Chapter 675
Ba-ri-el!

The dawn of the glory that the gods hold—
The heart of Gaia that turns golden when the rain falls—
Lift your head high, ever higher, and you shall see—
The light above, the beacon of Bariel—

Erika vividly remembered the first time she sang the national anthem in the imperial palace.
The sky was astonishingly blue, the clouds pure white, and the temperature perfectly warm. Her voice trembled as she fought back tears…

It had been an arduous time. From a life barely above slavery as a commoner to becoming the head of the palace investigation team, her life had been forged through countless hardships.

Erika saluted crisply, biting her lower lip. This was a day of celebration. Instead of tears, she kept calling out to Bariel.

Ba-ri-el!

Boom! Boom!

Crash!

“Prime Minister, please retreat quickly!”

“No! We will not fall back! Defend the palace!”

“Do not retreat! The future of Hawan rests in your hands! Advance!”

“Waaah!”

For ten years, Erika had wandered inside and outside Bariel, but every time she drifted into a light sleep, she dreamed of the day she received the investigation team leader’s badge. Someday, she thought, she would return. Someday, the light would shine on her again.

Perhaps because she wished so fervently, the gods granted her wish. She was able to return to the central imperial palace alongside Prime Minister Shatima, and with hope in her heart, she came back to her homeland. The path ahead was a blood-soaked thornbush, but it was alright. The honor of her country was there.

“Prime Minister, it seems we lack sufficient troops.”

“Yes, perhaps we should request aid from Bariel…”

“That’s impossible. Although His Majesty the Emperor and Minister Ian Hielo of the Magic Department are favorable, this is only because they see us as a counterbalance to Luswena. Nothing in this world comes without a price. If we bring them in now, who knows what they’ll demand later.”

Erika always watched from behind as Prime Minister Shatima conferred with her close aides. She respected Shatima deeply and enjoyed these moments. Shatima had been her benefactor when she crossed over to Hawan, holding her hand when she needed it most. Being near her was a learning experience.

“If asking Bariel’s magicians for help is out of the question, what about magicians from elsewhere?”

“Elsewhere? Where do you mean? Luswena is impossible. After the humiliation ten years ago, they’ve tightened control over their magicians. And above all, they know our position and would never cooperate.”

Shatima had been sent back by the Emperor after going to Bariel. That alone was a clear sign that her life was in the Emperor’s grasp.

From Luswena’s perspective, which sought to check Bariel’s power, they would never welcome Shatima’s rebellion succeeding.

“No, I mean farther east.”

“…Beyond Blaster, you mean?”

“Yes. Rumor has it there is a magician called the Absolute One in the East. Like the Minister of Bariel’s Magic Department, this person is trusted and respected by all magicians in the East. I heard one of their disciples stole a precious item from the Absolute One and fled.”

Intriguing. Erika pretended to look straight ahead but pricked up her ears. Who could be so brazen as to steal from their own master, a magician?

Would it feel like betraying Shatima? Erika shook her head slightly, dismissing the thought.

“And then?”

“The Eastern magicians are chasing that person, crossing one desert after another. Some have entered Luswena, and some have come here to Hawan.”

“Is that true?”

“Luswena is certain. Many believe that more than half of the suddenly increased number of magicians are foreigners.”

“So, how do we meet them?”

“Well…”

At that moment, a servant outside signaled Erika with a glance. Something had come up; she was asked to step outside.

Could it be a surprise attack by the royal guards? Or perhaps a failed ambush after long preparation? As Erika cautiously stepped outside, she was met by—

“Oh ho ho! Greetings. Lady Darci.”

It was Lady Darci, wearing a displeasing smile.

From that moment on, something felt off. Memories fragmented, time flowed both fast and slow, and her muscles felt as if melting, as if walking through a dream.

“…?”

Day turned to night, people screamed as they plunged swords into each other’s chests. Some wept, others fell from buildings, and somewhere, blood-red rain fell.

Drip. Drop.

“…!”

Suddenly regaining her senses, Erika looked around. Night. Rain falling. Quiet, with the scent of blood lingering somewhere…

“Ugh, ugh—”

She didn’t immediately recognize the person gasping for breath before her, nor did she realize she was drenched in hot, sticky blood.

Boom! Crash!

Lightning struck, briefly clearing the darkness to reveal the face of the fallen—Prime Minister Shatima.

Erika staggered back in shock. Why was she lying there? Why was she still standing, not collapsed alongside her?

“E…rika.”

“No, no, this can’t be…!”

“…See it now. Understand.”

“No, no, no! Aaaah!”

Crash! Boom!

With thunder and lightning, the rain poured down like a waterfall. Erika screamed, gathering the blood pooling on the ground.

This can’t be happening. What on earth is going on? Shatima’s death meant the ruin of Hawan’s future—and her own! Fear, sorrow, and loss overwhelmed her.

Worse still, Erika’s world began to warp again. Time sped up and slowed down, swallowing her reality whole.

---

“Lady Erika?”

A subordinate, surveying the Hawan army’s formation beside her, stopped in surprise. Erika still wore a strong, brave expression as she commanded the battle, but a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. At the call, Erika turned with a puzzled look.

“What is it?”

“Ah, nothing.”

It was strange. Erika seemed unaware she was crying. Was it a physical reaction to the gunpowder from the East? It was potent stuff. Every time it ignited, thick smoke blanketed the area.

“What about the magic swordsman?”

“He’s not dead yet!”

“Damn stubborn bastard.”

As if in response to Erika’s muttering, Beric pushed through the smoke and leapt into the air. Not a magician, he landed solidly and steadied himself.

Beric brushed off his tattered clothes and sniffled. He’d faced countless humans and monsters, taken hits from all sides, but this was… different.

“…Strange.”

That firearm was truly peculiar. It seemed to deliver nearly the maximum physical impact a human could muster, and it was infused with magic. Beric absentmindedly stroked his chin, forgetting the battle for a moment.

“Beric!”

Ian called to him as he approached the Hawan lines under Hale’s protection. A warning not to stand still in such danger.

Beric instinctively dashed toward the formation and drew his sword with focus. The dormant magical greatsword flared to life.

Whoosh!

“Ian! Should we break it?!”

“If possible, no!”

“No? No?!”

Did he hear wrong? Beric stopped and looked up. Ian was concentrating, hands clasped, condensing magic.

‘It’s a divine weapon. One that can fuse with magic. It holds great significance for Bariel’s future.’

The primary goal was to preserve it. Of course, if that proved impossible, they’d have to destroy it so no one could use it.

‘What magic would be appropriate?’

Binding it with many leaves might work, but the first bullet was fire-elemental. Considering it could be broken instantly, that wasn’t the best choice.

Then—

“Utaek (Rain’s Blessing).”

Drip. Drip.

Raindrops began to fall from the clear sky. The soldiers looked up in confusion, but the sky remained clear. The phenomenon was so natural they didn’t even realize it was magic.

“Rain! It’s raining!”

“We’re saved! The rain is falling! Oh, gods of Gaia! Please, extinguish those flames!”

“Rain all of a sudden? Is this magic too?”

Though it wasn’t enough to fully douse the raging reeds’ fire, the Luswena soldiers cheered excitedly.

Eldert frowned, neither smiling nor crying. It was magic causing the rain. It didn’t seem like it would stop easily, but if it was Ian Hielo’s magic, there was reason to hope.

Ziiing!

But Ian seemed to sense their expectations and narrowed the rain’s range, focusing it around the firearm.

“The rain is getting heavier!”

“Lady Erika!”

“Protect the core! Set up tents!”

“Keep the firearm dry!”

“Light the fire and keep it burning!”

By narrowing the area, the rain poured more intensely in that spot. If the attack relied on fire and ammunition, then preventing that was the key.

An unquenchable magical fire? Then here was water that would never dry.

“Hurry!”

At Erika’s shout, the soldiers threw themselves into shielding the firearm from getting wet. Some even lit the fire before it could be extinguished.

Some scrambled to pitch tents in perfect unison, trying to shield themselves from the rain, but as time passed, their coverage shrank, and the downpour only grew fiercer.

“How many bullets do we have left?”

“Three boxes. Ten rounds per box, so thirty in total.”

Still enough for now. As the soldiers, barely keeping the rain at bay, signaled they were ready, Erika stretched out her hand.

“Aim—!”

“Aim!”

“Fire!”

Boom! Bang!

A thunderous roar.

The muskets cracked, and Erika felt her heart drop. The image of Chief Shatima’s death flashed suddenly through her mind.

Crack.

Bullets came flying again, and Hale straightened his stance.

“Ian! Just a few more hits and they’ll be out of commission!”

“Right. Let’s clear the area.”

“Yes! Then I—”

Swoosh!

Having deflected one shot, Hale swung his arm confidently. Once again, the bullets collided sharply. Hale glanced back as if struck by a good idea, then shouted to the Bariel mages.

“Everyone, get out of the way!”

“Huh?”

What’s this about?

Taking out soldiers from the sky was easy and, frankly, fun. The mages tilted their heads in confusion at Hale’s sudden warning.

Then Hale relaxed his grip and deflected the bullets aside.

“…!”

The deflected rounds veered off course and flew straight toward the Luswena troops. The mages, pale as ghosts, soared high to avoid them.

Meanwhile, Elderte’s eyes widened instantly at the incoming bullets.

“Th-!”

“Get down!”

Boom! Bang!

Kugugung!

A massive explosion swept the Luswena soldiers in all directions. Seeing this, Beric let out an impressed “Oh,” then took off running toward Hwan.

“Me too! Me too!”

Let me try that!

Beric’s eyes gleamed wildly as he spun his arms, charging forward. Erika frowned and drew her sword.

“Kill them! Aim!”

“A-aim!”

Ssshhk.

The flickering flame of the wick dimmed little by little. The soldiers kept fanning the air, but the tents were already soaked through, water pouring in. This was likely their final attack.

“Fire!”

Kraaaang!

At Erika’s command, Beric bared his fangs in a grin and crouched low. This time, he was going to land it right on Elderte’s head!