'…Kishiar is…'

Yuder rose from his seat and went outside.

Unlike the dimly lit makeshift bedroom, the sun still shone through the large window of the conference room. This meant he hadn’t been asleep for long.

Kishiar was also there, engrossed in something.

It certainly wasn’t the mountain of paperwork piled up. Yuder moved a bit closer to discover that Kishiar was focused on an old strategy board game. He wasn't playing alone; all the game pieces were set on the hexagonal board as if ready for play. Kishiar’s gaze seemed lost in some profound thought.

"…Commander?"

"Hm?"

Kishiar finally turned his head. How deeply must he have been lost in thought to not even notice the presence of someone who would usually catch his attention even from a distance?

Yuder carefully concealed his rising curiosity and shifted his gaze to the strategy board game Kishiar had been observing.

"What were you doing?"

"Hm... I woke up not too tired and had nothing to do, so I was exploring around here when I found this," Kishiar said, gesturing to the worn-out board with a smile.

"It reminded me of the beginner set I first used when I learned to play strategy games. It’s likely that the same craftsman made both; mine was made in an eastern workshop as well. It was lost before I moved to Peletta, so seeing this brought back memories."

The beginner set wasn’t vastly different from what he'd used before. The pieces were just smaller, lighter, and more colorful. Though the vibrant colors on this particular board had faded with time, Yuder's gaze was inexplicably drawn to it just knowing that it resembled what Kishiar had used in his youth.

"Would you like to ask Zachlis to give it to you? It seems to be unused; he might not mind parting with it."

"No, that won’t be necessary. It’s not something I need right now," Kishiar mumbled as he fiddled with one of the game pieces.

"It just reminded me of when I first learned to play."

When Kishiar first learned to play strategy games, it must have been when he was very young.

Yuder wondered how old he might have been. Was he so young that even holding those small pieces was a challenge? Or perhaps…

A portrait of young Kishiar in the Imperial Palace fleetingly came to Yuder’s mind. Perhaps because he’d seen the real-life image, he could easily imagine the boy with angelic golden locks sitting in front of a strategy board game.

'I was quite frustrated when I had to learn such things,' Yuder thought.

But Kishiar was likely different, enjoying the challenge because that was his nature.

As Yuder vaguely imagined this, the chill he felt when he woke up dissipated, replaced by a warm feeling filling his heart. Yuder’s eyes softened, prompting Kishiar to rise from his seat and cover the board game.

"Well, Juan will be here soon. Shall we go and observe the second test?"

He naturally picked up the coat that Yuder had laid aside. Despite Yuder's protests that it was unnecessary, Kishiar skillfully helped him put it on. Then, as if asking for a token of gratitude, he planted a kiss near Yuder’s temple. He was the same playful Kishiar as always; nothing seemed different at all.

What was the issue with him simply wanting to enjoy a strategy game, reminiscent of the old days? Especially when he was about to go through his first proper heat period, which was affecting his behavior in subtle ways. That should be the bigger concern here.

Yuder thought that far before leaving the meeting room with Kishiar.

…

...But maybe he shouldn't have.

"As expected of Yuder Aile... As soon as you step in, the applicants' true abilities are revealed and their real intentions are exposed. How fortunate it was that it wasn't me."

"Wait, how did you even catch that guy who was trying to cheat by secretly hiring another Awakener to take the test? You all saw it, right? Everyone was surprised, except for the Commander."

"Oh, we saw it. Had a hard time managing my expression, pretending like I knew what was going on, just like the Commander."

"Don't you guys know? I heard Yuder used to be a mercenary before he joined our group. That's why he can see through most deceptions."

"Really?"

"No way. I heard he was a disciple taught the art of the sword by a master swordsman who hid his true identity."

"What are you talking about? Wasn't he the disciple of a mad mage living in some mountain valley? And isn't that mage related to the bearded mage currently at the Cavalry headquarters?"

‘I'm sorry, but none of that is true.’

Yuder looked at the Cavalry members animatedly discussing him and wondered when they would finally stop gossiping.

"Is it... is it true? Is Yuder really like that?"

'...If I let this go on, Jimmy will probably believe everything they're saying.'

"Enough, all of you. Wasn't there enough training this morning?"

As Yuder approached them quietly and spoke, all the members shuddered. Faces turned to him with forced smiles.

"Huh, Yuder! What do you mean, not enough training this morning?"

"It feels like everyone's stamina has improved since we came to the East, but our training hasn't caught up. Feels like we have too much leftover energy."

"What are you talking about? Can't you see we can barely move? Only Jimmy and you are up and walking!"

"That's right! How can you say such nonsense? We're already pushing our limits just by not skipping training while working!"

"Well, if you don't like it, then don't do it. The capital side has already increased their training level."

Training may be torturous, but lagging behind others is even more unbearable.

Years of indoctrination and training had conditioned the members to react incredibly fast to such competitiveness.

"What? The capital side already elevated their training level?"

"Then it's a different story. Tell us, too!"

"We can't afford to be inferior to those in the capital next time we meet!"

He knew they would react like that. Such naiveté.

Yuder handed Jimmy a new training schedule that their counterparts in the capital were probably grinding through as they spoke. Jimmy's eyes lit up as he quickly read through it.

"Wow! This is amazing! They've added twice the amount of strength and flexibility training to the basic regimen, and also specialized advanced training based on individual skills! I'll practice swinging my sword with a rock attached to it without dropping it while repeating the training manual! This is exciting!"

The training requirements had gotten significantly more difficult, and while Jimmy was excited like a puppy, the faces of the rest of the members turned a shade of green.

"Wh...what is this? Is this really meant for humans to do? It's not like something out of an exaggerated knight novel, is it?"

"Yuder, don't lie! How could those guys in the capital possibly do this?"

"You told me you couldn't do it before, but now you can do everything."

"Well...! Yes, but! Darn it! Even so!"

"Enough whining. Don't forget the list I gave you yesterday, and train as diligently as always."

"Uh... Wait, where are you going?"

It was then that the members finally sensed the unusual atmosphere surrounding Yuder and awkwardly looked around. Yuder was already fully prepared to leave, dressed even in the robe he'd worn when he first arrived at Hartan.

"That's right, I'm leaving. My work in the East is done."

"What? What about the Commander?"

"He said to understand that he has to leave quietly due to the situation. I came here just to deliver the training schedule."

"No way, this soon..."

Though they couldn't hide their surprise, the members soon nodded in agreement. Jimmy, unable to conceal his disappointment, stood and tightly hugged Yuder.

"I wanted to spar with you a bit more! My parents are planning to move their business base to Hartan, so they wanted to meet you if possible..."

"We can meet next time."

"Alright... I'm going back to the capital anyway... Uh, but, brother."

While hugging Yuder, Jimmy suddenly lifted his head as if sensing something. A confused boy, rubbing his head against Yuder's chest, whispered softly into Yuder's ear.

"I smell something from you. Are you not feeling well?"

"..."

It seemed the scent had intensified, not just in moments of heightened emotion, but in general. Yuder immediately masked the scent and frowned.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"It's not nothing... I'm pretty sure it's something..."

Even though he was still young, Jimmy seemed to be an Alpha who had remarkably keen scent detection. It was incredibly strange to have someone detect his scent, but Yuder supposed it was something he'd have to get used to. Confused by Jimmy's abrupt behavior, the other members watched as Yuder calmly bid them farewell.

"Then, I'm leaving. Report any problems, and I'll see you later."

"Uh, yeah. Take care!"

"There might not be any great monsters or bandits to ambush you on your journey... but still, be careful!"

As Yuder moved away from them toward the back gate of Hartan Castle, he saw Kishiar, Nathan Zuckerman, Zachlis, and Dermila already mounted on their horses.

"Did you say your goodbyes?"

"Yes."

Kishiar smiled.

"It's regrettable to send you off so quietly... But time is of the essence. We've included some rations and items useful for night travel in your baggage. Please accept them."

Zachlis and Dermila had sent the servants away, insisting on bidding him farewell personally. Yuder accepted the small package from Dermila without hesitation and briefly conveyed his thanks.

"Thank you."

"May you remain healthy until we meet again!"

The task of recruiting members in the East, which had posed no great challenges, was swiftly concluded.

Their next destination was the West.

…

"Greetings, Commander! I am now the official Western Branch Leader, not just an interim one—Emun Philang!"

The West was already an established branch, requiring less attention than the East. The familiar faces in the West greeted them warmly and treated them with as much care as Zachlis had.

They had assessed the situation of the Western pioneers, who gathered in numbers second only to the capital. They heard stories of the Awakeners, previously affiliated with the Star of Nagran, who had been remarkably silent in their activities in the West. Time had flown as they met with Marty and Robel, and heard about the cleanup from previous incidents.

And so it was that Yuder, who had gone to sleep in the modest mansion of Baron Koelt, the new lord of Tainu, abruptly woke up. His eyes shot open, gripped by an unidentifiable cold sensation that seemed to come out of nowhere.

'…'

What could it have been? He tried to grasp the sensation, rubbing his head, but it remained elusive.

Hesitant, he stepped out of his room, only to find that Kishiar's room light was on, despite the late hour.

"...Commander."

He knocked on the door, and soon after, a man appeared, clad in nightclothes and sporting a smile.

"Hmm? What brings you here at this hour? Can't sleep?"

"Why aren't you sleeping, Commander?"

"It's customary to have a drink on such a moonlit night."

Yuder sensed the jest, though he didn't fully understand the comment. His gaze shifted beyond Kishiar's shoulder to the table behind him, where a bottle and glass were set. Apparently, Kishiar really had been drinking alone.

'...Wait a minute.'

"Have you also been playing a strategy game by yourself?"

Yuder's eyes narrowed as he spotted a strategy board game next to the glass. At his question, Kishiar turned his head and glanced behind him.

"Well, it helps me sort out my thoughts when I have nothing to do? Baron Koelt seems to love these games; he has one in every room. Isn’t there one in your room as well?"

That was true. Yuder recalled hearing that during dinner, and he remembered that indeed, there was a game board among the amenities for guests in a corner of his room.

Yuder had no particular interest in it; he had merely given it a glance and moved on. But it wasn't strange that the man before him felt differently.

Still, something felt odd.

'…Something feels off.'

Seeing Yuder simply gaze at him, a slightly puzzled smile crept onto Kishiar's face.

"Thought I might have been up to something else?"

"…You seem to be sleeping too little."

"Your concern always warms my heart in a way nothing else can, but look at me. Does this look like the face of someone who's sleep-deprived?"

He had a point. Thanks to his drinking, Kishiar's complexion was even better than usual. He looked like a tempter who had the night at his fingertips. Unlike times when he’d lost sleep before, his skin didn't lack luster nor did shadows linger under his eyes.

However, the unsettling feeling did not dissipate. Why was that?

"Hmm... perhaps as the time approaches, your senses are becoming more acute. It happens. I've experienced a few heat periods since my Awakening, and they were not always pleasant."

Kishiar, who had been scrutinizing Yuder's face, sighed softly, opened the door wider, and gracefully gestured for him to come in.

"Come in, the hallway is too cold to stand barefoot. Would you like to join me for a drink?"

Drinking would have no effect on Yuder, but he thought that spending time together might clarify this strange mood. So, he accepted the invitation.

Yet, as soon as they entered, Kishiar naturally began to put away the strategy board. Throughout their late-night conversation, there were no peculiar comments.

Kishiar kept Yuder entertained with all kinds of amusing stories, even managing to coax a faint smile out of him. He seemed pleased with himself for doing so.

Yes, he seemed pleased. At least, that's how it appeared.