Chapter 860
“Ugh, damn it.”
Ja-an groaned as he woke, sitting up and staring blankly into space. He seemed half out of it—maybe hungover, maybe not. Scratching his chin, he gave a sheepish smile.
“That blasted pony really went and cracked my skull.”
Someone had definitely slipped something into his drink.
Poisoning attempts were a dime a dozen in the East, and having lived nearly 300 years, Ja-an had probably swallowed more poison than anyone else—enough to fill a whole jar. Thanks to that, his tolerance was so high that most drugs barely even registered with his liver. But this Akorella seemed to be a far more skilled operator than she looked.
“There’s a lot I could learn from her. In many ways.”
Not just about the weapons that let ordinary people stand against the fiends, but also about the so-called underground gods.
A sudden thirst made Ja-an fumble across the table.
“Are you awake now?”
“You’re awake? Well, aren’t you polite all of a sudden?”
“Ha, ha-ha.”
It was Akorella. She stood there in her neat uniform, awkwardly nodding.
“You slept soundly, didn’t you? I noticed you were sleep-deprived. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have passed out so quickly. You need to take better care of your health as you get older.”
“Cut the crap. Ungrateful bastards all around. Huh? I showed you the Emperor’s divine favor, snapped that damn pipe in two, and even took back the precious relic I made with care—and you dare feed me that?”
“Who said you should drink it without suspicion?”
“Oh? Look at that shameless face.”
“Please eat first. I’ve prepared a feast with the finest delicacies.”
Snap! With a flick of her fingers, Akorella summoned servants pushing trolleys. The room quickly filled with the aroma of delicious food, and Ja-an relaxed his eyes, clearing his throat.
“You said it’s ready?”
“Almost.”
“Almost? Damn, these fools.”
“Maybe it’s easy to get in the East, but not here in Bariel. Please wait a little longer. The moon is expected to be bright tonight, after all.”
Ja-an gulped down water and glanced out the window. The sun was setting, painting the sky with vivid hues, and a cool breeze stirred. He popped a soft piece of bread into his mouth and muttered,
“Yeah. It’s going to be dazzling.”
“If you need anything, just say the word.”
“Good grief, your attitude flips like a hand. Sometimes I wonder if I’m still passed out.”
Despite Ja-an’s sarcasm, Akorella just smiled. After all, she had promised to lift the binding spell and rescue Ian and Hale. He was no longer a cursed old man but a precious guest from the East. It was only right to treat him accordingly.
When Ja-an waved his hand, signaling her to leave, Akorella added,
“Beric is under house arrest. He recklessly challenged you to a wager without the Emperor’s permission. It must be boring, but please bear with it.”
“Hmph. You think I’m fond of that guy?”
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
Ja-an devoured his meal, clearing the plates in no time. Patting his full belly, he noticed a stack of papers nearby.
“Hmm.”
They were records of the war against the underground gods, as the Emperor had mentioned. The blank spaces were probably about Ian Hielo.
Leaning back, Ja-an flipped through the pages leisurely, then suddenly seemed to make up his mind and stormed out.
“Ja-an? Where are you going?”
The servants gasped and hurried after him, but Ja-an’s pace was no ordinary walk—it was like gliding on clouds. His sleeves fluttered as he laughed.
“Don’t know! No idea where I’m headed!”
Words can deceive, so to find the truth, one must see with their own eyes. Ja-an cloaked himself in shadow and entered the next magic department.
“Romandro! Where did you put the expedition reports?”
“Where else? On your desk. Huh? Today’s letters? Running late?”
“Here they are.”
“Sort them out for me. I have a meeting soon.”
“Should I separate the nobles’ reports? Some don’t have addresses.”
“Again? This time it’s a postcard of a field. Those come regularly. Sort those separately too. Well then, Minister Akorella!”
Mages bustled about, busy with their work.
In a healthy country, bureaucrats’ faces are pale from overwork, offices have no useless decorations, and feet never stop moving as if on fire. Ja-an nodded in satisfaction.
“Passed.”
He glanced around the minister’s office piled high with documents, then slipped out of the palace.
If they found out he’d disappeared, there’d be chaos—but who cares? Let them fret! Who dares slip me a sleeping pill?
“Fresh vegetables! Best prices right now!”
“Extra! Extra! The legendary actor Zarni is joining a new play! Opening next weekend! Buy your tickets at Hanbo Newspaper!”
“Oh my, long time no see, ma’am. Care for a cup of coffee?”
“Mom! Big brother’s teasing me again!”
The central square buzzed with life. People laughed, buyers and sellers haggled energetically. Children ran about, and adults sat by the roadside, leisurely drinking wine and refreshments. Peace.
Ja-an shed his concealment and settled on a bench, leaning back.
“Ah.”
In the distance, a flower-covered grave caught his eye. It was clearly the trace of Ian Hielo, as the Emperor had said. Just then, a child about ten years old rode by on a bicycle and tossed flowers onto the grave. Ja-an raised his hand to call the child over.
“Hey there.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes, you.”
The child hesitated at Ja-an’s unusual appearance but relaxed, seeing it was broad daylight and many people were around. That trust in the empire was evident—the belief that nothing untoward would happen near the palace.
“Are you not from Bariel?”
“From far away. But why did you throw flowers there?”
“You shouldn’t ask that.”
“Huh?”
Surprised, Ja-an blinked. The child lowered their voice.
“You have to be careful. The grave’s owner was convicted of treason. The palace keeps it hush-hush, but you never know.”
“And yet you still throw flowers?”
Why risk it? Ja-an asked. The child smiled brightly.
“Because he was someone to be grateful for. I don’t want to forget.”
A guard approached from afar, and the child quickly pedaled away. The guard passed the flower grave without a second glance, then asked Ja-an,
“Did you just come out of the palace?”
“Ha! Damn. They’re quick.”
As soon as they confirmed Ja-an’s disappearance, a manhunt order went out everywhere.
Ja-an laughed bitterly. Somehow, he envied the West. The world he’d longed for in the East for over 300 years, even sacrificing his soul, was right here in plain sight.
“Alright, alright. Let’s go! Go!”
His outing was brief, but as he returned to the palace, Ja-an’s steps were free of regret.
A little later, he waved at Akorella, who was grinding her teeth.
“Ohoy!”
“Don’t ‘ohoy’ me! Everyone’s in a frenzy thinking you vanished without a word, you damn old man!”
“Careful, you’ll burst your eardrums. I just ate and took a walk. Is everything ready?”
Snap!
Akorella pressed her lips tight and pointed to the magic department’s backyard. Everything he mentioned was prepared.
Ja-an chuckled and surveyed the lawn.
“Well then, enjoy the show.”
With a brush, he drew a massive circle on a giant sheet of hanji paper. The circle was larger than a person, and soon, Eastern characters densely filled the center axis.
Ja-an’s eyes glowed gold. The mages stepped back, watching intently. The Emperor arrived and stood beside them.
“Is that Ja-an?”
“Yes, we found him. He crawled in on his own.”
“Just wait until this is over.” Akorella muttered through clenched teeth, and Jin sighed in relief.
“Erasure.”
Crunch!
The same phenomenon as when the relic was first used. The paper trembled violently, the characters shimmering gold as if alive.
Ja-an clasped his hands in prayer, and the letters swirled around, shooting straight up to the sky.
A strange melody, unlike anything heard before, flowed from Ja-an’s teeth. The pitch was steady, the words indistinct and blurred.
The mages watched the Eastern magic with fascination, then paled.
“Ah, that—!”
“What is that?”
Whoosh!
The floating letters formed the shapes of two people—giant figures bowing as they surveyed the palace courtyard.
Soon, the unfamiliar sound of horses from the eastern lands buzzed through the air. No one in the imperial palace could understand the language, so all eyes nervously followed Ja-an’s retreating figure.
“Ja-an, why do you seek to destroy the relic? It holds the essence of our past—an arduous history where not a single breath was wasted in the eradication of the aberrations.”
Ja-an smiled softly and closed his eyes. Those voices belonged to the souls of the two great mages who, like him, had wielded the relic.
“I apologize. I was careless in managing my disciples and made a mistake. I will create a new one without draining any more energy. Please wait a little longer.”
Whoosh!
The letters forming the figures stirred ominously as a fierce wind swept through. Their human shapes twisted in displeasure. Ja-an calmed them by shaking small golden and silver bells.
“Strike down those who used the relic recklessly, and hang their bodies at the edge of Cheonbong Mountain.”
“Don’t be hasty. They used the relic to seal the King of Aberrations. Thanks to them, we gained clues. It’s not a complete failure. Do not be so angry.”
Jingle, jingle.
Ja-an continued chanting softly, humming a faint melody. His robes and hair fluttered in the wind, dancing like waves.
“Lower the ring, my friends. Based on what I have seen and heard here, I will forge a new relic. With it, we shall finally annihilate the King of Aberrations. It won’t take much longer now.”
The two figures slowly straightened their backs. Resigned, they opened their hands, and between them, a golden ring materialized.
Ja-an, who had been sitting and reciting incantations, rose to his feet. Holding a blade forged from magic, he lightly took to the air.
Slash!
With a swift stroke, Ja-an shattered the golden ring. Crackle! At the same moment, the letters that had formed the human shapes scattered wildly, flying toward the blue moon.
Hale suddenly felt as if a long thread tied somewhere deep in his chest had snapped.
“Ah.”
Thud.
At that very moment—
Ian, who had been gazing outside, felt the same sensation: something breaking.
He didn’t know what it was, but instinctively, he understood one thing—the last thread connecting this place had been severed.
“Brother?”
At Roel’s call, Ian silently took the child’s hand and murmured,
“…It’s raining.”