Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Becoming the Magic Department Minister
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"Next item on the agenda. It seems there's only one candidate nominated for the next Magic Department Minister."
In the Grand Council chamber where the Prime Minister and the ministers of each department had gathered. The sound of papers flipping echoed simultaneously. There were stacks of letters of support from the mages for Ian, along with numerous requests urging swift action for the stabilization of the Magic Department. The Prime Minister lightly gripped his gavel and glanced around.
"In addition, there's a report that Viscount Ian Hielo's donation has been fully paid."
"There are no issues with his qualifications."
"Let's hear only approvals and oppositions."
"Is there any reason to oppose? We can't leave the minister position vacant forever, and above all, the mages' support is so staunch."
Ahem. The ministers cleared their throats and eyed each other cautiously. In a situation where the forces of Marib and Gail were intertwined, both sides wanted Ian's appointment. Unable to reveal their true intentions, they simply watched and waited. Among them, a very small number of Dillaina's close aides also remained silent, adding their tacit approval.
Thud thud!
"Very well. Then let's proceed immediately. Those in favor of Viscount Ian Hielo's appointment as Magic Department Minister, please raise your hands."
Swish.
Hands slowly rose. The Prime Minister furrowed his brows slightly in surprise. Without exception, everyone on both sides had cast their approval votes. Marib's faction and Gail's faction eyed each other suspiciously in silence.
"No opposition?"
"...It seems not."
"This is unprecedented. Passing the Grand Council without a single opposition. Is this truly correct? If anyone has made a mistake, speak now."
But all remained silent, holding their positions. They approved of Ian becoming the Magic Department Minister, believing it would undoubtedly benefit the liege they served.
The Prime Minister let out a short exclamation of "Huh" and struck the gavel.
Thud thud thud!
"The agenda for Viscount Ian Hielo's appointment as Magic Department Minister is approved. It will be delivered to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor this afternoon, and given the gravity of the matter, we will proceed with the fastest possible public announcement."
"Very well."
"No objections."
The ministers unanimously agreed. And rightly so—the more they pondered it, the more remarkable it seemed.
It was the position of minister, after all. Even if the Magic Department was a merit-based department, Ian had only entered the palace via the New Year's banquet a short while ago. It was barely the time when the snow was melting and spring was approaching...
'Most of the ministers here have been entrenched for 10, no, nearly 20 years.'
He was rewriting history in many ways. Following the first noble mage, now the youngest minister, and the first unanimous appointment without opposition.
The ministers unwittingly shook their heads and lowered their gazes to their documents. Clearly, a truly brilliant star had risen in the Imperial Palace.
* * *
Scraaape!
Ian paused while writing his documents. Berik, lounging on the sofa, poked his head out, and at the same time, the Magic Operations Department members stopped what they were doing and turned around.
Tommy stood at the door, panting with a flushed face.
Everyone intuitively grasped the meaning and slowly stood up.
"...It's here?"
"It's here! I mean, yes, it has arrived! The golden carriage!"
"Yesss! That's it! Wow, it's been ages since I've seen the higher-ups handle things this quickly. Great, great. Congratulations, Minister Ian."
Nakina clenched his fist and shouted in ecstasy. Berik happily danced some inexplicable jig behind Ian, while Hail greeted him with a handshake.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks to all of you. Thank you, everyone."
As Ian stepped outside, mages who had heard the news had already gathered in small groups. They paid their silent respects and parted like the Red Sea to clear a path for him.
"Viscount Ian Hielo, kneel before His Imperial Majesty's words."
It was Chief Clerk Chielonia of the Imperial Palace administration. The old man who had delivered the lord appointment decree to him in the borderlands and a colleague of Molin. Her expression showed she couldn't comprehend this absurd situation. How long had it been since he became a lord, and now minister? Of the Magic Department, no less, which held the empire's fate in its grasp?
"Long time no see, Administrator. You always bring me good news whenever we meet. It's an honor."
As Ian knelt on one knee, the mages followed suit and prostrated themselves. The woman swallowed a bewildered sigh and maintained her dignified voice.
"It is truly lamentable that the position of Magic Department Minister stands vacant due to this unfortunate incident. Thus, as Emperor of Bariel, I command you to rectify this. Viscount Ian Hielo. Based on the support of the Magic Department and the unanimous approval of the Grand Council, I appoint you as the new Minister of the Magic Department."
'What did she just say? Unanimous approval?'
'Unanimous in the Grand Council?'
'What on earth has he been doing behind the scenes? That Ian.'
'Impossible. No faction to check the Magic Department?'
The mages flinched, wondering if they'd misheard. Didn't that mean he'd unified the support of Marib, Gail, and even third-party factions? It also signified that the Magic Department's shaken prestige from the Wesley incident remained intact.
'No, it's more than that.'
Previously, there had been Marib's checks, but now? It would be hard to get such a result even in agendas presented directly to His Imperial Majesty.
The mages kept stealing glances at Ian's golden hair fluttering in the breeze, marveling in admiration. So this was the prowess of the man who crossed the Great Desert alone and survived.
"That concludes His Imperial Majesty's decree. Viscount Ian Hielo is now the 18th Minister of the Magic Department and inherits its authority. Dedicate yourself to the Bariel Empire and His Majesty."
"Of course."
"Congratulations. Ahem, then I'll take my leave."
Ian bowed his head as he received the appointment decree from Chielonia, and she rode off in her carriage without lingering, leaving the Magic Department grounds. The mages approached one by one to offer their congratulations.
"Congratulations, Minister Ian."
"Congratulations. Looking forward to working with you."
"Yes. Thank you. Everyone, return to your posts and finish your duties."
Ian smiled lightly and encouraged the mages. Normally, there would be an inauguration ceremony and a fitting party, but given the circumstances, he would enjoy his honors buried under a pile of documents.
Scraaape.
"Ian, congrats! Should I tell Vivianna to throw a party today? Beef is so cheap these days!"
"Berik, beef is still beyond you."
"Why? I've been guarding you, Master, 24/7."
"Oh? I thought you were here because the training grounds had no one and the mansion was uncomfortable with all the Astana folks."
Well, sort of. He'd been chased out of the training grounds by the caretaker for eating from the dog bowl alone, and at the mansion, the meat portions had shrunk with more guests. Mini had even locked the storeroom.
Ta-at!
Ian tossed the pile of documents to Berik and nodded toward them. As if telling the idler to put some effort in.
"We're moving to the minister's office. All the luggage here."
"The minister's office! Is the sofa there even fluffier?"
"If Wesley had good taste."
"Let's go! Let's go go go!"
Berik effortlessly lifted the heavy box, showing enthusiasm. Though he kept going back and forth in the hallway because he didn't know the way.
"And I have a request for the Magic Operations Department."
"Speak freely, Minister."
"...Thank you. Go to the archive and bring out all the Class 1 confidential documents that were off-limits. Forbidden Magic is fine, Necromancy too. Don't discriminate by list—bring everything with access restrictions to the minister's office."
"Shall we bring them as documents?"
"Yes. And authorize the captains of each department to access security documents below Class 1."
"Understood."
The minister's first order. And access to confidential documents. This would breathe new life into the stalled investigation of the [Wesley incident].
"Also, I believe the closest department to the minister's office is the Magic Support Division."
"That's correct."
"Swap offices."
This meant that with the new minister, the power dynamics among the departments had shifted. Everyone had anticipated it, so the Magic Support Division had already packed up early. They were probably heading this way with their luggage piles right now.
"Come on, let's move. Lots to do."
Hail stubbed out his cigarette and snapped his fingers. With the new minister's inauguration, the Magic Department building buzzed and bustled all day. It wasn't until the afternoon sun set late that it finally settled down.
Scraaape! Thud!
"Last one!"
"Good. Well done."
Berik rolled his shoulders as he set down the box. The room was packed tight, no room to step. But he crammed himself onto the sofa anyway.
"Wooow. I don't know about anything else, but Wesley had good taste. This sofa is so soft and plush."
Rustle.
Ian chuckled softly as he slowly skimmed the documents. It would take time to check them all, so for now, selectively reviewing information was efficient.
'Ah, this is...'
[Oracle of Fourth Prince Arsen and Fifth Prince Jin]
Amid them, he spotted a title that caught his eye. Dillaina had said it: once you learn the truth, you can't go back. Ian hesitated briefly but soon flipped the page without qualms.
-...Around three in the morning on the 00th day of the 00th month when the full moon rose. Labor pains began in the rear palace for Dillaina. Soon, the entire Imperial Palace lit up, and His Imperial Majesty, coughing, headed to the birthing room.
It was a detailed report written in chronicle style. It mainly consisted of testimonies from the midwife and doctors who assisted in the delivery.
-...Labor pains continued, but with no sign of the child emerging, Dillaina repeatedly lost and regained consciousness. Around sunrise, at the doctor's insistence, Dillaina's belly was cut open.
"......?"
-At the same time, the oracle descended. 'The one born later will kill the one born first.' 'If the one closest to the throne dies, the imperial line will end.'
Ian frowned. The first oracle was treated as a public secret, but he'd never heard the latter.
If the one closest to the throne dies, the imperial line ends?
'That's why they overprotected Arsen.'
...The imperial line.
What an ambiguous statement.
If it referred to the imperial surname, 'Berosion' had continued until Ian's time as emperor. If bloodline, hadn't it already thinned over a hundred years through collaterals? He himself had been an emperor from outside.
-Upon cutting the belly, the cause of the difficult birth was revealed. One child was gripping the other's throat, so the doctor pulled out the gripped child first to clear its airway. Then, the one named Arsen—the one who had attacked his brother—received the name Jin.
Ian mulled over the sentence, visualizing the scene. A criminal from the moment of birth. And thus raised as one.
"Indeed, this is..."
"Why? Something fun?"
Berik spoke up, but Ian was too focused to hear. He kept flipping through the documents, drawing closer to the truth of the Imperial Palace.
Swish.
And soon, what he presumed Wesley had received: the report on forbidden Necromancy.
"Quite a substantial amount, as expected."
"Iaaaan. Is there anything fun?"
"Ah, yeah. Indeed."
At Berik's whining, Ian lightly tapped the documents. As if to say things were about to get interesting from now on.