Turning Chapter 1162

Could an ordinary commoner truly possess multiple, obscure magical research books? Especially since they weren't from the same country, each published in different nations, with subjects that seemed entirely unrelated?

Even Yuder, typically uninterested in magic, recognized the sheer impossibility of such a scenario.

“Of course, there might be individuals who collect anything penned by mages. However, such collectors are usually content with the act of acquisition itself. They wouldn't leave behind evidence of having studied the books repeatedly like this.”

“Yes. I believe so... but no matter how much I strain my memory, I can't recall anything.”

The grandfather from Yuder's memories had never displayed the slightest interest in magic. He was utterly, completely ordinary. The thought that a hidden side of his grandfather might exist within these books, a side Yuder never knew, left him feeling bewildered and adrift.

As if sensing Yuder's emotions, Kishiar stood up, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

“Well, the category I mentioned earlier—‘someone connected to magic’—can actually encompass a broad spectrum of professions. It's not limited to just mages, but also includes those employed by mages. Furthermore, the number of individuals affiliated with institutions under the Court Mage Bureau or partners of the Pearl Tower is beyond comprehension.”

“...”

“It might be surprising, yes—but frankly, I find it rather thrilling.”

A spark ignited in the eyes of the man who cherished tales of adventure.

“If we examine them closely, we might uncover some hidden connection between these books, something we haven't even conceived of yet. And even if we don't... does it truly matter? It doesn't alter the fact that he was someone who cherished you like family.”

A sense of peace finally settled upon Yuder. He nodded slowly, releasing a long, drawn-out breath.

“Yes. You are correct.”

Indeed, Kishiar was right.

What significance did his grandfather's past hold? He hadn't pondered it before and had lived his life remembering only the grandfather he had known. Acquiring this new knowledge now wouldn't change anything.

The sole truth that mattered was that this man had lovingly raised young Yuder and had cherished him as if he were his own grandson.

That was sufficient.

As Kishiar carefully gathered the scattered books and arranged them into boxes, he inquired politely,

“Would it be acceptable if I examined the remaining paper bundles here, including the ledgers?”

Yuder granted him full permission, telling him he didn't need to ask. He decided to view it as Kishiar finding a pleasant way to occupy his remaining days here.

Subsequently, Kishiar discovered the child-sized chair Yuder had retrieved, clapping a hand to his mouth in sheer delight. He exclaimed about its unbearable cuteness and asked if Yuder wouldn't sit in it again—his rapid-fire excitement caused all of Yuder's earlier surprise to dissipate as if it had never existed.

***

Later that night.

Following dinner, the two sat back-to-back, bathed in the soft luminescence of the oil lamp and the radiant mana stove, each engrossed in their individual tasks.

Yuder opened the stack of letters he had brought from Peleta. Since his arrival, he had been reading and responding to a few each day. Merely managing the official correspondence kept him occupied, leaving him to tackle the personal letters only now.

The majority of the personal letters were genial notes from Cavalry members on their vacations. Sending letters during a break... This concept felt entirely alien to Yuder, who had never even experienced a proper respite in his previous existence.

—To Yuder. You've likely heard already, but our family came through that sudden anomaly incident without a scratch! My younger siblings, however... they can't stop talking about the Commander. They've even asked how to become Awakeners. I had no idea they were so susceptible to good looks. I truly don't know where to begin teaching them. I inquired around, and the only advice I received was that perhaps I should simply focus on enhancing my own appearance. Useless jokes abound...

The letter from Gakein in the South was so descriptive it was easy to envision his characteristically awkward smile as Yuder read it.

—Yuder. I'm having a splendid time in the capital with Ever. We're all staying at Steber’s place, and it's so enjoyable to invite others over for meals and gatherings. I mean, technically, I'm working under a special summons from His Majesty, but honestly, the enjoyment far outweighs the obligation. I've consumed so much bread that I feel my stomach might burst daily. If you were here, everything would be perfect... Visit us next time!

Kanna’s letter, despite her still being technically employed in the capital, was as vibrant and cheerful as ever—truly embodying her spirit.

—To Yuder. These days, I have been assigned to follow one of House Diarca’s knights under His Majesty’s command. And this fellow… just as I suspected before, he’s far too bizarre to fathom. Every so often, he glances around as if to check for assassins, yet he has never once successfully spotted any of us. It’s so suspicious that I’m starting to wonder if he’s doing it intentionally. Kanna and Steber both say it’s perfectly fine, but I remain concerned. Could you perhaps advise if I should simply ignore him?

Ever, who had begun to contemplate whether Kiole la Diarca’s apparent foolishness might actually be a cunning stratagem, also made an appearance in the letters.

—To Senior Yuder! I inquired with the other seniors, and they assured me it was acceptable to write a letter, thus, here it is. This marks my inaugural letter. I am overjoyed to have learned how to write. My apologies for the correspondence. However, I shall write again in the future. Kindly grant your permission. Thank you. Sincerely, Elpokin.

Elpokin’s letter, characterized by its haphazard penmanship and a distinct lack of substantive content, was succeeded by numerous similar missives from other newly recruited individuals.

The letters from the Elder siblings also arrived, exhibiting a greater sense of composure compared to their previous correspondence, although they still retained their signature playful impertinence.

Correspondents from the other branches likewise included updates on their present circumstances and queries directed at Yuder, alongside remarks concerning the recent peculiar occurrence. In one such letter, Jimmy’s request for Yuder to elaborate on his experience accompanying the Commander to Peleta prompted a degree of consternation in Yuder.

—A lengthy reply… I wouldn’t even know where to begin properly.

Nevertheless, responding to letters from the Cavalry members proved to be a relatively straightforward task. The most challenging correspondence, however, stemmed from individuals whose methods of obtaining the Northern branch’s address remained a mystery: Duke Mayra Hern, and the Empress—who, despite refraining from sending any communication to Kishiar, had dispatched a letter to Yuder.

Yuder harbored the suspicion that a significant portion, perhaps half, of the Empress’s letter was intended for Kishiar’s eyes. However, upon perusing its contents, he discerned that every single word was unequivocally addressed to him alone.

The entire situation felt peculiar and somewhat overwhelming, yet it was not entirely unwelcome.

After meticulously reading and composing responses to the letters, Yuder shifted his attention back to his reading material.

He had recommenced perusing Luma’s journal upon his arrival—an endeavor he had lacked the sufficient time to undertake thoroughly beforehand. Thus far, the content had not deviated significantly from what he had already encountered.

Rather than detailing his personal experiences or the individuals surrounding him, Luma frequently documented fragmented thoughts and reflections. The majority of these musings centered on the societal standing of mages during the nascent stages of the Empire's establishment.

Tonight’s journal entry read:

—Children born to priests or esteemed knights, if they exhibited any latent magical abilities, were strictly forbidden from ever speaking of it. A young mage once lamented that enduring such suppression was worse than death. How many more like him must exist?

—Is magic inherently dangerous? Is it a source of shame?

—Change is an arduous process. The span of human life is fleeting. We must exert ourselves to the utmost in whatever capacity we can.

To be perfectly honest, these reflections bore such a striking resemblance to the struggles currently faced by Awakeners that, lacking prior knowledge, Yuder would have readily assumed they were penned in the present day.

Being branded as abominations, being forcibly expelled from their homes, living in constant dread of their own formidable powers... Conversely, others who pursued power relentlessly found themselves losing their very humanity—or worse, being consumed and ultimately destroyed by it. The parallels were unnervingly familiar.

Was being an Awakener a perilous and disgraceful existence? How many times had Yuder Aile posed that very question to himself?

The conviction that they were compelled to take any necessary action to reshape public perception—Yuder grasped that sentiment more profoundly than anyone else. It was improbable that any mage in history could resonate more deeply with that particular sentence than he himself could.

—Who could have possibly foreseen that I would experience such a profound sense of connection with a grand mage from a millennium ago…

The sensation was undeniably surreal. Yet, it served to enhance his concentration significantly.

—I am uncertain if this was recorded before or after the Empire's founding… But perhaps, with continued reading, I may eventually ascertain the answer.

It was plausible that Kishiar might have already unraveled the mystery with the information acquired thus far. However, he was presently engrossed in scrutinizing Yuder’s grandfather’s extensive collection of books retrieved from the storage area. Yuder resolved to postpone his inquiry, opting to seek clarification only after completing a more substantial portion of the journal.

He continued to meticulously trace the inscribed characters with his fingertip.

Then, quite unexpectedly, he observed that the subsequent page was entirely devoid of any markings.

—Why is this section completely blank?

He carefully turned to the next page. It too, was blank. After leafing through more than ten consecutive empty pages, he finally discovered a new passage.

He had not yet activated his Insight ability, rendering him incapable of fully comprehending the text. However, even from a mere visual inspection, he could discern a marked difference. The handwriting was noticeably larger, bolder, and appeared less like hastily scribbled notes and more akin to a formal entry, meticulously penned to fill the entirety of the page.

The instant his gaze fell upon the densely covered sheet, an unmistakable sensation washed over him: this was demonstrably distinct from everything that had preceded it.

He gazed at the inscription for a brief moment before deliberately raising a finger. His Insight flared to life, and the words began to permeate his consciousness.

The very first sentence read:

—Ran out of paper. Fortunate to have discovered an old notebook I had misplaced.

“…”

Yuder withdrew his hand, fixing a glare upon the strange inscription.

It seemed highly improbable that the Grand Mage Luma had devised this cryptic message solely for the purpose of teasing him. Yet, from an observer's standpoint, the situation presented itself as rather comical. If the mage had indeed contrived a secret cipher recognizable only to himself, what possible reason could there be for employing such peculiar characters?

Were the esteemed mage still breathing and standing before him, Yuder would have felt an overwhelming urge to voice his bewilderment, regardless of Luma's esteemed title.

—Of course, Inon would never have permitted such insolence...

He inhaled sharply, settling his turbulent emotions, and once more directed his gaze, along with a concentrated focus, toward the enigmatic text.