The driver at the lead slowly opened his eyes. Dense leaves descending upon him. It felt as if ti had stopped.
Live if you stop, but die if you don’t?
Impossible.
He knew the carriages following close behind him. If he stopped suddenly here, it would cause a chain collision, and being at the front, he would clearly die crushed, wouldn’t he? Though the mysterious boy had warned him, rationally it seed continuing forward without stopping was the way to survive.
Absinthe-colored eyes glinted in the sunlight. The mont his eyes t the child’s, a commander’s order restored the world moving slowly back to normal.
“This bastard, are you crazy?! What are you doing?!”
Rumble! Thump!
He must have unknowingly let go of the reins. When the commander shouted while roughly pushing the driver’s shoulder, the driver reflexively pulled the lines harder.
“Sideways! Go around sideways!”
The carriages split left and right to avoid the surging earth. The guard post began coming into view again. In the distance, a huge red flag was waving. A signal to stop, that the border couldn’t be opened.
Booo-
The buffalo horn sounded from all directions as carriages swayed from the tilting ground. But even in that state, they didn’t stop advancing forward.
Ian frowned and gestured firmly. As if saying not to cross a set line.
Rumble!
“Aaaahh!”
“Save , save !”
The ground split along Ian’s hand motion. When the World Tree didn’t appear, it beca a cliff that swallowed the carriages in one gulp.
Drivers’ screams tearing through with the roar. Those following behind turned their horses’ heads in panic.
Neeeigh!
Like snakes climbing up ankles. The World Tree’s branches instantly entangled the carriage wheels to grip them firmly, and horses helplessly tumbled as branches crossed their path. Everything was collapsing into chaos.
“Hah, hah…”
The survivors exhaled heavily, not even realizing their bodies were tightly bound.
The ground slowly healing. They dared not even imagine what end t those who had fallen in. Wasn’t that truly death’s doorstep? One that couldn’t be returned from once crossed.
Flash.
Ian lightly descended and looked around. Most carriages had lost function, and there seed to be no small number of injured.
Where was Prince Noah’s carriage? After pondering briefly, Ian spotted Beric standing tall in the distance. He was grinning while being held by the collar by Envoy May.
“You, ntally unsound person! Violent ruffian! Idiot! Go drink sewer water! His Highness could have died!”
“Ahaha. Why are your insults so refined? No impact at all. See, wouldn’t it have been better to stop earlier?”
“Y-you, street rat!”
“S-st-street rat!”
“Don’t copy ! You-!”
May, heated to the extre, shook Beric’s collar rcilessly.
anwhile, the mages had also descended and gathered close. Since ard conflict was quite possible, everyone maintained battle readiness. Barsabe too gripped her sword while checking the guards’ positions. R𝙖NọᛒƐ𝒮
Rustle.
But Ian nodded for them to lower their guard. This was still Bariel territory. If Clifford responded with force, they would fall into an uncontrollable quagmire. Being in quite a disadvantageous position, Prince Noah had only one option.
“Lord Ian. What is the aning of this?”
“Prince Noah. Are you alright?”
Perhaps because everyone had tried to protect the prince’s carriage, it was intact compared to the others. Noah didn’t hide his displeasure as he dusted himself off. His deeply furrowed brows. He gestured in protest and raised his voice.
“Is this how Bariel sends off guests? Truly impressive, impressive indeed. As expected of a great nation, I can’t follow with my common sense. Calling us honored guests to our faces while treating us like this behind our backs. Ha!”
“My apologies, but it was necessary. Like a thief with guilty feet, you increased speed to flee as soon as you saw us. What could we do?”
“Clifford is right ahead. It was rely joy at returning to our country, what are you saying?”
Denial. That they hadn’t even known about the mages’ presence, just continuing on their way. Beric listening beside them made an X with his hands and objected.
“Ian. That’s a lie. I told them to stop, and the prince heard. Really really.”
“How could we stop when suddenly attacked? Do you know the situation? Anyway, Lord Ian. Given the severe damage including to the carriages, I will officially raise objections about this. I had hoped Bariel and Clifford could forge new bonds, but this is truly outrageous. Why? Are you trying to kill here and now?”
Noah made threats with a thoroughly angry expression. Everyone imdiately raised their guard. Ian crossed his arms and lifted his chin.
“Kill you? Please refrain from such violent words.”
“What you did is what’s violent!”
“Let ask one thing. While coming south, were you perhaps attacked?”
“Attacked? Yes. Right now!”
Prince Noah shook his head as if there was nothing more to say. Ian slowly circled the prince’s carriage. Following his footsteps, the prince and May’s eyes followed anxiously.
“Bariel anticipated that Clifford had been attacked by bandits. Thus, we ca here out of concern to assess the situation.”
Ian examined the cargo carriage. Though the luggage was mixed up in chaos, it didn’t seem much different from when they left the Imperial Palace.
“However, based on your refusal to stop when ordered and increasing speed upon seeing us, we judged the Clifford carriages might have been seized by bandits.”
“Nonsense. When did you order us to stop?”
“Yes, we did. Didn’t you hear? There certainly seems to be a communication problem.”
Did we? Beric scratched his chin in confusion before realizing his presence had been that signal. Above all, the flag waving at the guard post. Though the buffalo horn had subsided, border guards could be seen approaching from that direction.
“Ha!”
Prince Noah crossed his arms and blocked Ian’s path as if dumbfounded. A ploy to prevent him from seeing inside the cargo carriage.
How cute. As Ian turned aside with a slight smile, Prince Noah quickly followed.
“Just past there is the Clifford guard post. Now that you’ve confird I’m safe, won’t you step aside? I want to hurry back and report this situation.”
“Prince Noah.”
Though his eyes were so narrow the pupils couldn’t be seen, Ian kept his gaze on him as he spoke.
“What happened?”
“Silence is best for those who ask questions with predetermined answers.”
“Please be precise. About what’s blocking your way now, Prince Noah. Relations between Bariel and Clifford aren’t problematic yet. I’m rely a minister of one of many departnts, and the one you’ll face is in the Imperial Palace.”
It was persuasion to reveal secrets and seek cooperation. Depending on how he reported to the Imperial Palace, many options would arise.
Prince Noah turned his head while staying silent for a mont.
‘I’m almost certain.’
Perhaps it was already over when the Imperial Palace’s power player ca leading mages. Ah, if only they’d left early yesterday. They would have crossed the border long ago.
As Noah’s thoughts grew more complex, a smile rose on Ian’s face. Instead of Noah before him, he watched May standing a step away.
Rustle.
‘The mages…’
Perhaps thinking Ian was focused on Noah, May was examining the mages more comfortably. An attitude of gauging if there were any familiar faces mixed in.
Ian nodded to Beric to search the cargo carriage.
“Beric. Open all the boxes here.”
“Okay okay.”
Beric imdiately jumped into the cargo carriage. Opening and lifting whatever he grabbed, tearing things apart, causing disheveled items to spill outside. Prince Noah held his head and protested again.
“Lord Ian. This is too discourteous. I cannot tolerate being treated as if involved in smuggling.”
“My, Prince. Perhaps smuggling would be better. Would you show us the jewel entrusted by Crown Prince Jin?”
Not just the prince, but Envoy May also hesitated. ‘Perhaps’ had beco ‘indeed’, that annoying mage – no, Minister Ian must have known everything when he ca.
As Noah bit his lip awkwardly, May stepped forward.
“The jewel wasn’t loaded in the cargo carriage, but given the situation, it will only be possible after recovering the carriages. And before that, please reveal your purpose in seeking the jewel. We cannot hand it over without that. Who knows what might happen?”
A statent premised on Ian coveting the jewel and acting without the Imperial Palace’s knowledge. The mages listening beside them countered in protest.
“This is an investigation team officially convened by the grand council. Envoy May, mind your words. If you hadn’t acted suspiciously in the first place, this matter would have passed without damage.”
“Suspicious acts!”
As the atmosphere heated again, Ian and Noah simultaneously raised their hands to stop their subordinates. Beric, having searched inside completely, shook his head as if finding nothing special.
“Ian. Keep pressing?”
“Enough. They say the jewel is elsewhere. And Envoy May. You seem to have been looking for soone since earlier.”
“Who would I be looking for…”
“There are two more mages at the guard post. Ones called Otrik and Felix.”
When Ian specifically nad them, the mages sensed sothing. Hadn’t Ian been cold to Felix since before departure? They’d pretended not to know by closing their eyes and covering their ears, not knowing what was happening, but by now they’d caught on sowhat.
“…Lord Ian. That bastard Felix.”
“No? Please tell it’s not what I’m thinking. Good heavens, damn it.”
That he was connected to this trouble.
That he had so kind of contact with Clifford.
To the mages’ questions, Ian deflected with a nod.
“I ca here to learn the details myself, so if you want to ask, you should ask the prince.”
When everyone’s gazes poured toward Noah, he ran his hand through his hair as if resigned. A deep sigh ca with it.
May clenched her fists and blocked the way to protect the prince.
“Why such looks in everyone’s eyes?”
“Ti is passing. If you don’t speak quickly, I’ll have no choice but to file a preliminary report first.”
The circumstances were sufficient. If this was officially received by the Imperial Palace, the alliance between Bariel and Clifford would be completely overturned.
Hostility through justification would be established, and this would be entirely Clifford’s burden to bear. They had cut off ties with Burgos, after all. It was like all the ropes being cut.
“Lord Ian.”
Having finished calculating in his mind, Noah quietly called to him.
“Shall we move a bit further away?”
“Of course. As you wish.”
“And I say this in advance, but I hope you recognize attacking and damaging Clifford like this.”
It was groundwork for suggesting they understand each other and move past this sowhat. As the two moved away from the noisy situation, Noah imdiately ca close and whispered.
“Yes. I’ll tell you the truth. The jewel is gone.”
“I thought so.”
“Don’t you often hear you’re annoying?”
“Well. Not sure about behind my back, but to my face.”
The more Ian smiled, the more Prince Noah’s expression crumpled. Just as he was about to tell the full story.
Bang! Boom!
An explosion sound from the guard post direction. Traces of magic.
Everyone turned to look there in surprise, and Noah’s eyes sparkled. Wondering if perhaps this could beco a turning point for breakthrough. But Ian patted the prince’s shoulder and spoke.
“Your Highness.”
Felix’s magical power had hit bottom. Then who could have done that?
It was Otrik’s power following Ian’s orders.
To subdue Felix without rcy if he acted suspiciously.
“Save your sweet dreams for when you return ho.”
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