Nahan quickly woke the next person as Yuder had ordered, but none of the others could answer the same question.
The only thing Yuder managed to uncover was that the family had offered greater rewards than usual for capturing Awakeners with specific conditions, and there was a box containing some correspondence exchanged with the family.
"They gave rewards for capturing certain Awakeners? Explain that again."
Yuder repeated the question to the last person Nahan had woken. The man, having lost his mind after seeing Nahan's illusion, laughed wildly as he answered, his mouth stretching into a twisted grin.
"Alpha or Omega, doesn't matter, hehe... Especially when we caught them during their heat... We were told to wait until then and only hand them over during that time. That's what the Warden wanted, hehe... Kehehehe."
His ramblings seemed incoherent, but the crucial information was clear.
The priests conducting their so-called research with the Apeto family were specifically targeting Awakeners who had manifested a second gender.
'Children... and second genders...'
A heavy sense of unease stirred within Yuder. He grabbed the collar of the deranged man, whose laughter had dissolved into tearful sobs.
"Hey, there should be more contracts left here, right? Find them."
After locating the remaining stack of contracts, Yuder stood, holding them tightly.
"Make sure these bastards don't cause any trouble until I get back."
"Are you going to see that guy in the prison?" Nahan asked, his voice soft.
"All I need is for him to sign the contract."
"Doesn't seem like a wise plan. Contracts aren't absolute. That guy will eventually repay today's mercy with betrayal. Wouldn't it be simpler to just kill him?"
"That's none of your concern."
At Yuder's cold response, Nahan chuckled lowly. His smile remained sharp and cruel, sending a chill down Yuder's spine.
"True. It's not my concern."
As Yuder turned to leave, Nahan's voice echoed behind him, as though it were trying to hold him back.
"But that was just advice, from one brother to another."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Eh, uh, ooh!"
Kiolle flinched and squirmed in fear as his eyes landed on Yuder, whose face was spattered with fresh blood. Yuder didn't bother explaining that it wasn't his own blood but that of the Warden he had just killed. Instead, he thrust the contract he was holding directly in front of Kiolle's face.
"Stop whining and put your finger here, or something."
"Uh…?"
Kiolle paused, his panic momentarily quelled as he glanced down at the contract. Thin lines of flame formed the text, written by Yuder on his way there.
Contract:
Kiolle Da Diarca shall not speak to anyone about the events of today.
Kiolle Da Diarca shall not issue unilateral commands, challenge to duels, or insult Yuder Aile or any other individual.
Kiolle Da Diarca shall assist Yuder Aile to the best of his abilities.
Both parties will bear a contract mark in agreement with these terms.
Violation of the above will activate the contract mark, and the violator will fall into eternal sleep.
"What... what is this?" Kiolle shouted, the moment Yuder untied the ropes and removed the gag.
"Eternal sleep? Does that mean you'll kill me if I break it or not?"
"If you're not interested in signing, I can just leave right now…"
"Damn it! Fine, I'll sign!"
Kiolle, still bearing the marks of rope burns on his hands, raised one hand and, with eyes tightly shut, pressed his finger against the contract. Instantly, a black smoke erupted from the parchment, snaking around their wrists and leaving behind a dark mark.
"For your information," Yuder added coolly, "even if you try to kill me later, it won't work. The third clause covers indirect harm—so that would count as a breach."
"..."
Kiolle's eyes trembled slightly, no doubt realizing that the contract covered more than he had anticipated.
"So... what if you just happen to die in an accident?"
"If I die for reasons unrelated to you, the contract will be nullified. The mark on your wrist will disappear."
"And that won't affect me at all?"
"Correct. Now get up. Don't tell me you need help standing."
Kiolle clenched his teeth but, with some effort, pushed himself off the ground and got to his feet.
"So, where are we headed? Have you seen my sword? Where are your companions? Don't tell me you killed all the Apeto family's dogs? Or..."
Who would ever believe that this noisy fool was a senior knight of the Imperial Knights? As Yuder, leading the way, turned to reply, a sudden chill raced down his spine.
Reactively gripping his sword, Yuder spun around, only to pause at the sight before him. Nahan stood calmly, a young boy behind him, and the mercenary Awakeners gazing vacantly into the distance.
"Ah. You're already done? That was quick."
"Where are the ones I told you to guard?"
"Well, that's the thing. There was an... unfortunate accident."
Nahan, his face spattered with blood like Yuder's, flashed a quiet grin.
"I just wanted to keep them quiet for a while, but they didn't take too kindly to that. So... they ended up dying."
"What?"
"Really sorry about that."
Nahan's expression was disturbingly calm, showing no trace of the regret one would expect from someone responsible for an 'unfortunate accident.' He stepped closer to Yuder, holding out a small box that had been hanging from his waist.
"Here. I brought this for you."
It was a box containing the letters used by the people of the Apeto household to communicate with their main family. Under the weight of the tense silence, Yuder slowly extended his hand and took the box. As he did, Kiolle, locking eyes with Nahan, froze like prey before a predator.
"Shall we go free the brothers trapped in the prison now?"
With his usual smoothness, Nahan approached the prison and returned moments later, leading the three mercenary Awakeners Yuder had imprisoned earlier. Their expressions were vacant, and they followed him obediently, as if devoid of their own will. Yuder wasn't sure what ability Nahan had used, but the mercenaries were unnaturally docile.
'I can't detect any rational thought in them. If he had this power all along, why didn't he use it sooner?'
Yuder's thoughts raced. Why had Nahan chosen to act now, after waiting so long? And were the members of the Apeto family, whom he claimed had died in an accident, really just victims of unfortunate circumstances?
'Of course not.'
Yuder's wariness deepened. Sensing the caution in his gaze, Nahan glanced back, offering a faint, unsettling smile.
With one side of his face horribly scarred and the other strikingly beautiful, Nahan's expression sent an involuntary shiver through Kiolle. The knight took a step back before halting himself, unable to mask his fear. Nahan, clearly amused by the reaction, turned toward Yuder and spoke.
"Aren't you coming?"
"You go ahead."
Exposing his back to Nahan in this situation was out of the question. Nahan shrugged and turned, seemingly unbothered.
"As you wish, brother."
The way out was eerily quiet. Yuder didn't know what had become of Devran or the other Awakened escapees they had encountered earlier, but no one jumped out at them. Not yet, at least.
Even Kiolle, now paralyzed by fear, followed behind in silence. The only sound echoing through the darkness of the cave was the rhythmic tap of their footsteps against the floor.
'...Footsteps.'
Suddenly, Yuder stopped and glanced to his side. Kiolle's flashy, high-quality boots brushed past him as they moved forward.
Catching sight of Kiolle's face, eerily illuminated by the glow of the magic stones embedded in the wall, Yuder's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he grabbed Kiolle's arm and started running forward.
'...Damn. Just as I thought.'
Despite Yuder's sudden movement, Kiolle showed no reaction. His expression was vacant—just like the mercenary Awakeners who had emerged from the prison behind Nahan. There was no doubt now: Kiolle had fallen victim to Nahan's illusion ability.
'He wouldn't stay silent just because of a little fear.'
When had it started? Yuder recalled Kiolle's subtle retreat when they passed the prison. That must have been the moment. Slowing his pace as he processed the situation, Yuder came to a halt.
"You had me wondering where you were going, brother."
Nahan's voice rang out, his tone as calm as ever. Despite the distance Yuder had run, they found themselves back where they had started, facing Nahan, the mercenary Awakeners, and the young boy. Nahan's composed expression hadn't changed as he addressed Yuder.
"I don't see why you're still so on guard. Everything's over now."
"Wouldn't anyone be guarded in a situation like this?"
Yuder's voice was cold as he glanced around the room.
"Have you killed all of Apeto's people? Who's next? Who the hell are you, really?"
"You already know who I am."
"At this point, I find that hard to believe."
How could he trust anything from an illusionist who could warp reality at will? How much of what Yuder saw of Nahan was real? The man had claimed to be nothing more than a bandit leader who gathered wandering Awakeners, but was that truly the case? Reading the swirling suspicion in Yuder's eyes, Nahan chuckled.
"You're quite suspicious."
"Well, that's not such a bad thing, either," Nahan muttered, his gaze shifting to where Yuder still gripped Kiolle's arm.
"I mean no harm to your brother. Just let go of his arm. That's all."
'…Was Kiolle the target?'
Yuder's grip tightened instinctively.
"Kiolle Da Diarca."
"..."
There was no response. Kiolle, his vacant eyes staring into nothingness, swayed limply as Yuder shook him.
"Kiolle!"
Even a sharp slap, loud enough to echo through the chamber, failed to stir him. Frustrated, Yuder sighed and glanced back at Nahan.
"Don't tell me he'll stay like this unless you release him."
"Of course not. My power isn't that overwhelming."
Yet, the look in Nahan's eyes made it clear he had no intention of revealing how to undo his hold. If Yuder were at full strength, he would have already used his abilities to crush Nahan then and there. But his throbbing hand was a constant distraction, slowing his reactions.
He remained silent for a moment, weighing his options, before finally speaking.