‘What is this?’

Their reaction was a little different from what he expected. Not knowing why, Yuder retraced what he’d just said, and the two exchanged grave looks he couldn’t read. The Empress spoke first.

“…So that means, in other words—there were times when Yuder went several days without eating anything and still worked, correct?”

“Kishiar—no. Did the Cavalry Commander know of this as well? What was the Commander doing while the baron was in such harsh conditions?”

“And when Yuder went into the sea in the South and didn’t emerge for over a day—was it in truth even longer than that without a single meal? If the report was minimized, I would like you to tell us honestly.”

Ah. Yuder finally realized what the problem was.

He’d grasped this thanks to his previous life’s experience. Since nothing like that had happened in this life, it was only natural others would misunderstand.

‘I made a mistake.’

He’d meant to put them at ease by saying his body could go without food for a while, but it backfired. At this rate, poor Kishiar would be the one to catch blame.

Yuder swiftly moved to contain it.

“It seems I made a statement that invited misunderstanding. The Cavalry has never once minimized a report, nor have I ever worked under such conditions. The Commander spares no support so the members can always eat their fill, so please set aside that misconception.”

“Then when exactly did you have such an experience?”

“Before I joined the Cavalry. And it wasn’t anything that serious.”

Strictly speaking, it was true that he’d had such times before joining in this life, so it wasn’t an outright lie.

‘That should be enough explanation now.’

Surprisingly, it wasn’t. The Emperor and Empress’s expressions only grew darker.

“Before you joined… Then… I see. So it was because I failed to properly govern the Empire that the suffering of our people was to that degree……”

“Please don’t say that. If we’re to count faults, I was acting Empress and yet failed to comport myself properly in anything—my fault is far greater……”

“……”

Good grief. Stifling a stunned breath, Yuder pictured the one person desperately needed in a situation like this.

‘If only Kishiar were here.’

He sorely needed the man’s ability to respond superbly anywhere, anytime. Yuder explained several times, emphasizing as much as possible that he simply belonged to the class of Awakeners not bound by appetite and that he was a perfectly ordinary person, and that there was truly not a single thing for them to worry about.

“In short, I think it best to understand me as having a constitution similar to a swordmaster’s. You know that knights who have reached a certain realm can go days without eating or sleeping and not suffer greatly thanks to the aura within. My body is closer to that. Of course, as for sleep, I require a bit more than a swordmaster……”

Only then did the Emperor and Empress say they understood. The mood finally eased a little, and the topic moved on.

‘I will never make a mistake like that again.’

Yuder explained other traits of Awakeners in ways anyone could readily grasp. Careful not to blunder and blurt out knowledge that would only be revealed in the future, he tried to blend what he had personally witnessed, leaving himself out of it.

“In general, Awakeners recover better than non-Awakeners. They also endure severe injuries better. Put bluntly, their vitality is as tenacious as a decent monster’s; however, there are exceptions. I’ve seen some who were absurdly weak, so it’s important to understand your own limits in advance.”

“I didn’t know that. I’ve never fought directly.”

Emperor Keillusa murmured, taking exemplary notes.

“Also, the aftereffects of overload from overusing one’s ability differ by person. Sensory abnormalities and pain, bleeding, and the like—such as Your Majesty mentioned—are the most common sequelae. In the case of those with body-transformation abilities, it’s common to lose control of the change; if they reach the point of running amok, they may lose control forever.”

Yuder shared several cases he’d observed in the South this time. The Empress’s eyes grew a little moist.

“The aftereffects of ability overload are °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° far more dangerous and frightening than I imagined. To think they faced monsters and risked their lives knowing such pain would descend……”

“Yes. Which is why, as just said, it’s easier to respond if you know your limits beforehand so it never reaches that level. In the Cavalry, we make members accurately perceive their limits step by step through training from the very first session, so please don’t worry.”

For reference, Yuder had done the same with Emperor Keillusa’s training. The reason he knew well what symptoms appeared when the Emperor used his ability a lot owed greatly to that experience.

The Emperor’s hand paused, as if recalling that time. His gaze behind the glasses turned faint. Only the Empress—who knew his mood—posed a new, earnest question.

“In that case, Yuder, I want to ask: if a non-Awakener witnesses nearby Awakeners showing overload symptoms, or nearing a rampage—what do you think is the best way to respond?”

“Overload symptoms can become a rampage at any time. You must avoid approaching at all costs and call the Cavalry.”

“There will be situations where that’s not feasible. Is there truly nothing a non-Awakener can do? Even something very small… I truly wish to hear it.”

This was clearly a question born of concern for the Emperor. Emperor Keillusa looked silently at his wife. His face was cool, as if to say she shouldn’t ask such things, but in the end, as if understanding her heart, he said nothing. An affection he could not hide flickered across his face for an instant and vanished.

Watching the Empress—who looked at his lips as if not to miss a single word—Yuder organized his thoughts, then spoke.

“At times, some Awakeners keep using their abilities even knowing that if they continue, they will inevitably be hurt. The reasons vary… What matters is whether there is someone to stop them just before they are hurt.”

In Yuder’s view, Emperor Keillusa belonged to that type. In his case, it was because the awakened ability was too useful.

An ability to see and hear through objects he touched—who wouldn’t have trouble resisting the urge to use it all day? Understanding the Emperor’s mind and position, Yuder had trained him in ways to use his ability as efficiently as possible. The Emperor had followed that training well, and thus achieved dazzling progress in a short time.

But it could not always be managed so well. When it wasn’t, someone was needed to rein in that desire.

In that respect, the Empress was the finest bridle.

“To judge the situation objectively and stop them before the vision of an Awakener intoxicated by their ability narrows into the wrong choice—anyone can do that, and yet it’s also the hardest thing. That is what I think a ‘non-Awakener can do.’”

“I see. Stopping it in advance so there’s no overexertion… Yes. That much, a non-Awakener can certainly do. In fact, I’ve been worried because lately His Majesty has often gone blank mid-conversation—this is good to hear.”

The Empress smiled. She seemed satisfied with Yuder’s answer. By contrast, the Emperor let out a small sigh.

“So that’s why you haven’t forcibly restrained my use of power till now. You knew all too well who held my leash.”

Truly Kishiar’s brother—he grasped precisely the effect Yuder sought through the Empress.

Yuder didn’t bother to answer that and continued the lesson.

It could have been tedious, yet the Emperor and Empress never once took their eyes away and concentrated with diligence. They asked questions actively too, and at times it turned into something like a discussion. Even for Yuder, who had ample experience training Cavalry members, it was a rather new feeling.

Kishiar had once said that Emperor Keillusa loved books in his prince days. Indeed, the Emperor received new knowledge with a scholar’s attitude—comparing it to what he knew, analyzing using the experience he had accumulated on the throne, and freely questioning Yuder’s opinions. From it, one could clearly feel what he must have been like in his youth.

The Empress was not as erudite as the Emperor, but she accepted anything without reserve, considered in many ways what a non-Awakener could do for Awakeners, and listened to Yuder’s opinions with deep consideration. Hearing her warm, delicate questions, Yuder could understand why the Emperor loved her so dearly.

They were truly excellent students.

Unawares, he became sincerely absorbed, and as they talked, time slipped by. A knock sounded from outside.

‘Ah. Already……’

“…We will end here for today.”

When Yuder bowed with proper courtesy, the Emperor and Empress regretfully gathered their writing tools.

“We were just about to hear about the Second Star. A pity.”

“I’ll tell you in the next lesson.”

“Your ability to make us look forward to the next is truly superb.”

Emperor Keillusa rose. Yuder thought he would summon the chamberlain at once, but instead, the Emperor looked at him with a smile whose meaning Yuder couldn’t quite read.

“Today I see your talents are not only for combat. Even had you become an administrator or a scholar, you would have been a great asset to the Empire. It was enjoyable to see a different side from when we train your ability.”

“You flatter me.”

“It’s not flattery. In fact, I’m almost angry at Kishiar.”

“Pardon?”