Turning
chapter-722

“…Does the blood on your clothes also stem from that incident?”

"It would seem so," came the nonchalant reply.

Kishiar, upon this remark, glanced briefly at the bloodstains on his garment, acknowledging them anew. Though not a matter of great concern to him, Yuder remembered the intense pounding of his heart when he first saw those stains from afar, the memory still vivid.

As Yuder's gaze grew increasingly cold, Kishiar explained the recent events with a smile. "After dispatching my assistant, on my way back to the branch, the carriage suddenly lost direction and started shaking uncontrollably. Then arrows came flying out of nowhere. Stepping outside, I was confronted by unfamiliar assailants."

It would sound odd to say that sudden attacks like blind arrows piercing his carriage were common, but for Kishiar, such incidents had become almost routine. Ever since the previous Emperor's passing, attempts on the life of Emperor Keilusa and his entourage were nearly a daily occurrence.

Even while living inconspicuously in Peletta, Kishiar faced clever assassination attempts now and then. Known as a man marked for death, there were always those who desired to hasten his end.

Within the wildly shaking carriage, Kishiar sat quietly, maintaining his balance as if he were in another world, thanks to his subtle mastery of force, an almost unreal sight.

"My Lord Duke Peletta! Are you alright?" shouted the coachman, opening the small door connecting to the carriage's interior, his voice loud with concern and alarm. He suggested leaping out at a clearer spot, given the uncontrolled speed of the horses. Kishiar, unsurprised, nodded in agreement.

"That seems wise," he concurred.

"I'm sorry! I'll try to stop the horses..." the coachman began.

"No need. I'll get down first and deal with the enemies. That will divert their attention, and you can continue driving," Kishiar advised calmly.

"What?" The coachman, dodging arrows, was astonished, not having noticed that the arrows had been missing their target all along, thanks to Kishiar's push-and-pull abilities.

"It's too dangerous to abruptly stop the carriage, for both you and the horses. Why risk lives needlessly here?" Kishiar reasoned, still smiling.

"But...!" the coachman protested, still baffled.

"Just a bit further is the Cavalry branch. Break through at the first chance and call for reinforcements. A few might follow, but if you trust my words and don't delay, it's doable."

This suggestion of seeking support was unexpected to the coachman, who had thought Kishiar intended to flee alone. Yet Kishiar offered no further explanation.

The carriage door suddenly swung open with a loud noise, without being touched. Despite the perilously swaying door, Kishiar rose, stepping out as if about to descend comfortably.

"Not now... My Lord!" The coachman, thinking it wasn't the right time to open the door, cried out in alarm. To his astonishment, Kishiar landed lightly on the ground without any apparent impact. Amid the coachman's astounded gaze, the barrage of arrows ceased, and the faces of the mysterious assailants began to emerge.

Thanks to Kishiar's foresight, the carriage, unnoticed by anyone, found its path surprisingly clear ahead. The coachman, realizing that everything had unfolded as Kishiar predicted, clenched his teeth and steered the horses towards the southern branch, speeding away as he caught a last glimpse of the assailants converging on the Duke of Peletta.

Watching the carriage disappear, Kishiar surveyed his surroundings with an inscrutable smile. There were about fifteen assailants in total. They seemed too conspicuous for assassins, dressed not in battle gear but in ordinary civilian clothes, some cloaked in robes that didn't stand out much.

Most notably, they appeared to be Awakeners.

Their eyes shone with excitement and tremor, weapons at the ready. Yet, within those eyes, there was an unmistakable trace of fear and uncertainty, unfamiliar with the situation at hand. Surrounded by them, Kishiar, unfazed and smiling, kindly initiated the conversation.

"So many guests to greet in such a place. Shouldn't you at least tell me where you're from?"

"We are...," someone began to reply.

"Don't answer him. Remember, the Duke of Peletta is an Awakener too! Get back!"

A woman interrupted, likely the group's leader.

“Sera…”

Kishiar pretended not to hear her name, muttered by the hesitant assailants, but he made sure to remember it.

Paying attention elsewhere while keeping his ears open for crucial information was one of his specialties.

They knew who Kishiar was. Their pursuit and attack indicated that this wasn't a spontaneous encounter but a premeditated ambush, possibly connected to the untimely death of the Second Prince of Herne and the fact that Kishiar might be absent from the southern branch.

It seemed impossible unless they were behind the Second Prince of Herne's death.

Sera, the apparent leader, didn't strike Kishiar as exceptionally skilled or powerful, leading him to wonder who truly orchestrated this group. With a seemingly vacant gaze, Kishiar's mind worked rapidly, drawing near-accurate conclusions that others might miss.

Before Kishiar could identify the 'real' leader within the group, the assailants, deciding they couldn't delay further, charged again.

"You three, follow the carriage! The rest, proceed as planned! Block the path so he can't escape!"

Three were chasing the carriage. Kishiar hoped the coachman remembered his instructions and didn't look back.

As Sera gave the order, the attack commenced in a somewhat coordinated manner. Lacking the finesse of professional assassins or the refined strength of Cavalry members, the Awakener assailants made up for their inexperience with their extraordinary abilities.

They showed signs of training, albeit unorthodox.

Kishiar, using his mastery of push and pull forces, moved swiftly, dodging the attacks. He could move faster but deliberately moderated his speed to narrowly evade, provoking his adversaries further.

"D*mn it! How does he dodge like that?"

"My arrows can't reach him!"

"Fools. That must be the Duke's power. Don't get entangled! Keep attacking!"

Even as she spoke, Sera's face contorted in response to the unexpected turn of events.

The Duke of Peletta, arrogantly alone and without even drawing the sword at his waist, was an impressive figure. Despite rumors of his frailty, his tall stature and solid build were initially startling. They thought him no serious threat, assuming his ability to merely evade attacks was the extent of his power. Yet, frustratingly, they couldn't land a single blow on him.

The plan was straightforward: swiftly strike a blow at the Duke of Peletta and the core of the Cavalry, then retreat. Lingering in combat within the city, even in its outskirts, was not advantageous for them.

"Sh*t."

Beside Sera, a comrade fiercely launched a sharpened twig like a dagger at the Duke of Peletta. Kishiar, however, evaded this and other simultaneous attacks with eel-like agility, his fluttering clothes getting nicked and torn by the sharp assaults, almost gracelessly.

How could he so effortlessly dodge the attacks of over ten assailants? And as time passed, it seemed increasingly as if Kishiar was getting better at predicting their individual moves, an impossible thought that, in fact, was true. Kishiar was deliberately observing their attacks to gather information, a concept beyond Sera's understanding.

As the notion that they might be overpowered by the Duke of Peletta dawned on Sera, she, gripped by anxiety, unwittingly glanced towards the collaborator who had suggested this assault and revealed the opportunity. One of the Southern merchants, cloaked in a robe and aiding in the attack, felt her gaze and turned his head, signaling not yet time to retreat.

They had said once the Duke of Peletta was taken down, they would create an escape route for the Southern merchants. With the plan not going as expected, Sera wondered if it was time to deploy that method.

However, the merchant, catching Sera's look, firmly shook his head, indicating it wasn't yet time to fall back.

Just as Sera was about to bite her lip and order a change in attack pattern, she locked eyes with Kishiar's piercing red gaze, which had been watching her all along. Feeling as if her thoughts and emotions were laid bare, she flinched, and in that moment, Kishiar spoke up cheerfully.

"Found you. You're the real 'head' leading these people."

The identified Southern merchant stiffened momentarily. Before he could react, Kishiar, who had been evading until then, charged at him with incredible speed, a stark contrast to his previous movements. The merchant struggled, flailing his weapon as Kishiar grasped his throat.

Another Southern merchant shouted something in an unfamiliar language and began rummaging for something in his clothing.

Before it could be recognized, whatever it was, an unseen force exploded from Kishiar, pushing everyone back with immense pressure.

Sera and her comrades, caught off guard, screamed and tumbled backward.

"Ah!"

"What is this...!"

They spat out the dust, trying to steady their dizzied heads.

Through the settling dust, they saw the Duke of Peletta, now wielding a silvery sword.

[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."

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