"Yuder, so there's nothing more you need from me now?"

Lost in thought, Yuder lifted his head at the sound of Kanna's cautious voice.

"No, there isn't."

"What's next, then?"

"I plan to meet Gakane and Devran in a bit, but there's no urgent need to see them right now. Why?"

Upon hearing his reply, Kanna's eyes widened, as if she had just realized something. "Ah."

"So those two are up to something lately, right? It seemed like they were investigating something, but they haven't told anyone else, so I've been curious. Is it a mission you're involved with too, Yuder?"

"Something like that. How did you know?"

"I knew it! It's definitely not because my abilities suddenly acted up or anything like that! Gakane has been looking a bit gloomy lately, and as I observed, I noticed something different. I only just found out you were involved, too."

As always, Kanna was sharp without even having to use her abilities.

'Ever and Steiber seems to have not been caught on so far... Avoiding Kanna as well would have been difficult.'

It wasn't strictly necessary to keep secret from their immediate superiors that a new intelligence unit had been established within the Cavalry or what investigative mission they were carrying out. However, part of their role moving forward would be to ensure that even perceptive people like Kanna wouldn't notice anything.

'There's a significant difference between not hiding something we could have and failing to hide something we tried to.'

Still, it wasn't bad for a first attempt, as the names of the Eldore siblings hadn't come up. Had they been implicated, Kanna, who had been on a mission with them in the West, would have easily figured out what they were up to.

Yuder decided that he needed to inform his intelligence colleagues of Kanna's discovery, and he openly explained their current mission to her.

"It's not an assignment from the Commander. There's something I personally want to investigate, and I'm doing it with Finn and Hinn as well."

"Ah, is it that thing Hinn and Gakane were really looking forward to in the West?"

"Yes."

"I hadn't noticed anything different with Hinn and Finn. So they've finally started, huh?"

Kanna seemed a little disappointed that she hadn't figured it out, but she didn't forget her primary responsibilities as Deputy Commander. Even if she added her current duties to her role, she'd be overwhelmed even if she had three bodies.

"If you ever need my help, feel free to ask!"

"Will do. But why did you ask if I was busy earlier?"

"Ah, right. Lost my train of thought there."

Kanna blinked her eyes and looked around.

"Yesterday, while Hosanna was awake, he requested a meeting with Gayle and Doyle. I think it should be fine, but I thought you should come along just in case."

"Hosanna?"

"Yes, he usually wakes up around the same time, so he should be waking up soon."

After Hosanna had finally opened his eyes, Yuder had strictly limited who could be around him and had entrusted Kanna with overseeing him. During the time when everyone else was preoccupied with party preparations, Kanna had been juggling her time between Hosanna, Gayle, and the Doyle brothers, reading information from them.

The Doyle brothers would occasionally ask for something from Kanna or other members, but Hosanna spent most of his day still asleep while never letting his guard down. That he had agreed to meet was likely due to Kanna's warm and engaging personality.

'I was planning to probe the three of them about the "Sage" currently in the capital anyway. This works out well.'

"Alright, I'll go with you. But about the favor you said you could do for me earlier—can I ask for it now?"

"Huh? What is it?"

Kanna looked at Yuder with cautious yet curious eyes.

—---

The brothers, who had been eating fruit behind the Cavalry canteen, were startled almost to the point of fainting when Yuder suddenly appeared. However, they calmed down after hearing Kanna's explanation.

"So, Hosanna really called for us?"

"Is it really okay to meet him?"

"It's fine if Yuder says it's fine. Just don't forget that Hosanna is still not well."

"Of course!"

The brothers quickly washed their fruit-sticky hands and followed the two.

"Is the person inside awake?"

Upon reaching the room where Hosanna was staying, Kanna asked the guard who was standing watch. Kanna had entrusted Hosanna to Yuder a short while ago to go eat some snacks. In her absence, Hosanna had woken up, making it difficult for Kanna to ever escape guard duty.

He looked up at Yuder with a momentary sad expression and then nodded.

"Yes, it seems he just woke up... Priestess Lusan is in there with him."

"Got it. I'll go in first to explain, so everyone just wait here for a bit."

Understanding why she was saying that, Kanna patted Yuder's shoulder consolingly and went into the room first. Yuder felt the glances from the brothers but ignored them.

A moment later, Kanna poked her head back out.

"Hosanna's condition is stable. Come in."

On Hosanna's wrist was a cloth strap, still tied gently. Lusan, who was observing his condition, greeted them with a faint smile. Yuder requested that she step out for a moment.

As soon as the young priestess left, Gayle and Doyle rushed toward the bed where Hosanna was lying.

"Hosanna!"

"What happened to you? Where are you hurt?"

"..."

Although Hosanna's face looked better than when he first woke up, it was still incredibly pale in comparison to before. He struggled just to sit up; how long it would take for him to be able to walk was uncertain.

The gaunt young man from the south exhaled a thin breath, his eyes filled with guilt as he looked at the brothers.

"...I'm glad you're well. That's fortunate."

"Yeah, yeah, fortunate or not, we're doing fine here so even last ti— Ow!"

Doyle jabbed Gayle in the side as he began to carelessly mention the past.

"Ouch, why'd you hit me?"

Forgetting they were there to see a patient, the brothers started squabbling among themselves. They only quieted down when their eyes met Yuder's. Whether it was difficult to discuss anything more than pleasantries in front of the Cavalry member or not, they were visibly uncomfortable. Yet, knowing that he was alive seemed to lighten their expressions.

Yuder opened his mouth to Hosanna, who was quite quiet considering he had first requested to meet the brothers.

"Hosanna. Did you not want to tell Gayle and Doyle something?"

"I just wanted to... make sure they were alright."

Hosanna muttered, avoiding eye contact. His voice was faint but noticeably stronger and clearer than before. He had a slight accent in his Imperial language.

"See, they've been doing well. If it hadn't been for you and Nahan, they might have been released by now, not confined within the Cavalry. It's regrettable."

"..."

Hosanna suddenly looked up, surprised. Gayle and Doyle were equally shocked.

"What? What did you say?"

"You were planning to let us go?"

"I've completed all the necessary investigations, and since you guys haven't committed any direct crimes, there's no reason to keep you here any longer."

"So then..."

"Rest assured. What Yuder meant is that it's difficult to do so right now. We're not asking you to leave abruptly. If you want to continue working here and getting paid, you can do so formally. It's better for both Gayle and Doyle, isn't it? Hadn't you said you wanted to do that before?"

As Kanna interjected and skillfully calmed the situation, Gayle and Doyle's expressions, previously filled with anxiety and doubt, quickly brightened.

"Ah... I see. Of course, that's fine then..."

"The reason you're staying here now is because we've judged your situation to be too dangerous. We're keeping you here for your protection."

"Because of Hosanna?"

"That, and there have been some suspicious activities reported in the capital recently."

"Suspicious... activities? Did Nahan cause another uproar?"

"No. He's untraceable at the moment, starting from the west and continuing until now."

Before coming here, thanks to the brothers who asked questions as Yuder had expected, Hosanna finally revealed a somewhat honest reaction.

"So, you're saying Nahan... has not been captured yet?"

"That's correct."

“...”

Hosanna did not question the truthfulness of this statement, which meant that he had built considerable trust in Kanna. Yuder quickly read the emotions that flickered across his face.

Relief, worry, and several other indistinguishable emotions mixed in his expression. He was genuinely concerned about Nahan.

'That guy ran away the moment he knew he failed in his mission, instead of trying to save him.'

"So if it's not Nahan, what exactly are these suspicious activities?"

"We've had multiple sightings of unidentified Awakeners. We think these individuals might belong to the same place as you do."

"What? Did they come to rescue Hosanna and us...?"

"I highly doubt that."

Yuder interjected, causing the brothers to flinch simultaneously.

"Because those who've appeared in the capital are showing no interest in our area. They're only in contact with the nobles."

"Nobles? No one among us is mingling with nobles..."

The brothers' expressions grew puzzled; they couldn't even guess who these mysterious people might be.

"So does Hosanna have to live like us from now on?"

"No. Hosanna, you'll continue to be under investigation. The Commander will decide what to do with you afterward."

Hosanna said nothing. The conversation came to an end as he drifted back to sleep. Gayle and Doyle looked at the sleeping Hosanna with a somewhat pitiful gaze.

"Half of his face is paralyzed. He's always been extremely frail... won't he die like this?"

"There don't seem to be any injuries, so why does he look so ill?"

"He overexerted himself."

Upon hearing Kanna's response, Gayle and Doyle shivered slightly. They may not have known the details, but it was clear they thought it had something to do with Nahan.

'And they would be right.'

"Uh, by the way, would it be okay to visit Hosanna again next time?"

"You can visit during times when he's not under investigation. You'll probably have company, like today."

"Uh-huh... understood."

"I won't make any unnecessary comments."

Considering they had been in the Cavalry for a while, it was fortunate that they were picking up on social cues. Yuder gave Kanna a nod and then left the room first.