Chapter 919 |
Chapter 919
"Yuder!"
As Yuder returned to the office of the Commander, the first to greet him was Kanna. While locking gazes with Kishiar, who sat behind, and Nathan Zuckerman, who guarded the rear, Yuder had a brief conversation with Kanna.
"I was worried something had gone wrong since you returned late. Is everything resolved now?"
"Yes."
Upon learning that Pruelle was now safely isolated and asleep, relief swept over Kanna's face.
"That's a relief."
As Yuder had anticipated, it seemed she had finished reporting first after explaining the situation once Kishiar returned.
"There wasn't any particular problem, so I should be heading back now. I'll take care of Nipollen tonight. See you later! Commander, I'll take my leave now."
"Understood. Nipollen will be happy since my room is right next to Deputy Commander Ever's. Don't worry."
Kanna, while maintaining the formal titles required in an official setting, spoke with her usual bright tone. It was clear that she had shed much of the weight from the troubles caused by Hosanna. Perhaps her recent desert trip had helped in that regard. It was uncertain, but thankfully so.
Yuder slightly crinkled his nose in an unseen greeting, then watched Kanna, holding Nipollen, as she left. Once the door closed and her small footsteps faded, Kishiar finally spoke in a more relaxed tone.
"Did you bring Elle the medicine Thais Yulman made?"
Indeed, it was just like Kishiar to guess precisely how Yuder would act in any situation.
"Yes."
"I heard that the medicine is more helpful for those who are newly manifested or are experiencing severe heat period. I wasn't sure how it would work on those who have just started manifesting. How did it go?"
"Alik mentioned exactly that. Among the new medicines developed during improvement, there was a suitable one, so I recommended it and gave it to him."
"Good. If it's effective, we should consider producing it specifically for those in the midst of manifestation."
"I think so too."
Thais Yulman, who had put aside his recent research to focus on mass-producing medicine, would have shouted for them to stop adding to his work if he heard this. But he wasn't here, and Kishiar, unopposed by anyone, quickly scribbled an additional letter to send to Yulman.
"Nathan. Take this and send it."
"Understood."
Nathan Zuckerman, who had been standing quietly, took Kishiar's letter and left. Now only two of them remained.
Yuder mulled over how to share the astonishing news he had just learned. However, he didn't need to ponder for long, as Kishiar casually broke the silence.
"So, apart from fetching the medicine, what else took up your time?"
Yuder's eyes twitched momentarily in response.
"Did you follow me, by any chance?"
"Hardly. I simply estimated based on the speed at which you move and how you prioritize your tasks. Even considering everything else, there seemed to be quite a bit of spare time."
"..."
"Hmm. Let's just say it's a combination of affection and observational skills."
The man winked playfully, closing one eye. Such a frivolous and carefree demeanor, yet seeing it, Yuder felt his inner tension ease. Perhaps he was truly mad by now.
Yuder let out a long sigh, then opened and closed his eyes.
"Indeed, as you say. I was delayed because I had an unexpected conversation on my way back."
"I'm curious. What happened? Was it a matter of state?"
"No."
"Then perhaps we should talk over tea. You look a bit pale."
Kishiar motioned for Yuder to sit first, then moved to a small table in the back to prepare tea. Anyone else would have been surprised to see someone of his stature making tea, but Yuder had grown accustomed to it. He had seen him fetch fish and fruits for their meals in a humble shack; what could be more surprising than that? Yuder silently released a bit of his scent, observing the man, who could easily be mistaken for a seasoned tea master after decades in the imperial palace.
The man's straight back stiffened momentarily, then he turned his head.
"What's the matter? You seem different all of a sudden."
The amount Yuder had released was minuscule, almost a fraction of what he had let out around Ever and Gakane. The fact that Kishiar noticed immediately...
"As expected… It seems certain that my scent can be detected by Commander without any problems."
"Is this related to what you were about to tell me?"
"Yes."
Kishiar placed two teacups before them. The tea, a specialty from the south, mingled sweet fruit and floral scents, rich in aroma. Yuder, looking at the steaming golden liquid reminiscent of Kishiar's hair, began to speak.
"While escorting Elle back to his quarters, I encountered other members, including Gakane and Ever. Both said they hadn't noticed my scent recently. They thought I had been concealing it, almost to the level of an unmanifested individual."
"..."
"Strange, isn't it? I haven't been locking it away to that extent. You would know that, Commander."
Kishiar nodded silently but firmly.
Yuder felt a wave of relief.
"I felt I needed to find out when they started feeling this way."
Yuder recounted the conversation with the two, the test he conducted by releasing his scent, and hesitantly added something he hadn't mentioned to them.
"Truthfully, I even entertained the thought that perhaps my scent is gradually disappearing. Even if that's the case, it wouldn't affect my health or daily life..."
"How can you be so sure?"
Kishiar cut him off. The question seemed inquisitive, but his eyes already seemed to anticipate Yuder's response.
"Is that also from your 'previous game' experience?"
"Yes."
Yuder had thought he had already conveyed all the necessary information related to the previous game, yet here he was, discussing aspects he had deemed unimportant, even deliberately ignored, in the life of Yudrain Aile. This element, previously overlooked, now felt strangely significant.
Feeling his mouth dry, Yuder took a sip of the warm tea, letting it loosen his tightened tongue.
"In the previous game, I manifested as an Omega, just like now, which you already know. I didn't go into detail before, but back then, I was quite known as a scentless Omega."
A scentless Omega. It was the first time Yuder had uttered the term, often used mockingly by others, about himself. He might have felt quite unpleasant if he had to say this in front of others, but his counterpart was Kishiar. Yuder focused on Kishiar's face, trying not to forget this fact.
Kishiar's red eyes gazed back at him, unchanged, devoid of any prejudice or negative emotion.
"That name was given to me because, after my manifestation, no one could sense my scent, and I never went into heat period. Personally, I didn't mind. I found the heat period inconvenient and saw no problem with my body. However, if the same thing is happening again... I want to find the cause and stop it."
The scent, which Yuder had only regarded as an inconvenient byproduct of being a second gender manifester, had ceased to feel that way in this life.
More precisely, it was after he realized that a scent could facilitate a deeper connection than words with someone.
Without that experience, Yuder would have probably still considered his scent as merely an inconvenience. Perhaps he would have seriously undertaken the kind of training to suppress his scent, as Gakane and Ever had thought.
"..."
"So, Commander, I would like to know how you have perceived my scent, or if you have noticed any changes. From the test just now, it seemed you didn't feel it differently from before..."
Crack.
At that moment, the cup in front of Kishiar cracked, and the tea spilled over. Thanks to Yuder's reflexive action, the tea didn't drench Kishiar's legs, but that didn't mean he wasn't surprised.
"Commander?"
"...Ah."
Kishiar, a bit delayed, shifted his gaze to the floating tea and looked at it with an indiscernible expression.