Chapter 125
At once, the ladies of the royal family, including Delaina, all pulled out their opera glasses. Though the magical power verification ceremony was a rare event, they were always closely connected to the Ministry of Magic. Every important occasion, they had watched great wizards like Wesley with eager eyes…
“Look at that.”
“This is unbelievable. So beautiful.”
“It’s the true light of prophecy!”
They all forgot their composure, mouths half-open, unable to look away from Ian’s hand gestures. With each graceful arc of his right hand, light poured forth like a blessing, filling the space around them.
“…Truly divine.”
Delaina murmured without realizing it. Everyone there could feel it—this was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, a vision they would never see again. They were witnessing a genuine miracle.
Swoosh!
Ian calmly continued weaving the prophetic light. It spilled over the stage, reaching the nobles’ feet, and seemed poised to engulf the entire palace.
Thud! Thump!
“Recoretio!”
At that moment, the palace orchestra’s conductor, who had frozen in surprise, snapped back to attention, flicking his baton sharply. The pianist’s fingers instinctively pressed the keys, resuming the music, while the cellist and violinist quickly joined in.
It was hard to tell whether the music was riding the waves of Ian’s magic or if the magic was responding to the music’s notes.
Whoosh!
Boom! Thud!
“Reco-re-tio!”
The conductor, stirred by the visual spectacle, led the orchestra with more passion than usual. The musicians, intoxicated by the rare thrill, felt their minds grow dizzy with delight. The banquet hall seemed to embody the very essence of a “perfectly beautiful moment.”
“Oh my!”
“This is impossible.”
“Is this magic? Incredible, truly incredible!”
The nobles reached out toward the magic flowing between them, some stepping lightly aside, others turning their heads as if in a trance. As the music swelled, deep blushes spread across their faces.
“Your Majesty, can you see well?”
“Hmm…”
Delaina suddenly snapped back to reality and held up the opera glasses for the emperor. He seemed to struggle to see clearly, murmuring quietly without much reaction. Delaina glanced sideways at the princes beside him.
“Hah.”
Marib’s reaction was no different from the nobles below. He rested his hands on the railing, unable to tear his eyes away from the prophetic light and its beauty. But Gale…
‘…Wesley.’
Her gaze was fixed on Wesley, standing beside Ian, looking flustered. Delaina lightly shielded her face with a fan, sneaking glances at Gale.
‘Why does he look at his lover with such intensity?’
Though she was the emperor’s wife, Delaina often found Gale’s fierce demeanor unsettling. Sometimes she worried his sharp temper might even harm her own sons.
“Mother.”
“Hmm?”
At that moment, the fifth prince, Jin, sitting behind on the opposite side, gently tugged her arm. His silver hair shimmered pure white in the magical light of the banquet hall.
“I can’t see Arsen’s opera glasses clearly.”
Delaina glanced back. The fourth prince, Arsen, was using Jin’s glasses to observe the first floor. She smiled, lightly stroking Jin’s hair.
“I see. You’ve let Arsen have them. How kind.”
Then she turned back to focus on assisting the emperor. Though she hadn’t meant to say it, she ended the conversation by praising her younger son Jin’s sacrifice, as usual.
“That Ian fellow is truly remarkable.”
While Arsen kept murmuring in awe, Jin stared blankly into space, as if lost in another world.
Meanwhile, Ian felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back. Releasing magic was like unleashing all the energy in his body. Slowly, he reined in his power and glanced at Wesley.
“Thi—”
The confused expression on Wesley’s face was oddly endearing—bewildered and embarrassed, raw and unfiltered. Ian brushed his damp hair back and smiled gently, as if to say, “Isn’t this enough?”
Swish.
Ian lifted his hand from the surface of the light, steadying the prophetic glow. The magic faded, leaving behind a misty trace like a slowly vanishing fog. Seeing this, the conductor matched the tempo and gradually brought the music to a close.
Boom!
As the pianist struck the keys with passion, Ian led the crowd in a chant.
“For the glory of Bariel.”
“For the glory of Bariel!”
Placing his hand over his heart in salute, Ian was met with enthusiastic cheers and applause from the nobles. Their welcome was surprisingly warm for such highborn guests—far more heartfelt than the polite encouragement Wesley had orchestrated earlier.
Clap clap clap!
Ian approached Wesley and extended his hand. Wesley bit her lip, barely restraining the urge to grab Ian by the collar and demand how he had undone the magic circle’s spell. But…
“…Ian Hielo, Viscount. That was truly magnificent magic.”
What could she do? Everyone in the banquet hall, including the emperor, was watching them. She offered her hand back.
“I’ll be waiting for your application to join the Ministry of Magic.”
Ian kissed the back of her hand and descended the stage without hesitation. As soon as he stepped down, young nobles swarmed around him, unable to hide their excitement.
“Viscount Hielo, that was an incredible illusion!”
“Let’s shake hands first, okay? You’re not officially a wizard yet, right?”
“You only become a wizard once you’re assigned to a department. By the way, where will you join? With that power, you could pick any.”
“Let’s make a bet! The Magic Support Department is the best—I’m betting on that! Ian Hielo, let’s meet often from now on.”
“Ha! If this keeps up, you’ll be the first noble wizard ever!”
The praise poured in like a thunderstorm. Ian just smiled and accepted their cheers. But as the crowd pressed in, making it impossible to move, he looked around awkwardly.
“Viscount Ian Hielo, there’s a message for you.”
From the crowd came a familiar voice—Romandro. Ian seized the chance and nodded politely.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Oh! You’ll be back soon, then!”
Holding a wine glass high, Ian pushed through the crowd. The raised glass was a clear sign to keep distance. Thanks to that, they met dramatically, and Romandro quickly cleared a path to lead him outside. Ian took a breath and sipped the wine, quenching his thirst.
“Romandro, your timing is perfect.”
“Ian, my friend! sniff”
“Haha, are you crying?”
“Wow, I’ve never seen anything so magnificent in my life. Our Viviana should have seen it too—truly amazing!”
Romandro shook his fist in disbelief. When Ian looked for a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, Romandro offered his own.
“Oh, thank you.”
“By the way, did you know?”
“Know what?”
“You’ve become the Bariel Empire’s first noble wizard! This will go down in history! Congratulations!”
The title of first noble wizard felt natural to Ian. It had been the same in his previous life—and it was what eventually put him on the throne.
“…I see.”
“Huh? Why such a muted reaction?”
“It just doesn’t feel real yet.”
“The timing couldn’t be better. Without the New Year’s ceremony, it would have been a shame.”
Many wizards had been recognized for their magical abilities and appointed to court marquis or received titles for their achievements, but Ian was the first to enter the Ministry already a noble.
‘Of course, even a hundred years from now, I’ll still be the first.’
First once, and first again.
Ian smiled faintly at the strange feeling, and Romandro awkwardly scratched his beard.
“Did I get too excited?”
“Not at all. I’m grateful you’re so happy. By the way, where’s Beric?”
“Huh? Beric?”
They stared at each other blankly. An awkward silence hung between them. Romandro assumed Beric was with Ian since he had taken him along, while Ian thought Beric was with Romandro since he had left before the ceremony.
“Th-this is maddening.”
Romandro muttered, his teeth chattering in fear. The thought of that reckless lunatic wandering alone among such esteemed guests was terrifying.
“Quick, quick, let’s find him—!”
“Ian~!”
Just as Romandro tried to rush back into the banquet hall, Beric came bounding down the opposite corridor with light steps. Maybe he’d snagged some wine along the way—his face was unusually flushed.
“I’m right here!”
“You idiot, where do you think you’re wandering off alone?”
“Eh? I did it because I wanted to.”
“Did you cause any trouble? And what’s with your finger?”
“This? It’s the cost of a week’s worth of meat side dishes.”
Romandro, utterly confused, fidgeted nervously, worried Beric’s injury might be from some accident. Beric boldly held out his index finger to Ian, as if daring him to remember.
Snap!
“So this is what it means to earn your keep? Not bad at all.”
“With meat as a side dish, I won’t forget this. Where were you?”
“They took me through the passage where the Oracle’s light shone. I waited there until it was all over. And you know what? I saw something really entertaining.”
“Entertaining?”
Illusion must have been in the back corridor, so he probably didn’t see it. At Ian’s question, Berrick rolled his eyes dramatically and mimicked a shrill female voice. With the drinks flowing, his performance was surprisingly natural.
“Everyone who drew those magic circles, come out! I don’t know how you managed this! Blah blah, this and that! I want to die!”
“…Could it be he’s imitating Minister Wesley?”
“Ha! Exactly! He was rounding up his subordinates like catching rats. Even watching from hiding, it made my spine tingle.”
“That’s not like him at all.”
“Really? Want me to try again?”
Romandro quickly glanced around and clamped a hand over Berrick’s mouth just in time, while Ian fell silent, lost in thought. Judging by the handwriting on the Oracle’s light magic circle, it was clear multiple mages had collaborated on it.
‘I thought Wesley might have secretly tampered with it, but apparently not. Seems like more people than I expected are aware something’s off with the magic circle.’
But Nakina, earlier, had clearly intended to help Ian. If she’d known the magic circle itself was flawed, she wouldn’t have acted that way.
‘This means there are factions even within the Ministry of Magic.’
There are those departments Wesley leads directly, taking charge of operations, and then those who belong but are sidelined. Well, political factions exist in every department.
‘Right. If I hadn’t been Naum, I probably wouldn’t have adapted when I first joined the Ministry.’
Ian’s thoughts spiraled back over a hundred years, to a moment when Romandro and Berrick were bickering noisily.
“Viscount Ian Hielo.”
The emperor’s chamberlain called out, bowing low. Ian knew exactly what this meant.
“Please spare a moment. I will escort you to the second floor.”
He was being granted the honor of a close audience with the emperor and members of the royal family. This implied Ian’s magical power had left a strong impression on them. Ian handed his empty wine glass to Berrick and nodded in acknowledgment.