'It's a shame I couldn't capture him and uncover his identity, but this won't be my last chance.'
As Yuder whispered the name Nahan, the memory of the man with a dangerously overwhelming aura came to mind. It was rare to remember someone he'd met only once, yet that man was etched vividly in his thoughts.
'But… considering that my shoulders are trembling… I wonder how Kishiar will react.'
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but it felt as if someone was calling his name from a distance. Slowly, Yuder extinguished the towering column of fire that had raged hot enough to scorch his entire body.
The forest, surprisingly untouched despite the blazing inferno moments ago, gradually revealed itself. Kiolle, who had been crouched with his head down, lifted his head with a bewildered expression, scanning the now-deserted area.
"Where did they go... those guys?"
While Kiolle merely looked around in confusion, Yuder focused on the strange traces left on the ground. The earth looked like it had been forcibly opened and then covered again, giving him an idea of how Nahan and the boy might have escaped.
' The power to make friends, huh?'
Among the countless monsters that had appeared on the continent, some had been accepted as relatively harmless native creatures, hidden for a long time. The Rumvet, a giant worm-like monster that burrowed underground, was one such being.
Harmless to humans, the Rumvet only tunneled deep into the earth. With his extensive experience from monster extermination missions, Yuder knew several of its habits.
One such habit was blocking the entrance of its tunnels from the inside by secreting a fluid that hardened the soil. Observing the moist ground and the faint stinging odor it emitted, Yuder became certain: a Rumvet had recently surfaced and returned underground.
The ability to summon and control a monster like that—a monster hidden deep beneath the earth—as though it were a companion was an ability worth rescuing for someone like Nahan.
The violent tremors that had shaken the earth after he had created the fire pillar were undoubtedly due to the Rumvet's movements.
'A monster-controlling Awakener... While I encountered a few in my previous life, it's rare to control a large creature like a Rumvet.'
If the boy had such power, why hadn't he escaped immediately while imprisoned? Perhaps something hindered his ability?
Recalling the boy's silent demeanor, Yuder decided to keep his face in mind, alongside Nahan's.
"Yuder! Yuder!" At that moment, the urgent voices calling his name were unmistakably real. It was Gakane, Jimmy, and Devran.
He had expected someone to come running after seeing the fire pillar, but he was slightly surprised that they hadn't left the area yet.
"Did something else happen?"
Strangely, the first thing Yuder felt upon hearing his comrades' voices was a deep sense of relief.
"Yuder!"
Gakane was the first to appear, his face turning pale the moment he saw Yuder standing there, blood dripping from a knife wound on his left hand. He rushed over, carefully lifting Yuder's injured hand.
"My goodness! Was it you who conjured that column of fire earlier? But what in the world... who did this to you?"
"I did."
"What?"
"Both the fire and the wound—I caused them myself."
"Yuder!"
Yuder's calm response left Gakane momentarily speechless, doubting what he had just heard. Meanwhile, Jimmy emerged from the thicket, running toward them with a look of concern, only to stop short when he spotted Kiolle, awkwardly standing in the background.
"Uh...? That man... isn't he from the Imperial Palace Knights? Why is he here? And in such a state...?"
Gakane, hearing Jimmy's cautious words, turned and finally noticed Kiolle, his face filled with astonishment.
"You are...?"
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Unable to explain anything due to the vow he had taken, Kiolle glanced at Yuder, coughing awkwardly as if to prompt an explanation. The terrified, groveling figure he had been moments ago had completely disappeared.
Despite being covered in dirt, far from his usual noble appearance, Yuder chose not to comment on it.
"I rescued him from the ones who had taken Devran."
"What? So you got hurt trying to save this man?"
"...In a way, yes."
"What? But Yuder, you just said you caused the wound yourself. Did you hurt yourself to protect him? Why?"
"What? Gakane, what are you saying?"
"Yuder said it himself."
"Does that mean..."
Before Yuder could respond, both Gakane and Jimmy, after exchanging a glance, fixed their sharp gazes on Kiolle. Yuder, watching as Kiolle visibly stiffened in surprise, opened his mouth to speak.
"That's not it..."
"What's going on, Gakane, Jimmy? Don't leave me behind. It's still hard for me to run."
Fortunately, Devran appeared at that moment, diverting everyone's attention.
"I saw a huge fire and thought something serious must've happened, but it seems relatively peaceful. What's going on?"
Seeing Devran for the first time in hours, Yuder noted that his friend looked much better—clean clothes and wounds tended.
"Yuder, where's that scarred guy who was with you? And who's this new person? What happened to the people in the cave you said you'd deal with?"
"It's a bit of a long story."
Yuder's nerves, which had momentarily relaxed, tensed again as he thought of Nahan. He sighed softly, glancing toward the cave. Considering everything that had transpired, he needed to return soon.
"Things got a bit complicated."
"...Complicated? You didn't let them escape, did you?"
Devran, who bore a grudge against the Apeto family, asked with a dark expression.
"No. They're all dead."
"Dead? Did you kill them?"
"No."
"Then who—"
Devran trailed off, and both Gakane and Jimmy wore strange expressions. Yuder's unusually cold gaze made it clear that the man who had vanished was the source of the complication. Though they didn't know the specifics, it was obvious something significant had happened.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, Gakane forced a smile and looked around.
"Alright, now that we've found Yuder, let's head down for some healing first. We can talk about the details on the way."
"But before that."
"Hmm?"
Gakane turned toward Yuder, who had raised his hand to interrupt.
"Why are you still here? I thought I told you to evacuate and not return to the village."
"Ah... about that. Zakail's brother came back, and the situation changed. Do you remember? The guy who was said to be involved with Devran's sister…"
"…He came back?"
"Yes. It seems Zakail tried to delay his return, but it actually sped things up... Anyway, Zakail is locked up. Considering we have injured, including Devran, we thought it best to rest and heal before leaving immediately…"
'So that's what happened.' Hearing Gakane's explanation, Yuder quickly pieced together the situation. He nodded, realizing it aligned with his own assumptions.
"Got it. And, Devran."
"Hmm?"
"Did you see the two people tied up when you escaped?"
Devran nodded casually, glancing at the discarded gag and cord Yuder pointed to.
"Those guys? Yeah, I saw them. They were right there when I came out, so I scared them off and drove them out. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. As long as they escaped alive, that's all that matters."
It was fortunate amidst the misfortune that there were survivors who could testify to the Apeto family's crimes. They just needed to be found and questioned.
Yuder finally released the tension in his trembling arm. As he turned his head, Kiolle, who had been nervously waiting in the background, startled and took a step back.
"Kiolle."
"W-What! Earlier, it was an emergency, so I didn't say anything, but if you keep casually calling my name—"
Even though he couldn't fully conceal his fear, Kiolle attempted to reassert his authority in front of the others, but it came off as pitiful. Yuder ignored him and continued.
"You use informal language with me, too."
"I do! Our statuses are different, and I'm older, so how dare you—!"
Just then, a tingling sensation pulsed from the contract mark inscribed on Yuder's wrist. It seemed Kiolle felt it too, as he abruptly shut his mouth and gritted his teeth.
"...Do as you please!"
In the end, he spat out the words, face full of humiliation, before sharply turning away. Yuder, unfazed, had no intention of pressing further.
"I intend to. Anyway, those who wanted to kill you are gone, and I'm sure you won't forget our agreement. For now, just head back as you are."