Episode 740
“Mayor, have you heard anything from the palace?”
Mer cautiously set down his teacup and asked.
Everyone knew the mayor loved to boast about the king, yet ironically, he knew very little about the palace’s inner workings. Still, Mer probed gently—after all, these were wartime days.
Rumors swirled that Bariel’s massive army was closing in on the capital, and the unusual movements of the palace’s regular troops only confirmed the tension.
They needed to gather as much information as possible to decide their next move: flee or seize an opportunity.
“Hm. Seems the palace is too busy with official matters to send word,” the mayor replied.
“Is that so?”
Mer smiled on the surface but clicked his tongue inwardly.
Despite the lack of communication, the king had tacitly accepted this man as mayor. That meant, at least somewhere deep down, he still held some filial affection. In times like these, the king should be sending careful signals to ensure his father’s safety—but there was still no special response.
“Has something gone wrong?”
After all the effort and preparation, was it all for nothing?
Mer nibbled on a snack and rolled his eyes briefly. Then again, maybe it was a positive sign.
“Perhaps no news means he’s safe.”
“I was actually planning to visit the palace soon,” the mayor said.
“To the palace?”
“Yes. Since loyal men like you worry about the king’s safety, I want to deliver this message myself and see that His Majesty is unharmed.”
“Ah.”
Mer guessed the mayor wanted to show he was serious, especially with so many busybodies chirping around him. Whether the visit yielded results didn’t matter. Even if unwelcome, the important thing was simply to set foot inside the palace.
Mer smiled politely and bowed.
“Yes, Mayor. Please do convey my regards. The country is in turmoil, and His Majesty’s resolve is needed everywhere.”
“Of course, of course. Don’t worry.”
“It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave.”
“Without dinner?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Besides, there seems to be some commotion outside—”
Just as Mer was about to leave, loud noises echoed down the hallway. Courtiers rushed in, reporting a crowd of protesters gathering.
“Master! There’s trouble!”
“What’s going on?”
The mayor’s face paled as he listened. Have these lowlifes finally lost their minds? How dare they storm in here armed? He jumped to his feet and barked orders.
“Arrest every last one of those insolent fools! Contact the guards immediately!”
“They’re trying to suppress it now, but strangely, the protesters aren’t backing down easily.”
“Why not? They’re just a bunch of peasants wielding farming tools.”
No one knew that mages had infiltrated the crowd, lending their power. The courtiers shrugged, clueless, then turned to Mer.
“Sir, it might be difficult for you to leave, especially you, Inspector Mer.”
Since the protesters were shouting against the court’s tyranny, naturally, Mer was their target.
Mer laughed wryly, resting his arm on the sofa back.
“Good grief. Everyone’s full up inside, while enemies are storming the gates outside.”
“Exactly! Tsk, tsk.”
“Mayor, if you don’t mind, may I take care of you for a while?”
“Of course. There are plenty of empty rooms.”
“Thank you. I’ll leave once things calm down at dawn.”
Mer nodded in thanks.
It seemed the message had been delivered well enough, but the courtiers showed no sign of leaving. When the mayor gestured, one hesitated before confessing.
“…Also, a merchant who sold slaves came looking for you.”
“That one? Why?”
“He’s worried there might be a problem and wants to know if you’re satisfied.”
“What a joke!”
The mayor saw through the ploy immediately. They wanted to get a cut by offering slaves to him. He waved them off with annoyance.
“No thanks. Send him away. That’s why I can’t stand these pests.”
“Understood, Master.”
“Inspector, take a rest. I have work to do.”
The mayor said sternly, picking up a report—unaware the writing on the cover was upside down.
Mer glanced at it, then bowed politely and withdrew. He was sure the palace would continue its power plays once he left.
Creak.
Mer left the mansion, guided by a courtier down the hall toward the guest rooms.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a figure—a slave standing alone, gazing out the window with an elegant posture, leaning lightly on the sill.
‘…?’
How could anyone mistake this slave for a mere captive? Someone might think he was the master of the house. Mer stepped forward, intending to speak.
But just then—
“Where have you been?”
“Looking for me?”
“Of course! Come to think of it, I don’t think you have a name yet. How about Sebastian?”
“…Not really.”
“Then how about Happy?”
“……”
Aris suddenly appeared, grabbing the slave’s arm and turning the corner.
“……”
Mer watched them disappear, then followed the courtier into the guest room. A little regretful, but since Aris seemed so pleased, he figured the slave had more than earned his keep.
‘Might be worth calling on Aris later if I need a favor.’
“Can you read?”
Night had fallen. Aris, now in pajamas, lay on the bed and called for Ian.
Beside the child was a towering pile of storybooks. Clearly, Aris wanted someone to read to him until he fell asleep. Ian shook his head.
“I can’t read.”
He was drawing a line at any troublesome task…
Ah! So that’s why mages sometimes acted that way.
“Well, Sebastian’s pretty but useless otherwise. No choice, I’ll read to you.”
Aris began quietly reading the stories aloud. Ian watched him for a moment, then gently suggested,
“Why not ask your father to read to you?”
“To Father?”
Though Aris lacked emotions, there were things he had to do. Ian proposed this to help Aris make good memories with his father before it was too late.
The child rolled his eyes but then smiled faintly and shook his head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Father doesn’t like this kind of thing.”
“Like what?”
“Being bothered.”
Playtime and care were always left to the servants. Father only called Aris’s name and hugged him when he had time or happened to pass by.
That was it. Once, Aris had begged to spend time together, but Father refused outright, citing too much official business.
“So it’s fine. I’m okay without Father.”
“That’s admirable.”
“Of course.”
Aris smiled softly and began blinking sleepily. It was already past ten at night. Outside was completely quiet, and having gotten a new favorite toy, the child was quietly worn out.
As his breathing deepened, Ian quietly slipped out, leaving the door ajar.
“Hey. Is the young lady already asleep?”
A courtier waiting outside lifted a lamp and asked. Normally, Aris would have whined for hours to have someone read to him, but tonight he was surprisingly brave.
The courtier jingled a bunch of keys and nodded to Ian. It was time for the slave to return to his quarters.
“The draft’s a bit strong, but you won’t lack for anything. If the young lady’s interest doesn’t fade after a few days, we’ll move you to a better room—”
Ziiing! Ziiing!
Ian turned to look at the courtier. In the dark hallway, his green eyes suddenly flashed gold, glowing brightly.
Startled, the courtier instinctively stepped back but barely got a few paces before a pumpkin-colored substance rose from the floor, binding him tightly.
“Ku, kuhk! Hah!”
“Shh.”
Ian took the lamp from the man’s hand and gently blew on it. Now, nothing illuminated the surroundings except the moonlight.
Ian lightly grabbed the man’s chin, signaling him to open his mouth, then gagged him with an Idgallo.
“If you make a fuss, you’ll die.”
“…Mmph! Mmmph!”
“If the flames rise, I’ll release my power. Take Aris and run outside. Understand?”
The courtier stared at Ian in terror. He wanted to nod, but his entire body—except his nostrils—was tightly bound by the Idgallo, making it impossible.
Ian tapped his shoulder and headed upstairs. The mayor’s room was there.
Creak.
On the stairs, Ian encountered three more courtiers, but it was no problem. The darkness was thick, and Ian’s golden eyes shone only briefly, so they couldn’t even utter a sound.
At the mayor’s door, Ian peered through the crack at the faint light inside.
‘Still awake.’
No matter. Without a sound, Ian flung the door wide open. The mayor, surprised, spilled his drink as he sat with an unfamiliar woman.
“Gah!”
“Oh my!”
“Who do you think you are, barging in here!”
“Are you alright, Mayor?”
“Y-Yes, yes.”
Ian scanned the room. No guards lurking in the shadows.
Well, he was someone who’d barely secured the mayor’s seat by clinging to the king’s authority. A true power player hiding in the shadows wouldn’t risk their life to protect him.
“Then again, he has nothing to lose.”
“What are you saying? Do you want to die?”
Ziiing! Ziiing!
Instead of answering, Ian grabbed Mayor Idgallo’s body. The startled woman jumped up and fled toward the door, but Ian didn’t bother to stop her.
As the mayor twisted helplessly, Ian lightly pushed him in the chest, sending him sprawling onto the bed.
“W-what, w-what is this—!”
“I have business to attend to.”
“Who… what are you?! You monster! Is there no one else out there?!”
A fool who doesn’t even know what a mage is. Ian drew the decorative sword hanging on the wall and pressed it against the mayor’s throat.
Still, the mayor looked genuinely clueless. Understandable—no matter how much he claimed to be the king’s biological father, he had no real political standing. No enemies, and even if he did, none worth killing.
“W-why are you doing this? Huh? Let’s talk first.”
“You were curious about who I am. And why I came here.”
“Wait! Wait a minute!”
“Truth is, before I entered this mansion, I had a chance. I could have turned and walked away.”
Ian whispered softly. From afar, the sound of people rushing over grew louder. Ian leaned close to the mayor’s face and smiled.
“Your son killed my mother and father.”
“…W-what? W-wha?”
The mayor gasped for breath, stammering and twisting in panic. The more he struggled, the tighter Ian’s grip became.
“So I intend to kill you too. Isn’t that only fair?”
Chaeng!
Ian swung his sword, knocking the lamp off the table. It shattered on the floor, oil spilling everywhere.
At the same moment, Ian’s blade rose high into the air.
“To reach the palace, I’ll have to scream as loud as I can. Your screams will be the signal that heralds the fall of the palace.”