Episode 700

Banusa stepped deeper into her bedroom, taking a deep breath as she focused her mind.

At this strange behavior, Eirin gripped her sword tightly. She didn’t know who Banusa really was, nor what she intended.

“There’s no need to be on guard. No one comes near here.”

After a moment of steady breathing, Banusa muttered with relief. Good. For now, King Toorun wasn’t sharing his senses with her.

“…Why?”

“I’m sick of it. Being trapped every moment under the king’s gaze, I don’t need to handle any other eyes watching me. Besides, the temple folk don’t like ‘showing’ things to me either.”

The relationship between King Toorun and the temple was antagonistic. Naturally, they were uncomfortable with information flowing to the king through Banusa’s perspective.

Since both sides avoided direct conflict, Banusa could spend most of her time alone—except when she moved the river water with her magic.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You should. Otherwise, there’s no point in bringing you here. Oh, and one warning before anything else: if I wave my hand or send any unusual signal, get out of here immediately and hide.”

That meant Toorun had started sharing his senses again.

Instead of answering, Eirin sharpened her sword’s edge. It was clear there were only the two of them nearby, but even the slightest sound of wind made her nerves tense.

“Where is Bariel now?”

“You think I’d tell you?”

“How shameless.”

Banusa said that, but her gaze remained fixed on the white wall. If King Toorun suddenly shared his senses again, she wouldn’t reveal anything.

At that moment, Banusa flicked her fingers lightly, and a thin stream of water shot straight at the center of Eirin’s forehead.

Swish!

Sharp, slender, and fast. Eirin reflexively raised her sword blade, but it wasn’t enough to block it. Banusa’s attack stopped just inches from her forehead, then trickled down in liquid form.

“If you help me sneak safely into the temple, it’s only right I repay you.”

A sorceress, then. Eirin finally guessed Banusa’s identity—a water sorceress, judging by her control over water.

Accepting she couldn’t win, Eirin studied her for a moment. What did she want? What could she possibly desire that made her risk helping a temple intruder escape?

“Repayment comes in many forms. If you mean to sell out your homeland’s secrets, then you might as well kill me. I came here prepared to die.”

Banusa turned her head slightly but kept her gaze forward.

“…Why have you come here?”

Banusa changed the subject, trying to figure out what Eirin wanted. After a brief silence, Eirin spoke cautiously.

“I was investigating the source of the river water. You must know that what flows from here has turned Burgos and Klipofod into lands of death.”

So she was part of an investigation team sent to trace the river’s origin. Judging by her purification ability earlier, she wasn’t an ordinary soldier. Banusa crossed her arms and tapped her fingertips.

‘Bariel’s main force is probably closer to the temple than the capital. It’s likely their first destination.’

If the emperor’s army reached the Masantar Temple—

Banusa’s brow furrowed deeply. She longed to return to the capital, but that was impossible. The capital would send other family spirit sorcerers to defend the temple, but they wouldn’t order her back.

‘…If only the temple collapsed.’

The defensive line would shift to the capital, and she would naturally follow.

Meanwhile, the longer Banusa remained silent, the more Eirin’s eyes darted around, trying to read her intentions and grasp any clues she could use.

‘The room feels empty.’

This wasn’t someone who lived in the temple. It seemed like a guest room, but given the situation, more like a place for an outsider. Whether intentional or not.

‘If this person is hostile to the temple, maybe they want Bariel’s help as a means to their own ends.’

Sure enough, after a long pause, Banusa finally spoke, confirming Eirin’s suspicion.

“If this is truly the source of the river water, what will Bariel do?”

“You ask the obvious. They will annihilate the corruption and restore nature’s former state.”

Banusa seemed satisfied with that answer, and Eirin caught on quickly.

“…It seems you need Bariel’s help.”

“Bariel’s help?”

She let out a light laugh, recalling the dark swordsman Beric she’d faced once before at King Toorun’s palace.

He was the only Bariel warrior she had ever fought, so naturally, he was the first to come to mind when she heard ‘Bariel.’

“I hate to admit it, but there’s no better way to put it.”

Exactly as I thought. Eirin softened her tone. Someone who wanted Bariel’s help might be an ally.

“If you’re trapped here, you can come with me. I can move freely through the temple’s defenses; we might find a way.”

“Thanks for the offer, but you’re mistaken. I came into this temple on my own feet.”

“Then—”

“Open the desk drawer.”

At Banusa’s gesture, Eirin cautiously moved to the table. Inside the drawer lay a single neatly folded letter.

“I will send you back safely. Deliver this message to your superiors without missing a word. I am Banusa, spirit sorceress of Toorun.”

Banusa began explaining why Eirin had come to the temple, starting with the kidnapping of Ian Hielo’s mother, Philia.

“Evidence was found that Philia, the mother of Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic, was abducted from King Toorun’s palace. It wasn’t just evidence—it was fact. The minister even came to Toorun with his men.”

They eventually found Philia, reached the palace gates, left a stern warning, and left.

Banusa protested to the king and his court about the incident. What were they thinking, provoking Bariel? The king’s response was twofold.

“One, the family responsible for defense is clearly incompetent, so bring in mercenary mages. Two, if you want to know the full story of Philia’s kidnapping, go to the Masantar Temple.”

Banusa was reluctant to leave the capital but chose to go to the temple. She couldn’t serve the palace loyally while harboring doubts.

“And I found the answer. Just as the family received a letter.”

Eirin couldn’t read Toorun’s language, so she didn’t know the letter’s contents. But Banusa translated it openly.

“The palace’s pressure to bring mercenary mages is growing, causing division within the family. You know our king—he’s fond of playing with puppets.”

It was a consequence of the Luswena War, though neither fully understood it. They only guessed the palace was gathering forces for some reason—probably because war was imminent.

Eirin stared quietly at Banusa’s back and nodded. Now she understood what Banusa wanted.

“You want to use Bariel’s power to prevent your family’s split. But there’s something I don’t get.”

If she were Banusa, she’d want to return to the capital after successfully defending the temple. She seemed to hold a key position in the palace, and that would be the easier path.

So why was she leading Toorun down a path of ruin? To Eirin, Banusa’s choice seemed irrational.

“The answer lies in why Toorun kidnapped Ian Hielo’s mother.”

“What do you mean—”

At that moment, Banusa raised her right hand and urgently motioned for her to leave—the warning signal from earlier.

Eirin hesitated, then tucked the letter deep into her clothes.

“Banusa? Are you alright?”

“This place shouldn’t exist in this world.”

“What do you mean…?”

Banusa heard a scream echoing from deep within the temple, where the river water was drawn. She saw white-robed priests bowing to someone, dirtying their hems.

“Go. Take that letter to the emperor and the Minister of Magic. Then they will understand—what I want, and what must be done.”

The Masantar Temple was intertwined with Toorun’s history. Banusa could not tolerate the filth festering deep within her proud country, nor that those who fed on it were its leaders.

And above all—

Ssssh.

—Banusa.

To sever the king’s gaze controlling her, everything about Toorun had to change.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Banusa spoke to the wall, Eirin backed away quietly and slipped out of the bedroom.

Tap, tap, tap!

As her footsteps faded, Banusa’s head turned instinctively. The king’s gaze shifted in confusion, but all that was visible was an empty corridor.

—Banusa. Soon, Bariel’s main force stationed in Burgos will move up to Toorun. Whether the emperor and the Minister of Magic will act separately is unknown, but Masantar Temple will be their first destination. Inform the temple to prepare thoroughly.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

—The palace will send reinforcements as well. And Banusa, it seems each noble house is struggling to recruit mercenary mages. Make sure to encourage them so the mission goes smoothly.

Recruiting mercenary mages wasn’t as simple as it sounded. Would Torlun just pay them fairly and borrow their power? No, they’d almost certainly be turned into puppets—something even the mages themselves were wary of. If their houses got tangled up in this, they’d face angry mercenary mages long before Bariel ever arrived.

This was also the cause of division within the houses: those who insisted on obeying the king’s orders no matter what, and those who prioritized the survival and safety of their own families.

“…My apologies. I will send the encouragement message immediately.”

Banusa sensed a hint of exhaustion in the king’s voice. Sure enough, without another word, the king abruptly ended the connection.

Something must be going on at the palace. Banusa guessed as much and turned her gaze out the window. The grass was still wet with footprints—Eirin must have just passed by.

With a soft swish, Banusa drew the curtains, cutting off her view completely. The guests would be arriving soon. It was time to prepare.

---

“Ready to go?”

Beric grinned as he looked at Cedric. Unlike Beric, who wasn’t carrying a single thing, Cedric was lugging a bag nearly as big as himself, strapped front and back—a cruel form of “training” disguised as discipline.

“…Yes, senior.”

“Get your head in the game. This mission was personally ordered by His Majesty the Emperor. If you screw up, it’s on you. Got it?”

What a crazy bastard. Cedric just muttered to himself, not daring to say anything else.

Jaret and the palace guards watched the two with worried expressions, shaking their heads.

“Captain Jaret, are you sure it’s wise to send those two?”

“Well, since it was a unanimous decision…”

Not only the emperor, but Minister Ian and Minister Tweller had all agreed. Captain Jaret had no choice.

Taoma, who had brought the carriage up to the palace gates, spotted Beric and Cedric and waved.

“Hey! Beric! And you must be Cedric!”

“Hey there. Sorry we’re late.”

“Late? We’re right on time. Come on, load your stuff in.”

“Wait, what?”

“Thanks.”

Seizing the moment, Cedric tossed his bag into the back of the carriage, causing Beric to widen his eyes. This isn’t right!

“Hey! Where do you think you’re putting that? Shouldn’t you be carrying it on your shoulder?”

“We’re just going to ride in the carriage, aren’t we?”

“Nope. You’re walking.”

“Then we’ll be slower, and the main force will reach the northern Vargas before Taoma even finishes transporting you. Just so you know, if the mission fails, it’s not my fault.”

“Damn it, you—!”

“Shut up already. Come on, get in! A little drink on the way will put you in a better mood.”

Taoma grabbed Beric by the collar and pulled him inside the carriage, while Cedric gave Beric a gentle push from behind to hurry him along.

Thud! The carriage door slammed shut without hesitation. The driver cracked the whip, and in an instant, they were speeding away from the palace.

“Well… I guess…”

“They’ll manage somehow. Yeah.”

The palace guards who had been watching stood there blankly for a moment before dispersing in different directions.