Chapter 467
Behind the painting, the space where the emperor—his father—had hidden was far stranger than expected. Darkness filled every corner, yet small holes punctured the walls, letting faint light seep through.
It was a flat world where up and down, near and far, all lost meaning. The holes were just big enough for a finger to slip inside, and when you peered in closely, you could see detailed scenes of the imperial palace as if you were standing right there.
“How curious. Was this part of the plan too?”
“Could it be that the god you follow is only half-formed?”
“Even though I’m inside the body of the illegitimate son, Ian—”
And so, Jin witnessed everything. From the moment Ian knelt, to when he stood back up. From calling himself the illegitimate Ian to asking Rutherford about the Abyss.
The child’s blue eyes trembled uncertainly as he stared into the hole. Did Ian have another self? Was that the Ian Jin knew? If not, then who was the Ian he thought he knew, and where had he gone? Could he even say he truly knew Ian at all?
“Your Majesty.”
Jaret cautiously interrupted, having grasped the situation. Jin’s gaze was completely fixed on Ian. Since no questions were forthcoming, it seemed better for Jaret to speak up.
“Previously, there was the incident where Lady Melania vanished before her execution. There’s no proof, but circumstances suggest Lord Ian may have secretly freed her.”
“…Captain Jaret.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Who exactly is this Lord Ian?”
Jin muttered without taking his eyes off the tiny hole. The faded glory of that lady was no longer important to him.
Or was it? He’d heard before that she and Lord Ian had ties from their childhood in Bratz. If so, she might be a crucial clue to uncovering Ian’s true identity.
“Listen carefully. With me, into the Abyss.”
Because of the black moon, twilight was swallowed by shadows. As the World Tree stretched out behind Ian, Jin couldn’t help but shout.
“No!”
He couldn’t let him go like this. Hadn’t he told Ian to use him as a stepping stone to reach higher ground? Jin wanted to hold Ian’s hand, take a step up, and bid him farewell.
“Come back safely, no matter when. When that time comes, I’ll be watching Bariel from above, so you won’t have to worry. Then, without any cruel twists of fate, dream of a perfect Bariel with me.”
“Your Majesty! Hold your position!”
“Lord Ian! He’s trying to leave!”
“You cannot go! Even if you do, you must not! You are Bariel’s sole heir and the current protector of the royal family. Showing yourself before Rutherford is out of the question!”
“Then you should come with me!”
“No! Absolutely not! I cannot allow anything that endangers Your Majesty’s safety. If you insist on going, then cut me down first.”
Jin struggled with all his might but couldn’t move forward against Jaret’s firm opposition. The bright light was just within reach—if only he could grasp it, he could meet Lord Ian immediately. Jin’s face twisted in frustration, and his vision blurred. The tears he couldn’t let fall welled up inside him.
“Please… let me go! I beg you!”
“You’re not the only one. Think of Lord Ian!”
Rutherford was preparing to strike. If Jin suddenly appeared, it would create variables that could render his sacrifice meaningless.
At the call to think of Ian, Jin’s body sagged. The child’s tears fell freely as his gaze remained fixed on the small light. Ian was sinking into the black moon alongside Rutherford.
“Follow Rutherford!”
“What about the Second Palace?”
“What can we do here? Shut up and follow! Or Bariel will tear you limb from limb!”
Was this the right call? Staying in the palace meant certain annihilation. So following their leader Rutherford, whether into the Rift or the Abyss, was statistically the better choice.
Rutherford’s group voluntarily stepped up and leapt beneath the moon, while the palace mages stood helplessly, stamping their feet.
“Captain Akorella, we should—!”
“We can’t! Are we on the same side as those bastards?”
“But Lord Ian—!”
“Catch those trying to run! That’s how you help Lord Ian! Damn it! You stabbed me in the back earlier, didn’t you?”
“Rutherford’s men are trying to escape! Stop them!”
“Bring reinforcements from outside! Don’t let them get away!”
With every swallow of the World Tree by the moon, its size shrank. Realizing the portal was about to close, the conspirators grabbed royal treasures and plunged into the darkness.
Once the protective barrier fell, soldiers stormed in with precision, turning the scene into chaos.
‘Ah.’
The black moon faded faintly, then vanished completely. Jin stood frozen, watching Ian sink until the very end. A silent loss so suffocating he could barely breathe. It felt as if their eyes had met, but he couldn’t be sure. Wiping away the tears that refused to fall, he blinked.
“He’s gone.”
“…The moon disappeared.”
Like a dream from another day, leaving no trace behind. Only the scattered corpses, blood, and royal treasures on the floor proved this was no illusion.
Ian was gone.
Ian had vanished.
Ian…
“Your Majesty.”
Jaret gently patted Jin’s shoulder, who was quietly weeping. Though he’d always been skeptical, Ian had undoubtedly been someone who sacrificed himself for Bariel. As a member of the palace, a citizen of Bariel, and as a person, that was undeniable. He sighed and murmured.
“I’m sorry.”
“…I will blame you. I will always blame you for standing in my way. I never got to say goodbye to Lord Ian…”
“Yes. I accept that. I consider it my duty and will not betray it.”
Though he would blame him someday, he was certain Jaret’s judgment was right. Jin cried harder, feeling the weight of loneliness. Only he and Jaret remained here. No matter how loudly he cried, no one in the empire would see.
“Your Majesty, it would be best to leave and begin restoring order in the palace. Many are worried.”
Jin lifted his head. Light spilled from every direction. Officials gathered to assess the situation, armed soldiers stood tense, hurried servants rushed about, and citizens crowded at the palace gates.
The countless moments waiting for him felt suffocating, as if all the light pouring in might one day burn him alive.
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment, a particularly loud commotion came from the Mage Department. The mages were fighting off intruders targeting Damon. Watching quietly, Jin muttered.
“Damon…”
The enemy’s leader and a regressor connected to Rutherford. Hadn’t Ian told him? That this author was living a second life.
Jin’s pale eyes gleamed coldly, almost menacingly. It was hard to believe he had just been filled with hot tears.
“Captain Jaret. Orders.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Please command.”
“Deploy all palace guards to the Mage Department immediately to secure King Damon.”
“All of them, Your Majesty?”
“I will go as well.”
Jin bit his lip as he muttered this. Damon was a bastard who deserved to be torn apart, but for now, they had no choice but to use him to uncover Rutherford properly.
Slowly, Jin stepped out of the painting and flung open the reception room door.
Bang!
“Your Majesty?”
Xiaosi and Romandro, waiting at the door, jumped in surprise, but Jin didn’t spare them a glance and dashed toward the Mage Department.
“What’s going on?” Xiaosi followed slowly, while Romandro kept glancing at Jaret, silently asking for an explanation.
“The Majesty is heading to the Mage Department.”
“The Mage Department? But Damon is there—why go there? Your Majesty! You’re moving too fast. It’s dangerous!”
“Romandro.”
“Yes?”
Jaret lightly grasped Romandro’s arm and spoke.
“Lord Ian has gone.”
“…What do you mean?”
Romandro’s eyes widened. Where could Ian have gone? Leaving the palace in danger?
“He went into the Abyss with Rutherford.”
“I… don’t quite understand.”
“I will deliver the message at the Mage Department. Romandro, you must inform Ian’s family and close friends.”
“Wait!”
Jaret left the words hanging and passed by Romandro.
The Abyss? Ian? He wasn’t the type to leave so irresponsibly. Was this some kind of joke? No, Jaret wasn’t the joking type. It made no sense. But more than anything, did Ian even have close friends?
Clip-clop!
A horse galloped in the distance. It was Beric. Seeing him, Romandro suddenly realized something. Of course—if anyone was Ian’s close friend, it was Beric.
“Be-Beric!”
Romandro waved his hand listlessly, and Beric yanked the reins roughly.
“The black moon rose. What happened? Where’s Ian? Is he okay? Damn it, Efdiram said Ian was going somewhere else…”
Beric trailed off, seeing Romandro’s blank expression. Something was wrong. An eerie silence followed, and Romandro stammered, starting to babble.
“C-Captain Jaret said Ian left.”
“…Where to?”
“But… I’m not even sure if ‘going’ is the right word here. We don’t know what happened to Rutherford. Jin went to the Ministry of Magic, you see?”
His words stumbled out awkwardly, lacking coherence. Beric stepped down from his horse and grabbed Romandro’s shoulder firmly.
“Speak clearly.”
The rough grip must have been painful—Romandro’s brows furrowed deeply as he choked back tears.
“Ian… he’s gone. Into the Abyss.”
The palace guard surrounded Jin as they rushed forward.
Jaret kept glancing at Jin’s tightly clenched fists. It was as if the boy’s silent fury screamed that he wished he could take up a sword himself and fight.
The redness around Jin’s eyes and the dampness on his cheeks hinted at tears, but no one dared acknowledge them openly. The crown prince’s pale blue eyes burned fiercely with restrained anger.
Crackling sounds filled the air.
“Capture them alive. Even if Damon’s limbs are severed, it’s acceptable. Kill every intruder without mercy. As long as Damon lives, nothing else matters.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And immediately inform King Cleaford and Prince Noah. Send word to the capital, Frodhona, to check if the Black Moon has appeared near the Rift.”
“Understood.”
“If it has, investigate what came through it. If manpower is insufficient, draft reinforcements from the palace.”
Jin ground his teeth as he entered the Second Palace. The distant echoes of wizards engaged in battle reached them. Jin gestured urgently, and Jaret along with the palace guards unleashed their magic, soaring into the air.
A high-pitched whirring!
A sudden burst!
‘We don’t know what happened to Rutherford after he followed Ian, but even if he’s dead, their forces won’t collapse overnight. They’ll try to exploit the power vacuum in Burgos. We must keep Damon alive at all costs.’
If so, the faction backed by Rutherford’s power and the royalists who value legitimacy would clash, plunging Burgos into endless civil war.
If they seize Burgos, it will be easier to root out Rutherford’s shadow. For that to happen, Damon—the royalist’s symbol—must survive no matter what.
‘Damon. Stay alive and watch closely. See how your kingdom is torn apart and crumbles. Because of your existence, Burgos will fall into a hellish abyss. There is no greater tragedy for a member of the royal family.’
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the Ministry of Magic.
It marked the end of an unprecedented palace breach—and signaled Bariel’s flare to seize control amid the chaos of these turbulent times.