Chapter 495

Near the summit of a nearby mountain, the height was dizzying—clouds seemed to lie just beneath their feet.

The mages chose a flat spot and spread out a mat. Soon, they began unpacking the picnic basket: sandwiches, pretty dishes and teacups, parasols, and more.

While the mages carefully brewed the tea leaves, Ian settled down comfortably, savoring the breeze. The view was wide open, cool, and breathtaking. Even if the north was in chaos because of the rift, Bariel was still Bariel.

“Ian, please have some warm tea. How are you feeling? Is the remedy working?”

“Hm, I think it’s helping.”

“But not by much, right? It’s like that if you take it too often. Would you like a sandwich, too?”

“No, I’m good. I already ate a lot this morning.”

“Still, you should eat something. Or at least have some candy…?”

The mage’s eyes sparkled with earnest concern, silently pleading for Ian to take at least one piece. Ian smiled and accepted the candy—a sweet strawberry flavor.

As Ian rolled the candy around in his mouth and picked up his telescope, the mages lowered their bodies to point out a direction. Following their fingertips, Ian slowly turned his head.

“See that tree over there with the unusually blue leaves?”

“The color stands out well.”

“That’s our marker. Captain Hale and the others should be preparing around there.”

In the distance, Hale and the mages came into view. They must have just escorted Beric to the Atan tribe’s base. Spotting Ian, they waved enthusiastically. Ian responded with a small wave.

“But Ian, do you think Beric will manage?”

“Of course I’m worried—he’s Beric, after all. You never know which way he’ll jump.”

“It’s fine. I gave him a mission perfectly suited to him. Beric’s the type who, well… the process might be a mess, but he always gets the job done.”

Unexpected problems don’t arise because of Beric—they’re just things that would happen anyway. Like accidents.

And even if something does happen, so what? It’s just a matter of cleaning up afterward. Ian was confident. That’s what he’d been doing all along.

“Ah, Captain Hale is signaling.”

At the mage’s mutter, Ian raised his telescope again. Hale stretched out his arm in a silent signal. The Atan tribe’s base seemed visible from that angle, though not from Ian’s.

BOOM!

BANG!

Faint explosions echoed.

It’s starting. Ian, candy still in his mouth, focused intently on the scene. The ground trembled, and the mountain echoed with the sounds of explosions.

CRACKLE!

BOOM!

“Damn, is Beric okay?”

“The sounds are brutal. I told him to keep it simple—just rough up the enemy.”

“Do you think that’s possible with his personality? Looks like he’s really stirring things up.”

The mages anxiously waited for Beric to appear. Then, after a while—

“Ha ha ha ha!”

SWOOSH!

Beric’s hearty laughter rang out from somewhere. The mages turned their heads in surprise as Beric suddenly burst out of a thicket—not where they were watching.

“Catch me if you can, idiots!”

He’d come from a completely different direction than the one agreed with Hale.

The mages slapped their foreheads in frustration, while Hale hurriedly led his men running toward Beric.

Beric, clearly having a blast, slid down the slope covered in a tangle of leaves and branches. Behind him came the sounds of pursuit.

“Get that bastard!”

“Kill him! Beat him up!”

“Ahhh!”

SWOOSH!

Dozens of warriors burst from the bushes—Atan tribe members. Leading the charge was Veno, Efdiram’s right hand. He unleashed his magic, spiraling into the air.

“…!”

Beric, sensing movement behind him, twisted around just as their swords clashed fiercely.

BOOM!

Another powerful explosion shook the ground. The mages shielded their faces with their sleeves, while Ian lightly lowered his parasol to block the shockwave.

“Must be because he’s that idiot’s subordinate—his eyes are messed up.”

“I never liked you anyway.”

“Really? That’s me! Hey, we actually get along!”

CLANG! CHING!

ZZZZING! BANG!

The brief exchange unleashed a tremendous force. The ground shook violently, but their speed was too fast to follow with the naked eye. Ian watched with a satisfied smile.

“Looks like Beric hasn’t been slacking off in training.”

“You little brat! Damn you!”

Efdiram roared. Half of her thick, curly hair looked singed and torn off. Her flushed face radiated pure fury.

Beric paid her no mind, blocking Veno’s attacks while glancing toward Efdiram.

“Balance is off, huh? Want me to even the score on the other side?”

“I’ll kill you! For real!”

“Eek! Scary~”

ZZZZING! ZING!

Efdiram opened her golden eyes. Leaves swirled around her, following the flow of her magic.

Veno, realizing what was coming, withdrew his sword and stepped back from Beric. It was time to tear him apart.

“Bite and tear!”

The wind transformed into a wolf shape and lunged at Beric, jaws wide open, ready to shred its prey in an instant.

Beric gripped his sword, bracing to face the magical beast. Just as the wolf leapt—

SWOOSH!

Hale charged in, slicing its neck. The wind lost its form, leaving small cuts on Hale’s cheek, but that was all. The mages who followed Hale each took down a wolf.

“Damn, that was close. Almost got killed.”

“Is this for real? What a joke.”

“You came from the wrong path!” Beric grumbled, only to have the furious mages grab him by the collar and shake him.

The Atan tribe watched in disbelief. Efdiram pushed her half-shorn hair back and chuckled in disbelief.

“What are you guys doing right now?”

“Explain what’s going on.”

Hale lit a cigarette and pulled out a small magic stone—a low-grade recording device.

“The Atan tribe attacked the palace guard. The nearby magic division came to support. Lay down your weapons and surrender. Efdiram, didn’t you say you were leaving Bariel just yesterday?”

“Who attacked who? That bastard started it!”

“They said they’re siding with Burgos, not Bariel. So, we took them out first to nip it in the bud. They’re teaming up with Burgos to take down Bariel. I heard that and couldn’t just stand by. Does that make sense?”

Beric gestured for a magic stone to record everything. Efdiram’s eyebrows furrowed. Something about this was off. Could it be that Bariel set this up to suppress the Atan tribe?

“Efdiram, what should we do?”

“Shh. I don’t know what their real intentions are.”

They might be using this conflict as an excuse to annihilate the tribe. But losing palace mages in battle would be a heavy price, and the nearby rift was a serious problem.

Besides, the Atan tribe is a manifested race. Even if they were wiped out now, sooner or later, a new generation would appear.

“It’s just a short-term gain. The Atan tribe won’t disappear. If a new generation arises, history will begin again under deep hostility.”

This wasn’t a national decision. It wasn’t like Bariel.

Efdiram motioned for the Atan tribe to fall back, then looked at Hale.

“Are you trying to start a proper fight?”

“You’re not listening. I said lay down your weapons and surrender. No more disturbances. The rift, and us—we won’t tolerate it.”

The implication was clear: stop now, and everything would be forgotten.

Efdiram narrowed her eyes and nodded to her subordinates. They cautiously sheathed their weapons at their waists.

“Nice meeting you, idiots. Now get to Burgos.”

“To Burgos?”

“Yeah, get lost.”

“Go to Burgos.”

The moment Efdiram heard that, she snapped to attention. If the Atan tribe entered Burgos, Bariel would use the excuse of chasing hostile forces to follow them in.

Veno, noticing this too, whispered to Efdiram.

“Is it okay to enter Burgos? It might be cleaner to settle things before going in.”

“There’s only one way to settle this. Either Bariel or we give up on the rift.”

“Then let’s just cut it off here.”

If trouble was going to happen in Burgos anyway, fighting here wasn’t a bad choice. They could cripple Bariel’s forces, activate the rift, and then leave Bariel behind.

Right now, only three mages and one magic swordsman stood before them. It would be tough, but possible.

But…

‘Is this really the whole force?’

Efdiram glanced around and spotted a group watching from afar. Judging by their numbers, all the barrier mages had gathered.

“This is unfavorable.”

“What should we do?”

“First, we cross into Burgos and then find a way. Rutherford—”

The moment Rutherford’s name was mentioned, Efdiram spotted a parasol among the wizards. Though the face beneath it was hidden, instinct told him one thing: if Rutherford had returned, then he must have come back as well.

Ian Hielo—the prodigy wizard and guide to all mages.

“Hah.”

He’d walked right into the trap. No wonder the mad dog was acting like he was following a script. Efdiram growled, glaring at Beric.

“Your master’s something else, huh?”

“Don’t know what it is, but our master’s always been amazing.”

“Next time we meet, I’ll give you the same haircut.”

Snap.

Beric raised his middle finger politely in response.

Efdiram ordered a retreat, and the Atan tribe backed away cautiously, eyes fixed on the wizards until their presence vanished completely. Only then did the mages breathe a collective sigh of relief and relax.

“Ian, the Atan tribe has disappeared. We’ll send scouts right after them.”

“Just confirm they’re leaving Bariel.”

“Yes, understood. But Efdiram kept glancing this way. Do you think he recognized you?”

Probably. That parasol was far too bright and out of place—anyone would find it suspicious. Ian folded the parasol with a reassuring smile.

“Since Rutherford’s back, it’s only natural they’d expect me to be back too. But the important thing is they haven’t seen me in person yet.”

“Why does that matter?”

“Because they’re certain, but can’t be sure.”

“Hm, I don’t quite get it.”

“You’ll see soon enough. Scout quickly and return.”

Ian tapped the wizard’s back and checked his watch. It wasn’t the right time yet, but maybe by tonight or early dawn, they could attempt to open the portal.

“My magic has returned.”

“Got it! We’ll be quick!”

With that, the wizards took to the sky, flying joyfully across the path where the Atan tribe had vanished. Ian savored the now lukewarm tea in his cup, a satisfied hum escaping his lips.

“Hmm.”

“Iaaan!”

Beric’s booming voice rang out, but the wizards quickly clamped their hands over his mouth, begging him to be quiet before grabbing him by the collar and lifting him into the air.

Beric dangled his limbs, a proud grin plastered across his face.

“Ian! Did I do good?”

“Yeah. Did you get beaten up a lot?”

“No! Somehow, I just couldn’t get hit. So I pretty much beat them all up.”

“Well done.”

That brief but genuine praise made Beric’s smile widen.

“Thanks, everyone.”

“Nah, it wasn’t much.”

“Yeah! I did all the work! Ha ha ha!”

“Alright then—”

Ian stood and looked toward the barrier. A cool breeze gently ruffled the child’s hair.

“Let’s head to the palace now.”