Chapter 915 |
Chapter 915
To savor these emotions, Yuder closed his eyes.
In the past, he had found it painful when feelings surged in all at once. It was akin to forcing down too much food at once, naturally leading to the sensation of choking. Even now, the overwhelmingness persisted, the sensations of jumbled, tightly packed masses indiscriminately burrowing into him causing his heart to ache and breath to catch.
Yet, he could now bear this overwhelmingness.
No, it was more than bearable—it was almost pleasurable.
Could there be anything more certain than the fact that the existence of Yuder Aile could shake that man to this extent?
While his tongue tangled, Kishiar continued to emit low groans, as if about to speak. Heat surged at every point of contact. After mindlessly absorbing and accepting this heat for some time, Yuder found himself almost toppling over, his back nearly touching the desk.
It was then that Yuder opened his eyes again. Dizzy with the plethora of emotions he had taken in, he blinked slowly, breathing thinly like a sated beast, as Kishiar's wet lips curved into a smile.
Finally, Kishiar parted his lips slightly, whispering so only Yuder could hear.
"..."
"Even though I think I know what I must strive for, there are times when I feel utterly unsure. Especially when I see humans who, despite countless warnings from the past, persist in their greed and repeat the same mistakes. I've sometimes thought that perhaps I'm no different, and everything seems meaningless."
Yet, despite this.
Murmuring so, Kishiar's forehead gently bumped and stuck to Yuder's. Their lashes almost touching, Yuder could see the deep, red eyes.
"The fact that you, who surely knows this better than I, are here with me, walking this path, holds an unmistakable significance to me."
"..."
"It's something that can't be explained to anyone or anything else... except you."
Forever, onwards.
The last word was again buried between their merged lips, but strangely, Yuder heard it clearly.
Beyond the elongated shadow merged into one, the drizzle continued. Yuder suddenly recalled drawing a card during Gloe's ability test the day before, predicting minor misfortune due to water. If Kishiar hadn't dismissed it, perhaps it would have related to this rain.
However, for Yuder, nothing had happened. The gamble-like challenge he'd taken, trusting in Gloe's ability, had succeeded, and even at this moment, everything he had prepared was falling into place without issue.
Enveloped in Kishiar's embrace, even the cold brought by the rain went unfelt. The chill and pain that used to pierce his heart were now but faint traces.
Yuder turned his gaze from the rain streaming down the window and once again surrendered himself to a kiss that felt like sharing breaths underwater.
Two scents, silently released, intertwined for a long time.
—
"Yuder, you've truly recovered well. I was worried while you were away, but it's truly fortunate."
Having not seen each other for a while, Kanna arrived with Pruelle, who held a kitten-like Nipollen. Yuder exchanged a glance and a silent greeting with Pruelle and Kanna, following a small cry from Nipollen. He quietly observed the faces of the three.
Embarking on a mission to the desert was never an easy task. The climate was vastly different from here, and many returned with strange illnesses for unknown reasons. Frequent monster appearances made it a perilous place, one even seasoned mercenaries, who made their living undertaking such dangerous tasks, often preferred to avoid.
The mere fact that they had managed to gather information successfully while directly interacting with the Southerners, who might not have spoken their language, was enough to earn them considerable praise.
Yuder's mind was finally at ease only after confirming that all three appeared healthy.
'Well, Nathan Zuckerman did indeed attach to them, so I expected as much...'
"I'm glad to see you're well too."
Kanna smiled brightly in response to Yuder, who kept his recent thoughts to himself.
"Well, we... didn't really fight anyone. We just gathered some information and came back. So, where is the Commander now?"
"He stepped out for a bit due to some other matters. He'll be back soon."
"Ah, I see."
Kanna murmured, scratching her head, realizing she had chosen an inopportune time to report. She glanced at Yuder briefly before lowering her voice and asking cautiously.
"Um, I guess Sir Zuckerman must have reported yesterday, so Yuder, you know... where we went, right?"
"...I know. I've heard the results."
Yesterday, Kishiar had relayed Nathan Zuckerman's report to Yuder.
Nathan Zuckerman, Kanna, Pruelle, and Nipollen, who had set off to the desert in search of information about Nahan, had diligently investigated the Owl Wings Trading Company, believed to be related to Nahan's fall in one of the midlands.
Nipollen sensed several traces of the Awakeners in that desolate midland, while Pruelle, utilizing his shape-shifting abilities, blended into the surrounding midlands to eavesdrop on rumors known only to Southerners. Kanna read as much information as possible from the objects and locations brought back by Pruelle and Nathan Zuckerman.
The conclusion was that the Owl Wings Trading Company's withdrawal from the midland was undoubtedly related to Nahan's fall there.
Rumors were circulating among the Southerners who used the midland about an incident in the family that owned the Owl Wings Trading Company.
'The rumor was that the current owner had found a long-lost nephew.'
The current owner of the Owl Wings, a well-known single woman, had a sister who was originally meant to inherit the company. However, she passed away over twenty years ago.
There were whispers among the Southerners about the deceased former owner having an unauthorized child with a noble from the Empire she met for business. While no one knew the exact truth, if the current owner indeed had a 'long-lost nephew', the only plausible guess was that child.
After the former owner's death, the rumor, which had long been dormant, resurfaced quietly with the nephew's return, causing various opinions among the Southerners using the midland.
It seemed evident that this 'lost nephew' was likely Nahan.
The group delved into how he could have survived and been picked up by the trading company. It was a potentially dangerous endeavor, but fortunately, a Southerner trading company, entangled with them by an unexpected turn of fate, lent assistance.
This company belonged to a minority tribe in the South, struggling with an issue arising in the desert. Thanks to Pruelle's shape-shifting ability, Kanna's information-gathering skills, and Nathan Zuckerman's swordsmanship, they resolved the issue and, in gratitude, were treated lavishly for several days.
It turned out that they had a minor connection with the Shuden Trading Company of Mick Shuden, which significantly influenced their mutual trust.
While receiving help from this Southern company, the group had to stay in the desert longer than anticipated. However, this enabled them to gather much more information than they would have managed alone. The Southern company, with a deep history and wide-reaching connections, knew many stories circulating in the shadows across the South.
According to one such story, the tribe that owned the Owl Wings Trading Company had renowned 'healers.' These individuals, who suddenly came into possession of extraordinary healing powers two years prior, became covertly famous for rumors that they could save anyone as long as they were still breathing.
Although the truth of these healers' abilities was uncertain, the group was convinced that they were Awakeners and had undoubtedly been the ones who saved Nahan.