Episode 691. Ssagaji
There is no problem with the Kalamat Castle.
Everyone thought so, except for the residents who visited the palace to sell food and daily necessities.
“… … .”
They stopped in their tracks when they saw a person dangling from a giant chandelier.
Judging by the long flowing robes, he doesn’t seem to be a low-level employee, so why is he standing there like that? Is this some kind of execution ceremony performed in Bariel?
“Hello, everyone. This is the purchasing manager.”
“Oh, hello.”
“You came to sell wheat and barley?”
“Yes. 50 boxes each… … .”
“That’s a good thing. It’s been a little difficult to get wheat these days. I’ll give you the average price recorded in the ledger of the palace of Kalamat. You can also receive it in cash… What are you looking at?”
The purchasing manager turned his head to the ceiling, following the people’s gaze.
“Ah. I’m a wizard.”
“A wizard?”
Why is the wizard hanging there? Is it okay? Unlike the bewildered residents, the purchasing manager wrote the transaction statement as if he was familiar with it.
“Shall we go and look at the items?”
“Oh, yes yes. This way.”
Kwaaang! Boom!
Phew!
The residents who had turned their backs were startled and cowered. It was as if the palace was going to collapse. Could it be that a war had broken out with an unknown enemy?
But this time too, the purchasing manager took the lead without a care.
“It’s a commotion at the Temporary Ministry of Magic. It’s like that all day long when the sun rises, so don’t worry too much about it.”
“If this continues, the palace will collapse.”
“Hey, this is the space where His Majesty resides. I guess you can do whatever you want.”
Since the palace itself was built on a high elevation, the residents were not even aware of the commotion.
Ah, the Castle of Kalamat, which has stood firm for hundreds of years! How painful it must be to lose the war! The residents moved to the front yard, wiping away tears.
‘Oh my, there too… …!’
Although it wasn’t a very long distance, I encountered all sorts of strange sights along the way.
A wizard clinging to a high wall, a wizard urging anyone passing by to drink a horrible liquid, a wizard lying sprawled on the floor, probably exhausted, etc.
The officer in charge, who could not stand to watch, added in embarrassment.
“Ahem. It’s been especially like this for the past few days, haha. It wasn’t like this before.”
“Is something wrong? You’re so different from the wizard I thought you were.”
“Well, I heard that the Minister of Magic was out of the office for a while, but I don’t know the details… … .”
Just as they were about to open the boxes of wheat and barley, a sudden gust of wind blew in from the sky, and something black rose up.
The residents were astonished. They had seen it several times, but this was the first time they had seen it up close. They had only come to the palace once, and they had seen so many things…
“Move!”
Choaack!
“Ugh!”
“Come on, Vicky!”
Knock knock!
The wizards who pass by them at a crazy speed. Even a dog that has been starving for several days wouldn’t react like that to the sound of its food bowl jingling.
The officer muttered as he watched the wizards scattered here and there rushing in the same direction.
“Oh my, I see the minister is here.”
Choaaaak!
The wizards huddled beneath the open portal, panting for breath. Some of them had pillow marks on their faces, as if they were sleeping, and some wore their clothes backwards.
But no one paid any attention to that. Everyone swallowed hard and waited for the sight of a human figure through the portal.
“Hey! It’s Ian!”
“Oh, here you come!”
“Ian! Captain Hale! Tommy the bastard!”
“welcome!”
“Huh? I think there’s one more person? Who is it?”
The wizards waved their hands and jumped around, then stopped.
In addition to the healing wizard, there is a strange child mixed in. At first glance, I thought it was Roel, but it was not. It is a boy.
Taat.
Ian landed lightly and straightened his robe. Hale and Tommy followed him. The wizards gathered cautiously, checking Ian’s face, Hale’s expression, and Tommy’s signal.
“Excuse me, Ian. Where is Philia…?”
Ian smiled bitterly. Hale shook his head, and Tommy muttered a no.
The wizards knew very well what they meant. There was hope when they said it was critical, but in the end, they met their end.
“Oh, no.”
The wizards hugged Ian with tearful faces. One by one, the wizards who were embracing Ian let out pitiful groans. To them, Ian instead patted their backs and told them that it was okay.
“I’ll tell you more details later. Were there any problems while I was away?”
“Yes, of course. We all did our best to protect His Majesty the Emperor and Kalamat!”
It’s true! I guess it’s a bit like each person’s own way.
Ian looked around the outskirts of the castle and nodded slightly. Yes, it looked like everything was fine.
“What about Beric?”
“I went into the underground training grounds with Captain Jarrett. I must have sensed his presence, but I can’t see him, so I guess he was caught. But that guy needs to be treated that way. Hey, didn’t that crazy guy rob the warehouse again a few days ago?”
“I thought I was holding back a bit these days, but I guess it’s because I regret not being able to eat it for a while, so this time the damage is a bit bigger.”
“I think it’s time to let him go back to the wild.”
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“That’s right. It was arrogant of us humans to dare to handle that guy’s appetite. Let’s return it to nature and leave it to it.”
Ian chuckled. He felt that the wizards were joking, trying to erase some of Philia’s bad news. Well, it’s not like they were completely insincere.
“Understood. I will see Your Majesty first. Tell Captain Jarret to come up.”
“Captain Jarrett? Other than Secretary Tweller?”
“okay.”
Hmm. Suddenly, the wizards’ gazes were focused on the strange child standing behind Ian.
‘What is this?’
‘Why are you so calm?’
I don’t know who it was, but I was sure of it. It was the child’s first time using a portal, and it was also his first time in Burgos’s castle. And that’s not all? He had never met so many wizards before.
But the child remained calm, without any sign of surprise or fear. He was an extraordinary child.
“I am an apprentice swordsman.”
“Are you a magician?”
“Oh? Where did you meet?”
“Idiot, of course it would be Karen.”
Cedric looked up at the wizards. He had heard that they were close to the power of a god, but they all seemed to have a strange sense of humor.
“Hello, this is Cedric.”
“Oh, yeah. Nice to meet you.”
“You’re so friendly. Sir Ian, are you going up with Cedric?”
“Okay. This way.”
Squeak.
Ian nodded to Cedric and told him to follow him. For the first time in his life, he was seeing a palace that was not the Imperial Palace, but the Kalamat Palace. This was a valuable experience in its own right.
The child looked at Ian, who had stopped in front of the huge door.
“Wait here for a moment.”
“Is His Majesty the Emperor inside?”
Ian went inside first, silently agreeing.
Through the crack in the door, Cedric saw the silver-haired, wall-eyed man, and the large scar across his face.
Kuung!
As the door closed, the child stood still and waited as Ian had instructed. The attendant at the door didn’t even make a sound, so it seemed like he was a person.
Yeah, let’s count the wallpaper patterns. One, two, three… … .
“What are you? Ian?”
At that moment, a sweaty Beric appeared with Jarrett. He was walking a long way ahead of Jarrett, who had been summoned.
Cedric, who had been absentmindedly counting numbers, answered without realizing it.
“… twenty-eight.”
“Eh?”
What the heck? Beric, who had been suddenly cursed at, looked down at the child with a bewildered face.
Red hair and red eyes. And a sharp, torn mouth. He doesn’t look like a good person. Cedric looked at Beric for a moment and then added.
“I was counting numbers.”
Jarrett, who arrived later, sensed something faint as soon as he saw Cedric. Then he also wondered why Minister Ian had called him.
‘You’re new.’
Thank goodness. I’m really thankful.
The only qualification for the Imperial Guard is strength. You can join even if you are not a magic swordsman, but it is virtually impossible for a non-magic swordsman to become stronger than the limits of the human body. That is why magic swordsmen were important.
But they were too precious. Jarrett knew how precious they were, and how even more precious were the swordsmen who entered the Imperial Guard.
Still, the supply of magic swordsmen was absolutely necessary. Not only now, but even more so after the war ended.
Squeak.
Finally, the attendant who received the signal from inside bowed his head to the three people and guided them.
“I hear that His Majesty the Emperor and Minister Ian’s private meeting has ended. Would you like to request an audience?”
“Tell me.”
“Your Majesty, I have heard from Captain Jarrett.”
Jin and Ian were sitting on the sofa across the table. The atmosphere was strangely subdued as soon as Captain Jarrett stepped out. And surprisingly, Beric too.
“Ian. Where’s Philia?”
Cedric glanced up at him. His gaze, which had been extending without hesitation, wavered slightly. Ian stopped him with a light wave of his hand, saying that they would talk later.
“Berrick. Later.”
Both Jin and Beric had a connection to Philia, but this was only a personal sorrow. Of course, it was the work of Toolun-
“Captain Jarrett. Please check the report on what happened in Karenna. Toolun’s hand was more widespread than expected in Bariel.”
“… Yes, I understand. Thank you for your hard work.”
That’s something to talk about in the conference room.
Ian motioned for Cedric to come closer.
“Your Majesty. This is the child.”
Cedric took a deep breath for the first time and bowed. It was none other than the Emperor. The pinnacle of Bariel and the master of the world. The child kept his gaze low, not even daring to look up.
“My name is Cedric, Your Majesty. It is an honor to meet you.”
“Raise your head.”
Jin crossed his legs and looked at the child. Then he smiled incomprehensibly and whispered to Ian.
“It’s just as you said. Your eyes are nice.”
“Bariel’s future is bright, Your Majesty.”
What is it? Why is this happening? Beric, who alone could not understand the situation, scratched his ear.
Ian introduced Captain Jarrett to Cedric and gave him a favor.
“This is Captain Jareth, one of the three captains of the Imperial Guard. Learn much from him and be of help to Bariel and His Majesty the Emperor.”
“I will do my best.”
“Captain Jarrett. As you may already know, I ask for your help.”
“Yes, thank you for bringing such a valuable talent to us.”
Jarrett asked Cedric as a greeting.
“If you become a member of the Imperial Guard, is there something you want to achieve first?”
It was a polite question, but the child hesitated for a moment. Then he answered very cautiously.
“Are you telling me the truth?”
“Then. Not a single lie will be tolerated in front of His Majesty.”
Jin sipped his teacup and watched Cedric closely. He must have been feeling heavy-hearted after hearing about Philia’s death, but Ian brought this child. He had a feeling that he would soon find out why.
Cedric hesitated for a long time, then finally opened his mouth.
“… I want to knock down that guy named Lehman.”
“who?”
Jarrett’s eyes widened. It was the first time he had heard that answer in his life. But Ian smiled, saying that he knew it, and Jarrett, who had belatedly grasped the situation, looked back at Beric.
“Berrick.”
“what.”
“You take care of Cedric.”
“Eh?”
It’s a great decision. Ian nodded and Jin agreed. When you put something that is compatible with others, it actually has a positive effect. They will have a lot to learn from each other.
Everyone else seemed to agree. Except Beric.
“I?”
“Yes. You heard me, Cedric? From now on, your shooter is Beric.”
“No, I’m not in a position to deal with this kind of situation.”
“It’s noisy. Don’t vomit.”
“I don’t like it! It’s annoying!”
Beric frowned and made an X with his hand.
How dare you say something like that in front of the Emperor. Are you a crazy idiot? Cedric bowed as he gave Beric that assessment.
“Please take care of me. This is Cedric.”
“No- I don’t want to, Inma.”
“why.”
It’s exactly the same tone as when Beric just said, “What?”
Then, Beric was speechless. He vaguely realized why Jarrett had entrusted the child to him. Beric jumped up and shouted.
“There’s no such thing as a ssa-gaji!”
Then, Jin, Ian, and Jared all gave subtle laughter at the same time. It seemed to me that they had achieved a certain degree of self-objectification.
