Turning Chapter 1028

The man captivated everyone simply by walking with a smile, without wearing a single piece of extravagant clothing.

It didn’t matter whether soone still believed the old rumors of Duke Peletta being a foolish libertine. The mont they saw his radiant appearance under the brilliant sunlight, even the basest curiosity or malice had nowhere left to go.

His unusually tall stature and well-trained body stood out from afar. The way he walked—naturally, as if it were only right for him to lead everyone—was sothing no one could fabricate in a short ti. Even children instinctively understood that.

Even the Awakeners in the Cavalry, whose sowhat unusual appearances might typically trigger fear, seed perfectly ordinary when walking behind Kishiar. Though the Cavalry might seem disorderly at a glance, those who looked closely realized sothing remarkable: not a single one of them stepped ahead of their Commander—not even on his shadow. That alone drew gasps of admiration.

“Ah...”

He was soone who naturally led a crowd of diverse individuals.

One might have expected him to be overwheld by the sweltering heat of the attention pouring down like a waterfall, but not a trace of discomfort showed on his face. He looked like soone born to stand in that very spot.

In this mont, everyone thought of the old legends they’d heard in childhood.

Of the Founding Emperor, said to be born with the blood of the Sun God, who wielded the Divine Sword Orr, cleaved mountains and oceans with Archmages at his side, and saved the world from the Great Ruin.

Of the peace and hope that everyone once dread of.

The fatigue of daily life and anxious doubts lted away in an instant. Those who had co only to satisfy their curiosity found themselves raising their hands and shouting in unison without even realizing it.

“Wooooaaaaah!”

Yuder watched it all with quiet satisfaction.

Of course, not everyone in the crowd was celebrating. If one looked carefully, there were so trying to jeer at the Cavalry and Duke Peletta, or shout slanderous remarks. The ominous energy they emitted made it clear they weren’t just ordinary citizens.

‘They were probably hired to slander the Cavalry and the Emperor.’

It was an obvious trick. In his past life too, every ti the Cavalry returned after accomplishing sothing, people like that would show up along the path to loudly spread unverified rumors or hurl insults. When they were caught and interrogated, most turned out to be back-alley scoundrels hired by political enemies—but by the ti the truth ca out, their rumors had already spread too widely to erase cleanly.

‘I can ignore rumors that I did sothing weird, but lies like the Cavalry killed innocent people or let Awakened criminals go free—those are the ones that stick and beco “truth.”’

Back then, people didn’t celebrate the Cavalry’s return like they did now. A few planted rumor-mongers were enough to dominate public perception. The missions weren’t recognized as heroic rescues either—they were desperate struggles with heavy casualties and serious injuries, barely holding back disaster.

He had never once felt proud while returning from a mission. There had been no welcoming ceremony, no cheers. The path back was always one of mourning—filled with death. And no sooner had they returned than another crisis awaited them.

A return that might as well have been a funeral procession.

Back then, they returned quietly, hoping to avoid notice, and went straight back to the office.

But this ti was different. No matter how loudly the tricksters tried to shout their lies, no one listened. Their petty noise was instantly buried under the thunderous applause.

Kishiar la Orr, walking beneath the roar of celebration—

A flawless hero whose return could only be welcod. A new hope no one could deny.

Was there any sight more satisfying?

Kishiar had fulfilled the promise he made to Yuder in the South. This was the very sight Yuder had longed to see. He made sure to etch every detail of this mont into his mind, so he would never forget it.

Soon, the Pri Minister ca into view, surrounded by officials and knights. She had co to welco the Cavalry in place of the Emperor. Dressed with dignified formality, she raised her voice with a warm smile.

“Welco, Commander of the Cavalry—and all mbers of the Cavalry who have returned after saving the South from crisis. I, Pri Minister Hebraena Leiflang, express my heartfelt gratitude to you all, as a citizen of the Empire, for the great deeds accomplished through your courage.”

Her speech wasn’t long, but it was clear and graceful enough for all to understand its aning. She praised the Cavalry for saving the Southern region from danger not once, but twice—for risking their lives in the process—and assured them that the Emperor and the Empire would never forget it.

When her speech ended, the Pri Minister stepped forward, bowed with proper etiquette before Kishiar, and offered a bouquet of flowers she held in her arms.

“These are Jubeck blossoms—flowers the Emperor has personally bestowed upon returning heroes who saved the Empire since ancient tis. Though it is not yet the season for them to bloom, they flowered in the Imperial greenhouse yesterday, as if sensing your return.”

“Wooooaaah!”

‘It wasn’t that the flowers sensed the return. They probably used magical ans to force them to bloom in ti.’

Having spent a long ti in the palace, Yuder could roughly guess how the flowers made it here. But he said nothing.

What mattered wasn’t whether the flowers had blood naturally or not. It was that the Emperor had gone to such lengths—had shown such care—and had made it visually clear to everyone that he cherished the Cavalry.

To package it this beautifully—angering the noble faction while giving joy to the common people—spoke to the Pri Minister’s oratory skill, which was nearly on par with Kishiar’s.

Apparently having had the sa thought, Kishiar smiled, stepped forward, took the bouquet, and spoke.

“The Jubeck blossom is said to be the flower that the Founding Emperor once plucked himself to reward his knights when he had nothing else to give. The Cavalry will never forget this priceless flower His Majesty has bestowed upon us, nor the aning behind it. We shall cherish it forever and continue to devote ourselves to the Empire.”

Then he turned toward the direction of the Solar Palace, where the Emperor would be, and knelt on one knee. He laid the bouquet before him, drew his sword, and presented it still in its scabbard with both hands. With his head bowed and the sword held high, he resembled a knight straight out of an ancient legend.

Yuder remained still for a mont, then, as if awakening from a dream, glanced at the crowd cheering around them—and followed Kishiar's example. He knelt on one knee in the sa direction.

Naturally, he released a subtle wave of wind energy toward the other Cavalry mbers, a silent nudge.

‘Fall in line.’

“...Ah. Ah!”

Only then did the other mbers, who had been srized by Kishiar’s movents, snap out of it and hurriedly follow Yuder.

Though not perfectly synchronized—and causing a bit of noise and dust—the mont still ford a breathtaking spectacle. The Pri Minister, whose eyes had widened slightly at the sight, smiled and solemnly turned, kneeling in unison with them, pushing the atmosphere to its emotional peak.

Finally, when even Nathan Zuckerman, who had been guarding the rear, knelt with practiced grace, it seed the mont would conclude—

But then, a new developnt erged.

The citizens watching began to kneel down, one by one, following the Cavalry’s lead.

Not even Yuder, who had just been spreading subtle pressure toward his comrades, had expected this.

Until now, it had all felt like a staged performance—for the Emperor, for Kishiar, for the Cavalry.

But as countless people joined them... sothing indescribable began to fill the air.

An odd sensation, like every hair on his body stood on end—a chill of awe running through his veins.

What was this?

They had rely knelt together on the ground. Why did it feel like ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) this?

“...”

Even after living two lives, there were still far too many things in the world Yuder did not understand.

Did Kishiar, sitting in front of him, know the answer?

As he pondered that, Yuder remained seated, gazing at Kishiar’s back for a long ti—until the man rose again.

The events of that day would go on to be recorded as yet another legend of the Cavalry.

“Welco. His Majesty is waiting.”

The next day, the formal welcoming ceremony was held in the palace. It was a quiet, dignified affair without a party.

Emperor Keillusa, accompanied by the Empress, received them not in the Second Palace, but in the grand hall of the First Palace.