdrawn up to this point, suddenly spoke up. Everyone except Yuder looked at him with puzzled eyes.
"Can you handle surveillance alone? How?"
"I've lived in the capital for quite some time and know people here and there. Monitoring a single house should not be a problem."
His nonchalant tone seemed to reassure the team, as a 'I see' expression faintly dawned on their faces.
"That makes sense. If you've been living here, then..."
"So that's why Yuder brought you along."
"...I'll attach my shadow to that house as well. That way, we can at least detect when they leave."
Gakane added softly. His abilities had advanced considerably during the western mission; not only could he manifest his shadow as a separate entity, but he could also use it to track specific targets. One of the new skills he'd acquired was the ability to attach his shadow to someone and detect their movements.
‘I had heard the story while returning from the West, but this was the first time I actually saw it written down. I was struggling to grasp its full implications.’
Yuder inquired to get a precise understanding of Gakane's ability.
"So, up to what distance does this work?"
"The further the distance, the less I can perceive. But within the range between here and the Cavalry headquarters, I can sense comings and goings even in my sleep."
"Wouldn't it be noticeable once attached?"
"If it's hidden in places like the shadow of a wall, no one would know. No one has ever noticed it during training either."
"That must be really convenient. If I had that ability, I could slack off in the training ground until I sensed Yuder or the Commander approaching."
"Finn."
"Just kidding."
With a stern look, Yuder, arms crossed, stared at the closed door of the house. After a moment, he made his decision.
"Fine. It seems like the best we've got so far, so let's go with it. Proceed cautiously with the remaining tasks and investigate in your own ways."
"Understood."
Once the conclusion was reached, Finn left, stating he had other matters to attend to. Yuder took one more careful look at the lodging where the Star of Nagran was staying amidst his hurrying comrades.
'The Sage, and Diemon.'
The current Sage and the one who would be a Sage in the future.
It felt incredibly strange that due to unforeseen circumstances in his previous life, he was seeing both of these individuals here together.
'When I return, I’ll report this and call for Kanna. I should also visit Hosanna, and Gayle and Doyle brothers, whom I haven’t seen in a while.'
But before that, there was one more thing he had to do.
"Gakane."
Yuder whispered softly, avoiding the eyes of the noisy Eldore siblings and Devran. The red-headed young man, who was walking a step ahead, slightly tensed his shoulders.
"Let's talk when we get back."
"..."
…
When they returned, the Cavalry headquarters was in the midst of practicing a dance. The members were so engrossed in learning the aristocratic dance for the first time that they hadn't noticed a few had stealthily slipped away and returned.
The Eldore siblings ran towards their practicing comrades with bright faces, while Devran grumbled and disappeared with a reluctant expression.
As for Gakane, he was quietly observing his practicing comrades with a face that hardly ever displayed his usual smile.
Yuder spoke as he watched him.
"If you're going to practice dancing too, we can talk afterward."
"I... already know how to dance."
Gakane answered softly.
"Don’t you need to practice, Yuder?"
"I also know how to dance."
While it was true that Yuder was planning to dance man-to-man with Kishiar, since the dance's basics were already known to him, he wasn't as pressed for time as those who were starting from scratch.
"I see…"
"Anyway, if neither of us needs to practice, there's no need to stay here any longer. Follow me."
Yuder led Gakane to a secluded area. It was next to a large tree near the training ground, a place where members rarely visited at this hour.
"You’ve seemed off since yesterday. Is it because of what the Commander said? The thing that's been bothering you?"
"…Yuder. About the dance with the Commander. Do you really have to be the one to do it?"
Instead of answering the question, an unexpected counter-question flowed from Gakane. Yuder blinked twice.
"What?"
"While I understand the idea of changing the criteria in light of the second gender consideration, and the Commander always thinks in the right direction, so I believe it's a well-considered decision. But… why does it have to be realized in a situation that hinges on your future? Why does it have to be you?"
At the end of the rapid-fire words, Gakane bit his lip tightly. Blood rushed to his cheeks, making them flush, and beads of sweat formed next to them.
"Yuder. The social circles where nobles gather are truly terrifying places. If you start off like that, your future won't be that of a promising new star in the Cavalry; you'll be forever overshadowed by the Commander. People might not realize how terrifying that is... but I do."
Check out the new project:
Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy
Graduate student Yi-han finds himself reborn in another world as the youngest child of a mage family.
– I’m never attending school, ever again!
‘What do you wish to achieve in life?’
‘I wish to play around and live comforta-‘
‘You must be aware of your talent. Now go attend Einroguard!’
‘Patriarch!’
My future would be guaranteed once I graduate. For my future!
