“Selena is dead.”
At Ian’s murmur, Jang’s body flinched. Selena. A name that could vividly conjure her face—how could the word “dead” possibly apply?
Though unbelievable, Jang understood. He too had been at death’s doorstep in the Ruswena camp until just moments ago. Selena simply had bad luck. The wretchedness of her end was entirely the ravage of war and Damon’s decision.
“So we will go directly to the Burgos camp. We’ll rescue our remaining comrades and clearly imprint on Damon the price for touching Bariel’s mages.”
“G-go directly? Now?”
Ziiiing. Ziing.
Ian was infusing Jang with magical power, his hand resting on the back of Jang’s hand. Fresh air coursed through his lungs. His entire body felt lighter, as if he’d shed waterlogged clothes.
Ah, so this is what it means to live. This is what being alive feels like. The pleasure and relief that only someone who had gone to death’s threshold could experience filled Jang completely.
Seeing Jang’s complexion visibly relax, Ian smiled brightly.
“Yes. Immediately. Jang, you also can’t use magic because of the Idgal weapon, right? From what we’ve gathered, three people are being held hostage in Burgos. I’ll lead the rescue, and I’ll teach Damon what price there is for daring to harm Bariel’s mages.”
With those words, the magical power flowing into Jang weakened slightly. Though Ian wanted to transfer all his strength, there weren’t many mages available for mobilization, and his own condition wasn’t optimal, requiring careful regulation. For now, it was important to focus on having overcome the crisis.
“Um, Lord Ian.”
As Ian pulled away slightly, Jang urgently grabbed his garment.
“The R-Ruswena mages. Their loyalty to the royal family doesn’t seem as high as expected. Though I didn’t hear properly since I was half-unconscious, if we persuade them well, it might be possible to dismantle them—”
“Captain Jang. It’s too late.”
“Huh?”
“Too late, I said. Lord Ian will handle everything, so the captain should just get some sleep inside the barrier. Lord Ian, can we move him now?”
“What? Uh?”
This is quite valuable information! Jang looked around in bewilderment, but neither the mages nor anyone else seemed particularly interested. Jang didn’t know about the matter with Jaira.
Four soldiers carried Jang away on a stretcher, and even as they did, Jang called out toward Ian:
“Lord Ian! You really should hear me out on this! Hey?”
“It seems they at least assigned one proper field doctor in Ruswena. Look how he comes back to life as soon as we infuse magic. They didn’t intend to kill him from the start, it seems.”
“Right. That’s fortunate. The mages inside the barrier are going to be quite noisy, aren’t they? Captain Jang loves to show off.”
Claiming he would be the next Minister of Magic, he was unchanging both before Ian’s appearance and now. Everyone chuckled at someone’s joke while adjusting their attire.
The sun had fully risen, becoming morning. Though it was light announcing the start of a new battle, the atmosphere was solemn. In other words, it meant those being held hostage were facing another hellish day.
“So, how many are we in total?”
“Twelve, sir. Excluding you, Lord Ian.”
Twelve. As time passed, there would likely be more regaining their magic, but that was an uncertain matter. They had no choice but to move forward assuming these twelve were all they had.
As Ian properly put on his gloves, the mages also pulled gloves from their pockets.
“Good. Clifford.”
“Yes, Lord Ian.”
“Inform Prince Noah of our deployment.”
Thump.
After saluting, the soldier mounted a horse and rushed toward the barrier.
Forces organized with mage-knights were waiting inside the gates. When Ian’s order, disguised as Noah’s command, was given, they would pour out like a waterfall to push back Burgos.
“How long will it take for the barrier gate to open?”
“Not long. About thirty minutes?”
“With mage-knights positioned, ground combat won’t be a problem. If only Beric does well. Just Beric.”
“Ah, I’m worried about him. Captain Akorella fed him something strange. It’ll be troublesome if he suddenly goes berserk.”
“It’s fine. Captain Akorella said she’ll stick right beside Beric and watch him. Besides, he seems no different than usual, right?”
“The problem is that he’s no different than usual.”
“What? Then everything is a problem.”
A vast landscape. Only twelve mages excluding Ian stood facing the wind. Hale distributed one cigarette to each comrade.
“Would you like to smoke one too, Lord Ian? The wind is refreshing, but sometimes this is nice as well.”
It could be the last time, couldn’t it? In wartime, everything was always like that. Even exchanging jokes like this, and beyond that, even feeling the wind.
When Ian reached to accept the cigarette, the mages let out small screams of “Aaah!” And before it could reach Ian, the cigarette was intercepted. The mages placed their hands on their waists, confronting Hale.
“Captain Hale. Let me tell you something good, okay?”
“…I was just offering it to him.”
“That’s the problem. Even that ill-mannered Captain Akorella doesn’t feed Lord Ian anything unhealthy. I’m going to tell Captain Akorella all about this.”
“Lord Ian, please say something.”
Hale, cornered, appealed to Ian for help, but his gaze had turned to the opposite direction. A sound barely audible from the distance. The barrier was slowly opening.
Creeeak.
“Well, let’s go too.”
Ziiiing. Ziing.
As Ian soared into the sky, Hale followed, snuffing out his remaining cigarette as if everything had worked out perfectly. Soon the other mages took off in a line, shouting “catch that captain!”
Ian confirmed that the first person to emerge from the barrier was Prince Noah. The Clifford prince led the way with well-armed soldiers carrying flags.
Led by him, Clifford soldiers poured out like grains of sand. Among them would be Bariel’s mage-knights and Imperial Defense Department members.
Boom! BOOM!
Great drum sounds echoed from the Burgos camp as they observed Clifford’s movement. It was an order to prepare and form ranks as the enemy approached.
While Clifford took the lead, Ian and the mages watched from the rear right flank to ensure there was no movement from Ruswena.
“Still no reaction from Ruswena!”
“They’ll be disoriented after just exchanging prisoners. We’ll continue to guard the rear while heading to Burgos.”
“Yes, Lord Ian!”
Ian and the mages sliced through the sky, each not straying from their assigned reconnaissance area.
If Jaira mentioned the fracture to Eripony, the Ruswena side would have much to consider. Ian calculated that even if battle broke out immediately, they couldn’t hastily join the fight.
Later on, they would inevitably deploy additional troops to secure victory, but not right now. Eripony would need time to verify if Jaira’s report was true.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Boom! Boom!
Clifford soldiers charged forward, shaking the earth. Their massive footsteps seemed to resonate all the way to the sky.
Ian slowly moved toward the Burgos camp, following them. In the distance, Burgos soldiers also appeared, instantly forming ranks.
Woooosh—
Soon, both sides entered each other’s long-range attack zone.
As a Burgos general stepped forward, their flag waved grandly, and in response, the Clifford flag fluttered powerfully.
“Do you have three Bariel mages?!”
It was Prince Noah’s shout. The general merely raised his head without answering, showing no reaction.
“King Damon of Burgos, listen! Release the Bariel mages immediately and leave Clifford’s land! We will examine in detail the price for destroying our fertile land and trampling our daily lives!”
“How dare a mere prince arbitrarily use His Majesty’s name. We came to retrieve our envoy, and it was Clifford that did not comply. A country’s envoy carries the sovereign’s will and is his embodiment. If you harmed them, you harmed His Majesty, and further, provoked Burgos! Clifford will bear the responsibility!”
Creeeeak.
Both sides aimed their bows at each other. If someone started it, the sky would once again be covered with arrows.
The Burgos general took a deep breath, then spoke as if wanting the whole world to hear. His voice was so thunderous that even the Burgos soldier right beside him flinched.
“Clifford must immediately explain what happened to our envoy and clear the way to receive us as honored guests! If not, King Damon will personally tear down the barrier and cut you down to advance to the capital. By then, only sounds of wailing will spread throughout Clifford!”
Thump thump! Thud thud!
Burgos and Clifford soldiers simultaneously raised their spears and struck the ground. It was a resonance combining both support and absolute refusal to comply.
Swish.
Noah grasped the sword at his waist. Indeed, they were not people who could be reasoned with. What they wanted was solely Clifford’s downfall and Burgos’s prosperity through it. If they had wanted anything else, they would never have sent a mage’s head when the messenger was dispatched.
Noah realized once again what he had perceived when there wasn’t even a single word or letter: Burgos was not a negotiation partner. They were simply enemies to defeat, advance against, and destroy.
“Wait.”
At that moment, Damon appeared on a white horse behind the Burgos general. In the Burgos camp filled with black, his appearance stood out distinctly.
Wasn’t it not a white horse last time? Just as Noah thought this, Damon raised one hand. It was a signal to focus on him. This greeting wasn’t limited to Noah but was also directed at Ian who would be watching from somewhere in the sky.
“Prince Noah. It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“Very well, thanks to someone.”
“As I said, we have three Bariel mages. This is a war between Burgos and Clifford. Foreign intervention seems unnecessary, so I propose this: if you withdraw Bariel forces right now, I’ll return the mages alive. Are you listening? Ian?”
Damon raised his hand and scanned the air left and right. But he couldn’t easily find Ian.
“Right now, Bariel should retreat and return to its country. If not, I’ll have to prepare more items of similar size to the box I sent at dawn.”
If they didn’t listen, he would behead and kill the mages. Though Damon threatened this way, still no answer came.
He finally flicked his hand, and Tommy, covered in blood, was dragged out from inside. Noah clenched his fist to signal not to attack, while Damon opened his hand and lowered it, indicating they could attack.
“Here is a Bariel mage! If you don’t withdraw from the war, this one’s head will also fly off. Is that okay? Hmm?”
Slash!
“Aaaarghhh!”
Damon laughed as he cut into Tommy’s thigh, and the blood-covered blade gleamed.
It was a sword made of Idgal. The dripping blade was raised toward the sky. It seemed like a declaration that the Burgos army could cut down “that” mage like this anytime.
Swooosh!
Slash!
But then, a beam of light struck down in the blink of an eye. It cut Damon’s sword in two, and immediately a man with blonde hair and green eyes brought his face close to the king’s.
It happened in an instant. So quick that neither his presence nor his approach could be detected. Their gazes locked for a fraction of a moment, and surprise filled Damon’s purple pupils.
“I—!”
Bang! BOOM!
Crack!
As Damon swung his broken sword, soldiers rushed in with Idgal swords and spears.
Ian released his magic and reached for Damon’s neck.
…Kill him. Kill him.
Kill him miserably.
“Now!”
“Advance! Sweep away all of the Burgos army!”
“Uwaaa! Kill them! Kill!”
Noah ordered his soldiers to advance, and instantly the surroundings became a scene of carnage. Damon saw magic shining in Ian’s grasp and, startled, tried to back away when—
BOOM!
BANG!
With a tremendous sound, the surroundings were covered in dust. That force pushed Ian away while protecting Damon, its power somehow familiar yet distinctive.
Ian looked toward its source. On that distant hill, Burgos reinforcements from the north stood in swarms. Those volunteering at the front had human form.
“…Atan.”
Damon murmured with a faint smile, and Ian, his brow furrowed, charged at Damon once more.