Kishiar's gaze landed on a square fully prepared for an elaborate welcome ceremony. Yuder's eyes widened at the sight of a raised platform towering above the neatly seated dignitaries and the two people sitting there.

For several years now, in events requiring the Emperor's presence, the Empress had typically represented him alongside Crown Prince Katchian. However, Katchian was nowhere to be seen on the highest platform of today's square. Instead, occupying the seat was none other than Emperor Keilusa, the person who rightfully should be at the highest position in the empire.

Clad in opulent ceremonial robes identical to the Empress's, the Emperor looked significantly thinner than when last seen. However, he didn't appear to be someone on the brink of death.

'...I thought he'd surely be in the imperial palace, considering he was said to have collapsed.'

Yuder wasn't the only one surprised; the Cavalry members, nobles, and everyone else couldn't take their eyes off the Emperor. Despite sensing the weight of those countless gazes, the Emperor quietly stared ahead, as if he were alone.

In a lowered voice, Yuder asked while alternately glancing at the two brothers,

"Is it alright for His Majesty the Emperor to make an appearance like this?"

"Of course not. If they had told me they'd arrange such an event, I would have somehow opposed it and interfered. They caught me off guard."

Although his tone sounded light, as if finding the situation absurd, his eyes didn't convey the same levity. Yuder couldn't even begin to guess the complex emotions Kishiar must be experiencing.

Having spent ten years as a Cavalry Commander, Yuder thought he was fairly adept at dealing with people. Yet, now he was at a loss for words. Noticing Yuder's unusual silence, Kishiar blinked several times before cracking a smooth smile.

"Are you worried about me right now?"

"..."

"It's fine. What's done is done. This event is a rare opportunity His Majesty has provided for the Cavalry. Our job now is to not waste it."

"...Yes."

"If His Majesty knew me, I also know his temperament. If there were even the slightest possibility he could collapse here, he wouldn't have made such a bold choice, given the circumstances. That's the kind of man he is."

‘If you say so, then it must be so,’ Yuder responded with a small nod.

"Understood. However, I will remain vigilant and keep an eye on our surroundings just in case."

"It feels like I've gained the most reliable barrier in the world. Thank you."

Kishiar burst into a broad smile. His hair was a mess, ruffled as he ran his fingers through his bangs as if trying to contain himself, but Yuder said nothing.

The horse-drawn carriages carrying the Cavalry members reached the square, naturally following the wave of cheers. Stepping down from his carriage, Kishiar looked around and waved his hand, exuding an air of calm as if he had known about this all along. The cheers from the crowd grew exponentially louder at the sight of the dazzlingly handsome Duke of Peletta. Soldiers blocking the street suddenly became more active, thanks to people trying to get closer to Kishiar.

Seeing Kishiar move forward with unshakable confidence, the members also quickly shed their anxiety and followed him with visibly brightened expressions. Without a single word of explanation, everything proceeded as if it had all been perfectly planned from the beginning.

Yuder followed just a step behind Kishiar, quickly scanning his surroundings. Directly below the platform where the Emperor sat, stood the Cavalry members in the capital, including Steiber, whom he hadn't seen in a while. They must have already known about today's welcoming ceremony.

"Even so, not a word reached us. Emperor Keilusa sure prepared this meticulously," Yuder thought.

In the VIP seats filling the square were not only nobles but also mages draped in courtly robes, Imperial Knights, and high-ranking officers within the Imperial Army. Yuder picked out familiar faces among them and paused momentarily when his eyes landed on a particular spot.

‘It's been a while since I’ve seen him, Apeto’s First Son, Aishes... I wonder if Revlin is here too.’

Aishes, who had been focusing almost entirely on external activities since the Apeto incident, curbing his father the Duke's influence, attended as the representative of his family today as well. Though he was only a step away from a dukedom, his complexion seemed much worse than before.

‘Well, he died not long ago in his previous life. It's understandable, but today's Aishes looks particularly sharp and gloomy,’ Yuder thought.

Revlin sat at a distance that made it hard to consider him part of Aishes' family, alongside his lover. He sat closest to the Cavalry’s capital unit, laughing and jesting, a face filled with both pride and envy.

‘It seems he regrets not being able to formally attend today's ceremony as he's still a temporary member,’ Yuder pondered. ‘We'll be accepting new members soon, so he should be able to join us next time.’

While thinking about when would be the best time to share this good news with Revlin, Yuder suddenly turned his head, sensing a hostile aura prickling his skin. Not a significant threat, but when he looked, it was none other than Kiolle da Diarca, sitting beside Duke Diarca, glaring at him ineffectively.

‘Even from such a distance, he managed to find me among the members,’ Yuder thought, noticing Kiolle's lips moving as if muttering something. It seemed Kiolle was very unhappy that Yuder had returned alive and well. However, given that no oath magic was triggered, it seemed he had improved his harmful language habits somewhat.

Just as Yuder was about to dismiss him as unworthy of further attention, he noticed a new emblem on the chest plate of Kiolle's armor and narrowed his eyes.

‘Isn't that... the symbol for the Crown Prince's escort knights?’

Though distant, he was sure of it. Ever since one of his eyes had opened to the Eye of Magic, Yuder had realized that he occasionally saw things more clearly than before. It was an ability he had discovered unknowingly in Tainu, allowing him to read expressions remarkably well even in the dark, and to see distant landmarks that others could barely confirm.

The emblem on Kiolle's armor was unmistakably that of the Crown Prince's escort knights.

"Did the Diarca family decide to attach Kiolle to Katchian?"

Whether it rained or shined, the person who should be by Katchian's side was here alone. Normally this would be unthinkable, but it probably didn't matter since they likely didn't expect Kiolle to perform his escort duties adequately anyway.

Deciding to investigate this new development further, Yuder completely shifted his focus. Just then, all members of the Cavalry lined up neatly behind Kishiar as the Emperor and Empress rose from their seats.

The Emperor broke his years-long silence, speaking before the crowd of citizens who were gazing at him intently.

"Today, I stand before you to express my gratitude to the heroes who have bravely confronted the threats to our Empire and returned without the help of anyone else."

His voice, amplified through magic, resounded high and far, silencing the crowd. Even under the weight of hundreds, thousands of eyes focused solely on him, the Emperor continued to speak without faltering.

He talked about the enormous crisis caused by the sudden outbreak of monsters in the western regions this year, citing the massive damage suffered by neighboring nations. He also subtly touched upon the illegal trade that was taking place in the west, tacitly approved by the nobles who were supposed to be protecting the area.

The Emperor’s ability to praise the Cavalry’s deeds while skillfully reprimanding the wrongdoers was undoubtedly in Kishiar's bloodline.

At first, the citizens were merely intrigued by the fact that the Emperor had spoken. But as they listened, they became increasingly engrossed. The atmosphere improved even more as Kishiar cleverly redirected the Cavalry’s accomplishments towards the Emperor and the Empire. Eventually, cheers and applause filled the square at the end of each of the Emperor's sentences. Several nobles, including Duke Diarca, wore stone-faced expressions upon seeing the crowd's reaction.

As the speech neared its end, the air in the square palpably simmered with excitement.

"...And so, I will bestow appropriate rewards to Commander Kishiar La Orr and the 330 members of the Cavalry, along with everyone who assisted in this endeavor. A party has been arranged in the imperial palace to celebrate; do not decline but enjoy. I sincerely thank you for your efforts in saving the West."

With the conclusion of the Emperor's words, the square erupted into the loudest cheer yet.

As a bouquet of flowers tossed by someone brushed against his hair and fell to the ground, Yuder momentarily forgot all the serious thoughts he'd been harboring and looked up at the sky.

Bright flower petals floated endlessly under the crystal-clear blue sky.

The spectacle was remarkably similar to the day when he had felt breathless, yet what lay before his eyes was entirely different.

Yuder felt a shiver run down his spine as he looked at Kishiar, who stood confidently before him, smiling with ease.

The Cavalry's first welcome ceremony ended flawlessly, without any issues.

…

Returning to the Cavalry headquarters after a long time, everything remained unchanged.

Still charged with excitement, the members listened as Kishiar briefly announced a week-long vacation and a bonus multiple times their monthly salary, encouraging them to enjoy their time off before heading upstairs.

Half of the members immediately left to drink, while the rest headed to their quarters for some much-needed rest. Yuder was, of course, among the latter. Although many comrades wanted to detain him, his close friends deterred them by mentioning his possible lingering injuries, allowing him to quickly leave.

Carrying his bag and walking toward his room, Yuder remembered a somewhat enigmatic gesture that Kishiar had left him with before heading upstairs.

'...He definitely winked at me, but I can't figure out why.'

It could simply be that he was in a good mood, but the expression seemed to hold a deeper meaning. The problem was that Yuder couldn't guess what it could be.

After setting down his luggage and washing up, Yuder thought he would head to his room.

Standing in front of his room, a sight he hadn't seen for quite some time, Yuder took a deep breath before grasping the doorknob. Opening the door without giving it much thought, he saw the inside and promptly shut it again.

‘What the...?’

Doubting his eyes, he cautiously opened the door once more. But the view inside remained unchanged. After staring at the bewildering sight for a good while, he finally stepped in and closed the door behind him.

‘What on earth is this…’

Yuder's small room, which was suitable for a single person to live in, was originally clean enough to be emptied at any moment if he packed up his clothes and belongings. But now, the room he saw was covered in countless flowers, as if the entire square he had just left had been transplanted into it.

No matter how many times he closed and opened his eyes, the view did not change.

Who could have possibly brought so many flowers here, and why? The identity of the culprit was beyond doubt.

Yuder recalled a paper flower Kishiar had left for him during a night in the Great Sarain Forest.

"Celebrating your recovery. The real thing will come later."

That flower, with those words written on it, was still hidden deep in Yuder's luggage where no one would find it.

Could this be the "real thing"?

So absurd that it made him laugh, Yuder carefully tried not to step on the flowers that reached up to his ankles, but eventually gave up and tossed his bag onto the flower-covered bed.

The thrown petals stuck to Yuder's clothes and skin as they landed with a rustling sound. A fragrant and subtle aroma strongly penetrated his nostrils and seeped into his chest.

Closing his eyes momentarily against the almost dizzying fragrance, Yuder found himself already outside his room, running up the stairs to the top floor.

Without bothering to knock, he opened the door that revealed itself in the blink of an eye. The man standing behind the desk near the window of the Commander's room turned his head, flipping his hair back.

Just as the man started to form a playful smile, opening his mouth to say something, Yuder leapt toward him.

The scent transformed into heat in an instant.

—---

[Chapter 456.5]

"Yuder is truly amazing!"

Jimmy, who had climbed into a cart covered in dirt, exclaimed with exhilarated enthusiasm.

The boy had finally managed to engage in a brief duel with Yuder Aile. During their evening relaxation time after dinner, the members who had spent the day traveling by cart and horse all gathered to watch the duel.

Jimmy unleashed all the abilities he had developed over time. His strength had indeed increased significantly. However, he ultimately couldn't so much as nick the hem of Yuder Aile's clothing. Yuder, who had shown immense strength against the monsters of the Great Sarain Forest, effortlessly dodged or swung at thin air in front of Jimmy's outreached hand.

After a few rounds of attack and defense, Yuder effortlessly disarmed Jimmy with fluid movements, wielding the weapon far more skillfully than its original owner. In a single stroke, he defeated his opponent and had a blade at his throat, forcing a surrender. Even without using any significant abilities, the skill gap between them was so overwhelming that the onlookers were utterly deflated.

But Jimmy didn't feel bad at all. Every time he lost to Yuder, his eyes sparkled with immense joy. It was only after repeating the same act five times and hearing from Commander Kishiar that it was time to move on that the young boy finally stepped back. Still unable to contain his excitement, he eagerly shared his thoughts with Gakane and the Eldore siblings, who were in the same carriage.

"You see, just because my power has increased a bit doesn't mean I’m suddenly all that. I can see where the tip of his sword is going, so I've been told to practice my basic swordsmanship five more times a day. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to add ten more!"

"Haha, Jimmy. You can roll around like that and not get tired?"

Gakane asked, his eyes a mix of admiration and pride.

"Not at all! Actually, I wanted to ask the Commander if he would spar with me too, but alas, I couldn't."

Finn Eldore shook his head at the audacious comment from the exuberant twelve-year-old.

"A one-on-one duel with the Commander? Ugh, no thanks."

"Me neither."

Hinn Eldore echoed her brother's sentiment, making the same face.

"Why not?"

"Do you really not know? The Commander never lets anything end easily."

"Yeah, I've never seen him end a duel quickly, even when his opponents are completely exhausted!"

As the twins exchanged nods of silent agreement, Jimmy, who had been tilting his head, cautiously spoke up.

"Um... what about Yuder then? Is it not so great to spar with him?"

"Yuder's fine. He's quick to the point."

"What about you, Gakane?"

"Me? Well... If you're asking who I'd choose for a one-on-one training session, I think I'd go with Yuder."

"Huh. I thought Gakane, who is so eager to train, would choose the Commander. Why Yuder?"

Faced with Hinn's question, Gakane smiled awkwardly and cautiously added his reason.

"Well, Yuder would probably move on to the next person if I passed out, but the Commander... he'd likely keep watching until I woke up again..."

"Ugh, I can imagine it! That face as he watches, smiling!"

"Gakane, don't tell me you've experienced it?"

The noise from the Eldore siblings died down, and Jimmy changed the subject.

"So, who do you think would win in a duel between the Commander and Yuder?"

"Hmm?"

Jimmy scratched his head, gauging the looks from the three.

"Honestly... I'm curious. Am I the only one?"

Comparing someone from humble origins, who joined the Cavalry around the same time as them, to the sky-high, noble Commander was normally unimaginable and quite risky. But they were the Cavalry.

After a moment of silence, Finn, who had been rubbing his chin thoughtfully, finally spoke, looking at his twin sister.

"Uh... this is tough."

"Seriously. I've never faced such a difficult question before. Do you think Uncle Macky felt this way when we pranked him to tell us apart?"

"What pranks have you guys been playing?"

"Not telling."

Although Gakane asked in a trembling voice, the twins just laughed and didn't answer.

Afterward, the four engaged in a rather serious debate about 'The duel between Yuder Aile and Commander: who would be the winner?' It was an engrossing topic that helped pass the time, given that they had to be stuck in a carriage heading towards the capital all day.

"No, Yuder single-handedly decapitated that massive monster. Using Earth abilities to bind its legs and Wind abilities for offense, it had nowhere to run. Wouldn't anyone with that much skill be unbeatable?"

"Well, we've hardly ever seen the Commander exert full effort. I've never seen him struggle against anyone. He's never been injured like Yuder either. So wouldn't that make him stronger?"

"But Yuder is—"

"No, if the Commander back then—"

"Ugh! We're getting nowhere!"

After a fervent debate, Hinn finally raised both hands and shouted, cutting everyone off.

"What's the point of arguing about something that hasn't even happened yet? Boring! Let's make a bet instead!"

"What kind of bet?"

Finn immediately perked up and responded.

"Just bet on who will win! We'll find out the answer eventually!"

"Sounds fun for a change! But what are we wagering?"

"Money is probably the best, right?"

"True. I heard we're getting a bonus after the mission wraps up, so we could take a little from there. Sounds good to me!"

"Oh, I want in on this. Count me in."

"Wait a minute, everyone, calm down! Betting money is essentially gambling."

"What are you talking about, Gakane? You're from the South and you think this is gambling? Grow a spine!"

Gakane looked as if he wanted to ask what being from the South had to do with anything, but he was overwhelmed by the group's enthusiasm and said nothing. Not content with merely drawing Gakane into the bet, Hinn dreamed bigger.

"Wouldn't it be more fun if more people were involved? I think we should hear other people's opinions as well."

"Hinn... aren't you blowing this out of proportion?"

"Don't worry, it's fine. First, let's ask people what they think about the question Jimmy is curious about. If they show interest, then and only then will I gently ask them if they'd like to participate! Absolutely won't force anyone who's not interested!"

"But there might not be anyone like that."

The twins exchanged glances, smiling devilishly as they clasped hands. Gakane tried a few more times to dissuade them but eventually gave up.

And so, unbeknownst to the Commander and his assistant, an oddly suspicious survey and pool of bettors began to form within the Cavalry.