Kishiar had once said that it took around five years to determine that the vessel had reached its limits after sustaining damage. Emperor Keilusa had predicted a shorter time, and although he had eventually collapsed, it wasn't the end of everything.

Kishiar tilted his head, staring into a pair of deep, dark eyes that looked straight ahead.

"Is something on your mind?"

"It's difficult to say for sure at the moment. However, if there's still time, I'd like to find a way."

Kishiar wasn't fond of uncertainty, but this time he had no choice.

The man who could easily laugh and talk when discussing the secrets he himself hid was now not smiling at all. News about one's only family obviously held a different weight, even for a man who wouldn't blink in the face of ordinary calamities.

Just moments ago, Yuder had considered simply letting Emperor Keilusa die, but from the moment he realized this, he changed his mind.

Kishiar hadn't changed his belief that the power of the Red Stone could solve the issue with the vessel. In that case, Yuder couldn't give up on this matter either.

'I don't know the progress on the research into the power of the Red Stone, but there have been significant developments related to it for me. If the power of the Red Stone can help... maybe there's a chance I can intervene.'

Noticing the change in Yuder's eyes, Kishiar's expression also subtly altered. Words were unnecessary as countless meanings came and went in the locked gaze they shared.

"You're thinking of something dangerous, aren't you?"

"Isn't it a situation where you have to find any means necessary?"

"The reason I brought this up wasn't to rope in assistance."

"Then it's already too late."

Yuder answered quietly, yet resolutely.

"So, how much time do you think we have left?"

"..."

A long breath escaped between Kishiar's parted lips. He looked like a man at a loss for words. Yet his gaze was still fixed on Yuder as if entranced, eventually giving way to a thin, uncontrollable laughter.

What he was laughing about, Yuder couldn't tell, but he stubbornly waited for an answer.

Finally, a clear voice responded.

"If the damage to the vessel has reached its limit and convulsions and fainting begin, the one who lasted the longest among the precedents managed to endure for about six months."

Six months. About half a year from now. Emperor Keilusa of a previous life seemed to have left the world before that time too. Yuder, recalling the memories, asked again.

"What was the shortest duration then?"

"They didn't last even a month."

Six months and less than a month. Both were less than a year, but the difference was substantial.

If the Red Stone's power-infused magic stone that Kishiar had sent to Emperor Keilusa indeed had no effect, and if Yuder could not find any method in the future, then he would die again within that period.

'I'm not sure how the variables will play out, but I guess I can assume that there's time until everything was originally supposed to end in the West.'

Yuder's mind began to turn rapidly. He threw another question to gather as much information as possible.

"Who was the person that endured for six months?"

Wondering if there might have been some special reason why the one who endured longer could do so, Yuder asked, and a perplexed smile floated across Kishiar's face.

"Hmm, to tell the truth, it's me."

"You?"

"After enduring about 6 months, I sensed the end and became like this, so it might be hard to consider it a proper count."

"..."

Kishiar was the one who had endured the pain for the longest time.

A feeling of indescribable frustration found its way into Yuder's heart at that moment.

In his previous life, he would have experienced this pain not once, but twice. It was entirely unimaginable since there had never been a single instance where he had fainted or had a seizure, but that must have been the case.

He could not even slightly understand what state of mind that would require, and it stirred up an unknown turbulent wave within Yuder's heart.

"You don't need to worry about it now," Kishiar said, reaching out and tousling Yuder's bangs, interpreting Yuder's pale, expressionless face. Yuder closed his eyes at the touch and then opened them, regaining control of his emotions.

'...Right.'

It hasn't happened now.

So it was right to think of more important things first.

"So, now that you have the answer, will you tell me what dangerous thoughts my assistant is having?"

"Before coming to the west, didn't I see and touch the energy inside your body, Commander?"

Not merely touching, he had also eliminated some of the tangled forces within. Afterwards, Kishiar unintentionally received the fortune of the impending 'cycle' and heat period suddenly receding.

Although the same thing had not happened since, Yuder had been able to discern more about the powers absorbed into his body as he went through various incidents in the west.

These experiences gave him some confidence in what he was about to say.

"If you permit me, I intend to try to cause the same thing to happen again."

"..."

Kishiar did not respond immediately.

After a long silence, his eyes, which had been scanning Yuder's face, finally went down to the hand covered in gloves.

"That... I remember we decided not to try again until we knew more about what happened that time. Didn't we? Do you now have confidence to intentionally cause that again?"

"No."

"Then?"

"It's difficult to assure you with certainty, but it's different from that time. The moment when I completely expelled the toxicity remaining in the body, I felt that perhaps I could accomplish the same thing again."

He remembered the feeling when the activated power boiled like flames and something remaining in his body was burning vividly after taking the medicine made by Enon. He had never before experienced something so faint becoming so clear.

If he could grasp and bring it out again.

Yuder explained the sensations he had felt and his assumptions about the change in power as positively as possible. Kishiar listened quietly in silence.

A while later, his answer was not entirely negative.

"If it's as you say, you might be able to achieve good results."

"Then..."

"But it's still difficult to be sure that the same result as my time will come, even if the same thing happens again. A single attempt can go wrong, or you might get hurt."

He knew that. But wasn't it better than not trying at all? He was about to say just that when—

"...So let me test it first."

"Yes?"

At the unexpected words, he questioned, and Kishiar calmly replied.

"I was in a condition similar to His Majesty's, and to some extent, it's still true. Therefore, if you first try it on me and succeed again, the chances of failure will be reduced, won't they?"

It was a valid argument. If he could actually try the same thing again, there were also thoughts of dealing with Kishiar's vessel problem.

But strangely enough, the acceptance did not come easily as he looked at Kishiar's face, confidently telling him to practice on him without hesitation. The man who saw Yuder's hesitation gave a sweet smile and shook his head.

"Did you propose a method you're not even confident to try? If that's the case, I can't accept it."

"...No. If you cooperate, of course, I will try it."

"Good, I like that."

Kishiar put down his half-empty glass of alcohol.

"First, this letter was sent by someone other than His Majesty for situation reporting, so I plan to wait for the next letter from His Majesty and then decide when to move. When will you start the trial?"

"It's difficult right now. After I understand it a bit more... Would it be alright to tell you around tomorrow night?"

"That's fine."

Kishiar's expression was fresh, but on the contrary, Yuder felt a slight weight on his shoulders. He had another drink of alcohol instead of water, and then glanced at the two letters in front of Kishiar. He knew all the contents of the letter from the imperial palace, but he didn't yet know what news was in the letter from the Cavalry.

"By the way, what was the content of the letter from the Cavalry?"

"Ah, this one? It's a report that the capital is in an uproar because Duke Tain has been summoned for investigation related to this incident. The gambling houses he frequented also seem to have closed down one after another thanks to this."

"It has spread that far already."

"It's the result of many people working hard there."

How many people must have worked behind the scenes for this result? Yuder thought of the Cavalry members who would have been sweating in the capital and the Great Sarain Forest, and Pruelle, who might be finishing up in the capital and returning by now.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door and called for Kishiar.

"Commander, are you there? There's an urgent contact from the security management team."

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