Chapter 918

Turning

Chapter 918

"My scent concealment, what about it?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Gakane blinked in surprise and cocked his head in response to Yuder's question.

"Didn't you say that my scent is barely perceivable at all?"

"Uh... is that some kind of strange remark...?"

It was indeed a strange remark. Yuder had never consciously tried to exert his scent so strongly that it would be noticeable.

'Of course, I never intended to expose my scent carelessly.'

In his previous life, Yudrain Aile was famously known as an Omega without scent. He did not experience heat, and although he could detect the scents of others to some extent, he was never influenced by them.

However, this did not mean that Yuder was completely unaware of his own scent. He had never mentioned it to others, but he did possess a faint scent that he could move, albeit slightly. He had simply lived without trying to consciously manipulate or alter it.

'I thought fixing it would be pointless because I would have to experience heat again.'

Among Awakeners with second genders, scent is instinctively considered the most secretive means of expression. It made sense, as only those with second genders could feel it.

Therefore, most of the Awakeners with second gender, except for those who were still new and struggling with control, did not bother to expose their scent in daily life and kept it gathered. There was no need to reveal their scent in front of an unspecified majority except during the uncontrollable intense phases of heat.

But being human, it was impossible to perfectly control every physical phenomenon at all times. No matter how well one gathered their scent, there were times when it would slightly leak out without their awareness due to sudden changes in the body and emotions.

Moments of anger or surprise, during intensely difficult training, or when seriously injured. And many other unpredictable small moments depending on a person's nature and abilities.

Therefore, in a space where a group like a Cavalry lived together, it was not difficult to know those with second genders and what kind of scent they possessed, even if they didn't want to know.

After re-manifestation as an Omega in this life, Yuder's scent was not much different from others. His manifestation period was significantly shorter than others, and he went through heat right after manifestation, but that wasn't considered exceptionally strange.

Even though it was a bit difficult to control the strong scent right after manifestation, he soon got used to it and lived well, gathering it without much trouble. Perhaps due to his extensive experience observing other Awakeners with second genders in his previous life, handling his scent intentionally felt surprisingly easy.

However, easily controlling it did not mean he locked his scent away to the extent that others couldn't perceive it at all.

'Why would I do that? It's almost like blocking every hole in my body.'

While it wasn't impossible to do so using his abilities, blocking even the naturally occurring scent would make him like a person with every pore sealed.

Even before coming to the South, he didn't feel any different from other Awakeners with second gender during his sudden heat. Kishiar had not mentioned anything either. If there had been something wrong with Yuder's body, he would have been the first to notice and speak up. The fact that he didn't say anything meant that he was probably unaware of the situation as well.

The more he thought about it, the more Yuder realized he needed to delve deeper into these perplexing words.

'I suppose it'll be alright if I return a bit late. Kanna will report any incidents that occur in my absence.'

After estimating the time, Yuder nodded to the two people with him.

"I've always thought that the way I gather my scent wasn't significantly different from others. It seems necessary to hear more about this. Would it be alright if we talk for a while over there?"

Gakane and Ever looked at each other and then nodded in agreement.

"...Hmm, alright."

"Sure."

After entering a secluded space, Yuder closed the door and began speaking.

"When did you start feeling that my scent was being perfectly gathered?"

"When exactly...? At the beginning of your second gender manifestation, it wasn't as it is now, but I thought you were increasingly hiding it well... Ah, but after coming to the South recently, I felt a significant difference."

"I agree with Gakane. As time passed, I felt that your scent was gradually fading, so I thought Yuder was paying great attention to gathering it. Today, while with Elle, it felt almost indistinguishable from an unmanifested person."

'...'

Summarizing their conversation, Yuder's two closest companions, both Alpha Awakeners, had consistently felt his scent diminishing. In the capital, in the West, and finally in the South, they admired his increasing ability to gather his scent, not finding it odd.

"I naturally thought that you, Yuder, were capable of doing that much, so I didn't find it strange."

"Me too. That's why recently, I've been practicing to gather my scent more perfectly."

"Really? So that's why I hardly noticed any scent during training lately! You're amazing, Ever."

"Thank you for saying that. Do you want to train together, Gakane?"

"Really? That would be great!"

While the two Alpha Awakeners warmly exchanged words, Yuder coldly pondered.

'That can't be right.'

Just yesterday, he had released his scent while with Kishiar. Kishiar seemed to perceive and feel Yuder's scent normally. His attitude and reaction were certainly not false.

However, if other Awakeners couldn't feel his scent to this extent, it might mean that his scent was gradually disappearing. Yuder was engulfed in a complex mix of emotions.

He knew that even if he left things as they were and reverted to an unexplained scentless Omega like in his previous life, it would not hinder his life. Yet, recalling Kishiar's face, he could not view it with the same detachment as before.

The sensation of the scent he deeply felt for a long time yesterday was still so vivid in his mind that the thought of never experiencing it again was unbearable.

"..."

"Sorry, but would it be alright if I release my scent a bit? I want to see if it's still imperceptible even if I do it intentionally."

Yuder's voice was surprisingly calm as he made the request. He mentioned that if either of them was close to their heat cycle, they needn't force themselves, but fortunately, both Gakane and Ever readily agreed.

"I don't mind. What about you, Ever?"

"I'm fine with it too."

Yuder took a deep breath, facing the two pairs of eyes watching him, and released the scent he had previously gathered. It was the first time he had allowed his scent to unfurl in front of others, apart from Kishiar.

He had released it quite a bit, yet the two, showing no change in expression initially, only reacted with a start when Yuder felt that even non-Awakeners could sense this to some extent through their sense of smell.

"Now I can feel it. This is Yuder's scent. It's quite intriguing, as it's been a very long time."

"Yeah, I think I can feel it too."

Yuder stopped the release of his scent and gathered it back.

'…What could it be?'

His scent hadn't disappeared. Could there be an issue with Gakane and Ever's ability to detect scents?

Not all Awakeners with second genders were equally adept at detecting others' scents or at gathering their own. Some were so insensitive that they hardly felt others' scents unless at the level of a heat cycle, while others, despite trying to gather, were clumsy at control and ended up inadvertently releasing their scent.

However, those who were weak at scent detection and gathering usually also possessed less potent or poorly controlled Awakener powers. Since only Awakeners can have second genders, it was not unusual for their power-handling skills to be linked to their ability to detect and control scents.

But Gakane and Ever were among the most capable in the Cavalry, and Ever, in particular, was known for her even finer control than Yuder. According to this logic, they should not be facing issues related to scents.

'It seems that my scent is not entirely undetectable... Both of them seem unaware of the reason, and I can't figure it out either, so there's nothing more to learn here.'

That left only one course of action.

He had to find Kishiar and talk to him about it.

Yuder thanked the two for their help and left the place.