Episode 974

My name is Berrick.

What am I even doing here right now?

“Hey, Berrick! Enjoying slacking off, are you?”

“Come on, I’m not slacking! You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

A neighbor passing by leaned on the fence in front of Berrick’s house, chuckling. He claimed he wasn’t, but anyone could see he was a total layabout. The neighbor glanced inside the quiet house and asked,

“What about Helna and the kids?”

“…No idea.”

“Be honest. You caused some trouble at the palace and got kicked out, didn’t you? The kids probably got fed up and left too, right? Didn’t they take some big travel bags with them when they left?”

“They did! But it’s not like that, I swear! What’s wrong with you, acting crazy in broad daylight?”

“Then why the hell are you holed up at home when you’re supposed to be at the palace?”

“Damn it! I don’t know! Ian and Captain Herchi told me to stay here!”

“Well, well. Looks like Ian’s orders aren’t sitting well with you after all.”

“Shut up! Just go do your work and make some money like a damn ox!”

“…Uh, okay?”

Berrick jumped up and lunged at the neighbor but couldn’t get over the fence. There was only one order he had to obey.

“Berrick. Do not leave the yard. Stay put.”

The neighbor took a step back, startled, then burst out laughing when he saw Berrick wasn’t crossing the fence.

“So you’re grounded, huh? I told you to be careful. I knew this would happen!”

“Go away!”

“You better grovel at the palace when your grounding’s over. Without being a palace guard, you’ve got no way to make a living—especially someone like you who eats like a pig and breaks everything.”

Thud.

The neighbor tossed an apple over the fence.

Berrick snatched it with one hand, bit into it roughly, and muttered to himself. Grounded for real? But he’d been pretty quiet lately.

“What the hell… why am I stuck here like this?”

He finished the apple in one bite and replayed recent events in his mind. Was it because Ian brought up Crony in front of him? How petty!

“No, Ian’s a jerk, but he’s not petty.”

Then maybe it was that senior guy who put flour in his cigarette? Or did the captain find out about him roughing up Barsabe during training?

Ah! The chef! He must’ve been caught sneaking some venison.

“Ugh!”

Berrick suddenly threw the apple core down in frustration. The more he thought about it, the more things bugged him.

If I did something wrong, just say so and ground me properly! Cutting me off from everything and locking me inside the house? At first, I thought it’d be nice to just chill, but not being able to step outside is driving me nuts. The tavern’s just across the street, too.

“At least the others are stuck at home…”

Helna and the kids left on the first night of their seclusion, each carrying huge travel bags. They climbed into the carriage Ian had prepared, smiling so brightly. If I’d known it’d be this boring, I would’ve begged them not to go.

“Hah. So boring.”

Right now, my family’s probably out enjoying the snowy mountains and eating delicious food, while I’m stuck here wasting away on home-cooked meals.

“Hmm? Wait a minute.”

Berrick rolled around aimlessly in front of the house, then suddenly looked at the fence.

“As long as I don’t step outside the yard, I’m good, right?”

Then I can just dig a tunnel! The tavern’s not that far. If I put some effort in, maybe I can make it.

Excited, Berrick grabbed a shovel and started digging. When that wasn’t enough, he began clawing at the dirt with his hands.

“Ha ha ha! I’m a genius, after all!”

Just then, from a nearby second floor, a wizard was watching him through a telescope. With a squid leg dangling from his mouth, he tilted his head at Berrick’s strange behavior.

“What’s that idiot doing?”

“Why? Something wrong?”

The wizard’s muttering caught the attention of Barsabe, who was sharpening her sword nearby. She looked through the telescope and shook her head in disbelief.

“…Digging a hole.”

“Is he a dog or what?”

“Must be bored from being cooped up so long.”

“Exactly. A dog, I tell you.”

“Good thing we took all the booze away.”

“Right. If he had any alcohol now, he’d really be a mess. Must be nice having that much energy. Damn kid.”

“Any other unusual activity?”

“Nope. Just let him rest.”

The wizard kept chewing on the squid leg but didn’t lower the telescope. His mission was just as dull as Berrick’s.

“Do you think Crony will really send someone after Berrick?”

Ian’s letter to Crony, written in Soif’s handwriting, said to ‘deal with Berrick.’ If Berrick’s power is based on demons, and he can detect demons, then he’s definitely a thorn in their side.

“Absolutely.”

“Oh, is that a wizard’s intuition?”

“No, it’s just that I trust Ian.”

Besides, Berrick is connected to Count Jacque and Captain Herchi. Within the palace guard, who are the key obstacles Crony must overcome to seize control, Berrick is a problem. If they can’t get rid of him, they have to break him.

“Have you set up protective wards around him?”

“Yes. If anything happens, the neighbors will be quarantined.”

The quarantine was basically a trap—once someone entered, they couldn’t leave. If an assassin came, capturing them was inevitable. If the mage pushed hard enough, Crony’s name would come up.

“But Berrick’s so bored. Should we at least tell him something?”

That his whole family’s been sent off to the snowy mountains and he’s been left alone—all because of Crony.

The wizard shrugged.

“He’s too dumb to act.”

“Really?”

Honestly, Crony’s side is trying to minimize damage by predicting what Herchi and Ian will do. There’s no need to tell Berrick, and they can’t risk it. If he acts rashly, they might lose their chance to catch Crony.

“Something’s definitely coming. Whether it’s a person or something else.”

“Should we bring him some food? He’s probably running out, judging by how much he eats.”

“Later.”

“Why?”

“Just because. I want to mess with him.”

“Got it.”

“Of all the people coming and going through the palace, he’s got the easiest life. So damn annoying.”

Barsabe chuckled at the wizard’s muttering. What can you do, Berrick? Seems like everyone knows you’ve been loafing around the palace.

“Alright, keep watching. We’ll switch shifts soon.”

“Okay.”

The wizard popped another squid leg into his mouth and refocused the telescope.

Berrick, still digging furiously, suddenly started swinging his fists at the air for no apparent reason. Then back to digging, eating, shouting at passersby, punching the air again…

“Damn it.”

The wizard muttered, clearly baffled.

Another uneventful day passed. But neither the wizard nor Barsabe noticed the carriage that circled Berrick’s house at regular intervals.

Screeech!

“What the hell? Why does that carriage keep going around here?”

Covered in dirt, Berrick wiped his nose with the back of his hand and stared at the passing carriage. It had no flags or seals.

But the strange, musty smell made Berrick reluctantly realize the same carriage passed by twice every hour.

“Ugh! I’m so bored! Someone, please do something! Ian! Captain Herchi!”

He jabbed his fists into the air, stretching his restless body. Is there no troublemaker around? If I could bait someone into crossing the fence, I’d have a blast. With my body, I’d go all out.

Thwack! Bam!

Berrick punched the dirt mound piled higher than himself. The elderly neighbor next door shouted in a shrill voice.

“Cut it out, Berrick! Dirt’s flying all over!”

“Granny! Feed me!”

“Shut up! Why are you rolling around in broad daylight when you’re perfectly healthy?”

“I’m not rolling! I have my reasons!”

“Funny. One more dirt splash and I’m calling the guards.”

Bang!

The window slammed shut. Berrick pouted and rolled the dirt into a ball. Should I just throw it?

“No, gotta hold back.”

Damn, I’m really turning into a decent person. This must be what the palace does to you. Acting all prim and proper just because you ate palace food.

Paf-paf! Paf-paf!

Feeling proud of himself, Berrick bent down and started digging again.

The mysterious carriage kept circling, watching him.

---

“Ian, do you think Berrick will be okay?”

Inside the quiet carriage, Ian looked up from the documents at Romandro’s question. He rested his head on his hand and flipped through the papers casually.

“In what sense?”

“Well, in many ways.”

“He’s probably itchy all over, bored, and getting more irritated the more he thinks about it. Wouldn’t he be happy if the person trying to kill him showed up at his house?”

“Yeah, I thought about that too.”

Romandro quickly nodded in agreement, mumbling to himself. If Beric’s temper flared up, not even Crony’s men—or Crony himself—would stand a chance against him.

“And with the wizard and Barsabe constantly on guard, it should be fine. Honestly, worrying about damage to the property seems more reasonable.”

“Worried the kid might starve to death.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Half-serious? I did put some food in there, but I’m worried he might gobble it all down at once like a wild colt.”

“Hmm.”

Romandro hadn’t thought of that, but it made sense.

Still, it was fine. Barsabe would see how Beric was doing and take good care of him.

“But what about the Imperial Guard’s mood? Captain Herchi obviously supports us, but the other two captains have been strangely quiet.”

On the surface, they showed no signs of movement, but who knew what they were really thinking.

“I’ll leave that to Captain Herchi. After all, they’re family and comrades.”

“Right. With Count Jack on our side, we can trust them. Oh, we’re here.”

At the mention of arrival, Ian looked out the carriage window. They had come to the Ministry of Justice to file the complaint against Crony. Ian clutched the thick complaint document under his arm and glanced toward the door.

“…What time is it?”

“Huh? It’s not closing time yet.”

But the door was firmly shut. No guards in sight. To an outsider, it might look like the place was completely closed.

Clatter! Clank!

“Uh? Why… why is it locked?”

Panicked, Romandro turned to Ian and muttered. Since they had announced their intention to file the complaint at the assembly, it seemed the other side had taken preemptive action. Maybe they were stalling, so they just shut the door entirely.

“It’s still business hours.”

“Exactly. Hey! Is anyone in there?”

Thump! Thump-thump!

“Someone, please come out!” Romandro called desperately, but there was no response from inside.

Ian handed the documents to Romandro and lightly placed his hand on the door.

“Is there no one inside?”

Honestly. What kind of petty trick was this…

Pathetic.

“I don’t know if anyone can hear me, but if there’s someone inside, please step away from the door.”

“Ian?”

“You’ll get hurt.”

“I-Ian?!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Without hesitation, Ian unleashed his magic, applying a gentle but firm force. Then—

KA-BOOM!

BANG!

The door exploded outward with a thunderous roar.

Romandro dropped to the ground in shock, and through the dust cloud, they faced the stunned Ministry of Justice staff, frozen in place. They stood in the lobby, mouths agape.

“Oh, you’re here.”

Ian smiled faintly and walked inside as if nothing had happened.

“Hey! The door—!”

“Looks like it was broken. No idea how it got closed when it should’ve been open.”

“I fixed it well enough. You can handle the rest,” Ian said, motioning for Romandro to follow.

“Alright, which floor is the complaint office on?”