It was not as if Bariel had never faced a crisis. Throughout its thousands of years of history, adversities large and small had always existed, and they were a people who had learned from that history. Thus, they knew well that this moment, too, would one day be etched into a single sentence.
But that was precisely the problem. An invasion of the imperial palace by an outsider, something they had never dared to imagine until now. The issue of the Minister of Magic’s qualifications flaring up twice in a row, followed by his sudden absence.
They felt they were standing at a fork in the road of Bariel’s history. That the future of Bariel would change depending on their words and choices from this point forward. And by extension, the fate of Gaia itself.
Screech.
As the doors to the grand conference hall opened, the officials’ gazes all turned at once. Jin had already shot up from his chair. It was a stark contrast to his earlier behavior, where he had entered the hall and read the damage report without uttering a single word.
“Your Highness. A carrier pigeon from Clifford has arrived.”
“What does it say?”
“Yes. Well…”
The attendant, placing the note on a golden tray, glanced at the King and Prince of Clifford, who were seated to one side. He couldn’t gauge whether the message brought by the pigeon was good news for them or not. Of course, the same went for Bariel.
“It says that a black moon appeared in the sky above Frodhona, the capital of Clifford, and then quickly faded.”
“Oh, good heavens! It seems Sir Ian really did enter the Rift. They said there was something called an abyss beneath it, didn’t they?”
“My, my. Sir Ian is truly reckless.”
“What happens now?”
“Isn’t that why we’ve gathered here to discuss it? Be silent!”
The coordinates of the black moon had been confirmed to be near the Rift in Clifford. This meant that Ian’s public declaration that he would go to the abyss had come to pass. At the same time, it meant that he was no longer anywhere on the continent of Gaia.
Crumple.
Jin crushed the note in his fist and bowed his head. Hadn’t he seen it with his own eyes? Ian, sinking into the black moon. A reality he did not want to accept seemed to be crashing down on him. This moment, pushing him, forcing him to bear it, was too dizzying.
The attendant, observing the prince’s complexion, carefully added.
“The Clifford royal palace guard is currently searching the vicinity for any traces, but as you know, low-level monsters are being generated due to the Rift, and the center of the palace is completely inaccessible, so they have relayed that it will be difficult.”
“Are you saying they need mages to aid the investigation?”
“If Bariel wishes—”
The King of Clifford, who had been sitting quietly, answered in his stead.
The capital was already a mess from the war and the Rift. Hadn’t he come to Bariel to request the support of mages for the purpose of cleaning up and managing it? Ian, the strongest among them and the one who had wanted to enter the Rift himself, had been the perfect choice, but with things as they were, receiving any other mages was the priority.
“Whatever it may be, Clifford will assist with all sincerity.”
“Your Highness, that is out of the question!”
At the king’s statement, an official shot to his feet, waving his hands in protest.
“Rutherford’s invasion implies many things, including the fact that the palace’s security is not perfect at this moment. We cannot send a single mage outside.”
“That is correct. And while it is said that Sir Ian entered the Rift with Rutherford, no one actually witnessed it, did they? The mere fact that a black moon appeared in Clifford is not enough to confirm Rutherford’s death. We must be cautious.”
Though they assumed that going to the abyss meant death, it was a statement that simultaneously lacked conviction. A contradictory remark that both went against Jin’s feelings and offered a sliver of comfort. The boy’s expression became strange.
“I am in favor of the dispatch. We know that Sir Ian is a great mage, but according to the testimony, did he not struggle greatly against Rutherford? The opponent is a being superior to Sir Ian. If, by some good fortune, he survived, we need to confirm that.”
“Yes. He is a vicious and audacious bastard, so you never know!”
“He is a bastard who dared to invade the imperial palace. To ensure there is no future trouble, it is right to form an investigation team.”
“I, too, agree with that opinion. It is only proper that we track him down.”
Jin waved his hand as if there was nothing to think about. This was a search for the possibility that Ian was alive. If there was even a sliver of hope, there was no reason not to do it.
“We will dispatch the mages. Hale.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What is the current situation at the Ministry of Magic?”
Hale wiped his mouth and remained silent for a moment. The vivid bloodstain on his sleeve seemed to answer for him. Though they had been able to end the battle smoothly with the support of the Imperial Royal Guard, the end had been truly regrettable.
“The intruders targeting the Ministry self-destructed, and more than half of the main building has been destroyed. Restoration is urgently needed.”
“And King Damon? Is he unharmed?”
“Yes. He is safe. However, one mage of captain rank is seriously injured, and two have sustained minor injuries. Among the other mages, nearly half have suffered moderate to serious injuries and are in recovery.”
“Are there no healing mages?”
“They reached their limit after the war, unable to recover their mana. We are considering the use of mana amplifiers, but the one in charge of that, Captain Akorella, is, as I mentioned, seriously injured, so it is not easy.”
“But can’t mages share their power with each other?”
At an official’s remark, Hale sighed. He had thought he didn’t get along with the higher-ups, but clashing with them in person was beyond his imagination. The urge to grab him by the collar and shout at him rose to the top of his head.
“Sir, can you have all of your blood drawn at once?”
“Wh-What did you say?”
“All the mages are already sharing their power with all their might. If we go beyond that, everyone in the Ministry of Magic will be bedridden. If that happens, you may have to come and get the reports yourself.”
“H-Hey! Captain Hale!”
“Quiet.”
As the incensed official shot up from his seat, Jin waved his hand to calm him. He wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t the right thing to say either.
“Captain Hale. Mind your manners.”
“My apologies. In any case, as a result, the Ministry of Magic is currently in a state of dysfunction. More than anything—”
Hale let out a heavy cough and brought up Ian’s name.
“Morale is at rock bottom due to Sir Ian’s situation. A not-insignificant number of mages have conveyed their intention to resign.”
“Resign? At a time as important as this, what—!”
“They are citizens of Bariel, not slaves. They have the freedom to go where they please and do what they please.”
“No, still… shouldn’t you stop them?”
“Who?”
Who? Who in the world is going to stop them? The head of the Ministry of Magic, Ian, was gone.
The officials gaped and pointed a finger at Captain Hale.
“You!”
“I may be a captain in name, but I have no such authority.”
“Can’t you just take on the role of minister for now?”
“…I refuse.”
“What?”
Unlike the aghast officials, Jin merely shifted his gaze slightly from the note. Hale’s gaze, staring into the empty air, was resolute.
“This is something I have repeatedly told Sir Ian as well. I will not take the position of Minister of Magic. Akorella is of the same opinion, but just in case, I will ask her again when she wakes up.”
“Then you intend to leave the position of Minister of Magic vacant?”
“That’s absurd! That cannot be!”
“Even if you say it cannot be, there is no other way.”
Unlike other departments, the Minister of Magic, due to its special nature, was selected through an internal review process. Just as Ian had been.
Jin shook his head, as if to say he would not discuss it further.
“That is enough. The selection of the Minister of Magic is an internal affair of the Ministry, so we will not discuss it here.”
“Your Highness.”
“What is more important right now is to bring the palace under control and to make those who have challenged the authority of Bariel pay the price. Am I wrong?”
Even without a Minister of Magic, the mages belonged to the imperial court. There would be no problem in proceeding with their work. Besides, even if they were to select a new minister, would there really be anyone who could fill Ian’s void?
Jin frowned, feeling a throb in the scar that cut across his face.
“Your Highness, I have heard that Melania, the daughter of the former Hayman family, was also with Rutherford. Is that true?”
“Yes. But we could not confirm what their relationship was, and crucially, she was not involved in the battle or the moving of the treasures. According to Captain Akorella—”
It seemed she had been caught up in it, but it was not a matter for Jin to speak of in an official setting. Jin tapped the report lightly and said.
“…A bounty will be placed throughout Gaia for the missing imperial treasures. To those who bring them back intact, a fitting reward, and to those who hold onto them out of greed, a severe punishment.”
“Yes, Your Highness. There is a high probability that they have flowed to the Burgos side. It is believed to be an act to fund them, so we will investigate thoroughly.”
“Then, the disposition of King Damon…?”
“King Damon is—”
‘—living his second life.’
The secret of Damon that Ian had told him. The reason he showed no regret or self-reproach as a monarch despite losing the war was surely because he was looking forward to his next life. If he had lived twice, what was to stop him from living a third time?
“He will be confined to the tower, and thoroughly managed so that he cannot take his own life. Thus, we will leave a justification for the royalist faction on the Burgos side. We will actively support them so that they can stand against the Rutherford faction, so it will be easier to recover the treasures through them as well.”
The officials exchanged glances. In other words, he intended to incite a civil war in Burgos, divide the kingdom itself, and strengthen Bariel’s control.
“What will you do about the Ruswena side?”
“Queen Eripony is dead, and due to Rutherford’s intrusion, all of our attention has shifted to Burgos. They will wage their own civil war, as long as it does not provoke Bariel, so we will observe but take no special measures.”
The King of Clifford flinched, but that was all. The right to the war reparations they were to receive had already been transferred to Bariel. Since they had received the mages, they had no choice but to be satisfied with that.
“Are there any other opinions to be shared?”
“…”
The most important thing remained.
“…Um, Your Highness.”
“Shh! Shh, shh!”
And that was the final resolution regarding Ian.
As someone tried to raise the issue, the officials sitting on either side grabbed his arm and shushed him. It was right to question his crime regarding the creation of Idgal, but if they brought that up here, there was no telling to what heights Jin’s anger would soar. Besides, wasn’t he already a dead man? What immediate gain was there in cutting down the honor of the deceased?
“Are there any opinions?”
“…There are none. We will continue to report on any future matters and hold meetings.”
“Good. All of you, get moving. The night is short.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Screech.
With those words, Jin slowly left his seat.
Following behind him were Xiaoshi and Commander Jeirutt. It was the complete opposite direction of the bedchambers, but the two of them walked in silence. Because they knew where Jin was going.
Tap.
“…Are you still here?”
“You’ve come, Your Highness.”
“Beric. Get up.”
The place where Ian had disappeared. The place where the black moon had descended and vanished. The place still splattered with bloodstains. Beric was sitting there blankly, as if in disbelief, looking up at the white moon rising outside the window. Romandro, unable to leave Beric alone, had been sitting by his side for hours.
“Get up, Beric.”
“…”
“There is much to be done.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
My master is gone, so what am I supposed to do?
“…Shit. I told him to take me with him. Seriously. He never listens and just does whatever he wants. Times like this, he’s definitely a child of Dergha.”
“Beric. Look at me.”
Jin crouched down in front of Beric and looked into his faded eyes. And carefully, but firmly, he took his hand.
“Sir Ian will return.”
He hadn’t been able to say goodbye, but he had made a promise.
“He said that even if he goes to the abyss, he will return someday. He told me himself. He said if I build the annex, he could come back even sooner.”
“…Really?”
“Really. I swear on my everything.”
So don’t just sit here like this. Let’s you and I do our work. As Jin comforted him, Beric rubbed his eyes with all his might and shouted.
“Damn him! That Ian Hielo, that bastard!”
The cry, shouted into the empty air, echoed out to the garden beyond the building. Once, twice, three times. The cries calling for Ian may have faded, but they did not disappear.
Not until ten springs had come.
***
“So, what happened?”
Romandro walked down the palace corridor, holding the hand of a little girl with thick glasses. Was she about ten years old? Her hair was neatly braided, and she held a thick book in her arms. Romandro tilted his head with an expression full of love.
“Well now. I think Vivi knows more about that than Daddy does.”
“I learned the basics in school, but you know more, Daddy. They don’t tell us the really important things.”
Romandro’s daughter, Vivi, blocked her father’s path and spread her arms.
“So, tell me. Why is the Ministry of Magic the only one without a minister! And why are you always so busy when you don’t even have a superior!”
“Goodness, young lady. I said I’d show you around the palace on the condition that you be quiet, didn’t I? Hmm? Didn’t you say you wanted to see His Highness?”
Vivi pushed up the glasses that were barely perched on her nose and clamped her mouth shut. Then she pushed her father’s side, urging him to lead the way.
“Lord Romandro!”
“Oh, yes.”
“This must be your daughter. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“This is Vivi. Is His Highness inside? I have something to discuss with him regarding the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony. Ah, of course, he knows my daughter is with me.”
Vivi stuck close to her father’s side and peeked her head out.
Unlike the bright palace, the inside of the room was surprisingly dark. On one wall of the reception room, a portrait of the Crown Prince, commemorating his coming-of-age ceremony, was resting on the floor. Silver hair and a deep scar cutting across his face. Just as she had heard.
“Romandro. You’ve come.”
“Your Highness.”
Screech.
And in that moment, the middle door opened, and the Crown Prince appeared. Jin Verocion. The sole heir of the current Empire, and the emperor of the near future. Jin looked down at Vivi and smiled faintly.