Chapter 125


    Thedies of the royal family, including Dina, simultaneously took out their opera sses. Although the magic confirmation ceremony was a rare event, they were always the ones who kept the Ministry of Magic close. They were the ones who had always seen the sights of great magicians like Wesleigh at important events


    Look at that.


    Its ridiculous. My goodness, its so beautiful.


    Thats the real light of the oracle!


    Everyone, forgetting their manners, stared at Ians gestures with their mouths half open. Every time his right hand traced a path, light filled the surroundings as if blessings were descending.


    Its truly sacred.


    Dina muttered unknowingly. Everyone there could feel it. That it was a fantasy that would never happen twice in a lifetime. And so they knew they had met a true fantasy.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    Ian calmly continued to create the light of the oracle. From the podium, it overflowed and reached the ground where the nobles stood, and then it seemed to engulf the pce.


    <i>Boom! Bang!</i>


    Recoretio!


    At that moment, the surprised conductor of the pce orchestra, who had stopped, snapped his baton and gave the signal toe to his senses. The pianist reflexively pressed the keys and resumed ying, and the cellist and violinist immediately focused on the ensemble.


    It was unclear whether the music followed Ians waves or whether the magic came to life in response to the music.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    <i>Cuckoong! Boom!</i>


    Recore-ti-o!


    The conductor led the music more passionately than usual due to the visual stimtion, and the musicians were also feeling ecstatic for the first time in a long time. The banquet hall seemed to be showing exactly what a perfectly beautiful moment was.


    Oh ho!


    This is ridiculous.


    This is magic! Its amazing, amazing!


    The nobles reacted to the magic permeating their midst in various ways. Some reached out their hands to touch it, others moved lightly to avoid it, and still others turned their heads around in wonder. As the music from the orchestra swelled, a deep flush appeared on peoples faces.


    Your Majesty, can you see well?


    Hmm.


    Dina suddenly came to her senses and handed the opera sses to the emperor. The emperor didnt seem to be able to see well, and he kept mumbling without responding. Dina took back the sses and nced at the princes next to her.


    <i>Sigh</i>.


    Marivs reaction was no different from that of the nobles below. He had his hands on the railing and couldnt take his eyes off the light of the oracle and its beauty. On the other hand, Gale.


    Wesleigh.


    His gaze was fixed on Wesleigh, who was standing next to Ian, looking embarrassed. Dina just covered her face with a fan and kept ncing at Gale.


    How can that be the look of a man looking at his lover?


    Although it was not her ce to say so, as she was the wife of the emperor, Dina always found herself tongue-tied at Gales ruthlessness. Sometimes, she was even overwhelmed by the anxiety that his sharp aura might harm her own sons.


    Mother.


    Yes?


    Just then, the fifth prince, Jin, who was sitting on the opposite side, tugged lightly on his mothers arm. His silver hair sparkled white in the light of the magic in the banquet hall.


    Arsens opera sses dont work well.


    Dina turned around briefly. The fourth prince, Arsen, was using Jins sses to get a good view of the first floor. She smiled as she gently stroked Jins hair.


    I see. You gave it to Arsen. Thats very kind of you.


    And then he turned back to focus on supporting the emperor.


    That was not what he meant to say, but his mother ended the conversation by praising his younger brother Jins sacrifice, as always.


    This Ian fellow is really amazing.


    While Arsen kept muttering admiring exmations, Jin stared nkly into space. He felt like he was in a different world all by himself.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Ian felt a slight sweat running down his back. Opening his magic was like opening up all the energy in his body. He slowly closed his magic and nced at Wesleigh.


    This.


    The look on her face that said she didnt know what was going on was really good to see. Her bewildered and confused expression was truly raw. Ian smiled as he pushed his slightly sweaty hair back. As if to say, this should be enough.


    <i>Swoosh</i>.


    Ian took his hand off the surface of the light and straightened out the light of the oracle. The magic lost its power, but it left traces behind like a slowly disappearing fog. Seeing this, the conductor slowed down the music to match the beat.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    The moment the excited pianist struck the keys, Ian began to sing.


    For the glory of Bariel.


    For the glory of Bariel!


    As Ian raised his hand to his chest in salute, the nobles cheered and apuded without waiting for anyone else. The hospitality was warm, even for the nobles. It was praise that was filled with soul, iparable to what Wesleigh had led earlier.


    <i>p, p, p!</i>


    Ian approached Wesleigh and held out his hand. She pressed her lips tightly together and barely suppressed the urge to grab Ian by the cor right then and there. She wanted to scream and ask him how he was able to break the magic circles spell, but


    Baron, Ian Hielo. It was truly a magnificent magic.


    What could she do? Everyone in the banquet hall, including the emperor, was watching them. She held out the back of her hand to Ian.


    I will be waiting for your application to join the Ministry of Magic.


    Ian kissed her hand and descended from the podium without hesitation. As soon as he came down, the young nobles surrounded Ian and could not hide their excitement.


    Baron Hielo. That was a truly amazing illusion!


    Lets shake hands first, okay? Youre not a magician yet, are you?


    Youre not a magician until youre assigned to a department. So, where are you going to go? With that kind of power, you should be able to choose. Lets make a bet! The Magic Support Department is the best, so Ill bet on that! Baron Ian Hielo, lets see each other often in the future!


    Aha! If this goes on, wont you be the first noble magician?


    Thepliments poured in like a wave. Ian just smiled and epted their cheers. However, when the crowd continued to gather and he couldnt even take a step, he looked around in embarrassment.


    Baron Ian Hielo. I have a message for you.


    Just then, a familiar voice came from the crowd. It was Romandro. Ian nodded, knowing that this was his chance.


    Excuse me. Ill be right back.


    Oh! You have toe back soon!


    Ian held up a ss of wine that a waiter was carrying and walked through the crowd. By holding the ss, he showed his intention that people should note close. Thanks to this, the two were able to meet dramatically, and Romandro quickly led the way out. Ian sighed and took a sip of wine to quench his thirst.


    Sir Romandro. That was a timely call.


    Ian, you! <i>Sob</i>!


    Haha. Are you crying?


    Wow, Ive never seen such a magnificent sight in my life. My Vivian should have seen that too, sigh. It was truly amazing!


    Romandro shook his fist, unable to believe it. When Ian looked for a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, Romandro handed him his own instead.


    Oh, thank you.


    Oh! And do you know that?


    What is it?


    You have be the first noble magician of the Bariel Empire! You will go down in history! Congrattions!


    The first noble magician. Ian didnt find the title awkward. Because it was the same in his previous life. And it was that which eventually put Ian on the throne of the emperor.


    I see.


    Huh? Why are you reacting like this?


    I cant believe it.


    The timing was perfect. I would have been very sorry if I hade in without the New Years party.


    There were many magicians who were recognized for their magical abilities and rose to the position of court mage, or minister, like Wesleigh, or received titles for their merits, but Ian was the first to be a noble from the time of admission.


    Of course, I was the <i>first </i>even 100 yearster.


    He was the first, and now he was the first again.


    As Ian smiled faintly at the strange feeling, Romandro scratched his beard awkwardly.


    Was I too excited?


    No. Its a good thing youre so happy for me. By the way, what about Beric?


    Huh? Beric?


    The two men stared at each other nkly. An awkward silence filled the air. Romandro thought that Ian had taken him with him, so he would naturally be with him, and Ian thought that he would be with Romandro since he had gone down before the verification ceremony.


    Im going crazy.


    Romandro muttered, chattering his teeth as if he were terrified. The mere fact that a madman was alone among those noble people was terrifying in itself.


    Come on, lets find him-!


    Ian~!


    Just as Romandro was about to run into the banquet hall. Beric came running lightly from the opposite corridor. His face was unusually red, as if he had been drinking wine.


    Im right here!


    Hey, where do you think you are, wandering around by yourself?


    Eh? Did I do that because I wanted to?


    Did you get into any trouble? And whats with your finger?


    This? Its worth a weeks worth of meat side dishes.


    Romandro, not understanding the context, fidgeted anxiously, worried that it might be an injury from some trouble caused. Beric boldly extended his index finger to Ian as if to make him remember.


    <i>Snap!</i>


    So earning ones keep is like this? Not bad at all.


    I wont forget the meat side dish. Where have you been?


    They took me through the corridor where the light of the oracle shone. I waited there until it was over. And guess what? I saw something really fun.


    Something fun?


    It seemed that Ian, being in the back passage, had missed the illusion. At Ians question, Beric flipped his eyes and imitated the voice of a frustrateddy with surprising naturalness, perhaps helped by the alcohol.


    Call out all those who have inscribed the magic circle! I have no idea what theyve done! This and that, h h h! They all want to die!?


    Are you imitating Minister Wesleigh?


    Ahaha. Exactly alike, right? She was catching her subordinates like mice. Even watching from hiding made my skin crawl.


    Not alike at all.


    Eh? Really? Should I try again?


    Romandro, just in case, looked around and covered Berics mouth, while Ian fell silent in thought. Judging by the style of the letters in the magic circle of the oracles light, it was clear that it was created by several mages working together.


    It seems I thought Wesleigh had secretly interfered, but maybe not. It means more people than I thought are aware of the irregrities in the magic circle.


    However, the person named Nakina clearly intended to help Ian. If he had known there was a problem with the magic circle itself, he wouldnt have acted that way.


    This means, there are factions within the Ministry of Magic itself.


    There are those whom Wesleigh leads directly and assigns tasks, and those who, although affiliated, are merely coasting along. After all, its natural for any department to have political factions divided.


    Indeed. If it werent for Naum, I too would have struggled to adapt when I first entered the Ministry of Magic.


    Ians thoughts spiraled, taking him back to the past, over 100 years ago. It was a moment when Romandro and Beric were making a fuss.


    Baron Ian Hielo.


    The emperors chambein, bowing his head deeply, called out to Ian. Ian knew what his appearance meant.


    Could you spare us a moment? I will escort you to the second floor.


    It was an honor to be able to meet the emperor and his family up close. It suggested that Ians magic had made a great impression on them. Ian nodded, handing the empty wine ss to Beric.