Episode 360

The king was filled with despair, but he kept it carefully hidden.

Facing the unfamiliar threat of the synthetic monsters, stunned by the unexpected sharpness of Burgos’s blades, and gripped by fear that the enemy had already reached the gates of the capital, he composed himself and listened intently to Ian’s report.

The courtiers were no different. Heads bowed low, they racked their brains for any way to overcome this desperate situation. In truth, they knew almost nothing—trying to find answers on a blank slate.

“I’ve stationed some of my men along the outer walls. They should be able to hold off the enemy for a while, buying us time to prepare,” Ian said.

“Right, what were their names again?”

“Bergman and Tief. Not all monsters have tough hides, but those two are known to be especially resilient, even among their kind.”

“Even ordinary bear hides are tough, so it makes sense that monsters inheriting their traits would be tougher still. The real problem is the core inside them. What can we do?”

“We have weapons coated with mana-sealing stones.”

A kind of countermeasure against Bariel. Prince Noah had also visited Bariel carrying such weapons. The exact number was unknown, but it was clear only a few in the kingdom possessed them.

“I see.”

“Is there enough to distribute to all the mages?”

Silence fell. No one fully grasped the implications of Ian’s words.

“Though they’re corpses, their hides still contain mana. It should be easier to cut through them than with ordinary swords. And Tief’s tongue is incredibly long and flexible, acting almost like an extra limb. Its regenerative abilities are strong, too. With the help of the mana-sealing stones, we should be able to turn the tide of battle in our favor.”

“Your Majesty!”

A courtier interrupted, alarmed at the suggestion to hand over the kingdom’s mana-sealing stones to Bariel’s mages.

Ian, watching the king, didn’t continue the conversation, but his gaze made the message clear: this was absolutely unacceptable. The mana-sealing stones were the very lifeblood of Klipford.

The deal with Idgal had already fallen through, and if they gave away their remaining assets to Bariel now, Klipford would be left empty-handed. Even if they defeated Burgos’s forces and survived, it would be no different from becoming a vassal state of Bariel.

“No battle has yet occurred, and we have no reports on the synthetic monsters. It would be wise to carefully assess the situation before making a decision,” one voice advised.

“I agree, Your Majesty.”

“We don’t even know if the mana-sealing weapons will be effective against the monsters. This is just Ian’s speculation. Please, Your Majesty, make a wise choice…”

A group of courtiers bowed their heads in fierce opposition. In response, others glanced at Ian and argued back.

“Think about it logically. Mana-sealing stones literally seal mana. Since the monsters’ power is mana-based, wouldn’t it work? That’s why Ian is asking for them.”

“Exactly. These aren’t ordinary monsters—they’re hybrids. Without the mages’ help, defeat is certain. If we lose, Klipford ceases to exist. So why all the hesitation? We have someone from another country working hard for us right here!”

“Excuse me, everyone, please stand. Your Majesty, it’s only right to grant Ian’s request. If the walls fall, everything will be lost. It’s just a matter of time.”

“This isn’t just Ian’s guess—it’s the opinion of an expert!”

The courtiers were divided. The mana-sealing stones were rare and expensive, not something to hand over lightly, regardless of the circumstances.

Ian, Hale, and the mages watched the heated debate unfold. The king remained motionless, deep in thought.

“Ian, it looks like there’s about to be a split within the court.”

“Relax. It’s fine. The king will approve it.”

Hale raised an eyebrow. How could Ian be so sure? The opposition was fierce. But Ian himself nodded confidently.

‘Prince Noah knows that the mysterious outsider offered a deal involving Idgal. It’s clear that large quantities of Idgal have already been distributed abroad. Since it has effects similar to the mana-sealing stones, their value isn’t what it used to be. It’s only natural to hand them over now and accept the mages’ help.’

Just as Ian thought this, the king raised his hand. The courtiers who had been shouting stopped and turned to him. The king’s voice was firm and resolute.

“Give all the mana-sealing stones in the royal treasury to Ian, along with the weapons coated with them.”

“Your Majesty! That’s unacceptable!”

“Wise decision!”

“This is my choice. If you are my subjects, you will follow it without question. No objections will be tolerated. Ian, is there anything else you require?”

The divided courtiers’ reactions were stark—one side relieved, the other as if the sky had fallen.

Ian placed a hand over his chest and offered a light bow of thanks.

“We will also collect the Idgal you possess.”

“Very well. Do as you see fit.”

“And I would like to borrow the royal forge for a while.”

“Of course. The best craftsmen in Klipford are there. Whatever you need will be provided immediately. Guards, escort Ian.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is that all, Ian?”

As a courtier opened the door, the king added the question. Ian hesitated briefly, then smiled.

“When this is over, please prepare plenty of meat.”

“Meat?”

“If possible, beef.”

The king blinked at Ian’s strange request.

Cattle were vital for farming, but if it meant saving the kingdom, what was a few cows? Assuming it was a joke, the king laughed heartily and promised.

“Of course. I will provide as much as you want!”

“You might regret that later,” Hale muttered with a worried sigh, following Ian.

“What about Accorella?”

“She’s coming down soon—”

“KYAAAH!”

Screeeech!

Before anyone could finish, Accorella’s wild laughter echoed from above as she slid down the stair railing like a slide. She was carrying a heavy bundle on her back, apparently having gathered a lot from the palace.

“You didn’t steal anything, did you?”

“No! Just some leftover ingredients from making healing potions. Too good to waste, so I grabbed them. But Ian, where are the others? And where are we headed?”

“To the forge.”

“The forge’s great! But why?”

“We’re going to liquefy the mana-sealing stones and Idgal, then fuse them into weapons. It’s called synthesis, but really, it’s about embedding them close to the blade so the monster’s mana can’t regenerate during an attack…”

Thunk.

Clang!

Ian stopped mid-sentence and turned to Accorella. She stood there, dazed, staring at him. Then blood began to trickle from her right nostril.

“Accorella?”

“What’s wrong?”

Hale grabbed her shoulder, concerned. Strange objects spilled from her bundle, scattered everywhere, but she kept staring at Ian.

“So, you’re saying it’s okay to melt down the mana-sealing stones?”

“Yes. Together with the blacksmiths.”

“Y-You mean melt down the Idgal too?”

“Of course. There aren’t many mana-sealing stones left in Klipford.”

Accorella closed her eyes tightly and clenched her fists. Then blood burst from her left nostril. Suddenly, a loud roar erupted—a wild, beast-like cry filled with joy, excitement, and exhilaration.

“YAAAH! YES! YES!”

“This is the day I’ve been waiting for! To break, melt, and even fuse the mana-sealing stones with my own hands! Bariel did research on Idgal too, but their supply was limited and never enough to satisfy me.”

Grabbing Ian’s hand tightly, Accorella asked, nosebleed streaming, tears welling, teeth clenched—clearly not in her right mind.

“C-Can I lick it?”

“The mana-sealing stones? You might lose their power.”

“Oh, right. Then who else…?”

Accorella glanced at the mages, who instinctively avoided her gaze and slipped behind Ian.

“Beric and the other mages are holding back the synthetic monsters. Once the weapons are ready, they’ll deliver them directly. You have permission to experiment on the monsters, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the battle.”

“Let’s go! Come on, Klipford courtiers! Lead the way to the forge!”

“Y-Yes? Ah, right this way.”

“Run!”

“R-Right away!”

Wiping blood from her hand, Accorella shouted as the attendants, nearly in tears, began to sprint.

The mages thundered after them. Ian followed slowly, turning to Hale with instructions.

“Hale, take care of things here.”

“Huh?”

Accorella’s dropped bundle and scattered items lay all over the floor. Hale raised a finger, pointing at himself in confusion. Ian shrugged.

“You’re Accorella’s handler.”

“Me? Since when?”

“Hurry up.”

Ever since they had pegged Hale and Akorella as the next heads of the Magic Department, Ian had let out a quiet chuckle and disappeared, while Hale just stood there blankly before slowly gathering up his things.

---

“Aha, right there it stopped.”

Beric tilted his chair back slightly, peering through his telescope at the front lines. The Burgos troops, who had seemed ready to charge at any moment, had halted and were setting up tents instead. As the sun began to set, they’d clearly decided they couldn’t advance any further.

Thanks to that, a long, if somewhat crude, trench had been dug along the barrier without issue, and it was now filled with a thick adhesive meant to block the White Horns’ movements. The Clipford soldiers remained tense, keeping a wary eye on the Burgos side.

“General, they’re not coming. Shouldn’t we move forward?”

“That’s out of the question. Our mission is to protect the barrier. The farther we go, the more unpredictable things become. And above all, the sun’s about to set. We have the terrain advantage, yes, but who knows what might be lurking—night creatures, perhaps.”

Besides, no meaningful word had come from the palace yet. Ian, the head of the mages, was supposed to be working on a countermeasure, but without any response, they couldn’t act rashly.

Beric yawned loudly, tapping his toes impatiently. He’d planned to just cut them down if they got too close! Ah, this was maddening.

“What’s Ian up to? Eating alone somewhere?”

“Are you talking about Ian? And you ate all the jerky here, didn’t you? Why keep whining about food?”

“It’s all for survival, you know. But hey, you’ve been talking down to me all this time—how old are you anyway?”

“Thirty-five.”

Beric pretended not to hear and sniffled, looking away.

The sky darkened, the sunset painting the clouds in fiery reds and a blend of deep blues. From the seasoned veterans to the newest recruits, everyone in the Clipford camp felt a rare moment of peace.

Then—BOOM! CRASH!

A sudden roar echoed from somewhere. The startled soldiers flinched, gripping their swords tighter. Beric and the mages quickly moved outside the barrier, raising their telescopes. The sound had come from the Burgos side.

“What was that? Did something explode?”

“White Horns?”

“Could they really have lost control of what they brought?”

“Wait, the troops are moving.”

The general caught sight of unusual activity and hesitated. Something was wrong at the rear. If that was the case…

“Prince Noah?”

The surviving forces loyal to Prince Noah had circled around a collapsed bridge and were now heading toward the capital—right into the Burgos troops.

In other words, they’d basically dropped straight into enemy territory. If Burgos split their forces left and right to trap them, it would be nearly impossible to survive without taking to the skies.

The general quickly summoned the captains.

“Attention, all units! The 2nd Division will immediately approach the Burgos side to divert their attention! Sound the drums loudly! We must create an opening for the prince to escape!”

Buuuu— Buuuu—

The general’s orders spread swiftly through the ranks via the buffalo horn trumpets and battle flags. At the sudden call to arms, Beric bounced excitedly, darting around the mages.

“Let’s go! We’re going too!”

“They said it’s just a distraction.”

As Beric made as if to leap down from the barrier, the mages grabbed his collar.

But Beric knew something they didn’t. If he fell, the mages would use their magic to make him fly—whirring through the air. He grinned and threw himself down without hesitation.

“That’s my specialty!”