Turning Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Yuder possessed a secondary gender as well; he was an Omega. This trait had remained dormant until after he successfully passed the Cavalry entrance exam, only beginning to manifest several months into his service.

Over the years, Yuder faced a relentless tide of individuals who looked down on him. The fact that an Omega served as the leader of the Cavalry was a point of contention for many. Among the ranks of the Awakeners, a significant number flatly refused to grant him the respect his position commanded.

The only reason his detractors couldn't openly oust him was his sheer power, which surpassed that of any Alpha. Furthermore, he was a rare, scentless Omega who never suffered through a heat cycle.

Yet, Yuder stood alone with such strength. Despite his tireless efforts, he found it impossible to single-handedly halt the wave of crimes and systemic discrimination directed at Omegas.

'Will the manifestation occur at the same time as my previous life?'

Individuals who have not yet awakened their secondary gender lack the ability to sense it in others. Consequently, Yuder remained uncertain whether Gakane or the woman he was speaking with had already manifested theirs.

"Um... is it mandatory for us to show our powers while we describe them?"

"It doesn't appear to be a requirement."

Though uncertainty lingered, the woman’s face grew increasingly grave as she absorbed Gakane’s response.

"This is going to be a major issue..."

"Why do you say that?"

"My gift... well, it takes time to prepare. The effects aren't something you can see right away, either."

"An ability like that exists? I was under the impression that most powers were visible, similar to magic or martial swordsmanship."

Gakane tilted his head in confusion, but Yuder didn't doubt her for a second. It was an obscure reality that while most early Awakeners possessed common traits, there were actually many diverse types of powers in existence.

In a few years' time, the population of Awakeners would surge, revealing a vast array of unique talents. However, during this era, such specialized users were exceptionally rare. Since they often lacked the physical means to defend themselves, they frequently met early ends.

If she possessed a genuine ability but encountered a clerk who failed to grasp its nature, her application might be rejected on the spot. Suddenly, Yuder felt a spark of curiosity regarding the woman.

"What exactly is your ability?"

Caught off guard by Yuder's blunt inquiry, the woman shifted her gaze toward him. After a brief moment of hesitation, she gave a straightforward answer.

"I can extract information from anything I lay my hands on."

"Information? How does that work?"

"For instance, if I grip an object, details about it suddenly flood my mind. If I hold a book, I can learn who the author was and what is written inside without reading it. It doesn't work every time, though—only when there is significant data to be retrieved. Brand-new items usually have nothing to tell. The older an object is and the more history it holds, the longer the process takes. That’s the extent of what I’ve learned so far."

"Wow."

Gakane’s jaw dropped, his face reflecting a clash between skepticism and awe.

"Does it work on people, too?"

"I've never been able to make it work on a person."

'She's telling the truth.'

Yuder could see the honesty reflected in her eyes.

'However, words are easily faked. This is the sort of power that gets someone branded as a fraud. She likely couldn't even get past the application stage in the past.'

The power to read the history of objects. At a glance, it was difficult to realize just how monumental such a gift could be.

But what if that power evolved? What if she could eventually read the secrets of people, the natural world, or even things that were invisible to the naked eye?

'Everyone would crave that power.'

It wouldn't just be impressive; it would be a terrifying instrument of war. Depending on who controlled her, she could be a savior or a harbinger of death.

As these thoughts crossed Yuder's mind, a fragment of a memory he had long ignored resurfaced.

'Now that I think about it... years ago, rumors circulated that the King of Duvern had found an Awakener capable of seeing the future.'

Duvern was a vassal state of the Orr Empire, located on the western border. Because the King claimed to possess a prophet, Yuder—who was concerned about the deteriorating global climate—had dispatched a Cavalry member to investigate.

The report he received back then stated that the so-called prophet had perished in the midst of Duvern's internal political struggles and that the Awakener had originally come from the Orr Empire.

At the time, Yuder assumed that a true seer wouldn't die so pointlessly; he had dismissed the story as a fabrication and moved on.

But looking at the woman before him, he realized that if someone could read the past of an object, perhaps a prophet truly had existed.

Maybe she could only perceive the past now, but with training, perhaps she could eventually see what was yet to come.

Yuder required information. He needed far more than the knowledge he carried from his previous life. To achieve that, he needed individuals with abilities like hers to be part of the Cavalry.

Yuder checked the length of the queue. About seven people remained ahead of them. There was still time.

Reaching into his pocket, he felt a familiar item. When he withdrew a weathered bracelet, both Gakane and the woman stared at him with wide eyes.

"What is that for?"

"Read this."

The woman looked hesitant as she accepted the bracelet he thrust toward her.

"Me? But I already mentioned it doesn't always... Oh?"

Her voice trailed off abruptly. Yuder noticed a faint, aura-like shimmer radiating from her body. That settled it. She was definitely an Awakener empowered by the Red Stone.

"An elderly man crafted this. Was he your grandfather?"

"He was."

"I see. It was roughly seven years ago... you were given this right before his death. Yu...der. Yuder? Is that your name?"

Yuder offered no verbal confirmation, merely letting the corner of his mouth twitch upward slightly.

"Your power is genuine."

"I tried to tell you."

"However, the bureaucrats inside won't believe a word of it."

The woman’s face fell at Yuder's blunt assessment. Gakane looked ready to protest the unfairness of it, but Yuder cut him off before he could speak.

"When they ask you to describe your gift, don't use the explanation you gave us. Tell them you possess an ability with massive destructive potential."

"What?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Both of them looked at him in total confusion.

"The clerks are only there to process applications. They won't bother trying to verify a power that is difficult to test inside an office. In truth, depending on how you apply the information you gather, your gift could be a devastating weapon against enemies, so it isn't exactly a lie. Once you reach the actual examination, explain your power truthfully to the examiners and suggest they provide an ancient relic for you to verify. For now, focus on getting your application through. If you don't apply, you'll never get another chance."

Yuder spoke in a flat, remarkably steady tone. Yet, despite his calm delivery, his words possessed a sharp, calculated edge that caught them off guard.

It was a deceptive tactic, but not a falsehood. Gakane and the girl were struck by how well Yuder seemed to understand the recruitment process, but their confusion was quickly replaced by admiration.

"Wow, that's brilliant. Are we allowed to do that?"

"It depends on how much you want to be in the Cavalry."

In his past life, Yuder would never have offered such advice. But after living through the entire process, serving as a Cavalry member, witnessing the world's corruption, and returning from death, his outlook had shifted.

To the current Yuder, Gakane and the girl seemed like young, fledgling soldiers of the Cavalry that he was responsible for. Their futures were unwritten, full of untapped potential.

His helpfulness was born of pragmatic need, yet he felt a twinge of bitterness realizing he still hadn't fully shed the mindset of a Cavalry commander.

"You're right. The clerks are just recorders, not the actual judges. We can't do anything if we don't get past the front door."

Gakane clapped Yuder on the shoulder, looking impressed. The girl pondered the advice for a moment before nodding firmly, her mind made up.

"I'll do it. I appreciate the help. I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Kanna."

"As you figured out, this is Yuder, and I'm Gakane Bolunwald. I hope we all make it through the application and into the Cavalry so we can cross paths again."

Kanna offered a smile at Gakane's words, her tension visibly easing.

"That would be wonderful. Even if it's just a hope."

"Next person, please enter."

The call finally came for Kanna. The space in front of them was now empty. Taking a deep breath, Kanna gave a small wave of goodbye and stepped inside. With the entrance and exit being separate, there was no guarantee they would see her again today.

If her application was successful, they might meet at the testing grounds or within the Cavalry itself; if not, this was their final meeting.

"Yuder, you don't feel nervous at all?"

Gakane looked at Yuder with a peculiar expression, while Yuder was already busy calculating the best way to maintain contact with Kanna in the future.