Episode 54
Jade continued speaking, gently stroking his chin with a serious expression.
He gazed out the window of the carriage and slowly went on. Miel, feeling the weight of his words, unconsciously swallowed hard and tensed up.
“Monsters… They are the product of dark magic.”
“Long ago, there was a dark mage named Derik.”
“Derik…”
Miel murmured the name. At that, Koseliko, who had been quietly listening beside her, furrowed her tiny brow.
“And that Derik… was once the disciple of the Great Sage.”
Miel’s eyes widened in shock at Jade’s next words. Her father’s disciple?
“Really?”
She asked in surprise. Jade nodded slowly as he brushed his hair back and continued.
“Of course, no one knows exactly why he turned to dark magic. It was a long time ago. All we know is that the monsters began to appear because of him.”
That one dark mage had caused the emergence of monsters—it was unbelievable to Miel.
“He created that many monsters all by himself?”
Trying to calm her startled thoughts, Miel asked the question. Jade shook his head.
“No, not exactly. Derik is already dead. He’s more like the progenitor—the origin of monsters.”
“…Then why do monsters still appear, even after his death?”
“Because the remnants of his evil dark magic still linger. It’s spread far too much to completely erase, and even while he was alive, he couldn’t undo it all.”
Miel fell into thought as she listened.
‘Why didn’t Father stop Derik?’
If it were her father, Liad Karladen, he wouldn’t have let his disciple fall without doing something.
Why…?
Miel’s mind grew clouded. She had always thought she knew her father well, but recently she began to feel otherwise.
“Miel.”
As if reading her heart, Koseliko flew down from her shoulder and perched on her knee, looking up at her.
“What’s troubling you so much?”
“Coco… the more I learn about Father, the more it feels like he’s not the man I thought I knew.”
Miel gently stroked Koseliko’s soft feathers. Jade silently watched their exchange from his seat.
Koseliko placed her small wing over Miel’s hand and spoke gently.
“That’s understandable. But Miel, there’s one thing I can say for sure.”
Koseliko caressed Miel’s hand with her tiny wing and spoke with conviction.
“The Great Sage truly loves you. He cherishes you deeply.”
At her words, the tension on Miel’s face faded. She gave a faint smile and gently stroked Koseliko again.
“Thank you, Coco.”
“Of course. So don’t look so down. You are, after all, the daughter of the Great Sage.”
Koseliko playfully pecked Miel’s hand with her beak. But her heart was heavy.
‘Yes, Miel. Liad truly loves you. That’s why he went so far…’
She recalled the image of Liad Karladen from long ago—how he’d once fallen into madness, consumed by obsession.
“I won’t let this be the end.”
He had once drowned in madness. At that time, he had lost everything, and in his desperation to get it back, he staked even his soul.
‘What would Miel think if she ever learned the whole truth…?’
Koseliko glanced at Miel quietly, then shook her head.
‘Maybe… maybe it wouldn’t matter to her. This child loves her father that much.’
Even though they hadn’t spent many years together, Koseliko knew Miel’s heart well.
‘Even if learning Liad’s true nature causes confusion…’
Miel still trusted her father deeply. And perhaps that wouldn’t change.
Soon, the carriage neared the northern border. Jade, who had been silently looking out the window, turned his gaze toward Miel.
“Miel.”
He called softly to her, as she was half-dozing. Her long lashes lifted, and her golden eyes slowly opened.
Jade couldn’t help but smile at her dazed face.
“You must be really sleepy. But we’ll be arriving at the northern border soon.”
“Yes… Master.”
Miel straightened herself and rubbed her eyes. Jade watched her yawn, then calmly continued.
“What I’ll be doing at the border is creating a barrier.”
“A barrier?”
“Yes. It’s the most efficient way to protect against large-scale enemy attacks.”
Jade’s voice was serious.
“The Empire has solid walls at every border. The key is to ensure they don’t collapse. The Empire’s soldiers are being deployed to defend, but it’s not easy for them to attack and defend at the same time.”
He brushed his hair back and went on.
“Until now, soldiers have handled both offense and defense. But this is an emergency. It’ll take a massive effort just to deal with the monsters.”
“I see.”
“Exactly. So I’ll be casting a barrier on the walls—one that can do both: attack and defend. If needed, I’ll deal with the monsters myself.”
“A dual-purpose barrier that can attack and defend?”
Seeing Miel’s puzzled expression, Jade slowly nodded.
“Yes. While defense is the main goal, having additional functions is always better.”
“But to cover the entire wall with a barrier like that…”
The mana consumption would be immense. That’s why all borders except the north had at least four mages assigned.
“Haha, Miel.”
Jade let out a rare laugh. Then his expression turned resolute.
“Even with the Great Sage’s spell on me, I am still a Grand Mage.”
Jade chuckled.
“Are you worried about your master?”
“…As if.”
Miel muttered quietly. Jade’s smile deepened.
“Don’t worry. Casting this kind of barrier won’t kill me. I naturally possess far more mana than an ordinary mage.”
Miel knew that well. Of course a Grand Mage wouldn’t lack mana. She also understood that her father had placed a divine spell on Jade.
‘And now that I’ve learned more about Father’s past… I feel like I should apologize…’
As if sensing her thoughts, Jade responded.
“You don’t need to feel sorry toward me. This is just one of the Great Sage’s playful pranks.”
He adjusted his collar and smoothed his hair.
“Still… I think he has something he wants to say to me.”
Jade thought of the words written in the letter from the Great Sage.
From that, he was certain—
‘The Great Sage knows about my regression.’
And maybe… just maybe, everything had started with him.
“Anyway, Miel. There’s one thing I want to make clear.”
Jade finished his thoughts and looked directly at her.
“When we arrive at the northern border, you don’t need to use your power. You probably won’t even have to.”
He looked at her with serious eyes. Miel’s eyes widened slightly, making her look even cuter.
“Of course, if a monster suddenly appears and threatens your life, you may use it. But I don’t think that will happen.”
Jade’s expression softened into a gentle smile.
“Because I’ll protect you.”
Miel’s heart thumped loudly in her chest.
