Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 228
Chapter Title: D-2
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"Is it still not possible?"
"I'm sorry. I've been ordered not to let anyone in."
"Ha, why is this happening all of a sudden? It's driving me crazy."
"What about Lord Romandro? Where is Lord Romandro?"
The sun hung high in the midday sky, and it was getting late. The mages paced in front of the office, clutching their respective reports to their chests. Just yesterday, they had been coming and going without a moment's rest, but now no one knew why Ian had banned entry.
Vivianna, guarding the door, smiled awkwardly with a troubled expression.
"He's inside with him. If you give it to me, I'll pass it on."
"Could we just see him for a moment, really? The Judiciary is in an uproar. For the Grand Council on the received petition, Haiman and his close aides have expressed their intention not to attend."
"It might fall just short of a majority. Even if the meeting is held, they won't be able to vote. You know that."
"What on earth are they doing inside?"
"Well, that... I don't know the details either...."
The mages grabbed her sleeve, nearly in tears. They had been running around other departments, urging participation in the Grand Council with all their might, but without their leader Ian and Romandro stepping forward, it was no different from being ineffective.
"H-Hey, is he perhaps unwell?"
"Yeah! He's been insanely busy these past few days!"
Ian had been handling work like a workaholic, skipping meals and sleep. Yet after just one day, he had secluded himself like this. And with Romandro joining him! If the executives did this simultaneously, what were the subordinates supposed to do?
"He's not sick or anything. I went in earlier and got scolded myself."
"Ah...."
As Vivianna rubbed the back of her neck and replied awkwardly, the mages had no choice but to step back. Ian aside, if that devoted Romandro wasn't budging, there was no way around it. They checked their watches repeatedly, biting their lips.
"The reply is due by six o'clock, so we'll come back shortly. Madam, please, I beg you."
"Yes. Take care."
"Please tell him we desperately want just a moment."
"I'll do my best."
Vivianna waved lightly with a smile. The mages reluctantly turned away, muttering in frustration.
"I can't understand doing this right before a big event."
"Right? It must be because the Light of the Oracle arrived earlier than expected. All the ones on duty then went to support at Stone Mountain, didn't they?"
"They rode in carriages with Lady Dillaina's subordinates."
"That night? Ugh. Just hearing it makes me uncomfortable."
"If Arsen were a mage, Ian would be the most troubled, so he must have a lot on his mind. Let's understand."
"But abandoning work like this?"
"Exactly. And things are getting suspicious on Prince Gail's side too."
"Prince Gail? Why?"
"You don't know? Rumors are spreading that he's defecting to Ruswena."
"But he's confined."
Clatter clatter!
As the mages turned the corner and disappeared, their murmurs faded. Vivianna swallowed a sigh and dropped her hand with a smack. Then she opened the firmly shut office door and entered.
Creak.
Rustle!
"Lord Romandro. The book you saw earlier, hand it over."
"[The Correlation Between Temples and Oral Traditions], this one?"
"There's oral tradition here too. How do you read this?"
"...k. a. r. v. o. It refers to the Carbo Temple."
The office was piled with stacks of documents, leaving no room to step. Ian and Romandro, sleeves rolled up on their shirts, had devoted nearly a full day to information gathering without sleep. The priests of Aviduel and Makael were the same, having shed their robes to assist the two in unison.
"Ian. Calls keep coming in about the Grand Council. The mages seem distressed."
Vivianna mentioned this while clearing empty potion bottles from the desk. They were specially made by Captain Acorella. A type of stimulant that could boost stamina without issue for three days, but after four days, double the fatigue would hit, causing unbearable side effects.
Having downed two bottles at once, Vivianna couldn't hide her worry.
"Did Haiman's side say they won't come to the Grand Council?"
"They collectively said they don't have time and expressed refusal. The mages are trying to gather a majority, but there's a limit. Everyone's anxious."
Anxious. Ian smiled faintly at Vivianna's words, satisfaction flickering at the end.
"By what time did they ask for the reply?"
"Six o'clock."
"Then send it exactly at six. Say we'll attend the Grand Council as scheduled. Whether there's a majority or not doesn't matter, but don't let the mages know unnecessarily."
Ian's approach was intentional. It wasn't just that he physically lacked time due to reviewing materials; the main goal was to sow chaos throughout the Magic Department.
When everyone unites to run forward, selfish thoughts can't arise. However, in such a disorganized atmosphere, with the leader absent, feeling the crisis?
They would show two faces. Some would grit their teeth to save the Magic Department to the end, while others would turn their eyes toward their own survival.
"Have you given word to Philia—no, Mother?"
At Ian's question, Vivianna nodded. To tighten security on Gail but pull the warriors out of sight to loosen vigilance.
It was to help the bats who came after hearing the rumors approach Gail easily. Of course, without direct contact.
"Yes. They said they'd be on strict alert too."
"Good. What about the support that went to Stone Mountain?"
"A messenger bird flew in saying they've come down from Stone Mountain. If it doesn't rain, they should arrive around tomorrow afternoon."
Ian nodded repeatedly. As if everything was going according to plan. Vivianna, fiddling with an empty bottle, couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked.
"But is there really a need to attend the Grand Council? If it's to instill a sense of crisis in the Magic Department, not going at all is an option. If it falls below majority anyway, no vote can happen."
"That's true, but those gathered at the meeting are people not tied to Haiman's family."
As time passed, the forces gathering around Arsen grew bloated. More precisely, Jin's forces were scattering.
With the Light of the Oracle approaching, the Magic Department's lukewarm response, and Gail's defection combined, Jin's position was like a fallen leaf clinging at autumn's end.
"I plan to meet them in person. And give a gift fitting their convictions."
Rustle.
Ian said that much and focused back on the documents. It meant unofficially revealing Arsen's true nature. Vivianna felt the vortex of the storm approaching before her eyes and patted her chest.
"Vivi? You okay?"
"I'm fine. Lately, my body's been a bit...."
"Go rest inside, please. Set up the barrier."
"Stay put. I'll bring food."
"Sigh, really."
Was it because the due date was approaching? Vivianna just told him not to worry and carried out the tray with the bottles.
Just then, mages who couldn't wait rushed back, crowding in front of the office. Vivianna pretended not to see and quickly turned down the corridor.
* * *
Clatter clatter!
Neigh!
The quiet night in the imperial palace.
Two carriages raced to the Grand Council hall. Though the Prime Minister himself had convened it to review the petition, the surroundings were unusually sparse. Romandro clicked his tongue, gripping the documents at his side tightly.
"Well, well, look at this."
"It's serene. Good."
"This is too much. Even if it's convened by the Prime Minister, ignoring it outright like this—what's the difference? Tch, tsk!"
There were fewer than twenty carriages parked. Not fitting for something called the Grand Council.
Ian ascended the stairs slowly, robe billowing. The council hall door wasn't even closed, and the guards' chatter reached his ears first.
"Magic Department Minister Ian Hielo?"
"Please enter."
Creak.
The guide pushed the open door wider. The creaking sound was oddly amusing. The Prime Minister, seated in the center, frowned as he greeted Ian.
"Lord Ian. You've come."
"Sorry for being late."
He had sneaked out avoiding the mages blocking the office front, so time had dragged.
Ian scanned those seated in the hall. Including the Three Great Commanders Beols and Jeyrat, Quintana, Ericson, and so on. Familiar faces numbering less than thirty.
"Is there even meaning in holding this meeting? Haiman's side said absolutely not during the day, so we held it at night, but they still didn't come. Look now. Empty seats outnumber the occupied ones."
Someone voiced dissatisfaction. In this situation, why bother holding the meeting instead of canceling and making them come all this way?
As Ian sat, Romandro distributed the prepared reports. Far too many left over compared to preparations.
"We can't reach a majority for a vote. Lord Ian."
"Yes. But even so, you all attended. Those who uphold principles and convictions deserve proper reward, so we inevitably proceeded without canceling."
"What do you mean?"
The Prime Minister twisted his beard, furrowing his brow. Reward or whatever, he seemed eager to end this meaningless gathering quickly.
But Ian gestured as if to check the reports.
Rustle.
Quintana read hers first. A brief silence fell, then she let out an incredulous laugh. The paper claimed Arsen was a demon beast. First time in her life a document felt like such a waste of paper.
"...You're insane. Lord Ian."
"Lord Ian. Is this a joke?"
"It's too much for a joke. Now I get why you're abandoning Prince Jin for Prince Arsen. No. The Magic Department Minister being this absurd."
"Even backed into a corner, false is false. You've crossed the line. Lord Ian. Prime Minister. Execute him summarily for insulting imperial blood!"
Immediate fierce reactions erupted. From the fairy tale [Legend of Roberside] onward, not a single logical piece of evidence backed the claim.
They looked at Ian with eyes of genuine shock, as if seeing a madman. In fact, beyond shock to horror.
"I'm serious."
"I'll stand first. Time is precious."
"Sit down. Quintana. If we let this pass because you find time precious, there might be no Bariel tomorrow."
Ian stood. He met each person's eyes one by one and continued.
"I told you. A kind of reward. Just knowing in advance that Arsen is a demon beast has changed your futures."
"Lord Ian. Please."
"You said there's no visible evidence. Don't worry. On Mana Confirmation Ritual day, you'll feel it not just with your eyes but all five senses. So for now, calm down and hear my proposal."
Ian nodded for them to sit. Quintana tapped the desk with the report, then sighed openly. But nothing to lose. She crossed her arms, sat, and shouted.
"So? What are you proposing?"
"More precisely, a request for cooperation."
He muttered while flipping to the last page of the report.
"On Mana Confirmation Ritual day, I'll kill Arsen."