Turning Chapter 1313

Even those who usually skipped morning training due to other duties showed up in large numbers today. Among them was none other than Debran Hartude, one of the busiest members lately.

“So I finally wrapped up that damn convict supervisor mission and thought I’d drop by morning training for once... Wow. What a mess.”

Debran clicked his tongue and looked at Yuder with what seemed like pity. But that didn’t last long. He proudly pulled out his own bottle of tea powder from his coat and grinned.

“Still, thanks for making one for me too! When I saw it sitting in front of my room, I didn’t even know what it was at first. The more I get to know you, the more I like you!”

If he really thought that, Yuder wished he’d help calm this whole situation down. But Debran just laughed cheerfully and walked off.

Next came the Elder siblings. Each holding the bottle of tea powder that had been sent to them, and with their other hands clinging to Ever, the two marched over and bowed solemnly.

“Yuder. Sorry for... running away the last time we saw you!”

“We were embarrassed to face you because we hadn’t done anything right yet. I swear it wasn’t because we hate you!”

When their eyes met, Ever gave a faint smile and winked. It meant they’d successfully persuaded the Elder siblings.

‘One less thing to worry about.’

Yuder opened his mouth quietly to speak to the stiff siblings.

“I’ve already gotten the Commander’s formal approval for your research with Alik. Don’t rush to produce results—just focus on staying safe, and no one will get in your way. Also, make sure you don’t skip training anymore.”

“...Yuder!”

The Elder siblings’ noses twitched as if about to cry, then they hugged Yuder tightly.

“We will. Seriously, seriously—we’ll be careful from now on! Thanks for even sending us gifts!”

“We’re gonna work Alik to the bone and produce something way better than any other movement-type user! Once it’s done, we’ll come brag about it, so look forward to it!”

Whether Alik would have liked hearing that or gotten chills was anyone’s guess.

Even after that, the thank-you messages kept pouring in.

The one who finally rescued Yuder from the human swamp with no escape in sight was none other than Kishiar.

“Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. It’s nice to hear laughter filling the barracks.”

“Commander!”

Just his appearance made the crowd around Yuder scatter in an instant. Kishiar’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the tea powder bottles everyone was holding.

“Oh. I got the same gift from my aide yesterday. It was the best tea of my life.”

“Ah...”

“But did you know? The one I got was this big.”

Far from scolding them for not training, he even pulled out a bottle as big as his forearm and bragged about it. The new recruits gawked in shock, while the veteran members expressed a different kind of astonishment.

“What, did you come here just to rub it in?”

“No matter how much we respect you, Commander, I don’t think it’s right to provoke such jealousy!”

“Exactly! I’m so jealous, I can’t control my powers!”

The seniors complained with exaggerated bravado, making the rookies’ eyes tremble. Kishiar didn’t care and just burst into laughter, removing his coat to reveal the simple attire he wore for training.

“Busted. If it bothers you, then go ahead and challenge me. Today’s training will be changed to a many-vs-one sparring match with me.”

The members’ eyes gleamed.

“You all heard him, right? The Commander himself will lead today’s training!”

“If we win, will you share some of your powder?”

“Oh, why not? Anyone who manages to land a hit on me is welcome to it.”

“You promised!”

Kishiar rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a nearby wooden practice sword. His gaze fell on Yuder, and a smile passed between them—one whose intent no one else could read.

“I’ll leave the judging to my aide as always. I’m counting on you, Yuder.”

Whenever Kishiar sparred with the members, Yuder would step aside to act as the impartial referee. It had always been that way, so no one thought it strange. But Yuder alone understood the true reason for today’s sudden training change.

‘He must be worried about my condition.’

Yesterday, Yuder had completely shattered Kishiar’s self-control. As a result, his body bore far more marks than usual, and by morning, he hadn’t recovered his full strength like he typically did.

Still, Yuder felt no regrets. He merely thought he should increase his stamina training. But Kishiar had taken it seriously. He must’ve offered to use divine power to heal Yuder at least ten times before leaving.

‘I kept refusing... and now here we are.’

Yuder let out a small sigh and looked down at the clothes under his uniform coat. Normally, he wore a shirt, but today he wore a black top that rose up to his neck to hide the marks. The chilly morning weather meant no one found it strange.

‘Well, even if they did, I wouldn’t care...’

Regardless, Kishiar had taken it upon himself to give Yuder some rest, so there was nothing to do but watch the match quietly as referee. The bold challenges were admirable, but not one of the members could lay a finger on Kishiar.

“At this rate, do you really think you’ll win any of my powder? I haven’t even used a single ability yet.”

“But Swordmaster, you’re faster than us just by running!”

“Hmm. Can’t be helped. It’s a physical ability I gained through diligent training. If you work just as hard, you could reach this level too.”

“Ugh... If someone else said that, I’d punch them!”

“And yet I’m telling you to go ahead and try.”

The rookies, who’d started out nervously standing back, began to sneak in one by one after watching their seniors get knocked away like leaves. Of course, their fates weren’t much different.

Yuder used just a bit of wind to help soften their landings as he thought:

‘Everyone’s kept up their training and grown stronger since returning from the South. It’s even more apparent when I see them all together like this.’

Individual abilities had obviously improved, but what stood out to Yuder was how well they worked together even in the chaos, never hindering each other. The Cavalry’s trademark ability to shine in messy battle had evolved into something greater—they now instinctively protected one another and amplified each other’s strength.

But their opponent was Kishiar la Orr.

Whether at the time they’d first joined or now, he was still too powerful for anyone to even graze. Because of that, the members couldn’t fully feel their own progress and had to push themselves to their limits.

“Ugh...”

“I can’t go on... I’m dying...!”

Only after everyone collapsed and surrendered did Kishiar wipe his sweat and return to Yuder’s side with a bright smile.

“Referee. What’s the verdict?”

“The Commander is victorious.”

The flat ruling made the members clench their fists in frustration. Kishiar waved with a radiant grin.

“Hahaha. What a shame. I really wanted to share my powder with you, but I guess it can’t be helped. Still, it’s clear everyone’s been training hard, and that makes me happy. I’ll have a special snack prepared for tonight.”

“...”

“It’s the dessert bread my aide ate the most during their vacation in Peleta. A special recipe from the Peleta Castle chef.”

The gloomy members suddenly lit up again.

“Long live the Commander!”

“We want to eat it too!”

The moment before they’d been exhausted and collapsed—but now the members shot up, full of energy and chattering away. Yuder didn’t understand why his name had been dragged into this again but kept silent.

“Well then. Since morning training is over, shall we go?”

Kishiar gave a sweet smile and gestured. Yuder followed him toward the Commander’s office.

He considered telling him it really wasn’t necessary to lead morning training himself, but Kishiar spoke first.

“Remember the letter we received from the Cat’s Whiskers Trading Company yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“It said they were making good progress in distributing the suppressant—but there was also some fascinating information. They finally succeeded in contacting the Owl’s Wing Tribe, the core of the moderates, and there they met the ‘chieftain’s nephew.’”

Yuder’s eyes cooled instantly.

“...Naham?”

“That’s right. All the details matched the information Nathan gathered in the central desert before. Doesn’t look like it could be anyone else.”

He’d suspected Naham might still be alive and had pursued his trail all this time, but there was still a world of difference between speculation and confirmation.

Yuder recalled the last blood-soaked sight of Naham he’d seen.

“If they met him, does that mean they spoke with him? What’s his condition now?”

“They only saw him from a distance, no conversation. They barely escaped with their lives as it was. But it seems he’s not in good shape. According to his aunt—the tribe’s chieftain—even their best healers couldn’t fully restore him, and she insists he’ll never be able to use his powers again.”

The vital point for an Awakener. In his past life, it had been called the mana hole. If that had been destroyed, then the result was inevitable. As far as Yuder knew, no Awakener had ever recovered from such damage—not even Yudrain Aile himself.

“They said he doesn’t seem to have much will to live. And yet, strangely enough, he told his aunt to meet with Gohum. Thanks to that, the peace-seeking tribal alliance is forming well, and they’re planning a group meeting soon. Good news for us.”

It was certainly a fortunate development.

‘Even if it’s lingering brainwashing, he was once a fierce protector of Awakeners. Maybe this is an extension of that ideology. Or... maybe seeing my memories at the end affected him somehow.’

“Either way, it’s good news, so I’ve gone ahead and started preparing the next step.”

Yuder stopped speculating about Naham’s mindset and raised his head.

“What’s the next step?”

“No matter how many moderates we gather from the Southern Nation, they’re still the minority. They alone can’t stop the Wolf’s Eye Tribe. And it’s just as difficult for us in the Orr Empire to handle it alone. So what do we do? Gather more allies. Ideally, those allies should meet each other, confirm their shared values directly.”

“That sounds incredibly difficult to pull off in the short term.”

“Not necessarily. There’s a perfect opportunity coming up.”

Kishiar smiled.

“The coronation ceremony of Nellarun’s new king.”