บท 11: Chapter 11
"Was I wrong?"
In the past, he had asked a similar question to Yuder, who had arrived earlier than anyone else and confidently declared his intention to join the Sul Division.
"Your talent leans heavily towards the Jung Division. It's commendable to recognize the direction of your own abilities before anyone else does."
How strange it was to hear different words in the same place from the same person. Indeed, the future he had once known was shifting due to his choices.
"Actually, I've decided to choose the Shin Division instead."
At Yuder's words, Kishiar tilted his head, as if trying to gauge his sincerity.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"What's your reason for choosing the Shin Division?"
"I've realized that I want to move towards the Shin Division rather than the Sul Division during my training."
"Hmm. Even if your talent would flourish much faster and greater if you chose the path of the Sul Division?"
It seemed like a question aimed at reading the future. However, this time Yuder didn't waver and calmly responded, having prepared his answer in advance.
"Isn't it possible that the opposite result could happen as well?"
"That's true."
A smile appeared in Kishiar's red eyes.
"Usually, when people are challenged like this, they hesitate and reconsider, thinking they've made their decision after careful thought. But it seems your opinion won't change, so it doesn't matter. Fine, I'll process your application to the Shin Division."
His response was so clean and straightforward that it almost felt surreal. Yuder couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness.
He vividly remembered that Kishiar had made him the deputy commander responsible for the entire Sul Division almost as soon as he had joined, seemingly without reason. Because of that, Yuder had thought Kishiar would be suspicious and might not accept his decision to join the Shin Division.
Yet, there was no sign of hesitation in Kishiar's demeanor.
"Normally, you'd need to sign the documents yourself, but that will happen after some other matters are settled."
Kishiar didn't elaborate on what those other matters were. However, Yuder knew what they were.
'The time to receive a family name is approaching.'
He had been granted a family name shortly after joining the Cavalry in the past. It was unprecedented for hundreds of new family names to be created and bestowed within just a few months.
Most of them were created without much thought, taking names from birthplaces or religious scriptures, but there still existed an insurmountable gap in status between those with a family name and those without.
Looking back now, it was remarkable that the emperor had allowed such a thing. The opposition from the nobles must have been fierce; how had he managed it?
Yuder didn't have many memories of the previous emperor, who had passed away just before he became the Cavalry's commander. All he could recall was that the previous emperor had been Kishiar La Orr's half-brother, the only blood brother; that for several years before his death, the previous emperor had been so ill that he rarely appeared before his subjects; and that the crown prince, who inherited the throne, had been adopted rather than a biological son.
Having lived in the mountains, Yuder hadn't even known the face of the lord governing his village, let alone the emperor's. The only time he had seen the emperor was during the initiation ceremony for the Cavalry.
"Is there something more you want to say?"
While Yuder was lost in thought, Kishiar seemed to sense his lingering thoughts and prompted him. Yuder stared at him for a moment before impulsively speaking.
"Your Highness, why…"
"Call me Commander."
Kishiar interrupted abruptly, his relaxed red eyes gleaming with mischief.
"According to Orr's law, position takes precedence over status. Of course, many ignore this, but as long as I'm here, 'Commander' is sufficient."
"Ah, yes. Commander, may I ask why you created this place?"
"This place? Do you mean this building or the Cavalry?"
He asked, even though it was clear he understood what Yuder meant. Yuder had always disliked that sly aspect of him. Feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, Yuder continued.
"Of course, the latter."
"You're the first person to ask me that directly. Even the Emperor didn't inquire about my reasons."
There was no sign in his expression that he found Yuder's question bold or presumptuous.
"The reason I created the Cavalry? It's simple. Power must flow in the right direction. If you try to block or suppress it, you'll inevitably pay the price for disrupting harmony. As someone with an ability like yours, I believed it was necessary to create a path for this power before it could harm the empire. And since I was the only Awakener among the imperial family, I thought I was the most suitable person to do so. That's all there is to it."
It was a textbook answer, leaving little room for objection.
Yuder hesitated briefly before deciding to ask another question.
"Then, will you be the only one leading the Cavalry in the future?"
"Why do you ask? Are you interested in the position?"
"Of course not."
Anyone else might have chastised him for his blunt response, urging him to answer properly.
As Yuder frowned and answered, Kishiar laughed even louder than before—a truly joyous laugh.
"Well, for now, that's the case. But once the divisions are established, I plan to select a deputy commander to assist me. With your abilities, you might be suited for that position."
"I would be unqualified."
Yuder responded immediately, without a second thought.
"I'm not sociable, and I haven't built close relationships with my fellow members."
"Oh, I thought highly of you, but it seems you have a softer side than I expected."
Kishiar shook his head.
"Sociability and friendship are undoubtedly good qualities, but if I were to choose someone solely based on those traits, I might as well have brought in non-Awakeners. Remember, the power you possess was not something you were born with. You might feel inferior now in the presence of high-ranking imperial knights or nobles, but in a few years, the situation will likely reverse."
"…"
"Even if you don't fully grasp the meaning of my words…"
"No, I understand."
Yuder couldn't respond immediately because Kishiar's seemingly lighthearted comment was eerily accurate about the future.
He was right. As Kishiar had predicted, the Cavalry members might currently feel overshadowed by high-ranking knights or nobles, but in a few years, the situation would change drastically.
Only the Cavalry could tackle the ever-growing catastrophes, and they had broken free from the previous system, seeing rapid increases in social status, promotions, and power.
Traditional powerhouses like the Imperial Knights or the Pearl Tower mages could no longer deal with the Cavalry and the Awakeners as they had before. The only ones capable of suppressing them were those with even greater powers.
Take, for example, the commander, Yuder.
Yuder would challenge any insubordinate member to a one-on-one practice duel, defeating them publicly to ensure they wouldn't dare act rebelliously again.
There were many complaints that it felt like dealing with animals rather than humans, but it was the simplest solution, so it couldn't be helped.
But for now, those events were still in the past. Yuder had expected Kishiar to handle the members differently. However...
"If you have no more questions, you may leave."
"Ah, yes."
"This room is always open. If you have more questions, feel free to visit anytime. If I'm not here, leave a message with my adjutant."
As Kishiar spoke, Yuder noted a change. While he had been in this room a few times when Kishiar was the commander, there was a new presence today: an adjutant.
Kishiar's famous adjutant, Nathan Zuckerman, who had been with him since he was a prince and not yet the Duke of Peletta, was absent. Had Nathan been there during Yuder's previous visits?
As Yuder tried to recall, Kishiar seemed to sense his confusion and turned his head, saying, "Ah."
"Come to think of it, you might not know who my adjutant is. He's currently handling matters in Peletta Castle on my behalf. Once he's done, he'll come over. He's not an Awakener, but he's quite skilled with a sword."
"Quite" skilled? Yuder nearly laughed sarcastically but held it back.
Nathan Zuckerman was a Swordmaster. Though not officially recognized, Yuder knew it for a fact from their past encounters. Kishiar's casual remark about Nathan being "quite" skilled with a sword made Yuder think him as sly as a snake.
"Understood."
After replying, Yuder left Kishiar's quarters. Free at last from the subtle yet oppressive aura of the divine sword he had sensed behind him, he let out a long breath.
'Sigh.'
One thing was clear.
Kishiar hadn't created the Cavalry with the intention of handing them over to someone else from the beginning. In just two years since the Awakeners had appeared, he had demonstrated an incredible understanding of their tendencies and their future impact.
If someone as cunning as Kishiar had been part of the Cavalry, Yuder might not have failed so miserably in the past. Kishiar's noble lineage and connections from birth had given him a strategic edge.
Why would someone like him suddenly step down as commander and return to his hometown? That was a question Yuder would need to investigate.
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