Turning Chapter 1334

“His mind is back! He opened his eyes!”

“Would you step aside for a moment?”

Through a hazy field of vision, someone set a hand on Fay’s chest. Light flashed, and a warm energy spread through his whole body. The throat and innards that had burned as if melting with fire settled, in an instant, to a level he could somewhat endure.

“Kh—cough... ngh...”

“Fay. Do you know who I am?”

The one who had been calling his name kept speaking, voice tinged with tears.

Maybe it was the light falling over the long black hair. It looked as if a great halo had descended upon that head. Ah. He’d thought he hadn’t seen the angel who would take him before death—had they just arrived a step late? Fay stared blankly into that light and muttered, as if spellbound,

“...A—an... gel...”

“...What?”

Perhaps it wasn’t the answer hoped for, because the angel cried out with a twisted face,

“I think he really did hurt his head!”

“Do you recognize my face?”

The person with a hand on Fay’s chest thrust his head forward. Though he’d only seen it from afar a few times, that beauty was unforgettable. How could he not know?

Before his mind could form the thought, his lips moved on their own.

“C—Commander... Cavalry Commander...”

“Hm. Don’t worry. You look a bit confused, but if you recognize me, then fortunately your head seems fine. A good sleep and you’ll be all right.”

Kishiar spoke firmly to the angel.

“Th—that’s a relief...”

“Emergency treatment is done. The remaining poison will be handled by the medical unit when we return to the Cavalry. Time is critical, so we move immediately.”

“Will you be all right without us staying here...?”

Someone else asked cautiously. Seeing the wings and horns, that one too seemed to be an angel who had come to take Fay.

“Recruits don’t need to worry about that! Come along.”

“Hin Elder said exactly what I was going to. Go back, get treated first, and rest. The questioning will be after that. And don’t forget—what you just saw stays secret outside.”

The moment those words ended, the very small someone standing by Fay’s side suddenly cracked and stretched, their body sprouting larger with popping sounds.

“I’ll carry him, the recruit doesn’t need to strain. You’re injured too.”

If he had been in his right state, he might have doubted his eyes—but thinking they were angels brought him peace. Hin Elder’s burly, muscular arms carefully—and yet lightly—lifted Fay up.

Only after his view rose did Fay finally understand where he was. He had been lying on the restroom floor this whole time. He’d thought a long time had passed since he stuck out his tongue and smashed his forehead down to choose death, but in truth, it seemed not even a few minutes had gone by.

The one holding him strode off. He felt many presences around him. They all seemed to say a word or two as they looked at Fay, but nothing stuck in his head.

“...If we want to jump straight to the Cavalry, we have to get over there...”

“Even with a pin, sending three at once might be...”

“Fay first... I’m fine...”

“Don’t be ridiculous—listen quietly to your senior...”

Drowsiness began to wash over him again. Fay’s vision fluttered as he was about to pass out once more, when suddenly the voices around him cut off sharply.

What was that?

Curious why the noisy clamor had stopped, Fay opened his eyes—and saw a man whose air was as chill as a northern winter wind.

Hair even blacker than the angel’s just now. Eyes dark beyond knowing their depths. A faint scent of blood wafting from a pale face.

Just as with Kishiar, the man’s name rose in Fay’s mind as naturally as if it had always been there.

'Yuder... Aile.'

Their gazes met. Lips drained of color opened slowly.

“He tried to kill himself? Without using his ability even once?”

It wasn’t a question seeking Fay’s answer. It was confirmation. Yuder Aile scanned Fay’s face and declared, expressionless, yet with a tone that sounded faintly exasperated,

“—As soon as he’s recovered, that brat is getting special individual training. Pass it on.”

Why did the air go cold and tense all at once? Strange, unknowable looks of pity seemed to rain down from all sides...

Fay snapped awake again.

‘...Ah.’

This time, the first thing he saw was the ceiling of the Cavalry medical ward. His throat felt a little scorched, but there was no pain.

'What? Did I... live?'

What he’d seen before losing consciousness tangled and throbbed in his head. What was real, and what was illusion? He clutched his head and quietly groaned, when the curtain at his bedside was yanked aside and someone’s face appeared.

“You woke faster than I expected.”

A curt voice, paired with a face shockingly handsome. The clothes weren’t a priest’s robe—so his identity wasn’t hard to guess.

The core of the Cavalry’s medical unit, Pharmacist Inon.

“...Cavalry... Pharmacist... sir...?”

“Yeah. For someone whose tongue almost got cut, you’re speaking pretty well.”

“How... did I end up here...?”

“That’s not something I’m going to explain. Ask your friends.”

“Huh?...”

“Eyes wide, mouth open. Once I finish the exam, I’ll tell the friends outside to come in.”

Half bewildered and half frightened, Fay did as Inon said and opened his mouth. Inon turned his head this way and that, flipped up eyelids, and briskly checked his body, then let out a thoughtful hum.

“The tongue reattached cleanly. The throat’s still a bit swollen. Take this.”

“Mm.”

A pill he hadn’t seen him take out shot straight into Fay’s esophagus with a single flick of Inon’s finger. Startled, Fay swallowed reflexively—and then the hellish bitterness hit late.

“Ghk...!”

“Fay!”

While he was suffering from an indescribable taste, Inon vanished and familiar faces filled the space. Glowe and Elpokin, wearing the same hospital garb as Fay.

At the sight of their faces, joy, guilt, and sorrow crashed over him all at once.

“Glowe, Elpokin...”

“Fay. You recognize us properly now! Thank goodness...”

Glowe murmured a prayer of thanks. Elpokin nodded silently. 'When did I ever not recognize them?' The thought flickered—but before that came apology and despair.

Fay searched their faces. You couldn’t tell just by looking, but if they were in patient clothes, they must have been injured somehow. Capable, kind Cavalry members had followed him here only to end up like this. He couldn’t even think It’s a relief I survived.

He didn’t quite know how all three of them had made it here, but one thing was certain: everyone must have learned that Fay had ties to Matten and the merchants.

“I—I’m sorry you followed me... I’m really sorry... Even if I get kicked out of the Cavalry for this s—sin, I’ll... I’ll repay it, I swear...”

“What?”

Elpokin frowned.

“Why would you leave the Cavalry?”

“...Because I committed the crime of bringing you to Matten...? And I entered the Cavalry thanks to Matten, so... of course...”

The more he spoke, the smaller his voice became. But Fay couldn’t stop confessing his guilt.

“M—Matten said he would use me to dig information out of the Cavalry... He said that’s why he helped me and met me... He said he’d drag you in, too... It looks like that didn’t happen since you’re both fine, but j—just in case... You should get out of here quickly...”

He was grateful they’d come out of concern. He’d never had such an experience in his life. But if others found out they’d come to the bedside of someone soon to be expelled for his crimes, they would surely think ill of them.

Fay was forcing out the words, grim and sorrowful, when Glowe and Elpokin’s reactions proved strangely off.

They looked at each other in confusion, then both let out a thoughtful sound, as if realizing something. Glowe spoke first.

“Fay... We already know all that. Everyone does, not just us.”

“Uh—huh?”

“You seem to have no memory after you tried to kill yourself, so I’ll tell you. You woke up after two days. Matten is dead, and the other Southern merchants and collaborators have all been captured and thrown in prison.”

“...Huh?”

“The Commander said you were just someone who was deceived and harmed. So you’re not getting kicked out of the Cavalry.”

“Glowe, say this part too! Senior Yuder said once you’re all healed up, he’ll give you special individual training right away. I’m so jealous...”

“...What?”

His ears were perfectly fine.

But none of the words sounded like a real language.

Fay’s mind went completely white and shook. He gave his head a little shake, but nothing changed. He drew a clogged breath at last and asked with difficulty,

“...Wait. Tell me again from the start. I—I think I saw the Commander and Senior Yuder in a dream... That was real? What on earth happened?”