The remaining members of the Peletta Knights in Yuder's mind were few in number. They were efficient guides, but their skills, with the exception of Nathan Zuckerman, were quite ordinary.
'Yet, they did cook well in the field...'
He had almost reached the last sentence among the scant information on Kishiar.
Was the position of Crown Prince originally intended for Kishiar?
No matter how many times he read it, the sentence remained unchanged. Yuder, holding the paper where the related section was written, extended it towards Enon and opened his mouth.
"Enon. Is there any basis for this section?"
"Indeed, many of those who attended the meeting at the time are still alive, so the information is quite reliable."
Enon responded dryly to the section that Yuder pointed out, but it was still unbelievable.
'Kishiar was almost the Crown Prince?'
Although the Orr Empire does not determine the Crown Prince by age and traditionally chooses after the princes have grown to some extent, it was indescribably strange to think that Kishiar might have been sitting on the Emperor's throne by now.
'...I can't imagine it.'
However, if such a thing had really happened, it might not have been bad.
Kishiar La Orr was the most perfect leader Yuder had ever seen. People said that the ability to manage a Knight Order or Cavalry and the ability to take responsibility for an entire country were different, but was it really so?
He could confidently say that Kishiar's abilities were much superior to the Katchian Emperor he had seen in his previous life. While it was hard to imagine him as an Emperor, who pays attention to his subordinates and steps up personally, wouldn't it be nice to have such an emperor in the world?
If the emperor he had served in his previous life was like Kishiar, Yuder would have been much happier than when he had been injured while handling unnecessary, dangerous assassination or destruction missions.
'If that were the case...'
Yuder suddenly realized he was stretching his assumptions to an absurd level and stopped his thoughts.
Once one becomes a Duke, regardless of what happens, Kishiar could never ascend to the Emperor's throne. That's why the current Emperor, Keilusa La Orr, didn't raise any heirs.
Moreover, in the end, the one who killed Kishiar in his past life was Yuder himself.
'Isn't it amusing that I'm having such thoughts?'
In this life too, Kishiar has already become a Duke. Rather than regretting the parts that couldn't be changed, he had to prioritize things that could be changed. Yuder decided to stop his overstretching imagination. He was losing his appetite.
"Judging by your expression, it seems this information is not satisfying?"
Then, Enon spoke at the perfect timing. Yuder lowered his head and opened his mouth.
"I think I got some leads on what to investigate next, so it's okay. For now, this is more than enough."
"Right now? What are you talking about? You said this would be the end."
"Well... could it really be?"
Yuder gave a faint smile toward Enon.
"Enon. Now that you know me, given your nature, you'll inevitably continue to be curious about what I might do. Instead of investigating behind my back, which won't yield any profit anyway, wouldn't it be better to openly observe what I'm doing?"
"W-what are you talking about?"
Enon stammered, raising his voice in surprise. Was he planning to investigate Yuder the moment he left?
"Why would I pay attention to you? I don't plan to believe in such nonsense like you coming back from the future, and I'm even less interested. I helped you once as a repayment for knowing my identity and that's the end of it! The end!"
"If you say so."
Even though Enon's expression clearly contradicted his words, Yuder let out a laugh, set the stack of papers down, and rose from his seat.
"I appreciate your help."
There was still plenty of time. Soon enough, it would become clear whether Yuder was right or Enon. As he imagined the frown on Enon's face that would follow him out, Yuder chuckled silently.
"Enon. If something happens or if you want to find me, contact me at the Cavalry's residence within the Imperial Knights' grounds."
"I won't, okay?"
"Just in case you need it, I'll leave this here."
Yuder placed a uniform button, which he had brought with him, on the counter. It was a spare Cavalry stone button with his name on it, capable of replacing a Cavalry member's identification.
"Are you listening? I told you I won't. Take it back! Hey! You rascal!"
Ignoring Enon's yelling, Yuder opened the door, and the bright sunlight made him squint.
"Hey!"
But before Yuder could step outside, Enon rushed forward and grabbed his sleeve. Yuder intended to tell him that it was okay to throw the button away if he was trying to give it back, but the expression in Enon's eyes was subtly different from before.
"...You really are a wretched kid. Here, take this. If I let you go and you collapse and die somewhere, it feels like my luck for this year would be completely ruined."
Enon forced something into Yuder's right hand. It didn't feel like the button. When Yuder opened his hand, he saw a slightly worn red string.
"What is this?"
"Figure it out yourself."
Despite his words, Enon explained with a grimace.
"It's something like a charm. Just tie it to something you always carry around."
"Why are you giving me this?"
"Oh, for goodness' sake!"
Enon shouted at Yuder's question, messing up his own hair.
"I don't know what you were doing before coming here today, but you're a lot more unstable than when you came before. It seems you've calmed yourself with divine power, but if you keep doing that, not even God can save your life. Anyway, it's better than dying, so take it!"
Bang. The moment his words ended, the door of the pharmacy closed with a loud noise as if it would break. Yuder coughed lightly as the old dust falling from above hit his head.
'It just looks like a normal string... what effect could it possibly have.'
—---
The returned Cavalry members were still abuzz with tales of the Harvest Festival. No one had noticed when Yuder stepped out for a moment and then returned. Only a small piece of paper with a message instructing him to come to the Commander's quarters was left on the table of his lodging, prompting Yuder to head straight to the top floor.
"Did you call for me?"
"You're early. I happened to have a cake that came in as a gift. Care to join me?"
Kishiar, who was enjoying his tea and snacks, greeted Yuder with a leisurely wave of his hand. His face was surprisingly neat, as if the late work from the previous night was but a fantasy. Nathan Zuckerman was nowhere to be seen.
Upon seeing Kishiar's face, Yuder recalled the conversation he had with Enon. After a small sigh, he put on an expression as if nothing had happened and took a seat across Kishiar. As if Kishiar had been waiting for him, he pushed a plate of cake toward Yuder.
There were many different kinds of cakes, all of which looked incredibly sweet just by looking at them.
"May I partake in the gift?"
"Don't refuse. They're all sent for the Harvest, and we don't even know who sent them."
In the Orr Empire, it was traditional to exchange food gifts before and after the Harvest Festival. Among commoners, this mostly meant sharing freshly harvested grains and fruits to celebrate the bountiful harvest, but the nobility was different. They used the tradition to flaunt their wealth, competing over who could present the most luxurious and precious food.
Yuder himself, in his previous life, used to receive high-end sweets and rare ingredients from faceless nobles during this time. He was unable to use them all and had to constantly send them down to the Cavalry's dining hall.
Almost none were sent with pure intentions. Most were sent with a hidden agenda, hoping that their families would be looked upon favorably later. It was quite uncomfortable to eat, and the ones sent to Kishiar were probably no different.
"...Then I won't refuse."
"Just use any fork."
Yuder casually picked up one of the new forks neatly placed next to each plate and started to eat the cake. As expected, it was so sweet that it felt like his tongue would melt.
According to tradition, dignified nobles were supposed to use only one fork per plate of food, which is why there were so many forks. However, Yuder didn't care about such formalities.
Even Kishiar himself said to use any fork, so why should he care?
"Do you like cake? You eat quite well."
"I don't particularly like or dislike it. ...You didn't call me here to ask this, did you?"
"Can't I have a little friendly chat with my assistant?"
After saying that, Kishiar went straight to the point.
"You've heard, haven't you? About the matter that has been causing a stir in the Cavalry since this morning."
"If you mean the news of the messenger from the palace, then yes, I've heard."
"That's right. It's an extension of the story you saw in the letter last night. Things have gotten a bit complicated."
The topic Kishiar brought up didn't stray from the subject Yuder had anticipated before coming. As Yuder silently stuffed a third piece of cake into his mouth, he listened to Kishiar's words.
"The increasing number of requests for our Cavalry to participate in events is a good thing. But it seems a bit excessive. Aside from the simple participation requests, there are quite a few requests for maintaining public order, all from important events where foreign diplomats are involved. Moreover, it hasn't even been a year since the formation of the Cavalry, and they want the whole team to attend the largest party of the year, held at the Imperial Palace. What should I make of this intention?"
"It appears that someone is planning to put us in a position where we cannot refuse," came Yuder's response, to which Kishiar lightly nodded in agreement.
"They broke the rule of keeping all related matters confidential until I give a response. Not only among our members, but the information has already spread throughout the capital."
The autumn harvest festival held in the capital was one of the most significant events in the continent. The Pope himself led the worship and prayer events from an outdoor altar at the main temple of the Sun God. There was a grand parade featuring the Imperial Knights of the palace, specially selected Elite Imperial Troops, renowned Knights, and mages from various provinces. Not to mention countless other major and minor events and competitions held throughout the city for several days.
There was no greater honor than to officially participate in an event that attracted numerous foreign diplomats and tourists.
There was no better opportunity than this to announce the newly formed Cavalry to the whole continent.
It was likely that whoever suddenly proposed this also knew this, hence why they had boldly set the stage.
"Still, you can refuse, can't you?"
"I could."
A laugh-tinged answer returned.
"If you, as the Commander, choose to refuse, that would be the end of it."
"What do you think? Would it be best for me not to be suspicious and reject this overly beneficial offer?"
The fork that was lightly cutting the fifth piece of cake stopped. Yuder, staring into Kishiar's red eyes full of expectation, realized that this question was the primary reason he had been called.
"...How would I know? I doubt my opinion would be of much help in your grand decision."
He tried to deflect once, but Kishiar chuckled and shook his head like a boa constrictor.
"Why not? Your unique perspective has always been helpful to me. Giving your opinion on such matters is part of an assistant's job, so I would appreciate it if you could speak freely."
'Well, if it comes to that...'
Yuder opened his mouth as he speared a cherry that resembled Kishiar's eyes with his fork.
"Actually, haven't you already made your decision?"
"Hmm?"
"The reason why they set this stage and called us is clear. They want to smear the name of the Cavalry across the entire continent. Even if you refuse, they could still make a mess at the event, but I guess they wouldn't be satisfied with just that."
At Yuder's words, Kishiar gave a satisfied smile, resting his chin elegantly on the hand placed on the armrest.
"So?"
"I don't know who they are, but you can probably guess."
Yuder continued, recalling that Kishiar had said the night before that he had a rough idea of who might be behind this.
"If you know who the enemy is, you can predict what they'll do. Why retreat needlessly when they're practically handing us a golden opportunity? Isn't it better to bite the bait and use it to our advantage?"
"Is that so? So you're suggesting we do just that?"
"If our Commander isn't afraid of challenges, that's what I suggest."
As soon as he finished speaking, a piece of cherry and a chunk of whipped cream cake disappeared into Yuder's stomach in no time.
"Hahaha. Not afraid of challenges, eh?"
Kishiar broke into a bright smile, tilting his head.
"You, with your unassuming face, are surprisingly good at saying things that put people in a good mood."
"It's just my honest opinion."
"Only you could manage to compliment someone while simultaneously throwing them against the wall."
Despite his words, Kishiar seemed to be in high spirits.
"In fact, I already accepted those propositions as you suggested. I've sent my reply."
Just as Yuder had thought, Kishiar had already made up his mind.
"Considering that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was desperately avoiding my contacts till now and suddenly came forward on their own, could anything be better? Someone might have thrown this bait, hoping that our Cavalry would become the laughingstock of the continent, but I won't fall for it, nor will I run away. Even though we're a new formation and my members are still inexperienced in many ways, that doesn't mean we're bound to fail. Don't you think so?"
At his confident, slow voice, a light shiver ran down Yuder's back. Yuder answered with sincerity, looking into Kishiar's glowing red eyes.
"Yes."
"I'm truly glad that my assistant and I share the same opinion. It'll be a hectic period for a while, but let's succeed in a way that will show them. It might even be entertaining to watch."
Hearing this, Yuder finished the last piece of cake and put his fork down. The sweet aftertaste lingered in his mouth.
"But who is behind all this? Can you tell me now?"
"Why don't you try guessing with your clever mind?"
"Commander."
At Yuder's low calling, Kishiar squinted his eyes in a smile, then opened his mouth.
"A few days ago, the courtiers of the Crown Prince suddenly burst into the palace. I also heard that a courtier with a red belt was seen there yesterday. It seems like the Crown Prince is very interested in this event."
His answer seemed to come out of nowhere, but it was more than enough for Yuder to deduce the meaning.
'Crown Prince Katchian La Orr.'
Yuder recalled the face of the young Crown Prince he had briefly met during his recent visit to the Imperial Palace. He already knew who was behind the boy who hid his cold gaze with a painted smile.
'Did Duke Diarca get involved?'
He wondered if it might be due to the Hartan case where Kiolle was involved, but Yuder shook his head. The bound-by-oath Kiolle couldn't inform anyone in the house. Besides, if they had been meddling in the palace for a few days, it couldn't have been because of the recent incident.
"And... do you remember Count Gallon who visited here a few days ago?"
While Yuder was engrossed in his thoughts, Kishiar threw in another piece of information.
Count Gallon. Trying to remember where he had heard that name before, Yuder finally recalled who it was after some time.
'Ah, the man who had come demanding Kanna's release.'
After giving him a good scolding and kicking him out, he had completely forgotten about him.
"Yes, I remember."
Seeing Yuder's obvious grimace, Kishiar laughed heartily.
"Well, there's no need to try to remember him again. Thanks to the rumors about him, a lot of people have become interested in the Cavalry unit. There might be people looking for the members related to that incident during the festival, but just pretend not to know. The courier from the palace earlier was subtly trying to confirm the truth of the rumor."
"Ah... Yes. I understand."
Yuder responded apprehensively, realizing a beat too late that Kishiar's words were another hint.
'So, they just want to see the Cavalry's power for themselves because of that rumor...'
Then it made sense why Kishiar was so relaxed. No one yet knew how much power the Cavalry held. It was the perfect time to turn the trap they underestimated into an opportunity.
While Yuder was thinking, Kishiar continued smoothly.
"So, from today, we'll reduce overall training by half and separate people for participation in each event. You, Nathan, and the Deputy Commanders of each Division will need to work hard. But you have one more thing you need to do."
"Are you talking about the investigation of the Red Stone?"
"There's that, but there's one more thing."
Kishiar nonchalantly announced he was adding another task.
"Did you forget? The request you made before your leave. You asked for the authority related to the members' training."
"Oh..."
When Yuder nodded, Kishiar handed over a piece of paper with a seal on it, as if he had been waiting for him.
"I've already approved it. Your individual training with Gakane and Kanna was quite impressive. Now that Devran Hartude has returned, isn't it time to expand that capability to all members?"
Looking at those confident, red eyes, Yuder found himself speechless.
'Well, I had planned to do it anyway...'
He had done this in his previous life, so doing it twice wouldn't make a difference. Yuder accepted the approval letter and nodded slightly.
"Understood."
"Now then..."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Commander. It's Ever Beck. I've come to deliver urgent news."
Kishiar, who had momentarily turned his gaze to Yuder, commanded, "Come in." As Ever opened the door and entered, her cheeks were flushed, as if she had run here. Seeing Yuder sitting across from the Commander surprised her, but she quickly regained her composure, approached, and bowed.
"What's going on?"
"Just now, Jimmy Ocker's second gender manifestation has begun. As we prepared, I've isolated him and came to report."
The manifestation of Jimmy's second gender had been a long time coming. There had been signs for days, so it wasn't surprising. Kishiar seemed to share the sentiment, nodding his head as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Were there any members affected prior to the isolation? Any other anomalies?"
"Fortunately, the manifestation began while we were discussing training, so other members were not affected. Given the energy I felt alongside the fever from the manifestation, it seems that Jimmy will likely develop into an Alpha like myself. Until the manifestation is complete, I plan to have the Alpha members of the Shin Division take turns caring for him in an isolated room."
This was the first time that a member of the Shin Division had manifested a second gender. Despite what must have been a significant surprise, Ever's response was impressively calm.
"We gave him a herbal juice with a fever-reducing effect and applied a wet towel, but do you think this response is sufficient?"
Upon hearing her question, Kishiar, who had been lost in thought, nodded in approval.
"That should be sufficient for now. You handled the sudden situation very well."
The corners of Ever's eyes turned slightly red with pleasure.
"Thank you. It's all thanks to your prior instructions. I merely carried them out."
"The one who suggested making those arrangements is here, so you should thank Yuder."
"Yuder, you mean?"
Yuder was taken aback as the conversation suddenly turned towards him. In Ever's eyes, there was a look of surprise as she turned to look at him.
"...I merely made a suggestion. The fact that it was clearly defined as a rule and law is all thanks to the Commander. There's no need for that."
"Haha, it's nice to see you both passing around credit."
'I don't like it.' Yuder swallowed the words he couldn't bring himself to say aloud.
"Excuse me, Commander. I also have another matter to discuss..."
Upon finishing her report, Ever trailed off, seemingly aware of Yuder's presence. She evidently wanted to speak with Kishiar one-on-one. Noticing her hesitation, Yuder quickly rose from his seat to bid his leave.
"I'll take my leave then."
"Do that."
Kishiar waved with a smile. Unaware of Ever's slightly trembling eyes as she noticed the heap of empty dishes on the table, Yuder left the residence.
As he moved towards the lower ground of the building, avoiding the gaze of the other Cavalry members, his mind was filled only with thoughts related to the news of Jimmy's manifestation.
'It was a good decision to set up regulations regarding second gender manifestation in advance.'
In his previous life, there had been quite a few incidents among Cavalry members who suddenly manifested their second gender. Just the thought of not having such troubles this time was refreshing.
'Come to think of it, wasn't there not much time left when I manifested in the past?'
He couldn't remember the exact timing, but he was glad it wasn't precisely the same as before, since he couldn't be sure if the timing of manifestation would be the same this time.
'Wasn't there a time in the past when awakeners facing a second gender manifestation influenced those with potential around them, leading to a chain of manifestations?'
Those about to, or just after, manifesting a second gender often emitted a unique energy that could be felt with the senses, even if it wasn't visible.
In the case of Jimmy, he had only experienced slight fevers, but it never hurt to be cautious in case of an unknown occurrence. Yuder contemplated spreading the word in advance in case his power erupted suddenly.
'With the rules in place and those around me on guard, I'll be prepared even if my powers erupt abruptly like before. Jimmy's precedent would mean there will be less surprise.'
This time, absolutely, he would prevent any situation where he was alone with Alpha before his powers erupted. Clenching his fist lightly, Yuder made a firm resolution.
—---
As Kishiar had mentioned, the Red Stone was stored in a spacious room set up beneath the Cavalry building. When he knocked on the entrance that appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary warehouse, a small hole just wide enough for a pair of eyes to peek through opened in no time.
"Ah, it's you!"
Despite his lack of self-introduction, the person inside recognized Yuder immediately and opened the door for her.
"I've been looking forward to seeing you again... Uh, yes, my name. You remember it, right?"
"Of course. You're Alik Pelgin."
Upon Yuder's succinct answer, Alik Pelgin, the apprentice of the old mage, smiled brightly.
"That's right. I'm relieved. I thought you might have forgotten me, as our first encounter was so brief... Just like the first time we met...."
Seeing his eyes cloud over as if recalling something, it seemed the incident of Yuder forgetting the name of Kiolle da Diarca at their first meeting was deeply imprinted in his mind. Yuder turned his gaze towards the expansive space behind the mage, rather than responding.
Other than massive pillars placed here and there to support the building, the place was completely empty.
However, a transparent box was visible on a table far away, and a hefty aura was barely leaking out from that direction, making his fingertips tingle slightly. It seemed that the Red Stone was stored there.
"Is the stone currently in that box?"
"Ah, yes. As expected, you spotted it right away. Follow me. I'll show you."
Yuder started walking behind Alik. As the distance shortened, he could feel the energy emitted by the Red Stone intensifying through his skin.
Yet, strangely, Yuder noticed that the energy didn't seem as provocative and heavy as before.
'What is this?'
"Do you see those magic stones on the ceiling?"
Alik opened his mouth as if noticing Yuder's puzzled expression.
"The energy emanating from the Red Stone was so strong that as soon as my master and I arrived here, we had to first create a barrier. We spent dozens of precious stones to build a seven-layer barrier, which was just barely enough to weaken it to this level. My master still seems to think further reinforcement is needed. How do you feel? Is the air breathable?"
Only then did Yuder notice the magic stones stuck all around the high ceiling. Upon closer inspection, he could make out complicated magic circles drawn faintly.
"...Yes. It's much better."
"Miss Kanna also said the same. I'm glad it seems to be effective."
Alik grinned, looking rather proud, but Yuder didn't return the smile.
"By the way... Where did Master Yulman go?"
"Master had briefly gone up to our quarters. He'll be back soon. Ah, wait a moment. Please, stop there."
Alik interrupted, abruptly blocking Yuder's path.
"We've set up a camp here. From here, it just looks like an empty space, but if we do this... Ha ha."
As Alik complicatedly twirled and waved his hand, the once empty space started to blur and the scenery changed. The distant Red Stone remained in view, but suddenly before Yuder appeared two sleeping bags that hadn't been there before, a table, three chairs, and a small magic stone stove burning brightly.
"Master couldn't be bothered to go back to the quarters, so he left these here."
"Shouldn't we inform the Commander and move proper furniture here?"
Alik scratched his head at Yuder's serious question.
"No, no, it's alright. This is more than enough for us. Master dislikes complicated things, and he's accustomed to living this way while conducting research... Ha ha..."
A subtle hint of struggle was noticeable on Alik's laughing face, as if he was a disciple catering to a demanding master.
"Actually, even though we've set up camp here, I can't proceed further without Master. When Master arrives, would you like to observe more closely with us? Or..."
"Stay here. I'll go take a look alone."
What was important wasn't to observe the stone, but to understand how much the mages had deciphered from the stone and what kind of investigation they were going to conduct.
Leaving Alik behind, Yuder began to stride towards the Red Stone. Thanks to the magic stones set up, he could approach much closer than before.
The Red Stone, delicately placed on a cushion inside a transparent box, hadn't changed since he last saw it. However, it seemed like the old mage had attempted to set up something as several magic stones were scattered around the box.
'It seems there hasn't been much progress yet.'
"Oh, our guest has arrived."
Yuder, who had been observing the stone, turned his head at the voice behind him. The elder magician of the Pearl Tower, Thais Yulman, greeted him with a smiling face.
"Sir Yuder. It's been a while."
"It has indeed, Yulman. Just call me Yuder."
In previous meetings, Kishiar had been present, and so formal titles were used. But now, as they would be seeing each other more frequently, there was no need for such formality. The old mage readily accepted Yuder's suggestion.
"Right."
The old mage, sporting a splendid white beard, was wearing an ordinary grey robe unlike what you'd expect from an elder of the Pearl Tower, but his eyes twinkled with youthful vigor. He was a stark contrast to his disciple, who seemed half weary.
"Did you come to see the stone?"
"No, I wanted to hear about the progress of the investigation."
"Ah, I see."
Thais Yulman nodded, looking back at the Red Stone and wrinkling the bridge of his nose slightly.
"Well, as you can see, it's still nothing impressive," the old master remarked, "We've set up a defensive formation, barely enough to inspect the situation. It seems we'll need at least another day to establish a proper one. If only my apprentice had created the formation a bit quicker, we could've progressed further by now. Tsk."
"Master, do you wish to kill me? There are only a few people across the continent who can finish a defensive formation faster than I!" Alik cried out in a gloomy tone from afar. But neither Thais nor Yuder paid much attention to his words.
"I see. I heard you've had some conversation with Kanna."
"Oh, that young woman with astounding abilities."
A delighted smile spread across Thais's face.
"She was very enthusiastic and friendly. Thanks to the stories shared by Kanna, I was able to contemplate on how to approach the Red Stone."
Of course, nothing was definitively decided yet, Thais added. Yet, to Yuder, his words sounded like great news.
"Is that so?"
"Indeed. Care to listen?"
Yuder followed Thais back to the spot with chairs and a table, where Alik had already prepared a pot of tea.
"Have some. It's tea made from flowers I personally harvested and dried."
"You've plucked it from the garden behind the Pearl Tower, haven't you? As they're grown by the mages for research, they may at least have the best effect in boosting energy, if nothing else."
The flower, floating on the hot water, seemed almost alive. He didn't know about the effects, but the extraordinarily fresh and cool scent washed away the lingering sweetness of the cake he had at Kishiar's quarters.
"How is it? Isn't the fragrance pleasant?"
"Yes, it's delightful."
Hearing Yuder's response, Thais twirled his swollen fingers around the invisible tea cup and continued.
"Pouring hot water over dried flowers to experience such vivacity and intense aroma again, it's truly a marvel."
"..."
"Each time I see this, I'm reminded of the immense potential and power dormant within a tiny, withered flower. That's why I adore this tea. The effects of this tea, which I first researched 54 years ago....."
He had promised to discuss how to approach the Red Stone, but the old mage began a new tale.
"My research on the origin of magic, which started there....."
Alik, too, was at a loss when the idle talk, starting from the tea, eventually led to the historical research of Thais Yulman. Despite the irritating situation, Yuder didn't rush him. Seeing Yuder listening to his words patiently, without any change in expression, a faint smile flashed across Thais Yulman's face, only to disappear shortly.
"Oh dear, I apologize. I got carried away with a different topic instead of getting to the main point. Weren't you bored?"
"Not at all."
Sitting quietly in front of someone who only talked about his interests was not a difficult task for Yuder, who had been dragged to various meetings in his previous life that didn't suit his personality.
'And besides, Thais Yulman does not seem to be sharing these stories for no reason.'
"Truthfully, I had a specific reason for telling these stories."
'Just as I thought.'
Yuder felt a sense of vindication, taking another sip from his cup of tea.
"You guys were the ones who retrieved the Red Stone, and I'm sure you're already aware, but contrary to its exterior, the stone is brimming with dormant power, isn't it? I thought maybe we could apply the method used in making this flower tea to access that power."
Access the stone in the same way as making tea? Yuder looked at his companion's face for a moment before responding.
"Do you plan on pouring some water on it?"
"Ha ha ha. Close, but not quite water."
At Yuder's words, Thais chuckled as though amused, stroking his beard as he continued the conversation.
"When I asked Kanna, she mentioned... if an Awakener's power like you guys touches the stone, it triggers an explosion, right?"
Upon hearing this, Yuder quickly realized what the old mage was thinking.
"Do you plan on forcibly triggering all the remaining power within the Red Stone to erupt and discharge?"
"That's right."
"That's dangerous."
The response didn't need a second thought.
"The power of the stone is of a different dimension than any other power we've encountered so far. A mere touch can have lethal consequences. And what do you plan to do with the released power?"
Yuder himself had suffered damage from accidentally touching the power of the Red Stone, so there was no need to elaborate on its lethal danger.
"Didn't I just mention that the area I've been consistently studying for a long time has to do with the origin and essence of magic?"
"The power of magic and the Red Stone are completely different."
"But what if they're not so different?"
Thais responded leisurely, flashing a smile.
"Look here, Yuder. Our magic-created barrier is firmly blocking the power of the Red Stone, right? That means, although the two powers might differ, they can influence each other. If we can block it, theoretically, it should be possible to confine the discharged power."
Yuder furrowed his brow, momentarily at a loss for words. It was true that the seven-layer barrier he and his disciple had cast was currently blocking the energy emitted by the Red Stone. However, naturally emitted energy and exploding energy couldn't possibly be the same.
"Even if that's true... If multiple layers only manage to block this much, it's impossible to stop the exploding power. Let alone confining it, I can't even imagine it."
"I think it would be possible to confine the discharged power within a certain space if we significantly reinforce the barrier we have now. After that, we would need to transfer it using a medium."
"Transfer it?"
"Yes. Like a magic tool. Yuder, have you heard about magic tools?"
As Yuder nodded, Thais continued, as if he had expected as much.
"The principle of making a magic tool is to preserve the form of magic power at the moment of its manifestation using a medium. How well it can be confined depends on the quality of the medium and the skill of the mage making the tool, but the principle itself is simple. That's what I want to try."
If making magic tools was as simple as Thais suggested, the mages who knew how to create them wouldn't be treated as such rarities. However, Thais was talking about it as if it was an easy task.
"You make it sound so simple."
"In a sense, it might be easier than creating a magic tool, since we're trying to contain just the pure energy filling a space, not preserving a specific form of magic energy."
His explanation was complicated, but frankly, it was a rather intriguing proposition. If, as Thais had suggested, they could separate the energy from the Red Stone, they could possess the Stone and its energy separately.
The Stone, devoid of energy, would no longer be dangerous, and they could have Kanna examine it. If they had the mages investigate the energy stored in a medium, it couldn't be better.
When he thought that far, Yuder suddenly remembered something and froze with a stiff expression.
'...Wait. How was it in my previous life?'
In his previous life, the Red Stone that headed to the Pearl Tower had lost its power afterward and returned as the 'World Sphere'. Yuder had long been puzzled about where the power that the World Sphere originally had went, but due to the collapse of the Pearl Tower and the loss of all relevant personnel and information, he couldn't find the answer until his death.
The one who examined the Red Stone headed for the Pearl Tower in his previous life was likely Thais Yulman, just like now. In that case, he must have thought of the same solution back then.
'And... it must have been successful. Otherwise, the World Sphere that returned couldn't have been such an empty shell. If he had succeeded in separating the Red Stone and the energy inside it, where did the separated energy go? Who used it, and for what purpose? Keilusa La Orr died before the World Sphere returned... How about Kishiar? Did he retire before the World Sphere returned? Did Emperor Katchian know about it?'
'Or perhaps, the Pearl Tower side may have hidden the separated energy, or it might have been lost…' Trying to recall faint memories, he got a headache.
Yuder felt a chill down his spine and gritted his teeth. Seeing him suddenly stop talking and become cold, Thais Yulman tilted his head as if he found it strange.
"Does my idea seem that reckless to you? Your expression doesn't look good."
"...No."
Right. What did it matter what happened in the past? The Red Stone and Thais Yulman were both here now, so all they had to do was find new answers.
'Anyway, one thing I can be sure of. I don't have to worry about Thais Yulman's hypothesis failing.'
Regaining his composure, Yuder spoke.
"Your words certainly seem reasonable, Yulman. But even if we can separate and contain the power... Do we have a medium that can contain such immense power?"
Seeing that his sudden change in mood was due to the matter of the medium, Thais didn't question it further.
"We'll have to test that from now on. I'll tell you a few things that are known as the strongest mediums. It would be great if you could tell the Duke about this. He should be able to help with that, shouldn't he?"
"Understood. What are they?"