Chapter 706
When they first set foot in Kalamath, it wasn’t immediately obvious, but the place was perfectly suited to serve as the heart of Burgos. A steady water source flowed nearby, the land was relatively flat, and the winds were gentle and just right. Within just a few days of pushing northward, everyone in Bariel realized that Kalamath was surprisingly comfortable to live in.
“It’s strange,” one of the mages muttered. “We all came down from the north, from Agiar, yet back then, we never noticed this.”
Ian felt the wind blowing straight at him, sensing it with his skin. There were many reasons for this—perhaps the wind had truly changed, or maybe it was they who had changed to meet it.
A mage watching ahead from above signaled with a gesture.
“Ian! It looks like Beric!”
“Is he traveling with others?”
“Yes, including Beric, there are four in total.”
“Just the right number.”
Clark and Eirin, who had been sent ahead to scout the water source, were not among them. So, aside from Beric and Cedric, the other two must be those scouts. This also meant that Taoma had safely returned to the southern lands.
Ian pulled on the reins and rode up alongside the emperor’s carriage.
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it?”
Jin parted the curtain lightly and showed himself through the window. He was holding a stack of papers, likely reading various documents inside.
“Beric has returned.”
“Is he unharmed?”
“Yes. The mage’s report contained no additional concerns, so it seems so.”
“Good. As you said, Beric is one who fulfills his duties well.”
Jin looked up at the sky, where the sun was slowly setting.
“Stop the march here and let the soldiers rest. The path is narrow, so spending the night here isn’t ideal. Just have them share a warm cup of tea and ease their tired legs.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the emperor’s command, Tweller raised his hand. The officers immediately followed his signal, and the pace of horses and men gradually slowed.
While the mages busied themselves heating water, Ian stepped out in front of the tent with the emperor, waiting for Beric’s report.
“Beric.”
…He looks like a mess. Ian studied him with a look that said he didn’t understand what had happened. Had he bathed in the water source? A foul stench clung to him.
“Are you unharmed?”
“I’m in rough shape, but yes, I’m fine. Taoma seems to have entered the painting safely, and we’ve located the temple. Oh, and here are the letters left by Taoma and Banusa. I’m starving, so I’m going to eat while reporting—”
Shhh. Jarrett, standing behind the emperor, flashed a warning look. Don’t joke around. But Jin took pity on Beric and nodded to the attendants.
“Bring something light to eat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ian took the grimy papers and asked to read them aloud to the emperor first, who nodded without hesitation.
As Ian read, Tweller asked Beric, “The river’s water level seems to be dropping.”
“We smashed the temple’s barrier. Banusa rebuilt the wall with the water source, so that’s probably why.”
“…Well done.”
A rare compliment. Beric snorted lightly and turned his gaze away from Tweller.
Having finished reading the letters, Ian leaned toward the emperor and whispered.
“Your Majesty, it seems something is happening with Banusa’s family.”
“What sort of thing?”
“It looks like they’re trying to hire mercenary mages to oppose Bariel. But as you know, puppeteers are a dubious lot. And mercenary mages have no real reason to fight Bariel, so recruiting them won’t be easy.”
“They’ve left that task to Banusa’s family?”
“More precisely, to the spirit mage families. Banusa’s family refused and is now in conflict with the royal court. We urgently contacted them for help, and it seems Banusa wants to return home.”
“That’s right. Banusa hinted as much to Eirin.”
Beric reported everything he had seen and heard to his lord. The roughness of his report made it feel less like a formal report, but who could scold a dog that had just come back soaked in the water source?
What on earth was going on? Everyone racked their brains. Jarrett, too, was quietly piecing together the situation in his mind.
As the silence stretched, Ian was the first to speak.
“So—”
He murmured as if holding Toolun in his hand.
“There’s a civil war happening in Toolun right now.”
In Toolun, spirit mages held the same status as wizards—pillars and roofs of the nation, wielding mysterious powers.
If they had to reach out to Banusa, who was even at the temple, for help, the rift must be enormous.
“Is that what you mean?”
“Your Majesty, Banusa also wants to return to the capital, but the situation in Toolun is unstable, so he hasn’t received the king’s permission.”
“Right. If the head of the family returns, the royal court’s plans will be thwarted. And since they know we’re heading to the temple, the capital might even send some puppeteer mages we’ve never seen before.”
If all goes well, with Banusa’s help inside the temple, the operation could proceed smoothly. If the temple falls, Banusa would naturally return to the capital to manage family affairs.
Moreover—
“What if Banusa wants to cut the current king out of his heart?”
Tweller spoke quietly.
Banusa knew as much as they did about what the Masantar Temple meant to Toolun and the royal court.
But if he was sending letters like this to their enemy, Bariel, where would his loyalty lie?
“Are you saying Banusa wants to bring down the royal court?”
“The circumstances and his actions suggest so.”
“But Banusa has been a spirit mage in Toolun for a long time. He wouldn’t make such a decision over mere family pressure.”
“Yes, and their relationship—the king controlling mages with puppetry—is already an accepted culture in their country. It’s unnatural to think he suddenly changed his mind.”
The officials’ words made sense. Why would Banusa, loyal to the king for generations, suddenly rebel? There must be a convincing reason.
Beric scratched his head and added quietly.
“The water source is inside the temple. It seems Banusa’s help was crucial in diverting the water. Maybe something happened that pissed him off. We’ll know once we get inside.”
No amount of speculation would replace confirmation. First, they had to bring down the temple. And if they faced Banusa in the process, they’d have to find answers from the new clues she provided.
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Tweller, who had been silent since the question, spoke up. His voice was low, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I regret to report that we cannot confirm whether Toolun’s reinforcements are heading to the temple. The Bariel army has only just reached north of Kalamath, and all the scouts sent so far have focused solely on the water source.”
“That’s right. I know that too.”
“On the other hand, Toolun is certain that Bariel’s main force is moving toward the temple. Since all their ministers come from the temple, even the king can’t ignore it. Especially if the source of that evil power comes from the temple.”
“So, Lord Tweller means to say that Toolun’s reinforcements are on their way?”
“Yes. Therefore, the Magic Department should advance to the temple, while His Majesty the Emperor and the Imperial Defense Department should veer left to secure the path where Toolun’s vanguard will descend, and push forward.”
Jin’s finger traced the path on the map. Though many roads led from Toolun’s capital to the temple, few were suitable for moving large armies. It was the perfect time for an ambush.
“The temple is a strange place. Even if ordinary soldiers storm in, it would only result in meaningless casualties. It’s best for a small elite group of mages to handle it, while the regular troops carry out tasks suited to them.”
“Hmm. That makes sense.”
It did, but the decision wasn’t easy.
Tweller’s voice grew firmer, shifting from suggestion to insistence. His conviction was clear.
“Cutting off the enemy’s reinforcements is crucial in war. If we stop them, it will be easier to push all the way to Toolun’s capital. I urge you to make this decision and take the first step toward glory.”
Though he addressed the emperor, Tweller’s gaze was on Ian. His expression was calm and respectful, and Ian smiled knowingly.
‘He wants to ensure the glory of war is credited entirely to the emperor.’
Tweller’s argument was sound. What could the emperor and regular soldiers do at the temple?
But if the emperor defeated the enemy reinforcements and marched directly to the royal court—
‘The Magic Department has already proven its worth in the Burgos and Luswena wars. Though all achievements were said to be under the emperor’s command, would the people truly believe that? Especially since the Luswena war was sparked by Lord Hielo.’
The emperor’s light was too faint. The mages soared above, standing tallest on the battlefield.
“What do you think, Minister Ian?”
“Yes, Minister Tweller.”
Tweller decided to veer left, judging it the right moment to confront the reinforcements. Ian smiled faintly, offering no objection.
“I believe that’s a sound decision.”
The crux of this war would likely be the Toorun royal palace. Once the emperor stepped through its gates, it would be as if the final stroke had been placed on the canvas of victory. Everyone’s memory would forever be marked by the emperor’s achievement.
“If Banusa’s intelligence is accurate, the reinforcements Toorun can send are limited. Notably, no spirit mages are among them. The Bariel soldiers alone should be enough to hold them off.”
“Besides, the palace guards will be with us. These warriors are said to be worth a hundred men each—so the enemy’s numbers won’t truly matter. Even if spirit mages are present, we can handle them.”
After all, Beric had once subdued Banusa in the Toorun capital.
When Ian agreed to Tweller’s proposal, the other ministers quickly voiced their support.
“Your Majesty, advance without fear. We will secure your rear.”
Jindo vaguely sensed Tweller’s intent. With no reason to refuse, he simply nodded in acknowledgment.
“Very well. Tweller, have your men estimate the enemy reinforcements’ route and submit a report. Also, assemble the vanguard and prepare supplies to hand over to the magic corps. Which crossroads would be best?”
“There’s a path to the northwest by west.”
“Good. That will be today’s marching destination.”
Tweller gave Ian a silent nod, a gesture of thanks for his cooperation.
But since this wasn’t solely for Tweller’s benefit, Ian returned no greeting. Instead, he unfolded another letter and said,
“There’s still one more document, Your Majesty. It’s believed to be from Taoma. It contains valuable information you should know before the campaign begins.”