A great commotion had swept through the imperial palace and departed.
Like sand that had been heated by a scorching fervor now cooling, the frantic, busy atmosphere had grown considerably calmer. It was only natural; they were now left with only a single option.
“It would be best to declare war.”
An all-out war between Bariel and Burgos. Something no one had dared to rashly undertake. As one official broke the silence and mentioned it, displeased groans erupted from here and there. Yet, no one could object that it was nonsense.
“Yes, Your Highness. While keeping an eye on the movements of the delegation that returned to Ruswena, it would be right to respond with a hard line against the Burgos side.”
“A change of power will occur in Ruswena as well. We must use the war with Burgos to ensure they don’t get any foolish ideas. A strong warning. That would be the most effective.”
“Who do you think will inherit the throne of Ruswena next?”
“I don’t know whether to call it unfortunate or fortunate, but as Queen Eripony has no heir, won’t they decide by following the appropriate order of succession?”
“I heard the former king’s brother is still alive.”
“But he is far too old. He is lacking in many ways to handle a nation in disarray from a lost war.”
“What about that man, Eldert? He was Eripony’s right hand and the one to personally deliver the news of the queen’s death to his homeland. Wouldn’t that be sufficient?”
“Ruswena prioritizes legitimacy above all else. Sir Eldert may be Eripony’s cousin, but… well. In terms of rank, I believe he is quite far down the line. That’s why he left the palace in his youth to become a university professor, I hear.”
“In any case, with both Ruswena and Burgos on the verge of a new royal era, Bariel cannot simply stand by and do nothing.”
“There is no talent in Burgos.”
“To be precise, you mean there is no talent that Bariel desires.”
“Yes, yes. Well, I wonder if we need to be so precise with our words, but, haha. Ruswena shouldn’t be too much of a problem. They are trying to shift as much of the blame for the war onto Burgos as possible. If Bariel takes hold of Burgos and shakes it, I believe they will cooperate.”
“Isn’t that right, Sir Ian?”
The officials’ gazes poured toward Ian all at once. They found it strange that he had offered no comment. Leaving aside his position as Minister of Magic, wasn’t Ian the most important figure at present? He was the one in charge of the death of Queen Eripony and the interrogation of the Burgos delegation.
Ian simply shrugged and nodded.
“Yes. But we cannot handle matters based on predictions alone. It would be best to send someone to the Ruswena side to see how the political situation is unfolding.”
“Sir Ian, it’s just us now, so let’s speak frankly.”
Swoosh.
An official turned his body toward Ian and leaned in closer.
“Are you really going down to Clifford like this?”
“That matter is already settled. His Highness has commanded it, and it is a promise made between nations. Why do you ask again?”
“Well, I am curious as to what will become of the position of Minister of Magic. A war with Burgos is unavoidable, and without you, Sir Ian, it’s frankly a bit… you know? Ah, Minister Maxim Tweller, I am not doubting the abilities of the Imperial Defense, but—”
“You are not doubting, but you are worried, is that what you mean?”
Maxim Tweller interjected in a firm, low voice. Wasn’t the gap between doubt and worry thinner than a single sheet of paper?
As the officials coughed and awkwardly avoided answering, Ian spoke.
“Sir Maxim Tweller, do not be angered. The officials are not doubting the Imperial Defense; they are worrying about the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry has many who are more capable than I. So please, do not add any further opinions to His Highness Jin’s will.”
“Haha, that’s not what I meant…”
“Where is His Highness Jin? Is he still in a private meeting with the King of Clifford?”
The officials urged the attendants on, trying to break the awkward atmosphere. With Burgos and Ruswena simultaneously entangled in the negotiations, a private conversation between the sovereigns was necessary.
Ian sipped his tea and glanced out the window. It was almost time for the sun to set. The color of the sky was growing deeper, the sunset settling in.
THUMP!
Just then, a very faint vibration.
Ian paused and turned his head toward the door. Did no one else feel it? The officials were still continuing their meeting, and only Minister Maxim Tweller met Ian’s gaze.
RUMBLE!
Swoosh.
“Wh-What was that?”
I thought it was my imagination, but it’s not.
As the two of them stood up simultaneously, the officials called out to them with puzzled faces. But Ian, his nerves on edge, couldn’t answer, and Tweller remained silent, trying to figure out what the ominous presence was. Soon, Tweller’s hand moved to the sword at his side.
The officials were horrified.
“Minister! What are you doing!?”
“Shh. Everyone, be quiet.”
“Quiet? What do you mean, quiet? This is the imperial palace! The palace!”
“Yes, yes, r-rashly drawing a weapon is not good for anyone. His Highness is just across the hall. Haha.”
“What kind of problem could there be in the imperial palace that would make you draw your sword? No message has come from the main gate, and the palace soldiers are on high alert all around.”
“Isn’t that all the more strange? An explosion in the palace.”
“An e-explosion?”
“Perhaps the Ministry of Magic had a failed experiment or something?”
“…No. The energy is different.”
Ian muttered, all his senses on high alert.
It was certainly strange, something was wrong. If there had been an intrusion from the outside, it would have been immediately stopped by the gate guards and mages, and a report would have come up.
But to say it was an internal problem, nothing came to mind. A revolt by the people from Burgos? They were all ordinary people, and just in case, they had even been fitted with Mana-Sealing Stone shackles. In that case, there was no faction anywhere that could cause an explosion of this magnitude.
The only remaining external force is Clifford, but they have absolutely no justification or reason to do such a thing.
If they just stayed put, Bariel would provide them with supplies, and Ian and the mages would set out to handle the Rift. Why would they cause a disturbance?
“Minister Tweller.”
Ian personally turned the doorknob and called out to Tweller. The other mages, seeming to have sensed something as well, were waiting for Ian with flustered faces. Only Romandro, unable to read the sudden shift in the atmosphere, blinked his eyes.
“Please escort His Highness well. I will go and investigate.”
“I will do so.”
“Iaaaaan! You felt that just now, right? Something went kaboom!”
“Beric. Shh.”
“I think I know where it came from. The left! It came from the left!”
Ian lightly pushed Beric’s shoulder, as if telling him to follow, and disappeared down the end of the corridor. The mages and Romandro scrambled after him.
Minister Tweller watched until they had all disappeared, then rushed with his own men in the opposite direction, toward the reception room where Crown Prince Jin was.
Clatter, clatter!
“Hey, you guys aren’t just messing with me, are you? What explosion? I didn’t hear a thing.”
“You didn’t hear that? It was a super loud CRASH! Maybe you were dozing off while standing up? Must’ve been sleeping with your eyes open!”
“Beric, you brat, the way you talk! I was completely alert!”
“If you didn’t hear it even then, there’s a problem with your ears. Kyaha.”
Beric teased Romandro and ran a step ahead. He didn’t know what was going on, but he seemed to like the fact that he was moving with Ian to solve a problem together. His steps were light and cheerful, as if he had no awareness that he was going to check on a problem.
Clatter, clatter!
“This way?”
“Ah, I don’t know.”
“It seems to be near the palace treasury…”
Two faint impacts. Ian confirmed that the movements of the guards inside the palace were irregular. They, too, had failed to identify where the explosion had come from.
Just then, Beric, who had been running well, came to a sudden stop.
“Ah.”
Sniff, sniff. He then lifted his chin to the air and frowned. Romandro, stomping his feet, looked back at Beric.
“What is it?”
“I smell blood.”
“Blood? Where?”
“This way. Ian! This way!”
“Can we trust him?”
“His sense of direction is a mess, but his sense of smell is out of this world, so we have no choice but to trust him! Beric! Let’s go together!”
The direction the mages were running toward was the exhibition hall where the imperial treasures were stored. A space where an explosion should not and could not happen.
It was the moment Ian realized something was terribly wrong. The mages who had turned the corner couldn’t walk any further and came to an abrupt halt.
“…S-Sir Ian.”
“What, what, what in the world…”
Bloodstains were splattered mercilessly on the white marble floor.
The guards, seemingly ambushed from behind, were dead with their eyes wide open. A thick pool of blood was seeping out from the crack under the tightly closed door.
Zzzing! Zzzing!
The exhibition hall. Since it was full of all sorts of priceless items from Bariel, it was a space protected by the Ministry of Magic’s barriers, accessible only to those with permission.
The moment Ian saw the blood flowing from it, he released his mana. The mages, too, reflexively drew upon their power.
“Lord Romandro, hurry and inform the palace of the emergency situation and ensure His Highness’s safety.”
“Ah, r-right, I will! I’ll call for people right away!”
“Be careful. Beric! You escort Lord Romandro.”
“Me? Why? The enemy is right in front of us.”
As Beric frowned, Romandro yanked his ear hard.
“You brat, do you want to see me die? There was an explosion, but no alarm sounded. There are intruders inside the palace. Look at those bodies. They couldn’t even close their eyes when they died, their skills must be incredible!”
“Aish, really. So we’re just leaving Ian?”
“Who do you think will die faster? Me? Or Ian? Forget it, just escort me! Beric! This is a critical situation!”
The guards had been dealt with before they could even signal a problem. Their objective was unknown, but it was clear that the Crown Prince’s life was in danger. Romandro had a duty to quickly inform the captain of the palace guard, the royal guard, and everyone in Bariel, including the Imperial Defense, of this fact.
“Hurry!”
Romandro grabbed Beric by the scruff of his neck and turned back the way they came. Ian slowly approached the exhibition hall. He thought he could hear the sound of something being sliced, and the sound of bustling movement.
At least five.
No, more than that.
Swoosh.
The mages, their mana released, scattered to the left and right of the door. How in the world did these intruders just drop into the imperial palace? And in this place, the most heavily guarded of all…
Was there an object that aids in teleportation?
In the palace? Or among something that came in recently? What were the tribute goods from Ruswena or Burgos?
Just as Ian was thinking this, the exhibition hall door slowly opened, and a presence was heard from within.
“Ah…”
Staggering, a woman crawled out, supporting herself on the floor. Her face was so drenched in blood it was hard to recognize, but Ian and the mages knew her at once.
…Akorella!
As the startled mages rushed forward, Ian stopped them. Someone else had appeared behind Akorella.
He roughly grabbed Akorella’s ankle and dragged her. Like a hunter dragging a hunted beast.
“Hey. Where do you think you’re going? You have to fix the problem you caused.”
“Ah, ugh, you bastard…”
“You want your right leg broken too? Hmm?”
“Get off, get—”
Zzzzzing! Zzzing!
FWOOM!
As if in resistance, Akorella gathered her mana and unleashed it in a burst. Thanks to that, the inside of the exhibition hall was bathed in a brilliant light. In that instant, Ian could see a man with black hair, and for a moment, a surprisingly instinctive recognition awakened within him.
He had never seen him before, yet he was a man who felt as if he were engraved deep in his memory. A man reminiscent of a black panther. A man so dazzling that the blood covering his entire body went unnoticed.
It’s Rutherford.