Yujin‘s recovery was bizarrely fast. Perhaps it was thanks to the third star he had acquired; even using Arts felt much easier than before.
The silver lance that had snapped was whole again, as if it had never been broken. During the final strike, the sword and spear had merged into a strange weapon, but now they were separate once more.
Whenever Daniel visited, he would stare at the silver lance standing in the corner of the room and shudder. He clearly wanted to ask something, but he never voiced the question to Yujin.
"Hello, Mr. Popular."
"Hey, Fluff-tail. What's up today?"
"Fluff-tail" was Yujin‘s nickname for Sona. Her red tail looked incredibly soft, and he had once asked to touch it, only to be flatly rejected.
"…Leaving that weird nickname aside, what are you going to do now?"
"About what?"
"The Infected Knight System. It‘s causing chaos. The Merchant Association is trying to direct all the complaints and petitions toward you, while the Adeptus is using it as leverage to practically dismantle the Association."
Infected Knight System. It might be normal in Kazdel where Infection was common, but not in Kazimierz.
Here, the majority were ordinary, uninfected citizens.
"But even the Infected who stand to benefit are confused. They're asking, 'Isn't he a Sarkaz, but uninfected?'"
"Infected, uninfected. Does it matter? I just do what I want."
Sona held her head in her hands, watching Yujin sit there without a care in the world. Did he know? That all of Kazimierz was turned upside down, and there were plenty of people who wanted him dead? Yet the reason no one could touch him was singular.
The Silverlance Pegasi were protecting him.
While the Merchant Association was being beaten to dust by the Adeptus, the Silverlances had taken charge of security in Kazimierz.
The absolute martial power that neither the Sport Knights nor the Campaign Knights could interfere with.
They were the ones who had erased the name "Armorless Union" from this city. As long as they protected Yujin, no one dared to make a move. There were few fools eager to court death.
"I heard you‘re being discharged soon. What are you going to do?"
Yujin‘s discharge. His recovery was fast, but his internal injuries hadn't fully healed. Even after leaving the hospital, he would have to be careful with using Arts until he was completely better.
"I have to ensure the Nearl family survives even without me. And handle the succession."
"Succession?"
Sona didn't fully understand the word, but if he took that silver lance to Kiril, everyone would know what it meant.
"Ah, right. And the first cornerstone to help the Nearl family survive is you."
"…What? Says who?"
"Says me, the Champion of Kazimierz, obviously."
"Hey, wait! You have to explain what kind of bullshit that is...!"
Sona grabbed Yujin‘s hair and tugged, but he just laughed it off. In the end, Sona never got the answer she wanted.
With only a few days left until his discharge, Yujin waited for the day he could leave this room.
2.
"…I expected this day to come, but I didn't hope for this."
A war of nerves.
Crude and tense.
Buldrokkas'tee, shield in hand, glared at the knights in silver armor. Theresis sat with an uncomfortable expression, while the silver knights stood still like emotionless machines.
Looking back, the Sarkaz race had bad relations with every race except their own.
History and texts recorded it all; the ones who toppled the towers the Sarkaz built were always outsiders.
The Powder Keg of the World.
That term referred to Kazdel.
"Buldrokk, stop it. And you too, Commander."
As Yujin mediated, the atmosphere, where swords could have been drawn at any moment, began to settle. The guests at the Nearl manor didn't even remove their helmets, but knowing it was the rule of the Silverlance Pegasi, Yujin said nothing.
"Think carefully about my offer. We are always open to those with talent, and we especially welcome those who possess chivalry."
A shocking proposal.
Just now, the Silverlance Pegasi had made Yujin an offer.
"Tch. Are you going to accept?"
Theresis, legs crossed and looking displeased, clicked his tongue.
"…No. If I accept their offer, my final destination becomes Kazimierz. Not yet."
Become a Campaign Knight and join the Silverlance Pegasi.
Knowing Yujin was Sarkaz, it was an incredibly unconventional offer. And it suited Yujin‘s personality well.
"The place I must protect isn't this city. And I have a promise with you. Until I keep that promise, I have no intention of settling down anywhere."
The promise with Theresis.
Perhaps, the first wish Yujin ever made.
The Restoration of Kazdel.
Yujin knew the Sarkaz well. They would never sheath their blades against other races, nor would they let go of their hatred. But if they didn't, the Sarkaz had no future.
No matter how much they shouted for revenge, without the power to achieve it, it was just noise.
Current Kazdel was like that. No nation listened to their cries. A race wandering and persecuted for a lifetime—that was the current address of the Sarkaz.
"…Right. Thank you for saying that."
Even though he acted aloof, Yujin knew Theresis was running himself ragged. While Yujin trained with Buldrokk, Theresis chose to study strategy and tactics, solidifying his position within Kazdel.
Even if he was scorned as a half-blood Sarkaz, no one could ignore Netsalem standing behind him. Theresis used that to build his foundation, trying to bring about the winds of change.
"And, since it's come to this, there's no helping it. Theresis, is your schedule open?"
"Nothing special... why?"
"Come with me to Yan."
"?"
"There's a city called Dahuang there, famous for agriculture. It's not a Nomadic City, so it might be easier to emulate. Let's go there for a vacation and pick up some knowledge."
A Nomadic City with current Kazdel's power? Don't make me laugh. They couldn't even build a proper stationary city.
Agriculture wasn't developed either, so people were starving everywhere. Sarkaz individuals were capable, but they were too busy fighting among themselves to unite.
In the end, the only Sarkaz working on the ground were the open-minded youth.
"…So, you want to go there and learn agriculture? Have you forgotten who we are? We're Sarkaz. We'll be lucky not to get persecuted."
"Who am I?"
"If you think you can negotiate with your Kazimierz fame, forget it. Do you think the people there will help you just because of that?"
"Still, worth a try. If it fails, it fails."
"Agriculture is a key technology supporting a nation. Do you think they'll just give it away for free... Listen when people are talking!"
Theresis smacked Yujin‘s head with his scabbard and stormed out, fuming. As he left the room, Buldrokk looked at Yujin.
"Do you believe it can change?"
"What?"
"The Sarkaz, this Kazdel. I'm asking if you believe it can change."
Buldrokk‘s eyes shone seriously. Unable to maintain the playful atmosphere, Yujin sighed.
"I don't know. Whether Kazdel can change, or if it will stand still. No one knows that."
"Then why..."
"I hate blaming others without even trying. You try, and you fail. The attempt to change is what matters. Besides, I have you guys, right?"
Yujin grinned at Buldrokk. Whether he was immature or dreaming an unreachable dream, Buldrokk still couldn't tell.
"And the perception of Sarkaz in Kazimierz must have improved a bit. I ran around helping people so much."
But looking at Yujin, he knew one thing. Yujin was serious. He was trying to change this race, this country.
"Heh, then I'll try believing too."
"What?"
"That a human who isn't a Sarkaz can change the Sarkaz."
"…I am a Sarkaz though?"
"Don't lie. We've been together for three years; do you think I wouldn't know?"
Buldrokk laughed as he said the last part. Feeling awkward, Yujin scratched his forehead.
'I was planning to leave... but I guess I have to wait a bit.'
Yujin didn't know.
That thanks to this conversation, the fate of a clan changed completely.