Turning-Chapter 823

“Wait...! Stop right there!”

“First Princess! Are you alright?”

The one who caught and supported the shouting Mayra was none other than General Gino. Leaning on his arm, Mayra straightened up, but her gaze remained fixed on the spot where the Southern youth had vanished.

“Damn... her whole body’s stiff. Someone, bring a carriage for the First Princess!”

“No...! No, General. I’m alright.”

It seemed General Gino had assumed Mayra’s condition was poor due to the bad weather and overexertion. But Mayra shook her head and gently pushed his arm away.

“More importantly... I think I need to go inside for a bit.”

“The sleet is getting worse and worse, and now you want to go back in? Did something happen?”

Something had indeed happened. Someone from her past had suddenly appeared here and disappeared into the temple. But how was she supposed to explain the family’s disgrace and fragments of childhood memories—her fleeting moment of certainty with no evidence—to General Gino?

“I saw a suspicious man slip inside during the commotion just now. He suddenly vanished... I think I need to find him and inform the people inside.”

“What in the world...? Please calm down and explain. Are you saying we should inform Duke Peleta because a suspicious person appeared? If that’s the case, just give us a description. I’ll send someone I trust immediately.”

“It’s just that—”

“General! Someone from the Cavalry has arrived!”

A voice called out from behind them. It was General Gino’s adjutant, Meghna Curlieva.

“The Cavalry? We haven’t even sent word yet. Has reinforcements already arrived?”

“No, they didn’t come because of a message! Apparently, an awakened criminal under the Cavalry’s protection has escaped. They say it’s urgent and are requesting to meet with Duke Peleta and the aide to the Commander right away!”

“What?”

“That criminal... was he from the Southern Nation? With some kind of vanishing ability?!”

Mayra quickly stepped in front of the flustered General Gino and shouted. Meghna, surprised by the abrupt question, composed her expression and nodded.

“I’m not sure how you knew... but yes, that’s correct. The escaped criminal is reportedly a Southern male with the ability to teleport.”

The moment she heard those words, Mayra was finally able to confirm that what she had seen wasn’t an illusion.

“It was him! That suspicious man I saw—there’s no doubt about it!”

Hearing Mayra’s declaration, General Gino immediately called for the Cavalry member. The soldier with the hardened expression introduced himself as Yergin Shiller.

“I came in haste to meet with the Commander regarding the escaped criminal, but they wouldn’t let me in. May I ask what’s going on during the funeral?”

“There was a clash outside between unidentified intruders—presumably Awakeners—and the situation escalated to the point of damage within the sanctuary. We’ve been evacuating everyone except the Cavalry and Kakheop Unit.”

“And we just saw that escaped criminal slip inside during the evacuation.”

General Gino and Mayra answered in turns. After being informed that all actions were under Duke Peleta’s authority, Yergin let out a long sigh.

“Seems I was a step too late. Still, I’m glad nothing serious happened when the criminal was discovered. I’ll contact the Cavalry right away and call back all personnel who were spread out searching for him.”

“You came to report, but is it alright if you don’t go inside right away?”

“From what I’ve heard, it sounds like the Commander already had a good idea who the intruders are. It shouldn’t be too late to contact the main force first. If the criminal went elsewhere, that’s different—but if he went inside, the real danger lies with him, not the Commander.”

“...Is that so?”

“Yes. Aide Yuder Aile is also with the Commander, isn’t he?”

“Well, yes.”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“......”

“I’ll just use the signal flares twice. That should be enough.”

Hearing Yergin’s calm and absolute certainty left General Gino with a strange look, unsure how to respond.

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Sure, the Empire’s new Swordmaster who slaughtered monsters like rain, and the hero of the West, were both inside—it was reassuring. But reassurance wasn’t the same as not worrying. No matter how strong someone was, they couldn’t win every battle. Unpredictable variables always existed.

He must know that... so how could he truly not be worried?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Was this the general atmosphere of the Cavalry? Or was it just this one soldier? Had he gotten too old to keep up with the younger generation’s boldness?

The old general glanced sideways at Mayra, as if seeking someone to agree with his doubts. But she was barely paying attention—conflicted over whether or not she should tell Yergin that she knew who Hosanra was.

‘If that man ran away after seeing me, maybe he wasn’t here today to target House Hern. But still... is it really unrelated? Truly?’

To meet him here and now, at Ashlav’s funeral, of all moments... Could she really ignore it, pretend it meant nothing?

While she struggled with her thoughts, Yergin lit the two signal flares he had pulled from his coat. General Gino, who was concerned that the sleet might prevent them from igniting properly, watched in awe as the warm air flowing from her hand fed the flame and made it grow instantly.

“The Cavalry never ceases to amaze.”

“My ability is nothing compared to Yuder’s.”

The fact that she used only Yuder as the standard—rather than any of their other exceptional comrades—was very typical of the Cavalry, though Gino didn’t fully understand that nuance.

Soon, the two signal flares exploded high in the sky. The first was a yellow flame, the second red—vivid and resounding enough to be seen and heard from a great distance. Not long after the flares vanished, four figures suddenly appeared.

Hin Elder and Pin Elder, along with Ever Beck and Kanna Wand, whose hands they held.

Gino and Meghna were startled to see four people materialize where there had been nothing just moments before. But the Cavalry members greeted them casually, exchanged quick introductions, and launched right into the discussion without pause.

“Ever, Kanna. You came first—so I assume you’ve been briefed.”

“We heard Hosanra escaped. You found him here?”

Kanna asked sharply, her face stiff in a way that was unusual for her.

“The First Princess saw him entering.”

Ever and Kanna didn’t ask for more detail. Ever cast a serious look toward the ruined inner walls of the temple and the people still evacuating. After exchanging a glance with Kanna, she gave a silent nod.

“...Looks like the Sage and Naham’s group really are inside. Just like the intel I read back in the storage room. I didn’t expect Hosanra to show up here too, though...”

“......”

“I’m sorry, everyone. If only I had been more cautious when I left Hosanra behind—”

“No, how could that be your fault, Kanna? This is because of us!”

“It’s because Pin and I were so careless that this happened.”

Hin and Pin both interjected, their expressions equally somber.

But the one who cut off the gloomy back-and-forth was, surprisingly, Ever—whose [N O V E L I G H T] face was the most tense of all.

“Enough. If we’re going to play the blame game, then I’m the one at fault for calling busy Kanna here in the first place. But arguing over who’s more responsible won’t change anything now.”

“......”

“The apologies can wait until everything’s over and we can bow to the Commander. While this situation’s still ongoing, we need to shove all other thoughts aside and do what we have to do.”

Her firm tone, so different from her usual gentle way of speaking, silenced them all.

A moment later, Kanna nodded and clenched her fist.

“You’re right. Sorry. I won’t say anything else.”

After saying that, she looked around and then fixed her gaze on Mayra.

“So, Your Highness was the one who saw Hosanra. Isn’t that right?”

“Uh...”

“The escaped criminal’s name is Hosanra. He seemed to recognize Your Highness from before. And... it looks like Your Highness might also know who he is now. Am I wrong?”