Chapter 933

“Huh? Marriage?”

The wizards who received the wedding invitation stared at Romandro in disbelief.

“When did this guy even start dating?”

“What have you been doing, zipping around here and there? No wonder you’ve been putting on weight lately. So you were busy dating, huh?”

“Wow… Romandro’s getting married, and I’m still single.”

“Well, you’ve got your reasons.”

“Hey, you guys! That’s harsh!”

Romandro shouted back, protesting the harsh words from the wizards. But the news was so shocking that no one was really paying attention anymore.

“The bride’s name is… ‘Viviana’? Is she the one from the Administration Department?”

Ian asked, recognizing the name vaguely and guessing from Romandro’s recent frequent visits to the Administration.

Romandro’s face relaxed as if he hadn’t just shouted moments ago.

“That’s right. Actually, we’ve known each other for quite a while.”

“How did you manage to keep this a secret? Romandro, you’re scary!”

“Men don’t usually make their relationships public, you know. Ahem.”

“That’s true. Remember Helen? She broke up with Charles from the Culture Department—”

Bam!

Having lived like family for so long, the wizards knew each other’s private lives inside out. As they bickered and grabbed each other’s collars, Ian carefully pocketed the invitation and offered his congratulations.

“Congratulations, Romandro.”

“Thank you. Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. We’re still living under the same roof, after all.”

By ‘same roof,’ he meant Count Jacques’ estate. It had already been ten years since Romandro had taken refuge there. Ian didn’t mind, but somehow Romandro had ended up relying on them for a long time too.

“No, it’s fine.”

Ian smiled gently and shook his head. In truth, he had already suspected something, thanks to Barsabe.

“Romandro’s been acting strange lately. He’s been wearing cologne.”

“Yeah, that guy took an hour just to pick out a tie today. Does he have a girlfriend now?”

“Ian, there’s definitely something going on. My intuition says so.”

At the time, Ian hadn’t paid much attention, but looking back, it was quite a sharp intuition.

Romandro, teased relentlessly by the wizards, wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and added,

“I’ve been really busy, and I didn’t want to bother anyone by announcing my marriage prematurely, so I kept putting it off.”

“You look pretty free now, though.”

“He’s been leaving work on time for the past few days.”

“Ah, I see.”

So he had his own standards. The wizards, excited about the news, examined the invitation.

“A festival after a long time! Minister, can we all take the day off for this?”

“Do you want to die? The person with the fewest days worked this month has to stay in the office. And I’m not telling you who it is, so if you think it’s you, better work like your life depends on it.”

“Ugh! How many days have I worked again?”

“Romandro, where’s the venue? Is it your new home?”

“Yes. Luckily, I finalized the purchase last week. Planning to have the garden ready by the wedding day.”

“Oh? Where? Central district?”

“A mansion.”

“Of course. If you’re starting a family, you have to stretch a bit…”

“You bought a mansion in the central district? This guy’s got skills!”

“Well, thanks to Count Jacques, I managed to save up quite a bit…”

“Viviana, huh? I’ve heard she’s got a great personality. You’re lucky.”

Romandro beamed at the praise.

Viviana was part of the Administration Department, overseeing the restoration projects caused by the rifts. She was known for her efficient work and kind nature, earning thumbs-up from everyone who knew her.

Though the wizards kept teasing on the surface, they couldn’t help but smile, thinking the two were well matched.

“All right! Enough chatter. Let’s get back to work.”

“Yes, sir!”

Arena clapped her hands, dispersing the wizards. Everyone returned to their desks, buried in paperwork, except Ian, who put on his jacket and prepared to leave. A wizard sitting nearby looked at him curiously.

“Ian, leaving early today?”

Unlike the others, Ian always left right on time. Arena was fiercely opposed to any overtime, so Ian made sure to use every minute of his shift before heading out.

“Oh, Naum, I have some business. I’m meeting Hans. Do you have any messages for him?”

Naum peeked over the partition with a grin.

“Tell him he can’t come in today either.”

“Got it.”

Ian nodded lightly and waved goodbye to the wizards, who all waved back warmly.

“Only three years left, Ian. Enjoy it!”

“Let’s make Ian work overtime right after his coming-of-age ceremony.”

“You devilish guys. Ian, go on home.”

Ian smiled faintly and left the Magic Department. Though he left a bit early, the sky was already quite dark. Instead of taking a carriage, he flew himself and landed gracefully near the square where he was to meet Hans.

Tap.

Some citizens who recognized him as a wizard greeted him warmly or bowed politely.

“Hans.”

“Oh, you’re early.”

Hans was sitting on a bench in the square, reading a book. While Ian was growing up, Hans had become a proper young man preparing for the Imperial Palace entrance exam.

Ian sat beside him and glanced at the book—administrative studies. The edges were worn from being read many times.

“Sorry for calling you away from studying.”

“No, it’s fine. That scribe guy is weird. When I opened the window, he kept pecking my hand with his beak.”

Ian had sent the scribe to Hans right after the conference, hoping for his help investigating the Black Order.

“That means he wants water.”

“Oh, really? Didn’t know that.”

“How’s the exam prep going?”

“No problem.”

Hans had a photographic memory and had read the book until it was falling apart. Ian guessed Hans would top the entrance exam.

No surprise there—Hans had secretly told Ian his grand dream of joining the Administration Department and eventually becoming Prime Minister.

“And you?”

“Still can’t get home today.”

“Figures.”

“But soon it’ll be easier. The Empire Defense Department will handle monster responses instead of the Magic Department.”

“That’s good.”

“Oh, and Romandro gave me a wedding invitation today. You’ll probably get yours soon too. He said he waited until things settled down a bit.”

“What?!”

Hans’ eyes nearly popped out in shock. Whether from disbelief or embarrassment, his mixed emotions were clear.

Ian thought Romandro would smirk again if he saw that expression.

“When did he even start dating?”

“You’re saying the same thing as the Magic Department folks.”

“My brother can’t even get married!”

“Naum’s still a long way off.”

“No, seriously, it’s amazing. Was the Magic Department busy?”

Ian sighed inwardly, then picked up the administrative book and added,

“The bride is from the Administration Department. You might meet her if you pass.”

“Do you have the invitation? I don’t think I’ll believe it until I see it.”

Ian thought Hans was being a bit dramatic but pulled the invitation from his pocket. Hans read it carefully for a long time, then slowly shook his head and muttered,

“Crazy.”

“Behave around Romandro. I almost cried earlier.”

“Viviana, huh? I wonder what she’s like. But the name sounds familiar.”

“Really? Even if it’s well known inside the palace, outsiders rarely know her.”

Viviana’s reputation was great among colleagues, but she wasn’t widely known outside. Unless someone had been helped during the rift recovery, that is.

“No, I’m sure I’ve heard it before. Viviana, Vivi, Vi….”

Hans pressed his forehead, trying to recall. After a moment of silence, he exclaimed,

“Ah! That’s it!”

“That?”

“When I first visited the Magic Department, you, me, and my brother all went to check out the annex.”

Right, they had. And they met Crony too. Ian nodded, encouraging him to continue.

“Don’t you remember? I found a book with your name on it. The title was The Chronicles of Hielo, and the first sentence was probably…”

It took Ian a moment to dredge up the distant memory. Hans kept rubbing his forehead, mumbling,

“Ian, this is your story.”

Ian faintly nodded in recognition. But why?

“The author of that book was Vivi. It’s a unique name, so I remember.”

“Are you sure it’s not someone unrelated?”

“I don’t know. Hearing ‘Viviana’ just triggered the memory. Doesn’t it sound like a nickname for Viviana?”

“Maybe.”

While Hans grew excited, recalling a memory he hadn’t thought of in a long time, Ian simply waited for the sun to set. The surroundings had grown much darker than before. Candles flickered around the flower grave.

“So, why did you want to meet today, anyway?”

Come to think of it, Ian hadn’t even asked why Hans had called him out. Hans looked at him curiously, and Ian pointed down the alley.

“Remember the Rugerspell district?”

The neighborhood where Naum and Hans had lived before joining the Ministry of Magic. A slum in the heart of Bariel, infamous as a breeding ground for all sorts of crime and notorious for its unstable law enforcement.

Hans raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously asking if I remember that place?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s a silly question.”

It was a ridiculous thing to ask a friend who could recall lines from books they’d read ten years ago.

“There’s something we need to investigate there. I have a map, but we need detailed info—back alleys, buildings—that only the locals would know.”

“The Ministry’s investigating Rugerspell?”

That was unusual. Not the kind of thing the guards would handle. Hans shrugged and stood up, slipping the book into his bag.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I know that neighborhood inside and out. And it hardly ever changes.”

Drunken bums, drug addicts, filthy streets, and a chaotic atmosphere where the guards’ presence was barely felt.

Naum had said that when they first went there and when they left, nothing had changed. Time had stopped. It wasn’t just a district in Bariel’s center—it was a completely different world.

Sure, some shops had closed and new ones had opened, but overall, the place remained the same, Hans explained.

He gave a slightly bitter smile, turning away. No matter how rough the place was, going with a wizard meant there was nothing to worry about. And if they were lucky, they might even run into some old neighbors they’d gotten along with. A sudden midnight stroll was perfect for that.

“But you’re taking me home afterward, right?”

“…Call a carriage.”

“I want to fly a bit, too!”

“Too heavy.”

When Ian flatly refused, Hans chuckled and gave his shoulder a friendly poke.

They pushed through the crowd, gradually slipping deeper into Rugerspell, and at some point, Ian noticed the air had changed.

‘Maybe it’s because it’s night.’

A thick, artificial stench hit him on the cold breeze.

At the entrance to Rugerspell, as people started sneaking glances at the platinum-haired pretty boy, Hans jabbed Ian in the ribs.

“Pull your robe over your head.”

“Why?”

“…Because I don’t want to explain. Just do it.”

Ian hesitated for a moment, but what else could he do? When the guide says jump, you jump. He pulled the hood of his robe low over his face and followed Hans.