Chapter 878

"What's going on? How many times must I say that the area around the infirmary should be quiet? Why is it so noisy outside?!"

Yuder had wondered how to get rid of the stubborn people who refused to leave, but fortunately, the situation resolved itself in a different way. Before he could even open the door from this side, Enon burst out with a fierce expression, his eyes locking directly with Yuder's.

"You..."

"...I felt better, so I came down myself."

"This..."

Enon's gaze swept over Yuder's face, his unbandaged arm, and the humans around them.

"This... madman! Who let him come down here on his own feet!"

A terrifying shout echoed through the entire corridor, instantly chilling the previously emotional atmosphere. The members who had been awkwardly exchanging glances suddenly pretended not to know each other and began to back away one by one.

"Ah... now that I think about it, I forgot I was supposed to go help with the repairs......."

"I'll go with you!"

"Oops. I have to go down to the basement for a patrol change! Regrettably, I can't stay here any longer......."

"Goodness. Can't be late. Better hurry along."

Their ability to shamelessly escape was impressive, befitting members of the Cavalry. Even the sincere candidates like Elpkins, who had been tearfully genuine before, had long since retreated far faster than before.

"Mr. Yuder. I need to help with the temple repairs, so I must go. It's really fortunate to see you awake. See you next time!"

"..."

Before Yuder could say a word, Elpkins hastily bid farewell, clearly avoiding Enon, and scampered off. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see the only person left beside him, Gakane, with a sigh-laden smile. The surprise he initially felt had completely vanished, replaced by a calm acceptance.

"Yuder. I'm properly apologizing to the pharmacist. I'll go get the lemons in your place."

"..."

"Pharmacist, thank you for your hard work today. Yuder didn't look ill, but he insisted on seeing you first thing after waking up. Please take that into consideration."

Enon's habit of devouring fresh lemons was now a well-accepted oddity within the Cavalry. It was no longer a secret known only to Yuder that he had a peculiar fondness for lemons.

Yuder looked at Gakane, who had cleverly extricated himself from the situation while still finding a way to help, with a mix of astonishment and admiration. His already exceptional social skills had evolved further with experience.

"...Is that true?"

"What is?"

After Gakane had left, Enon asked coldly.

"Is it true that you had to see me as soon as you woke up?"

"It's true."

Why else would he have come all this way? Enon looked at Yuder with a strange expression, then irritably brushed his hair back, muttering to himself.

"Ha. Well... It's a relief that at least one of the crazy people like you has some sense. How long are you going to stand there? Come in already!"

It seemed Gakane's words had had a significant calming effect. Enon's previously sharp gaze softened as he gestured with his head for Yuder to follow.

Entering the infirmary behind Enon, he saw other guests. The mages Hellem and Alik, sitting with Lusan, looked surprised as they saw them.

"Yuder?!"

"Sir Yuder? Have you come yourself? What about your bandages!"

"I was wondering why it was so noisy outside... now it makes sense."

While Hellem nodded, understanding the reason for the commotion, Enon with a simple gesture of his head restrained Alik and Lusan, who were about to rush over.

"Let's exchange greetings later. I need to check on this guy first. And you know that the promised time has already passed, right? Don't nag me no matter what I do."

"Ah... Aaah....... Yes, I understand."

Lusan looked at Yuder with a somewhat pitiable gaze, then shook his head in disbelief. Yuder passed them and entered a small room that seemed to be Enon's private space.

As the door closed, Yuder braced for an attack from Enon, but surprisingly, Enon silently motioned him to sit in a chair.

"Sit there."

"...You're not going to do anything?"

Yuder asked out of pure curiosity, but Enon grimaced in response.

"Stop making weird remarks when I'm trying to be patient. If you have such tastes, confess them to your Commander. He'd probably dance with joy no matter what you ask of him!"

Expecting his cheeks to be pinched, Yuder was relieved.

"Take off your shirt. I need to check your arm."

Without a word, Yuder removed his shirt. The sight he had seen while washing earlier unfolded once again.

The arm, once fractured and now healed, looked perfectly normal, almost unbelievable. The chest, also heavily bandaged like the arm, appeared the same.

However, the abdomen was different. Yuder stared at the dark red veins spreading out from his navel. They resembled the marks that had spread on his hand since the day he was hit by the energy from the Red Stone.

Frankly, it wasn't a pleasant sight. But it didn't hurt at all now.

When Yuder first saw it, he felt less shocked and more like something inevitable had arrived. During the excruciating pain of breaking his body's limits and making a 'choice,' he had sensed that some physical consequence would inevitably remain. If such a trace was left while he recovered stronger than before, it was, in fact, milder than expected.

'Well. I still can't be sure how this will affect my body in the long run...'

Enon, with his bright yellow eyes, carefully examined Yuder's body, pressing and watching for any reaction.

"Does it hurt?"

"No. Not at all."

"Your strength?"

"I think it's fully recovered."

Honestly... it felt like not only had he recovered, but his strength had increased beyond its previous level. But he chose not to mention that for now.

"Still, why did you remove the bandages on your own?"

"It was hard to get up... and too constricting."

"If you remove them again without permission, you'll really be in trouble next time."

It seemed like he was already half in trouble, but there was no need to provoke Enon further with that statement. After a long inspection, Enon finally withdrew his hand.

"Put your clothes back on."

The fact that meticulous Enon had nothing to say after a thorough check meant that he didn't consider Yuder a patient anymore. This was very fortunate. Enon didn't seem too upset either.

"I didn't expect you to be this lively just a day after waking up... Anyway, it seems you don't need splints anymore. But don't get too excited and misuse your body. Make sure you eat your meals and take your medicine on time."

"Okay."

Enon handed Yuder the medicine himself. It was the same bitter-tasting herbal infusion and pills that Yuder had consumed immediately upon waking the previous day, or perhaps even more bitter. The strange sensation of his whole body feeling numb just from consuming it hadn't yet become familiar... but what could he do.

Only after Yuder had finished taking the medicine did Enon's furrowed brow finally relax almost completely.

"Did you talk to your Commander?"

"I did."

"Why didn't he come with you?"

"While we were talking, I fell asleep first. When I woke up, the Commander was also asleep, so I just came here."

Yuder said, then hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"Yesterday, I couldn't explain properly, but in my dream, I experienced something similar to what I had dreamt before... Maybe it was a continuation of that."

Yuder went on to describe in more detail the white-gloved hand he saw in his dream and the conversation he had with it. Enon listened silently to Yuder's words, without asking any questions.

"I was thinking, while talking with the Commander, maybe the moment you felt my soul had disappeared was when I had that dream."

It might have seemed like an abrupt change of subject, but the main reason Yuder wanted to see Enon right away was to share this thought.

"The Commander said that place could be the afterlife or something related to the crack. Or maybe both. Regardless of whether such a thing is possible... can a soul really go somewhere and then return? What do you think?"

This question had no other recipient but Enon, who could see souls, unlike Yuder, who had never perceived or seen a soul.

"I had guessed that you might have had a similar dream when you kept making a fuss yesterday... Your Commander's speculation is quite bold."

Enon's initial response was more composed than expected.

"Just because I can see souls doesn't mean I know where humans go after death. However... I know someone who was very interested in that."

"Who is that?"

"Luma."