al_squad
patreon
Turning Chapter 941
🕑 Added 2024-02-27 05:26:54 +0000 UTCChapter 941
Steiber swallowed once as he gazed into Yuder's eyes, then turned to address everyone.
"There's merit in what you say. However, wasn't there one more among us who felt something odd besides me?"
Silence followed.
"I'm not asking you to listen only to me despite other suspicious elements. Just this once, will you trust me and go down? There's definitely something below. If we find nothing this time, I promise I won't say another word."
The massive tremors they had felt undoubtedly originated from beneath the sea. Descending was dangerous, but it was a necessary course of action. Steiber emphasized this point, then raised his hand to his chest, spreading and then closing three fingers tightly.
Because of the occasion, he wasn't wearing his usual hat and uniform coat, but under normal circumstances, that area would bear buttons engraved with the logo of the Cavalry, a symbol of their organization. The three fingers he raised there were a simple hand signal symbolizing the three divisions of the Cavalry.
"We are the Cavalry."
The hand signal, filled with a heartfelt plea not to forget that they were about to face an unprecedented unknown, led the members to exchange glances.
"What should we do..."
Those unsure of their next move naturally looked towards Yuder, their reliable figure. Yuder nodded as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"I will follow."
One by one, other members of the Cavalry made up their minds.
"Alright. I will follow too."
"Me too."
Once everyone agreed to follow Steiber's suggestion, the next steps were taken swiftly. "Steiber, guide me from your side. I will move in the direction you indicate," Yuder said as he approached Steiber, invoking the power of water. The water touched by his power became momentarily gentler, significantly easing the pressure that even at its mildest felt suffocating. It was clear that Yuder had enveloped them all in his protective embrace.
"Understood."
Steiber pointed in the direction and they began swimming shoulder to shoulder.
During the descent, Steiber finally relaxed his expression, which he had been maintaining with effort, and glanced sideways at Yuder.
‘Ha, this is something.’
Had Yuder not spoken earlier, Steiber might not have been able to argue so strongly. The others' concerns were valid, and even Steiber had struggled to maintain confidence in himself. How could he have been so resolutely convincing?
‘What was I thinking, being so fearless... if I really sensed something wrong…’
Yet, strangely, his heart fluttered at the fact that Yuder, whom everyone relied on, had shown unconditional trust in Steiber's abilities, and he found himself clenching his lips tightly.
‘I thought I was past the age of being moved by someone taking my side…’
But how could he not be? Age was irrelevant when feeling such trust and wanting to reciprocate it.
Steiber decided to completely erase any concerns about being less experienced than others on his first mission from his mind. Now that Yuder, facing a difficult situation, had assumed the burden and responsibility with him, expressing trust, Steiber's failure would no longer be his alone.
‘This is my only chance. I can't let down our Commander’s assistant, who trusts me. This time... I will definitely find it.’
Steiber's eyes hardened with determination. In that moment of firm resolve, his power, always as gentle and calm as water, eagerly responded. A massive whirl of energy, several times more powerful than before, surged intensely around his body.
Those sensitive to energy could see the markedly increased strength of it, and Yuder, standing right beside him, observed with his golden eyes, shining clearly.
‘I'm glad Steiber understood my words well.’
In truth, Yuder wasn't feeling as burdened as Steiber might have thought. This was true even when Steiber sensed something that others, including Yuder, had not.
‘If monsters are involved, it's possible.’
Yuder had never been this deep in the sea in his previous life, but he had faced monsters that emerged from the water. The monsters from the Southern Earthquake, all adept at hiding their presence like dissolving into the water, were notoriously hard to detect with ordinary abilities.
And the one who had played a significant role in sensing and capturing those monsters was none other than Steiber Rendley, now beside him.
"He was remarkable."
Back then, Steiber was one of the few original members who had stayed with the Cavalry until the Southern Earthquake. However, he wasn't a Deputy Commander or a drinker like now, having declined Yuder's offer to become his Deputy Commander. After Kishiar's death, it was surprising enough that Steiber remained with the Cavalry, so Yuder didn't dwell much on his refusal.
Steiber, seemingly present and absent at the same time as a regular member, was dispatched to the South during the flood crisis caused by the Southern Earthquake. There, he exhibited exceptional prowess, aiding in rescuing cities and villages engulfed by giant waves and detecting and dealing with numerous monsters emerging from the sea.
Without him, it would have been difficult to mitigate the damage in the South to such an extent while Yuder was detained by the greedy nobles in the capital.
However, even with his remarkable aquatic abilities, as a regular member, Steiber faced limitations. This led to a rift between him and the members in charge of the Cavalry's southern branch, as well as the representatives sent from the capital. No matter how well-regarded Steiber was, he couldn't magically change the hearts of those who resented him for being an older, regular member, yet acting superior because he was a first-generation member.
Eventually, Steiber, leading only a few members, got severely injured protecting a junior member during a relief mission and had to retire.
It was a bitter realization that had he been with more members, he might have been injured but wouldn't have been forced into retirement due to the severity of his condition. The leader of the Cavalry's southern branch at the time, who had clashed with Steiber, added another line to the long list of traitors by fleeing with information before being held accountable.
Nevertheless, the tale of Steiber Rendley twisting a river to save people from the flood in the South remained a legendary anecdote for a long time.
‘I couldn't see for myself how Steiber performed back then. He was injured and in a coma just before I arrived in the South.’
Still, the reports and information about his actions were etched in Yuder's memory.
At that time, Steiber had detected numerous monsters that other water ability users had failed to sense. In his previous life, he had spent most of his time in the capital, missing opportunities to fully harness his abilities. Within the realm of water, Steiber's sensing abilities might have even surpassed Yuder's.
‘Even today, he was sensing something on his own. With such power…’
Yuder recalled the bizarre 'rift' he had seen in his dream and the disturbing beings that were crawling toward it frantically. If these beings were somehow related to monsters, he speculated that the earthquake expected to occur soon might also be connected to an abnormal crack or possibly related to monsters.
‘All I can do is hope that this situation proves my theory.’
Hoping so, Yuder had openly shared his weaknesses with Steiber and honestly asked for his help right before this mission. He only hoped that it would pay off now.
Soon, Steiber raised his hand, signaling them to stop. In the depths of the sea, where even their faces were barely visible to each other, Steiber carefully shaped his mouth to convey his message.
"Everyone, stay close and don't scatter. I'll exert my power first, and then it would be great if you could release your power from the same spot afterward."
"Understood."
Steiber exhaled sharply, releasing the power enveloping his body in all directions. To Yuder's golden eyes, it appeared as if a massive whirl was scattering instantly in the darkness.
The other members followed, exerting their power. Yuder also released his strength, while simultaneously wrapping them in a bit more protective power, ensuring their safety in their vulnerable state.
The sight of their powers merging and extending outward was awe-inspiring, yet for Yuder, the absence of any clear sensation only heightened his tension.
He watched Steiber, clenching his teeth and exerting power until his face turned red.
"Just a little more... a little more..."
As Steiber muttered, seemingly chasing something with the rapid movement of his water power, he suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked toward a certain direction.
"...Got it. Below!"
Suddenly, something writhed swiftly in the darkness beneath their feet.
Comments
C J
"Yuder had enveloped them all in his protective embrace." Yuder being a protective mother hen melts my heart like a marshmallow in smores over a cozy campfire🥹
Dani
Huh. Did not know that was a thing, but I learned something new today! Makes sense, though. I grew up on the Great Plains, and so the first time I saw the ocean I was 10 or 11. We walked to the beach at sunset and as we got close enough to it, I still couldn't see it because of the dunes but suddenly I could hear the roar of the waves and in that moment I had a total lizard-brain blind panic, fight or flight response and tried to bolt. My mom had to grab me and when she asked me what's wrong, I couldn't even put a name to the sudden, primal fear I felt in that split second. Still not a fan of deep water to this day, but I always just attributed it to the fact that I'm not a very strong swimmer.
Sarah Mooney
This part of the arc reads like a beginners guide to thalassophobia .... 😨 😱 💀!! NGL I've read the last three chapters with scrunched up eyes and gritted teeth 🤢☠️
