Turning

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Side Story

<The Day Before It Began>

"In that case, I will follow after taking care of things here. Sir Aile, please go ahead."

When Nathan Zuckerman uttered these words, he was seized by an unusual sentiment.

Such a statement would have been unthinkable for him in the past.

Currently, in a critical situation where his sole lord and master, the one and only object of his loyalty, might be in danger, it was unthinkable to send someone else ahead while staying behind. To those who knew Nathan Zuckerman, it would have been obvious.

However, these words were not spoken impulsively. They were infused with clear rational judgment, trust, and an unspoken intention.

Would the black-haired man before him understand the weight and meaning behind Nathan Zuckerman's words? Nathan quickly dismissed such thoughts as unnecessary.

The man in question, Yuder Aile, who had never once shown surprise or dismay in the face of enemies, hesitated for the first time.

Finally, Yuder Aile cautiously, yet deliberately, met Nathan Zuckerman's gaze and asked, "Is that alright?"

This question was not born of a lack of confidence in his position or out of concern for Nathan Zuckerman's feelings.

The expression fleeting across his slightly dirtied pale face seemed to understand more about the significance and incredibility of Nathan Zuckerman's statement than Nathan himself.

The question was possible because of their mutual understanding and the values they both held dear, encapsulating a strange yet profound respect and trust.

The man before him understood the elements that Nathan Zuckerman valued to an almost unbelievable extent.

At that moment, Nathan Zuckerman managed to completely resolve the unusual sentiment he had felt. His gaze, regaining its usual calmness, rested on Yuder Aile's face.

"You possess the power to move faster than me, don't you? And if it's related to the Cavalry, it would be better if Sir Aile goes."

It was a purely rational judgment. No matter how far Nathan Zuckerman's physical abilities and swordsmanship surpassed those of ordinary men, it was difficult to move faster than someone who could leap upon the wind and cross the skies. Moreover, in terms of skill, Yuder was one of the few in the world whom even a swordmaster like Nathan Zuckerman could not easily confront.

‘And furthermore…’

Though unspoken, both men were aware of another reason.

The relationship between Kishiar La Orr and Yuder Aile.

Nathan Zuckerman's only lord held the black-haired man before him in the highest regard, more than anything in the world. Who else could understand what that meant as well as Nathan Zuckerman?

He remembered a scene he had witnessed recently during Yuder Aile's unexpected heat period. His lord had held Yuder, growling like a beast deprived of its senses, tenderly yet securely, sitting quietly in the darkness of a rocky crevice, ensuring no harm came to him.

The look in his eyes, filled with gentle reassurance yet unmistakable sorrow.

Without saying a word, his inability to take his eyes off Yuder clearly revealed to Nathan Zuckerman what Yuder meant to Kishiar.

Yuder Aile had become, was, and would continue to be Kishiar's only exception.

However, it was crucial that this was not just a one-sided feeling on Kishiar's part. To Yuder Aile, Kishiar was also the only one. The attitude Yuder displayed during his heat period, fiercely desiring Kishiar in his delirious state, was not something that sprung from nowhere. Beneath his seemingly calm and cool demeanor, Nathan Zuckerman had always glimpsed a similar flame flickering in his wild eyes.

That intense, raw flame, never shown to others, even made Nathan hesitate briefly when he caught a glimpse of it. His lord had accepted it with great joy.

Something unimaginable from their usual demeanor naturally flowed between them when together. Despite knowing each other for less than a year, the depth and breadth of their relationship felt as vast and unfathomable as an ocean, often surprising Nathan with its intensity.

“…Understood.”

In the silence, Yuder, who had been intently looking at Nathan, slowly nodded his head. It was not a mere acknowledgment but a clear gesture of gratitude for Nathan's decision.

"I'll follow shortly."

Someone had to stay behind to handle the aftermath here. Given his experience, Nathan's choice was undoubtedly the best.

Nathan Zuckerman watched quietly as Yuder swiftly disappeared, stepping into the wind. His thoughts drifted back to his time in Peletta, specifically to the time when Kishiar faced constant threats of death.

“Nathan. Repel everyone inside the castle and get out. That's an order.”

The day had begun under an ominous sky. Dark clouds shrouded the heavens, and an unusually sticky breeze pressed unpleasantly against the skin. The terrible pain from a recently cracked vessel had worsened, and Kishiar, lying in bed, looked so haggard it was difficult to bear seeing his eyes open.

His eyes, bloodshot from days of sleeplessness, were deeply sunken. His face, so thin that not a hint of flesh seemed left, was shrouded in an unmistakable shadow of death. The smell of rotten blood, which he had been coughing up for days, clung to his body, refusing to dissipate no matter what.

Struggling to maintain his sanity amidst the chaos, Kishiar’s famed beauty still shone through, eerily reminiscent of a candle flickering before it extinguishes.

With great effort, Kishiar shifted his shadow-draped eyes to look at Nathan Zuckerman, gasping for breath. Between his labored breaths, the sound of boiling blood could be heard.

“Go out... as I mentioned before. Cough... Cough.”

“Your Grace.”

“...Go! It seems it will start soon…”

As he spoke, blood burst from his nose and eyes, a sign of worsening condition. Kishiar stopped Nathan Zuckerman from approaching with an outstretched hand and then coughed violently for a long time. It was a struggle to swallow the screams of agony and meet his end with some semblance of humanity.

Nathan Zuckerman had never once disobeyed his orders immediately. But that time, for the first time, he hesitated to follow the command.

However, Kishiar, as if reading the reason for his hesitation, raised his head and shouted clearly.

“Why are you still here? ...Your last duty isn’t to stay by my side! No need to answer. Go!”

Confronted with Kishiar's unmistakably disappointed gaze, Nathan Zuckerman clenched his teeth and turned away. He realized it was time to accept that he could no longer do anything for his lord.

Kishiar had wanted to be alone at the moment of his death. Knowing the cases of previous imperial family members who had walked a similar path, the stronger the inherent power, the more horrific and intense the backlash at the end. Nathan knew that if Kishiar's vessel, strong and diverse in power, were to break completely, it could potentially bring down the entirety of Peletta Castle.

Therefore, he had previously instructed Nathan Zuckerman on what needed to be done when the time came. Nathan Zuckerman gathered the few who remained in the castle and led them outside. Afterward, he had to evacuate those gathered outside the castle gates, worried about the Duke, and prepare the knights to guard against any unforeseen aftermath.

"Please leave. The Duke has given his orders."

"Ah..."

The only ones left in the castle were essential servants, a few Peletta Knights, and a handful of retainers. They were fiercely loyal to Kishiar but remained unaware of the true reason behind their young Duke's prolonged suffering and imminent death. They vaguely assumed it to be an incurable and dangerous illness.

Kishiar had prearranged for those remaining in the castle to leave the moment his orders were given, preparing for his death. Most cooperated, but that did not mean they fully understood the situation.

“It’s unthinkable that no one can be with the Duke at his deathbed…”

Despite being prepared, when the moment arrived, none could move calmly. Only one person among them understood the cause and consequence of this situation: Hellem, the mage who had been with Kishiar since he came to Peletta. She sighed, "So it has come to this..." and helped Nathan Zuckerman with a calm demeanor. Without her, the process would have taken much longer.

The loyal knight, unmoved by the others' questions or grief, solemnly closed the castle gate and looked up at the ashen sky.

The dark clouds, now heavier, occasionally flashed with lightning, casting an ominous, blood-red light. This sight deepened the people's sense of dread and sorrow. Only a terrible silence interspersed with muffled sobs filled the air. Yet no one dared to suggest re-entering the castle.

The reason was simple: it was against Kishiar's wishes.

Nathan Zuckerman, amidst a storm of pain, silently gazed at Peletta Castle.

Kishiar La Orr, to the very end, made a choice true to himself – to protect others, to die in a somewhat humane manner, and be remembered as such.

In such circumstances, who could have reversed the lord's decision and entered the castle? Even if Kishiar himself would have accepted it, would he really?

Even if the Emperor and Empress had been there, they wouldn't have opened the castle gates.

But what about Yuder Aile?

If he had been in the same situation, could he have opened the gates?

Nathan Zuckerman, watching the small figure of Yuder Aile disappearing into the distance, quietly answered himself.

'He would have.'

Yuder would have opened the gates without a second thought. This was a judgment close to certainty, formed from the time he spent observing Yuder Aile.

That's why Nathan Zuckerman had chosen to yield. And after finishing his tasks here, he planned to follow and see once more how right his judgment had been.

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[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'

[BL] Bermuda

Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.

Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.

"Since when have you been watching me?"

Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.

"From the very beginning."

[BL] The Mist (Same author as Turning)

In the autumn of his 18th year, after winning the high school kendo championship finals, an unexpected accident occurred.

Due to that incident, Kang Mu-heon lost one of his legs, his closest friend, and his promising future. He closed off his heart and shut himself away alone.

A few years later, the world's first real virtual reality game <THE MIST> was announced, where even those with physical disabilities could play in healthy bodies.

By chance, Kang Mu-heon encountered it and began a new life as the mage Kapros, facing unexpected meetings, reunions, and days of change....

***

"Why was someone like you born into this world to make me so miserable? Do you understand when I say it like this?! You were born with talent for the sword, a bright personality, everything - you must have been laughing at me always lagging behind! Did you even know how pathetic I felt because of your stupid hypocrisy? A genius? What does any of that matter!"

Seung-jo's cries stabbed at his heart, wailing as if he were crying even though he wasn't, but there was no time to think further. He quickly clutched my stomach, got up, and ran towards him.

He looked surprised for a moment, but he was desperate.

Just as the car was about to reach us, he shoved Seung-jo hard. Right after Seung-jo fell and rolled away with wide, startled eyes—

Screech!

Bang! With an impact that felt like his whole body was being shattered, he flew through the air.

And in that brief yet long moment of floating in space, he remembered his reflection in Seung-jo's eyes for the last time.......

***

[ Then in THE MIST, may you become the master of infinite possibilities. ]

Whoosh!

When his vision returned after everything went white, he was standing in the middle of a bustling town. Amidst the clamor, countless people were busily going about their business here and there.

He looked down at himself, standing dazed and wearing clothes of unknown origin. When he touched the sleeve, he felt the texture of fabric as real as reality. His hair felt the same, and even when he touched the wall of a nearby house, he could clearly feel the solid, cold surface.

Is this... VT?

It seemed like a joke. It truly felt as if he had come to another world and was touching everything.

As he stood there unable to think due to the shock, he suddenly remembered the biggest reason he had decided to play this game, and snapped back to attention. His two legs were still as they had been when he first stood.

'Can I really walk?'

He first stepped out with his left foot, then very slowly put strength into his heavy right foot. It felt like cold sweat was running down his spine.

And then,

He lifted it,

Moved it,

And took another step to touch the ground again.

So easily. As if there had never been any problem with this leg from the beginning.

"Ah..."

At that moment, something that was neither joy nor emotion shot up his spine. Suddenly feeling a lump in his throat, he lowered his head and leaned against the wall. His right foot, bearing his weight, was doing its job perfectly.

"..."

Holding back the tightness in his throat, he took another step.

It didn't hurt. It wasn't heavy. His leg was no longer a useless piece of wood that ached.

Damn it, to be able to walk so easily like this.

To be able to run so easily like this.

He had wished even in his dreams for the day to come when he could walk and run like this again.

And so he walked again, kept walking, slowly getting faster, until finally he started running like a madman through the entire town.

***

"Kap. ...There seems to be a misunderstanding. That's not what I meant."

Just as he was thinking he should throw a punch, Yu-wan sighed with a troubled look and said.

A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding when he said with his own mouth that he didn't think of me as a friend?

"I didn't expect to receive such a question suddenly, so my explanation was probably too brief. Let me rephrase."

Yu-wan reached out his hand, his face completely changed from before - intense yet resolute - as he stared at him. As he didn't reject the hand suddenly approaching his face and kept his gaze fixed, his cool large hand touched his cheek completely.

A shiver ran down his spine at that moment.

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but I don't see you only as a friend. ...This is the complete answer."

Check out the new project 2:

[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'