Episode 520
Meanwhile, in the northern war-torn region of Burgos.

Crows descended upon the towering piles of corpses, and the blood-red river flowing beneath soaked the entire land. As soldiers struggled through the sinking ground, dragging bodies down, the crows let out mournful cries.

Among those cries, the wails of survivors were faintly mixed in, but sadly, they were drowned out by the cacophony of beasts. Screams, shouts, and howls were just part of their daily existence.

“What a ruined sight.”

Efdiram, chieftain of the Atan tribe, watched the scene from atop the barricade. When they first entered Burgos late at night, she hadn’t been able to see clearly, but now, under the rising sun, the devastation was beyond words.

Maybe it would have been better if the sun never rose at all. Muttering this, her subordinate Beno added,

“This must be what it looks like beneath the Rift.”

“Yeah. Probably something like this. What about Rutherford?”

“Not yet.”

“Damn, he’s playing hard to get. We came all this way.”

Efdiram frowned deeply.

It had already been several days since they entered the Royalist faction’s stronghold, yet Rutherford hadn’t shown himself. All they needed was confirmation that he was alive and to find out what his plans were for Idgal and the Rift. But damn it.

“Could this be some trick by the Royalists?”

“If Rutherford returns, it would help rally the scattered forces. But you saw—Ian Hielo came back around the same time. It’s no lie.”

Just then, as Efdiram flicked her tangled hair aside, she heard footsteps and looked up. Rutherford, loosely draped in a shirt, was approaching with her group.

She crossed her arms on the backrest of her chair and gave Rutherford and her entourage a once-over.

“Hey. Looking sharp.”

“Efdiram. Long time no see.”

“Yeah. Damn, you’re expensive these days. It’s been so hard just to get a glimpse of you. Prices have really gone up in the last ten years.”

“You haven’t changed.”

Efdiram studied Rutherford carefully, noting she hadn’t aged a day in a decade. Damn, what the hell happened down there with these guys? She was dying to know.

She crossed her legs casually and looked up at Rutherford.

“Let me get straight to the point. Can you keep making Idgal? You know the world’s changed, right? Idgal is being used to suppress the Rift. Aside from keeping Bariel’s mages in check, the Rift is being sealed off. As chieftain of the Atan tribe, I want to know your stance clearly.”

“The Rift will continue to expand.”

“Uh-huh. What’s your proof?”

The power of the gods is growing stronger.

Though she hadn’t said it outright, Rutherford definitely felt it. The emergence of new Rift zones meant the gods sleeping beneath the earth were stirring.

“There’s a suspicious zone near central Bariel as well.”

“Wow, inside Bariel?”

Efdiram raised an eyebrow, unsure whether to believe it.

“We can keep producing Idgal, but we’ll regulate the amount circulated to activate the Rift.”

“So, you’re still aligned with us in purpose?”

“They say the path is the same. But since we’re looking at very different destinations, it’s hard to say the goals match.”

“Think whatever you want. Does that change the essence?”

Efdiram reached out her hand to Rutherford. As before, it was a gesture to keep things amicable going forward.

But Rutherford just brushed her hair back and looked down at the outstretched hand. Sensing something off, Beno placed his hand on his sword’s hilt.

“By the way, you brought some unnecessary baggage.”

“Unnecessary?”

“Did you have a run-in with the Bariel palace before coming here?”

“No, damn it. Already digging that up?”

Rutherford pulled a rolled-up scroll from her pocket and tossed it over.

“The Bariel delegation sent this. They say there was armed conflict between the palace guards and the Atan tribe at the border. The palace wants to clamp down and is hunting you down, demanding you be handed over. Do you understand what this means?”

Efdiram pinched the paper between her fingers as if it were filth.

“Hah, so this is how it’s going to be.”

“If you refuse, Bariel will ally with the Royalists. But handing you over after extending a hand like this? That’s just pitiful and frustrating.”

“Bullshit. Pitiful my ass.”

They probably just wanted the Atan forces. Starting with their chieftain, the group included many mages and magic swordsmen. Even the ordinary soldiers had the spirit of warriors, sure to be a help in battle.

“So, what now? You want us to leave? I thought you were just sizing us up all these days, but you came here for this?”

“We want you to prove you’re worth the risk. To us.”

Rutherford nodded toward the people standing behind her—the core of the Royalist faction. They stared at Efdiram with stern expressions.

“Worth… worth, huh? If I cut your throat right here, would that prove the sharpness of your blade?”

“Tsk, tsk. How barbaric.”

“Yes, barbarian right here. Who the hell are you? Come out.”

Efdiram flipped her middle finger, but Beno quietly stopped her. After such a long wait, he understood her frustration, but the situation wasn’t good.

As they all knew, Rutherford’s interests aligned with the Atan tribe’s, and if they left Burgos, they’d inevitably face Bariel. Beno pointed this out.

“Bariel wants the Atan’s cooperation, especially in managing the Rift zones in the north. They issued a warrant, but it’s a ploy to sever our ties with Burgos. If we return to Bariel, the empire will welcome us. Wouldn’t that cause problems for you?”

“Those who follow the stars and chase the wind, living under the empire? Amazing. Efdiram, you’ve changed your mind a lot.”

“Cut the crap and just bow to each other. Burgos is falling apart from civil war. What are you going to do if we’re not here?”

Efdiram glared sharply, and those standing over Rutherford coughed in disbelief. After a moment of murmuring, Rutherford smiled leisurely and waved her hand.

“It’s true Burgos is falling apart, but we’re not the only ones who want to walk this path with you.”

“What?”

“Everyone on Gaia continent except Bariel and Klipford will unite. The hungrier Bariel gets torn apart, the more the starving will feast.”

“Sounds like Luswena’s jumping in again.”

“Isn’t it human nature to want to erase the shame of the past?”

“Just say you have a bad memory. What difference does sounding fancy make?”

Though she spoke roughly, Efdiram understood perfectly. If they could topple Bariel this time, Luswena could reclaim the stolen mages and refuse the long-standing reparations.

‘Besides, right now, only the inexperienced crown prince is holding the royal family together. The magic department’s influence isn’t what it used to be. With Ian Hielo’s arrival, who knows what will happen. If we want to carve up Bariel, an opportunity like this won’t come again.’

“Is Hwan also joining?”

“Highly likely.”

“You won’t give a straight answer even if your mouth splits.”

“But I can promise one thing.”

“What’s that?”

Rutherford looked up at the sky where crows circled and smiled.

“This time, even Tolrun will lend its strength to Burgos.”

If Bariel pushes Burgos back, Tolrun will be next. For them, Burgos is a kind of frontline defense.

Efdiram bit her fingertips anxiously, then muttered irritably.

“Does it matter if we stick around here? We’re going to be fighting Bariel head-on anyway.”

“Justification. That’s your justification.”

“Sigh. Fine. So what? What do you want from us? Some kind of friendship fee? Damn stingy bastards. But if we prove our worth, no complaints afterward. Tell me. What do you want?”

“First, we’re tracking the Bariel delegation’s whereabouts. Once located, go and deal with them.”

The Atan tribe themselves.

That way, Burgos can claim no involvement while provoking Bariel’s preemptive strike, securing a public justification.

Plus, it prevents the Atan from flitting here and there like bats.

“Uh-huh. And?”

“Lead the charge against Bariel’s forces.”

“Be honest. You don’t have many soldiers, do you?”

“Efdiram, it’s good you’re still the same, but you’re crossing the line.”

“Man, your sense of humor is dead.”

Efdiram stretched and let out a short, deep sigh. What choice did she have? There was only one path.

“Alright. Let’s ride this out together. If it sinks, we’ll go down cozy and underground.”

Just as Rutherford signaled her subordinates and turned away, Efdiram added,

“What about the Royalists? Shouldn’t you deal with them first? Before outside forces get involved.”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Typical. Fine. Do whatever you want.”

Efdiram furrowed his brow in irritation and cracked his stiff shoulders. After lying around for days, eating little and only smelling blood, his body was aching all over. Well, at least things turned out well.

“Let’s go.”

After finishing their business, Efdiram and Beno headed down to the other side of the barrier. Seeing this, a vassal of the Half-King faction whispered to his companion.

“Can we really trust them?”

“Don’t let their attitude fool you. Their skills are solid. That Atan tribe’s magic swordsman in the palace wouldn’t stand a chance against them. You can’t compare those raised on monsters to those who weren’t.”

“Right. That reckless guy, you mean?”

“Yeah. Anyway, the palace guard won’t all come out, so if the Atan tribe steps up front and center, they should be able to hold their ground until reinforcements arrive. Maybe even do more than that.”

---

Caw! Bang! Caw!

“Ugh! So noisy!”

At that moment—

Beric, who had been passed out on the sofa in the Ministry of Magic’s office, covered his ears with a pillow. It wasn’t exactly quiet here, but this was a whole new level of racket!

He tried to ignore it several times, but finally lost his patience and kicked the door open.

Bam!

“What’s all this noise?”

“Oh, it’s Beric.”

“Beric, huh? That bruised face hasn’t changed.”

“Hey Beric. Even we, who live holed up in caves, can tell when the sun’s up and when it’s not.”

A crowd of dozens of Dera tribe members, towering up to their thighs, had gathered in the Ministry. They looked freshly arrived, each carrying heavy loads slung over their shoulders.

The wizards were at a loss, scrambling awkwardly through the crowd, while some of the Dera tribe members hammered the Ministry walls with their mallets, letting their curiosity run wild.

…So that’s the source of the noise.

“Hey! Why are you banging on the walls like that?”

“Can’t hit your own head, can you?”

“Always picking a fight the moment you see something.”

“Alright, everyone, please pay attention for a moment.”

Romandro appeared, looking exhausted and drenched in sweat from trying to control the Dera tribe. Waving a document in his hand, he called out.

“We’ve just purchased a territory for the Dera tribe to stay and craft weapons. We’ll handle moving the supplies, so let’s head over there first. Check it out, and if anything’s missing, just let us know.”

“Oh, really? Let’s go!”

“I’m in! Why waste time outside? Let’s get started right away!”

“The biggest forge is mine!”

“Rock-paper-scissors!”

“Can’t even straighten your fingers.”

With a single gesture from Romandro, the ‘moles’ all moved at once. It was quite a sight, and even the wizards stopped to watch.

As a dozen massive wagons bustled out, Ian lightly grabbed Beric’s shoulder.

Tap.

“Ian! These mole bastards are—”

“Beric.”

Beric paused at Ian’s nod.

“If you’ve rested enough, let’s move the supplies. Time to get to work.”