Chapter 789

“What do you mean by that?”

It was Melania who broke the silence.

In a way, it was only natural. Eunrang and Hohun trusted their abilities—they had faith in the outcome. Ian was surprised, yes, but there was no point in arguing. It was the truth. After all, he was both a Hielo and a Verosion. More than that, he was a man from the future, not the present.

‘Fascinating. A tool that reads the soul.’

To think that such a strange device, capable of piercing through one’s very essence, was nothing more than a single strand of hair. The level of the East might be beyond what Ian had imagined. Especially considering how Arsen had gone to great lengths—bringing the light of the oracle, gathering all sorts of people, causing a commotion—to uncover his identity.

“This one is definitely Ian Hielo. As for the timeline, it’s probably the Abyss’s doing.”

“The Abyss? You’ve been there?”

“Yes. I was there too—”

Melania hesitated mid-sentence. Her memories were fragmented, as if they had been butchered.

Seeing her falter, Eunrang openly frowned. Melania couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something was wrong. The atmosphere suddenly turned cold, even though the paper lanterns around them still flickered warmly.

Hohun tucked the white hair away and replied.

“Melania, you and that one are different.”

To confirm, Hohun held the hair up to Melania’s eyes once more. She remained unchanged. Regardless of whether Ian had truly been to the Abyss, he was an entirely different being.

Eunrang muttered with interest.

“A monster?”

“I don’t know.”

The answer surprised them. Hohun usually preferred to name things precisely.

“It’s different from a monster, though.”

He trailed off, unable to put into words the true nature of Ian’s essence.

But Eunrang didn’t seem to care much.

“Does it matter?”

In the East, it was common knowledge that monsters lived disguised as humans. Eunrang had suspected something from the moment he heard about the magician who produced magic stones. He relaxed, leaning back with his pipe in hand.

“What about the box?”

Finding the box was their priority.

But Ian remained silent, watching them carefully. Eunrang flicked the ash from his pipe and nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

“Yeah. Wherever you go, those who live off a salary have a certain flavor. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. The clearer the intent, the more our interests overlap. What do you want?”

Despite his youth, the boy held money, fame, and power in his hands. He wouldn’t be swayed by anything trivial.

Moreover, since he had hidden his identity deep within the palace, what he desired must be something grand—something beyond measure. Eunrang whispered sweetly.

“Bariel?”

For the first time, Ian’s indifferent gaze flickered with reaction. Melania was the same—she held her breath, wondering what Eunrang meant.

“What else could it be, hiding your identity and holding a position in the royal court? There are plenty like you in the East. Foxes who’ve beguiled kings and ruined kingdoms.”

Besides, the Magic Department was said to be at odds with the royal court, constantly checking each other’s power. Everything was clear. Eunrang propped his chin on his hand and grinned.

“You return the box, and we keep your secret so you can achieve what you want. Where else will you find a deal like this? Just say the word—I’ll even bring you the emperor’s head.”

Eunrang was confident. Bariel had yet to realize their existence. Especially since Gaia and the East barely knew each other. An ambush in the dark was a gamble no one could win without luck.

“Hmm?”

Eunrang snorted, scrutinizing Ian from every angle. His gaze was cold and dangerous. Melania swallowed hard. From his profile, she couldn’t tell what Ian was thinking.

‘Bring the emperor’s head?’

Ian chuckled quietly, mulling over Eunrang’s words.

How audacious. How ridiculous.

He met Eunrang’s gaze steadily and spoke softly.

“Let’s put aside my identity for now.”

Melania was taken aback by the unexpected preamble. It was almost as if he was admitting part of what Hohun had said was true.

“What exactly are you?”

“What do you mean? Afraid I’m a monster like you?”

Eunrang and Hohun were almost certain Ian was a monster. No one from this world would show changes under the white tiger’s hair. Only those from the Rift or other unseen worlds exhibited such anomalies.

“I’m no monster!”

“Quiet, Melania. Stop interfering.”

Her protests were useless. As Eunrang leaned toward Ian, her hair slipped down her shoulder.

“We are magicians of the East. Chosen by the heavens to wield power and create miracles. We are fundamentally different from you, who only imitate clumsily.”

Ian smirked and leaned in toward her. The distance between them was close. Eunrang sensed something flickering in the boy’s green eyes. That cold, swirling presence—

‘Anger?’

“No.”

Ian’s voice was chillingly calm.

“Your true purpose.”

“…I don’t quite understand.”

“Your actions make no sense from start to finish. If anyone should be suspicious, it’s you, not me.”

Ian reached out and pulled the Idgal Eunrang had produced toward himself. The move was so sudden that Eunrang and Hohun only froze, unable to react.

“Idgal itself is a foreign object that disrupts the world. There’s nothing like it in the East, right? Yet those who secretly carry out missions even cross over to Gaia to collect Idgal. I don’t understand. If you take this to the East, all your past deeds will be exposed.”

They wanted secrecy, yet carried something that would cause the greatest uproar. What a contradiction.

“Judging by the size of the pouch, it’s not just for research. Even the Hwan rebels know you’re interested in Idgal and have reported it to Bariel. Isn’t that excessive?”

Eunrang spat smoke instead of answering. The relaxed smile that had once graced his face was long gone.

“From past experience, only two groups desire Idgal: those who want to suppress the Rift, and those who want to check the magicians.”

The atmosphere grew colder. It wasn’t an illusion—the fabric hanging from the ceiling began to whip violently. Ian didn’t stop.

“The way you’re searching for the box is strange too.”

No matter how reckless a great magician might be, someone else had stolen it. So why be so secretive and cautious?

If finding it was important, the natural step would be to reveal your identity to the leaders of each country and ask for cooperation. Secretly and swiftly? That was not a choice one would make in a foreign land.

‘Then this means only one thing. They fear the wrath of failing their duty to protect the relic.’

But if that were true, it made even less sense why they were gathering Idgal.

“Or perhaps—”

Ian smiled brightly and asked,

“Are you in league with the ones who stole the box?”

If so, everything fell into place. Why they acted as they did, and why they wanted Idgal.

“The great magician of the East seems to have quite a few enemies.”

The box was a relic that could elevate a magician’s power. Strengthening oneself while using Idgal to check others—no matter how great, a magician would find that tempting. Though Ian didn’t know the extent of that person’s skill.

Eunrang finally burst out laughing in disbelief, and Melania pressed herself close behind Ian. She had thought of him as a guest from the East, but now it seemed he was an Eastern thief…?

“So that’s why you’re the minister. I wondered how such a childish person could rise to a high position in such a ridiculous country. Anyway, so—”

She shook her head irritably, then added,

“Is that really what matters right now?”

“You don’t care about who I really am, so why should I care about you? Isn’t it simple enough to just give each other what we need? They get the box, and Ian gets what he wants—that’s all there is to it.”

Whoosh!

In an instant, the air expanded violently, creating a destructive current. Red and yellow cloths tangled chaotically, casting an eerie atmosphere.

Ian brushed his disheveled hair back and sensed the flow of magic. So this was Eunrang. It was clear at once she was a formidable opponent—slightly stronger than Hale, if he had to compare.

I was going to ask for details about what was written on the box.

But trusting others to translate it could only lead to chaos. And if they found out the box had already been used, who knew how they’d react?

Ian spoke casually.

“By the way, does the Grand Mage of the East really not know the box has gone missing?”

“What?” Eunrang’s brow furrowed sharply at the sudden question.

“I doubt it,” Ian continued. “Someone with the title of ‘The Absolute’ wouldn’t miss the disappearance or use of the box. They’re a prodigy who created a new magic circle and advanced the history of magic itself. If such a person truly were ‘The Absolute,’ then honestly, the East’s standards would be a bit disappointing.”

Ian wasn’t sure if what he said was true, but it threw Eunrang and Hohun into visible confusion.

“What… what do you know?” Eunrang asked, her voice tense.

Though essentially a monster, she was still the Minister of Magic for the Great Empire. Maybe she’d heard something from the East.

But Ian gave no sign he intended to share, pressing his right ear gently with his hand.

Zzzzz! Zzzing!

—“Romandro, contact me immediately.”

A message spell. Sent to Romandro, who was waiting nearby. Ian couldn’t handle both of them alone right now.

…Too bad.

Using the box required the power of three people. The greater the difference in their strength, the more dangerous it became. So the three must be roughly equal in skill.

There was Vitor, the mage who once burned down Cheollyeo and Hiel. Then Eunrang, the woman before him. And Hohun, standing right there, was likely on the same level.

If my magic were intact, I’d tear them apart right here.

How dare they speak of the Emperor’s life? He should have ended them immediately, but circumstances didn’t allow it.

“…!”

Eunrang caught sight of Ian’s golden eyes and instinctively rose to her feet. Just as she was about to summon magic to attack—

Snap.

Hohun grabbed her wrist.

“Eunrang.”

They were in the heart of Bariel, not far from the palace. If all the mages swarmed in, even they couldn’t guarantee survival. But since they’d learned something, it was better to retreat for now.

“I was curious about what you want.”

Ian kept unleashing his magic openly, daring them to come at him.

“Take your firecrackers and get lost. Go back to your country.”

Whoosh!

Flames engulfed everything around them. At the same time, Hohun swung his sleeve. Boom! The ground shook with a massive explosion.

Melania covered her face and sank to her knees, feeling as if the raging firestorm would consume her at any moment. But soon, she realized she wasn’t in pain.

“Ah.”

The Eastern mages had vanished.

Ian’s flames, which had filled the space, died down in an instant. Standing silently, Ian’s back looked… wrong. Melania, who knew nothing about magic, sensed something was terribly off.

“Um, a-are you okay, Lord Ian?”

“…Turn your head away.”

Thud.

Ian collapsed just like that. His face was pale, and dark red blood flowed endlessly from the corner of his mouth.