Turning
chapter-724

What in the world was this situation?

The prey was supposed to be the Cavalry, but it seemed they were the ones being hunted.

Could it be that the Cavalry knew their plan from the very beginning?

The Awakeners of the Star of Nagran vehemently denied such a possibility in their minds, but their hearts told a different story. They struggled to break free from the chaos, but no path of escape from the Cavalry's encirclement was in sight.

Yet, even in such dire straits, the southern merchants remained quietly on the sidelines, offering no significant assistance. Their eyes, cold and detached, watched the Star of Nagran Awakeners fall and suffer, unlike their previous friendly demeanor.

One of them had narrowly escaped the clutches of Duke Peletta, yet instead of harboring vengeance, they seemed preoccupied with something else.

It was unclear what these seemingly observant and waiting merchants desired, but Sera fervently hoped it was the promised opportunity for escape, thus she protected them with all her might, as promised.

Even Duke Peletta, who seemed to have easily gained the upper hand after reuniting with his men and issuing seamless orders, was keenly observing them.

"Commander, we've almost finished arranging our members to protect the buildings around the branch and evacuating the civilians. Shall we now start suppressing them with our powers?"

"We should, but... I hesitate."

"Pardon?"

"Didn't you notice? There are those among them who have cleverly inserted themselves without using much power."

Presumably, these were the southern merchants they had missed in the west.

What exactly was that strange magic attack they attempted earlier? Was it a one-time act? Kishiar was disturbed by their cunningly passive behavior, as he hadn't yet fully understood the cause of the attack.

To Kishiar, they seemed like people waiting for something.

What were they waiting for? The right moment to unleash a second attack on the Cavalry, inflicting damage? An opportunity to escape? Or something else entirely?

It was hard to guarantee that a similar attack, if attempted again, would be thwarted at the right moment. The outcome of that magic power flow, once properly formed, was even beyond Kishiar's speculation.

If a more skilled and experienced mage had been present, perhaps more could have been gleaned from the attempt and failure of the attack. Unfortunately, there was no such person there.

If they were indeed waiting to launch that strange magic attack again, Kishiar decided he couldn't recklessly send in the Cavalry. Those not versed in magic wouldn't be able to perceive and react to the flow of magic power as quickly and accurately as Kishiar, risking severe damage.

Therefore, he temporarily postponed his plan to start suppressing them right after finishing the evacuation and preparations around the branch. Instead, he persistently observed the southern merchants, lost in thought.

What could be a safe response that would minimize damage and quickly reveal their intentions? What were they waiting for, and what did they desire to achieve by doing this?

Kishiar La Orr’s mind raced over a metaphorical board, pieces and markers moving across it, drawing dozens of potential tactics and outcomes.

At the end of his contemplation, Kishiar arrived at a conclusion he deemed the best.

"It was difficult to discern their intentions, but one thing was clear. If they were planning to confront the Cavalry, they inevitably had to be concerned about the whereabouts of another person besides me."

Kishiar hinted at this with a knowing wink towards Yuder, clearly believing Yuder would understand who he was referring to.

Of course, he meant Yuder Aile, Kishiar's assistant.

When the enemies ambushed, Kishiar had been alone. The absence of Nathan Zuckerman and Yuder Aile, who should have been by his side, was not a concern when Kishiar was solitary. However, the situation changed once he regrouped with his subordinates.

Outnumbered, and with Yuder Aile, known as one of the Cavalry's strongest forces, yet to appear, the enemy, if rational, would have realized that Duke Peletta being alone was not mere coincidence and would be on high alert for Yuder's return.

Nathan Zuckerman was also a knight of considerable skill, but his true capabilities remained unpublicized.

With this in mind, Kishiar saw clearly what he needed to do.

If the enemy's objective was unknown, the best course was to present them with an opportunity – albeit one that seemed so but was actually a trap.

"It seemed best to feign carelessness. So, that's what I did."

"That's...."

Yuder, who had been listening quietly, suddenly furrowed his brow and began to speak, then stopped himself.

'To think, he didn't wield his weapon even when facing over ten foes, yet drew his divine sword feeling instinctive danger… He deliberately feigned carelessness before the enemy?'

It was an understanding yet perilously risky choice, uncharacteristic of the usual Kishiar. But precisely because of that, the reason behind such a choice felt all the more apparent.

If Kishiar, who usually sought to minimize harm to his allies, went to such lengths to discern the southern merchants' intentions, it meant he judged the situation as extremely dangerous had their attack succeeded.

Known for prioritizing safety, Kishiar was also someone who wouldn't hesitate to shed his own blood if deemed necessary, a realization Yuder had already come to in a previous life.

The image of Kishiar, who had once stood bare against the colossal Pethuamet, throwing himself into destruction, momentarily flashed in Yuder's mind, chilling his hands. But he bit his lip, casting away the memory.

'No. Seeing that he's unharmed now, his feigned carelessness must not have been too perilous. Let's continue listening.'

Yet, his twitching eyebrows and the cold expression couldn't completely hide Yuder's emotions.

"If it was an act of carelessness, how did you… go about it?"

"Well, isn't it obvious? I loudly complained of exhaustion from using too much power in my frail body, told them to leave the rest to my assistant and adjutant sent on errands, and pretended to go inside for a drink. It's natural to be thirsty after a fight."

"Is that all?"

"That's all."

Kishiar smiled faintly. Yuder blinked and looked at the surrounding members. Their sparkling eyes and nodding heads confirmed that Kishiar's words were true.

'Really?'

Yuder hesitated momentarily before asking.

"Did they… believe you?"

"They did."

It was uncertain how convincing Kishiar's acting had been, but apparently, the enemies had truly believed his ruse. With Yuder Aile, the most powerful hero of the West, confirmed to be away and Kishiar, the Cavalry Commander with unknown abilities, having retreated inside the branch, the enemies finally revealed their true colors.

"Not long after I feigned carelessness and went inside, I began to sense the signs of that magic attack again. However, it was heading in a slightly different direction than I had anticipated."

Kishiar, prepared to emerge at any moment using his Awakener abilities, leaped out with his divine sword the instant he sensed the signs.

But what caught his eye was neither his members trying to fend off the attack nor the appearance of the enemies. They were all staring upwards, faces etched with shock, having discovered something.

Kishiar too halted in his tracks, realizing that the massive flow of power he had sensed as the sign of an attack was now condensing above their heads.

Lifting his gaze, he saw a dark crack tearing through the sky like paper, its ominous and eerie presence looming over them.

"...That crack was it?" asked Yuder.

Kishiar nodded in confirmation.

"Yes."

The sudden appearance of the bizarre crack left everyone bewildered. A crack that tore through space signified the imminent emergence of monsters.

'Suddenly, here, in this place?!'

'What is this? How can a crack occur in a city?'

Cracks that spawned monsters did not follow any predictable patterns in terms of timing or location. However, there were certainly areas where they appeared more frequently and others where they were rarer. As a result, people chose to live away from places where cracks commonly appeared. Cities, especially, were areas where cracks appeared less frequently, and the empire's capital was famous for not having experienced a single crack in a thousand years, thanks to the magic blessed by the Archmage Luma.

But now, a crack had suddenly appeared right above the Cavalry branch in the middle of such a city.

While the members of the Cavalry and the Star of Nagran were in a flurry, anticipating the appearance of monsters, Kishiar was the first to regain his composure.

'No. No, this isn't right. This crack is different from the ordinary ones that spawn monsters.'

Ordinary cracks would immediately spew out monsters and then disappear, but this one merely hovered in place, showing no signs of releasing anything even after several minutes.

Kishiar had seen such a peculiar crack before.

It was in the Great Sarain Forest in the West.

A strange crack that simply existed and then vanished within the forest that only grew denser no matter how much it was cut down. And the sight of Yuder Aile, who alone did not panic but stared at it gravely.

Yuder's exhausted voice speaking of a 'disaster' echoed in Kishiar's mind.

[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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