Chapter 831
“Good heavens, how blasphemous!”
The Prime Minister couldn’t hold back any longer. He sprang to his feet, shouting with a voice that thundered far beyond what one would expect from his frail body.
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, while the investigator closed his eyes briefly, as if to say, I knew this would happen. The mad mage had finally caused a scene.
The Imperial Guard reflexively gripped their swords tighter at Acorella’s words, ready to strike the moment the Emperor gave the order.
“Your Majesty, please hear me out! This is for Lord Ian’s sake—and ultimately for Your Majesty’s as well. Just as you care for Bariel, Ian cares for Bariel too!”
“Captain Acorella, shut that deceitful mouth this instant!”
“Prime Minister, you shut up instead!”
“What did you say?”
Acorella’s eyes flashed fiercely as she stood her ground, daring anyone to challenge her. She shouted at the Prime Minister with all the force she could muster, shaking the palace walls.
“The current crisis is largely due to the incompetence of you and your fellow officials!”
“Captain Acorella!”
“Yes, I am Acorella! I am risking my life to make this final plea to Your Majesty. And if anyone tries to stop me, they’d better be ready to die—just like me!”
Her message was clear: if you’re not going to listen, then stay silent.
The Prime Minister was at a loss for words, stunned. He had known she was reckless, but to speak like that in front of the Emperor…
“Enough.”
Jin raised a hand lightly, cutting off the commotion. It was clear he wouldn’t tolerate any more noise.
Both the Prime Minister and Acorella bit their lips, locking eyes with him. Jin leaned on the desk, looking down at Acorella with a gaze so cold it was almost icy—impossible to read.
After a long silence, he finally gave an order.
“Everyone except Captain Acorella, leave.”
“Your Majesty!”
“I will not say it twice.”
Everyone, including the Prime Minister, looked at the Emperor with concern. Even the guards were dismissed—what if something happened now?
But Jin was resolute.
“Captain Acorella said she’s risking her life.”
With a swift motion, Jin drew his sword and pointed it at the Prime Minister and the guards.
“Even traitors are granted their last words before death. There’s no reason not to hear Captain Acorella’s plea. Everyone, leave. Go and wait for my orders.”
As Acorella had warned, anyone who wanted to speak further would have to stake their life on it.
The Prime Minister bowed his head and stepped back, and the guards and attendants hurried out, closing the door behind them.
Silence fell. Only Jin and Acorella remained.
Acorella wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand, steadying her trembling heart.
“Captain Acorella.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I value you. You have been a capable mage guarding the palace alongside me for a long time, a trusted friend. But your words crossed a line.”
His grip tightened on the sword.
He had sworn on his late father’s final breath that he would not hesitate to strike down anything for Bariel’s sake. That was his duty, his mission, and the value he must uphold.
“From now on, be cautious with every word. If you cannot convince me that you have not crossed the line, I will be the one to cut you down. Since you said you are prepared to die, I will honor that resolve.”
Acorella lowered her stance as much as possible and bowed her head. There was no fear in her expression—only gratitude for the chance she had been given.
“Lord Ian is indeed Ian Berosion.”
“Continue.”
“He shares Your Majesty’s fate. The difference is that Your Majesty exists in the present, while Lord Ian exists in the future.”
“The future?”
Jin furrowed his brow, as if hearing nonsense for the first time.
“Yes. Lord Ian is the Emperor Ian Berosion from Bariel’s future. We knew this. But for some reason, this fact seems to have been completely erased during the Gaia campaign.”
“Erased? And you don’t know why? That’s quite irresponsible.”
“The key lies with Lord Ian himself. He knows why we lost our memories. I’m certain of it.”
Jin sat on the desk and set his sword down.
Ian is the Berosion from the future?
“The process is long and complicated. All I can say is that Lord Ian came to this era by the will of the gods to seal the Under-God. Now that his mission is complete—”
Acorella took a breath, unwilling to admit it. That her time with Ian was coming to an end.
“All that remains is for him to return.”
“…You mean he will disappear?”
“Whatever the method, the result will be the same. Lord Ian will no longer exist in Your Majesty’s Bariel.”
Jin had never considered this. The delicate balance between the Emperor and the Minister of Magic. He had assumed there would always be conflict to maintain that balance, but never that one of them would vanish.
He had simply believed they would continue building Bariel together—forever.
“Your Majesty, do you understand what it means that Lord Ian came from the future and has little time left?”
At Acorella’s question, Jin instinctively gripped his sword tighter.
“It means Lord Ian has neither the intention nor the strength to challenge the Emperor’s authority.”
“Then why has he done all this?”
He had defied the Emperor’s orders, rallied the nobles, and even risked those dear to the Emperor to bring matters to this point.
Acorella hesitated, unsure how to explain.
Should I tell His Majesty?
About Ian severing ties with the Ministry of Magic and naming her as the next minister.
She wondered if revealing this would be wise or if silence was better. It could look like laying the groundwork for rebellion.
Everything about Ian Berosion must be told, but…
This part, I’m not sure. If I tell, it might cause unnecessary trouble. If only I could understand Ian’s true intentions better…
She swallowed hard and spoke.
“Lord Ian believes every step is for the future of Bariel.”
Jin tapped the sword’s hilt with his fingertip, then asked coldly.
“Very well. I’ve heard your claim. Now show me the evidence.”
Besides the potion she had made, was there any proof to back this up? Something even those who distrust the Ministry of Magic would have to accept?
Acorella bit her lower lip lightly.
“Examine the war records. There should be traces of messages sent from the battlefield to the palace confirming Lord Ian was the Berosion from the future.”
“Captain Acorella, that is insufficient.”
Mages fly through the sky, split the earth, and tear the heavens. People would doubt nothing if they could manipulate a scrap of paper with magic.
Jin’s skepticism made Acorella shout.
“Then, Your Majesty, you should drink the potion I made! The royal blessing prevents mental manipulation!”
“What’s the difference between mental manipulation and memory alteration? If my body is immune to mental manipulation, wouldn’t memory alteration be impossible as well? After all, losing memories means—”
Acorella’s eyes widened. She had found a clue in his words.
The royal blessing was a gift from the gods. Unless something powerful enough to counter it existed, Jin’s memories could not be erased.
“The Under-God!”
She realized why they had lost their memories.
“That damn Under-God!”
“Captain Acorella.”
“He erased our memories of Lord Ian! I’m certain! There must be a phenomenon common to both Toalun and Bariel during the final battle with the Under-God. Investigate that!”
Acorella shouted, eager to verify it herself.
But Jin shook his head, stopping her there.
“The claim that Lord Ian is the Emperor from the future was intriguing.”
He felt a strange, complex emotion swirling inside him so fast he couldn’t fully grasp it.
If Lord Ian truly was the future Berosion, then the blood ties binding them would be more precious than ever.
But at the same time…
I have to accept that Lord Ian will return to the future.
If he didn’t, if he stayed here bearing the Berosion name…
One day, Jin might have to raise his sword against Ian for the throne.
“Haah.”
No matter what the truth was, the future could never be whole again. Jin pressed his palm to his forehead and muttered.
“But it’s still just a claim. Captain Acorella, come to me again when you have solid proof.”
“Your Majesty, please wait!”
“Is that you outside?”
Those who had been focused on the commotion inside stepped in quickly. Jin nodded toward them, signaling to remove Acorella.
“Your Majesty, I can find it! I swear! Please let me meet Lord Ian! Your Majesty!”
The door slammed shut, and Acorella’s voice abruptly cut off.
The Prime Minister studied Jin’s expression, trying to guess what had been said.
“Go—”
Jin sighed and gave his order.
“Bring me every single record and report from the war. Not a single page missing—from the moment we marched out until the very end.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And the potion that Akorella supposedly created—bring that as well. Include the statements from the officials who took it.”
The prime minister glanced at Jin with concern, but the emperor didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, he kept repeating Akorella’s words in his mind, staring out the window.
The palace was silent in the dead of night.
Jin sat upright, flipping through documents. Hours had passed. He’d skipped meals, dismissed his ministers’ reports, and devoted all his time and energy to poring over the war records.
He immersed himself in the memories of the battlefield, searching for the ‘trace’ Akorella had mentioned.
Rustle.
The towering stack of papers slowly shrank. Jin pressed his eyes shut and sighed deeply.
“If Lord Ian is truly Ian Berosion from the future, then I must let him go. But if he’s not—”
If not? Then Akorella, who had spoken such blasphemy, would have to be dealt with. At the same time, he’d have to firmly curb both the Magic Department and Lord Ian.
Jin lowered his head heavily.
“Time…”
If Akorella’s words were true, how much time was left? Was it really true? Could he trust it? And if he did, how was he supposed to accept the inevitable parting?
“Agiar.”
He reached the section of records from the Agiar campaign. Suddenly, he felt there might be a clue here—and sure enough.
“…!”
Ian Hielo is Ian Berosion. He carries the royal bloodline and is a gift sent by the gods to save Bariel. We will follow him.
Jin’s heart sank.
The unfamiliar record was clear and unmistakable. It called Ian the rightful master of Bariel, bearing Berosion’s bloodline.
“Hah.”
Yet nowhere did it mention the word ‘future.’
Jin covered his mouth, bewildered. Why was such a record written? And why did it contradict Akorella’s claims? Everything was a mystery.
He glanced at the potion sitting at the edge of the desk.
“If I drink that…”
Could it bring him closer to the truth? Could it help him navigate this tangled situation and make the right choice?
Just as Jin reached for the potion—
Knock, knock!
“Your Majesty! There’s an emergency!”
The chamberlain knocked urgently on the inner door.
Startled, Jin dropped the potion.
“What is it?”
He set the bottle upright and asked.
The news that followed tore through his heart once more.
“Minister Ian’s condition is worsening!”