Episode 158
—In the village of Danil near Karenna, the fugitive Viyas from Astana and his grandson Hasha were found. Attempts were made to persuade them, but it ended with their elimination. The villagers confirmed the bodies, and in case an investigation team from the palace was dispatched, poison causing food poisoning was secretly poured into the well.
Hasha’s testimony matched the findings. Ian confirmed the names of those involved in the tragic incident in Danil.
—Baretto.
He is Wesley’s aide. It seems he led the operation along with several mages from the Magic Support Division.
“Not many are involved. Mostly mages who specialized in necromancy research within the Magic Support Division. That means they understood the importance of keeping this from leaking outside.”
Ian then reviewed a research report titled
—Results of necromancy on the living are as follows: The targeted body rapidly decays, or even if intact, it cannot sustain for long before self-collapse and loss of control occur, making it no different from necromancy on the dead. (Postscript) Transferring the soul of the subject to another body is possible, but this falls outside necromancy and must be studied as forbidden magic.
Ian frowned. This matched his current situation perfectly. Because of forbidden magic cast by Naum, he had transcended time and space and entered the body of ‘Ian, the illegitimate son,’ a stranger to him.
—However, it is unclear whether the original abilities and consciousness transfer with the soul. Especially if the subject is a different species or a magic user (mage, magic swordsman, etc.), the outcome is unpredictable.
The report’s author seemed unaware that Wesley’s subject was Gale. As Ian read through the sentences, his fingers hesitated.
“Wait.”
It was uncertain whether abilities transferred with the soul during forbidden magic. Ian had assumed the magic he wielded was his own, since magic was said to resonate with the soul, not the body.
But that was only theoretical. It was unknown if this applied to forbidden magic.
“Then there are two possibilities: either the soul transfer allows use of abilities, or—”
…That Ian, the illegitimate son, was originally a magic user.
He rubbed his eyebrows in surprise and slowly recalled waking up in the backyard of Count Bratz’s mansion. At first, he could only open his magic power, right?
“Right. If magic resonates with the soul, I should have been able to use all the magic I know from the start. But over time, as I opened more magic power, the limits grew until now…”
“Ian, are you deaf? Romandro keeps knocking on the door!”
At that moment, Beric’s heavily furrowed face came into view. Half-lying on the desk, he snapped his fingers as if to snap Ian out of his daze.
“Minister Ian?”
“Ah, Romandro.”
“If you’re busy, I can come back later?”
“No, no.”
Ian smiled faintly and closed the documents. Beric was calling from inside, but Ian didn’t respond, so the knocking continued.
Romandro looked around the messy minister’s office in shock—not quite horror, but close. He seemed relieved he wasn’t the superior here.
“What brings you here?”
“Nothing much, just a message from the mansion… They found a mercenary group to escort Hasha and the Astanians back home.”
Romandro’s tone was awkwardly formal, as if the ministerial position was a boundary not to be crossed. Beric chuckled mockingly.
“Why so stiff? ‘Found…’ Haha!”
“Shut up, you fool.”
“Romandro, when we’re alone, speak as usual. It’s hard to understand you otherwise.”
Romandro cleared his throat, cooling his flushed face.
“Are these mercenaries trustworthy?”
“That worried me too. Mercenaries tend to be rough, right? But these are people Viviana knew from the field, so they’re reliable.”
“Then they should be safer than a trading guild. Is this a main contract or a side job?”
“Obviously a side job. They’re heading to the continent’s edge to hunt monsters, but since Astana is on the route, they took the job.”
“Good. When do they leave?”
“That’s the urgent part. Possibly tomorrow, but no later than three days from now. I know you’re busy with your new post, but you should make time to meet Hasha.”
Come to think of it, Ian hadn’t been to the mansion for days. He picked up his jacket and nodded.
“And Romandro?”
“Me? I’m about to leave now.”
“Come along. Beric, will you stay here?”
“Huh? Why me?”
Ian gestured hurriedly to hurry. Now that he was minister, the immediate crisis was over. A new antidote was being developed, and Gale’s curse was about to be judged. Ian had only one task left.
‘Make the antidote work in my favor.’
Though that might also benefit Gale. For now, keeping Gale alive was the safest bet for Ian.
Creak.
“Minister Ian, are you leaving? No beer?”
“Yeah, even if others don’t, we have to drink!”
“We can’t just finish the day with paperwork!”
“Quiet, you guys. You drink beer every day anyway.”
“On days like today, it’s free! Captain Hale, say something!”
“…Minister Ian, are you really leaving?”
The inner circle was different. Ian barely took a few steps out of his office before passing the Magic Operations Department. He smiled, straightening his collar.
“Next time. Something urgent came up.”
“Ah, what a shame. No tasks to leave us?”
“Tell Captain Akorella to send detailed real-time reports on the new antidote. Also, gather and organize all personnel records of mages who handled necromancy in the Magic Support Division.”
Nakina scribbled down the orders and nodded.
“And it’s okay to have a team dinner today. Put it on my tab.”
At that, Tommy dropped the documents he was holding. Nakina did the same, pen falling as they froze, eyes wide.
“Have a good trip, Minister!”
“Yay! Let’s have the special set today!”
“Thank you! Hope you’re not shocked by the receipt tomorrow! Love you!”
“Finish work within an hour today.”
“Captain! You really know what you’re doing!”
While the three chatted excitedly, Ian smiled and walked toward the exit. Every mage he passed bowed and greeted him.
“Minister, good day.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Yes, well done.”
Romandro smiled proudly behind him. Ian had succeeded Wesley as the fourth-ranked minister in the palace hierarchy—and was his close friend! He couldn’t stop boasting silently.
“Mini, do you think this is enough food?”
“It’s fine, but there are so many people.”
“Don’t worry, I paid for the food too. Tell everyone to pack an extra set of clothes. The wind will be harsher once we cross the border.”
Romandro’s mansion was pure chaos. Viviana and Mini were running around frantically, preparing for Hasha and the Astanians’ long journey. Ian smiled, listening to the noise downstairs through the door crack.
Knock knock.
“Can I come in?”
“Come in.”
“Ian, what are you doing? Almost everything downstairs is ready.”
Beric had his mouth full, with a handprint on his shoulder. Looks like he got smacked for stealing Astanians’ lunchboxes.
“I was writing a letter to Hielo.”
“To the border?”
“Yes. If you have anything to say, tell me. I’ll add it.”
Hielo was actually a letter to Ian’s birth mother, Philia. Since Ian might have originally been a magic user, he wanted to ask about that.
‘She seemed surprised when I bought a flowerpot at the park, but who knows? Maybe I showed strange behavior as a child.’
Ian flicked the ink off the pen tip. Feeling a sharp gaze beside him, he turned his head unconsciously.
“Why are you staring like that?”
“I’m thinking about who to send it to.”
Beric lay on the bed, looking serious. No family, no close friends. Ian was the first person he’d really connected with.
“If you have nothing to say, you don’t have to send it.”
“I want to send it, but I don’t know who or what to say.”
“Hana’s good, Nersarn’s good, Kakan too. The warriors in the Great Desert are all your friends, even if replies are slow.”
Then—
—Ian, are you inside?
“Hasha.”
—We’re ready. We’re about to leave soon.
Hasha’s voice came. Ian put down the pen and stepped outside. The once crowded house was now empty. All the luggage had been moved to the garden.
—Ian, parting like this makes my nose sting with sadness.
“Hasha, don’t cry.”
Ian smiled as he gently wiped the damp fur around the dog’s eyes. They hadn’t known each other long, but the deep sense of loss told him they had truly been family.
“I’ll return to my Astana, stabilize the faction, and find a new body. Then I’ll come back to see you again, Ian.”
“That’s something to look forward to.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
“Hasha! What about me? Say goodbye to me too!”
At Beric’s words, Hasha chuckled softly and leaned into him as well. If only he hadn’t hugged Beric so tightly he nearly crushed him, it would have been a genuinely touching farewell.
“Oh, and take the brooch off for me.”
“If you want it, you can keep it. Use it as a little spending money if trouble comes your way. And if things go well, just bring it back when you return to Astana.”
The magical stone brooch hung around the dog’s neck. When Hasha smiled gratefully, a chorus of wailing broke out.
“Oh dear, take care, all of you! Sob…”
“Master, please stop crying. You sound like someone’s died.”
“No, it’s just because I’m sad. Sniff! Hasha! Hasha!”
It was Romandro. His eyes were swollen, and he kept sniffling. When Hasha ran over with a smile, Romandro dropped to his knees and resumed his heartfelt sobbing farewell.
“Go well! Hasha! It was truly a pleasure to meet you!”
“Thank you for everything, Romandro. Stay healthy, and may your wife have a safe delivery. I will pray to the Great Nature when I return to Astana.”
Hasha gently brushed the tears from Romandro’s fur, now damp from crying. He said his goodbyes to Viviana and Mini as well, then suddenly leapt into the mercenary company’s carriage.
“See you again.”
“Yeah. Until next time.”
“Ugh… sniff! Sniff! Hasha!”
“Ah, Romandro, your nose is all messy.”
“Sniff!”
The mercenaries bowed politely to Viviana before urging their horses forward. One by one, the carriages pulled away from Romandro’s estate. Hands waved from the windows—each person clutching the joy of returning home.
Tap, tap, tap.
Hasha showed his face at the window until the last carriage disappeared into the distance. Ian stayed put as well, watching until they vanished like dots on the horizon.
With that, everyone who was to leave had left.
Now, it was time to take care of what remained.