A specific pattern...?

Yuder’s eyes drifted toward the bag Kishiar was carrying.

“You think... there’s some kind of code hidden in the account books?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

Kishiar nodded.

“But I can’t be sure yet. It might end up being just a hunch.”

Though he said that, knowing how broad and deep Kishiar’s knowledge was, that “hunch” couldn’t be taken lightly.

‘If someone fluent in every kind of code senses something’s there, odds are it’s not nothing.’

Could his grandfather have truly left something behind? A faint stir arose from deep within Yuder’s chest. He pressed the emotion down and nodded.

“Understood. If there’s anything I can do to help once you’ve looked through them, please let me know.”

“Of course. I plan to look over them first, then we’ll go through them together.”

Kishiar smiled. As they reached the edge of a dim alley just a step away from the main road, he once again activated the magical disguise device over his face.

“Well then. Before we leave the village, how about we enjoy a meal together? Any place you’d recommend?”

Glancing up, Yuder noticed the sun was already high. It was about lunchtime.

“The only place I remember is the inn with the restaurant beneath it—I stopped there on my way to take the Cavalry entrance exam. But if we look around, there might be somewhere better—”

“No need. I suddenly feel very hungry, so let’s head straight there.”

Kishiar’s eyes gleamed as he responded. It really felt like he’d only asked so he could hear Yuder suggest that exact place. Still, Yuder decided not to question it.

“This is it?”

“Yes.”

A modest inn and eatery called White Maple. If his memory served, this was the first place he’d ever stayed on his journey to take the Cavalry’s entrance exam.

“Looks nice.”

“Do you mean that?”

It wasn’t as old as The Giant’s Rest in the capital, but it certainly wasn’t a pristine place either. Though there were signs of cleaning, the patched-up holes in the walls, repaired furniture, and lingering old smells couldn’t be helped.

Yet Kishiar seemed fascinated, as if looking at something mysterious and beautiful. His eyes sparkled like an excited boy.

“Of course I mean it. Just thinking that this is where your first step began makes me feel excited.”

Back then, Yuder hadn’t felt a hint of excitement.

‘I do remember the first night I slept away from home felt a bit strange... but...’

Too much time had passed to recall that feeling vividly.

Watching Kishiar, whose face was full of anticipation, Yuder gave a faint smile and glanced around. Seeing the inn again after so long did stir a few old memories. Just then, a staff member who had been taking orders from another table approached them.

“Here to eat?”

“Yes.”

“Today’s lunch is boiled chicken with vegetables, bread, and potatoes.”

In a small country inn like this, there wasn’t usually a choice of menu—especially at lunch. Dinner might offer some options, but lunch was fixed. Yuder nodded to show it was fine, then added two beers to the order.

‘I think I had it last time too...’

Since Kishiar seemed keen to relive everything Yuder had once experienced, he figured he might as well order it while he remembered.

But instead of heading back to the kitchen after taking their order, the staff member hesitated, eyeing Yuder curiously as if he had something else to say.

“Is there something you wanted to say?”

“Ah... haven’t you stayed with us before? Your face looks kind of familiar.”

The unexpected remark brought a flicker of surprise. Yuder blinked, then nodded.

“...Yes. I think I came here about a year ago.”

“I knew it!”

The staff member clapped their hands as if relieved.

“Young people heading to the capital alone for the first time aren’t exactly common, so you stood out. I think you said you were going to take some kind of exam... Are you back now?”

It was the same feeling he’d had when he returned to his hometown and was recognized. Someone here, too, remembered the real twenty-year-old Yuder he’d almost forgotten.

‘I must’ve really been young. I guess I was pretty talkative when I left home for the first time.’

He told the genuinely happy-looking staff member that he was just passing through after a visit home. Though he didn’t go into detail, the staff member grinned broadly and muttered a few words of blessing before patting Yuder on the shoulder and disappearing. There was warmth in that gesture—an honest kind of goodwill.

Yuder turned his head and met eyes with Kishiar, who was smiling with his chin resting in his hand.

“You look pleased.”

“Was it that obvious? I was just imagining what you must’ve been like back then, when the world was still unfamiliar to you. Too adorable, I couldn’t help it.”

“That’s a very flattering way of saying I was a naive fool.”

Revealing personal information to strangers like that—be it an {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} innkeeper or anyone else—was dangerous. He’d never do that now, but back then, he didn’t know better.

‘Thank goodness I figured that out before reaching the capital.’

Fortunately, being an Awakener meant he hadn’t suffered too much even when people tried to take advantage of him. But the world he’d encountered on that journey was vastly different from the view he’d known from atop the mountains.

Loud, dirty, full of people who looked at others like prey. A cold world. He remembered how he’d once ignored Kachien’s greeting, thinking he’d just take the exam and return home.

Just then, Kishiar, now serving the food brought by the staff, spoke gently as he placed the dishes on the table.

“No child walks perfectly from birth. Instead of being ashamed of your clumsy past, you should use those experiences as a foundation to walk more steadily. And you already walk better than anyone—and help others who are still unsteady. So really, my words aren’t even necessary.”

“......”

“And you’ll continue to do so.”

Yuder’s brows softened—just barely, so subtly that no one else would’ve noticed.

The same thought that had overwhelmed him at his house returned now, rippling through his chest.

‘Every time you say things like that...’

He could feel how deeply Kishiar believed in him, how much he cherished and loved everything about Yuder Aile.

And that, in turn, made Yuder realize just how deeply he loved Kishiar.

That soft, unwavering faith—Yuder had longed for it so desperately.

Overwhelmed by the emotion, his heart pounding, he opened his mouth on impulse.

“---...”

But at that moment—

“What? The Duke of Diarca is in critical condition? Is that true?!”

Someone at the next table suddenly shouted, drawing the attention of everyone around.

Yuder included.

‘Did I hear that right? Who’s in critical condition?’

He doubted his ears—until another, louder voice confirmed it.

“It’s true! I heard it directly from a merchant who came from the capital!”

“Oh no, how did that happen?” 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

“An assassination attempt, they say! And the most shocking part? The culprit is supposedly the Duke’s own son! That infamous youngest son!”

“What? His own child tried to kill him?”

“That’s what they say!”

“Horrifying. My gods!”

All thoughts vanished from Yuder’s mind in an instant. He turned to look at Kishiar. The man had also stopped moving, food halfway to his mouth, his full attention now focused on the conversation.

“...Could it be true? If it’s the youngest, that would mean the fool—Kiole.”

Any of the other children might be imaginable, but Kiole attempting to assassinate the Duke of Diarca? To Yuder, that was unthinkable.

“I agree, he doesn’t seem capable of something like that. But we’ve truly been cut off from outside news for the past two weeks... so we’ll have to go back and find out for ourselves.”