Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: The Far Side of the Moon
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“Lady Philia, shall I bring you some tea? Aren’t your hands cold?”
At the servant’s call, Philia, who had been crouching down, lifted her head. Her hair was roughly tied up, and dirt was smeared all over her fine skin. She was a complete mess, but her radiant smile remained the same.
“It’s fine. The soil is cool, but the air is warm, so warmth circulates through my whole body. I’d appreciate some lemon tea.”
A greenhouse had been built behind the Hielo estate. It was a space Nersarn had personally created for his lover, who cultivated gula day in and day out amid rain and wind. The servant crouched beside her and peered at the thick gula stem.
“Wow, it’s already grown this much? Wasn’t this planted just a little while ago?”
“Surprising, isn’t it? About four or five days ago, I stripped off all the leaves, and it grew this thick. It seems the nutrients that would’ve gone to the leaves concentrate on the roots.”
Philia clumsily scribbled something. It was a log of observing and tending to all the plants in the estate. Mostly drawings rather than words, but the recorded information was surprisingly substantial, so the locals often came to her for advice.
“I’ll bring a warm wet cloth too. Warm your hands. Sir Nersarn would worry if he saw.”
“Mmm. Thank you.”
Nersarn fretted every night over whether her delicate hands might get scratched. Philia smiled bashfully and patted the soil. Outside, Cheonryeo Tribe warriors passed by, bowing their heads in greeting.
“Lady Philia! Good morning!”
“Yes. Good morning.”
Philia smiled faintly and clutched her apron tightly. The warriors who had gone to the desert after forming an alliance had returned to Hielo because of a single letter from her son.
*The thin ice here will break someday when the weather warms. When that happens, will you help me?*
What did breaking the thin ice mean? Since he’d asked for help, it was surely grueling work. Nersarn seemed to have some inkling but hadn’t told Philia.
*In the name of our alliance, and in my father’s name.*
Puuuung. Recalling Ian’s added words at the end, Philia flushed red. Embarrassed and shy, she poked at the soil with her trowel.
*You’re calling the warriors to Hielo?*
*I don’t know when Sir Ian’s request might come, so it’s to move quickly.*
*It might end up being needless effort. I’d feel so sorry if that happened.*
*Philia, shall we hold the wedding then? So the warriors’ steps aren’t in vain.*
Puuuung again! Recalling her conversation with Nersarn made Philia dizzy. She’d never imagined such happiness would come in her lifetime. Above all, it was a blessed love under Ian’s permission, so for the first time, Philia felt like she owned the whole world.
“Lady Philia! Lady Philia!”
Just then, the servant who had gone to fetch tea called out to Philia urgently. Thinking she might have broken a teacup, Philia stood up, and she saw the warriors crossing the garden in disarray.
Tadak tadak!
“A signal?”
“Wait, go fetch Sir Nersarn!”
“Everyone, grab plenty of gurut leaves just in case!”
Philia opened the greenhouse door and stepped outside.
A black crescent moon hung in the blue sky. It was such an unreal sight that it felt like dreaming while awake.
“Sir Nersarn!”
At his subordinates’ calls, Nersarn came out and looked up at the sky. The black moon was ominous. He wrapped his arm around Philia’s shoulders and pressed his lips gently to her forehead.
“Philia. Wrap up the garden work for today and stay in the estate. It might be dangerous.”
“Sir Nersarn, what on earth is that?”
“Well. I’m not entirely sure, but those who make things like that in the Variel Empire are usually mages.”
Mages. Meaning it was likely Ian. Philia paled and clutched Nersarn’s collar.
“I... I’ll stay here too. If something’s happened to Ian, then I...”
“Stay calm, Philia. Sir Ian is your son, so he’s strong. First, we should figure out what that black moon means.”
But how could those on the ground deal with something in the sky? The warriors released hawks to circle it. With dozens of massive hawks filling the sky, the locals gradually stopped what they were doing and looked up.
Shiiiik!
“No scent of living things, it seems.”
“Either something pours out from there, or we go in—probably one of those two.”
“Jumping to conclusions is dangerous. For now, keep watching.”
The Cheonryeo Tribe warriors, the estate folk, and everyone under Hielo’s protection waited in silence for the moon to change. She didn’t know how much time passed.
“There!”
At Haena’s shout, the warriors sprawled on the grass sat up. The moon was waxing. It was slowly, very slowly forming a perfect circle and descending toward the ground.
Philia took off her apron and ran toward it.
Hoping perhaps Ian was coming.
“Ian!”
“Philia, get back! Warriors, grab me!”
“I’ll do it!”
“Quiet. The first step into uncharted territory is the leader’s duty.”
Nersarn pushed Philia behind him and approached the massive darkness. Cautiously inserting his hand, a cool sensation washed over him. It didn’t seem particularly dangerous. He took a tense breath and stepped inside.
“Grab Sir Nersarn tight!”
“Don’t let go!”
Philia added her slight strength, clutching his left hand firmly. Moments later, Nersarn emerged from the darkness and informed the warriors.
“It seems connected to the imperial palace.”
“What? Where? You mean the central imperial palace?”
“Far off, there’s a tiny light. Not certain, but it looks like the Variel imperial palace dome. Warriors, grab your weapons and follow me.”
“Demosha!”
Just then, Philia grabbed Nersarn’s arm and pleaded.
“M-me too!”
“Philia.”
“Please take me too. I miss Ian so much. And if you go to the imperial palace, I won’t see you for at least a month. That month would be like decades to me.”
A beautiful lover’s confession of love. The warriors plugged their ears and finished preparing for departure, while Nersarn smiled awkwardly. Then Haena draped a thick coat over Philia’s shoulders and persuaded him.
“Sir Nersarn. Wouldn’t it be less awkward seeing Sir Ian with her? And we don’t know what’s happening at the palace, but barbarians suddenly barging in would cause panic. We need one imperial citizen there. Lady Philia is Sir Ian’s mother, so her identity is certain.”
Philia buttoned her jacket and nodded repeatedly. Nersarn burst into laughter, unable to refuse, and scooped her up.
“Very well. But stay right by my side.”
“Yes, yes! Absolutely! Haena!”
“Come back safely. I miss Sir Ian too, but who’d manage the estate if I went? Send word and a messenger bird! Please, come back safe.”
Philia kissed Haena’s cheek and clung tightly to Nersarn’s neck. As if to soothe her fear, Nersarn patted her back lightly.
“I’m here.”
“I’m not scared. Just a bit tense.”
With Nersarn and Philia in the lead, the warriors leaped into the darkness.
“Uwaaaah! Let’s go!”
“The one who shows courage first is the true warrior!”
“Let’s go! Anywhere, warriors survive!”
“Been a while since I smelled blood.”
“We’ll be back! Friend!”
Haena waved as she saw off the warriors.
Once they all vanished into the darkness, the surroundings became astonishingly quiet. Haena and the estate folk clasped their hands in prayer before it.
Praying that their precious ones would return safely.
* * *
“Demosha!”
The sudden appearance of the warriors made the imperial palace soldiers panic and step back. The mages were the same. They unwittingly released mana and looked up at the sky in bewilderment. It was a bizarre spectacle that made everyone forget they were in battle.
“Iaaaaan!”
At that moment, Ian immediately recognized the woman with flowing long golden hair.
He stretched out both hands in surprise.
Philia stretched out her hands too.
The brilliantly shining golden-haired mother and son touched like a single painting.
Kwaaak!
It felt like falling against gravity, but upon embracing, it was just an illusory optical trick. He’d never imagined seeing Philia and the warriors here in the imperial palace.
Philia hugged Ian’s neck and whispered pitifully.
“My son, I missed you so much.”
“Mother. It’s been a while.”
“…Mo, mother!?”
“Did he just say mother?”
At Ian’s response, the mages gaped and froze.
*Crazy, he really has blood ties. Can’t fool us.*
*Thought an angel descended. For real.*
*Sir Ian’s mother? Fuck, what do I do. I think I just fell for her.*
Ian didn’t know what each was thinking, but he smiled faintly and gently pulled her away. The true imperial prince stared wide-eyed at the two in turn, amazed.
“Wow…….”
A short exclamation. From it, Ian realized the situation. They were pressed for time to evacuate the true imperial prince.
Saaaak.
“The portal is closing!”
“Ah, damn.”
The portal vanished as if it had fulfilled its role. The soldiers snapped to attention, gripping their swords and spears.
“Hey, barbarians? Why are they dressed like that?”
“Hielo! Did they summon barbarians with magic?”
“This is deception of the great Variel Empire and an outrage against the imperial palace!”
Realizing weapons were aimed at Ian and the mages, the warriors crouched into attack stances. They all wore feral grins, clearly enjoying the situation.
When else could they smash arrogant imperial soldiers? They had an alliance with Hielo, but the empire’s oppression from generations past still pulsed in the warriors’ hearts.
“Ridiculous.”
Marib scoffed and nocked an arrow. As the mages screamed and retreated, the warriors drew their swords.
“Arrows, arrows will—!”
Peeing!
An arrow lodged in the foremost warrior’s forearm. But he casually yanked it out and snapped the shaft. Since they didn’t use mana, the orange gem was useless.
“Sir Ian, long time no see! What should we do?”
“Rip off all these bastards’ heads?”
“That one who called us barbarians, I’ve got my eye on him. Your face looks more beastly. You fucker.”
This wasn’t a back-alley dogfight. It was a battle under thorough justification and justice, to be written in history. There was an order to follow, but the warriors seemed unable to contain their boiling blood. As Ian was about to shout to hold.
“Everyone, restrain yourselves.”
It was Nersarn. He wrapped his arm around Philia’s shoulders and gave Ian a look. He didn’t know the situation, but it urged him to issue proper orders quickly.
Ian stepped forward and kissed the back of Philia’s hand.
“This is Philia, my mother, and this is—”
First, make clear to everyone that entering the palace posed no issue.
“My new father, Nersarn. The warriors are Nersarn’s kin, so they are not enemies of the imperial palace.”
“N-new, father!?”
The mages recoiled as if hit by massive shock all at once. Mother an angel, father a border tribesman. What kind of combination was this?
“What a dogshit family tree.”
As Marib sneered and drew his sword, the soldiers regrouped and shouted battle cries. Ian did the same. He unleashed his mana with all his might.
Ziiing! Ziiing!
“Leave the ones targeting the mages to us!”
“Demosha!”
“Demosha!”
Kwa-jik! Kwaaaang!
Pukeok!
The warriors charged into the enemy lines, swinging weapons wildly. In their grips, soldiers’ necks snapped helplessly, limbs twisting like discarded dolls.
Swords and spears tried to block the warriors, but to those who had lived contending with nature’s might their whole lives, they were less than vine thorns.
“Uwaaak! Uwaak!”
“Wh-what the hell are these guys?”
“Wait! Spare, spare—!”
“Aaaaak! Fuck!”
Kung! Koooung!
The advancing soldiers began retreating bit by bit. In the gap, the mages used the warriors as shields to regenerate barriers, then empowered them.
Ziiing. Ziiing.
“Push!”
“Execute Prince Marib!”
“Kill them! Kill all those bastards!”
“You fucks! The mages, uh!? How much we’ve—!”
“If we don’t kill them, we die! Full power!”
Kwaaaang! Kwang!
The tangled melee erupted anew. Ian released Philia’s hand and ground his teeth. His gaze was fixed on Marib.
“Mother. Please watch the true imperial prince for a moment.”
“Ian!”
Taat!
A fierce whirl of mana flow.
With lion-like golden eyes, Ian charged at him.