Chapter 357

Ian gazed up at the massive map of Clifford that stretched all the way to the ceiling. Key military bases and special zones, which couldn’t be revealed to outsiders, were covered with cloth.

Aside from those concealed areas, the map provided a comprehensive overview of Clifford’s entire terrain. It detailed the forest elevations, the start and end points of cliffs, the flow of rivers—everything. This was crucial intelligence for leveraging the homeland’s geographical advantages during wartime, and sharing it with Ian was a sign of trust that carried significant risk.

The courtiers glanced at Ian with worried eyes. They had requested to see the full map, but after several minutes of silence, they grew uneasy.

“Lord Ian, may I ask why you requested to see the entire map? Without any explanation, it’s difficult to understand your intentions.”

Their gazes shifted toward the cluster of mages standing behind them. But the mages shrugged as if they had no clue either.

Ian remained silent, seemingly deep in thought. Then he stepped back a pace, taking in the whole map at once. With his fingertip, he pointed to the border area with Bariel—the place where the magical anomaly device had been buried.

“The magical anomaly device was created and managed by Bariel, correct, Akorella?”

“Yes, that’s right. Although it seems that Burgos and Luswena produce and manage their own devices, Clifford doesn’t have a single mage.”

While most mages were concentrated in Bariel, Burgos and Luswena had a few, though in very small numbers. Unlike Bariel, where mages worked for national development and balance, those in the other regions chose their own paths—pursuing truth, approaching divine power, and seeking happiness in the present.

Ian nodded and asked again.

“It’s true that a magical anomaly reaction occurred at the Bariel-Clifford border, but what I want to know is how far that reaction extends.”

“Pardon?”

“How far does the reaction spread from the border? Does it reach the forest we passed through? The vineyards? Beyond that is the royal palace, and beyond that, the entire capital.”

“Lord Ian, I don’t understand what you’re implying…”

The Clifford courtiers, confused, interrupted anxiously.

But Akorella recognized this was a matter that needed clear confirmation. The readings were abnormally high compared to previous years—explosively so. Naturally, the anomaly’s range wouldn’t be limited to just the border.

“Since the magical anomaly device was only used to monitor Bariel’s safety, we overlooked this. With readings this high, it wouldn’t be surprising if the entire Clifford region is affected. Excuse me, how many kilometers is it from the border to here?”

Ziiing. Ziiing.

Akorella activated her magic and hovered in the air. It was a breathtaking sight. The king and courtiers watched in awe as she began pinning points on the map.

“What’s going on? Tell me too!”

“Puppy, wait. She’s calculating the distance.”

“Calculating what exactly?”

Beric shook raisins from a bowl on the table into his mouth, and the king watched him quietly.

Ah, those were the king’s raisins? Beric thought, worried he might get scolded. But the king smiled and handed him the other bowl on the opposite side of the table.

“Think about it carefully. The magical anomaly was detected at the border, but only there. Bariel’s interior showed no issues. That means the actual source of the anomaly isn’t at the border, but further inland—somewhere near the center of Clifford.”

What was detected at the border was merely a ripple from an inland source. Akorella used her palm as a scale reference and gradually moved downward on the map. Muttering to herself, she folded and unfolded her fingers repeatedly, continuing her calculations.

“You said the readings were about three times higher than usual. The detection device divides the area into 0.322 units, and if we estimate the depth and area, we can roughly pinpoint the location…”

“What are you babbling about, magic stone freak!”

“Shut up, puppy! She’s thinking hard!”

“Did you see that look in her eyes? She’s totally crazy.”

“Here!”

Bang!

“This is very, very likely the source of the magical anomaly! Unless I’ve made a mistake!”

Akorella confidently slammed her fist down on a spot on the map. The king and courtiers flinched and looked at the place she indicated.

“Uh, that’s the capital.”

“Oh, is it? Well then!”

What did that matter? Akorella smiled as if to say, “So what?” She was utterly confident there was no error in her calculations, capital or not.

The king stood and studied the map, then turned to Ian.

“Are you saying, Lord Ian, and the mages here, that there is a problem related to magical anomalies occurring in the capital of Clifford, where the royal palace stands?”

“It’s not certain, but—”

“It is certain! I’m Akorella!”

“That’s what it looks like.”

Ian nodded toward Akorella in agreement.

With the last mage having died decades ago, any disaster involving magic was a matter of national survival. The king and courtiers were left speechless.

A heavy silence fell. Unable to bear it, Hale cautiously offered some reassurance.

“But this is still theoretical. Clifford hasn’t detected any signs yet. If we begin a thorough investigation now and prepare countermeasures, there should be no problem.”

“Since there are no magic users, even if there were signs, they wouldn’t have noticed.”

“Among perceptible changes, earthquakes are the most common. Have there been any recently?”

“Earthquakes?”

The king and courtiers paled, as if recalling something.

Ian sat down and checked his watch. By now, Prince Noah might have met with the Burgos army. They needed news to formulate new strategies.

Akorella struck the map again, as if to emphasize her point, explaining to the Clifford people.

“It’s unclear whether the earthquake or the magical anomaly came first. But one thing is certain: if these two disasters overlap, monsters appear, and monsters displaced from other regions migrate here. Humans inevitably lose in that war. History proves it. Just look at the north—yes, northwest from Bariel’s perspective.”

A hotbed of chaos and confusion. Astana, where Hasha had been, was also located there, suffering. With land lost to monsters and nowhere left to stand, the country was torn apart, tribes raising their own flags—a hell on Gaia.

The king staggered, gripping the table. Clifford could suffer the same fate, or worse.

“At least in the north, there are gypsies and sorcerers. But Clifford is purely a human kingdom. The royal family may be beastkin, but they have no special powers. Above all, if monsters throw Clifford into chaos, public sentiment toward the beastkin will worsen. The survival of the royal family itself will be at risk.”

Ian’s calm gaze swept over the Clifford king. The author, like Noah, would also transform into a fox when cursed—it was all so unfortunate.

Though it bordered Bariel, Clifford was still a foreign land, so Ian decided to observe the situation from a distance.

“More than anything, I wonder if Damon knows about this.”

It was almost certain that Damon would prepare Idgal to confront the mages. They needed reports on Burgos’s tactics and responses to make any assumptions. Ian rolled up his sleeves.

Tap tap tap!

Bang! Thud!

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

“What is it?”

“News from the vanguard that left with Prince Noah!”

A commotion came from outside. The king hurriedly ordered them in and checked the messenger’s condition. Covered in sweat and dust but uninjured, the king seemed to gauge his son’s status from the messenger’s state.

“What happened? The Burgos army?”

“They breached the border wall and invaded. Their numbers total about five thousand, and they’re currently approaching the path to Baki village.”

“That’s fortunate. Baki’s path is narrow and rough, isn’t it? They have to cross a bridge. We can hold them there!”

As the courtiers cheered, a soldier shook his head.

“There’s a problem. Burgos has deployed monsters. The one that destroyed the wall is a monster called Baekgak. I’ve heard it contaminates the land so severely that purification is impossible. The prince plans to use Baki as a base to split Burgos’s forces and deal with the Baekgak left behind along the border and their path. Reinforcements should be dispatched immediately…”

Ian crossed his arms. Burgos had used monsters? That almost certainly meant Damon knew about Clifford’s magical anomaly.

With the anomaly readings already soaring, they were using monsters to keep stirring the energy. It was a tactic chosen with the ambition to completely consume the country.

“Baekgak is a low-level monster. Once the situation with Burgos is resolved, it can be handled. The problem is the contamination released when Baekgak is destroyed…”

Was there a way to purify it? Ian looked at Akorella, who just smiled innocently.

“Heh, I’m a magic stone specialist.”

“…There should be information in Bariel. For now, since Prince Noah is responding accordingly, Your Majesty, it would be wise for you to make a prudent decision.”

Clifford had a larger population compared to Burgos and Luswena. Especially given their culture, which revolved around farming and enjoying leisure, they had plenty of young people.

That was their main military strength, but also their weakness. Other nations had supernatural forces like sorcerers, monsters, and mages.

“Alright. Five thousand. Noah must have scattered them, but we need to respond accordingly. Deploy the three standing legions.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

They intended to suppress the situation quickly before it escalated.

Three legions meant roughly six thousand troops. No one knew exactly how Prince Noah was faring, but a swift, overwhelming push could halt the enemy’s advance. If they could reduce their reliance on mages even a little, it would ease the diplomatic burden as well.

“Have we identified the commander on the Burgos side?”

Ian asked, but the soldier shook his head.

“No, sir. When we scouted the forest, we only saw the rear of the Burgos army.”

“When the first report came from the border, Timothy the envoy was said to be leading the front, but he’s just an envoy, not a commander. There must be a separate commander acting under Damon’s orders. We should confirm that first.”

Ian relayed this to the king, who nodded repeatedly with a look that said, “You heard that, right?” The courtiers bustled about, and the palace was once again thrown into preparations for deployment.

Left alone in the strategy room were the mages. One glanced at the clock and muttered,

“By the way, why is he taking so long?”

“Maybe he ran out of whatever he was on?”

“No way. A mage’s pride is at stake.”

“Is it even possible to be slower than a messenger? Is he crawling through the sky or what?”

They were talking about the scout mage who hadn’t returned. A flying creature slicing through the air should have been back long ago after a simple reconnaissance.

“Ian!”

Tap tap tap!

“Look, he’s coming.”

“Can’t stand not being the center of attention, huh? Hey! Why are you so late? We thought you’d dropped dead on the way.”

The mage entered the empty hallway, looking around in confusion. He was soaked in sweat, just like the messenger.

The other mages breathed a sigh of relief and welcomed him, then firmly shut the wide-open door. There might be information inside that couldn’t be shared.

“Well done. The messenger just arrived, and the king of Clifford has taken action. Prince Noah is trying to scatter the Burgos forces.”

“Ah, yes. And the monsters—”

“We heard about the monsters too, man! White Horn! They say it broke through the barrier, right?”

The mage raised a fist as if to hush him, then relayed the message to Ian.

“Currently, Burgos has passed Baki Village and entered the outskirts of a small city. Their advance is relentless. It feels like they’re charging straight for the capital. Also, besides the White Horn, there were other monsters brought along. I’ve never seen them before.”

“What do they look like? Describe them.”

“Well, that’s the thing…”

He hesitated, clearly uncomfortable describing them. Eventually, he took out a pen and sketched what he had seen.

“That’s strange. Why does this look like it was drawn with my feet instead of my hands?”

“Anyone have a guess?”

The mages huddled around, studying the sketch for a long time before finally turning to Ian with a suggestion.

“Sir Ian, wouldn’t it be best if you saw it for yourself?”