The officials could only exchange dumbfounded looks. They had sensed from the very beginning of the conference that this boy was no ordinary individual, but this… this bordered on the absurd. A child who had just returned to the capital today after a decade in the Abyss knew of a justification for war that the highest-ranking officials of the empire did not?

And yet, judging by the unwavering confidence he had displayed thus far, it didn’t seem to be a bluff, which only made the situation all the more baffling.

“You are all aware of the Atan tribe,” Ian began.

“The Atan, from the northern territories?”

“The very same. At the command of His Highness, Beric of the Royal Guard held a conference with them. The purpose of this meeting, as you might surmise, was to request their cooperation in preventing the spread of the northern rifts.”

Ooh, he’s talking about me! Tucked away in a corner of the hall, Beric’s ears perked up, and he shot to his feet. The officials who had been struggling to place his name now saw his face and let out a collective gasp of recognition.

Ah, so it’s that lunatic. The red-haired magic swordsman, public enemy of the palace chefs and infamous for his endless troublemaking.

“And?” an official prompted.

“Beric clearly identified himself as a member of the Royal Guard, acting on the direct order of the Crown Prince. However, instead of agreeing to cooperate with Bariel, the Atan chose to make contact with Rutherford in Burgos. A battle ensued during this process.”

“And here’s the proof!” Beric piped up, turning his face this way and that to show off his injuries. “Look at where they got me!” The wounds had mostly healed and were barely visible, but he was insisting, so they had to take his word for it.

Captain Jeirutt shot him a warning glare, biting his lower lip as if to say, Don’t push it. Beric, characteristically, paid him no mind and simply cleaned out his ear.

“One moment, Lord Ian,” a minister interjected. “Did you say they made contact with Rutherford?”

“It is the same line of reasoning that led Rashida of the Technology Department to question whether Rutherford and I still possessed the knowledge to create Idgal.”

Rutherford possessed both the will to expand the rifts and the key to controlling them: Idgal. For the Atan, a tribe that subsisted on demonic beasts, it was only logical to investigate whether the rumors of his return were true and to ascertain his intentions.

“While I cannot be certain of the Atan’s ultimate allegiance, it is clear they have crossed into Burgos.”

The officials grasped the situation instantly. In short, all they had to do was pursue the Atan tribe into Burgos. A ripple of excited murmurs spread through the room as Ian closed his report, his expression indicating that his part in the conference was now complete.

“How did the battle conclude?”

“The Atan initially pursued Beric, but they retreated and fled across the border the moment our mages arrived to reinforce him.”

“Perfect. That’s all we need. It’s settled.”

“But, Lord Ian, how did you…?”

“Beric was the one who escorted me here. I was present at the scene.”

It was difficult to say whether it was a matter of skill or simply astonishingly good fortune. Ian turned to the throne and bowed his head slightly.

“Therefore, Your Highness, I recommend you dispatch the delegation not to the royalist faction, but directly to the anti-royalists. Use the subjugation of the Atan tribe as our justification to demand entry for Bariel’s soldiers. Should they refuse, I recommend you deal with them and the Atan as a single entity. If they acquiesce, we can station our troops within their territory and launch a joint attack with the royalists.”

Though, he knew, the likelihood of them agreeing was infinitesimally small.

“Excellent,” Jin said with a calm nod, though the faintest hint of a smile seemed to play on his lips. “We shall proceed as you suggest.”

“A wise decision, Your Highness.”

“Are there any objections?” Jin asked.

The hall remained silent. With no further comments, it seemed the agenda had been exhausted. A glance at the grand clock revealed it was now two in the morning. Jin rose from his seat, signaling the end of the proceedings.

“Each department will summarize the points from today’s conference and submit their reports by this afternoon.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You have all worked late. You are dismissed.”

As Jin swept from the room, the taut atmosphere instantly dissolved, and the hall filled with the bustling sounds of a meeting adjourned. Officials gathered with their own, and subordinates with theirs, no doubt discussing the tasks that now lay before them.

Ian, too, began to organize the papers on his desk.

“Lord Ian, it is a sincere pleasure to have you back.”

“Thank you. I am glad to see you have been well.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

“As do I.”

The officials who were friendly to the Ministry of Magic approached him to offer handshakes, which Ian accepted with natural grace. Though he was the focus of countless intense stares from across the room, he paid them no mind and made his way out of the hall.

The moment he was gone, the chatter erupted with renewed vigor.

“He’s incredible. The rumors were true; he is every bit the Minister of Magic.”

“And that justification, where in the world did he pull that from?”

“Now I finally understand how he became a powerhouse in the empire at such a young age. Good heavens.”

“If we can just resolve the budget issue, there shouldn’t be any more problems. I wonder when the Ministry will demand repayment.”

“Lord Ian is a man who imbues even the smallest gesture with meaning. He will make his demand at the most opportune time for his Ministry. We would be wise to prepare for it with all haste.”

“This is going to be a nuisance. Why did it have to be the Ministry of Magic? For any other department, the officials’ influence holds significant sway over appointments, but the Ministry is a world unto itself. We have no leverage.”

Meanwhile, the mages following Ian from the hall glanced back over their shoulders. Though the others tried to be subtle, the palpable and deeply unpleasant feeling of being watched and judged from all sides lingered.

“Those damn officials keep staring. The nerve of them.”

“Hush, they’ll hear you. Lower your voice.”

“Let them hear. It’s not like they aren’t staring for our benefit.”

“In any case, Lord Ian, you were magnificent today. Truly. I believe His Highness Jin was also quite pleased. He kept trying to hide a smile.”

“Oh? You noticed that too? So did I!”

“Lord Ian, will you be returning to the Ministry, or will you be leaving the palace? It’s late; if you wish to depart, we can send a carriage for you in the afternoon.”

“To the Ministry.”

Ian smiled as if the answer should have been obvious. Just then, a snippet of conversation from a pair of passing officials drifted to his ears.

“I wonder what the nobles gathered at the banquet are doing.”

“No doubt they are faithfully amusing themselves. Ah, at times like these, I truly envy them. Some of us are in conferences until two in the morning, while others are drowning themselves in wine.”

“Don’t be so cynical. They have their own immense burdens to bear. Especially the nobles with daughters of marriageable age. They are likely trapped there all night, unable to leave, waiting on the off chance His Highness might return.”

Now that he thought about it, it was indeed time for Jin to begin receiving marriage proposals. He was a fine, accomplished young man and the sole heir to the throne. The seat beside him would be more radiant, and more coveted, than any other in the empire. Ian briefly tried to recall who Jin’s empress had been in his era, but to his frustration, he found he had almost no memory of her.

“Lord Ian?”

A mage held the carriage door open for him. Ian smiled and was about to step inside when he froze, a hand flying to his stomach. Something was wrong.

“What is it, sir? Are you unwell?”

“Ah…”

Instead of answering, Ian clutched his midsection and slowly doubled over. The surrounding mages, alarmed, crouched down with him, hovering uselessly in a state of panic.

“Lord Ian! What’s happening? Does it hurt?”

“…It’s the side effect,” he gasped.

“What? A side effect? What kind?”

As the color drained from Ian’s face, the mages around him went just as pale. His gaze found Akorella, who was slowly making her way down the grand staircase, pausing here and there to chat. Just as she stopped, feeling his stare, the mages shot up the stairs and descended upon her like a furious wave.

“You actually made Lord Ian drink that! Captain Akorella!”

“Huh? What’s going on? What did I do?”

“Lord Ian is suffering from the side effects!”

“How could you! To someone who just returned to the palace! You imbecile!”

“Oh, the side effect,” Akorella said with a dismissive wave, pushing through her frantic subordinates. “I thought it was something serious. Let’s go, hurry up.” She broke free and called out to Romandro, who was still hovering by Ian’s side. “Lord Romandro! What are you doing? Get him in the carriage!”

“Should… should I call for a physician? But this is because of the mana potion, would that even help?”

“A physician? Don’t be ridiculous. Go find a chef!”

“A c-chef? Why a chef?”

Ian staggered, grabbing Romandro’s arm for support. A cold sweat beaded on his deathly pale face. Finally, as if he could bear it no longer, he muttered, “Quickly… we must go. Now, Lord Romandro.”

***

Screech!

Hee-eigh!

Jin, now dressed in simple, casual attire, leaped from his carriage and hurried forward. A rumor had reached him that Ian had collapsed the moment he left the conference hall. Though the first light of dawn was breaking, Jin had left the Crown Prince’s palace without a moment’s hesitation.

Is his body unwell after returning from the Abyss? After all he had endured, it would only be natural if problems arose.

Clatter, clatter! The palace was already a hive of activity, but when he reached the Ministry of Magic, the lobby was unnervingly silent. The stillness only fueled his anxiety, and his brow furrowed deeply.

“Lord Ian!” he called out, bursting through the door to the Minister’s office himself.

“Agh, you scared me!”

“Huh? Who is it?”

“It’s His Highness! The Crown Prince!”

Jin’s eyes met those of the dozens of mages seated in the office. They were everywhere—on chairs, sofas, and even the floor—buried under mountains of paperwork. In the middle of it all, an attendant was clearing a trolley piled high with empty dishes. And there, holding a half-eaten sandwich, was Ian.

“Your Highness?”

“Lord Ian. Are you alright? There was a rumor that you collapsed.”

“Ah, yes. There was a minor issue with Akorella’s recovery potion, but I am fine now. It merely caused an extreme hunger, far more intense than I anticipated.”

Beside Ian stood a stack of empty plates taller than a man. And that was after the attendant had already cleared one load. Jin stared, incredulous. This was a feat not even Beric could manage.

“…Are you certain you’re alright?”

“She said it is a common reaction during the rapid recovery phase. Objectively speaking, this is not a normal state, but I assure you, I am fine. Your Highness, aren’t you hungry?” Ian gestured with his sandwich toward the mountain of food that remained. They were, after all, perfect for eating while working.

“No. No, I am quite alright.”

“He’s lost it,” Beric mumbled, sprawled languidly on a sofa amidst the frantic mages. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen Ian eat more than me.” No one, including Ian, paid him any mind, their eyes glued to their documents. It was as if they were all wondering why a member of the Royal Guard was lounging in their office while they were swamped with work.

“It seems I have caused you concern, Your Highness. My apologies.”

“Not at all. I am relieved it was only a rumor.”

“Akorella mentioned that after eating like this, I may fall asleep for several days straight. I’m glad I was able to see you before that happened.”

“Why? Others can submit the reports. You only just returned to the palace yesterday. Frankly, I am not pleased to see you working like this.”

“No, Your Highness. I find I am most at ease when I am working. Everyone,” Ian announced to the room, “let’s take a short break.”

A collective sigh of relief went through the room.

“Oh, thank you, Lord Ian. I needed that.”

“Let’s go stretch our legs and wake up. Yaaawn.”

“Excuse us, Your Highness. Ugh.”

It was a clear signal for them to be given a moment of privacy. The mages filed out, stretching, while Beric remained glued to the sofa, reasoning that since he hadn’t been working, he had no need for a break.

“Beric. You too.”

“Huh? Why me?”

“Is this a matter that even Beric cannot be privy to?” Jin asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Ian shook his head, setting down his pen. “No. It is simply a question regarding Your Highness’s private life.”

“…I do not know what it is, but you may speak. It is fine.”

“By any chance—”

Beric’s ears twitched. He sat bolt upright, his eyes sparkling with the promise of some spectacular gossip.

“Is there someone who has captured your heart?”