Episode 537

Jin rubbed his eyes firmly, trying to shake off the drowsiness. Since the boundary between day and night had vanished, he couldn’t tell how much time had passed, but his body was telling him more accurately than anything else that a new day had begun.

He leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes for a moment. Even though he had only been sitting quietly, enjoying the banquet, he felt utterly exhausted. It was astonishing how the mages managed to endure this—how they could keep going without showing any signs of fatigue.

A knock came at the door.

“Is that Lord Ian?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Come in.”

Just then, Ian entered, and Jin barely opened one eye to greet him. Ian glanced at his watch and nodded knowingly.

“It’s past dawn—nine in the morning. You must be tired, Your Highness.”

“I’m amazed at how you and the mages manage to keep going. None of you look even remotely worn out.”

In truth, Ian looked a bit pale, but otherwise, there was little change. The mages wandering outside the waiting room were lively and composed, showing no signs of weariness.

Ian smiled with satisfaction.

“The biggest factor is that we can share and replenish our energy. Akorella’s abilities have also played a part. Everyone’s doing their best to maintain the optimal conditions until the very end.”

“And the nobles?”

“They’re still enjoying the banquet. Those living near the palace come and go, while others rest in designated quarters. Once they regain their senses, they’ll return to the banquet hall.”

“Persistent bunch, aren’t they?”

Jin massaged his forehead, exasperated by the endless parties. Then he looked at Ian. But why have you come here?

Ian seemed to sense the question and reported.

“There’s someone among Prime Minister Shatima’s attendants from the Hwan Kingdom—a former head of the palace investigation team named Verti Erika. She came under the late king’s orders when I was stationed at the border but disappeared after a certain incident. It seems she’s returned, likely in collusion with the prime minister. I thought it best for you to see her in person.”

“The palace investigation team?”

“Yes. It’s been over ten years, and all the members under Erika’s command at the time have died. This report lists the charges applicable to Erika, along with detailed explanations.”

Ian slid the report across the table. Without hesitation, Jin began reading it, his earlier fatigue forgotten.

The attendants watching exchanged glances and clicked their tongues. It wasn’t the partygoers who were relentless—it was the Crown Prince himself. How could someone be so ruthless?

As Jin read through the report, his brow furrowed.

“Bring Shatima and Erika here.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I anticipated this and instructed them to wait outside.”

With a creak, the door opened, and two figures entered, dressed more lightly than before. They knelt respectfully on one knee, and Jin gave permission for them to sit on the sofa.

“Erika, is it?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Hmm.”

Jin tossed the report in front of her, and Erika flinched noticeably.

“As the head of the royal investigation team, you not only disobeyed the late king’s orders but also disappeared and lived under a foreign official’s authority. How is the palace supposed to interpret this?”

Despite knowing that Ian was involved in the incident and that the bodies of Mary and Chel were found, Jin’s stance was firm. Erika lowered her head without a word, and Jin continued.

“You are nothing less than a traitor to your homeland.”

“No! Absolutely not! From the moment I crossed the border, I have only waited to return home. I am, without a doubt, a Barielian.”

Erika pressed her forehead to the floor, pleading her innocence.

The atmosphere was tense, but everyone present knew this was just the opening move in a conversation. Every word was carefully calculated. Shatima gradually realized it was her turn to speak.

“Yes, Your Highness. With all due respect, Erika has never forgotten that she is Barielian. I swear she has not leaked even the smallest detail about our country. That’s why I brought her with me when I came to Bariel. I needed a bridge to Bariel.”

“A bridge?”

“I believe you understand. I cannot easily return to Hwan.”

It was a kind of exile. Under the pretext of learning new knowledge in Bariel, Shatima was forbidden to return to Hwan without the king’s permission—a fate for those who lost in the power struggle.

“So?”

“What do you want?” Jin asked cautiously.

Shatima spoke as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Please reinstate Erika as head of the palace investigation team and allow me to return to Hwan alongside her.”

“Reinstatement? Do you think the palace investigation team is some trivial position like a class president? It’s an honor not to be taken lightly.”

“I will report this. I have information that the King of Hwan met with Rutherford.”

Clatter.

Shatima produced something from her pocket—an Idgal. Its amber glow was radiant, and it was quite large, seemingly unrefined.

“After the incident ten years ago, Bariel announced an agreement to restrict and manage the use of Idgal by neighboring countries. The primary targets were Burgos, Clifoford, and Ruswena, but Hwan was included due to its proximity.”

Idgal had begun to be used to prevent fractures, mages scattered, Rutherford disappeared, and the method of making Idgal became a mystery. Bariel had no choice but to take the lead in controlling its distribution.

Of course, it was suspected that each country kept their own stash, but it was overlooked since there was no visible evidence.

“The amount of Idgal in Hwan far exceeds what was declared to Bariel. This is partly because Hwan is a trade hub, but also because Rutherford initially smuggled Idgal illegally in various forms, including jewelry.”

Jin lifted the Idgal Shatima had brought and examined it slowly, as if understanding her point.

“Alright. Let’s say I send the palace investigation team suspecting a breach of the agreement. But why must it be Verti Erika? There are many capable and trustworthy people in the palace.”

“Many in the palace have your trust, Your Highness, but in Hwan, only Verti Erika trusts me. Also, no one in the palace knows Hwan as well as Erika does. You don’t even know the king’s favorite concubine, do you?”

The second point was convincing; the first raised questions, so Jin asked again.

“Is your trust really that important?”

“Yes, absolutely. If I return, my king will see my will to survive and try to eliminate me and purge my people. To survive, I need someone I can trust.”

At that moment, Ian spoke up.

“She’s already broken and came to Bariel. What hope do we have?”

Though it could have been taken as an insult, Shatima nodded calmly. There was a right time to fight back, and now was not it.

“I have a small private army. The king ordered it to be absorbed into the state, but it was withheld when I left for Bariel. It’s only a matter of time. It’s clear where these ownerless soldiers will drift. Also, the late king had grown children.”

“You’re betting on rebellion in a neighboring country?”

“That depends on the stakes. The payout is large; you won’t be disappointed. If war breaks out, Bariel will advance toward Burgos, but what about the rear with Ruswena? And Clifoford? Do you think Clifoford, having lost its capital, can stand against Ruswena?”

She was proposing that Hwan join forces to block Ruswena. Bariel’s central location meant its flanks were blocked by other countries. If battles erupted simultaneously, Bariel’s forces would inevitably be divided.

“We cannot provide troops.”

“Neither can we. This is an internal matter for Hwan. We intend to minimize foreign involvement.”

“You may be sent back under a suitable pretext, but Verti Erika’s honor as head of the investigation team cannot be restored.”

At Jin’s decision, Erika’s shoulders twitched again. Was this truly a place she could never return to? Her fists trembled so much that the bones on the back of her hands protruded.

Jin turned away, pretending not to notice, and looked at Ian. Ian understood immediately and added on his behalf.

“Since this concerns Idgal, we will dispatch a special investigation team under the Ministry of Magic, not the palace investigation team. Any objections?”

They would meet the demands without directly getting involved.

Erika looked up at Ian in disbelief. So now—

‘You want me to serve under Ian?’

Her mouth moved a few times but no words came out. All she could do was express her gratitude.

“A few more things. Any Idgal not declared by Hwan will be treated as a breach of the agreement, with penalties assessed and all confiscated by Bariel. Also, after the war, Bariel will have priority in the distribution of Ruswena’s territories and related agreements. How does that sound? Are you agreeable?”

Even if Hwan took the initiative to stop and bring down Luswena, Bariel insisted on having the first say when it came to dividing the spoils.

It was quite unfair, but the one in immediate need was Shatima. She made a brief amendment.

“Let’s prioritize only matters concerning the territory itself. As for everything else, we should renegotiate later.”

Since it was Hwan’s soldiers who were bleeding, this seemed reasonable enough. Ian glanced around the camp, and without a word, he nodded—a signal to proceed. This was the moment when the vested opposition factions from each country, who had hoped to gain leverage by visiting Bariel, would see their advantage realized—except for the less competent ones like Luswena.

“Prime Minister Shatima, please proceed directly to the Magic Department. Since you will be entering into a contract spell, if there are any substances that interfere with magic, like Idgal, please have them removed now. The same goes for Erika. Review your duties and familiarize yourself with the instructions.”

“Your Majesty, thank you. I will make sure to repay your kindness.”

“Kindness? No, I only agreed because the share was substantial.”

As Shatima bowed gracefully, the veil covering her face and hair slipped down softly.

The two women left the reception room first, and Ian nodded to Jin in farewell.

“Please rest well, Your Majesty. I will see you again this afternoon.”

“You too. Take care of yourself.”

“Then, I will take my leave.”

Creak.

Ian, accompanied by the mages, escorted the two to the Magic Department. Unlike Shatima, who was visiting for the first time, Erika seemed familiar with the place, almost nostalgic. Turning the corner of the hallway, the entrance to the minister’s office came into view.

“…?”

There, unmistakably visible, was a red-haired man. He was sprawled out asleep, arms raised above his head—a sight that was almost eerie.

Shatima recognized him as the magic swordsman who had been riding the dragon earlier and frowned slightly. Wasn’t he drooling a bit too much?

“This way, Prime Minister Shatima. Don’t mind him,” Ian said.

Though she reluctantly tore her gaze away.

Once they closed the door behind them, Beric twitched, then gathered himself and stood up. After blinking a few times and yawning, he knelt down and raised his arms firmly.

“One, two, three, four, damn it…”

Ian had said he could lower his arms after counting to a thousand, but damn it. After five hundred, he started forgetting the numbers, and after seven hundred, he was so sleepy he felt like dying.

Sniffling, Beric focused again on counting.