Chapter 645
Tap.
Beric tapped the stranger’s head lightly with his toe. The man didn’t move at all, and for a moment, Beric thought he might be dead. But no, that wasn’t the case. The wizards, shocked beyond belief, clung to each other and asked Beric in unison.
“Is he… dead?”
“No. He’s alive.”
“Ha… what the hell? What is that supposed to mean?”
“I told you. The painting moves.”
Of course, they thought it was just drunken nonsense!
Tweller hid Jin behind his back, and Ian stepped in front of the two. The three of them were surrounded by the wizards, who formed a protective circle. Beric sniffled as he looked at the strange formation of people standing there.
“Ian, should we pull this guy out of the painting?”
“Yeah. Be careful.”
“Me? Or him?”
“Both.”
“Okay!”
Beric grabbed the stranger by the scruff of his neck and yanked hard. Covered in blood from his nose, the man was dragged around like a rag doll—clumsy and pathetic.
The wizards whispered to Ian.
“Is he… one of Rutherford’s remnants? Weren’t they all dealt with in Agiar?”
“Still, the method is exactly the same as when they broke into the palace. There must be some connection, but this guy looks pretty shabby.”
“Right? It’s shocking, but I’m not worried at all. And it seems he tried to come alone?”
“Crazy bastard, does he know where this is—?”
“Calm down. From his perspective, he was probably trying to come to Hwarang. Looks like Beric’s the one who dragged him out of the painting and caused this mess.”
“Oh, that’s true. So it’s Beric’s fault.”
“Yeah, all because of Beric.”
“Hey! I can hear you! Shut up!”
“Hmm. I said it so you’d hear.”
Beric shook the man’s head vigorously. The man groaned faintly, then slowly opened his eyes, squinting as he looked around.
“Ugh…?”
“Oh, he’s coming to. Hey! Who the hell are you?”
Smack!
“Don’t hit me, you idiot! You’ll pass out again!”
Beric slapped the man’s cheek, and the wizards gasped, rushing to stop him. Ironically, it was the man who wanted to ask questions. He looked around in panic, then reached toward the painting—trying to escape.
“Ugh, ah…”
“Where do you think you’re going? Who are you?”
“W-who are you?”
“Me? Beric.”
“Who’s that?! Aaaah!”
Beric twisted the man’s arm behind his back and pinned him down lightly. The man, completely subdued and unable to move a finger, looked dazed and on the verge of fainting again.
Ian knelt down in front of him.
“If you reveal your identity and purpose, we will release you. There may be misunderstandings between us. Magic stone paintings are serious threats to national security. It would be in your best interest to explain exactly why you were using one.”
“No, I’m… an employee of the Valijuard Guild. The painting belongs to the guild. We use it as a delivery route, but I honestly don’t know how the painting ended up here.”
At the man’s words, the wizards shot Beric a sharp look. So that’s why the painting disappeared—because of this guy.
“Valijuard?”
Ian glanced back, wondering if anyone recognized the name. Everyone just shook their heads.
“It’s a guild. We just deliver and transport goods. C-can you please let me go? My head’s pounding, and my arm hurts. I’m exhausted.”
“Beric.”
Ian’s command made Beric loosen his grip slightly.
“You deliver goods? For something like that, your load seems light.”
“This time, it’s a different mission.”
“What kind?”
“…A business secret.”
Protecting a client’s secrets was only natural. If the letter leaked, it would seriously damage the guild’s reputation. And this wasn’t just any mission—it involved a noblewoman and the Minister of Magic.
From the man’s perspective, they were thieves who broke into Hwarang without permission and violently attacked him.
“Is that so? Impressive. But that’s not the right answer.”
Ian stood up and turned away.
“You’ll cool your head in the underground prison for a while. If no charges arise after the investigation, you’ll be released.”
Crossing the country without going through immigration was punishable. But given the circumstances, if no serious charges were found, they were willing to let him off lightly. After all, the drunken dog was partly to blame.
“No!”
The man shouted, startled by the mention of the underground prison. Being detained with no clear release date was terrifying. This matter had to be resolved within a week at most—Lady Rien had promised an additional fee.
“Why?”
“There’s a deadline. It’s urgent. If you just let me finish, I’ll go to prison on my own. Please, I beg you. Haven’t I already bled enough?”
Besides, he would be searched before entering prison. It was better to use this as leverage now than risk information leaking later.
The man’s expression turned solemn as he spoke quietly.
“Ian Hielo!”
“…?”
Everyone froze at the sudden name. The man, thinking he had their attention, spoke with grave seriousness.
“You must have heard of him. The Minister of Magic of Bariel. The youngest and most talented in history, the light and salt, the very hope of Bariel! The one trusted by His Majesty the Emperor, leading the Ministry of Magic. He is the very person my mission concerns.”
The wizards’ eyes shifted to Ian. Not only them, but Jin and Tweller, who had been watching from behind, and the servants waiting by the door—all could only see the back of Ian’s head. No one could tell his expression. Had Ian ever faced someone openly praising him like this?
An eerie silence followed. Beric was the first to react.
“Hahaha! Crazy! Ugh, that’s so cheesy!”
“Ow! That hurts! Stop moving!”
“This guy’s got a talent for making people laugh. Hahaha!”
Ian crouched stiffly in front of him again.
“Why are you looking for Ian Hielo?”
“I have a letter to deliver. It’s in my right breast pocket.”
“Beric.”
“Yeah? Oh, here it is.”
“Ah! No, wait!”
Beric snatched the letter from the struggling man and handed it to Ian. As Ian read it, his brow furrowed deeply. The wizards’ eyes darted anxiously.
After a moment, Ian placed the letter on the table and showed it to Jin.
“Your Majesty, it seems there’s trouble with Hielo.”
“Trouble?”
“‘Your Majesty?’”
The man’s eyes widened in disbelief. Was he hearing correctly? There was only one person in all of Gaia’s territories called ‘Your Majesty’—the ruler of the Bariel Empire.
“This letter is from Lady Rien Merellof. It says Nersarn has left his post and left the territory.”
“Really? Could it be to find Lady Filia? Is it too late?”
Jin fell silent, and the wizards hurried over, adding their worried voices.
“I don’t know the details, but something’s definitely wrong with Hielo. The situation in Havan and Luswena is unstable. If it’s connected, it could be serious.”
“Damn. Clark’s name is here too. Was he from the Merellof family?”
“Yes. More precisely, he’s Lady Rien’s man.”
“They’re asking to send Clark. What do you plan to do?”
“First, we need to get a clear picture of Hielo’s situation. Clark was once linked to Rutherford. Even if we send him, it should be after wrapping things up at the palace.”
“I agree.”
“Hey—wait a minute!”
The man hurriedly interrupted the wizards’ conversation, fearing he’d lose his chance to keep up.
“Y-Your Majesty, you say…”
“The Emperor.”
Snap.
The wizards formed a hand platform, pointing at Jin. Silver hair, pale blue eyes, and a long scar across his face—Jin Verosion.
“Gah… then you are…”
“The Minister of Magic.”
Snap.
The wizards shifted their hands to point at Ian. Now that they looked closely, his fair complexion was striking, but the chaotic situation had kept them from noticing. This place, which had seemed like some fancy mansion…
“Ta-da. The Kalamath Royal Palace.”
“…I don’t know if I’m lucky or not.”
Ian motioned to Beric to release the man.
Though free, the man sat dazed, staring straight ahead. The Emperor, the wizards, the ministers—all right in front of him.
“You’re lucky. Ian didn’t curse you in front of everyone.”
“Beric, enough with the nonsense. Hey, you said Valijuard?”
“Yes? Ah, yes! That’s right!”
“The painting is connected to the Merellofs?”
“Yes!”
“Your Majesty.”
Jin nodded. If they could travel without using magic power, it was best to go. It would also be good to see the situation in Havan firsthand.
Ian picked up the painting.
“I want to go to Merellof. Is that possible?”
“Ah, now?”
“Seems like there’s a problem.”
“To pass through the painting, you need this magic stone.”
The man pulled a necklace from inside his clothes, revealing a dimly glowing light inside.
“Once you pass through the painting, the lights go out and everything falls silent. It takes about an hour for the lights to come back on, but since almost no one comes back immediately after going in, we don’t know for sure.”
“Magic Stone Management Department.”
“Oh, yes! I’ll check right away!”
If there’s something similar, maybe we can use that instead. The wizards who had rushed downstairs returned shortly, carrying something.
“Ian! Try this!”
“Oh, and the passage is narrow—only two people besides you can fit.”
Mrs. Lien had told Clark to come along, but the timing wasn’t right. Then what about Berrick? He still seemed a bit tipsy, but would he be okay?
“Let’s go, Ian.”
Ignoring Ian’s hesitation, Berrick stepped forward and shoved his head into the painting. Without a magic stone, no less. The paper stretched out with a long creak, and the wizards panicked, punching him in the ribs.
“Are you crazy? You’re tearing it!”
“Wait, that’s a magic stone!”
Ian put on his jacket and bowed to Jin before turning to the wizards.
“We’ll leave the magic stone Vallijuard brought behind. If we don’t return within a day, it means something’s wrong in Hielo.”
“Understood. Please be safe.”
“Hey, Ian, they like you. You’re going on another business trip, huh?”
Smack! Thwack! Thwack!
The wizards took turns punching Berrick’s head.
After their own version of a farewell, Ian reached out and stepped into the painting after the man. A cool yet comforting sensation engulfed him from his fingertips.
“Huh?”
Berrick frowned. The only painting they had come through was lying alone on the floor of the hotel lobby, its lights off.
“There’s no one here.”
“Why, why is everyone…?”
“You bastard, you scammed us, didn’t you?!”
“No! I swear I didn’t. I’m just as confused—no, flustered—as you are. Where did everyone go…?”
Screeeech.
The front desk was in chaos.
Ian stepped slowly outside and soon faced the darkness of Merelrof. Not a single light was on anywhere.
The estate was completely empty. No one. Not even a dog wandering the streets.
“Ian, is this really Merelrof?”
“It is, but…”
What happened here? As Ian released his magic and rose up, Berrick grabbed the man by the collar and pulled him along. It only took a few minutes to fly from here to Hielo.
Whoosh!
As they soared into the sky, Ian’s pupils dilated.
The view of Hielo below was utterly devastating. Every house was in ruins, flames and smoke billowed from all directions, and corpses littered the streets.
Thud.
Ian’s heart sank.