As the furnace crackled and blazed, Yuder's once-hazy mind gradually cleared.

Lifting his sweat-soaked eyelids, Yuder took a deep breath, exhaling the remnants of lingering pleasure that still resided in the pit of his stomach. While this didn't completely remove the sensation from his lower half, it definitely subdued the heat to some extent.

"Aren't you thirsty?"

The man embracing Yuder while they lay face to face softly asked.

"...Yes."

As he replied, a wave of tension unconsciously traveled down to his lower body. Concurrently, a snug and tingling sensation coursed from the point where they remained connected. Their hastily discarded clothes lay in a heap, thrown aside after what felt like at least three rounds, but the object between his legs felt as unyielding as evernever once losing its vitality.

The moment he felt that sensation, his inner lips grew moist again and some part deep within him tingled with greedy yearning. His body, which had so passionately quenched its thirst only moments ago, still seemed insatiable, despite his muscles feeling lax now.

Recognizing that Yuder was experiencing this, Kishiar began to gently move while holding him closer. It wasn't an intense movement that would make everything soaked like before; it was a leisurely motion, just enough to scratch where it itched.

"Ah"

Swaying his hips to match the movement, Yuder thought about how much his body seemed to have changed in just a few days. The sensation was overwhelming the first time, but each subsequent experience seemed to become denser.

At first, the immense emotions and sensations felt overwhelming to the point that everything else became secondary. Now, however, he was growing accustomed to this peculiar internal sensation. His acceptance also deepened, so much so that they had been deeply connected earlier.

But now, every motion was gentle, making the sensations smoother and calmer. It felt as if he was submerged in comfortably warm water, a pleasant feeling that stimulated his lower body and back in a rhythmic pattern before fading away.

He felt like he could easily drift off to sleep in this state.

"Soon the vacation will be over," came the voice from above him.

Yuder lifted his head. Kishiar playfully penetrated deeper as he spoke.

"For the first time in my life, I dread the end of a holiday. Even more so because I know our time for this will lessen once we return to our daily lives."

""

Yuder felt no different. He had never lamented the end of a vacation or holiday in his previous life, but hearing those words now filled him with an odd sense of regret.

"After the vacation ends, this place will become chaotic again. We'll have to deal with matters we've temporarily put off, and moreover"

Pausing briefly, Kishiar finally spoke as he lowered his hips slowly.

"We'll find out how far we can go with this new key of change we hold. Are you okay with that?"

The key of change. Its meaning was clear, without needing to be questioned.

Kishiar was signaling to Yuder his intention to carry out the very reason he had told the Emperor he had no plans to suppress the rumorspeople still knew nothing about the Awakeners, and even less about those who had manifested second gender.

It was a ridiculous affair, but after the trial notes of Bertrail Shand Apeto's horrifying experiments had been widely disseminated, the public's awareness of individuals with second gender had somewhat increased compared to their past lives. However, that was all it amounted to.

Those who had manifested their second gender had long been treated like a thorn in the public's side, even in his previous life. The heat cycles they experienced, the changes in their scent, and even the objects of their affection were all difficult to reveal naturally. Within the Cavalry, where many individuals with second gender were present, such traits were accepted more openly; but outside, it was a different story altogether. Even Yuder's power could not easily change this.

Yet, there was still an opportunity to enact change in this regard. The best way was for influential individuals to openly reveal themselves and inform the public about their natures.

And Kishiar La Orr had resolved to do precisely that.

Ridiculously risky, he thought.

No one who cared about Kishiar would welcome this. Even his fellow Cavalry comrades might not.

The pretend relationships in the West had been enjoyable because everyone knew they were false. But if this became a reality, everyone would be disconcerted. Now he had to face not only the entire Empire but also the whole continent.

Still, for the sake of future Awakeners, someone had to do it, now or later.

"Like I've said before, I'm okay with it," Kishiar finally spoke.

"Even though this could be our last chance to keep this relationship just between us?"

"I never wished for that in the first place. I don't mind if you announce it to the entire Cavalry right after the vacation ends. After all, I've promised to follow you wherever you go... Hmph."

His speech broke off suddenly as a wave of pleasure swelled within him.

Pausing for a moment to catch his breath, Kishiar shifted his position, lifting one of his legs and placing it below his knee, supported by his arm. Like Yuder, his eyes, which had lost their laughter in an effort to control his pleasure, laid bare his true emotions.

"Sorry to interrupt, but could you focus a bit here?"

As the space between his legs widened, the penetration deepened instantly, making his nape tingle.

'Ah...'

Yuder tensed his abdomen involuntarily as his head leaned back. Breathless due to the extreme depth, he felt an unparalleled pleasure.

He moved reflexively like a nimble hunter, chasing that path of pleasure ruthlessly. As his hand slipped from Kishiar's shoulder and grazed his chest, the sound of damp skin parting accelerated. Lips that repeatedly tasted his collarbone and chest area heated up the corners of his eyes. Unconsciously, a moan escaped his lips.

Soon, a large hand grabbed Yuder's sensitive part, rubbing it firmly until all thought ceased.

In the end, greedy to the last sensation, the space between his legs became wet once again shortly after.

"..."

Pleasure spread like water between the intermittently trembling connected parts, dripping down. After several such experiences, it became difficult to determine which stimulationfront or backwas greater.

He was so breathless that he couldn't speak, yet even so, he didn't want to lose sight of the man in front of him.

Yuder felt the strong fragrance emanating from Kishiar's body as he embraced him tightly, without the slightest gap between them. The manly scent enveloped him, intertwining deeply with Yuder's own aroma. The two scents had been blending for so long that they had long lost their original distinctiveness.

Despite being wrapped in a scent that was now a tangle of the two, Yuder didn't find it unpleasant.

It simply felt natural, as though they were always meant to be mixed together like this.

---

"Ah I wish we could rest for just one more week."

"You're modest. I'd go for a whole month."

The week-long vacation granted by the Emperor and the Cavalry Commander had finally come to an end. The members, who had gathered at the training ground for the first time in a while, were warming up, shaking off the remnants of their days off.

Among them, several members wishing for additional days off showed their faces, still clearly bearing the effects of a week soaked in alcohol. Beside them, a young man with clear, shining eyes cheerfully shouted.

"We absolutely cannot take more time off! I've been dying to train!"

"You say that because you're young and full of energy."

"Yeah, I felt the same when I was your age"

"Who was it that said they wanted to rest more? Who?"

Yuder!

The member who had been about to speak, quickly closed his mouth when he heard the question from Yuder, whose head suddenly popped up. With a face colder than a mid-winter wind, Yuder seemed unchanged, as if he had not been on vacation at all.

'If anyone shows reluctance in the upcoming training, it'll be intensified at least threefold.'

As if they read the warning in Yuder's dark eyes, the members suddenly sprang up and started running.

The only one who seemed pleased to see Yuder was the young man, Jimmy.

"Yuder! Where were you the entire vacation? I went to look for you in your room several times but you weren't there, so we just had fun amongst ourselves!"

"Sorry. I had some matters to attend to."

"What matters? You should've taken me with you."

"Um it wasn't the kind of thing to involve others in."

While the boy tilted his head in confusion, not grasping the hidden meaning in Yuder's words, other colleagues who were close to Yuder appeared. There was Gakane, who looked like a withered rose possibly due to a hangover; Steiber, whose complexion seemed bright, suggesting he had a pleasant time with family; and also Ever and Kanna, who greeted Yuder in unison.

"Yuder! Did you have a good rest?"

"Uh, Yuder. Oh, hello."

Unlike the cheerful greeting from Ever, Kanna seemed to have trouble meeting Yuder's eyes. Jimmy looked puzzled as he watched Kanna hurry away, hobbling awkwardly.

"Why did Kanna act like that? Is she unwell?"

"Who knows"

"Gosh, its not the manifestation of second gender, is it?"

"That's unlikely. If she keeps acting like this, I'll go ask her later. Dont worry."

"Alright"

"Thank you, everyone, for assembling so promptly."

Just then, Kishiar made his appearance and began speaking, drawing the attention of all the members. Jimmy and Yuder's conversation came to an abrupt halt.

"Did everyone have a good vacation?"

"Yes!"

"I see some faces that seem like they wanted more time off."

"Heh heh heh"

An awkward laughter rippled through the ranks of the Cavalry members.

Check out the new project:

Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Graduate student Yi-han finds himself reborn in another world as the youngest child of a mage family.

Im never attending school, ever again!

What do you wish to achieve in life?

I wish to play around and live comforta-

You must be aware of your talent. Now go attend Einroguard!

Patriarch!

My future would be guaranteed once I graduate. For my future!