Episode 140

Ian had left, and Marib’s office was quiet. Just before dawn, his aide burst in, breathless, still unable to fix his disheveled hair.

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness, it’s Paar.”

“Come in.”

Unlike usual, Marib was perched by the window, his gaze fixed outside, as if searching for a path through the darkness.

“Ian Hielo, the Viscount, just stopped by.”

“Ah, yes.”

“He said Gale will be pushing Wesley out.”

“Excuse me?”

Had he misheard? Paar quickly rubbed his face, trying to shake off the sleep. Gale pushing Wesley out? That would be like cutting off his own wings.

“That can’t be right. Did Viscount Ian say that?”

“He said we’d know after next week’s personnel meeting. Hard to believe, but since he said it, there must be something behind it.”

Paar realized why Marib had summoned him so urgently. He was to find out what circumstances would force Gale to oust Wesley. Whatever it was, it would be Gale’s Achilles’ heel.

“Also, is there any way to get the Siltham potion?”

“It’s possible, but it will take time. Or, for the Siltham potion, perhaps Viscount Ian could—”

Marib had only seen the Siltham potion once, during a briefing about its commercialization. Some were still in development, and the Magic Department was cautious about revealing too much. Paar trailed off, letting out a small sigh.

“You’re thinking of using it on Viscount Ian.”

“No matter how I think about it, something feels off.”

It was strange. Even though Ian bowed his head, there was a feeling he looked at Marib as an equal. For example, none of Ian’s orders had been properly carried out—sending reinforcements to the Mana Stone Management Department, cutting off Luron stone supplies, and so on.

“There’s logic and reason behind it, so I let it slide, but it still bothers me.”

Like a chess piece on the board—there should be no will or ego—but every move felt like someone was whispering advice. Following it blindly would make him lose his own center and judgment.

“Pay close attention to Gale and Wesley’s movements. The personnel meeting is next week, so if they make a move, it’ll show quickly. Also, look into who, after Wesley, has the most contact with Gale within the Magic Department.”

That person was Gale’s chosen successor and second-in-command. Marib’s aide bowed deeply and acknowledged the order.

“Oh, and Your Highness, the Rutherford Trading Company sent word. They plan to pass through Havan and enter Bariel again before the year’s end. They seem to expect it between summer and autumn.”

“Rutherford? Has it been that long already?”

Marib removed his glasses and lightly rubbed the bridge of his nose. The company was an unofficial sponsor, longtime acquaintances, and alchemists.

“There was nothing else in the letter. No accompanying mana stones, so a reply might be difficult.”

With a swift motion, Paar handed Marib a small letter. It looked far too shabby to be a report sent to a prince.

“Do you think they found ‘it’?”

“Seems likely. If they hadn’t, they would have mentioned it. Very well. This is something to focus on in the second half of the year.”

Trading companies, by nature, buy, sell, and transport requested goods. Their return via Havan to central Bariel was proof they had fulfilled Marib’s request.

“They’ll pass through Havan, then Mereloff, just like before.”

Much time had passed. The lord of Mereloff was dead, and nearby Bratz had become part of Hielo’s territory. Marib smirked and tucked the letter away.

---

Ian and Romandro arrived at the mansion just as dawn was breaking. After quickly changing clothes, Ian headed back to the Magic Department, while Romandro returned to the administration to monitor the situation. As Ian stepped down from the carriage, Beric, who had been waiting, flung the door open roughly.

“Iaaaan!”

“You’re going to wake the whole neighborhood!”

Romandro covered his mouth with his fingers, but it was no use. Beric came running to a halt and scanned Ian from head to toe, noticing the bloodstains.

“What happened? Ian, are you okay?!”

“It’s fine. No need to make a fuss.”

“That’s not your blood, right? It’s the other guy’s?”

“It’s mine.”

“Damn it, why’d you come home all beaten up? What kind of bastard did this?!”

Lanterns lit up on the second floor. Mini and Viviana must have woken up from the commotion. Romandro frowned at Beric as if scolding him, then hurried inside. Ian did the same. Beric kept circling, trying to find Ian’s injuries.

“What kind of idiot did this to you? Don’t you need a doctor?”

“Oh my, Ian! Goodness!”

Mini, still in her pajamas, was stunned but quickly snapped out of it and went upstairs to prepare Ian’s clothes. Ian pushed away Beric, who was still shouting beside him.

“Our Viscount Ian Hielo! A viscount! A mage! A precious person like no other! Should we kill that bastard? Break every bone in his body?!”

“Enough. I won’t blame you for failing your guard duty, so stop it. You’re giving me a headache.”

“Ah, right. Heh heh.”

Beric scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He’d been passed out drunk when his master came home covered in blood, so he was trying to get ahead of the scolding. But aside from that, he was genuinely shocked and worried.

“But seriously, how did this happen? Does it hurt?”

“It’s a side effect of the magic potion. No pain, so it’s fine. By the way, where’s Hasha?”

She wasn’t around when they left earlier, and there was no sign of her now. Beric shrugged, scratching his ear. She must have just woken up when the carriage arrived, so no one knew where she was.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

Ian paused, unbuttoning his shirt. He’d heard Hasha had been going out more lately, but never this late. More importantly, Hasha was smart—she knew to hide from Wesley’s faction now that they were in the capital.

“Romandro! Mini!”

“Y-yes.”

Romandro, who had been greeting Viviana, hurried down, and Mini followed. Ian took the new clothes and asked,

“Mini, do you know where Hasha might have gone?”

“She’s been coming and going around the neighborhood.”

“Never this late before?”

“No. But sometimes she’d come home late, so I thought she’d do the same today. Hasn’t she come back yet?”

If something happened to Hasha now, it would be a disaster. She was the only surviving witness to the forbidden summoning magic. After meeting Gale and Marib, she’d lit the fuse, so soon she’d be called again.

The problem was, no one could say exactly when.

“Hasha’s missing?”

“Not missing exactly, but something seems wrong.”

“Oh no, this is driving me crazy!”

“At least we secured her testimony with the brooch, but it’s hard to accept as objective evidence. We should send people out as soon as possible.”

Mini suddenly gasped, covering her mouth. The brooch had just come to mind.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well…”

“Mini, there’s not much time.”

“The brooch. Hasha has it. It’s hanging on her necklace.”

She’d been recording fragments of the past, layering testimony over and over. Romandro frowned, troubled, but Ian’s expression brightened.

“Hasha went out wearing it?”

“Yes, probably. And since this is a high-end residential area for government officials, stray dogs get caught. She needs that kind of identification to move around.”

“Oh no, what if she went far beyond the neighborhood? That would make her an easy target.”

If a dog wore a flashy collar, it could attract thieves or thugs. Romandro clasped his cheeks, wailing, but Ian waved him off.

“Go get the leather bag.”

“The leather bag? Wait a minute!”

The brooch Dergah had fastened to Ian’s chest could record and track location. A compass made from the same type of mana stone as the brooch would roughly show Hasha’s position.

Click.

“How do we read this?”

“It’s a low-grade mana stone, so I don’t know the details either. We can only estimate direction and light intensity.”

The compass needle pointed north. The light was faint but still on, meaning she was quite far away.

“Beric.”

“Yeah?”

Snap!

Ian tossed the compass to Beric, who caught it reflexively but then recoiled in shock, as if he’d touched something forbidden. He threw it onto the sofa, understanding Ian’s unspoken command.

“You want me to go?”

“Exactly. Should I go instead?”

“The map doesn’t show the distance. How far are you planning to go?”

“At most, just inside the central area. If you happen to cross beyond that, send word to the mansion and keep tracking.”

“People usually get delayed when they’re out having fun! Especially kids!”

“You’re the youngest here.”

“Ha! You’re the youngest.”

“Oh. Is that so?”

Right. Ian had momentarily forgotten he was living a second life. When Ian’s brief replies didn’t lead anywhere, Berrick flopped onto the sofa, pouting.

“Go find Hasha. If anyone’s threatening her, deal with them however you see fit.”

As Ian adjusted his changed clothes and muttered to himself, Berrick’s ears perked up.

“Whether you kill, spare, or stab them—do whatever you want.”

“…What about magic?”

“Of course not. You’re not at that level yet.”

Since he left before receiving the letter from Mayor Karenna, it probably wasn’t Wesley’s doing. And if it had been her, Ian would have sensed it by now. Most likely, Hasha just got caught up in some unlucky situation.

“No excuses later.”

“Think things through, alright?”

“Of course! I’m smart, you know!”

Berrick’s eyes sparkled as he grinned, prompting Romandro to rub his forehead. That guy had zero self-awareness. Ian watched the dawn break and hurried to get ready for work.

“Alright, Berrick. Bring Hasha back safely. I’ll reward you for it.”

“What kind of reward?”

“Ever eaten a whole pig by yourself?”

Crash! Bang!

No sooner had Ian finished speaking than Berrick dashed outside. He sprinted to the right, then quickly realized it was the wrong way and veered left.

“Do you think we can trust him?”

“Dogs are the best at tracking people, aren’t they?”

Ian nodded as he watched the early morning sun rise. Just as a lot had happened to him overnight, perhaps Hasha had been through a lot as well.