Turning Chapter 1106

Chapter 1106

Emperor Keilusa had ordered Kishiar to step back from all matters and rest this time. Since giving that order, he had actually kept his word and not contacted Kishiar even once. He didn't even inform Kishiar's informants about what was happening in the capital, so they could only find out about the incident related to Kiolle indirectly and belatedly.

But even such an emperor would have no choice but to partially withdraw his order if he saw the anomalous crack incident that occurred throughout the entire empire, wouldn't he?

Yuder thought so but didn't voice it, and instead stood up from his seat.

"Anyway... for now, we've confirmed for certain that there's been no damage so far, so we can take a breather. Shall we go?"

"Already?"

"It's not 'already'. Hasn't it been several hours? According to the original plan, you should have been resting by now. And... I have something I want to tell you."

He couldn't postpone examining Kishiar's health any longer in the face of this unprecedented situation where anomalous cracks had appeared nationwide. Seeming to read the determined look in Yuder's eyes, Kishiar softened his eyebrows and stood up together.

"Then I have no choice but to go. If any urgent news comes in while I'm away, report it immediately to Nathan or Enk here anytime, regardless of when. They will relay it to me."

"Understood."

The people of Peletta and the members who came from the Cavalry's Northern Branch all bowed their heads in unison. Yuder somehow realized that quite a number of them were sending very warm gazes towards him, as if to say he had spoken well.

'What's this?'

Just as he felt puzzled, he saw Enk slightly raise her bowed head and move her lips to say something.

'Thank you. Please take care of him.'

"..."

It seemed they had judged that Yuder was making excuses out of concern for Kishiar to force him to rest.

'It's not an excuse, I really have something to say... but well, I suppose that's the result.'

He suddenly felt how much everyone here cared for and worried about Kishiar.

And also... how frail Kishiar must have been in their perception, someone who shouldn't move around for long carelessly.

"So, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

After returning to the duke's bedroom, Yuder strode closer to Kishiar, who was speaking casually.

"You probably already expect it."

"I thought... you might want to see the inside after a long time."

"You know well. Please lie down."

When Yuder pressed his fingertips against Kishiar's chest, the man lay down on the bed, pushed back like a fragile bird, with a silent smile on his lips. Yuder sat down beside him and unbuttoned his top. On the bare shoulder revealed beneath the thick winter clothes, there was still a faint mark left from when Yuder had bitten him while enduring pleasure before.

"..."

Yuder Aile rarely let his attention wander from his intended goal at any moment, but at this time, he couldn't help but focus on that part.

"...Did it hurt?"

"Hm?"

"This part."

As Yuder slightly furrowed his brow and carefully stroked the mark on the shoulder with his finger, the red eyes blinked as if just noticing the trace left on his shoulder. A moment later, those eyes curved gently.

"No. Not at all."

"I'm glad to hear that, but... I should be more careful from now on."

No matter how overwhelmed by pleasure, he had never failed to control himself enough to leave a mark that lasted this long. The fact that he hadn't even noticed the mark in the first place was proof of how out of his mind Yuder had been at the time.

'This must also be because of Kishiar's scent that had grown stronger since coming to Peletta. I was so focused on enduring it that I lost my mind...'

Should he practice enduring the scent? Just as Yuder was thinking this and lowering his eyes, Kishiar reached out and caressed Yuder's cheek as if he had read his unnecessary thoughts.

"Don't do that."

"To be honest, I was rather... thinking it would be nice if more of these remained on my body."

"Pardon?"

"Don't you know that I'm much greedier than I appear?"

"Don't you try very hard not to leave such marks on me? Yet you say you'd prefer if I left marks on you, it feels somewhat strange."

"Not all desires can be balanced."

Balance. Thanks to that word, Yuder was able to recall what he had originally intended to do. He sighed and then placed his hand on Kishiar's chest.

"...Anyway, before I examine you in earnest, I'd like to ask a few questions."

"Alright. Anything."

With his golden hair disheveled on the sheets, the man answered docilely.

"It seems like it's been a bit more difficult for you to control your power lately than before. Were you aware of this?"

"It's my body, so of course."

Kishiar nodded with a slightly bitter smile.

"I thought it was especially so with your scent, do you think there's a connection?"

"Scent?"

Kishiar questioned a bit late. It was a voice that, uncharacteristically for someone so perceptive, didn't immediately grasp the connection between Yuder's questions.

A moment later, the man narrowed his eyes as if trying to recall something. A deep voice flowed out slowly.

"Scent. Scent... As far as I could tell, I didn't think my scent had changed much from before. I did feel like my mood was a bit more elevated than before when I was with you since coming to Peletta, but that was the same for you too... It certainly didn't feel as serious as the problem with controlling power."

"..."

"Was my scent very strange?"

Kishiar's gaze sank heavily.

Yuder looked into those eyes and pondered for a moment how to answer, then slowly shook his head.

"I don't think it's appropriate to describe it as strange. But it was different from usual, that's true."

"How exactly?"

It feels somewhat odd to say this answer himself. Still, Yuder tried his best to convey it while removing as much emotion as possible.

"Your scent was rapidly growing stronger. Much more than usual... especially when we were together at night... to be honest, there were a few times when I thought I might drown in the scent. Of course, I've never seen an awakener like that before."

The last part was part truth, part joke, but Kishiar didn't laugh.

"..."

"Since scent naturally changes according to an awakener's physical condition, if other powers were growing stronger, it's somewhat understandable that the scent grew stronger along with them. However, it's a bit unusual that the person with the scent didn't know... but there have been similar cases."

"Have you seen similar cases before?"

Yuder nodded and answered.

"Among the second gender awakeners I knew in the previous game, quite a number showed symptoms of their scent increasing rapidly or changing to a different feeling from usual temporarily before their heat came."

There were no cases where the scent decreased before heat. However, besides that, there were truly diverse symptoms. Some people's scents suddenly changed to stimulate the sense of smell excessively, while others' scents would spread out wildly without their knowledge whenever they faced people.

"Among such people, there were many cases where they didn't properly recognize that their scent had increased. So sometimes unfortunate accidents occurred."

The man who met Yuder's gaze remained silent for a long time.

And finally opened his mouth to speak.

"Then you think my current overall condition could be a precursor symptom of heat?"