Episode 597

“Purupato? How long does it take to get there?”

“The last time, the messenger from that side rode a horse here. It should take about two to three days to arrive, I think.”

“Really? That’s closer than I thought. I’d heard that once you get to Purupato, it’s a quick trip to Kalamath, so I assumed it was farther.”

“No, no. The distance from Purupato to Kalamath is actually quite far. But the route there is gentler and easier compared to other paths. That’s why it feels quicker.”

“Hmm, I see. Hey! Did you tie the other side properly? Why does it keep coming undone?”

“Wait a moment. I’ll check.”

The day they left Agiar for Purupato.

The soldiers bustled about, loading the wagons with supplies. The provisions brought from Bariel were running low, but thanks to restocking in Agiar, the volume had only increased. It was tough work, but since these supplies were their lifeline, they had no choice but to carry as much as possible.

“Separate anything valuable enough to be considered currency and send it back to Bariel. Prioritize the supplies.”

“Yes, understood!”

“Should we move these items too?”

“Those go in the rear wagon! Where is Lord Ian?”

“He’s inside, organizing the study.”

Tap, tap, tap!

Inside was just as chaotic as outside the castle. When the mage opened the study door, Ian was seen sorting through papers among old, tattered books.

Ian tilted his head in curiosity, and the mage pointed outside as he reported.

“Lord Ian, the King of Astana wishes to see you briefly.”

“Send him in. Is the upstairs all tidied up?”

“Yes, it’s done as instructed. Please come in!”

Creak.

Unlike the busy Bariel side, the Astana camp seemed more relaxed. Ian smiled faintly at the sight and continued packing.

“You look so calm. I envy you.”

“Don’t be so quick to say that. We chose to stay behind in Agiar on behalf of Bariel. That responsibility is anything but relaxing.”

Astana’s decision to remain in Agiar as overseers was quite reasonable. They could maintain effective control with minimal forces, continue research on Laromedia, and since Agiar was closer to the northern region than Purupato, communication was easier.

When Hasha sat on the sofa, Ian finished what he was doing and took a seat opposite him.

“What about Katimako?”

“He left last night ahead of us. For the favor you requested.”

Tracking down the puppeteer’s trail and helping find Filia was impossible alone. Ian also had to continue Laromedia research here. So he returned to Astana to gather others knowledgeable in puppetry.

Trusting him to return with news, Ian nodded in gratitude.

“I will repay this favor someday, in the name of Ian Hielo.”

Ian’s words drew a clear line, calling it a personal matter of the Minister of Magic. Hasha laughed. What a stubborn man. Perhaps even Ian hadn’t realized what he’d just said.

“When this is all over, we’ll talk in detail. I heard you’re leaving before lunch, so you’d better hurry. At this rate, it looks like we won’t get moving until evening.”

Why? The mage said the castle’s interior was almost fully organized. Ian raised an eyebrow in puzzlement, but Hasha just smiled quietly.

“Well then, I’ll be off. See you later.”

As Hasha left, Ian glanced out the window. He wondered if something was wrong, but—

“Just a little more!”

“No, Lord Beric, we can’t! The wagon will break down if you keep loading it! You saw earlier. This really, really won’t work.”

“No, just a little! Just this much!”

“Ahhh! Don’t pile it on, Lord Beric!”

Beric was shoving chunks of meat into the already overloaded wagon. The soldiers rolled up their sleeves to stop him, but could they break his stubbornness? He found a gap and forced the meat in, causing the wagon to tilt dangerously.

Creak!

“Ahhh! No!”

“What the—why is this wagon so flimsy?”

“Lord Beric! I told you it’s no good!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. We can just set it upright. What’s the big deal?”

Does he think he’s on the same level as the regular soldiers? They had to fix the wagon, take hits from their superiors, and pick up the spilled goods. The soldiers, holding back tears, leaned against the wall in frustration.

Watching this, Ian clicked his tongue and called for the mage.

“Tie up Beric.”

“Yes, Lord Ian. I’ve been waiting for this order.”

The mage dashed out like the wind as soon as he received the command. Ian finished organizing the documents, then stepped out of the study to slowly survey the castle grounds. Aside from the noisy area, preparations for departure seemed nearly complete.

Then, something caught his eye—

Swish! Swish!

Barsabeda was alone in a corner, swinging a wooden sword.

Ian approached her slowly. She twisted her body swiftly, then pointed the sword at him with unerring precision. Though still blindfolded, her aim was remarkably accurate.

“Who are you?”

“I am Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic.”

“Oh, you’ve come.”

With a light bow, Barsabeda lowered the tip of her sword.

“Your form is precise despite not seeing.”

“Thank you, but I still have a long way to go.”

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“Well, it would be a lie to say it isn’t, but I’m fine. When everyone’s busy, I can train alone like this. Sometimes, not seeing actually lets me see more.”

With help from her comrades, Barsabeda had regained her grip on the sword. Though she was allowed to remove her blindfold outside Agiar, she had no intention of doing so. She didn’t want to leave even the slightest risk to Bariel because of herself.

Practice. Train. Even if it’s not the same as before, she would do her part. As a result, she seemed to have learned how to perceive opponents through senses other than sight.

“…A true swordswoman.”

Under the blindfold, Barsabeda’s lips curved into a smile. Just then, Jaret entered the backyard to fetch her and, spotting Ian, added quickly.

“There you are, Minister. About Beric—”

“I said to tie him up.”

“Oh, right. Thank you.”

“Is it time to depart?”

“Yes, Barsabeda. Get ready.”

“Understood, Captain.”

Outside, the wagons lined up in a long row, ready to depart. Armed soldiers formed ranks, waiting for the signal.

Ian spotted Minister Tweller coming out with Jin and greeted him.

“Sir Ian, shall we depart?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What’s that?”

Jin asked, and Ian’s gaze shifted to the right. Among the wagons was a supply wagon with soldiers assigned to guard it.

Inside lay the frozen Rutherford, asleep. Ian was confident there was no problem.

“Captain Akorella took full responsibility for its construction. No need to worry.”

“Well done. Keep tight security until we reach the Tolun Temple. Tweller, is it true that five hundred soldiers remain in Astana and Agiar?”

“Yes, Officer Mantis will stay to command them. Also, some soldiers will be assigned to transport the spoils back to Bariel.”

After Jin confirmed the plan one last time, he boarded the wagon.

The soldiers waved the Bariel flag high, and the residents of Agiar watching from outside the walls had mixed feelings. The enemy who had broken down their walls was leaving—that was welcome. But the emperor leaving was cause for concern. No one could predict how the Bariel soldiers left behind would act.

Bwooo—

Bwooo—

The sound of buffalo horns echoed loudly. The lead wagon began to move slowly, followed by the soldiers stepping forward.

“Well then, take good care of Agiar.”

“Don’t worry, Minister.”

“Hasha, thank you.”

“Farewell, my friend.”

Hasha and the Astanians, along with Officer Mantis and his soldiers, bowed respectfully to the departing emperor.

Crossing the broken Agiar walls and onto the endless road beyond, the procession began to pick up speed.

Tap, tap, tap!

Hiiing!

Their destination was Purupato. It wasn’t far from here, so if they hurried, they could arrive by tomorrow morning. The mages kept watch from above, and the march went smoothly. At least—

“Lord Ian! There’s a forest ahead!”

Three hours after departure.

At the mage’s shout, Ian pulled out a map and spread it open. Strange. There was nothing unusual marked. The map didn’t show elevation, but there shouldn’t have been anything here. Maybe there was a mistake in the distance, but the planned route didn’t include any forest.

“Better to stop for a moment, Minister Tweller.”

“Troops, halt!”

“Halt!”

At Ian’s suggestion, Tweller raised his hand. The soldiers pulled their reins, and the wagons came to a complete stop.

Jin drew back the curtain and looked out. Ian flew over to explain.

“Your Majesty, there’s a forest ahead that isn’t on the map.”

“A forest? Suddenly? That’s odd.”

“Yes. Since this map was obtained in Agiar, it should have been marked. Either the map is faulty, or the forest itself is the problem. We have no information at the moment.”

“There’s no need to take risks. Is there another route?”

“Do you remember the massive old tree from two hours ago? If you turn right there, there’s another path. But depending on the size of the forest, that path might also lead deeper into the woods. More importantly, that route is rough terrain, which would put a lot of strain on the wheels of the Bariel carriage.”

We can’t just swap out all the carriage wheels. Both routes carry their own risks, that much is clear.

Ian read the signal sent from the mage in the sky and relayed it.

“They say the forest isn’t that large. From above, it looks like it would take about ten minutes by carriage to get through. How about sending a scout first? If the carriage can pass and there are no major issues, it might be best to proceed immediately.”

“Hmm. Minister Tweller, what do you think?”

“Yes, I agree with Sir Ian. We stopped only because the path isn’t on the map. Otherwise, we would have entered without hesitation. It doesn’t look treacherous, and the mages are keeping watch from the sky ahead…”

“Very well. Send out the scouts.”

“I’ll dispatch two mages quickly.”

“In the meantime, give the soldiers some rest.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Swish!

Ian signaled to the mages waiting in the sky, motioning them to scout the forest. The two mages swiftly flew toward the edge of the woods, approaching the forest’s entrance.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

The moment they tried to enter, their bodies were forcibly turned back and pushed away. Everyone watching, including those who had gone in themselves, was stunned and confused by what was happening.

The two mages tried again and again to break through, but each time their bodies were twisted around, forcing them to face the direction they came from.

“Ian, that….”

“This isn’t an ordinary forest.”

It was as if the forest itself was rejecting anyone who tried to enter, sending them back as if by some invisible force. As everyone stood there, bewildered, Ian gave orders to the other mages.

“Check the path to the right at the fork. See if there’s any unmarked forest or unusual terrain there.”

The first day of Bariel’s southward march was off to a bad start.