Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Conviction
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The vitality of the Monne Mine was half-dead.
The chaos in the territory during the summer had caused all the miners to set down their pickaxes. They had come down to the village to protect their families and secure food, and before they knew it, winter had arrived.
Winter was easier for work than summer, but with the warehouses full from Gula's rations, there was no reason to return.
‘The coal revenue isn't that great anyway, and the more we mine, the fewer resources there are. Better to hold off and use it at the right time.’
Clack-clack.
The carriage rattled harshly along the night road. The falcon sitting quietly beside Ian tilted its head up, as if wondering why it had to ride this thing.
“Sorry. But I can’t follow you or communicate with you, so I’ll send you off from the mine.”
If he released it from the mansion first, it would surely fly off beyond pursuit. The pocket watch showed an hour had already passed since departure. It was about time to arrive...
Screech.
“Sir Ian. The road gets too rough from here; the wheels might break. You’ll have to go on foot.”
“Is that so? Understood.”
As Ian’s carriage stopped, the following soldiers halted and dismounted. While they prepared lanterns, Ian released the warrior’s falcon into the sky.
“Come on, let’s hurry. Just follow the falcon.”
“We’re entering the forest! Follow!”
“Stay centered around the lanterns as we walk!”
What racket on a moonlit night. Fortunately, no clouds obscured the sky, so it wasn’t complete darkness. Ian ascended the path that existed only in form, alongside the soldiers.
“Is that the mine over there?”
“Yes. We’re almost there.”
“Ah, there!”
Whiiist!
A shadowy figure at the mine entrance extended a hand and whistled. The falcon gliding in the sky landed lightly and spread its wings.
“Sir Ian. You’ve arrived.”
“Where’s Berik?”
Ian scanned the surroundings, looking for Berik first. No other warriors were visible. Was it an urgent situation? But the warrior who greeted him wore an expression of pure bewilderment.
“He’s inside, diligently pounding away...”
“Pounding? On what? The knight?”
“I’m not sure myself. You’ll see when you look.”
As they entered the entrance, the air quality changed noticeably. Ian covered his lower face with his sleeve and followed the warrior.
“Have you been here before? It’s my first time.”
“I’ve only heard reports; this is my first time going inside.”
The tunnel was wider than expected, which surprised him. The ceiling seemed well-dug compared to similar-sized mines. It looked fine for workers to pass through.
“But why is he doing that inside? If heat is applied, it could be dangerous. With Berik’s temper, I’m worried the mine ceiling might collapse.”
The warrior burst into hearty laughter at Ian’s playful question. The echoing laughter relieved the following soldiers. Entering a mine at night was no small terror. At least it seemed they wouldn’t die.
Once they were deep enough that the cold winter wind was barely felt, the warrior pointed to one side.
“Here it is.”
A narrow entrance like a foxhole. It didn’t look like a normal passage—perhaps a crack from a collapsed wall.
Boom! Bang!
Clang!
“Haa, haa...”
“Berik. Stop and come out. Let me try.”
“Argh, seriously! What the hell is this!”
“I said come out? You put more force into pulling back than striking.”
Voices came from inside. It was Berik talking with the accompanying warrior.
The light was so dim it seemed about to go out. They had probably come this far with just one emergency lantern.
“Berik.”
“Ah! Ian!”
Clang!
Berik was striking something with his sword. When the lantern-holding soldier tried to go ahead, Ian grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
“Sir Ian?”
“Give the lantern to me and the warrior, and you all go back to guard the tunnel entrance.”
Berik was just a little further in. It was wise to send the soldiers back, just in case. They wouldn’t help much if something happened.
“Pardon? Ah, understood.”
It didn’t sound dangerous from the voices, but the order was sudden. Still, the air was bad, and the smell acrid—the soldiers weren’t unhappy to leave quickly.
“Hey, let’s head back from the rear!”
“Head back? For real?”
“It’s an order! Hurry up and move!”
The soldiers retraced their steps, and Ian proceeded deeper with the warrior.
Thump-thump.
Ian felt his heart racing. It wasn’t a physical reaction from tension—it was an external stimulus from powerful mana.
‘No way. Why is this aura here...’
Clang! Chng!
“Argh! Damn it!”
“Your sword’s gonna break. Berik.”
“Oh? Ian!”
Berik was swinging at something purple and translucent. It seemed liquid-like with bubbles inside, but his sword couldn’t even scratch it.
“Ian. What is this thing?”
“You think I know everything?”
“So, you don’t?”
“I do.”
Sir Pulu, was it? The lower half of the leader of Merelrof’s Three Knights was embedded in it, half-consumed. No wounds visible, so the cause of death was clearly that bizarre ‘ore.’
“It looks like a type of mana stone.”
Couldn’t Berik sense the mana? Ian raised the lantern to check his face, but his flushed cheeks made it hard to tell if it was from swinging the sword.
“Mana stone?”
“Like the brooch used in Bratz before. It’s ore that responds to mana and gains special abilities.”
“But this isn’t a stone. There are bubbles inside.”
“Not everything is as it appears. We’d need to cut it to know for sure, but it’s definitely a mana stone.”
There were many types of mana stones. From the sealing stone that had bound Emperor Ian’s power, to those that recorded voices or tracked locations, created subspaces for bags, or amplified mana waves as pouches. Mana stones were as endless as magic itself.
“How did the knight end up like that?”
Ian gestured for him to stop and step back. He must have struck so hard the blade was loosening. Berik wiped sweat from his brow and answered.
“We chased him here. The falcon’s great at finding prey. The trail cut off midway, so I thought he might be hiding here—and sure enough.”
“Was he still breathing when you found him?”
“Yeah. Thought he’d fainted at first, but he died right away.”
“No idea how he got stuck?”
“There’s some flow mark below. Probably liquid that hardened from some stimulus.”
As Berik crouched and muttered, Ian yanked him back by the nape and lightly flicked his forehead.
Thwack!
“Ow!”
“Don’t play hurt. You fools, charging in without fear—what if you’d gotten eaten like that guy?”
“No way. It’s that hard.”
“It could melt and engulf you suddenly, or more could keep coming from somewhere. Tsk-tsk...”
Ian whipped around, and the warriors awkwardly averted their eyes. How were these hotheads all the same?
Simple and fearless!
“You all will report to Lord Nersarn.”
“Ah, Sir Ian. We did say let’s go back. What could we do when Berik wouldn’t budge?”
Berik rubbed his forehead, scowling.
“But if that’s a mana stone, it’s super expensive, right?”
“Priceless.”
“If more keep coming, this place is a goldmine?”
“We’d need to investigate...”
Ian’s response trailed off. Investigating mana stone deposits and probabilities required the Magic Department’s help.
Which meant only the Magic Department could guess at mana stone veins.
“Ian?”
Staring at the mana stone with the knight’s corpse, Ian felt like he’d been struck on the back of the head.
“...Right. That explains it.”
“Explains what? What!”
“We’re heading back to the mansion now. Seal the mine. Don’t let anyone in—nail the entrance shut.”
“What about the body?”
“No way to handle it now. Let’s go.”
Ian turned urgently, while Berik, still crouched, alternated glances between Ian and the knight’s corpse in confusion. But soon, he followed Ian, with the warriors lighting the way.
“Suddenly like this, you’re scaring me.”
“One of 2nd Prince Gail’s key figures is Wesley, the Magic Department Minister. That explains it! Why he was so fixated on this border out of so many—that explains everything!”
Clack-clack!
They definitely knew.
Or at least suspected enough possibility to target Bratz territory. Guessing at nearby mana stone deposits, they couldn’t let it go.
‘Now everything makes sense.’
No better setup for them. Forces built up due to border barbarians, a situation needing imperial intervention via peace treaty, Der’s tax evasion. Plus nearby mana stone deposits!
It even explained why they were so desperate to save Molin. With Bratz’s value this high, Molin—who oversaw it—was indispensable.
“Back to the mansion! Seal this place immediately, and some of you inform the nearby miners.”
Ian shouted as he exited the tunnel. A temporary residence for miners only wasn’t far from the village.
The loitering guards jumped to attention.
“Yes. Understood!”
“I know it’s dark and tough, but hurry.”
“Ah, yes, yes. Please board.”
The quiet forest erupted in noise. Lantern lights scattered, and Ian pressed his forehead amid swirling thoughts. Berik, sitting opposite, glanced at him slyly.
“That bad?”
“What?”
“My swordplay.”
“...Never mind. Didn’t you sense any mana? I felt it the moment I entered.”
“Huh? No. I was fine.”
A sword-mage was still essentially a warrior at heart. And still inexperienced, so maybe.
Screech.
They sped back as fast as they came, arriving at the mansion. Hana, still awake, greeted Ian and handed him his jacket.
“To the bath? Lord Romandro is still in the office, but he ate soup earlier and has been dozing.”
“No. To the basement.”
“The basement?”
It had been ages since he’d taken these steps. Ian descended the basement stairs without hesitation and stood before the cell at the corridor’s end.
“Open it.”
Click.
The windowless cell always had lantern light. Sudden footsteps jolted awake Mac and Drgor, who had been sleeping. Molin sat on the sofa, reading a book.
“Wh-what is it?”
Mac’s face filled with bewilderment. They had been left alive like this because Ian couldn’t decide their fate. What to do with Molin and his group.
“Lord Molin. A letter arrived from the palace.”
“Don’t touch my teacher! You bastard!”
“It concerns your disposition.”
Ian stared at him and tossed out a lie. The old man’s hazy eyes seemed to gleam ashen.
“Yes. What did it say?”
“You must head to the capital soon, so wrap things up.”
Molin calmly adjusted his book. He seemed lost in thought. Who could read a person’s heart? Yet Ian somehow read his expression.
‘No way.’
That attitude of utter disbelief.
Ian was certain.
Molin knew the true nature of the mana stone.