"...So, how do you plan to respond to the letter?"

Kishiar's arms, which were holding Yuder, relaxed. His red eyes, lost in thought, scanned the surface of Ever's letter.

"We must wait for news from His Majesty's side before making a firm decision. However, I believe it is highly likely that the sage has escaped beyond the capital, and that is what we should prepare for," he reasoned.

The confidence in his conclusion, drawn merely from the letter, was notable. Kishiar soon explained his reasoning.

"It's no coincidence that Katchian summoned the sage so opportunely. After spending a long period under such ideal conditions for brainwashing, it's likely the sage was already in his grasp in some way."

Yuder had already considered this possibility.

"I too surmised that the sage, while hiding, must have strived to contact Duke Diarca and Crown Prince Katchian to find a way to save his life. Probably through the use of Baron Renbow. This would also explain how he timely escaped from the Cavalry. But how does this relate to your assumption that he headed out of the capital?"

"According to the letter, Duke Diarca was unaware of the sage's true abilities until he saw Katchian. What do you think happened after that encounter?"

Instead of a direct answer, Kishiar posed a question, his lips curling coldly. Yuder then understood why Kishiar had reached his conclusion.

"...He must have realized the true nature of sage’s abilities, just as he wished."

It was uncertain how much Duke Diarca had comprehended about the ability to brainwash. However, it was clear he must have realized the sage's power to manipulate the Crown Prince at will. What could the old fox-like Duke have thought upon learning this?

One thing was certain: he wouldn't have welcomed it.

Duke Diarca's power was realized through Crown Prince Katchian. Would he really want someone else trying to influence the Crown Prince?

'Unlikely.'

But the sage must have anticipated this danger. He knew well that to gain power and survive, he must prove that his abilities were useful to the Crown Prince and, most importantly, to Duke Diarca, and pose no harm.

Kishiar nodded, as if understanding Yuder's thoughts.

"Perhaps this incident led the sage to convey a dual message to Duke Diarca: 'Don't discard me like the others. If cornered, I can use the Crown Prince to my advantage,' and simultaneously, 'But this ability could be immensely beneficial to you.' What kind of response could the Duke have to that?"

"The safest approach for Duke Diarca would be to separate the sage from the Crown Prince's side and then demand proof."

"Exactly. So it's certain that he's the one who left the palace."

"Then the sage would seek to prove his loyalty in the best possible place."

"And where might that be?"

Yuder didn't ponder long.

Throughout the cycles of life, some individuals never change, despite changing circumstances and motivations. Like Nahan, who claimed to act for the Awakeners but ultimately prioritized his own hatred, and the sage, who deceived those who trusted him in his quest for power.

Yuder felt a strong conviction that the sage, like Nahan who had vanished southward, was repeating the end of his previous life.

With this conviction, he replied in a cool voice.

"This place, it seems like the south."

The south, where the sage's original stronghold was located, was also where Kishiar, the ideal prey for Duke Diarca in the current situation, resided.

The sage, intent on proving his trustworthiness, would undoubtedly be unable to resist this temptation.

Kishiar's eyes softened gently.

"I think so too."

"I don't expect things to go as he wishes, but we must be prepared."

"Indeed. It's actually more efficient to handle everything here in one go."

Yuder admired Kishiar's ability to describe the explosive situation so calmly. He liked Kishiar's confident and relaxed tone.

'Truth be told, I understand the frustration of Ever and the others... but from my perspective, this situation is not the worst for us.'

The reason was simple. On the day the sage appeared to meet Duke Diarca, Yuder suspected that the sage's original purpose was ultimately unfulfilled.

The sage sought out Duke Diarca for help. But would Duke Diarca have readily offered assistance upon meeting him?

The sage must have known that the Duke was not a man of warm heart. Despite the sage's diligent efforts to heal the Crown Prince, disrupt the Cavalry's second recruitment, and go on a mission along with his subordinates at the Sun Palace, his actions always fell short of satisfying Duke Diarca. According to Kiolle, their first direct encounter was only recently. At that level, their relationship was barely a cautious acquaintance.

If the catastrophic failure in the south had already reached the capital, Duke Diarca might have tried to kill the sage even before giving him a chance to flee the city.

Yet, if the sage went to Duke Diarca, it was not out of mere confidence. Yuder, more familiar with Awakeners than anyone, sensed the sage's real intention was to 'forcefully persuade' Duke Diarca.

A euphemism for brainwashing, really.

Though the exact conditions for the sage's ability to brainwash were unknown, Kanna had speculated, based on cases involving members from the Star of Nagran, that 'trust' might be the key. Yuder agreed with this theory.

However, even if the conditions for exercising the ability were not fully met, it didn't mean there was no way to use it.

'It's rare, but... some mental ability users can exert a part of their power even in non-ideal situations, through special conditions or sacrifices...'

For instance, Gloe, the card-reader and former Jung Deputy Commander of the Cavalry Yuder once led in his past life.

Her power manifested through tangible, old cards. Without them, she couldn't use her abilities, so her enemies always targeted her cards.

But when Gloe was disarmed and her life hung by a thread, she miraculously created intangible cards to use her powers. Although she couldn't perform this miracle often and had to rest for days afterward, it was a remarkable feat. From this, Yuder realized that some could momentarily exert their powers even when the conditions for activation were not met.

'It was possible due to tremendous experience and effort... But come to think of it, isn't the sage also someone who has used his abilities more than any other Awakeners in the world right now?'

The sage had a history of brainwashing countless people who entered the Star of Nagran. It wouldn't be surprising if he knew a way to briefly brainwash Duke Diarca, even in unfavorable conditions.

'But, it didn't go as planned.'

The ways of the world never seem to bend to the will of just one person. The sage, potentially capable of forcibly brainwashing Duke Diarca, unexpectedly encountered Kiolle at the last moment.

Recalling all the foolish acts of Kiolle mentioned in the letters, Yuder couldn't help but let out a wry laugh.

'To think that he would suddenly appear and be of help...'

Informing Kiolle about the sage's abilities and instructing him to monitor any strange behavior of Duke Diarca was just a precautionary measure. Yuder had even added that if Kiolle acted too suspiciously, he might end up brainwashed by the sage, so he should be loud and disruptive.

Who would have thought that these instructions would become a shield that accurately thwarted the sage in that critical moment?

Thanks to this, it seemed neither Kiolle nor Duke Diarca had fallen under the sage's influence and remained sane, which was far from the worst outcome.

Soon after, Myra returned. Together, they went outside to assist in cleaning up the southern branch and completely erasing the traces of monsters, before disbanding. The south, which had been buzzing with ominous news all day, became momentarily peaceful.

The Cavalry members, busy imprisoning and interrogating the captives, had no rest, but their eyes still shone brightly, possibly due to the lingering excitement of battle. The same was true for the imperial soldiers and the recruits helping them.

The letter from Emperor Keilusa arrived that evening. The Emperor first explained that it took time to plant new mediators of his power since the previous ones were discarded, then shared the information he had gathered.

“Duke Diarca seems to have sent the sage to the south. Katchian protested, but is now quiet. The sage seems closer to Duke Diarca’s men and subtly hinted he’s the real perpetrator of the Sun Palace invasion, but it seems they didn’t believe him. I'll try again. I heard there’s been another major incident in the south. Are there any injured? If you need help, let me know.'

"His Majesty's grace is as vast as the sea."

Kishiar smiled as he burned the letter containing the information.

"Our suspicions have been confirmed now."

"Yes. Now it's time to call in those we need."

Kishiar picked up his pen. He wrote down several names from the headquarters in the capital to be dispatched for additional support to the south, then penned the name of the person in charge at the top.

"I'm thinking of appointing Ever Beck as the leader."

"Is that the punishment you've decided?"

"Yes."

It was a good decision. Ever, for sure, would relentlessly pursue the sage until he was captured for good.

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[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'

[BL] Bermuda

Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.

Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.

"Since when have you been watching me?"

Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.

"From the very beginning."

[BL] The Mist (Same author as Turning)

In the autumn of his 18th year, after winning the high school kendo championship finals, an unexpected accident occurred.

Due to that incident, Kang Mu-heon lost one of his legs, his closest friend, and his promising future. He closed off his heart and shut himself away alone.

A few years later, the world's first real virtual reality game <THE MIST> was announced, where even those with physical disabilities could play in healthy bodies.

By chance, Kang Mu-heon encountered it and began a new life as the mage Kapros, facing unexpected meetings, reunions, and days of change....

***

"Why was someone like you born into this world to make me so miserable? Do you understand when I say it like this?! You were born with talent for the sword, a bright personality, everything - you must have been laughing at me always lagging behind! Did you even know how pathetic I felt because of your stupid hypocrisy? A genius? What does any of that matter!"

Seung-jo's cries stabbed at his heart, wailing as if he were crying even though he wasn't, but there was no time to think further. He quickly clutched my stomach, got up, and ran towards him.

He looked surprised for a moment, but he was desperate.

Just as the car was about to reach us, he shoved Seung-jo hard. Right after Seung-jo fell and rolled away with wide, startled eyes—

Screech!

Bang! With an impact that felt like his whole body was being shattered, he flew through the air.

And in that brief yet long moment of floating in space, he remembered his reflection in Seung-jo's eyes for the last time.......

***

[ Then in THE MIST, may you become the master of infinite possibilities. ]

Whoosh!

When his vision returned after everything went white, he was standing in the middle of a bustling town. Amidst the clamor, countless people were busily going about their business here and there.

He looked down at himself, standing dazed and wearing clothes of unknown origin. When he touched the sleeve, he felt the texture of fabric as real as reality. His hair felt the same, and even when he touched the wall of a nearby house, he could clearly feel the solid, cold surface.

Is this... VT?

It seemed like a joke. It truly felt as if he had come to another world and was touching everything.

As he stood there unable to think due to the shock, he suddenly remembered the biggest reason he had decided to play this game, and snapped back to attention. His two legs were still as they had been when he first stood.

'Can I really walk?'

He first stepped out with his left foot, then very slowly put strength into his heavy right foot. It felt like cold sweat was running down his spine.

And then,

He lifted it,

Moved it,

And took another step to touch the ground again.

So easily. As if there had never been any problem with this leg from the beginning.

"Ah..."

At that moment, something that was neither joy nor emotion shot up his spine. Suddenly feeling a lump in his throat, he lowered his head and leaned against the wall. His right foot, bearing his weight, was doing its job perfectly.

"..."

Holding back the tightness in his throat, he took another step.

It didn't hurt. It wasn't heavy. His leg was no longer a useless piece of wood that ached.

Damn it, to be able to walk so easily like this.

To be able to run so easily like this.

He had wished even in his dreams for the day to come when he could walk and run like this again.

And so he walked again, kept walking, slowly getting faster, until finally he started running like a madman through the entire town.

***

"Kap. ...There seems to be a misunderstanding. That's not what I meant."

Just as he was thinking he should throw a punch, Yu-wan sighed with a troubled look and said.

A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding when he said with his own mouth that he didn't think of me as a friend?

"I didn't expect to receive such a question suddenly, so my explanation was probably too brief. Let me rephrase."

Yu-wan reached out his hand, his face completely changed from before - intense yet resolute - as he stared at him. As he didn't reject the hand suddenly approaching his face and kept his gaze fixed, his cool large hand touched his cheek completely.

A shiver ran down his spine at that moment.

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but I don't see you only as a friend. ...This is the complete answer."

Check out the new project 2:

[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'