Episode 491

“Isn’t it strange?”

“Yes, it is.”

Nakina stared daggers at Captain Hale, who was standing before Idgal. Meanwhile, another mage, Tommy, crouched nearby, busily scribbling a report.

Though their gazes were fixed in different directions, they both muttered the same thing.

“It’s been like this more often lately.”

“Right? It never used to be this way, but something’s definitely off now.”

“Maybe we should tell him to quit smoking?”

“Yeah. Quit smoking… why?”

“Huh?”

“Yeah?”

They blinked at each other, confused. Was this what they called a case of ‘different dreams under the same roof’? They thought they were on the same page, but apparently not.

Tommy scratched the back of his pen, frowning. “What are you talking about?”

“Look at Captain Hale. Lately, he’s been zoning out, can’t seem to focus. Doesn’t look sick, but he seems uncomfortable.”

Nakina nodded toward Hale, and Tommy glanced over. Hale was currently getting scolded by the mages managing Idgal for daring to light a cigarette. But it looked no different from usual. Tommy waved off the concern.

“He’s been out here a while now, so it’s understandable he’s tired. This is the longest we’ve ever been out. The nearest tavern waters down their drinks, so there’s no real way to get drunk.”

“Maybe it’s the change of season—spring’s coming, after all.”

“If you’re really worried, buy him some booze with your own money.”

“Shut up. Hale makes more than me, so why would I? Anyway, what were you saying about Idgal?”

“Hmm. I think there was a sudden surge of magic.”

“What does that mean?”

Tommy handed Nakina a handwritten report, filled with numbers scrawled all over the page. It detailed the changes in Idgal, recorded alongside the magic anomaly devices.

“Normally, one Idgal regulates the rift for about two weeks. But it absorbed magic to its maximum capacity in just one week. All at once. The magic anomaly device readings are also outside the normal range.”

“So there was some change beneath the rift?”

“That’s our guess.”

Similar phenomena were reported in Zone 2, Clifopod, but the north and south were at opposite ends. Since the reports were sent to and shared from the Imperial Palace, they had no choice but to interpret the meaning on their own unless contacted directly.

Just as Nakina was about to call Hale, a sudden shout broke through.

“Captain!”

Pew! Pew!

Small bursts of flame lit up the sky. The mages all turned their heads simultaneously, clearly annoyed but unable to hide their surprise as soldiers rushed over.

Tap tap!

“Mages! Mages!”

“Yes, yes. We just saw the signal. Where this time?”

“Near the big stone tomb in the northern mountains. There are quite a few of them. Looks like they came prepared! The Atan tribe chief was spotted too.”

“Still alive and kicking, damn it. Captain!”

Nakina wrapped a red cloth tightly around her wrist and fingers as she called out to Hale. It was an Atan tribe raid. More precisely, they were causing a commotion to expand the rift.

“Well, you can’t say they’re not Baric tribe through and through. They sure know how to eat their fill. How about we all go together this time?”

“Yeah. Since the Atan chief is here, that’s probably best.”

“Got it. This time, let’s make sure to take down a couple of them. If we leave them be, they’ll just keep growing. We won’t be able to handle it later.”

Hale bit down hard on his cigarette, signaling his agreement. “Take down a couple,” such a simple yet difficult order.

Over the past decade, the Atan tribe’s numbers had grown remarkably. Partly because another rift opened near Bariel, but mostly because there was no force strong enough to keep them in check.

‘The Magic Department?’

Their mission was to investigate rifts and prevent their expansion. Stopping the Atan tribe wasn’t their goal, and engaging them fully could backfire.

‘If the mages get hurt or killed fighting the Atan tribe, that would be a loss beyond any economic measure.’

“Should I bring my sword? The sharpest one.”

“…No. Just the dagger.”

“Ah! Again? What, you planning to scratch someone’s back with a dagger!?”

And so, this strange coexistence continued. They pushed and pulled each other within a delicate balance. The Atan tribe grew, the Magic Department stagnated.

Lighting his cigarette, Hale warned his subordinates.

“You all know the goal: drive the Atan tribe out of the northern mountains without a major conflict.”

“Captain, they’re crossing the line more often now. Any word from the palace?”

The tense standoff was starting to fray. They had requested reinforcements from the palace to handle the Atan tribe, but with the Crown Prince’s coming coming-of-age ceremony, it was uncertain if they’d get any attention.

Besides, who else at the palace could handle the Atan tribe besides the mages? Maybe the magic swordsmen. But with rumors of war with Vargas, the palace guard wouldn’t be giving up personnel easily.

“They’ll come soon.”

“No, they won’t.”

“Enough talk. Let’s go! We’ll eat after we get back!”

“After the northern mountain run, let’s wrap up for the day. The tavern’s the only place that makes time pass when there’s no booze. Tsk tsk.”

“Captain, you better keep the barrier in check.”

“Yes, yes! We’ll be back soon!”

“If anything happens, fire the signal flare immediately.”

“Don’t worry!”

Hale patted the guard captain’s shoulder in thanks.

Not just the captain, but all the sentries around focused their eyes on the mages. It was a moment that made their mouths water. These were people no different from themselves, yet now they truly felt the weight of those who carried the will of the gods.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Tap tap!

Whoosh!

The mages simultaneously opened their golden eyes and soared into the sky. Idgal flickered briefly from the sudden burst of magic, but that was all. Thanks to the mages quickly distancing themselves from the ground, the light level returned to normal.

“Ah, every time I see it, it’s amazing.”

“Right? Usually they’re just lazy drunks with cigarettes and booze, haha.”

“Lock down the barrier! Just in case, restrict passage for nearby residents!”

“They’ll complain again. ‘Here we go again,’ they’ll say.”

The guards glanced at the rift zone, which looked like a golden pumpkin field, then climbed the barrier.

Through the dim, smoky haze, the faintly glowing Idgal stretched out like a spectacle.

Whoosh!

Meanwhile, the mages led by Hale spotted smoke rising from the distant northern mountains. The unusual thing was that the smoke was blue, not gray.

It was the magical signature of the Atan tribe chief, Efdiram.

“There they are.”

“Approach slowly.”

At Hale’s nod, Nakina and Tommy split left and right, with the mages following behind. Responding to Efdiram’s magic, hot heat surged intermittently from the widening rifts.

“Oh, you’re here. Imperial mages.”

“You’re early today.”

“Yeah. Didn’t eat? You’re light on your feet.”

Sensing their presence, Efdiram’s golden eyes gleamed as he raised his hand to the sky. His reaction was more like greeting an old friend than an enemy.

It made sense. When mages clashed, the rift trembled violently. So both sides minimized their magic use, and since the Atan tribe were technically under the empire’s jurisdiction, they didn’t attack outright.

They faced off regularly, but neither side suffered losses. If not friends, then what were they?

“Hey, over here!”

“Say the same thing again! Get lost!”

“Long time no see. What’s with the attitude?”

“You were here just a few days ago. Go fight it out outside Bariel’s border. Why keep sneaking in here and bothering us?”

“My people came, I didn’t. Hey, come down here. I want to talk.”

Efdiram gestured, requesting a conversation. Nakina and Tommy exchanged glances, then looked toward Hale.

After ordering the mages to stay alert, Hale landed alone near Efdiram. The thick, metallic scent of monster blood hit him, making his stomach churn. Most of the Atan tribe, including Efdiram, were covered in dried blood. They must have been hunting monsters.

“Oh, Captain Hale. Did you shave your head?”

“Cut to the chase.”

“Looking sharp.”

Efdiram chuckled and lit a cigarette. He rested his hand on his waist, pausing for a moment. He clearly had something important to say.

“Have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“That Rutherford’s back.”

“……?!”

Hale hadn’t received any news from the palace. He tried to hide his surprise by pretending to fiddle with his cigarette, but Efdiram caught the change immediately.

“Guess you haven’t heard. How can news be this slow?”

“Not sure if it’s news or just a rumor.”

“Ah, well, if you put it that way, I’ve got nothing to say. Anyway, we’re heading over to Vargas to meet up with Rutherford. We won’t be operating in the northern territories for a while.”

Hale frowned, exhaling a plume of cigarette smoke. So what? If they were leaving, why make such a fuss and stir up the mages running back and forth?

Sensing Hale’s thoughts, Efdiram shrugged.

“This is a farewell, yes. But also a warning.”

“…What?”

“Once we meet Rutherford and then cross paths again, it won’t end with just words like this. Consider this an early goodbye, since things have been good so far.”

With a sharp flick, Efdiram snapped her cigarette away and extended her hand toward Hale.

She was the first to sense the coming storm of war. Hale simply stared at her outstretched hand, showing no reaction.

“That’s disappointing.”

“If Rutherford’s back—”

“Hm?”

Efdiram furrowed her brow, as if she hadn’t quite caught what Hale was saying.

“You mean there’s a chance Ian has returned too.”

“Ian? Well… I don’t really know. Should I ask Rutherford when I see him?”

“Forget it. Just get lost. And the warning isn’t for you—it’s for us. There won’t be a next time. When that day comes, no more cracks or anything—we’ll stop the next chaos by killing you bastards.”

“You little—who do you think you’re talking to!”

“Alright, that’s enough.”

An Atan warrior standing behind Efdiram drew his sword, clearly offended.

But Captain Hale ignored him, turning his back and signaling the mages. Rutherford’s return… Whether the palace knows or not, it’s best to report this immediately.

“Captain, what’s wrong?”

“They’re louder than usual today.”

“Rutherford—”

Just as someone was about to say Rutherford’s back—

A bird sliced through the ashen sky. A familiar one. It was the messenger hawk that connected the palace to the northern border. The bird circled wide before landing on Hale’s shoulder.

Shiiik!

“A message.”

The note was brief. Hale recognized Romandro’s handwriting and quickly took in the contents.

—Ian is heading north with Beric. Join them.

“…!”

“…!”

“Captain? What’s wrong?”

“What? What did the palace say?”

“How dare they! To send a message from the palace like this!”

“No, I just wanted to know what it said.”

As Efdiram leaned in, the mages roughly pushed her back, shouting.

Amid the chaos, Hale finally understood the reason behind the strange sensations and unusual reactions that had been building for days.

“…They’re back.”

“They’re back!”

“Damn it, let’s go!”

“Wooooah!”

Whoosh!

There was only one way through the northern wall.

Without hesitation, Hale leapt into the sky, the mages following close behind. Efdiram shouted something from behind, but no one paid her any mind.

And then—

“Captain Hale! Look!”

Between endless hills, a wide stretch of grassland came into view. A small group was walking slowly: one horse and two people. One with red hair, the other golden. Their features weren’t clear, but there was no mistaking who they were.

Instinctively, Hale and the mages dropped their altitude and surged toward them.

“Ah!”

Whoosh!

The mages swooped closer to the ground, sliding smoothly down the hillside.

As a dozen or so mages approached simultaneously, Beric noticed their presence and waved.

“Hey! How’d you know to come meet us!?”

The tumbling mages finally regained their footing on the gentler slope. And then, just as before, they came face to face with Ian.

Ian smiled warmly and waved.

“It’s been a long time. I’m glad to see you all again.”

“How have you been?”