Chapter 892

“That’s it for today’s class.”

No sooner had the professor closed his book than Hans whipped his head around to glare at Ian. Ian, still busy finishing his notes, flinched slightly before giving an awkward smile.

“Ian Hadel.”

“Yeah?”

Hans’s tone was sharp, almost cutting. He looked seriously pissed off. Why was he acting like this? Ian couldn’t help but wonder.

“You asked why I got hurt earlier, right?”

Hans pointed to each injury on his body as he explained.

“This one’s from a flying branch that cut me, this bruise on the back of my head is from a smashed statue, and I scraped my skin falling forward. Hell, my school uniform sleeve even got torn.”

“Oh.”

So he’d been close to the park explosion. Only now did Ian understand why Hans was in such a state. It wasn’t intentional, but since Hans got hurt because of him, an apology was in order.

“Sorry. Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?”

“Well, if you came to class instead of the hospital, doesn’t that mean you’re fine?”

Hans narrowed his eyes and scowled. Ian wanted to argue but had no comeback. After all, he was here because he could handle it. Hans snorted and started packing his bag.

“Be more careful from now on. People around here are just asking to get hit by lightning out of nowhere.”

“Yeah, I will. But Hans—”

Hans? Hansss? That arrogant noble brat. Everyone was supposed to be equal at school, but why did he act like they were best friends?

Ian trailed behind Hans, asking, “I saw you heading toward the main gate earlier. Why were you in the garden?”

A question that hit right where it hurt. Hans, who had been striding away like he wanted to escape, hesitated and turned to look at Ian. His big eyes reflected the sky itself.

“I heard the garden’s a place students usually avoid. But Hans, why did you come here?”

He said he’d been tricked, but what about you?

Hans hesitated, choosing his words carefully. It felt too blunt to say he’d come just to scavenge leftovers.

When Hans didn’t answer right away, Ian’s smile brightened bit by bit.

“You came to save me, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

So he knew those guys had put Ian in danger and came to rescue him! Otherwise, why would Hans have gone from the main gate to the opposite side, the garden? It was off-limits to students, and Hans didn’t seem like the type to waste time.

‘Not exactly wrong, but not exactly right either…’

Hans mulled it over, then abruptly turned his head.

“Think what you want.”

“Thanks, Hans. But how did you know those guys were trying to mess with me?”

Everyone but you knew. You don’t even have to eavesdrop; we can hear everything you say.

But Hans didn’t answer. From the very first day of school, he’d been caught up in all sorts of noisy chaos. No point in making things worse.

“What about those guys?”

“The ones who took you to the garden?”

“Yeah. I really want to meet them.”

“Well… I heard they couldn’t be treated at the infirmary and had to go to the hospital.”

Hans recalled the incident. As soon as the park’s protective barrier broke, a small annex building collapsed.

At first, they thought the tremor came from the garden, but it was soon revealed to be the dragon’s doing. It had been pounding the roof and pillars with its tail nonstop.

“They got trapped under the rubble and broke something.”

“What?”

No, that can’t be. Ian stopped in his tracks, looking shocked.

Hans also halted, suddenly realizing he’d been matching Ian’s pace out of consideration.

“Ha!”

Enough wasting time! Hans snapped back to focus and took the lead, with Ian scurrying after him.

“Anyway, Hans. Sorry for getting you hurt and tearing your uniform. I’ll make it up to you properly.”

“Make it up?”

“Yeah. What do you want? A new uniform? Anything.”

Hans pouted.

This is why I envy rich people—the ability to fix your mistakes. No awkward apologies, no taking the blame personally.

Hans fiddled with the torn sleeve and then abruptly turned away.

“Forget it. Don’t talk to me anymore.”

“But—”

“Why do you keep following me?!”

“…Because this is the way to the main gate?”

Not just Hans and Ian, but most students were walking the same route. Ian had no choice; he was meeting Varsabe in front of the gate. He asked with a clear face.

“Want a ride in the carriage?”

“No thanks. My brother’s coming to pick me up.”

“You have a brother? Lucky.”

Hans was Naum’s pride, and Naum was Hans’s pride. Hearing Ian’s genuine admiration, Hans’s expression softened a little.

“You have an annex in your magic department, right?”

“Huh? Annex?”

Hmm? The mysterious being Ian saw in the park mentioned an ‘annex’ too. Hearing Hans say the same made Ian look up, surprised.

“That annex was built by our ancestors.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s a very old story.”

“Wow, that’s impressive. Not just anyone can build a palace.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Though it was glory from the past.

Hans’s voice trailed off as he spotted a bicycle approaching in the distance. Naum, done with work, was waving as he came closer.

Then—

Swaaash.

Leaves on the trees swayed like waves, and the afternoon sunlight filtered through.

Somewhere deep inside Ian’s chest, a profound resonance spread.

“Hans!”

“I’m going.”

Hans slung his bag over his shoulder and dashed toward the bike. Ian’s heart was pounding so hard he couldn’t even answer.

“Um—”

Ian finally managed to break the silence, but the bike with Hans on it was already fading into the distance.

‘It feels… soft.’

A strange sensation near his heart. Ian’s fingertips trembled. It was as if a trace of someone existed beyond his forgotten memories—deep and warm.

Frowning, Ian watched the path Hans had taken until the very end. After a while, footsteps approached from behind.

“Hey, Ian!”

It was Varsabe.

Unlike the morning, she was sweaty and dusty, looking like she’d been through a storm. If Ian looked rough after the explosion, Varsabe seemed like this was just everyday life.

“You really made a mess on your first day, huh?”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Why are you staring like that?”

“Sis.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m feeling a strange sensation. It’s like a silent sense beyond the five senses, trying to wake me up.”

What kind of nonsense is that? Varsabe crossed her arms and gave Ian a once-over. Then she clapped her hands.

“Got it, you little rascal! You fell in love on your first day, didn’t you? What a joke.”

Sure enough, Ian stammered seriously, pointing toward where Hans and Naum had disappeared.

“Ha, Hans is my partner.”

“Yeah? Cute?”

“No. Anyway, that’s not the problem. Hans’s brother… he’s acting weird.”

“…Brother? Oh? What’s this?”

“I felt like someone snapped their fingers inside my head.”

“Oh ho?”

Varsabe leaned in, intrigued, raising her eyebrows. Looking closely, it didn’t seem like love.

“Could this be it?”

“No, no. That’s not love—”

“Magic swordsman.”

“Ah, right.”

Varsabe had said before that mages could recognize magic swordsmen. Those who share magical power are destined to meet.

She shrugged.

“Maybe check it out next time you see him.”

“I will. There’s also the matter of compensation…”

“Compensation?”

Just then, Romandro appeared, looking exhausted as he trudged over. He seemed to have wrapped up the situation with the school.

“Oh, Ian!”

“Romandro. Sorry about all this on the first day.”

“No, no. Glad you’re not seriously hurt. The school handled everything, so don’t worry.”

“What about the minister?”

“He was busy and flew off.”

I see. Ian nodded and climbed into the carriage.

Only nine hours had passed since morning, but the two kids looked completely different—dirty, disheveled clothes everywhere. Romandro wiped the dust off Ian’s face with a handkerchief and asked,

“You’re stopping by the magic department, right? Aren’t you tired?”

“Of course.”

“Kids are great, aren’t they?”

“Me too! Am I going to the palace?”

“Varsabe, if you want, you can go with your father when he finishes work.”

“Yay!”

While Varsabe bounced excitedly, Ian quietly adjusted his rumpled clothes. His legs were covered in dirt.

Romandro looked up at the sky, feeling like he was on the front lines of childcare.

---

In the upper floors of the Imperial Defense Department building in the palace’s main wing, officers sat upright around a table, waiting for their minister to arrive.

Among them, one stood out for looking particularly relaxed—none other than Krony.

“Minister, you’ve arrived.”

Screech.

Clack!

At the entrance of Minister Sharto of the Imperial Defense Department, the officers rose promptly and saluted with precision. Sharto shrugged off the gesture as a bother and casually strode over to the table, tossing off his gloves.

“Ah, forget it. Make yourselves comfortable.”

It was the daily briefing held by the Imperial Defense Department. As they exchanged reports and casual chatter for a moment—

“Did you hear about that?”

Someone glanced toward Krony and reported to the minister.

“The new mage who just joined the Magic Department.”

“Ah, yes. Ian Hadel, right? The uncle of our Captain Krony?”

Having a much younger man as an uncle wasn’t exactly a pleasant thought—it hinted at some irregularity in the family tree. The minister clicked his tongue and added,

“They say he’s quite extraordinary.”

The plan to bring in the Hadel family’s wealth had already been discussed with the minister. No one expected it to fall through so abruptly.

“Even the Magic Department is in an uproar, calling him a prodigy.”

Krony said nothing, only nodding slightly. The expectations were too high to outright deny, yet accepting them twisted his gut.

“But why bring this up all of a sudden?”

“Ian Hadel enrolled at Enerjes, but apparently there was an incident. Because of that, the Magic Minister had to make an unscheduled field visit and couldn’t process some paperwork.”

“An incident? At Enerjes?”

The minister looked away from the reporting officer and toward Krony, as if questioning whether this was intentional.

“They say his immense magical power caused damage to school property.”

Krony smiled faintly and answered in his place, mixing a bit of truth with subtle exaggeration.

“Captain Krony, it seems the first attempt has failed.”

Through an informant planted at Enerjes, they would keep watching for opportunities. But Ian’s power was proving to be an even bigger wild card than expected. Krony slid a report across the table and proposed,

“His growth is astonishing, far beyond expectations. I’d like to request one favor from the Magic Department.”

Swish.

The minister and officers examined the report.

“How about we include Ian Hadel in the upcoming northern troop deployment?”

“Ian Hadel? Is that even possible?”

He was only five years old. No matter how gifted, bringing a child to the battlefield seemed reckless. It would be a miracle if he didn’t end up hindering the soldiers more than helping.

“Why not?”

But Krony was firm.

“He’s officially enlisted in the Magic Department, so he can be drafted for any imperial military operation. And as a prodigious mage, he can replace many soldiers single-handedly. I’m sure the Emperor would welcome that.”

The Emperor was usually cautious about deploying troops, wary of upsetting the balance of power within the Imperial Defense Department. But Ian Hadel? The Emperor would likely approve without hesitation.

“Granted, his experience is limited, so we can’t expect refined magical techniques. But the northern region has almost no civilian population, so raw, destructive power will suffice. It’s more a show of imperial strength to the northern tribes than a dangerous battle. It’s an ideal chance for him to gain experience at such a young age.”

“But he’s too young…”

“Age doesn’t matter. Didn’t you say you fought your first battle at thirteen?”

Age was no excuse to refuse deployment. If youth were a problem, then working in the Magic Department itself would be invalid, which would mean Ian loses his protector—the Magic Department.

The officers nodded in understanding.

“Just think of it as a short trip to the north, that’s all.”

“I believe the Emperor will approve…”

“The real issue is the Magic Department, right?”

“How is Ian treated there?”

“They seem to treat him like any other rookie…”

If this plan is accepted and Ian is sent north, it would be far easier and more certain than waiting for him to die at Enerjes.

Krony grinned as he watched the officers chatter about the matter.

Yes, keep pouring your energy into this. No matter the outcome, it’s the best possible scenario for me.