“If it’s not related to work... personal belongings? Or wait—don’t tell me this is something dangerous?”

“They belonged to my grandfather.”

Before Kanna’s thoughts could run too far off-track, Yuder told her frankly what kind of item he intended to ask her to read.

“I didn’t know it until recently, but it seems my grandfather had a secret he never told me. I’ve tried to piece it together myself, but I still don’t have enough information. That’s why I want your help.”

He did have something like Luma’s journal, but handing that over would require telling a story several times longer than this. And considering it was unlikely to yield more useful information than what he already knew, Yuder wanted to start with his grandfather’s keepsakes first.

Of course, only if Kanna agrees.

“Sure! That’s no problem. Since it’s a request from you, of course I’ll help.”

Kanna agreed without hesitation.

“Your grandfather—he’s the one who made that bracelet you told me to read the first time we met, right?”

“Yeah.”

She remembered that? Yuder was a little surprised. Kanna puffed her chest with pride and smiled.

“I remember because that was the item that changed my life! I could do it as soon as tonight, so when should we start?”

Even though she had to be busy, her attitude was enthusiastic. Yuder thought for a moment and then replied.

“Then... tomorrow night.”

“Alright! Should I come to your room?”

“No. ...Come to the Commander’s office.”

“Huh? The Commander’s office?”

Kanna looked momentarily confused, but then let out an “Ah” of understanding.

“Right, because you brought it back from your hometown... So the Commander knows about it too. Ha, haha!”

“There’s one more thing I need to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I need you to keep everything you read strictly confidential, no matter what it is.”

“Of course! Even if you hadn’t said so, I’d keep it secret.”

“And if, by chance, it starts to feel wrong when you use your ability—stop immediately.”

“Huh?”

Yuder still clearly remembered the time Kanna had tried to read information from the Red Stone and had collapsed without even managing a proper attempt. Of course, his grandfather’s belongings shouldn’t be nearly that dangerous, and Kanna herself had become a much more powerful Awakener since then—but still, better to over-warn than under-prepare.

The smile on Kanna’s face tightened slightly with a flicker of tension.

“If I need to be that cautious... I guess this isn’t the kind of secret I’m imagining, huh...”

“Just in case.”

Whatever she was imagining, it would be something completely different from the truth. But instead of saying that, Yuder simply gave a short answer.

“I’ll explain more tomorrow when we start.”

“Mm. Got it. Let’s talk then!”

“Thanks.”

“Wow. It’s nice having a useful ability. I get secret requests from Yuder and even a thank-you!”

Kanna laughed brightly.

“But you don’t have to thank me so much. If it had been the other way around and I asked you for help, I know you would’ve helped without hesitation.”

That was true. If their roles had been reversed, and it was something he could help with using his own power, he wouldn’t have felt the need to be thanked either.

While Yuder was thinking that, he heard a commotion not far away. Turning his head, he saw the new recruits entering the training grounds they had just left.

“It’s already time for the new recruits’ training. I should really get going. Ah, but...”

Kanna looked toward the backs of the new recruits, then suddenly turned to Yuder, as if something had occurred to her.

“About that person the Commander asked us to keep an eye on yesterday.”

“Fay?”

“Yeah, that was the name. I managed to secretly touch some of his belongings yesterday.”

“Did you pick up anything?”

It was difficult to read significant information from belongings alone, but learning even small things was often the foundation for understanding a person. Kanna had used her power while observing Fay’s belongings during the training session, and said she’d managed to glean one rather personal detail.

“Apparently, he has plans to meet some friends in the capital soon. His anticipation was so strong that I could sense it just from his stuff. I’m not sure when, but I’m going to try to find out more.”

A guy from the distant North with friends he planned to meet in the capital?

Yuder felt a very strong conviction that those “friends” were somehow connected to the South.

And also a very strong conviction... that it wasn’t for anything good.

Fay probably doesn’t even realize the true identity of those merchants who came to his village... so he’s not thinking about any of this.

Yuder’s gaze sharpened instantly.

“Those ‘friends’ of his are definitely not ordinary. Let me know the moment you find out when that meeting’s supposed to happen.”

“Alright. I can do that. He’s way more intimidated by me than I expected, so he’s pretty guarded, but I’ve already gotten pretty close to Gloena, and I plan to get even closer. So it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Gloena?”

That caught him off guard. Why was she bringing up her connection with Gloena when she was trying to get information from Fay?

“He’s got a huge crush on her. Practically worships her, on the same level as you or the Commander.”

“...What?”

“I heard from Steber that on the first day all the new recruits gathered, he messed up his introduction, and Gloena helped smooth things over. I think that’s where it started.”

Yuder recalled the Gloena and Fay he had met recently.

“But considering that... they didn’t really seem close when I passed by them the other day.”

At that time, the two had seemed like they hadn’t exchanged a single personal word yet. And yet Fay had such a strong affection toward her?

Come to think of it... when Gloena comforted him, he cried and thanked her.

Maybe it wasn’t just sudden emotion. Maybe he’d already held affection for her after being helped once, and then felt even more touched when she helped him again. Thinking about it that way, the intense reaction made more sense.

“Yuder. Extremely shy people often hold deep affection without saying a word to the person. He’d never open up if I asked, but if you, the Commander, or Gloena asked, I’m sure he’d answer. Approaching him through Gloena, a fellow recruit, will help open the door to his heart.”

Kanna spoke with certainty and gave a confident smile.

“Anyway, I’ll let you know once I find out more. See you later!”

With that, Kanna turned and walked off. Yuder remained there for a while, silently watching the new recruits’ training.

Today’s training focused on stamina and strength. Even those with outstanding physical abilities often ended up sobbing from exhaustion during this infamous regimen—so naturally, screams were echoing everywhere. Gloena and Fay were trailing at the very end, struggling just to keep up.

Collapsed and sniffling on the ground, Fay was next to Gloena, who looked almost dead herself as she barely raised her head to say something. Judging by her lips, it was probably a short word of encouragement. Fay stopped crying. Gloena quickly got up and moved ahead again, but Fay kept watching her back for a long time before suddenly leaping to his feet and running hard once more.

That was actually a very familiar sight to Yuder. In his previous life too, those two had often lagged behind side by side, physically outmatched by the others. Fay eventually grew stronger through relentless training, but until then, they had taken turns coming in last.

And yet, they had gone on to become Vice-Commanders together. Looking back, maybe their bond had been deeper than Yuder had realized, even back then.

Many things had changed between this life and the last, but what remained most consistent were the bonds between people. Even though the Cavalry members were having completely different experiences in this life, their close friendships often mirrored the past.

Yuder suddenly remembered the last conversation he’d had with Fay in his previous life. Back then, their Commander had been roaming around, looking for signs of disaster, spreading dubious rumors and saying unbelievable things. Fay, clearly disillusioned, had said something bitter.

But thinking back on it now, even those cold words had carried a trace of someone else’s presence.

‘Vice Commander Jeong and Vice Commander Gloena {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} are dead... and yet the Commander still clings to that meaningless investigation.’

The Vice Commander “Jeong” he’d mentioned... had been Gloena.