Chapter 571
Verosion.

A legendary figure born between god and man, who quelled Gaia’s chaos, founded Bariel, and ruled the empire with unwavering power for over three centuries.

To be the emperor of Bariel was to bear the name Verosion—a mark of divine selection and a symbol of honor.

Verosion.
Emperor of Bariel.
The heart of Gaia, the pinnacle of the empire.

“…Ian Verosion.”

Jin found himself unconsciously rolling the name on his tongue. The syllables flowed softly, beautiful yet tinged with sorrow.

As joy glimmered in Ian’s eyes, an indescribable emotion welled up in Jin’s gaze as well. Ian smiled faintly and clasped his hand.

“Your Majesty, please compose yourself.”

This is a battlefield. How could His Majesty, the lord of all present, show such raw emotion? This is what I have been told—indeed, what you yourself have revealed to me. Your will has flowed through time, reaching me a hundred years from now.

“How… how is this even possible—”

“There’s too much to explain in detail right now. But if you want a brief summary…”

Ian’s voice trailed off as he glanced around. The reactions were unmistakable—mostly stunned silence, some barely able to breathe.

“……”

“……!”

Hail dropped his dry cigarette, and Akorella let out a silent scream, clawing at the hair of the mages beside her. The mages, hair in hand, froze in place.

Ian motioned gently for calm and continued.

“A hundred years from now, I became emperor as a boy and faced rebellion before reaching adulthood. The enemy was my older nephew, who had controlled my life since childhood. At the moment I was imprisoned and about to be killed, my close friend and Minister of Magic, Naum Obia, brought me here.”

“…Is such magic even possible?”

“It was forbidden magic.”

That explained Ian’s deep fascination with the Abyss.

Everyone understood now. Especially Zaya, who covered her mouth in shock—she hadn’t imagined Ian shared the same purpose.

“This ultimately reached the gods. Concerned that shadows were disturbing Gaia, the gods arranged for me, the illegitimate Ian, to be the vessel. That’s how I came to be here.”

“Arranged?”

“This is the path we have walked and will continue to walk.”

Using Rutherford to create Idgal, balancing the overflowing cracks, having Arsen—blessed by the royal family—deal with the vile monsters, and Jin ascending the throne as fate intended.

All of it was the work of divine intervention through ‘Ian.’ Whether the illegitimate Ian or Emperor Ian.

“Just as the gods used me as a tool, the shadows used Rutherford as theirs. They eroded souls like weathered stone.”

The monsters’ brainwashing, impossible to break without the royal blessing.

Jin thought of his mother, Dilaina, and frowned briefly. She had been like a parasite, deeply embedded in Gaia and Bariel’s heart—wearing his own face.

“In short, that’s everything. But as I said, this is your Bariel, Your Majesty, and I exist as a divine instrument. So, as before, I remain Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic.”

Ian smiled softly and nodded.

As the answer settled, a wave of realization swept through everyone’s minds.

“So that’s why you knew about ‘that passage.’”

“Huh? Captain Hail, what did you say? What passage?”

“Wait, hold on. I’m surprised how well this all makes sense, considering it just hit me. This isn’t just my imagination, right?”

“…Yeah, it’s true.”

“What? My imagination?”

“No, you idiot. Remember when Ian once found a precedent even the administration didn’t know about and told us to reference it? I thought it was strange back then.”

“When was that? There have been so many things, I can’t keep track.”

“Good grief. So, Ian, were you originally a mage?”

“Of course. How else could he have drawn that magic circle at such a young age?”

“Are you kidding me? Ian just said he became emperor before reaching adulthood.”

“Oh. Then—”

“His age back then and now aren’t much different.”

“Ah… I see.”

The mages, now fully alert, bombarded Ian with curious questions. They were the humans closest to the gods, believed to be favored by him. The idea that Ian’s body was divine was both astonishing and deeply moving.

“So, Ian, you’re both a mage and the emperor?”

“Yes. I was the first emperor to come from the ranks of mages.”

Most mages now worked in the palace, earning a living, but most came from lowly origins. The idea that a mage could become emperor left everyone wide-eyed and full of admiration.

“Was your magic power always this strong?”

“No, my original self was far stronger. But after meeting the gods in the Abyss, I think I’m about the same or even stronger now.”

“Crazy… so what we saw back then was weak?”

“W-What kind of god was it?”

“…A warm one.”

Ian murmured, recalling the warmth of that day vividly. The mages’ eyes shone with admiration.

Ian Hielo—or rather, Ian Verosion—had always been great, but now he seemed to have transcended all limits.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Guard and the Empire’s Defense Department were abuzz with whispers.

“Is it really true that he’s the future emperor?”

“We saw him earlier—the platinum hair and blue eyes.”

“We have no choice but to believe it. How else can we explain the author?”

“Now everything makes sense. Ten years ago, Haiman suggested the author carried royal blood.”

“King Damon said the same. There’s a connection.”

“It wasn’t nonsense. How on earth did they know?”

“Haiman is gone, but Damon remains. It won’t take long to find the answer.”

“Yes, and before that, Sir Ian might give us the answer himself.”

So that’s why smoke always rises from a chimney. The long-suspected, seemingly absurd theory was becoming reality. Everyone gasped in shock, awe, and disbelief.

“Beric! Are you okay?”

One of the palace guards poked Beric, who sat dazed on Kyu’s back. No response. His eyes glazed over as he stared at Ian, then he collapsed backward.

Thud!

“Beric! Man! Did he just faint with his eyes open?”

“First, let’s treat him. Look at his leg. Seriously.”

“What if he can’t walk after this?”

“But what about Captain Bonita and Barsabe…?”

Now that Jin thought about it, he had no idea what happened to Bonita and Barsabe. Were they under the collapsed Agiar barrier, or had they fled after Rutherford?

Ian pondered briefly, looking toward Agiar, when the atmosphere suddenly stiffened. Why? Curious, Ian turned around—and his eyes widened slightly.

“…Your Majesty.”

A single tear slipped from Jin’s usually impassive eyes. Startled, he quickly wiped it away with his fingertip, as if unaware it had fallen.

Everyone deliberately lowered or averted their gaze. The emperor’s tears were not to be seen, nor could they be.

“Ah.”

Though it was just one tear, Jin’s embarrassment was palpable. Ian stepped closer and clasped his hand again.

“I’m sorry, Sir Ian.”

“It’s alright. You can wipe it away now.”

“My heart is so tangled and overwhelmed.”

“I understand. You must be shocked.”

“More than shocked—”

Jin paused, clearing his throat.

The first feeling he recognized was joy. The Ian who had guided his hand was, in truth, the same Ian who bore the name Verosion. The happiness was overwhelming.

Next came understanding and sorrow. Now he comprehended all of Ian’s actions. How had he endured alone in the palace, carrying such a heavy secret? The pain of not being able to answer Ian’s plea to stay by his side and lead Bariel together overwhelmed him in an instant.

“Everything you did was truly for Bariel. Beyond the name Verosion, it was the will of the gods.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am sincerely grateful. Serving you by your side has allowed me to love Bariel a hundred years from now with all my heart.”

“Don’t say that. I am grateful too, and I don’t know how to express it. You are proof that I exist and will continue to exist in the future.”

“I see. Just as I am, so are you.”

“I don’t know what will happen a hundred years from now, but remember this: you are Verosion. The Verosion of Bariel. And you created Bariel a hundred years ago.”

Ian smiled, deeply moved. It was the highest praise an emperor named Ian Verosion could receive.

Jin watched him, barely holding back tears once more. Ah, now he understood why it wasn’t just joy or sorrow alone.

‘Ian’s Bariel…’

This was his Bariel, and Ian would always have to return to his own Bariel.

Before he even realized it consciously, he instinctively understood one thing: they could not be together. Now that he had ascended to the emperor’s throne, their paths were destined to diverge.

“…Still, I’m glad.”

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“That you are my family.”

“Is that so? I feel the same. It’s an incredible honor to have someone like you as family, Your Majesty.”

Their hands clasped tightly as they nodded to each other.

“We’ll have a long talk later.”

“Agreed. There’s much I want to ask, and much I want to hear.”

“I’ll relay everything, every last detail.”

Ian glanced around at those nearby, signaling that it was time for everyone to shake off their shock and step into their roles.

As the battle momentarily quieted, the Luswena forces regrouped, retreating behind the Agiar barrier while keeping a close watch on their side’s movements. It was as if…

“What the hell are those guys standing around for?” Jin muttered, drawing his sword with a flourish.

“Let’s go!”

This was the moment Ian’s presence was fully recognized—the man from Bariel a hundred years in the future. It was as if the gods themselves had sent him to prove that the empire would endure through this war and into the generations to come.

Officers followed Jin, raising their weapons, and soldiers quickly fell into battle formation.

Whoooosh—

Whoooosh—

“All units—!”

“All units!”

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

With a sharp slash of his sword, Jin led the Bariel soldiers as they surged forward once more. Beyond the piled stones, nothing stood between them and the barrier. The troops let out fierce battle cries, their spirits soaring.

“Yaaah!”

“Charge!”

Crackling footsteps!

Clang!

Amid the storm of soldiers pouring forward like grains of sand, Jin raised his sword high and shouted,

“God is with us!”