Published: July 3, 2025
The red sword and Ilalion returned to the Kingdom Magic Research Institute fifteen minutes later.
They were only about one kilometer away.
Since they had brought the leader wrapped in a bag, Abel, Warren, and Ilalion headed straight down to the basement.
It was the room where they had interrogated Hector from the Morning Star.
They laid the still unconscious leader down on the floor, and Abel asked Ilalion.
"Old man, what exactly was in that barrel?"
It contained something that would make a man like Ilalion anxious. It would be a lie to say he wasn't interested.
"That is what is called 'black powder.'"
"Black powder?"
Abel recalled that it was indeed black... more like sand than powder.
"It is something that should not be in a place like that. We need to get him to spill the beans..."
At that point, Ilalion's words halted.
For the first time, he really looked at the leader's face... it was a familiar face.
"This guy is Treasurer Fuka's half-brother..."
"Brother?"
Ilalion exclaimed in genuine surprise, and Abel looked at him with suspicion.
Involving a brother in a conspiracy... if this came to light, he would immediately be suspected of involvement, right?
Abel thought of it that way, based on common sense.
"Yes, he is a brother, but there should be around fifteen of them. Their father was a vigorous man. This one is the youngest brother... There is more than a thirty-year age difference from his eldest brother, Fuka."
"Still, you know a lot."
Abel was genuinely impressed by Ilalion's knowledge.
"His immediate elder brother works here, in other words, at this place."
"...Huh?"
"He is a researcher here. Back when he was still commuting from the mansion, this kid would sometimes come along. His name was... Seeker, right? By the way, the elder brother is Sarka."
It wasn't that Ilalion's knowledge was impressive; it was that he had a subordinate's brother.
(Firstborn Fuka, fourteenth Sarka, fifteenth Seeker... is that right? Is this accurate?)
Abel was sorting through the information.
Primarily, it was just the names of the brothers...
According to Ilalion, the leader's name, Seeker, regained consciousness.
"Ugh... where is this?"
"You've awakened."
"I, Ilalion-sama..."
As Seeker mumbled, Ilalion responded. Seeker quickly recognized the old man in front of him as Ilalion.
"It's been a long time, Seeker."
"W-why are you here...?"
"Well, just look at this guy and you'll understand?"
Ilalion said this and called Abel over to stand next to him.
"You are the one from earlier..."
Seeing that, Seeker, who had been the leader, was speechless.
"Well, that's how it is. Now, Seeker, as you know, your brother Sarka works under me. More accurately, he works in this building."
"So, this is... the Ilalion Mansion?"
"Yes. It’s tough for me to tell Sarka that you have betrayed the country."
Saying that, Ilalion shook his head.
"W-wait! I did not betray the country..."
"What was hidden in that place earlier? That must be 'black powder!'"
"That is..."
Seeker could not continue his words.
"You must understand... what that is. It is not something you can just place in a place like that."
Under Ilalion's words, Seeker hung his head and muttered.
"That is something I reclaimed..."
"Reclaimed? From whom?"
Seeker remained silent in response to Ilalion's question.
Unable to endure that silence, Abel moved to resolve the doubts he had been thinking since he saw the barrel earlier.
"Hey, old man. While Seeker is being quiet, tell me. What is the 'black powder' in the barrel?"
"Hmm... It became mass-produced after you became an adventurer, Abel. So, you probably don't know. That is... powder that explodes when exposed to fire."
Ilalion answered Abel's question gravely.
"Explosion... So, it’s something like the fire attribute magic [explosive flames]?"
"Yes. In the Central Nations, it is only mass-produced in the Eastern Kingdom. Though when I say mass-produced, it's not in large quantities. However, depending on how it's used, it can change the nature of wars. For that reason, it is not exported, and its existence is a closely guarded secret within the kingdom. The only storage places are in the Eastern Slanzewi and here in the royal capital. I know this because I created the storage facility in the royal capital with Baron Kenneth Hayward… but it requires the utmost care to store. Even though that barrel has undergone alchemical processing, it is still quite unstable."