Chapter 768

Ian quietly watched Barsabe, who had gone completely still. For some reason, she was staring blankly at him, clutching the glass of water tightly with both hands.

Finally, it was Ian who broke the silence.

“I am someone from the future. To all of Bariel, I was practically a living witness to victory. The Shadow God needed to blur their faith. So, it rained.”

“Rain…?”

Barsabe recalled the Buk-san shelter. Vanusa had said the rain was strange, unnatural, and that no one could leave. It wasn’t a natural phenomenon, just as she had suspected.

“They say if you touch it, it will soon disappear.”

Ian’s answer sounded as if it wasn’t really his concern. Barsabe looked into her own eyes reflected in the water and cautiously asked,

“Then, can’t you just reveal it again?”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

The question caught her completely off guard. Barsabe could only part her lips dumbly, unable to grasp Ian’s intent.

‘…Why? Why ask that?’

“Um, Ian?”

“Don’t overthink it. I’m genuinely curious.”

Ian smiled gently. He seemed truly eager to know. He was waiting for Barsabe to give him a reason why revealing his identity was the right thing to do.

“There are countless reasons why I shouldn’t reveal it. And they’re serious.”

Ian was a being from another timeline. Someday, he would surely return to his original world, but the more traces he left behind, the more unpredictable the future would become.

Besides…

“Too much has already changed.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I mean the me revealed during the war and the me revealed after the war can’t be the same.”

“They’re not different!”

“Look, Barsabe.”

All three commanders are dead, and only Beric remains, temporarily leading the royal guard. Their numbers have been cut to less than half. The emperor’s elite right-hand men have fallen.

Moreover, Minister Tweller will retire after this war. It would be ideal if Xiaoshi took over, but judging by the responsibilities involved, it doesn’t seem easy.

When the emperor returns to Bariel, a new phase will surely begin amid the chaos.

“You’ll understand once you return to Bariel.”

If Barsabe remembers this conversation until then.

Ian smiled faintly, and Barsabe found herself at a loss for words. Soon, her throat burned with anxiety, and she gulped down the water in her hands. Ian watched her with a bittersweet smile.

“You said there are reasons not to reveal yourself. But there are also reasons why you must.”

“Yes, there are. But they’re so small, so trivial.”

“They’re not trivial!”

“If you reveal yourself, will everyone’s memories return?”

He was asking if the memories the Underworld God had cut away would truly come back intact.

What good is simply ‘revealing’ if the memories remain lost? Ian is still alone in those memories.

“So, what do you plan to do?”

You can’t hold back rumors—they’ve already spread far and wide. Right now, everyone’s too busy dealing with the war’s aftermath to notice, but soon enough, trouble will arise in some form.

Unlike the worried Barsabe, Ian seemed relaxed.

“Well… whatever will be, will be.”

“Excuse me?”

Did she hear that right? The Ian she knew would never say something like that. Barsabe replied, stunned.

“Forgive me—”

“Hmm.”

“You’re not a monster, are you?”

Ian burst out laughing. Barsabe almost laughed along, but then noticed the glass of water in her hand and her expression stiffened.

‘Ah.’

…Rainwater.

The rain the Underworld God brought seeped into the earth, lingering beneath human life for a long time. That water must carry his power. Ian’s casual “well…” wasn’t a joke—

“I’ll lose my memories soon, too.”

Since he would lose his memories anyway, there was no point in revealing himself.

Barsabe pressed her forehead and leaned forward. Ian was cruel, cold, and truly lonely. Her throat tightened without her realizing it.

“…It’s sad.”

And, you are pitiful. So deeply pitiful it aches in my heart. Barsabe bowed her head and said this, and Ian answered with a warm voice.

“Thank you.”

Thank you for cherishing the memories we shared. Thank you for engraving me in your heart and not forgetting me. In a world where I am left alone, you are a small gift.

“Lastly, I must say this, Ian. Please remember it well.”

No one knows when the memories will be erased. Barsabe hurriedly added.

“Someone will surely remember you. And someday, everyone will remember you again. That is the power of the Underworld God.”

Gaia is the world of the gods. Though the Shadow dared to throw tantrums, that power will be erased someday. Surely. They have defeated him, and they know light always surrounds them.

Ian didn’t answer but simply smiled kindly.

“…”

Hope is a sharp and beautiful shard. It excites and fills one with hope by its very existence, but when it shatters, it leaves a deep wound. So, though Ian appreciated Barsabe’s comfort, he could not hold onto it.

“And…”

Barsabe’s worried words suddenly stopped. It felt as if a part of her mind had been cleanly cut away.

A strange, unfamiliar sensation. Barsabe looked at Ian, bewildered, and Ian returned her gaze gently, as if to say, “I understand. It’s okay.”

“Um, Minister Ian?”

“Yes?”

“What was I saying?”

The moonlight grew cold. The blue glow that had hovered over Ian’s eyes vanished into the distance, leaving only darkness. Yet Ian’s smile remained.

“…The injury’s effect is severe, it seems.”

“I’m sorry. I came to discuss something important, but suddenly this happened. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

“You said you were worried about rumors about me.”

“Oh!”

Barsabe covered her mouth in disbelief. Was she losing her mind? How could she lose focus at such a critical moment? The head injury must be worse than she thought.

“Don’t worry. Rumors are just rumors.”

“Ah, but…”

“You said the clue ‘woman in the water’ made Vanusa suspicious. I will investigate and handle it myself. So, Barsabe, stop worrying and focus on your recovery.”

“Yes, and I should report to His Majesty as well.”

“As you wish.”

It was only a matter of time before Jin heard about this. Ian nodded readily, and Barsabe awkwardly rolled her eyes. She had delivered everything and gotten an answer, but something still felt off. Like there was something left unsaid…

“Is there anything else you want to say?”

“N-no, nothing.”

“Good.”

“Then, will you leave now?” Ian’s gaze was sharp.

Barsabe hesitated, then stood and saluted before turning to leave.

“Barsabe.”

“Yes, Ian.”

“…Thank you.”

For what? Wait, hadn’t he just said that? Barsabe tilted her head and looked back, but Ian had already averted his gaze.

Swish.

Stepping out of the soundproof magic barrier, the soft snores of the mages returned. Barsabe glanced once more toward where Ian had been, then headed toward the royal guard barracks.

The moonlight was truly beautiful that night. Yet why did a strange unease settle in her heart? She shook her head and put on her uniform.

---

Meanwhile, Ian sat alone, staring blankly at the bed. The glass Barsabe had drunk from sat empty, and the world felt frozen in silence. Ian sighed deeply and wiped his dry face.

“They’re not trivial.”

“Someone will surely remember you. And someday, everyone will remember you again.”

Barseve’s voice kept echoing in Ian’s ears. He told himself not to get his hopes up, reminded himself that he was the one who would get hurt—but it wasn’t easy. Her words of comfort had somehow taken root deep within his heart.

“This isn’t right,” he thought.

Frowning, a sharp pain flared beneath his chest again, as if some invisible whip was lashing him for entertaining such futile thoughts.

Ian coughed violently, spitting up blood without end. He stared, frozen, as the clots slipped through his fingers.

“Time…”

How much did he have left?

Did he even have any time at all? With the acceleration magic, he’d already pulled every possible future of ‘Ian Hielo’ into the present. It wouldn’t be surprising if he died at any moment. And above all, it was Akorella’s prognosis. Her suspicions were always sharp and precise.

He let out a bitter chuckle and rinsed the blood from his mouth with water.

“…Still, it’s okay.”

A strange certainty settled over him. Now that his purpose was fulfilled, he believed the gods would allow him to tie up loose ends and meet the end he desired. Surely, the gods would show him that much mercy.

A cool night breeze swept past.

Ian pulled on his jacket and stepped out of the tent. The night air was crisp, carrying a mix of earth, blood, and the scent of smoldering firewood.

He pulled his robe tight and walked toward the water’s edge on the outskirts. He couldn’t fly—his magic was completely drained—but that didn’t matter. Just feeling the present moment and savoring it was precious enough.

“Vanusa.”

In the distance, the flickering lanterns of patrolling soldiers shimmered faintly. Ian hid in the shadows, gazing down at the water as he whispered.

“I believe you can hear me. Show yourself.”

After a moment, a faint silhouette emerged from the darkness. Vanusa glared at Ian with eyes burning with rage, as if she wanted to tear him apart. She looked ready to leap forward and strangle him, but kept her distance, knowing just how powerful a mage Ian was.

Ian bowed his head, almost touching the water.

“I know you’ve been spreading rumors.”

“The Empire’s faith is truly something. That’s the first thing you say.”

Vanusa moved closer, about to grab Ian by the collar—

“Sorry about that.”

Ian apologized calmly. Just as he had sacrificed everything for the Empire’s people, Vanusa was someone who could give her all for the people of Toorun. Regardless of intentions, the fact remained that he had hurt an ally.

“Whether you trust me or not is your choice. But there was no other way. The Under-God is a being based on faith. As long as it has followers, we could never defeat it.”

“…That’s just an excuse. There were piles of children’s bodies.”

“The younger they are, the purer their faith and the stronger their belief.”

Vanusa’s lips pressed into a hard line as she turned away. Though Ian couldn’t see it beneath the water, she was crying—mourning the deaths of her people with a grief that shattered her from within.

“So, what do you want? Our trust is already broken. I’ll take my revenge in my own way. If you want to stop me, you’ll have to kill me.”

“Is it because you’re a water spirit? You seem to sense the nature of rainwater and haven’t lost your memories.”

“Why? Are you displeased? That I used your existence to shake the palace? Don’t try to uncover my secrets. You have no right.”

Ian smiled faintly. His reflection wavered on the water’s surface, stirred by the breeze.

“No.”

Moonlight slipped out from behind the clouds once more. Unlike his wavering reflection, his voice was firm.

“This is what I want.”

Keep going. Keep using me to spark new flames. I will burn, and the palace will follow that light as it sets out on a long journey once again.