Chapter 711

“No, how can everyone be asleep like this?”

Thud. Someone gently set down a stack of papers.

Hale’s eyes fluttered open at the faint sound, and he cautiously glanced around. The space felt both familiar and strange. It was definitely the Ministry of Magic, but the layout seemed a bit different. And most of all, the wizard standing before him was someone he’d never seen.

He realized he’d been dozing off with his arms crossed. What’s going on? Where am I? Could this be a dream?

“Did you guys have a drinking party last night or something? If you’re just going to lie down, at least finish your work first. The approval deadline’s coming up soon, so this isn’t good.”

From nearby, Tommy and Nakina lifted their heads. Their faces showed confusion, but they quietly got to their feet. The unfamiliar wizard who had woken them up left the office as if his business was done.

The three of them were left standing there awkwardly, unable to say a word.

“Th-this is…”

“What’s going on here?”

“I don’t know. I just woke up and found myself here.”

“Captain Hale, do you remember anything? This isn’t a dream, right?”

“…”

They studied each other silently, then all raised their hands at once. Ready? Okay, let’s do this!

Smack!

Hale slapped Tommy’s cheek, Tommy slapped Nakina’s, and Nakina slapped Hale’s—all at the same time.

“Damn it, Tommy! You put some feeling into that, didn’t you?”

“That hurt like hell. Could you go easy on me?”

“Better than getting hit by Nakina.”

Holding their stinging cheeks, they looked around again. The texture of the papers, the warmth of the sunlight, distant footsteps, even the half-eaten jerky left behind—it was all real. They slumped into chairs, muttering in disbelief.

“Just a moment ago, we were at the Masantar Temple.”

“My last memory is being soaked in the blood of Priest Laju.”

“Same here.”

“Ian said the Abyssal Sea flows differently through time. Could we have come to a different timeline?”

“That can’t be. If that were true, the wizard just now wouldn’t have treated us like ‘the ones who belong here.’”

“True. Then where exactly are we…?”

Hale rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, still dry. He lit one and recalled the last image of Priest Laju.

“That wizard uses hallucination magic. He took Laromedia and shattered Beric with a single finger.”

“So you’re saying this is all a hallucination? I don’t buy it.”

“If it’s real, that guy’s pretty damn impressive.”

For now, that was the only way to make sense of it. They hadn’t heard anything from Ian about what was happening in the Abyssal Sea.

Peeking out into the hallway, they checked if anyone was passing by.

“Where do you think Ian is?”

“I’m worried about Beric. That damn colt.”

“Let’s go out and look around. Since this is the palace, moving around should be—”

Ah, wait. Tommy suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if he’d realized something.

“This is the palace, isn’t it?”

“Right? It doesn’t look like some back-alley stable.”

“Would Priest Laju even know about the palace?”

“…What?”

“Even if it’s a hallucination, it’s ‘us’ who are imagining this scene. Someone who’s never experienced the palace couldn’t conjure a hallucination of it. Whatever the cause, this is a phenomenon caused by ‘us.’”

“So?”

“And remember what Ian said earlier? That the Abyssal Sea holds all kinds of darkness.”

“Tommy, get to the point.”

Hale, Nakina, and Tommy crouched in the middle of the Ministry’s hallway, whispering. Passing staff glanced at them curiously but nodded in understanding when they saw their wizard robes. Wizards acting strange was nothing new.

“So this is a hallucination based on ‘someone’s darkness.’ I think it’s probably Ian.”

“On what grounds?”

“…Because Ian’s the only one here who could carry that kind of darkness.”

Hmm… It made sense, but they couldn’t be sure.

Nakina scratched her head as she took the cigarette from Hale and added, “But if this is a hallucination based on the real palace, wouldn’t there be some record of the Abyssal Sea somewhere?”

“Oh, that’s a good point.”

“Right? The papers the wizard gave us when he woke us up were full of monthly plans. The question is whether we’re allowed to access any Abyssal Sea-related materials.”

“Let’s check it out. Sitting here in the hallway isn’t helping.”

“Good idea. And we should look for Beric and Ian too. What do you think, Captain?”

Hale nodded in agreement, and they stepped out of the Ministry, casually returning greetings to passing staff.

What they soon came face to face with was—

“Ah.”

The Ministry’s annex. The very place Ian had so desperately pushed for.

The three froze, speechless. Even if it was a hallucination, it felt like they were glimpsing a hope Ian had kept hidden deep inside.

No matter how much you try to explain with words, writing, or pictures, could you truly imagine the same thing? But now, having seen it, they could.

“Sh-should we just stop by for a moment?”

“Yeah.”

Nervously, they entered the annex. Unlike the main building, it was quiet and still. Endless shelves of books and documents stretched out before them.

“Excuse me.”

Suddenly, someone behind them asked them to move aside.

A man with soft features and brown hair, precariously carrying a pile of books. At that moment, a staff member came running from the opposite hallway to assist him.

“Naum. This way.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Naum? That name sounded familiar. Hale watched Naum’s retreating figure around the corner and let out a small gasp.

“That’s him.”

“Who?”

“The one who used forbidden magic for Ian.”

Ian’s close friend, mentor, and family.

Nakina and Tommy were startled and hurried after him. Naum, who had been organizing books in the stacks, looked up at them with a puzzled expression.

“What’s going on?”

“Uh, well—”

“Wh-where is Ian?”

When Tommy mentioned Ian’s name, Naum’s brow furrowed. He told the staff member helping him to leave and closed the door.

“Listen, there are already troubling rumors circulating in the palace. You two shouldn’t be adding to them.”

“Excuse me?”

“This is a reprimand for speaking the Emperor’s name so carelessly. Wizards should be supporting His Majesty, not acting so recklessly.”

“Gah!”

So this is the era when Ian was Emperor! Of course. If Ian’s darkness is involved, it has to be from that time. Why hadn’t they considered that?

As Naum was about to say more, Nakina grabbed Tommy’s head and slammed it onto the table.

Bang!

“Sorry! He just lost his mind for a moment!”

“Y-yeah, sorry! No offense meant!”

Their rough apology completely undermined Naum’s attempt to scold them. He stared at Nakina and Tommy in disbelief, and Hale quickly stepped in.

“They just woke up and aren’t thinking straight.”

“No…”

“But what about these troubling rumors?”

Naum turned away and was silent for a moment. What else could it be? The Imperial Defense Department’s movements were suspicious, so whispers from disloyal people were spreading everywhere.

Closing his book, Naum gave them a stern order.

“Watch your words and actions. Since you’re showing remorse, I won’t press the issue further. But you’ll be responsible for any slip-ups. Organize all the books you brought in.”

With that, Naum left. Nakina, standing dazed, gave Tommy a sharp flick on the head.

Smack!

“Good job.”

“Sorry…”

Busy as hell. Organizing books? What a pain! She thought about running off, but seeing Naum firmly standing guard with a staff member in the hallway, she gave up. Sigh, Ministry heads are tough no matter the era.

“We’re screwed. If we run now, it’ll definitely cause a scene.”

“L-let’s hurry then.”

“You do it all, man.”

Tommy grumbled as he picked up a book, while Hale and Nakina rummaged around, hoping to find some clue.

Suddenly, Tommy’s eyes caught a familiar name on a book’s cover.

“…Huh.”

Bibi? Isn’t that Romandro’s daughter’s name?

It wasn’t a common name, but not unheard of either. Tommy flipped through the pages and then froze, his eyes widening.

“Captain Hale, Naum’s about to leave. Let’s get out while we can. Tommy! What are you doing?”

“Ah, w-wait a second!”

Tommy hurriedly grabbed a pen and started writing something on the first page. Nakina and Hale looked at him in confusion, but he shook his head repeatedly and nudged them toward the door.

“What is it?”

“Later. I’ll explain later. For now, let’s go.”

This was their chance. Nakina swiftly moved around the corner and slipped out, followed easily by Hale and Tommy.

The three quickened their pace toward the main building’s palace archives.

“If we go that way, will we be able to see Ian?”

“I don’t know if the Emperor Ian and the Ian we know are the same person.”

“We’ll find out when we meet him. There’s a path this way!”

“Some parts have changed a bit.”

Tap, tap, tap!

Magic couldn’t be used recklessly. It was a strict rule within the palace, no matter the era. And right now, they were fugitives, having just escaped the watchful eyes of Naum, the Minister of Magic.

Besides, they had no idea how their magic might affect this illusion, so caution was paramount. First, they needed to get to the archives and gather as much information as possible…

Tap, tap, tap!

A high-pitched whine!

Just as they reached the main building.

In the distance, a line of grand carriages thundered in. The soldiers guarding the stairs snapped to attention, showing proper respect, and passersby halted in their tracks.

“That carriage…?”

Only the royal family commanded such deference.

Hail, Tommy, and Nakina stood silently, eyes fixed on the approaching carriage. When a soldier opened the door, a man stepped out with undeniable confidence—

“Sir Crony. Thank you for making the long journey.”

“Don’t mention it. When His Majesty the Emperor calls, you follow without question.”

It was Crony.

Nakina clenched her teeth so hard she nearly lunged forward, but Hail and Tommy instinctively grabbed her arms, holding her back.

“…Damn bastard.”

“Senpai, I’m with you on that one.”

“Tommy, keep it down.”

Crony straightened his collar with a sharp snap and ascended the main stairs. The three of them could only watch his retreating figure in silence—the man heading straight to Emperor Ian…

Tap, tap, tap!

“Wahaha—!”

That was when they sensed it. A familiar energy, charging toward them with a fierce shout from afar.

“Son of a b—!”

It was Beric.

Where he’d come from or what he was doing here was anyone’s guess. Hail, Tommy, and Nakina quickly grabbed Beric as he rushed past and dragged him into the bushes.

Rustle!

“Ugh! Hng!”

“Shut up, you idiot.”

“Shhh! Quiet!”

Crony, climbing the stairs, turned around at the sudden commotion, but the three were already hidden in the foliage. Only a few soldiers, still facing forward, caught a glimpse.

“…A mage, right?”

“Yeah. Just ignore it. Things have been tense lately.”

The soldiers glanced at Hail, Tommy, and Nakina’s clothing and quickly averted their eyes.

Meanwhile, hidden in the bushes, the four of them gathered. Tommy clamped a hand over Beric’s mouth and whispered urgently.

“Beric, this is Emperor Ian’s shadow. Stay quiet and keep it together!”