* * *

Cadel wondered how much time it would take to analyze the summoning circles for clues to their destruction. Assuming it was all part of the formula, he was stumped by the thought of having to figure out how to break the magic circle before it triggered.

‘Because of the summoning circle, the Mainue Kingdom couldn’t even conduct a proper search for the Stone of Peace.’

The manpower that should have been mobilized for the search was used to defend the kingdom. Perhaps it was a trick of the Demon Realm to take advantage of this situation.

‘The Dunkelhai Kingdom had a demon sabotaging in the mine where the Stone of Peace was located. If we assume a similar scenario, the Stone of Peace in the Mainue Kingdom is likely not far from here.’

Otherwise, there was no reason to spread power in the middle of the enemy camp. The succession of monsters wore the knights down, but too many of them died for that to be the only reason. Unless there was a Stone of Peace nearby to impede the search, it was a fight the Demon Realm had nothing to gain.

‘It seems that the Demon Realm’s search is faster than I thought. It seems that they found the location of the Stone of Peace before the humans. But isn’t it too much of a tactic to bring out such a complicated magic circle just to disrupt the search?’

It was unclear exactly what would happen when the magic circle was activated, but it was clear that something dangerous would happen, something that could cost the kingdom its existence. So was Emilia aiming for the downfall of the Mainue Kingdom in addition to sabotage?

‘No. Perhaps she’s been trying to lure the magicians in all along.’

The summoning circle, which was best temporarily thwarted by an ignorant outpouring of mana if one didn’t understand the fundamentals of the formula, could be a ploy to keep the magicians at bay, anticipating that the humans would simply not be able to figure it out.

‘Perhaps the purpose is to wipe out all the magicians gathered here. From Emilia’s perspective, it would be safer to leave only the magicians who can analyze the summoning circle of the Demon Realm. It would also increase the odds of victory in the war. And since they seem to care about my existence as a magician, I may throw them some bait…….’

Cadel stopped in his tracks as he carefully gauged Emilia’s intentions. His hard face cracked, and he clutched his chest roughly, breathing heavily.

“My, my heart is…….”

A sudden, excruciating pain. Cadel dropped to his knees in a heap, the agonizing sensation squeezing his heart. A chill ran down his spine, and a cold sweat began to pour from his body like rain.

All he could do was crouch on the ground and gasp in inexplicable pain.

‘This is a familiar pain…….’

It was similar to the pain Kunra had faced after channeling his energy before fleeing. Though the intensity was much worse.

‘Is this a side effect of accepting Kunra’s energy? But I haven’t heard of any side effects like this.’

As the pain intensified, his thinking slowed. Cadel collapsed, unable to crawl forward, unable to summon the strength to call for help. It was late at night, and there were no knights in sight to help him.

If he continued, he might be found dead the next day. As he tried to pull himself together with his horrible imagination.

“Commander!”

Van’s voice came from far away, startled.

Unable to sleep, he searched for a deserted place to move his body, until he spotted the commander’s barracks and decided to stop and talk to him.

“Yeohwan! Stay awake!”

Van’s eyes flicked to Cadel’s collapsed body, frantically checking his condition. He hadn’t looked much different than he had when he’d entered Mamil’s barracks, except for a slight hint of fatigue. There were no signs that he would collapse so suddenly.

Cadel slumped over Van’s arm, his eyes locked with his own. Slowly fluttering eyelids looked as if they could close at any moment. He looked as if he might lose consciousness at any moment, and Van scooped him up urgently.

“I’ll take you to Sir Garuel, just…… just hang on.”

It was Cadel who was really struggling, but Van seemed more distraught than the sick man. Hugging his sagging body tightly, Van hobbled around the area, then slammed the entrance to one of the barracks.

“Healing! Prepare the healing technique right now!”

“Sir Van……?”

Garuel jerked awake, startled out of his slumber by the unexpected arrival. He looked up at Van, his face still dazed, and his eyes widened as he recognized the familiar figure in his arms.

“Knight Commander? What happened to him?”

“You’re supposed to be healing, not talking nonsense!”

Garuel should have been offended by Van’s snarky demeanor, but he didn’t care. He was only concerned about the man lying helplessly in Van’s arms. He was so concerned for the man’s well-being that he couldn’t see anything else.

Garuel deployed his healing spell as soon as Van laid Cadel down. Even though it was a routine healing, his heart was racing and he was sweating. Cadel was already completely unconscious, his helplessness bringing back nightmarish memories of the past.

“What is his condition? Is it serious?”

Cadel was at the crossroads between life and death, and he remained depressed for quite some time after waking up. He wouldn’t tell Garuel exactly why until the end, but Garuel had an idea.

He was tormented by Van Herdos’s absence. Even when he was dying, even when he was barely awake, the man who was like his own shadow was never there. Garuel had wondered at one point if his injuries back then had been brought on by Van Herdos.

“Say something. Is he okay…….”

Garuel’s brow cracked as he carefully channeled the demonic energy. As if Van had touched something he shouldn’t have, Garuel sprang to his feet, ignited in an instant, and grabbed Van by the collar.

His usually easygoing gaze flashed viciously, and his languid voice cracked low.

“Don’t you think it’s your fault?”

“……What?”

“His energy is messed up. He’s weak, like someone under extreme stress. He didn’t show any signs of it a moment ago, and then all of a sudden he collapses, and you find him and bring him in?”

“You seem to suspect that I had something to do with Commander’s collapse, but I would never harm him, no matter what, so if you don’t want to die, let go of this…….”

“Even if you didn’t mean to, you may have had an effect. He had a near-death experience in the fight with Palaig, barely woke up, and was suddenly informed of your departure. He didn’t ask questions then, but Knight Commander is not one to be outdone that easily, …… unless he was preoccupied with matters pertaining to his subordinates.”

Van could no longer retort to the sharp tone of his own words. He’d never heard of such a thing. He’d done his part in the battle against Palaig, and he’d done his duty. In the chaos, he did his part to keep Yeohwan out of trouble.

“Commander…….”

Was he really hurt, how badly, and why? As Garuel had said, Cadel was not a man to be taken down easily. Even in his petrified state, he would protect his members to the end.

Had he let his guard down? It was unlikely that Yeohwan would have realized he was leaving so quickly. So even if Yeohwan did let his guard down, it was unlikely that he was the cause. It couldn’t be him.

However, there was another reason why Van was shocked. He realized that Yeohwan had been on the edge of death while he had been wandering aimlessly, and that he had failed to stand by his side. And yet, Yeohwan came back to him and reached out to him. What was his state of mind when he conveyed his true feelings at that time?

In front of a speechless Van, Garuel brushed it off with a dismissive glance.

“I don’t apologize if it’s not your fault, but please leave. You’re distracting me.”

Van didn’t want to leave the collapsed Yeohwan in front of him. But there was nothing he could do for him here to be stubborn.

He stared at Cadel’s half-clenched fists and closed eyes, then wordlessly left the barracks.

*.* *

Later, Lumen, Lydon, and Yozen stopped by the barracks after hearing the news of Cadel’s condition, but Garuel would not let anyone in. He couldn’t afford to let anyone in to tell them of Cadel’s condition or to answer their concerns.

Mamil and Admon were in the same predicament. The healing was being done through demonic energy, so the rest of the group had to step in and prevent them from entering.

So Garuel spent the entire dawn tending to Cadel, administering healing. Before daybreak, Cadel was able to open his eyes safely.

“……Garuel.”

A deep sense of relief washed over Garuel, so worried, at the sound of the sleepy voice. Waking up, Cadel reached out unconsciously, and Garuel met his hand immediately. Swallowing a deep sigh, he gently stroked Cadel’s hair and spoke.

“How are you feeling, do you think you’re okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“No trauma, no internal injuries, all I could do was sort out the tangled energy…….”

Frowning slightly, he shook his head and waved his clasped hands.

“Please don’t render this poor healer helpless any longer, Knight Commander.”

“……I’m sorry, I don’t know what brought me down either.”

He vaguely suspected it was Kunra’s energy, but he had no way of determining the cause of the sudden pain. Garuel couldn’t figure it out either.

He unintentionally worried him. Cadel rubbed Garuel’s cheek in a soothing gesture, knowing he hadn’t slept, and he broke eye contact.

“Who was harassing you?”

“Harassing me?”

“Sometimes when I’m really stressed out, I get a little moody.”

“Mmm……. I mean, we’re at war, so there’s a lot to worry about, but it’s nothing that would make me collapse, and if I can’t handle that, I’m not worthy of the title.”

“No one in the Knights would want you to push yourself too hard.”

“I’m not pushing myself.”

Smiling wryly, Cadel slowly raised his upper body. He stopped the hand that tried to lay him down again and stretched out his arm to hug Garuel’s neck.

“I’m really okay. I guess I was just a little tired. But you healed me, and now I’m completely recovered.”

“……Is this some kind of reward?”

“Your reward for waking me up in good health.”

“You’re not quite awake yet.”

“Why. Don’t you like it when I suddenly hug you?”

“Of course not.”

Garuel wrapped his arms around Cadel’s back as he leaned against him and pulled him gently into a hug. The overwhelming sense of relief made him realize how sensitive he was to Cadel’s health. He rested his cheek against Cadel’s head for a long moment, basking in the warmth, before he stroked Cadel’s back affectionately and spoke.

“The others are waiting for you outside, I’m sure they’ve been worried.”

“I’m sorry. Because of me, they didn’t even get a chance to rest before I sent them right back into battle.”

“They’ll be happy enough to know you woke up healthy.”

Cadel slipped out of Garuel’s arms and pushed himself to his feet, his stomach feeling more refreshed than usual after hours of intensive care. His head felt clear, his body light.

He didn’t like the thought of the pain returning at any moment, but he felt like he could handle the summoning circle analysis in his current state.

He stretched and left the barracks, his face brightening.