Turning

Chapter 766

“...How did Aton’s interrogation go?”

“It went well.”

Kishiar replied calmly, his demeanor so nonchalant one might have mistaken the topic for something as mundane as inquiring if he had eaten.

“Did you discover anything?”

“As much as the current situation allowed. Perhaps.”

Kishiar was known to be extraordinary, but Aton was no ordinary man either. What had they discussed, and what had been uncovered? Was there anything related to the strange crack in the information he had discovered? Amidst his anxiety and curiosity, Yuder managed to maintain his composure as he inquired.

“May I hear it right away?”

“Before that, I’d like to hear what my assistant has learned first. Cross-referencing our information will be necessary.”

“I apologize for not informing you first. There wasn’t much information beyond our expectations...”

“There’s no need for apologies. I am well aware of how much my assistant is on edge about this matter.”

Kishiar raised his hand, interrupting gently but firmly. Yuder looked into his eyes and nodded slowly.

“...Yes.”

Kishiar once again silently comforted Yuder with a reassuring touch, as steadfast as if it would never falter.

“So, what did you find out?”

Yuder, recalling those he had investigated, summarized the information gleaned from them.

“To start, Sir Radel’s involvement with Baron Conche and the Southerners began about a year ago, following a similar pattern to a previous incident. Now that he’s opened up, it’s likely he’ll soon start naming other sympathizers. As for the Star of Nagran, it seems they were indeed motivated by the sage’s influence, though the southern base’s involvement appears to be due to the Southerners’ reach.”

“So the southern base followed both the sage and the Southerners’ intentions?”

Kishiar asked with keen interest.

“Yes. According to the southern base, their initial aim was just to assist those infiltrating the Cavalry. It turned into this mess due to the Southerners’ temptations and requests.”

“Considering what the informants revealed, they probably said they had helped before and now it was their turn to receive aid. It made sense to harm the Cavalry, which the sage was targeting, so there was no reason to refuse.”

“Exactly that.”

Sera tried to conceal as much as she could about the sage and their own bases while discussing the Southerners. However, having already heard the stories of those who were in the Star of Nagran, filling in the gaps and drawing conclusions wasn’t too challenging.

Kishiar muttered with a slight smile, “After all the effort, to have everything ruined by an unexpected move and the variable of the Southerners... The sage returning home soon must be quite dismayed.”

Though he spoke of dismay, his tone lacked any semblance of sympathy.

“Considering those we captured attempting to attack us in the west, it won’t be difficult to link the sage, and further, to the forces of Duke Diarca and the Crown Prince. And…”

“And?”

"The leader of the southern base seemed genuinely unaware of the strange crack phenomenon. However, from what I gathered, the Southerners never intended to die from the start."

This was the crucial part Yuder had sought to uncover during his investigation.

"The southern base side was oblivious to the Southeners’ possession of magic power medium, hearing only repeated assurances of a route for retreat after the attack. Even in moments of peril, they kept asking when the promised retreat would happen, only to be told 'soon'... right before the crack phenomenon occurred."

“So, you mean…”

“Yes. It seems they deliberately created the crack to escape amidst the chaos of monsters falling from it.”

Who would have thought that a persistent, bizarre crack would appear in the middle of the city, raining down giant monsters? If not for Yuder and Kishiar's presence, the perpetrators would have achieved their goal without any trouble.

'Even in my previous life, I never thought such an event could be orchestrated. Back then, I would have been too busy understanding the situation to pay attention to them.'

"If things got rough, they were planning to use the Star of Nagran as a shield to escape."

"Not just if things got rough; it's highly likely their plan was to push them into a corner from the start and escape alone."

"But it didn’t go as planned."

Looking back, everything was overwhelmingly against the southern base. The Southerners had egged them on to collaborate but barely exerted any effort during the battle, cunningly observing the situation. It was a clear sign of betrayal.

“So… this is just my speculation, but…”

Yuder glanced around before continuing.

They had just emerged from underground, passing the place they had walked earlier. Nearby, Elpkins was clattering on a roof, fixing it. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, paying no mind to Yuder and Kishiar's presence.

The scene looked peaceful and bright, yet Yuder's eyes were drawn to the haunting afterimage of the dark crack that had ominously existed right in front of that roof.

Yuder traced the afterimage and whispered softly, audible only to Kishiar, “Their death occurred not just after realizing there was no escape when captured, but after hearing Aton’s words from me. Remember?”

“That’s right.”

Among the many thoughts he had over the past few days, a hypothesis had crystallized during today's investigation. This conversation was indeed the crux of today's matter.

“I always thought of those two as linked, but today’s investigation made me wonder if that might not be the case.”

Hearing Aton’s words from Yuder, and realizing they were already captured by the Cavalry, choosing death to protect their secrets seemed a natural course.

But why would they, capable of attempting death at any point after being subdued, choose that exact moment for their demise? Was there another reason?

Yuder recalled the Southerners chanting in their strange language before willingly ending their lives, his gaze dropping. His eyes, heavy with thought, seemed to emit dark smoke.

“The reason they chose to end their lives might have been to hide the truth about the crack, but perhaps… their deaths themselves served as a catalyst, drawing monsters from the crack.”

Indeed. At the moment the Southern merchants perished, monsters emerged from the previously inert crack.

To call it mere coincidence seemed too convenient. It was hard to consider this during the heat of battle against the monsters, but as today's investigation focused on the Southern merchants' behavior and actions, their significance became increasingly apparent.

Aton spoke of creating the land of the Black Moon through the aftermath of imbalance. If this land of the Black Moon was where the strange cracks and monsters appeared, then the imbalance must be the cause of their creation.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"In the Sarain Great Forest, where similar anomalies had occurred, the magic power was distorted and imbalanced, unable to circulate properly. What if the death of these merchants and the artifact they possessed were the necessary elements to replicate such a situation in the South?"

"..."

"Put simply, it’s like a sacrificial offering needed to activate a magic circle."

Yuder remembered watching closely when the Western Mage Union was repairing a magic circle. Operating such a circle required immense magic power, necessitating various materials, including magic stones imbued with magic power.

If such preparations were needed to summon and use something, then those planning to create the 'land of the Black Moon' must have needed something as well.

From the beginning, the fact that the strange crack occurred intentionally by someone was something that could not even be imagined before. So no matter how excessive the thought, it was considered that the possibility should not be completely closed.

After hearing Yuder’s words, Kishiar remained silent for a while. It was only after he entered his office and the door closed with a sound, that he finally spoke.

"I, too, had similar suspicions while investigating Aton."

Yuder looked up sharply. There was no trace of the softness that had been in Kishiar's eyes before.

"He said that all the conditions had been met and that it would be futile for me to do anything now."

"That means..."

"I took it to mean that a new strange crack and more monsters will soon appear in the South."

Yuder's blood ran cold. Kishiar's moving lips were the only thing he could see, everything else was a blur.

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[BL] Cloudless Sky

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.'

[BL] Bermuda

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."

[BL] The Mist (Same author as Turning)

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."

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[BL] Cloudless Sky

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.'