The next day, in the Great Assembly Hall.
The officials who entered for the meeting exchanged greetings. They soon noticed that the atmosphere in the hall was unusual; with the exception of a few officials, everyone was standing about restlessly. Even those not participating in conversations were organizing their reports with strangely grim expressions.
“Good morning. The weather is especially fine today.”
“Oh, you’ve arrived. Yes, indeed. Winter is on its way out.”
“But what is everyone discussing so intently? His Highness will be arriving shortly.”
“It’s nothing important, ahem. But by any chance, do you know the reason yesterday’s meeting was postponed?”
“Yesterday? Ah, yes. I was not scheduled to attend yesterday, so I heard through my subordinates. King Damon caused a disturbance, they said. As it was a matter of importance, His Highness stated he would proceed with the meeting after assessing the king’s condition. It’s a plausible enough reason, is it not? And since there has been no further word, he must be fine.”
“That is what we heard as well. However, upon looking into it, the imperial physicians have not entered the tower since two days ago.”
“…Is that so?”
The official tilted his head in confusion and took his seat. It was indeed strange. If the king’s condition was critical enough to postpone a meeting, it was unthinkable that the physicians would not attend to him.
“Well, perhaps there were other circumstances.”
If that was the case, it meant the Imperial Palace had simply fabricated a reason for the meeting’s cancellation. The fact that it wasn’t a very thorough excuse suggested they didn’t care if it was found out, which further implied it wasn’t a matter of great importance.
Something curious enough to wonder about, but not concerning enough to worry over. That must be it. The official smiled as he tapped his reports into a neat stack. This sort of thing happened in the palace all the time; he couldn’t understand why everyone was being so sensitive.
“Just let it go. Curiosity in the Imperial Palace? Are you not afraid?”
“It is the fear of something frightening happening that makes me afraid. You’ll notice that not a single person from the Ministry of Magic is present, yes? I went to the Ministry as soon as I arrived this morning regarding a report, and the place was in an absolute uproar.”
Come to think of it, not a single person related to the Ministry, including Romandro, could be seen. As one of the core departments, it was almost unheard of for them to be absent.
“An uproar? Why?”
“They said they were busy due to the Minister’s command.”
“Pardon?”
What was this now? The Minister? Did he mean the Minister of Magic who had vanished ten years ago? Ian Hielo? Just as the official was asking for clarification, completely unable to comprehend…
Creeeak.
The main doors of the assembly hall opened, and a voice announced the Crown Prince’s entrance.
“His Highness, the Crown Prince, enters!”
“All rise!”
“Oh, dear.”
Thump.
The gathered officials scrambled back to their seats and placed a hand on their chests. Soon after, Jin Verocion entered, followed closely by the Prime Minister.
He looked the same as always, yet there was something different about him. The officials couldn’t tell if it was due to their own confused state of mind or if there truly was a change in the two men.
“Be seated.”
Jin gestured lightly, granting the officials permission to sit.
At his words announcing the start of the meeting, the officials exchanged glances even more rapidly. The Ministry of Magic was absent, yet he hadn’t mentioned a single word about it. This meant he had already been briefed on their situation.
“With yesterday’s meeting postponed, I expect there are many matters to discuss today. Let us proceed swiftly. First…”
Jin said as he shuffled through his reports.
“Shall we start with what you were all chattering about—the Ministry of Magic? What say you?”
Gasp. The officials unknowingly held their breath and lowered their gazes. They instinctively sensed the danger; to meet his eyes now would surely lead to trouble.
Watching them shrink one by one, Jin spoke softly.
“…An urgent report has arrived from the 2nd Zone Rift, Clifford. The content was that the rift’s mana has been increasing abnormally. To state the conclusion simply, it was a warning that a 3rd Zone Rift could form within Bariel.”
“Excuse me? A-A rift in Bariel? Does that mean monsters could appear in Bariel?”
“A warning implies it hasn’t happened yet, correct?”
“This is outrageous! Monsters in Bariel! Such a thing must not happen! Nowhere in our history has Bariel ever been exposed to the danger of monsters!”
“E-Exactly where in Bariel are we talking about, Your Highness?”
At the thunderous news, the startled officials shot their heads up. Was this why the Ministry of Magic was in an uproar? And the talk of a Minister was just a baseless rumor?
As the hall grew noisy with the murmurs of the officials, the Prime Minister struck his staff down hard.
BANG! BANG!
“Order!”
“But, Prime Minister!”
The Crown Prince had not finished speaking. The Prime Minister raised his staff as a signal for silence, and the surrounding chaos soon subsided.
“Therefore, I have discussed this matter in depth with the Ministry of Magic. The projected location for the 3rd Zone is the vicinity of Mount Raza.”
“Heavens!”
That was not far from the capital. The officials groaned as if in despair, clutching their heads.
“And in the midst of that, some unexpected news arrived.”
The officials noticed a very faint smile touch Jin’s voice. A smile from the Crown Prince in the face of such a critical national crisis? They looked at Jin in disbelief, but his expression was placid. As it always was.
“The news is that Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic, has returned from the rift.”
“…!”
“…!”
A man who had long been absent from the Imperial Palace, but whose presence had been impossible to ignore. A man everyone knew of, but whom they had deliberately turned a blind eye to. The very fact that Jin was officially speaking his name was a shock in itself, but what did he say? Ian Hielo had returned from the rift? Truly?
The assembly hall fell so silent that not even a single breath could be heard. As if pleased by the silence, Jin casually set down his report.
“He says he came to his senses near Mount Raza. The mages will investigate separately whether the abnormal mana flow from the rift is related to this.”
After a moment of silence, a variety of reactions erupted.
“Y-Your Highness. Did I hear you correctly just now?”
“…The Minister of Magic has returned alive?”
“D-Do you mean the Ian Hielo?”
“…Goddammit.”
“Heavens! Heavens! This is wonderful news! Your Highness!”
“Incredible, truly incredible! Sir Ian, really! Hahaha!”
“Ian Hielo, that’s the nobleman, correct?”
“Yes. Oh, my goodness. To think he would actually return alive.”
Some embraced each other and cheered in anticipation of the Ministry of Magic’s revival, while others muttered in dismay. They paid no mind to Jin’s presence as they whispered among like-minded colleagues, trying to grasp the situation.
“Your Highness, is this true? Might it not be an impersonator?”
“I too am suspicious. For someone who vanished so long ago to suddenly appear like this.”
“A thorough investigation would be the proper course of action.”
“Yes, Your Highness! This is not a matter to be believed so easily! Above all, if he truly returned from the rift, why did he not come directly to the Imperial Palace?”
“How insolent.” The Prime Minister was about to strike his staff down again, but Jin stopped him with a light gesture.
“Sir Ian will travel to the 1st Zone and return with the mages there. His identity has already been verified. Beric of the Imperial Royal Guard is with him, so cease your petty suspicions.”
If the Imperial Royal Guard had already confirmed the matter, there was nothing more to be said. Ian Hielo had truly, actually returned alive.
“Therefore, the mages of the 2nd Zone will investigate the unusual situation with the rift, then withdraw and return to the capital.”
“Do you mean to recall the mages from the Clifford zone? There will be severe backlash from Clifford.”
“Unlike the northern zone, Clifford is an important ally. A more cautious approach is advisable…”
The officials let their sentences trail off, but they did not back down from their assertions. The chaos in Burgos was imminent, and everyone knew Jin intended to exploit that opening. It meant war.
Therefore, a strong alliance with Clifford was more important than ever. It was a shield that could minimize Bariel’s own damages.
“If there is an abnormality in the rift, it means the safety of our mages investigating it is also at risk. How can you call this a withdrawal without cause?”
“However…”
“A guest from Clifford will be arriving for the coming-of-age ceremony, so we will discuss it again then. There is the issue of the Yggdrasil shortage, and we cannot simply cater to our ally’s circumstances when it could pose a danger to Bariel. And above all—”
What could be done? Jin shrugged, conveying a sense of helplessness.
“In principle, the one who oversees the mages is the Minister of Magic. When the Minister commands them to gather, who would dare to object?”
***
Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Magic.
The term “uproar” was a perfect description of the scene.
Mages ran through the offices, not caring if their robes came undone, while Romandro, sleeves rolled up, moved stacks of documents to one side. Even as he hurriedly scanned a list of addresses, the events of yesterday replayed vividly in his mind.
Thump!
‘Ian is coming back! Everyone!’
‘Excuse me? Lord Romandro, what are you talking about?’
‘Ugh, Captain Akorella! Did you conduct another one of your experiments?’
‘There’s hardly anyone left, let’s try to treat each other with some respect. What will we do if you go crazy too, Lord Romandro?’
‘Ian came back alive from the rift! Waaahahaha!’
Romandro had hugged the mages and jumped around, while they stood there, unable to embrace him back or push him away.
Akorella had spun a mana stone on her fingertip and laughed.
‘You all go crazy whenever you see me. It’s not me, okay? Beric did something right for once. He’s traveling with Sir Ian.’
‘What? What does that…’
‘I don’t know the details either! Ask Sir Ian yourself when he gets back.’
‘I-Is Sir Ian really coming back? For real?’
‘Have you lived your whole life being deceived? I said he’s coming back! With Captain Hale!’
‘Uh…’
‘Whoa, whoaaaaaa! Ahhhh! Oh my god! Oh my god!’
‘Kyaaaak! What do we do! What do we do! This is insane! Really?’
The mages had surrounded Romandro, jumping up and down and screaming like mad. They seemed to have lost their minds in a storm of ecstasy, emotion, and overwhelming joy.
As a result of shouting at the top of their lungs, all the mages’ voices had gone hoarse.
“Ahem. Lord Romandro. I’m heading out to the commercial district. Are there any other places to visit nearby? Could you give me the address list…?”
Just like that.
Romandro was about to flick through the papers to get him the address list, but in that instant, Akorella snatched it away.
“You have another stop before the commercial district, don’t you? I’ll go to this one. I needed to buy something anyway, so this works out.”
“You, Captain?”
“Yeah. Got a problem?”
All mages are to gather at the Imperial Palace.
To carry out the Minister’s first command in ten years, the mages were meticulously checking the addresses of their colleagues who had left the palace.
“No problem. But what are you buying?”
“Something. Ingredients for a mana recovery potion.”
“Don’t tell me it’s for Sir Ian. Did you already forget Beric’s letter? He said not to make him chug any mana amplification potions—”
Thwack!
Akorella lightly rapped the mage on the forehead, cutting him off.
“In my opinion, the problem wasn’t the amplification potion, it was that bastard’s sense of direction. I mean, seriously, how do you even manage to wander into Mount Raza? Besides, what I’m making this time is a recovery potion.”
Romandro buried his nose back in his documents as if he hadn’t seen or heard a thing. Akorella, limping slightly, strode coolly down the Ministry hallway.
Mages ran energetically past her, and as soon as they were outside, they activated their mana and soared high into the sky.
“We’ll be back!”
“We’ll be back soon!”
Ziiiing! Ziiing!
Thwump!
‘Annoying. If they were still mages, they could be summoned instantly.’
The mages who had left the Imperial Palace had Mana Sealing Stones¹ embedded in their bodies. This was because they were privy to state secrets, and the power of a single one of them could shake the nation. They had abandoned the power of a god to gain their freedom. As a precaution against unforeseen circumstances, they were also subject to periodic location tracking.
Ziiiing! Ziiing!
Thwump!
Akorella also activated her mana and leaped into the sky. Without hesitation, she flew straight toward her colleague’s mansion.
A man was reading a book in a well-tended garden. He spotted something glittering in the sky and soon recognized it as a familiar woman with pink hair.
“Huh?”
Huh? Huh?
BOOM!
Whoooosh…
“Aaargh!”
The impact was strong enough to leave a crater in the middle of the garden. The man was thrown backward, clutching the book to his chest. He could see the members of his household rushing outside, thinking something terrible had happened.
“C-Captain Akorella? What’s the sudden visit for? This quarter’s location tracking is already over.”
“You’re talking about trivial things at a time like this.”
“Pardon?”
Akorella clicked the Mana Sealing Stone removal device and grinned. You’ve had it good for a while, haven’t you? Time to become a mage again, you punk.
“Report back immediately.”
“R-Report back?”
“Let’s go back to the Imperial Palace. Sir Ian is coming.”