Turning Chapter 1296

To think the words “thank you” would come out of Kiole la Diarca’s mouth with genuine sincerity.

Seeing the guy struggling to meet his eyes, awkward and embarrassed as he gasped for breath, suddenly brought back old memories.

'...Naham. I wonder what he would’ve said if he saw the Kiole of today.'

The moment Naham had seen Kiole in the East, he’d tried to kill him. He was always the kind of person who felt no hesitation in killing non-Awakeners, but in Kiole’s case, his smug, arrogant noble attitude must have fueled that murderous intent even further.

Back then, Yuder had protected Kiole for no reason other than a vow not to repeat the past. But truthfully, he hadn’t thought Naham’s assessment was entirely wrong.

An insufferable noble who automatically looked down on commoners. A man with no redeeming qualities, flaunting his birth alone. Someone unable to read a situation, who just flailed and waited for others to solve everything when things went wrong—nothing more than a loud-mouthed piece of trash.

So even after saving Kiole, Yuder hadn’t harbored any real hopes for him. He’d never seen someone like that actually change.

But just as the stubborn, distrusting Yudrain Aile had changed in the end, so too had Kiole la Diarca. He was someone who could change.

Yuder counted, one by one, all the things he’d managed to change so far. He’d felt a sense of fulfillment from saving people before, several times already.

But the Kiole standing before him now delivered a particularly rare and special feeling.

'I didn’t think the day would come where I’d feel genuinely glad to have saved that guy...'

“Hah, t-that’s all I wanted to say!”

Kiole, oblivious to the thoughts passing through Yuder’s head as he stared silently, rushed to end the conversation and slammed the door shut. Like he’d blurted something out and run away out of fear.

'Still inside the Cavalry building, though.'

Even if he’d changed, that ridiculous simplicity of his was clearly eternal. But now, Yuder found he could just click his tongue once and let it go.

He stared at the closed door for a moment, then turned around.

When he entered the Commander’s office, two men were busy working.

Kishiar sat at his desk, furiously scribbling something. Beside him, Nathan Zuckerman was sorting a number of rather bulky pouches.

As soon as he saw Yuder, Nathan Zuckerman stood and asked naturally,

“Shall I bring you some tea? Is there anything you’d like in particular?”

“That’s quite alright. You’re busy; no need to worry about me.”

“The Duke has been working non-stop since we returned. I thought that if Sir Aile agreed to have some, the Duke might be persuaded to take a short break himself.”

“...Has he really?”

“Oh, Nathan.”

Kishiar gave a short laugh. Though his hands never stopped their astonishing pace, he glanced at Yuder with a warm gaze.

“You’re not even trying to hide your ambition to make me rest. You know full well Yuder wouldn’t refuse if you put it that way.”

“It’s a method I developed while serving someone who hates taking breaks.”

“I can’t beat you.”

With Kishiar’s chuckle, Nathan Zuckerman left to prepare the tea. Yuder sat down in his usual seat. From here, he had a good view of what Kishiar was working on.

His eyes were drawn to a sheet of paper filled with the word “Diarca” written over and over.

“You’re organizing the records from the secret vault, I see.”

“It’s best to do this kind of work right away.”

As expected.

Yuder turned to look at the pouches Nathan Zuckerman had been sorting earlier. What was inside could well be called today’s greatest find.

“That moment was quite unexpected. Did you already anticipate Kiole would make that request and bring this?”

When Kiole had solemnly requested, “Please destroy Duke Diarca’s secret vault immediately.”

At first, Yuder had been surprised by the unexpected request. Then he was stunned again when Kishiar, without a word, nodded and pulled the pouch from his coat.

“Good. But ‘destroying’ something can mean several things. Which method would you prefer? Do you want it physically annihilated, or would you rather hide it by moving it elsewhere using this magical pouch? I’ll do as you ask.”

It was the same kind of pouch Kishiar had prepared back in the West when they’d swapped fake drugs for the real ones. Even Nathan Zuckerman, who’d been ordered to carry that pouch then, had looked just as surprised this time—clearly, he hadn’t known Kishiar had brought it.

'When on earth...?'

Kiole, too, had flinched when the rare magical item suddenly appeared, but perhaps because he’d been hit with so many shocks throughout the day, he quickly accepted it.

He really must have known everything...

With a determined and anguished face, Kiole had come to a conclusion after long deliberation.

“Anything that might be misused if it falls into my father’s or older brother’s hands—please destroy it right away. But items that might be useful to His Majesty as evidence when punishing their crimes—I want those preserved and submitted. Would that be possible...?”

“Of course. But judging from your face, you’d probably faint if I left the sorting to you. Would you mind if I handled it?”

“Yes... of course.”

Kiole looked like he couldn’t bear to even glance at the secret vault anymore. Kishiar smiled quietly, and as if waiting for this moment, began sweeping several items into the pouch. Destroying the rest was almost laughably simple.

“Yuder. Could you raise a wall of wind around us?”

Yuder surrounded the entire garden with a barrier to block any sound, and Kishiar activated his ability inside it.

The Awakener’s power surged forth silently, like shimmering heat, enveloping the pergola. The six pillars began to tremble violently with a rumble. Even without seeing the power itself, Kiole seemed to sense the immense force and held his breath.

And that was it.

Like something crushed in a stone grip, the pergola shattered completely. The items hidden within the pillars flew outward with it, but not a single one came close to touching the humans standing nearby.

Kishiar used the opposing forces of push and pull to suspend the shattered pergola and its contents midair, then broke them again and again, reducing everything to dust.

'His ability with destructive application has advanced even further.'

Even Nathan Zuckerman likely couldn’t fully grasp the awe-inspiring feat his master was performing. Yuder, as an Awakener, was grateful he could understand the incredible precision and grace of the power on display.

Such beauty, such detail—each wave of force unleashed at exactly the right moment and place.

When Kiole finally gasped with his mouth slightly agape, all that remained before them was a large pile of unidentifiable sand.

'Done. All that’s left is to scatter it.'

As Kishiar spoke, the sand dispersed in all directions, like ash blown by the wind. But it wasn’t the wind—it was his repelling force, and not a single grain even brushed against them.

Ah...

Kiole dropped to his knees before the spot where the pergola had stood, his face a mixture of emotions. Yuder, watching him, turned to look at Kishiar. The man who had just destroyed his enemy’s secret weapon with his own hands wore a perfectly calm, unshaken expression.

Thus ended the exploration of Kiole’s secret vault. On the way back, they passed by the servant missing his left thumbnail, but Kiole didn’t so much as glance at him. Madam Bishu was the same.

Soon enough, they’d notice the pergola was gone—but what could they possibly do?

While Yuder considered that with a chill in his thoughts, Kishiar spoke.

“Earlier, on the way back, I asked Kiole a question.”

“Oh, right. You asked him why he decided to become a knight.”

On the walk back, Kishiar had asked what made Kiole decide to become a knight. Kiole had hesitated, then replied with a sheepish expression that it was because of a book he’d read as a child. He even mentioned the title, though Yuder hadn’t heard of it. When Kishiar said he’d also enjoyed reading that book as a child, Kiole had forgotten all the tension and lit up in surprise.

He looked like he’d never met anyone else who had liked that book.

“The knight story that moved him was a dramatized account based on a real person. It’s been popular for ages, with many versions. Can you guess who the real-life model was?”

“Hmm. I doubt the Diarca household would’ve given him just any book to read... but I’m too lazy to think harder. Just tell me.”

“Such a high-handed and thrilling command. I must obey at once.”

Kishiar grinned and gave the answer.

“The first Duke of Diarca.”

“Knew it was a good call to just ask. Please continue doing so in the future.”

At that, Kishiar laughed heartily—from the heart.