Chapter 822

“Romandro, wait outside.”

Ian strode up the stairs leading into the conference hall and gave the order. Romandro, who had been running hard to keep up, hesitated for a moment, and Ian slipped inside the building, passing through the familiar corridor in an instant.

Far ahead, he spotted a cluster of officials gathered together—the representatives from various departments assembled for the conference. They recognized Ian immediately and approached him.

“Minister Ian of the Magic Department, isn’t it?”

“What brings you here?”

“The conference is underway.”

“Yes, but since the Magic Department’s operations have been suspended, you have no right to speak. I’m sorry, but please leave.”

An official stepped forward to block Ian’s path.

If word got out that the Magic Minister had come this far, the Emperor would surely summon him inside for a discussion. If that happened, the restrictions the Emperor had imposed on the Magic Department would be lifted once again. Minister Raiven and his faction had warned their subordinates to be on high alert.

“Having no right to speak doesn’t mean you can’t attend. I’m only here to observe. Why are you stopping me?”

“Exactly. And you are the Minister of the Magic Department. If you care about the Imperial Palace, you shouldn’t be acting like this.”

Several officials from other departments stepped in to support Ian. Once inside, it would be up to the Emperor and the Magic Minister to resolve matters.

“I said no. Please leave.”

“Oh, come now.”

In the scuffle, those guarding the door and those protesting bumped lightly against each other. The corridor grew noisy. Then, standing in the middle of it all, Ian lifted his head.

“Can you handle what’s coming?”

His low murmur froze the atmosphere instantly.

His sharp gaze betrayed his exhaustion—a warning and a piece of advice.

“I’m asking if you can bear the consequences of my leaving.”

Throwing themselves into the storm of the Imperial Palace, they were far too weak to withstand it.

No one answered. They all fell silent and hesitated. Taking their silence as an answer, Ian pushed past them. The officials could only watch as he opened the conference hall door.

Creak.

The door swung open, and every eye in the hall turned to Ian. The ministers from each department froze in place, while Jin looked at Ian with a face that said, “I’ve been waiting for this.”

“I-Ian Minister?”

“Ahem.”

The ministers glared at their subordinates through the crack in the door, scolding them. How could they fail to keep him out?

“Excuse me. I heard that a critical matter concerning the Magic Department is being discussed, so I came here. Even if the Magic Department’s operations are suspended, excluding me while I’m openly in the Imperial Palace is deeply disappointing for the head of a department.”

“We’re just following protocol.”

“Protocol.”

Ian let out a short laugh and turned to Jin, who continued to watch him silently.

“If the suspension of operations means the Magic Department can’t attend the conference, then the department should delegate authority to someone else to attend on its behalf. That’s the protocol. Holding the conference while deliberately excluding only the Magic Department isn’t protocol—it’s cheating.”

“Please, have a seat, Lord Ian.”

Jin gestured toward a chair, but Ian didn’t comply. Instead, he turned back to the ministers and added:

“Moreover, the mandatory use of the magic-sealing stones within the palace is a law made without any consideration for practical work. Wizards use magic constantly, regardless of time or place, to carry out their duties. Restricting that will only lead to the decline of Bariel’s magic.”

“We’re trying to find a compromise to minimize that. Didn’t you just admit that wizards use magic indiscriminately? For everyone’s safety, we need to set restricted zones or specific times, or find some other solution.”

“It’s laughable to hear that from someone who has benefited from the Magic Department all this time. Is there any precedent for safety being compromised because of the Magic Department? Any reason to be alarmed?”

Ian’s words were sharp to the point of being shocking. Even the ministers, who had been looking for an opening to respond, faltered.

Then Jin finally spoke.

“That law is meant to prevent such incidents before they happen.”

His tone was calm, devoid of any emotional disturbance.

“Your Majesty.”

“But I do understand the Magic Department’s position. The magic-sealing stones infringe on your rights.”

Jin slowly stood and approached Ian. Their eyes locked in a gaze that felt somehow precarious.

“The Magic Department must understand why this law is being discussed here and now. Whether you intended it or not, this all started with the Magic Department.”

More precisely, it started with Ian Hielo. The endless rumors about the royal bloodline, the unchecked power, the overwhelming influence of the wizards themselves…

“Since it started with the Magic Department, it’s a problem for the Magic Department to resolve. Lord Ian, you know the answer.”

The matter of the annex had already been settled, so Jin didn’t bring it up. But regarding the monopoly on magic stones, Ian needed to give up his greed, especially the practice of rallying nobles under the pretext of the Empress’s position. That was the only way to calm the current situation.

“Your Majesty.”

Ian smiled bitterly, frowning.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. How could this have started with the Magic Department?”

“Lord Ian!”

Jin shouted, frustrated. Didn’t he know this wasn’t the point? But Ian showed no sign of stopping.

“The monopoly on magic stones arose because some sought personal gain by breaking free market rules. And the talk of the Empress’s position? That’s just a fantasy born from the desires of certain nobles.”

“It was you who encouraged and dragged this all the way here, Lord Ian!”

“What did you say? Magic-sealing stones? How could Your Majesty make such a decision? Of all things—”

Ian’s voice rose in turn. Of all things, when they’d all heard how he died—

Ian felt the tangled emotions in his chest.

‘It’s disappointment.’

He had never felt disappointed in Jin or the others before. Their lost memories were due to the power of the Underworld God, and it was only natural that he be erased from the world. All of it was by his own design.

“Magic-sealing stones, Your Majesty. Have you forgotten how disastrous it was to limit wizards’ power during the war with other nations?”

“We’re only restricting their use within the palace.”

“That’s where it begins.”

Jin bit his lip lightly.

Ian wasn’t giving the answer he wanted.

He wanted Ian to back down for now. The situation was too heated, and the Magic Department would try to calm things in its own way. So he wanted Ian to drop this ridiculous discussion.

“Your Majesty.”

Ian looked up at Jin, his eyes unreadable.

“Please stop.”

“Then the Magic Department should stop as well. And refrain from mentioning the Empress’s position. That’s none of your concern.”

“If not me, then who?”

“What did you say?”

“Your Majesty still doesn’t understand.”

Jin furrowed his brow. He had no idea what Ian was trying to say.

“The woman you cherish is not fit to be Empress. Just because she’s a paladin who earned merit in the war, how can she claim the throne of Bariel? Even calling it ‘undeserved’ is an understatement.”

The ministers held their breath, watching Jin’s expression. The Emperor seemed unaware, but his gaze was growing fierce.

“Your Majesty, listen to the loyal advisors of the palace and choose a suitable consort. Then the Magic Department will step back on the issue of the magic stone monopoly.”

Though he called them loyal advisors, it was clear he meant the woman Ian and his faction had selected as Empress.

That would reunite the divided nobles, and even if they had to let go of the magic stone monopoly, they could still stand against Minister Raiven’s faction.

“What will you do?”

For the sake of the greater good, setting aside personal feelings should be an easy choice for an Emperor. By giving up Eirin, he could strengthen the bond with the Magic Department once more.

“…That’s a separate matter.”

But Jin’s choice was different. Everyone watching quickly tried to make sense of it.

“You haven’t even formed a bond with her, yet why do you cling to her so?”

Ian chuckled. Jin sensed many meanings in that laugh—rebuke for foolishness, amusement, and above all, confidence that everything was still in his hands. From that strange expression, Jin vaguely felt Ian was hiding something.

“This is dangerous, Your Majesty.”

It’s dangerous when the Emperor attaches meaning to something. You never know when or how it might become a weakness.

“As your loyal servant, I cannot stand by and watch. I beg you to make the right choice. Otherwise, Bariel will lose a capable paladin.”

“…Lord Ian. Are you planning to interfere with Eirin?”

“There’s nothing to interfere with. She’s already gone somewhere unknown.”

Jin froze in shock.

The ministers, too, held their breath as they belatedly realized what Ian meant. Had Ian already taken steps to track Eirin’s whereabouts?

“Your Majesty, please make a decision. For the sake of the palace, relinquish the Empress’s seat and seek peace. Furthermore, repeal that absurd law mandating the wearing of the magic-sealing stones, and show respect to the Magic Department.”

“Lord Ian—!”

“If you do so, I will do everything in my power to find the missing Holy Knight. I am a mage. I can uncover traces that ordinary people wouldn’t even notice. No, I must find her. After all, she is to be one of Your Majesty’s consorts.”

Eirin’s fate rests in Ian’s hands. If the king accepts Ian’s plea, everything will return to its rightful place.

Jin’s fist trembled—whether from the effort to accept or to reject, no one could tell. Then he barked out:

“What have you done with Eirin?”

“Why do you ask me that? Look at yourself. You’re so fixated on one lost soul that you fail to see the bigger picture.”

“Silence! Why must it come to this? Why—”

BANG!

Jin slammed his fist down on the desk, unable to contain his fury. But Ian didn’t even flinch; he calmly bore Jin’s rage.

“This is your warning. Do not cross the line.”

“You were the one who crossed it first, Your Majesty.”

“How can you not know when to back down? After all I’ve done!”

“Because of what you’ve done, I must respond in kind.”

“Lord Ian! Please!”

Jin’s shout was almost a scream. His hands shook uncontrollably, desperate to grasp something—anything—but all he saw were Ian’s shoulder and the sword. Grabbing the sword meant he’d have to strike; grabbing Ian’s shoulder meant begging the Minister of Magic in front of the court officials.

Unable to hold back any longer, Jin let out a series of anguished cries.

BANG! CRASH!

Objects shattered, and the officials struggled to steady their pounding hearts, silently praying for this moment to pass.

After watching Jin’s outburst for a long while, Ian turned away as if nothing had happened.

“Minister Ian, where are you going?”

After causing such chaos, where could he be going? The officials hurried to stop him, but Ian brushed them aside lightly and replied:

“I may have to wear the magic-sealing stone while in the palace, so I intend to stay away for a while.”

Ian glanced down at Jin’s hand, which looked as if it had been cut. The wound was deep.

“I’ve finished my investigation and will be leaving the palace. I’ll inform Romandro of my whereabouts. If further inquiries arise, send someone there.”

With that, Ian left the assembly hall.

A moment later, Romandro, waiting below, shot him a concerned look that seemed to ask, Are you alright? But Ian gave no answer.

“Your Majesty! You’re bleeding!”

“Don’t touch him! Beric! Beric!”

At Jin’s desperate cries, Beric, who had been watching everything, approached with a grim expression. Jin’s face and hands were stained with blood.

“Go outside immediately and check on Eirin. Make sure she’s safe and unharmed. Right now!”