Ch.225Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

The door opens.

A cool chill flows through the iron gate.

Then comes someone’s voice. It’s Japanese.

‘Ah, you’re here?’

The familiar-faced man in a suit greets me with a monotone voice.

‘You must be tired coming straight from Incheon. Not exhausted? Would you like a cup of tea?’

‘Where is he?’

‘…’

The Japanese man stares at me silently. His lips move as if trying to say something, but ultimately he says nothing and guides the way.

He walks toward a room located deep inside. Only after passing through several iron doors do I realize from the stench assaulting my nose that this is no ordinary room.

Two distinct smells permeate the room.

Formaldehyde, and the odor of death.

The Japanese man enters the autopsy room and walks past the bodies without hesitation.

He stops in front of one particular corpse.

‘It was found near his home yesterday. Personally, I recommend not looking.’

‘…’

I pull back the white cloth covering the corpse’s face. My trembling fingertips feel no warmth from the skin they brush against.

As I stand there in a daze, the monotone voice pierces my eardrums.

‘…Park Chung-won. 53 years old. Second-generation Korean resident. Executive at the Chongryun (General Association of Korean Residents) Osaka branch. Found murdered in front of his residence in Ikuno Ward. Recovered by police responding to a resident’s report. Already deceased when they arrived at the scene.’

A careful hand grips the file. The Japanese man’s gaze turns toward me.

‘And he was our informant. For both your company and mine.’

‘…Who was it?’

‘…’

‘Which bastard killed him?’

Pulling back the white cloth covering the body reveals a mutilated corpse. Multiple long, drawn wounds. Incised-slash wounds.

The Japanese man answered my question.

‘Well… as you can see, these aren’t typical weapon wounds. They’re incised-slash wounds showing both cutting and slashing characteristics. And in Japan, the weapon that can cause this type of wound is…’

‘A Japanese sword.’

‘…Yes. Nothing but a Japanese sword.’

The Japanese man in the suit hands me a photo he pulled from the file. It’s a picture of a man in a suit.

‘This is the person who had the most contact with Park Chung-won over the past few years. He’s also a yakuza, and more importantly, the prime suspect in this murder case. I think you’ve seen him while investigating Park Chung-won.’

The sound of the file closing interrupts the conversation. The suited man puts the file down on the cold table and shoves his hands into his pockets.

Leaning against the table where the body lies, the Japanese man looks into the distance and continues. This time, Korean flows from his mouth.

‘Park Chung-won borrowed a lot of okane from this guy over the past few months.’

‘…For what reason?’

‘Pachinko. He used loan sharks to fund his entertainment because the intelligence money wasn’t enough. For now, our company is treating it as a murder over financial issues.’

My gaze shifts. The guy doesn’t even meet my eyes, sitting with his back turned to me.

‘No matter how much money he borrowed, does it make sense for a yakuza to kill a Chongryun executive?’

‘…That’s the most rational explanation right now.’

‘They made it look that way.’

‘Who?’

‘Besides the commies, who else in Japan would want to take the head of a Chongryun executive?’

The Japanese man, an intelligence officer from the Public Security Intelligence Agency, didn’t answer.

Maintaining his silence while staring into the distance, he finally spoke with slumped shoulders and a weak voice.

‘I suppose so. He wasn’t just any Chongryun executive, but an informant for both Korean and Japanese intelligence agencies.’

‘…Did the State Security Department notice?’

‘Could be them, could be Nampo-dong… I can’t be certain. However…’

The intelligence officer lifts his heavy bottom.

‘I think we need to pull out.’

‘What do you mean…?’

‘The Security Bureau’s Public Security Division has caught wind of this.’

The intelligence officer said.

‘As you know, there’s intense rivalry between agencies in Japan. Especially at the ministerial level. Not to mention between our Public Security Intelligence Agency under the Ministry of Justice and the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office under the Prime Minister, there’s also fierce competition between the Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Bureau, the Security Bureau’s Public Security Division, and the Public Security Department of the Prosecutor’s Office. They’re always interfering with each other…’

‘…’

‘Regrettably, the company has decided to end the operation. The staff have been quite anxious since the informant was killed.’

‘To be honest, so am I,’ added the intelligence officer as he trudged over to stand beside me.

Then, patting my shoulder a couple of times, he bid farewell in a lifeless voice.

‘I can’t help you anymore. All I can do is ensure you return safely to Korea.’

‘…’

‘I’m sorry about this incident. I truly am.’

The intelligence officer leaves the autopsy room with heavy steps.

The faint beam of light pouring through the door gap gradually fades.

Darkness envelops everything around me.

Episode 12 – The World’s Strongest Mage

Lucia, who came to my lodging in the middle of the night, guided me into the forest.

Leading the way with a few knights in tow, she stared ahead with a somewhat dark expression as she navigated through the forest path.

“Excuse me, Saint Lucia. What exactly is going on…?”

“…”

Lucia didn’t answer. Given her uncharacteristic behavior, I could only assume something serious had happened.

We crossed the moonlit snow-covered mountain.

And after running for quite some time, we finally reached our destination.

“That’s…”

“…We’ve arrived.”

Lucia walked forward slowly, very slowly, like someone forcing themselves to move despite not wanting to.

The deep mountain valley we arrived at with her was bustling with people. Knights holding lanterns had drawn their weapons and were guarding the perimeter, while clerics who might be inquisitors or healing priests gathered in circles, whispering among themselves.

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu as I followed Lucia into the mountain valley.

This is.

How should I put it.

Almost like…

“…It looks like a crime scene.”

“…”

Lucia didn’t answer this time either. She just hardened her face and avoided my gaze.

Damn it. First monsters appear, and now a crime? I have no idea what kind of disaster this is.

I cursed inwardly as I strode forward with large steps.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to squeeze through the crowd of clerics. They recognized me and made way first.

And at the crime scene I reached.

I could meet the mages who were said to have been dispatched by the Imperial Army.

“…”

Distinctive camouflage pattern uniforms that only special branches or units could wear. Capes draped over their shoulders.

Young faces that looked like they had just become adults and enlisted lay there. On the ice flowing through the mountain valley.

Abdomens burst and torn as if eaten by insects.

Organs rolling on the dark red ice.

Dead spiders around the bodies, apparently dealt with by the knights.

The Imperial Army mages, who were said to have been dispatched from the division in response to the unit’s request for support, were found dead in a mountain valley rarely visited by humans.

In a state of being brutally slashed all over their bodies.

“…Fuck.”

In the snow-covered mountains of northern Kiyen Empire, where the rift was located.

I witnessed a murder case there.

*

The bodies presumed to be Imperial Army mages were recovered by the clerics who first discovered them.

The clerics wrapped the bodies in clean cloth, and the knights escorted the bodies and clerics to ensure they could safely travel at night. The entire process was overseen by Ferretti, the field commander, and Lucia, the saint.

Although the bodies found in the mountain valley were wearing Imperial Army uniforms, their identities had not yet been confirmed, so hasty speculation had to be restrained. Ferretti and some clerics thoroughly silenced the Order’s people to prevent them from spreading rumors.

However, it didn’t take long to realize that this was a futile effort.

“…That’s correct.”

“Are you certain? Lady Lyudmila, this is not a matter to be taken lightly.”

“The division’s personnel department has confirmed it multiple times. After comparing the photos and military serial numbers several times, they confirm that the deceased mages are indeed from the division.”

“…”

The identities of the bodies found in the mountain valley were confirmed. They were combat mages belonging to the Guards Infantry Division.

It’s known that in the Kiyen Empire, the title “Guards” is only given to the Imperial Guards who protect the Emperor. But in reality, there are more units bearing the Guards title than one might think, as the Emperor sometimes specially bestows the Guards title to honor units that have achieved military merit.

In other words, if an Imperial Army unit bears the name “Guards,” it means they are the elite of the elite.

And combat mages belonging to such an elite unit were found dead in a mountain valley.

I wandered around the unfortunate Imperial Army unit that suddenly had to handle procedures like identifying the bodies, collecting information about how the mages ended up there. I need to know how the mages were found there.

While roaming around the chaotic unit, I spotted familiar faces.

“Camilla, what are you doing here?”

The red-haired woman turned around in surprise. A beat later, the woman beside her also began to turn her head.

“Camilla, Administrator. What are you two doing here at dawn?”

“I woke up because the unit was in an uproar. What happened?”

Camilla asked while rubbing her sleepy eyes. Similarly, Francesca, who was walking around the unit with her, waited for an answer with a tired face and a small yawn.

From their condition, it seems the two don’t know the situation yet. I quietly led Camilla and Francesca to a place away from others’ eyes.

“What’s going on that we need to whisper so secretly?”

“There’s been a murder.”

“…What?!”

“Quiet. Lower your voice. Is this the time to shout for everyone to hear?”

I covered Camilla’s mouth with my hand and calmly explained the situation.

A priest returning with the knights after eliminating the remaining corpse spiders discovered people collapsed in a mountain valley. The healing priest tried to treat them, but the people had been dead for a long time, and because they were wearing unusual uniforms, the clerics guessed they were Imperial soldiers.

Upon receiving the report, Lucia woke me up and guided me to the crime scene. There, I identified the Imperial soldiers found dead, their unit, and rank, and returned to the unit with the Order members who had recovered the bodies.

“The dead are indeed Imperial Army personnel. The division just made it official.”

After briefly summarizing the situation, Francesca, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

She had been standing there with a tired face, but now she was listening with a serious expression.

“Are those mages the ones who were supposed to come as support last time…?”

“Based on the circumstances, it seems so. Almost certainly.”

“Hmm…”

Francesca’s gaze momentarily drifted into space as she murmured with a groan.

“Imperial Army mages. And from a unit awarded the Guards title—I’ve heard they’re skilled practitioners no less capable than the elite combat mages of the Magic Corps. And they were murdered…”

A pair of violet eyes flew toward me.

“Is this information reliable?”

“The exact cause of death hasn’t been determined, but… have you ever seen monsters wielding swords?”

“If they died by sword, then they were definitely killed by humans. Let’s meet with Lord Martinez.”

Francesca left, saying she would gather new intelligence. She seemed to trust my words, focusing on murder rather than accidental death or freezing without any particular doubt.

Camilla, who had been watching the intelligence officer walk away, now looked at me with her drowsiness completely gone. And in a hushed voice, she whispered questions.

“But how did you know they were murdered? I understand you might be able to tell it’s a murder case from the scene, but isn’t it difficult to identify the weapon?”

What is she talking about?

I looked at Camilla with an incredulous expression and added a simple explanation.

“The bodies had incised-slash wounds.”

In forensic medicine, injuries caused by edged weapons (sharp-pointed or sharp-edged weapons) are typically classified into three types:

Cut wounds (切創) in the form of being cut or sliced

Stab wounds (刺創) in the form of being stabbed or penetrated

Slash wounds (割創) in the form of being struck with a weighted weapon

Slash wounds are common when someone is killed by being struck with a heavy object. Hatchets, fire axes, Chinese cleavers, military bayonets, machetes, or swords.

And when someone is killed with a heavy weapon with a very long blade, the body is left with not just simple slash wounds, but a combination of slash and cut wounds (割切創).

For instance, with something like a Japanese sword.

“When you kill someone with a heavy weapon, it leaves slash wounds, and if the blade of that weapon is long, it also creates cut wounds. It’s completely different from being killed with an axe.”

I closed my hand to form a rectangle.

“When you kill someone with an axe, it creates rectangular-shaped wounds, right? It even fractures places like the skull. But when you kill with a sword, such wounds never appear. The Imperial Army mages were the same. Looking at the wounds, they were definitely killed with a sword.”

“Why on earth do you know such things?”

“An informant I had in Japan was killed by a yakuza with a sword. I saw it with my own eyes in the autopsy room. I also saw a lot of documents sent from Japan after the autopsy.”

Anyway, the story got sidetracked, but the important thing is this.

“The murderer is a swordsman who possesses a blade. Someone skilled enough with a sword to engage in close combat against combat mages.”

Camilla, who had been wearing a dumbfounded expression for a moment, snapped back to attention and nodded.

“You mean a professional? I understand. If your deduction is correct, this will help narrow down the suspects for the investigation, right?”

“I don’t think it will.”

“What do you mean?”

Camilla looked at me with a questioning gaze.

“How would we find a suspect in these vast mountains? Especially with the night so deep. Moreover, judging by the state of the bodies, they died a day ago.”

“Ah…”

“We won’t catch the murderer.”

Camilla hesitantly began. Like someone who had to acknowledge it but couldn’t let go of lingering attachment.

“Still…”

“We won’t be able to catch the murderer right away anyway. No, I’m certain of it.”

“What do you mean?”

Blink. Blink, blink. Her blue eyes blinked repeatedly like a goldfish’s lips. Camilla looked at me with an expression of complete incomprehension.

Receiving her gaze, I let out a small sigh and extended my thumb to point at the people moving around the unit.

Just then, a group of knights could be seen rushing by with quick steps.

“A professional swordsman who knows how to fight against mages and is skilled with a sword. They’re right there, aren’t they?”

“…Uh. So, are you saying those knights are suspects now…?”

“They’re probably not suspects. And likely not the real murderers either.”

I sighed deeply and shifted my gaze.

Where my tired eyes landed, there were people gathering at the unit.

“But I’m not sure if those people will think the same.”

They were mages from the Magic Tower.

“Conspiracy theories don’t need evidence.”

*

All sorts of people gathered at the military unit that had become chaotic due to the murder case.

The Order’s knights who first discovered the murder scene and recovered the bodies.

The Imperial Army that confirmed the identities of the Imperial mages found dead.

The Magic Tower’s Magic Corps who returned from monster subjugation only to hear news of the murder.

And us as well.

“This is giving me a headache…”

Having met with Imperial Army officers and obtained specific information about the deceased mages, I returned to my lodging, pressing my throbbing temples.

There are too many headache-inducing issues.

First, there’s the problem of the deceased’s identities.

The dead mages are combat mages belonging to the Imperial Guards Infantry Division. Determining the cause of their deaths and uncovering the truth is the responsibility of the Imperial Ministry of Defense.

Let’s accept that much.

It’s not unusual to investigate soldiers who died while carrying out operations in a wartime situation. Besides, the deceased are Imperial citizens before being soldiers.

The problem is that these people are mages.

Setting aside the fact that the relationship between the Empire and the Magic Tower is as complicated as the cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan, or mainland China and Hong Kong, if an issue involves the death of mages, the Magic Tower must intervene whether it happens in the Empire or the Order.

Mages are more than just people who handle magic; they are individuals who continue the lineage of their schools, preserve the legacy of their predecessors, and pass it on to future generations.

Therefore, in the magical society, the death of a mage—unless they’re exiles treated as terrorists or black mages—carries meaning beyond biological death.

And now, the Magic Tower’s mages have witnessed the murdered Imperial mages.

“This is driving me crazy…”

“Would you like some herbal tea?”

“Would you do that for me, Saint Lucia?”

As I groaned with my head in my hands, Lucia appeared with a teapot and poured me some tea.

“This tea is brewed with herbs grown in the monastery. It has properties that relieve fatigue and calm the mind and body.”

“I gratefully accept.”

I took a sip of the tea she had personally brewed.

The rich herbal aroma and warmth envelop my nose. Intending to just taste it out of courtesy, I ended up drinking more than half the tea, and smacking my lips, I nodded.

“It’s excellent. So, has there been any progress?”

Lucia gave an awkward smile at my question about the murder case.

“It’s not something I can easily discuss… I’m sorry.”

“I understand.”

Lucia’s position is extremely difficult.

An Imperial mage was found murdered in Imperial territory where conflict is occurring. Not just one, but several.

The mages died by sword, and coincidentally, the first group to discover the crime scene was the Order’s knights. And the Magic Tower’s Magic Corps is also stationed here.

The groups directly involved in the mages’ deaths are the Empire, the Order, and the Magic Tower—three entities. Including Abas, which is indirectly involved due to sending military officers to the north, that makes four.

So how could she easily speak about it?

A cleric’s words are never light, and the words of Lucia, a saint, are heavier than gold. It’s a weight that a saint of a religion must bear.

Therefore, Lucia refrained from speaking as much as possible even with me present. As a diplomat, I was in the same position, so I could only give the answer “I don’t know” to those who asked about this incident.

Of course, there was also someone present who had nothing to do with such concerns.

“The knights don’t seem like the culprits to me.”

“…”

“Um… did I say something wrong?”

Camilla, who was sitting at the table eating snacks, rolled her eyes in confusion at the gazes from me and Lucia.

I was so dumbfounded that I blurted out the thought that came to my mind.

“Are you really eating at a time like this?”

“I need to eat to live too.”

“You just had breakfast earlier.”

“But I’m still hungry…”

Camilla, who had just swallowed the cookie in her mouth, pushed the snacks away with a sad face, like a child returning a toy they wanted to buy to the display shelf.

“Didn’t you say earlier that you were going to verify the scene?”

“Yes, more precisely, it was an autopsy.”

The people from the Order and the Magic Tower agreed to take charge of the autopsy of the deceased Imperial mages. Before the arrival of the Empire’s investigative personnel, experts with relevant knowledge would first conduct a simple investigation at the scene and then pass their findings to the professional investigators who would arrive later.

The Empire didn’t hand over the investigative authority to the Order and the Magic Tower because they liked them. The military command, which needed to report to superiors as soon as possible, simply accepted the proposal from the Order and the Magic Tower.

I heard that the investigative personnel expected to come from the central government would be in charge of not only the murder case but also the investigation of the monsters that suddenly appeared. They’re probably investigators dispatched from the Magic Department.

Lucia, who had been conversing with Camilla, suddenly looked at me.

“Did you say it was Martinez who proposed the autopsy? The mage from the Magic Tower.”

“That’s right. He’s the head delegate from the Magic Tower Secretariat.”

“I hope there won’t be any problems. This shouldn’t be a major issue…”

Lucia fidgeted with her clasped hands, her face clearly showing anxiety. Camilla smiled gently at her as if to reassure her.

“Don’t worry too much. Didn’t the priests and mages say earlier that they were going to confirm the cause of death together? Francesca also went to observe.”

“…”

“Everything will be fine.”

I silently looked outside the tent.

Everything will be fine, she says.

I really hope so.

Looking at the gloomy northern sky visible through the slightly open gap, I quietly sighed, feeling an inexplicable anxiety.

And my ominous premonition was not wrong.

Francesca, who returned from observing the autopsy, said this:

“Holy energy was detected on the bodies.”

“…”

“It seems the Imperial mages were killed by clerics.”

It was the beginning of a new turmoil.