Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Mayor's Letter
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“What the hell is this, Captain Hail!”
“There’s a limit to how rotten you can be!”
“Argh! Quick, do something about it!”
Chaos erupted. Ian was inwardly surprised as well, but the one who’d been directly hit must have been even more shocked. Clutching his hand scorched by the cigarette ember, he writhed on the floor, letting out endless groans of pain. His colleagues rushed over to check on him, and soon a man who seemed to be his superior grabbed Hail by the collar.
The size difference was so stark that it looked less like grabbing and more like hanging onto him.
“Have you lost your mind? You wanna go at it?”
“Captain Sailro, hold back!”
“Let go!”
There wasn’t much difference in mana between captains, but Hail was the exception. Just look at that build. Unlike the Magic Support Division, which only handled paperwork in the palace, they were field agents who went out almost daily to slay beasts. Their combat instincts for killing and cleanup were incomparable to regular mages.
“Sailro, anyone who tries to kill another has to be prepared for their own death.”
“What bullshit is that!”
“Your subordinate tried to burn my guy’s palm to a crisp, so I scorched him first. Got a problem with that?”
Sailro slowly released Hail’s collar and checked on his rolling subordinate. A fire magic circle was etched on the man’s right hand. If Ian had shaken it, his entire palm would’ve been badly burned.
“Even so, that was excessive!”
“Excessive? Then sorry about that. Should’ve summoned flames myself.”
“…….”
Hail muttered as he pulled out another cigarette. His stock had risen after the Roxan battle, but his combat magic had been renowned even before. Its heavy, penetrating power left a deep impression, politics aside.
If he cast a spell here...
“Damn it all! Remember the Magic Department is a community! The newbie’s doing fine, but if this happens again, I won’t let it slide. I’ll report to Wesley!”
Sailro bellowed loudly for all to hear as he gathered his men and left. No waiting for a reply. The onlookers from other divisions did the same.
“Then take care.”
“Welcome, newbie. You’ll have it rough.”
“Don’t talk to him, idiot.”
“Come on, let’s go. Back to work.”
“Sorry, excuse us. Coming through.”
They showed interest but radiated vibes of not wanting to get involved. In an instant, the emptied conference room fell silent.
“Haa.”
Tommy broke the silence. He sighed deeply, glaring at Hail. What’s he gonna say? Ian wondered.
“I told you I hate getting burned by cigarettes. The ash drops.”
Saying that, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and started cleaning the floor. Nakina snickered, pulling out a cigarette like Hail.
“Tommy’s got this weird germaphobia. Anyway, be more careful from now on. Gotta build up that mana detection first. How’re you gonna be the maknae if you’re this dull?”
He seemed to think Ian hadn’t noticed the trick and almost shook hands. Whatever. He hadn’t stepped in and it got handled well, so Ian could only smile.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Now that you’re in the Magic Operations Division, let’s do our best no matter what. Treat me casually.”
People who could watch each other’s backs in battle.
From what Ian remembered, that was the Magic Operations Division’s image. The field was so urgent and dangerous it was natural. Back then, the goal seemed to be training skilled agents...
“Where are the other members?”
“Oh, they’re all off today. Everyone’s on leave after coming back from Roxan. Never know when they’ll have to head out again, so they don’t show unless it’s urgent. You’ll meet them gradually.”
A division’s vibe follows its leader. Ian glanced at Hail, who grinned and extended his hand. For the handshake they’d missed earlier.
“Nice to meet you, maknae.”
“Nice to meet you too, Captain.”
He had the sturdy build of someone who could’ve succeeded as a warrior even without being a mage. He patted Ian’s shoulder, then stretched languidly. Like he was done with the boring initiation.
“Alright, wanna grab a drink?”
“Booze in broad daylight? Beer at most.”
“Ian, you drink beer? Not big on noble tastes.”
“Of course. But I’ve got company.”
“Company? Who?”
Slide!
No sooner had he spoken than the conference room’s front door burst open. Berik, face puffy and swollen, yelled in panic.
“Iaaaaan! Everyone’s leaving, why’re you still in here? Thought we missed each other!”
Ian had told him to wait at the building entrance, but seeing the mages leave, he must’ve lost patience and come inside. The Magic Operations folks gawked at his state.
“…What the hell is that?”
“Looks half-dead, but he’s walking fine.”
“That’s Berik, the sword-mage I’ve got with me. That’s why he looks like that—sparring at the training grounds on the way over.”
“So he’s the one who fought Captain Jairut?”
“Yes.”
Tommy and Nakina’s gazes locked. The division was already short-staffed. Ian joins and they’re thrilled, but he’s got a sword-mage under him? That hot topic guy?
‘That’s a total bonus, right?’
‘Bonus! Bonus!’
Tommy and Nakina’s eyes sparkled. They approached warmly, slinging arms over his shoulders. Berik’s face scrunched at the sudden contact, but only briefly.
“Hey, we’re gonna be with Ian from now on. See you around. Take care. I’m Nakina.”
“I’m Tommy! We’re heading for drinks—wanna come?”
“…Drinks? Meat too?”
“Yeah! Newbie’s here, so the captain’s buying!”
“I’m in the red this month.”
“Who cares~? Let’s go! Food, meat, booze!”
“Let’s clean out the captain’s wallet good!”
“Woo! But who’s the captain?”
“You idiot? Can’t tell? The bandit-looking guy obviously looks like the captain. Eh, whatever. I like idiots. Turns out idiots tank the best.”
The three bonded instantly. Ian and Hail watched from behind, chuckling in disbelief. Hail nodded and suggested.
“I’ll brief you on the detailed schedule over drinks. Let’s head out.”
* * *
Click.
“Oh my.”
Opening the door, Mini felt like it was New Year’s conference day all over again. Berik couldn’t stand straight, the coachman sweated buckets carrying him, and Ian sighed heavily. At least that day had been midnight; what was this in broad daylight?
“What brings you? Gasp, Sir Berik! You okay? How bad did they beat you to end up like this?”
“Berik’s here? Yup, that’s him! Totally wrecked!”
“I’ll call a doctor. This way, lie down!”
“Tsk tsk. Told you to be careful, you fool!”
“Hm? Why’s there booze smell...”
Mini wrinkled her nose mid-fuss. Romandro paused too, spotting soup stains on Berik’s clothes.
“We got properly smashed at the Magic Operations welcome party.”
“But Ian, you’re the one who joined the Magic Department—how?”
“Kee hee... No more, I can’t eat. Stop!”
“Stop my ass, you! Fine, quit it!”
Smack!
“Aaaack!”
“Oof, hit a bruise. Sorry.”
Berik screamed, and Romandro fussed over the wound. Ian flopped onto the sofa and roughly explained what happened.
Berik sparred with Jairut at the training grounds, then initiation, then welcome party. Sun hadn’t even set, yet so much had happened—it was exhausting.
“You’ve had a hard day. Ian, sir, want some warm tea?”
“Please, Mini.”
“Well, fortunate indeed. Neck’s still attached after sparring Captain Jairut.”
Romandro clucked his tongue and handed Ian a letter on the table.
“Got this while I was out briefly.”
“Oh, from Karenna.”
“The mayor interrogated the bandits and sent a report. Take a look. Hasha! Hasha! Where’d that kid go now?”
“Where’s Hasha?”
Ian broke the sealing wax and looked around. Come to think of it, Hasha wasn’t in his usual sofa corner. Hadn’t seen him since morning.
“Lately he’s been going out a lot. No idea what he’s up to.”
“Tell him to be careful. Wesley’s watching.”
Hasha’s personality was steady, so not too worried, but still. Romandro nodded at Ian’s advice and covered Berik with a blanket. He carefully removed the black sword at his waist and set it on the floor.
Rustle.
Ian rubbed his eyelids and opened the letter. Surprisingly tiny, dense script—lots written.
-Greetings, Sir Ian. This is Onyx, mayor of Karenna. Hope you arrived safely in the capital. Thanks to you, we’ve regained normalcy here.
Thus, here’s the news you awaited. The answer to what you asked: ‘How did the blue-haired boy follow the bandits?’
Hasha’s corpse, under the ritual, had inexplicably followed them when they met. That had remained a mystery. Ian frowned as he turned the page and read on.
-The bandit leader isn’t certain, but speculates it was due to the Atan Tribe’s black sword, per testimony.
Atan Tribe. A belligerent race active north of Bariel, called the Blood Tribe. They’d later swell during the beast raid that shook the empire but ultimately perish against the Imperial Guard Captain.
‘Yeah. That too, soon—as I suspected.’
-Regardless of truth, I relay as reported. The Atan drink beast blood to live, so one questions if they’re human. Their black sword summons beasts, so he confessed the blue-haired boy likely followed for that reason.
Hasha’s corpse then was undead, not human.
Reaction to the black sword made sense.
-One question: The blue-haired boy you mentioned—is he human? As interrogation continued, the bandit rambled about slave traders, corpses, nonsense. I judged this beyond a local city’s scope.
Ian realized the letter’s flow grew odd. The final page. He unconsciously pressed his forehead.
“Why do something I didn’t ask...”
“That mayor? Looked useless at a glance! So, what’s it say?”
-Thus, I’ve requested detailed records from the palace. Please wait a bit more. Forgive my prior negligence. Relay to Consultant Romandro who was with you. I’ll report again. Thank you.
If things went south, the palace—Wesley specifically—might learn of Karenna’s affairs.