Episode 563
Have you ever truly felt the passage of time with all your senses?

Ian suddenly looked up at the sky and thought so.

The damp breeze brushing through his hair, the clouds that never linger for a moment, the shouts of the reporting soldiers, the increasingly strong scent of grass—all his senses told him they were passing through the heart of the night. And at the end of all this, with the dawn, there would be a fierce battle.

“Ian.”

Swish!

The mages who had been surveying inside the barrier from high above shook their heads.

“Nothing unusual beyond the regular soldiers.”

“We couldn’t detect any new weapons or mages. It’s very dark, and they’ve deliberately stretched out tents over there. If we lower our angle and get closer, we might see something, but it’s risky.”

“The problem is, we can’t tell if the black armor worn by the regular soldiers belongs to Ruswena. Since Burgos armor is generally dark, it’s hard to distinguish at night.”

“Understood. Good work.”

At Ian’s gesture, the mages bowed and withdrew.

Jin, Tweller, and the officers were gathered around a map spread beneath the nearly burnt-down candle wax. After hearing the mages’ report, they shifted their gaze to the map, hiding their disappointment.

“We have a rough understanding of the surrounding terrain, but the internal structure is anyone’s guess. If it were the capital, Kalamath, it would be easier, but Agiar has never had direct contact with Bariel, so there’s no information.”

“There’s a central area inside the barrier?”

“We pieced together civilian testimonies, but it’s hard to fully trust them. After all, the authors are Burgos people.”

Agiar was made up of three layers of barriers.

The outermost, the Third Gate, which Bariel’s army was currently observing.

Then the Second Gate, about one and a half times taller than the Third.

And finally, the First Gate, twice as high.

“The entrance narrows as you go inward, making defense easier the deeper you go.”

“Ground combat is almost hopeless. Regular soldiers wouldn’t dare attempt it.”

“Now I understand why Rutherford chose this city as a stronghold. Sir Ian, are you alright with this?”

Ian studied the map carefully and replied.

“Yes, it’s actually for the best. As you said, breaking through by ground would cause too many unnecessary casualties. I heard there’s a river nearby called the ‘Breast of Burgos.’”

“This is the plan.”

“Cut off their water supply without contaminating the river. They won’t hold out long, so even a temporary cutoff will do. Minister Tweller.”

“Hmm. Understood. I’ll bring in a golem to handle it. Once dawn breaks, will we be able to assess the structure inside the barrier?”

“I can’t guarantee it, but yes.”

“With Ian and the mages leading the charge, this means an aerial assault. If we push with the golems from outside while applying pressure from within, entry should be easier. Your Majesty, what do you think?”

There were five golems in total. One would move toward the river, leaving four.

“That sounds just right. Since Agiar is on high ground and the barriers are tall, using golems first is the right move.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then we’ll prioritize defending the city, understanding its structure, and neutralizing the barriers.”

As Jin made his decision and Ian acknowledged it, a commotion arose outside the tent.

A surprise night attack? Tweller instinctively stood, but the soldier who entered with Jin’s permission brought a different report.

“Excuse me, Minister Ian.”

“What is it?”

“A woman wishes to see you. Her identity is unknown. She insists on meeting you in person to state her name…”

What now?

Ian, Jin, and Tweller exchanged puzzled looks. A woman wanting to see the Minister of Magic without revealing her identity? In the middle of a war?

Tweller scolded sternly.

“How dare you bring trivial matters here!”

“Ah, yes. We thought she might be mad and tried to turn her away, but what she showed us seemed unusual.”

The soldier carefully placed half of a jewel on the table. Even to his untrained eyes, it looked extraordinary, so he reported it.

Ian and Jin immediately recognized it.

‘A royal jewel.’

A woman carrying a royal jewel but refusing to reveal her identity. Both thought of the same person.

“Bring her in quietly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After the soldier left, Jin signaled the officers to clear the room.

Once Ian confirmed the room was quiet, he told the curious Tweller.

“It’s Melania.”

“Melania? From Haiman?”

“Yes. A survivor of the destroyed clan, so she can’t easily reveal her name anywhere. The jewel is likely one of those lost to the abyss ten years ago during that incident.”

Soon, a woman cloaked deeply in a robe entered the tent. The soldiers were on guard, but Ian’s gesture forced them to step back.

Melania bowed deeply to Jin.

“I humbly greet Your Majesty.”

“Melania?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m sorry I cannot speak my name lightly.”

When Melania lifted her robe, Jin and Tweller’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked exactly as she had ten years ago.

They covered the candlelight to soften the glow. It must not be known that a survivor of the destroyed clan was here.

“What happened?”

The question carried many layers: why Melania had come to Agiar, what had happened to Gypsy and Clark, and why she sought out Bariel’s camp.

Melania lowered her forehead almost to the ground and slowly recounted what had transpired.

“I made a deal with the secret-eating Gypsy and escaped the abyss safely. I was with a man named Clark from Merelrof, and since our goals somewhat aligned, we traveled together.”

“Aligned goals?”

“Your Majesty, you remember the sins of my family—the disgraceful events under the name of Haiman.”

“Of course. I remember well how the Haiman family’s treachery nearly brought ruin to the throne. In fact, these wounds are part of that history.”

At that, Melania slowly raised her head.

Ten years is such a long time. How had the once small prince grown into an emperor with such dignity? She bowed again and continued.

“I survived thanks to Sir Ian’s plan. They wanted to track Rutherford’s location through me, and I sought a way to survive on my own.”

“Minister Ian.”

Tweller looked at him in surprise, but Jin raised his hand to calm him.

“I already know. It was done with my permission, so there’s no issue.”

“Only a handful in the royal family know.”

Melania cautiously added, reading the atmosphere.

“In the process, I met Rutherford but unintentionally fell into the abyss along with the royal ambush. Your Majesty, please understand—I have never denied being a Bariel.”

“You cannot deny you are a survivor of the destroyed clan. Time is limited. Speak your wishes and what you can offer. I will judge accordingly.”

Melania took a breath and spoke quietly.

“Grant me a new identity. Let me start anew in Bariel.”

“What will you offer in return?”

“As Sir Ian first requested, I can reveal Rutherford’s whereabouts.”

“What do you mean?”

“Clark will approach Rutherford carrying the jewel half. Since he was close to Rutherford, he can join without issue. From now on, all of Rutherford’s movements will be under Bariel’s control.”

Tweller’s fingers twitched. This was more than just a jewel. If they could track Rutherford, the possibilities were endless.

Ian glanced at Jin, giving a positive look.

“And—”

Melania wasn’t finished.

“The secret-eating Gypsy will seek out Rutherford to learn his secrets. If you want to stop the deal, act quickly.”

“Does Rutherford have secrets?”

“Neither I nor the Gypsy know. But since Rutherford plays a significant role in your life, Sir Ian, the Gypsy judged it so.”

A meeting between the Gypsy and Rutherford.

Ian pondered for a moment.

If Rutherford’s secrets were exposed, it would be a problem. And if Rutherford were to betray the Gypsy, it would be even worse.

“Sir Ian, why the hesitation?”

“If the Gypsy’s belly is cut open, the world will fall into chaos.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know exactly, but when I faced the Gypsy on the street before, I felt it clearly. She had no fear of my death and seemed certain of something.”

“Then Rutherford will be delighted.”

Tweller interjected quietly.

“Isn’t he the one who wants to create chaos?”

If the world falls into disorder, who will suffer the most? Burgos, already fallen to the bottom?

No, Bariel. Standing firm at the heart of Gaia, Bariel. For Rutherford and his group, this is just another path to achieve their goals.

“Clark will be by Rutherford’s side. He’ll do everything he can to closely monitor the situation and prevent the worst from happening, but even he doesn’t know what might occur if the Gypsy’s ship is split apart.”

Ian lightly tapped his forehead at Melania’s words.

“So, one more mission added to the list.”

“To make sure the Gypsy’s ship doesn’t break?”

“Yes. I just hope she can still move as swiftly as before. But who knows.”

Would that even work on Rutherford?

As Ian fell into a brief silence, the sound of a water buffalo’s horn echoed grandly from outside.

Bwooo—

Bwoo—

A signal that dawn was breaking.

Jin blew out the candle completely with his hand and ordered Melania.

“You’ll stay here for now. I’ll discuss your status and treatment with Sir Ian and decide. Until then, if there’s anything you can do to help Bariel, don’t hesitate to speak up.”

Melania bowed deeply and remained still until everyone had left the tent. Ian brushed past her and then gazed up at the dawn sky, now tinged with a pale blue.

“What about the barrier?”

“No response yet.”

The sun’s edge was slowly rising. At most, thirty minutes. Ian clicked his pocket watch and addressed the mages.

“Prepare to move out.”

“Yes, Sir Ian.”

“We’re going to take Rutherford’s head.”

“I’ll follow you to the end.”

Ian tightened his gloves, and the mages stripped the robe from his shoulders.

The day of reckoning had arrived.