Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Special Grade A++
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"Over there, Sir Ian. We've arrived."
At the coachman's guidance, Ian opened his eyes. Aside from lightly resting his head against the window, he had maintained a straight posture. Seeing that the scenery outside had changed, he let out a faint sigh. He didn't even know when he had fallen asleep. There was a good reason Romandro had insisted so strongly on Ian getting some rest.
"You've done well."
"Not at all."
The coachman, bowing deeply at the waist, glanced toward the back. In truth, they had arrived at the Magic Department thirty minutes ago, but he had been waiting due to a heads-up from the department staff. He had wondered when he could finally go home, but it hadn't taken too long, which was a relief.
As the carriage door opened, the mages who had been lingering nearby all approached at once.
"Sir Ian. You're back?"
"What about Lord Romandro?"
"He's out on assignment. Is there something urgent?"
"No. It can wait until later. I've left the urgent matters on the desk in your office. By the way, I heard the Imperial Palace Guard had a fierce battle in the middle of the night. Is that true?"
As Ian climbed the stairs, someone draped a warm robe over his shoulders. It was from those who had swiftly escorted Barsabe and the armored legion to the palace. Ian gladly accepted it. Even after a short nap, his whole body felt chilled.
"Sir Ian. You're here."
"Perfect timing, Captain Acorella."
"Me? Why?"
As he passed through the lobby, Acorella had been greeting her subordinates and was about to walk by Ian. She stopped immediately at his call. Acorella herself seemed unaware, but the bangs of her hair were singed and frizzy. It was undoubtedly the trace of a failed experiment.
Ta-at!
"Huh?"
"Do you know what this is?"
Ian pulled a mysterious mana stone from his pocket and tossed it over. Acorella caught it lightly with both hands, then immediately brought it to her nose for a close inspection. Her subordinates behind her did the same, crowding in so closely their breaths mingled as they examined the mana stone minutely.
"It's pitch black..."
"What in the world..."
"...First time?"
Acorella's face gradually slackened. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped slack, and her nostrils fluttered aimlessly without resolve. Her breath caught, and she couldn't form proper words.
"Wh-what is this?"
"That's why I'm asking. I don't know either."
Acorella didn't know. Her subordinates didn't know. Ian was asking because he didn't know either. Didn't that mean this was a newly discovered mana stone? Acorella let out an involuntary scream.
"...Kyaahahaha!! Aaaah! Ack!"
"Captain! Captain! L-let's go together!"
"You're going to fall. Hold on, slowly!"
"Quick, open the lab door! You idiots!"
Kwang! Thud! Boom!
As a researcher, as a mage, she couldn't help but be excited. She practically tumbled down to the basement, her subordinates following close behind.
"The Mana Stone Management Division, that's fine, right? No need to stop them?"
"It'll be more than a day or two, but... Sir Ian, if there are no more samples, I'd advise warning them ahead of time. Captain Acorella always smashes them at the end."
"It's fine. They'll soon be coming in boxes one after another. When the Imperial Palace Guard arrives, just guide them to Captain Acorella."
"Why would the Imperial Palace Guard be bringing mana stones?"
"They're confiscated from the Chetur District. Connected to House Haiman. Fragments of the black armor will come with them too, so have everyone focus on the Mana Stone Management Division and assist them wholeheartedly."
"Understood."
Black armor! The armor said to have killed Riama of the Three Great Commanders. Knowing Ian and Haiman's political ties, the mages grasped the gravity of the situation.
Ian skimmed through the incoming reports and asked in return.
"Berik?"
"Ah! Oh! Right. Berik has woken up."
"Woken up, but can't move yet."
"If he could move in that state, it'd be..."
Ian smiled faintly and turned the corner toward Berik's quarters. A crowd of mages trailed boisterously behind him. After seeing Berik, he planned to head to his office and request they handle their reports first.
"Was he talking properly?"
"I wondered what kind of guy he was."
"Haha. I see."
He had caused a bit of a commotion. As the mage's face soured, Ian couldn't hold back his laughter.
This had happened before. On the way back from the Great Desert to Bratz, even though he couldn't walk, his temper was intact, so he had refused to be carried like baggage tied to a kusille.
Tadak-tadak.
The door to the quarters was slightly ajar. Leaking from the gap wasn't just voices. A distinct aroma of roasting meat wafted out.
"No, this is really too much! Prince Jin!"
"Berik. Calm down. Your stitches will burst. The doctor said it—if you eat anything now, you'll really die."
"I'll die like this anyway!"
"It's okay. You won't die."
"Argh, I'm going crazy. Siaoshi! Convince Prince Jin!"
"......"
"Th-that bastard won't even respond while stuffing his face with meat?"
"Now, now, Berik. Just keep smelling it."
"Aaaah! Ian!"
Chiiik.
What a sight. Next to Berik, pinned immobile in bed, Siaoshi and Jin were grilling and eating meat. A pile of premium crimson beef was stacked to one side. As Berik wailed and called for Ian, Siaoshi spotted him first.
"You're here."
"Oh! Sir Ian! You've come?"
"Ian? Iaaaannn!"
Greetings poured in at once. Ian waved the mages back and closed the door. Berik couldn't move from the neck down at all, expressing his joy only with frantic blinking.
"Your Highness. Why eat here? Go to the dining hall. Or since the afternoon sun is warm, the garden would be nice too."
"Sir Ian! Listen to me. The moment Berik woke up, he hounded the attendants for meat, can you believe it? They said all his organs were damaged, absolute fasting, but still."
"Is that so?"
"He even snapped at the doctor, and it reached my ears. I rushed over and stopped him!"
Jin looked up at Ian with sparkling eyes. At the gaze begging for praise, Ian lightly patted Jin's shoulder.
"You did well."
"Did I? Hey? But grilling meat right beside me—that's cheating! Torture! Prince Jin! This is really too much!"
"You said you wanted to at least smell the meat, didn't you?"
"No... Ha, seriously. Ian. You get me, right?"
He had planned to snatch it if they shoved it under his nose, even if Jin didn't know how to use chopsticks. Ian sat on the edge of the bed and carefully checked Berik's condition.
"...Your body."
"It's fine. So just one bite."
"Hang in there a bit longer. Even healthy people get burdened eating meat right after waking. Why do that."
At Ian's words, Jin nodded vigorously as he approached. Siaoshi kept chewing indifferently whatever was in his mouth, paying no mind.
"Ah. Seriously. Ugh."
"Barsabe survived and came back too."
"What? Tooth Lady survived?"
Ian changed the subject with a grin. Simple as ever—the guy who had been sulking moments ago brightened instantly at Barsabe's survival.
Whether Barsabe considered Berik a close friend was unknown, but to Berik, she was one of his few intimates. Ian nodded.
"She got a bit hurt, but she'll recover soon. So focus on your treatment, Berik. Then I'll feed you whatever you want."
"Ah! Okay, okay! Call the doctor! Tell them to treat me quick! Apply the medicine!! Keep applying!"
Jin fanned the air repeatedly with his hand to waft the meat scent as his own comfort. Good to see him lively despite being immobile. Ian eyed the black sword by the bed and spoke.
"Berik."
"No choice! If I hadn't used mana, I'd really be dead."
Berik preempted with a guess. Ian had told him not to infuse mana into the black sword, yet he had fully unleashed it against the enemy. A sword that summons mana beasts—fortunate no mana beasts were nearby, or secondary damage would have been severe.
"I'm not scolding you for that."
"Huh? Really? Then whatever."
Should he tell Berik he might be of the Atan Tribe? As Ian pondered, a piece of meat appeared before him. Jin offering it.
"Sir Ian. You haven't had lunch yet, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Have some. Berik ordered way too much meat. No idea how he planned to eat it all alone."
"Ha! Prince Jin. I eat that much in one meal?"
"Liar. How could anyone eat more meat than me? You're teasing me, Berik."
"I'll show you. Feed it to me."
Jin clamped his mouth shut and shook his head firmly. Absolutely no meat—an unyielding stance. Ian steadied his hand and ate the meat Jin offered.
"Tasty, right?"
"...Berik. You ordered the expensive stuff."
"Of course! Ian's rich! Special grade! The absolute most expensive!"
Ian summoned an attendant, pulled up a chair, and sat. The moment he ate the meat, it hit him. He couldn't remember the last time he had a proper meal. Just filling his stomach with gula here and there—no spread like this in his memory for ages.
Swish.
As Siaoshi rose from his seat, Ian gestured for him to sit.
"The bedroom's cramped. It's fine, sit."
"Yes, Master."
"Siaoshi, try this again. It's very tender. Do I have to keep telling you to eat?"
"No, Your Highness."
Siaoshi looked awkwardly down at the meat Jin had placed in his bowl. He had eaten earlier out of necessity, but was this really okay? A slave dining with his master? With royalty too? As he hesitantly picked up the fork, Ian corrected him.
"Siaoshi. When cutting meat, hold the knife in your right hand, fork in your left. Lift your elbow aligned with the table so the blade doesn't angle too sharply."
Jin followed Siaoshi well. His character was trustworthy, so unless something unusual happened, Siaoshi would serve Jin from now on. Best to learn basic dining etiquette.
"Aaaah! Siaoshi! You too!"
"......"
Berik wailed desperately at the three eating, but no one paid him mind, making his cries all the more pitiful.
"Sir Ian, have you seen the picture?"
"The cow, Your Highness? You drew it?"
"Berik asked me to."
"Your skill improves daily. Impressive."
Clink-clink. The pleasant sounds of cutlery and warm chatter filled the air. Suddenly quiet, Ian turned to see Berik asleep with his mouth agape. He looked spirited, but his condition was so poor he passed out quickly.
"By the way, Sir Ian. You know tomorrow is Prince Marib's trial, right?"
"Of course. The Magic Department has prepared meticulously. For trying to harm you, Your Highness, he will pay dearly."
"Mother and Arsen will come too."
"Yes. If you're not ready, you don't have to attend."
It was about resolve to face his mother. Jin stuffed a bite of meat and shook his head firmly—a short nod in proper dining etiquette instead of words.
"No. I've realized something. Resolve isn't built in a moment; it's piled up day by day. So I'll attend the trial too."
Ian smiled and placed meat on Jin's plate. If he had seen succession in his past life and had a child, he'd want one like Jin.
"Understood. We'll prepare without issue."
"Yeah. Me too."
"Have more."
Clink-clink. Ian smiled watching Jin devour the meat spiritedly. Even Berik's mid-meal grumbles felt like peaceful noise. The day after rain felt so warm and cozy. Unknowingly, after finishing his meal, Ian fell asleep.
Creak.
"Gasp. He's asleep."
"Oh dear, what now?"
"Let's come back in an hour."
The bedroom, once thick with blood scent alongside Jin, Siaoshi, and Berik, now brimmed only with the aroma of meat and steady breathing.