Chapter 882
"Who reported it? Lead me there right away."
"It was a guard sent by Lord of Mclara. I didn't believe it at first, but then he presented a token and said he had recently heard from someone from the Cavalry, instructing him to come directly to the branch if anything happened."
Gakane unclenched his fist that he had been holding tightly. There, lay a button that only a member of the Cavalry could possess, along with a wax seal bearing the imprint of Duke Peletta. Upon seeing this, Yuder immediately nodded in acknowledgment.
"It's definitely sent by the Commander. There's no need for doubt."
Previously, Kisiar and Yuder had secretly toured Mclara and three other cities together. These places had been particularly affected by a major earthquake in a previous game, and there had been many sightings of strange cracks.
Their actions and subsequent responses during that time had now been clearly validated by this current communication.
Yuder followed Gakane outside, with Enon reacting to the mention of the strange cracks and following suit. Alik, who had been sitting even after finishing his business with Lusan, raised his hand as if to greet them joyfully, but immediately shrank back, swallowing his words, as their eyes met.
They found Ever and an elderly guard, who was sitting with anxious faces in the waiting room where visitors to the southern branch temporarily stayed.
"That's him. He was so anxious, I went to call you while Ever was dealing with him."
"Good job."
Yuder approached them, straightening his back and shoulders, his posture immaculate. With a long exhale and a quick adjustment of his clothes, he perfectly embodied the role of the Commander's assistant.
"Greetings. I am Yuder Aile, assistant to the Commander of the Cavalry. You've come from Mclara, I understand."
"Yes, yes."
While speaking, Yuder exchanged a brief glance with Ever. Ever, having apparently heard of Yuder's awakening, showed no great surprise. Instead, she subtly moved her hand under the table, conveying a message through hand signals.
Are you alright? Good to hear. I leave the next part to you.
With just three hand gestures, she conveyed her concern and trust in Yuder to handle the visitor. In the past, Ever would have spoken these words aloud, but now she adeptly read the official situation and communicated silently, as befitting a Deputy Commander of the Cavalry.
Yuder naturally switched places with Ever and sat in front of the guest.
"I've heard a bit about the situation on my way here, but I would like to hear more details. When, where, and how was the crack witnessed? Please also tell me what the Lord instructed you to convey."
"Uh, but... isn't the Commander of the Cavalry coming here?"
The guard looked nervously at Yuder, then at Ever, Gakane, and Enon standing around. Despite Yuder Aile's growing fame, his name and face alone were not yet enough to grant immediate trust everywhere, especially among those used to seeing more seasoned figures.
"Regrettably, the Commander is currently unavailable due to other commitments. But rest assured, any message you have will be promptly relayed. You've come in haste to share urgent news, haven't you?"
"..."
"Seeing the empty water cup, you must be thirsty from the journey. Please, have a drink first."
With an impassive face, Yuder lifted a finger, and a stream of water magically spiraled out of thin air, filling the guard's empty cup without spilling a single drop.
The elderly guard, witnessing the miraculous scene that had unfolded before him, swallowed his breath in awe.
For Yuder, proving his capabilities had always been the most effective way to silence those who were distrustful and anxious. This approach, honed through years of experience, once again helped him achieve his desired outcome.
With trembling hands, the guard drank the water and began to speak.
"It appeared this morning, just before dawn. Farmers going out to chop wood stumbled upon it and ran to inform the Lord. The Lord was still asleep, so I went to check it first. There it was, hovering over the well."
The crack was about the size of a man's arm and did not spawn any monsters, merely floating there. Rumors about similar incidents in Charloin had already spread to Mclara, causing widespread anxiety.
The guard had immediately rushed to the Lord's bedroom to inform him upon seeing it. However, by the time the Lord went to investigate, the crack had long disappeared.
The guard was inwardly worried that the Lord, who quickly lost interest in matters not profitable, might dismiss this too. But the Lord, after staring into the void where the crack had been and pondering for a moment, gave an unexpected order.
"Who saw that thing floating there? You? Then you go to Charloin right now."
Startled by the unexpected command, the guard asked if he should approach the Lord of Charloin. The reply from the Lord of Mclara was even more surprising.
"Why bother with that fool? You shouldn't even cast a shadow where he might fall into disfavor, especially since he's rumored to be out of favor with the upcoming Duchess of Herne."
"Then where should I go?"
"Go to the Cavalry's branch. Take this with you. Tell them what happened and guide them here. If they pretend not to know, don't insist, just return."
The Lord handed the guard a button from the Cavalry and a wax seal with Duke Peletta's crest, which he pulled from his pocket. The guard, though doubtful, accepted and hurriedly left. As he departed, he faintly heard the Lord's grumbling.
"Did they foresee such an event? Well, since I've reaped some benefits, I suppose I must do this tedious task. Tsk!..."
Thus, the guard had come here, torn between doubt and anxiety. The Lord had said there was no need to cling if they feigned ignorance, but the guard, loving his homeland, couldn't bring himself to do that. He had resorted to even lying, confronting the skeptical Cavalry members to finally reach the southern branch.
Having finished his story, the guard gulped down the rest of his water. He then turned to Yuder with a look of earnest concern.
"On my way here, I saw many broken roads, buildings, and injured people. Even in the branch here, I saw many still bandaged. Is Mclara going to suffer the same fate?"
"No."
Yuder's response, calm yet filled with undeniable certainty, surprised not the guard, but the others around Yuder.
"You said the crack disappeared without spawning any monsters. Then there is no immediate danger."
"What do you mean by 'no immediate danger'? ...?"
"It means that while there might be incidents in the future, we won't just leave them unaddressed, so it's alright."
After saying this, Yuder turned his head towards Ever.
"Ever. I need five to seven members ready to leave immediately. They must be able to defend Mclara and, additionally, I request that you seek reinforcements from the Imperial Army as well."
"Of course, that's possible. I'll find them right away, just wait a bit."
Ever, with a swift and precise movement, promptly left the waiting room. Yuder then turned to the bewildered guard and spoke again.
"I will also inform the First Princess of Herne, so you can expect additional support from that end soon. I will write a letter for you to deliver to the Lord of Mclara."
"Ah, understood."
"Your action in not covering up the crack but immediately reporting it and coming here without rest was truly commendable. May I know your name?"
"It’s Orlun... ."
"The faith shown by you, Mr. Orlun, and the Lord of Mclara, will not be forgotten by our Commander. And if similar cracks appear again, please continue to report every single one without fail. It’s very important."
Yuder's voice, devoid of overt emotion, nonetheless carried a power that made the listener feel significantly acknowledged. The guard blinked awkwardly, feeling both embarrassed and pleased, as Yuder briefly stepped outside and then returned. He handed the guard a letter along with a pouch, whispering softly enough for only him to hear.
"Please deliver both the letter and this pouch directly to the Lord. Make sure to mention that this is a gesture of goodwill from the Cavalry."
Inside the modest pouch, the guard heard the unmistakable jingle of coins.
‘This, this is...!’
The Lord of Mclara, ruling over a poor and small domain, was famously known for turning a blind eye for the right price. Though it was unclear how these people knew this, receiving such a reward meant the Lord of Mclara would not disregard the new foreigners entering his domain and would likely turn a blind eye to whatever they did.
It was evident that the young Cavalry member in front of him knew precisely what kind of person the Lord of Mclara was.
This is no ordinary man.
Feeling a pleasant chill run down his spine, the guard nodded in agreement.
"That, that I will do. Understood!"
Hi, if you like the story, please rate and review this novel on novelupdates. Thanks!
Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.
"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."
In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.
"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."
And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.
"For now, until then, let's sleep..."
As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.
'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'
Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.
Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.
"Since when have you been watching me?"
Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.
"From the very beginning."
In the autumn of his 18th year, after winning the high school kendo championship finals, an unexpected accident occurred.
Due to that incident, Kang Mu-heon lost one of his legs, his closest friend, and his promising future. He closed off his heart and shut himself away alone.
A few years later, the world's first real virtual reality game <THE MIST> was announced, where even those with physical disabilities could play in healthy bodies.
By chance, Kang Mu-heon encountered it and began a new life as the mage Kapros, facing unexpected meetings, reunions, and days of change....
***
"Why was someone like you born into this world to make me so miserable? Do you understand when I say it like this?! You were born with talent for the sword, a bright personality, everything - you must have been laughing at me always lagging behind! Did you even know how pathetic I felt because of your stupid hypocrisy? A genius? What does any of that matter!"
Seung-jo's cries stabbed at his heart, wailing as if he were crying even though he wasn't, but there was no time to think further. He quickly clutched my stomach, got up, and ran towards him.
He looked surprised for a moment, but he was desperate.
Just as the car was about to reach us, he shoved Seung-jo hard. Right after Seung-jo fell and rolled away with wide, startled eyes—
Screech!
Bang! With an impact that felt like his whole body was being shattered, he flew through the air.
And in that brief yet long moment of floating in space, he remembered his reflection in Seung-jo's eyes for the last time.......
***
[ Then in THE MIST, may you become the master of infinite possibilities. ]
Whoosh!
When his vision returned after everything went white, he was standing in the middle of a bustling town. Amidst the clamor, countless people were busily going about their business here and there.
He looked down at himself, standing dazed and wearing clothes of unknown origin. When he touched the sleeve, he felt the texture of fabric as real as reality. His hair felt the same, and even when he touched the wall of a nearby house, he could clearly feel the solid, cold surface.
Is this... VT?
It seemed like a joke. It truly felt as if he had come to another world and was touching everything.
As he stood there unable to think due to the shock, he suddenly remembered the biggest reason he had decided to play this game, and snapped back to attention. His two legs were still as they had been when he first stood.
'Can I really walk?'
He first stepped out with his left foot, then very slowly put strength into his heavy right foot. It felt like cold sweat was running down his spine.
And then,
He lifted it,
Moved it,
And took another step to touch the ground again.
So easily. As if there had never been any problem with this leg from the beginning.
"Ah..."
At that moment, something that was neither joy nor emotion shot up his spine. Suddenly feeling a lump in his throat, he lowered his head and leaned against the wall. His right foot, bearing his weight, was doing its job perfectly.
"..."
Holding back the tightness in his throat, he took another step.
It didn't hurt. It wasn't heavy. His leg was no longer a useless piece of wood that ached.
Damn it, to be able to walk so easily like this.
To be able to run so easily like this.
He had wished even in his dreams for the day to come when he could walk and run like this again.
And so he walked again, kept walking, slowly getting faster, until finally he started running like a madman through the entire town.
***
"Kap. ...There seems to be a misunderstanding. That's not what I meant."
Just as he was thinking he should throw a punch, Yu-wan sighed with a troubled look and said.
A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding when he said with his own mouth that he didn't think of me as a friend?
"I didn't expect to receive such a question suddenly, so my explanation was probably too brief. Let me rephrase."
Yu-wan reached out his hand, his face completely changed from before - intense yet resolute - as he stared at him. As he didn't reject the hand suddenly approaching his face and kept his gaze fixed, his cool large hand touched his cheek completely.
A shiver ran down his spine at that moment.
"I'm sorry to say this to you, but I don't see you only as a friend. ...This is the complete answer."
Check out the new project 2:
Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.
"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."
In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.
"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."
And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.
"For now, until then, let's sleep..."
As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.
'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'
Check out these other novels as well!!!