Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: The Gradually Spreading Embers
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Clang! Clang!
“Arghhh!”
“Stop, spare me!”
“Round them up without letting a single one escape! Over here!”
“Kill them! For Second Prince Gail!”
“Prince Marib is watching!”
The midday scene was riddled with madness. If it had been night, the darkness would have hidden even the unspeakable sights, but now everything was laid bare under the glaring sky. It felt like hell unfolding beneath the blazing heavens.
Crunch!
A corpse plummeted past the window, leaving bloodstains on the outer wall. Shards of shattered glass swirled like sleet, and Ian reflexively raised his sleeve to shield his eyes.
Swoosh!
Spears and arrows flew aimlessly, striking at nothing in particular. Berik precisely deflected them with his sword, bellowing at the top of his lungs.
“You fucking bastards! Aim properly before you throw!”
“Argh! Charge! Charge!”
“Kill themmm!”
“No, this is Ian Hielo, the Magic Department Minister! Our lord! Huh? Ian, didn’t you say saying your name would keep you safe?”
“Words are useless against those who won’t listen.”
“Kill the traitors! Protect Bariel!”
“Ow! Dammit! Fine! No choice then! Haha!”
But there was no way such pleas would reach those consumed by frenzy. Berik swung his sword without hesitation at anyone blocking his path. Blood sprayed along the arc of his blade, screams tore through the air, and laughter escaped his lips.
“Berik. That’s enough. Let’s move.”
“What can I do? They’re begging to be killed.”
“Should I go first?”
“No, of course not. Let’s go, let’s go.”
It was chaos incarnate. In the tension between life and death, it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe. A split-second misjudgment could lead straight to one’s doom.
What could be more worthless than a war sustained only by blind excitement, devoid of conviction? Ian pressed his shoulder against the wall as much as possible, weaving through the uproar.
Clang! Clang!
“One, two! Coming! Block! Okay!”
“Berik, be quiet. Eyes keep turning this way.”
“I’m the quietest one here!”
For all his talk, his protection was flawless. He couldn’t stop the blood from spilling everywhere, but not a single small attack reached Ian.
Clang!
“This way, Berik!”
“That way? Really?”
Ian, familiar with the palace layout, spotted an alleyway and turned into it. It was a shortcut mainly used by low-ranking officials. As they dashed through, the roars of battle gradually faded. They were pulling away from that horrific hell.
Tap-tap!
“What’s at the end if we keep going?”
“The back gate of the Third Palace should appear. It’s a bit farther from Dillaina’s quarters, but it’s better to link up with Siaosi first and then find them.”
He wasn’t sure if Dillaina and the twin princes had guards, but if not, Siaosi alone would be a huge help. The best plan was to secure them and head straight back to the Magic Department.
“Huh? Ian, it’s a dead end?”
“Get down.”
Tap!
At Ian’s command, Berik flattened himself. Ian stepped on his back and vaulted over the wall, landing right at the entrance to the Third Palace’s underground prison. Iron bars were locked tight, and gatekeepers armed with shields stood on high alert, spears trained on Ian.
“Who goes there! This is the imperial palace underground prison—turn back!”
“I am Ian Hielo, Minister of the Magic Department. I’ve come to retrieve the intruder who entered Second Prince Gail’s quarters at dawn.”
“…Apologies, but we cannot allow it. We’re under Level 1 security alert—a dangerous situation where the prisoners might escape.”
They removed their helmets, showing troubled expressions. The distant rumbling grew steadily closer. The spreading battles seemed about to engulf this place too.
Zing.
Ian released his mana as a warning to the gatekeepers.
“Performing your duty is commendable, but assess the situation properly. What’s your superior’s name?”
“W-Wyvern, sir.”
“Good. He’s currently secured at the Magic Department. He pledged his loyalty to me, so who holds command now? I’ll take just one prisoner. If there’s any issue, report my name.”
The gatekeepers exchanged glances in silence. The unpredictable palace situation left them unable to decide.
“This is a key figure in restoring order to the palace. If you refuse, I’ll have no choice but to break down the gate.”
“Break it all? Huh? Smash it to pieces?”
“W-Wait! Your token, please show your token.”
Ian removed his uniform jacket and handed it over. It was soaked in unknown blood, but it would suffice as proof.
Clank!
“Proceed.”
The heavy iron gate creaked open. Ian and Berik followed the guards down into the underground. No sunlight reached here; it reeked of mold, a damp and gloomy place utterly cut off from the outside world, like another realm entirely.
Creak.
In the darkness, Ian spotted a man slumped against the wall. Siaosi, bound hand and foot, curled up. His eyes were covered, but the ash-gray hair gave him away.
“Untie him.”
“Yes. Please wait a moment.”
Twitch. His ears, still as death until then, flicked. The guard removed the blindfold, revealing mismatched eyes that locked onto Ian’s.
“……”
“Siaosi. Can you walk?”
“Hey hey hey. Hello hello.”
Ian raised a lantern to illuminate Siaosi. Bruises marred his cheek, and a gash crossed one arm. Siaosi squinted at the bright light.
“…How did you get here?”
“What do you mean? Your master came to fetch his slave. That said, those wounds look deep.”
It had been a suspicious order, but he’d promised Siaosi’s safety. Yet here he was, battered. He’d warned Gail sternly too.
“……”
“Speak.”
“The man said he wanted to see blood, so he cut himself.”
Just as he’d suspected. Gail had wanted Siaosi injured to use against Ian later. But the cheek? Ian glanced at the guard, who shook his head vigorously, as if guilty.
“W-We didn’t torture him. We just transported him here and locked him up immediately.”
Boom!
At that moment, a muffled explosion echoed. For it to resound so loudly in the underground prison, it must have been massive. Ian nodded to Berik to help Siaosi up.
Swipe.
“…What should I do now?”
No orders. That had been the hardest part of imprisonment. Born a slave, every moment of his life had been dictated by commands. Eating, sleeping, resting, working—all by someone else’s will. Without them, it felt like his compass was shattered.
“What weapons do you usually use?”
“…In the arena, we fight barehanded mostly.”
“Do that now, and you’ll die pointlessly. We’re going out to push through the chaos and pick up someone.”
“…Dagger.”
A dagger? Ian turned to the guard. Maybe he had one on him. The guard flinched and fumbled at his belt.
“I-I have this folding knife I use for peeling fruit sometimes.”
It fit perfectly in the palm—a compact folding knife. Siaosi took it silently, while Berik waved his hands in disgust.
“No way you can kill with that thing?”
“……”
“Stab someone with it, and it’ll smell like fruit! Sia, don’t use that—get something long. Swing it around, and heads go rolling.”
“Enough. No time to waste. Siaosi, report everything that happened last night on the way.”
“…Yes.”
Tap-tap!
Ian led Siaosi out of the underground prison. In the light, Siaosi’s ash-gray eyes gleamed differently. The gatekeepers at the entrance flailed in panic.
“Shall we open the gate? If you’re leaving, hurry!”
“The fighting has spread here too. We’re sealing the doors completely!”
The battle Ian and Berik had passed through had reached this point. Flames and smoke rose everywhere, and the sounds of shattering and destruction filled the air. Ian gestured for them to open the gate and ran.
Tap!
“Arghhh! Kill them!”
“Don’t let a single one live!”
“The blood of those traitors will nourish Bariel!”
“You filthy vermin. How dare you speak Bariel’s name!”
Boom! Bang!
Clang! Crash!
The blood pooling on the ground was like those embers scorching the buildings—that was why Ian’s clothes were filthy. Siaosi seemed a bit startled but gripped his knife steadily, unflinching.
“You said you hate seeing blood.”
“…It’s fine.”
“Woo-hoo! Kill!”
Splash!
“Arghhh!”
“Good. You have to be fine right now. That’s how you survive.”
Berik thrust his sword into the heart of a soldier lunging at Ian. He yanked the blade out through the back in one motion, then sliced the side of another.
Siaosi grimaced down at the twitching soldier. If it had been instant death, there’d be no suffering.
“Die!”
Then, another soldier charged at Ian. Berik tried to intercept, but a corpse snagged his sword tip. Ian activated his Golden Eyes, condensing mana.
Zing. Zzzing.
Crunch!
But Siaosi was faster. He grabbed the soldier’s hair with one hand and plunged the knife into his eye socket with the other.
“……”
Like butchering livestock, a single strike to end it cleanly. He knew the vital spots precisely, his movements efficient and without waste. The soldier collapsed forward without a scream.
Thud—
“……”
“……”
“…Hah.”
Heavy, concise, swift. The strength lingered even as he retrieved the knife. Berik gaped at Siaosi, and Ian was equally stunned into silence. Only Siaosi wiped the blade on his jacket and sighed.
“…Aren’t we going?”
“…Yes.”
“Yaaah! Sia! What the hell are you? What the fuck was that!”
“Shut up, Berik. Don’t lose focus.”
“No, Ian, you saw that too, right? Whoosh, crunch! Urk! What was that? How’d you do it? Teach me! No, let’s spar right now!”
Zing!
As Berik excitedly latched onto Siaosi, Ian activated his Golden Eyes. A warning: shut up and follow, or else. Berik snapped to attention, eyes wide and blinking.
“Almost messed up there. Right?”
“No second warnings. Berik.”
“Jeez, why so scary? Fine, after this is over, let’s have a go? Siaosi! Siaosiii!”
Crunch!
Siaosi ignored Berik and took the lead. He cleanly dispatched anyone blocking Ian’s path. Seeing blood wasn’t pleasant, but it was his master’s order—he could endure it.
Ian followed the path cleared by Berik and Siaosi, lifting his head. Dillaina’s palace quarters were just ahead.
* * *
“Lady Dillaina! Lady Dillaina!”
“Terrible news! Lady Dillaina!”
Dillaina coughed a bit later than usual. She’d tossed and turned due to nightmares. As her maids dressed her at the vanity, the head maid’s shouts rang out.
“What is it?”
The woman rarely raised her voice, yet here she was in hysterics. Panting, the head maid reported.
“P-Prince Marib has obtained His Majesty’s seal. Hah, there was an intruder in Second Prince Gail’s quarters…”
“Speak clearly!”
The atmosphere was off. Guards rushed in droves, dragging heavy furniture to barricade her palace entrance.
“Prince Marib and Second Prince Gail are fighting over the emperor’s seal. Knights and soldiers from every house have entered the palace and are in standoff.”
“What… does that…”
Her mind went blank. Fighting over His Majesty’s seal? Then the emperor?
“The Magic Department has blocked the exits—we can’t leave. Please hide here for now—”
“Arsen! Jin!”
Dillaina bolted straight to the princes’ bedroom. If Marib and Gail were at swords’ points, the fallout would surely reach the twins.
Bang!
She flung open the door. Arsen and Jin sat on the sofa. Arsen was beaming, looking unusually cheerful.