Chapter 23


    Those from the central regionck tenacity.


    Dergha frowned as he ascended the stairs to his office. It seemed as if the long hours he had spent diligently working had been erased from his memory. The butler, too,ughed as if he found the situation tricky.


    Exactly. Its surprising that he quit so suddenly.


    Do we have any schrs from Barriel University in Bratz?


    Ill look into it. Otherwise, we might have to find someone from elsewhere.


    <i>Unnecessarily troublesome. Where else could one find someone from Barriel University who could be employed as a teacher at such a cheap price?</i>


    He regretted having frozen the mans sry for several years. If he had known this would happen, he would have raised it subtly to coax him. Well, it wasnt a money issue since he left for research in another country.


    Will it be expensive?


    Im afraid so. You would probably have to pay at least ten times more than the tuition he had received so far. But the question is whether he will agree


    <i>Damn it! </i>Dergha rolled his eyes, brimming with irritation. Almost arriving at his office, he suddenly remembered his aide, who hadnt shown his face yet.


    Is the aide still sleeping?


    He fell asleeptest night, so he must be exhausted.


    What a life! Wake him up and send him home.


    <i>Squeak.</i>


    Upon opening the door, Dergha stopped short. The butlers puzzled look didnt matter. The usually same view had changed in some peculiar way.


    Whats this?


    It wasnt just his imagination. His aide, lying sprawled out on the floor, and the slightly disheveled stack of documents. The butler who rushed in behind Dergha was too shocked to close his mouth.


    My goodness! Whats this! Are you alright?


    Unlike the butler who immediately checked on the aide, Dergha went straight to open his drawer. He checked the secret safe inside to ensure the seals and various valuables were still intact.


    Master! Should I call a doctor?


    Is he dead?


    Derghas voice was sharp. If he had copsed in front of his desk, only one assumption could be made. He must have been caught like the previous butler in a mouse trap.


    Hes still breathing.


    Call the doctor. And report to me the moment he opens his eyes. Have someone guard him to prevent escape.


    Yes, understood. Everyone! Is there anyone out there!


    Whats the matter?


    There was a hugemotion. While the servants ran to move the aide, Dergha carefully inspected the items in his office. Luckily, nothing seemed to be missing or changed.


    Was it because he found no losses? His mind became calm. However, this calmness was soon reced by a surge of betrayal.


    Despicable!


    Ah, master. You shouldnt be like this!


    How could I have nurtured you to do this!


    <i>Thud!</i>


    Frustrated, Dergha pped the unconscious aides face, venting his rage.


    Meanwhile, Beric, who had returned to the annex, bit into an apple and asked,


    Its loud. Did we get caught?


    All the servants who had been leisurely resting were gathered and rushed into the main building. A carriage crossed the garden, probably carrying the doctor. Ian leaned against the window, watching the scene with interest.


    We were caught. There was an aide inside.


    Were screwed. I guess its the end.


    Are you scared?


    If I die like this, Ill be the only one who loses.


    He wasnt wrong. Ian burst intoughter at Berics words.


    Ian snapped the wooden key and handed a small pouch to Beric. Inside, a confidential document was neatly rolled up.


    Burn the key when you get out so that nobody knows. And deliver this to Duke Morlin. It must be delivered directly. You know the address, right?


    It was the final step. Beric pocketed the item and nodded.


    Ill deliver it to Sir Morlin and bring back the gold coins. And on the way back, Ill stop by the house and pass a message to Philea.


    Well done.


    He meant delivering the message to Philia, Ians birth mother.


    Its about time. If preparations to hide areplete, disappear without anyone noticing. Only Ian will know where she lives, through Beric. Now, even if they cross the border, theres nothing to catch.


    Lets start training properly from tomorrow.


    Once the mission is safelypleted.


    Yeah? Great. Dont back outter.


    He looked determined toplete it by any means necessary if there was any chance of getting caught. Ian threw him an apple and smiled.


    See you tomorrow.


    <i>Squeak.</i>


    Now the words had flown away.


    All that was left was to observe the responses from the other side. Upon reflection, getting caught by the aide wasnt entirely a bad thing.


    Even though Ive collected a lot, I might have missed something in the urgent situation. Dergha must have noticed that. Ill be able to divert his attention to the aide.


    Once the aide wakes up and testifies, it would lead to another phase, but whether Dergha would believe him was another issue. Meanwhile, the count would draw his own conclusion in preserving his position, and that wouldnt change even if the sky split in two.


    <i>Knock knock.</i>


    At the sound of knocking, Ian turned his head.


    Ian, sir. Iming in.


    Oh. Teacher.


    The tutor entered the room, dripping with sweat. He seemed drained from his conversation with Dergha. The dialogue between an employer who didnt want to let him go and an employee who wanted to quit was tantly obvious.


    Did you have a good talk with my father?


    Yes


    Its a shame that today is ourst ss. I am sincerely grateful for your excellent teachings over the years. To express my gratitude, Ive prepared a small gift.


    Ian, feigning ignorance, took out a folded piece of paper. It was a pass with the Bratz seal. The tutor breathed a sigh of relief and hastily washed his hands.


    Oh, thank goodness.


    Are you not pleased?


    No, were you just looking at me with a smile earlier! I was so nervous thinking there was some problem.


    The tutor clutched the pass as if it were a lifeline.


    Go to ster and continue your great research. Even though not many people are interested, in the end, its people like you who change the world.


    Ian sincerely encouraged him. The knowledge umted over a lifetime bes the foundation of Bariel. And someday, it will serve as a driving force for Ian.


    The tutor, not knowing what to say, fumbled in his bag.


    This is the data you mentioned.


    It was a map of the desert and the estimated climate. Everything from the notation of the oasis to the altitude of the sand mountains was meticulously written.


    Based on the date you mentioned, theres a high probability that a sandstorm will be formed to the northeast, around here. Im not sure about the exact path of the Cheonrye tribe, but if theyre lucky, they should avoid it.


    The diurnal temperature difference was extreme, enough to be called a hell of fire and cold. Ian sighed at the hardship that can be measured in numbers.


    You dont look happy.


    I feel like giving up.


    But still, its where people live.


    Was that a response to his earlierfort? Ian folded the paper carefully and put it in the drawer.


    Are you leaving today?


    Yes. I cant wait a moment longer.


    As if to decorate theirst meeting, Ian extended his hand, and the teacher hesitated before grabbing it. A smile wishing each others fortune hung on their lips.


    Oops. Before you go.


    Yes?


    His expression suggested he wondered what was left to be done.


    Ian took out a Cheonrye tribal letter he had copied from Derghas office yesterday. It was a transcription mostly of sparse words, notplete sentences.


    Could you interpret this for me?


    The tutor peered quietly at the paper, then cocked his head.


    Whos next in line after the tribal chief?


    Though he read it as asked, the tutor smiled, seemingly not understanding its meaning. Ian was the same.


    However, it was clear that this letter, which had been stored in a secret safe, was incredibly important.


    * * *


    Have you heard?


    Are you talking about the aide? Oh boy, the world is terrifying.


    Indeed. Ive heard this kind of thing happened before.


    People are unpredictable, but its truly surprising.


    The atmosphere in the mansion was chaotic. The butler enforced order fervently, but was it an easy task? When two or more servants gathered, they brought up the incident with the aide.


    So, he still hasnt woken up?


    Yes, young master.


    Ian asked Hannah as he moved away from the chattering servants. The girl followed him with a coat in her hand. Behind them, Beric followed reluctantly, carrying a bag full of sand.


    The Count locked him in the inner office and even put a lock on it. He ced two guards in the corridor and one at the door. Its strictly off-limits to servants.


    Hannah whispered, reciting what she had overheard. It was natural that he wouldnt wake up easily, as he was hit with all the magic Ian had. Hannah asked back, seemingly curious.


    How exactly did you do it?


    She was asking how he had managed to take down the aide. Hannah did not know that Ian was a magic user, so she was bending over backward with curiosity.


    Here. Take this.


    <i>Gasp</i>! A gold coin!


    Instead of answering, Ian handed her a gold coin from his pocket. It was something Beric had brought, a token proving that the secret message had been sessfully delivered to Molrin.


    This is for your trouble and the carpenters share. Deliver it properly.


    Thats too much. Wow.


    Really? Then give it back.


    No way. Hehe. What a scary thing to say.


    Saying it was too much wasnt a rejection. Hannah chewed the gold coin with her front teeth whileughing, then quickly put it in her pocket and pretended nothing had happened.


    Beric. Come on.


    No, you said we would have proper training


    If this isnt proper, should I add more weight?


    Ill shut up.


    Youre impatient, so this style suits you. Were gradually increasing your limits. Lets grab the sword after two moreps.


    Im so lucky to have found a master like you!


    Thanks for thepliment. Im also lucky to have found a useful attendant.


    Beric red at Ian with burning eyes and then took a difficult step forward. Now that there were no more private tutoring sses, he could devote all day to exercising with Beric. Dergha, too, had note out of his office since yesterdays incident.


    But then.


    <i>Clip-clop-!</i>


    Sounds of hooves echoed from the front gate. It seemed like the doctor was back, but strangely, it was quite noisy. Ian stood dumbfounded under the tree and fixed his gaze.


    Then, at that moment.


    Ah.


    He thought it was a ck horse, but no.


    It was a Kusilre, an essential mode of transportation for crossing the desert. Kusilre, an animal somewhere between a horse and a camel, was a representative pet of the Cheonrye n. In other words


    Who could it be?


    At Hannahs question, Ian hesitated.


    The robust warriors seated on the saddle. With red pigment smeared on their faces and golden ornaments signaling their presence, they were


    The Cheonrye n.