Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: The Angel's Pupil
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“…….”
“How's the painting?”
No answer.
Ian cracked his eyes open slightly, revealing Berik's face twisted in an awkward grin. His mission had been to escort Acoorella and retrieve the painting safely, yet here he was, empty-handed.
Berik supported Ian's back as he grumbled.
“It's on the way, probably?”
“Berik.”
“No, I mean, uh!? I thought you were dead, uh!?”
His excuses trailed off into a mumble. It was a relief that Ian was fine, but he should've hurried over faster if he'd known. No enemies left to claim credit from, no excuses to make either.
“Enough, Berik. Go fetch the painting.”
“Ahh! Right! You'll flip when you see it! It's huge? And the eyes, they go like this, spinning around? Value-wise, it'd be worth a whole pig, I bet. Mmm.”
“Don't make me say it twice.”
“Yep. On it.”
Berik rolled his eyes dramatically while spouting nonsense. Despite Ian's scolding, he sprang to his feet at once. Just then, Acoorella's shout echoed from afar.
“Hey, you lunatic!”
“Huh? There it is! Coming along nicely on its own!”
“What am I supposed to do if you leave this behind? Hey!?”
“Everyone okay? Why'd the portal vanish all of a sudden—gasp! Wha-what are those border tribesmen doing here?”
Tommy, who had been dragging the front of the painting, froze at the chaotic scene. Piles of corpses like hills, rivers of blood flowing endlessly. The sudden appearance of border tribesmen was shocking enough, but the injured mages felt utterly out of place.
“Wh-what happened?”
“Too long to explain. First, let's sort out the situation. Warrior, move the painting inside the building.”
“Yes, Lord Ian.”
Swish.
A nearby warrior took the painting. As Tommy moved to warn him to be careful, the warrior lifted it effortlessly with one hand and ascended the stairs. They had struggled with two people, yet to him, it looked no heavier than a newspaper.
“Commanders, tally your numbers, erect new barriers, and regroup. Acoorella, follow me.”
As Ian strode through the central lobby issuing orders, Acoorella hurried after him, whispering.
Tap-tap-tap!
“Lord Ian, we ran into Second Prince Gail on the way back with the painting. He was hiding in the Third Palace and approached us when he spotted us.”
Ian's steps halted abruptly at her words.
What a loaded statement. It confirmed Gail's forces had been decisively routed by Marib's, and explained why he was holed up in the Third Palace of all places.
“Gail must know about the emperor's secret passages too.”
“Given his relationship with former Minister Wesley, he probably picked up on it even if he doesn't know the details.”
“But he let you take the painting without interference? No signs of fighting.”
Acoorella's hair was soaked with sweat, but from labor, not battle. She lowered her voice further to report.
“Second Prince Gail asked me to pass on a message. He wants a discreet meeting if the chance arises. Probably about the palace entrances.”
Not a chance in hell. The embers had only just died down—did he want them to reinforce external forces and reignite chaos in the palace? Ian chuckled dryly.
“A man of desperate requests, he is not.”
“Yes. So I laid out some conditions.”
“Tell me everything, no holding back.”
Ian stopped in the corridor and leaned against the wall. His legs had given out, but Acoorella didn't notice. His posture and movements were that natural.
“Information on His Majesty's secret passages. And—”
“Hmm.”
Not particularly enticing. A magic-constructed passage—mages could uncover it with a little effort. With Marib captured, time was on their side. Above all, once the emperor learned of the situation, he'd likely emerge on his own.
“Management, authority, and delegation of the mana sealing stones currently held in the palace. I—I nearly lost my mind when I heard that.”
Acoorella's voice, thick with suppressed emotion, rang true.
Upper-tier beyond upper-tier. A gemstone so profoundly meaningful to mages that none could compare.
“As you know, Second Prince Gail holds the most mana sealing stones in the palace right now. If we play this right, we could ride this crisis to elevate the Magic Department's glory.”
She spoke calmly, as if it were nothing, but Ian could easily guess the thoughts racing through her mind.
“Want to research the mana sealing stones?”
“Yes. To chew on them, tear them apart, taste them, savor them, uncover their principles…”
She blurted out her true feelings before she knew it. As Acoorella trailed off and snapped to attention, staring into space, Ian pulled a pumpkin-colored stone from his pocket.
“Take it.”
“What is this?”
“A new type of mana sealing stone made by Marib.”
“Yesssss!? How!?”
Acoorella shouted, feeling a snort bubbling up. A cry of shock, joy, awe, and curiosity all at once.
“It seemed to work differently from existing ones, so you and the Mana Stone Management Division mages head underground and study it immediately. Several mages, including Nakina, were hit by arrows made with it and can't wield mana—be extra careful.”
“They can't wield mana?”
“Likely temporary, but just a guess. The pumpkin-colored arrows scattered outside are all debris—collect and proceed.”
“I—yes, I'll look into it right away.”
Acoorella swallowed hard, stammering. She clutched the stone like the world's greatest treasure, bowed deeply, and dashed out. Her footsteps urgent.
Tap-tap-tap!
“Uh, Lord Ian! About the painting. It's definitely painted with liqui stone, and Berik says the angel's pupil was moving. Probably what you've been looking for.”
“Got it. I'll check it out.”
“Yes. Then, Mana Stone Management Division! Assembleee!”
Leaving her shout behind, Ian entered the conference room.
A quiet, empty space.
The painting leaned slantwise against the left wall.
‘Acoorella and Tommy transported the painting, but Gail didn't stop them. Means he's already checked it. And since it's just one of countless passage entrances, he figured it didn't matter.’
Ian stepped back slightly, scanning the painting top to bottom.
He too, as emperor once—back when Crony's rebellion erupted—had used such passages to escape the palace.
“Your Majesty. Are you listening?”
No reply. But Ian knew it was deliberate silence. The emperor was likely sitting in the darkness, undoubtedly watching the spot where the painting hung.
“I know you're in there. It's uncomfortable with Your Majesty there—come out. Is Beorse there too?”
Still no answer. To an outsider, Ian would look mad. After a moment's thought, he mentioned Marib's name.
“We've captured Prince Marib.”
Come out now and take control. At that, the angel's leftmost pupil fixed straight on Ian.
—…Is that true?
A chilling voice. Far too high-pitched to belong to an aged emperor. Ian saluted lightly and nodded.
“Yes.”
The Magic Department had no liqui stone paintings. Even if they did, they'd only see the opposite wall—visual info severely limited. They'd hear only explosions and rumbles. The emperor hadn't grasped the full situation.
“Are you with Beorse? Is he unharmed?”
So he'd sent Beorse to scout, and Hail had tracked his path moment by moment.
“You can come out now. It's all over—safe.”
But the emperor merely blinked, gazing down at Ian.
—Show me both Marib and Gail. I can't come out until then.
Ian frowned involuntarily at the unexpected response. Unthinkable. Shouldn't an emperor emerge swiftly to restore order?
Yet here he was, demanding proof of safety from Ian. Despite no prior dealings.
“Your Majesty.”
Ian suddenly recalled records of his unusually long life. Withered like an ancient tree—how had he lasted so long? Ah, with a temperament like that.
A pitiful emperor who feared death like divine punishment, prioritizing his own safety over salvaging the palace.
“Doesn't Prince Gail follow Your Majesty's will? Emerge and do as you wish.”
—I can't trust them. Marib poisoned me, and Gail rallied noble forces without consultation. Both sons didn't just carve out their father's heart—they shattered it to pieces.
Likely a condition of the 'deal' to back Gail. Push Marib out politically, but forbid forces that could disrupt the palace—threaten the emperor's safety.
Yet noble reinforcements lay scattered as corpses throughout the palace.
“…So emerge and declare both princes' titles revoked. Your Majesty, there's nothing to fear.”
Absurd. An emperor needing such coaxing. The angel in the painting asked again.
—Revoke Marib and Gail, and Arsen and Jin remain. Do you want Arsen as successor?
Ian caught the odd nuance in the emperor's tone. As if he knew full well Arsen lacked the qualifications. Ian lowered his gaze briefly.
“No. If Prince Marib had held firm, I'd strip legitimacy by naming another heir, but circumstances differ now. Leave the throne vacant for now—decide once chaos settles.”
Deep down, he'd love to force and elevate Jin as successor, but procedures existed for a reason.
‘Backing Jin now would make the emperor suspicious of me too, hiding deeper. It's the perfect moment. Even if assassinated, we could dismiss it as the flow of history.’
The emperor knew. That Ian now held situational support rivaling his own in the palace. If Ian sought power, beheading the emperor would be trivial. So he sharpened his gaze, probing Ian's intent.
‘For Jin to surpass Arsen and be recognized as true heir, the emperor's support is essential.’
Ian thought so and bowed gracefully. For Jin's future—and the one Ian remembered—he did so gladly.
“Your Majesty. Please appear and tend to the palace. Everyone awaits only you.”
A long silence followed. Ian lifted his head at a sudden presence. Beorse. He still regarded Ian warily from above.
“Lord Ian. Rise.”
“And His Majesty?”
A single letter in his hand. Stained with blood.
“…The emperor's blood?”
“…Listen carefully from now on. This is His Majesty's parting charge to me—and to Bariel.”