Chapter 180
“Protect Lord Ian!”

“Iaaaan! Hahaha!”

The warriors’ hearty laughter brushed past Ian’s ears. They willingly threw themselves at the incoming arrows, easily catching them by hand and shattering the shafts.

“Lord Ian! Be careful!”

The mages were no different. Without even exchanging greetings with the border tribesmen who had suddenly appeared from the sky, they immediately stood back-to-back, clearing a path for Ian. The soldiers pushing forward were helplessly pushed back, trampled underfoot, and tumbled down the stairs.

Boom! Crack!

Tap, tap, tap!

“For Lord Ian!”
“For Lord Ian!”
“For Ian!”

Everyone shouted in unison, offering themselves as Ian’s shield. A sharp light gathered in his hand, then burst forth like a refreshing stream flowing through his fingers.

Peeeeng!

An arrow aimed at the back of Ian’s neck by Marib was swatted away by Nersarn, who leapt alongside Ian.

“I didn’t expect you to come here.”

“You asked me to help when the thin ice cracked. Spring is coming, yet the imperial palace still feels the chill.”

“You’re blocking the wind, so it’s not cold now.”

“In the name of my father—”

Chaaeng!

Nersarn muttered as he sliced through the necks of the charging soldiers. Perhaps from the running, his ears were flushed red.

“—I have come.”

“Argh! That’s no man, it’s a monster!”

“We are warriors of the Great Desert!”

“You beasts, how dare you think this place belongs to you!”

“Marib, Your Highness, fall back for now!”

“You must regroup with the forces of the Third Imperial Palace! Your Highness! Order a retreat!”

Chaaeng!

Marib’s aide clashed blades with a warrior. It wasn’t just them—swords met swords all around, sparks flying intermittently. Marib retreated but never released his bowstring.

Sshhiiik!

Chaaeng! Chang!

This time, it was Hale who deflected an arrow. He too jumped down the stairs with Ian, swatting away the grotesque projectiles.

Swoosh!

A pool of blood, origin unknown, lay thick on the ground. As Ian lowered his body to land, the blood swirled violently, riding the flow of magical energy at his feet.

“Marib!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

His voice was full of authority—like a lion’s roar echoing from a cliff, a force that easily dominated the noisy battlefield. The ground beneath Ian’s feet began to tremble.

「Many Leaves」

Hale thought he must have misheard. But before his mind could register, the cracks in the earth appeared, shaking as if the world itself was splitting apart.

Kugugugung!

Many Leaves—the eternal tree with countless leaves stretching beyond sight. A spell that summoned the power of the otherworldly magical tree itself.

Behind Ian, the gnarled branches of an ancient tree stretched out beautifully.

Ssshhh.

As the branches unfurled, lush green leaves sprouted, and Ian ran forward once more. The sight gave the illusion that he was running alone through a forest.

“Move! Move with Lord Ian!”

Tap, tap, tap!

Like a mirage, the tree trunks came alive, ensnaring the soldiers. The more they struggled, the tighter the grip on their limbs became. Some died from broken necks, others dropped their hands from suffocation.

‘Unlike binding spells, this magic suppresses enemies across a wide battlefield. But since it summons the otherworldly magical tree, the mana consumption must be enormous.’

Hale watched Ian’s back anxiously as he ran without hesitation. Reliable allies had arrived, allowing Ian to unleash everything without holding back. Judging by the bleeding, Ian was already holding on by sheer willpower.

Sshhiiik! Ping!

“Your Highness, it’s coming closer!”

“Marib, Your Highness, evade!”

“Protect Your Highness! Stop that man!”

“Damn it.”

Marib muttered curses after firing his last arrow. It was frustrating to lose a nearly caught fish, especially as the tide of battle had completely turned. He swung his bow to strike the approaching vine. The bow, embedded with a mysterious gem, exploded in small bursts each time it touched the magical tree.

“…!”

Whoosh!

Ta-at!

The wind blew, scattering leaves in all directions—a magnificent sight. Marib, facing Ian’s golden eyes as he leapt into the air, faltered without realizing it.

Their gazes locked in midair.

Though only a fleeting moment, to Marib it felt like an eternity.

Swoooosh!

At Ian’s gesture, the magical tree’s vines surged forward as if to pierce Marib’s torso. Marib drew a new sword from his waist to block. Ian noticed the blade’s color was slightly different.

“…Just how many of those mysterious gems do you have?”

“Enough to kill all the lowly, filthy mages.”

Lowly, filthy.

It was natural for most mages to be born that way, like the laws of nature. The Bariel Empire was overwhelmingly populated by commoners.

“You’re the lowly, filthy one, Marib!”

“Exactly! You turned the imperial palace into this mess overnight, and now you spout nonsense!”

The mages, teetering on the edge of death, each spat out a word. Nakina even raised her middle finger, cursing in a way no one could understand.

“Lord Ian! Besides me, several mages have been hit by arrows! We need to interrogate that bastard—no, twist his neck until he confesses about the gems!”

“How dare you! How dare you speak to Marib, Your Highness, like that!”

“Shut your mouth! You’re the only ones here who call him ‘Your Highness’!”

Veins bulged at Marib’s temples. The mages’ harsh words clearly provoked him. He steadied his sword and glared at Ian.

“The mistakes of the lowly are the leader’s responsibility. It’s not this sword that will cut your throat, but their sharp tongues.”

He charged, slicing through Ian’s magical tree illusion with a clean cut. The magic turned to fine sparkling dust and vanished. But Ian kept drawing mana to fight back. As the warriors rushed to assist, Ian shouted:

“No. Marib is my responsibility.”

Politically speaking.

The Tenryo tribe was a marginalized minority in Bariel, looked down upon. No one knew what burden would fall on them if they directly subdued the prince. Without an imperial decree on the current situation, Marib had to be handled at Ian’s level.

Swoosh!

One side kept attacking relentlessly, the other only blocking and holding their ground.

A heavy but silent rhythm continued. Jin, Philia, the magic department colleagues, the warriors, and everyone evacuated from the palace silently watched their battle.

‘The mana drained by the gems is gradually decreasing.’

The wielder might not notice, but Ian, standing firm, could clearly feel it. A green light. If the gems had limits, the mages’ incapacitation was likely temporary.

Creak.

At that moment, a crack appeared on the amber blade.

“Ian!”

Sshhiiik!

Marib, enraged, struck without noticing. The blade shattered mercilessly upon touching the magical tree.

The shattered fragments tore Marib’s earlobe, and Ian coughed up blood violently. Philia sank down, unable to watch any longer.

“Ah! Ian!”

“Madam, madam, it’s alright.”

Jin comforted Philia. His hands trembled too, but his gaze watching the battle was unwavering.

“Lord Ian smiled.”

The moment the sword broke, Ian smiled through the blood. As if sensing an opening. He had poured all his strength into this final moment, which was why the blood surged.

Swoooosh!

Ian leapt into the air, and the magical tree stretched out grander than ever. It grabbed Marib’s limbs, hoisted him up, and slammed him mercilessly into the ground.

Boom! Crack!

“Ugh…!”

Ian landed atop Marib.

He pinned Marib’s solar plexus with his knee and grabbed his collar. Marib, pinned beneath, looked up at Ian with dilated pupils.

“Your Highness!”

“Get him off! Get that man off Your Highness!”

“Who gave you permission? Kill him!”

“Kill him!”

Marib’s subordinates charged, causing another small commotion. Marib realized something warm and wet was flowing down his neck.

It was his subordinates’ blood. Flowing, soaking his blonde hair. Ian’s hair shimmered as it fell, but Marib’s was a mess of dirt and blood.

“……”

“I told you.”

Ian’s whisper tickled Marib’s ear.

“You will not be remembered in history.”

That voice again. Marib raised his glassy eyes and asked:

“Then what about you?”

“……”

“Do you think you will be remembered in history?”

“That’s not important to me.”

Sshik!

Marib drew a dagger hidden on his wrist, aiming for the back of Ian’s neck. But all he could cut was thick foliage.

The weight of the ancient tree grew heavier and heavier.

If this continued, he would be crushed to death.

“I am the First Prince of the Bariel Empire! Everyone, watch closely! The one killing me now is the man who sent an intruder to Gale’s quarters and deceived me, causing a battle between brothers!”

He gasped for breath, barely able to force the words out—a desperate struggle. The evacuated palace residents murmured anxiously nearby. As if urging him to continue, Ian tightened his grip on Marib’s throat even more.

“History will judge us after the fact! It will decide who was right and who was wrong! The Magic Department intends to kill me and seize the palace!”

“No, that’s not true!”

A hoarse voice cut through Marib’s accusation. It was Jin. Only then did Ian, startled, turn around. The child’s eyes glistened with tears as he summoned all his courage.

“Everyone, listen carefully! Sir Ian and the Magic Department saved me, Arsen, and Mother. They saved all of you, too! Think clearly and without doubt about who really caused this chaos to take over the palace. What you’ve seen and experienced is the truth.”

He paused briefly, then made a firm decision.

“Brother Marib, you know what it means that you tried to kill me first.”

Among princes, such conflicts are often called disputes, but between Marib and Jin, it was more like one-sided violence—though by tradition, it would still be seen as a quarrel.

“Since you tried to kill me first, I have the right to kill you in return. Sir Ian, do as you will. That is my wish.”

It was a declaration supporting Ian’s right to kill Marib without consequence.

Marib scowled, then let out a bitter, incredulous laugh. As if these little brats had conspired together.

“I surrender.”

At last, Marib played his final card.

“I surrender here, in the neutral zone.”

“Your Highness!”

“Will you still kill me after this?”

Since the emperor’s judgment and trial had yet to come, no one could say who was truly at fault. And as Ian claimed this as neutral ground, it would be difficult to execute a surrendered man in front of everyone.

Panting, Marib laughed again.

“Will you kill me!?”

A soft, sliding sound.

Instead of answering, Ian tightened his grip around Marib’s windpipe even more. Consciousness drifted far away. As his breath faltered, Marib heard Ian’s voice stretch out faintly.

“This is disgraceful, Your Highness.”

“Ugh…”

Marib trembled violently before finally losing consciousness. As his body slumped backward, Ian turned to the mages.

“Is he… dead?!”

“Bind Marib and imprison him.”

“Y-Yes! Understood!”

“Soldiers, separate the dead from the living and organize accordingly. Mages, announce Marib’s surrender to the palace and hold the position at Gale’s location. Those mages who have lost their magic may be disoriented, but maintain formation and wait. This is likely a temporary condition.”

Ian wiped the blood from his mouth, taking command of the situation. From afar, Beric came running, swinging his black sword.

Tap tap tap!

Thud! Boom!

“You bastards! What happened to our Ian? Ian! Ian! Hah!”

Beric, running blindly, stopped abruptly when he saw the warriors—and Marib lying on the ground. His eyes went wide as he looked around in confusion.

“What… what is this?”

“You rude Beric! Long time no see!”

“Hey, what’s going on? What’s all this? Who won? Looks like we won, right?”

Beric bounced excitedly, clearly happy to see his old friends again. Watching him, Ian smiled faintly—but then suddenly staggered and collapsed forward.

“Ian!”

“Iaaaan!”

“The noise is deafening. Please, quiet down.”

“Sir Ian, are you alright?”

Surrounded by Magic Department colleagues, warriors, and Beric, with Filia and Jin descending the stairs and stepping on the blood, Ian looked at the gathered faces and let out a faint smile.

The day has been far too long.

The problem is—it’s not over yet.

Closing his eyes, Ian muttered softly.

“Beric, what about Grim?”