Turning
chapter-743

"I, Ajihen Toom, humbly present myself before His Highness the Duke of Diarca."

He was the sage, revealing his face after removing the pilgrim's robe.

There was a prolonged silence as everyone was rendered speechless, each astonished for various reasons.

The situation was tense, especially since the sage had now directly approached Duke Diarca. Unable to move immediately, Ever and Pruelle, along with the other hidden members near the waterwheel, exchanged brief, intense glances.

The sage, with a respectful yet detached tone, broke the silence. "Your Grace, I apologize for disturbing your rest. Although these circumstances are alarming, I swear by the god who oversees only the truth, the events of today are neither the fault of this man nor the pitiable citizens of our empire. Your merciful Grace, may I request your ear for our story?"

"Woah, they said he is a master of brainwashing, but his tongue is truly something else. Could probably tie a ribbon or even skip rope with it!" Finn, hiding behind the waterwheel, couldn't hide his incredulous amusement. Revlin, similarly amused, tried to suppress his laughter upon hearing Finn's comment.

Unaware of the boys' exchange, the sage remained kneeling, awaiting Duke Diarca's response. Onlookers alternated their gaze between the sage, who bore a kind and truthful demeanor, and Ever, who had just made a dramatic entrance by happily smashing people and trees alike.

“What on earth is going on?”

“How can a woman wave her hand and shatter a tree? This is terrifying. She must be no ordinary person. Definitely an Awakener!”

“An Awakener in the capital... Could it be the Cavalry?”

Ever, out of uniform, became the subject of the crowd's speculation. They debated whether she belonged to the Cavalry or not, arguing that if she did, the Cavalry should be held responsible for the violence and destruction in the Fourth Wall District.

Duke Diarca, in his own way, silently observed the scene from behind Kiolle. The shrewd Duke's thoughts were inscrutable to everyone, even the quick-witted Pruelle.

Seeing the hostile and wary gazes directed at Ever, Pruelle clenched his fists. Regardless of what anyone said, Ever maintained a stoic expression, but it was hard for Pruelle to do the same.

Even when his father had announced he would do something despicable, he could laugh it off, but now he was too angry and upset to maintain his transformed state.

Deciding it was best to retreat and return to his original form, he carefully began to move away. However, before Pruelle could move, someone stepped forward, and a roar of furious outburst followed.

"How dare you spout such nonsense!"

"...Huh?"

"What?"

"...Yes?"

The one who had shouted and clenched his fist was none other than Kiolle da Diarca.

The murmuring nobles were stunned, gaping at him in disbelief. The nearby Knights were equally shocked.

"What's this? Has he finally lost his mind?"

Finn squinted his eyes and circled his temple with his finger, implying insanity. Revlin's wide-eyed, bewildered expression mirrored the sentiment.

The sage, too, seemed startled and rarely blinked his eyes several times before reopening his mouth.

"…Sir Diarca? Whom, perchance, are you referring to…"

“Shut up, you cunning wretch! How dare you call my name without knowing me well! Do you expect me to just watch you spouting nonsense and disrupting the atmosphere as soon as you arrive!”

"I am not, Sir Diarca but rather to His Grace, Duke Diarca…"

Before the sage could finish his sentence, Kiolle mercilessly cut him off.

"Quiet! I forbade you to speak my father's and my name with that mouth!"

Kiolle stomped his feet in a fit of rage, almost as if trying to prevent the sage's words from reaching his father in a mischievous manner.

"No. I, Di…"

"Father! It seems today is not a day for rest. Why bother with these strange individuals who keep appearing? Let's return!"

"Di…"

"Aaargh!"

What exactly was Kiolle da Diarca trying to do? His behavior seemed maddeningly suspicious, but on the other hand, the earlier peculiar behavior of Baron Renbow made it difficult to dismiss Kiolle's actions as merely bizarre.

Did Kiolle know something about this situation? People were extremely confused.

It became clear that Kiolle wasn't shouting at the surrounding nobles, but they, gripped by unease, closed their mouths and just rolled their eyes quietly. Thanks to Kiolle's ability to attract attention, Pruelle also quietly retreated and returned to his original form.

'Kiolle da Diarca… truly an unpredictable character. I'm not sure what he intends, but perhaps he is similar to me or Revlin. I mustn't judge people solely by rumors in the future.'

As Duke Diaca was about to speak, Kiolle continued to angrily admonish the sage, telling him not to dare look up with those cunning eyes, or to shut his mouth.

"…Kiolle. What are you doing? In a situation where strange things are happening, if someone comes forward to speak about it, shouldn’t we at least listen? Especially since the Deputy Commander of the Cavalry, not in uniform, was seen harming someone in broad daylight.”

Duke Diarca's thinly veiled gaze swept over Ever's face. He remembered Ever's face from a party they had attended recently.

It was Ever who was exposed, but it was Kiolle who turned pale at the mention of the Cavalry. He tried to persuade his father in a very loud voice.

"Father. I don't know who that woman is, but I think he's more suspicious than Baron Renbow! I'm convinced that you will be in danger if you converse with him! So please don't go near or talk to him! Ah, perhaps your condition is already…"

"Kiolle."

With just his name, the Duke quieted his son and then squinted his eyes while looking at Kiolle's pestering face.

"You seem to have discovered something while observing Baron Renbow. Is that right?"

Kiolle's eyes twitched for a moment. His arrogant face appeared to others as if hiding a deep scheme, but in reality, no one there correctly sensed that this was not the case.

"Are you causing a commotion because this is something you cannot discuss here?"

"That… That is."

"Duke Diarca, Your Grace, what a place to meet you."

At the moment Kiolle barely managed to open his mouth, a soft voice cut through the air, drawing everyone's attention. The people turned to see a face that had been the talk of the town for the past few months.

"That's definitely Revlin Shand Apeto, the third son of Apeto who joined the Cavalry…"

"And the red-haired one standing in front? Where have I seen that face before…? Who was it?"

Duke Diarca's gaze, however, was not on Revlin but on the young man with red hair standing at the front.

"Seeing the first son of Tain here is quite a surprise."

"Ha ha, yes. Now that I'm a full-fledged member of the Cavalry, there's no place I shouldn't be."

With those words, people realized that the youth before them was indeed the first son of Tain, a figure who had scarcely shown his face in social circles.

Unlike Revlin, Pruelle's face was not well-known to the people, and that remained true even now, during the ongoing trial of his father, Duke Tain. While Revlin had become a temporary member of the Cavalry amidst a noisy scandal, Pruelle had joined more quietly, seeking to protect Nipollen and to live away from the shadow of his family's name.

Although his identity became somewhat known when he attended a party at the palace recently with his sister, there were still not many who could recognize his face at a glance.

'Perhaps that will change after today.'

Pruelle didn't mind it. Despite having an ordinary appearance compared to the doll-like beauty of Revlin, his unignorable gaze and smile as he spoke betrayed his distinctive presence.

"I recently visited the Tain family's villa in Fourth Wall District with my fellow Cavalry members, including the Deputy Commander, and would you believe it, the very criminals who caused the recent explosion in the capital appeared here? As these are individuals we must capture to ensure the safety of the capital, we've come all the way here. If it's alright, may we take that person kneeling over there into our custody?"

Despite being in the same Cavalry, the background of being a scion of one of the four great duke families held significant power in such places. Pruelle felt this effect more acutely and overwhelmingly now than ever before.

[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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