Episode 901

“Oh.”

Na-um and Hans looked up at the annex in awe.

While the Ministry of Magic’s main building had its own charm, the annex was something else entirely. It was much newer, cleaner, and had a distinctly modern feel—though “modern” here meant a building nearly a century old.

Ian opened the door to the annex and asked, “Did Grandpa or Dad ever talk about this place much?”

“I barely remember Grandpa mentioning it, but Dad talked about it sometimes. Nothing special—just that our family built the Ministry’s annex, or something like that.”

Creak.

The hallway was flanked on both sides by large arched doorways. Most rooms were used for storing documents, but at the very end of the corridor was a room with a huge window—so big you could see an entire tree outside.

“This would be the perfect spot to read. You could feel the changing seasons right through the window.”

“That was probably the intention, right?”

“Grandpa’s?”

“Yeah. Grandpa’s.”

Hans ran his hand lightly along the wall, smiling. This place wasn’t just a building to the brothers—it was a vessel of their grandfather’s thoughts and intentions, preserved through time.

Na-um, equally impressed, kept glancing up at the high ceiling.

“The ceiling’s so tall. It’s really impressive.”

“But I heard that wizards don’t use this place much,” Hans said.

“Really? Why not?”

Na-um, who had been looking around in a daze, asked curiously.

Now that he thought about it, the place was spotless but showed no signs of frequent use. The main building was cluttered with papers, worn sofas, tables stained with water rings—evidence of wizards’ daily lives—but here, nothing.

“I heard there aren’t that many wizards these days, so the main building alone is enough for their work. When they built the annex, there was a lot of disagreement with other departments. They said it was unnecessary.”

“Hmm. That makes sense.”

“But the Ministry must have had their reasons back then. I haven’t learned the whole story yet.”

Ian tapped the neatly arranged bookshelves with his fingertips, examining them closely.

“Looking for something?”

“Hmm…”

“Why?”

Na-um pulled a book from the shelf and flipped through it, while Hans crouched beside Ian. After a moment’s thought, Ian shared what had happened in the crematorium garden.

“During the garden incident…”

“The crematorium?”

“Yeah. I saw something strange there.”

“Strange? What do you mean?”

“I saw a child who looked exactly like me.”

What on earth? Hans felt a chill run down his arm and glanced nervously out the window. Luckily, the sun was shining brightly.

“Why so shocked?”

“Do I look like someone who wouldn’t be?”

“Isn’t that kind of thing normal there?”

“Enough. I’ve never heard of anyone seeing ghosts at a crematorium.”

“It wasn’t a ghost…”

“Anyway, so?”

Ian pondered deeply before continuing. Who—or what—was that child?

“They told me to come to the annex if I wanted answers.”

“What?”

Hans frowned, confused by the cryptic message. Ian couldn’t explain it clearly either.

But when Hans asked, Ian looked up, startled.

“What’s the question?”

“Huh?”

“You said you could find the answer here, which means there must be a question.”

That’s true. Ian parted his lips slightly, as if realizing something for the first time.

“What did you ask that child?”

“Um… I asked, ‘Who are you?’”

“So, is that the answer?”

Ian thought carefully but that was the only question he’d asked. Still, something told him that wasn’t the ‘real’ question.

Hans and Ian eagerly searched through the bookshelves, trying to uncover the answer the child had tried to give.

Meanwhile, Ian kept drifting between shelves, glancing out the window at the lush greenery. The trees and bushes were so beautiful—almost unnervingly peaceful.

As he stood quietly, soaking in the sunlight, Ian suddenly sensed someone behind him and turned his head slightly.

“…!”

There stood Crony, smiling by the opposite window. Startled, Ian stepped back, and Crony pointed toward the door, as if wanting to say something.

“Uncle. It’s been a while.”

“Crony.”

“I came to deliver a message.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“I heard you were at the annex after coming to the Ministry. Shall we talk for a moment? Should I come in, or will you come out?”

Without thinking, Ian shook his head.

“I’ll come out.”

For some reason, Ian felt it wasn’t right to let Crony inside.

Besides, if anything happened, there was no one here to help him. Hans was still a child, and Na-um was an inexperienced wizard with no standing at the palace.

“Ian, where are you going?”

“Just outside for a bit. You two keep looking around. I’ll be back soon.”

Ian hurried out of the annex, leaving the two brothers exchanging puzzled looks. Na-um closed his book with a serious expression, but Hans dove back into his search, even bringing over a small ladder to check the higher shelves.

“Hmm?”

He found a book with an unusual title.

—The Chronicles of Hielo

The author was Vivi—an unfamiliar name. Was it a novel? The book was older and dustier than the others, which caught Hans’s attention.

He pulled it out and examined the plain leather cover.

“Why is there a novel in the Ministry’s annex?”

It probably wasn’t important material.

Hans flipped to the first page without much thought. A handwritten greeting was scrawled there.

—To Ian, this is your story.

Ian, huh?

Hans raised an eyebrow. The name was the same as Ian Hadel’s. It was a common name, but seeing it here at the Ministry’s annex made him uneasy. Just as Hans was about to turn the page—

“Hans.”

“Yeah?”

“Ian looked uncomfortable when he left. Shouldn’t we follow him?”

Na-um gestured outside. Though he wanted to follow immediately, Hans felt uneasy wandering alone before officially joining the Ministry.

Hans quickly closed the book and climbed down the ladder.

“Yeah. Let’s go after him.”

“Right. We can come back here later.”

“You’re going to bring him back?”

“Of course.”

He was about to officially join the Ministry—how could he not bring a family member? Besides, he’d heard families often came by to drop off clothes and such.

Hans grinned and wrapped an arm around his brother’s waist. The two hurried toward the door.

Tap tap tap!

Click!

They opened the door and saw Ian standing a distance away, talking with a man in uniform. Hans tried to listen in—

“Hey, look over there,” Hans said, pointing past Ian toward the Ministry’s main building.

“…?”

A crowd of wizards was watching Ian intently. Some leaned on the railing, some sat, others peered through holes in newspapers, and a few shamelessly used telescopes.

---

Crony, who had been waiting for Ian, glanced irritably toward the Ministry building. They were spying from hidden spots, pretending not to notice.

‘Crazy fools.’

They were always eccentric, but seeing it firsthand was unpleasant. What was with those sharp eyes that lit up when they heard Ian Hadel was coming?

‘Arena was right about some things.’

The Minister’s words—that Ian was adapting well to the Ministry—had seemed like a rebuke at the time. There was definitely a wall between nobles and commoners, and Ian’s admission was surely a burden amid their busy work. But no—it wasn’t like that.

Snap!

Ian burst out of the annex door. At first, his steps were quick and anxious, but then he slowed, took a deep breath, and calmed down. The closer he got to Crony, the more composed he became.

‘He’s a proper wizard now.’

Crony bowed slightly, wearing a polite smile.

“Uncle. It’s been a long time. Even though we’re in the same palace, it’s hard to see you.”

“…Sir Crony, how have you been?”

“Very well, thank you. And you, Uncle?”

Ian nodded. Crony’s smile was perfectly courteous, but there was something oddly unsettling about him.

“I thought we might have some tea and talk for a bit. Would you join me?”

Because there were so many ears listening inside the Ministry, Crony had no choice but to come all the way to the annex to call Ian out.

Ian glanced toward the wizards watching from afar. Though their expressions were hidden, they all made sharp X signs with their hands.

“No, thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I’m currently working. There’s still much to learn, so I can’t leave the Ministry without permission. Sorry.”

“Is that so? I heard you were busy, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. No time to share a cup of tea with your nephew after all this time.”

Chronie replied with a hint of regret. He already knew that the Ministry of Magic’s work was mostly just idling around, nothing substantial. But if Ian said he was busy, there was no helping it.

“So, what brings you here?” Ian asked.

“Hmm. I have much to convey, but since the time and place aren’t ideal, I’ll keep it brief.”

Chronie straightened his back and looked down at Ian. It was exactly the same as that first time they met at the Hadel estate.

“The bandit attack on the carriage will soon be resolved. The guards found no concrete evidence to press charges. Count Jacques will hear this soon enough, but since I saw you first, I thought I’d let you know as well.”

It was a tacit declaration of victory—the accusation that the attack was orchestrated under Ian’s orders would quietly fade away.

Ian clenched his fist lightly and looked up at Chronie.

“Thank you, Sir Chronie.”

“Don’t mention it. And there’s one more thing I’d like to ask. My father hasn’t been well lately and is sorting out his affairs. He hopes, if possible, that you might come to the estate and be with him.”

Chronie’s father was Ian’s half-brother. Their family tree was tangled, making him more like a grandfather in age, but still.

‘I’ve never even seen his face.’

Ian barely remembered his name. But now that he was invited under the pretense of final arrangements, he had no grounds to refuse.

Ian hesitated, unsure how to respond. Seeing this, Chronie smiled reassuringly.

“I probably won’t be at the estate myself. Have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“That I’m being sent on a campaign to the north.”

Ian had caught wind of it before—the rumors that war might break out between the northern tribes and Bariel, and that Chronie would be going there in person.

“I don’t know when your uncle will arrive, but I won’t be in the capital next month.”

He’s leaving. Chronie is leaving.

Ian almost smiled but stopped himself. Something felt off.

‘His father is preparing for the end, and he’s heading off to the northern front?’

Is that even right, as a son?

He’d heard the emperor opposed the current situation. So this wouldn’t be an imperial order. And with so many officers in the Imperial Defense Department, why was Chronie the one going? Was there some internal policy at play?

“Why that expression?” Chronie’s lips curved into a smile. With little time left in the Ministry, he meant to enjoy himself fully.

Then, kneeling on one knee, Chronie met Ian’s gaze directly.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, Uncle Ian.”

“Ah…”

“So, here’s the thing, Uncle. Won’t you come north with me? I’m making a formal offer.”

“Excuse me?”

The sudden proposal caught Ian off guard, but Chronie’s expression was resolute.

“It would be the better choice for you. Better than staying here in the palace.”

Chronie’s blazing eyes warned that this was the last chance.

“Why?”

“Why, you ask?”

A faint laugh slipped through his teeth. Gripping Ian’s arm tightly, Chronie whispered,

“It wouldn’t be any fun if I told you in advance, Uncle.”