Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 109

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 109. Aligned Interests
Wesley sat with her legs crossed, gazing up at the ceiling.
Hundreds of spirits drifted through the towering dome, glowing softly. Against the darkened backdrop, it resembled gazing upon a miniature universe. She groomed her long nails before summoning her steward.
“Baretto.”
“Yes, Wesley.”
“Why don’t you put those reports aside?”
Despite her words, the steward remained motionless, documents still in hand. Rather, he approached with an expression suggesting he’d heard an amusing jest.
“You haven’t waited, have you?”
On the surface, the report detailed inviting summoners from various nations to conduct diverse academic experiments. It also included the intention to establish peaceful negotiations, as nations with advanced summoning arts maintained poor relations with one another.
“The summoners are quite amusing. Back in their home countries, they’re desperate to kill each other, yet when gathered here, research results flow in steadily.”
“This is the great empire of Bariel. They’re well aware that causing disturbances in a place of peace would create problems.”
Wesley muttered indifferently, flipping through the report carelessly.
“Besides, these are people who’ve sold their very souls to academic pursuit. Gathered together, they’ll find it quite enjoyable.”
As she spoke, her finger traced the report’s title. It was the research section on “The Limits of Summoning Arts.” The results of summoning experiments conducted on plants, dead beasts, and living beasts were densely documented. Spanning hundreds of pages in total.
The steward, who had been observing quietly, added his explanation.
“Since summoning arts have distinct advantages and disadvantages depending on the race, proper cooperation could yield magic of an entirely higher dimension. It shouldn’t take long—shall I submit an official report to the general assembly?”
“Yes. Those old men must be growing curious by now.”
It was, after all, an official project conducted by the Magic Department. As Wesley affixed her seal to approve it, different documents were placed on the desk.
“Additionally, research results from experiments conducted on the living.”
A soft click.
These were documents treated as top-secret even within the Magic Department—Wesley’s personal matter as its director. She set her seal aside and solemnly turned through the pages one by one. Disappointment welled up in Wesley’s eyes as she rapidly read through the text.
A sharp tap.
“How is this no different from years ago?”
“My apologies. The difference between the dead and the living is clear, but the moment sorcery is applied, the formula becomes distorted.”
“Isn’t that precisely why I’m pouring money into this?”
As Wesley irritably threw the report aside, the steward carefully offered a suggestion. Rather than pouring water into a bottomless vessel, perhaps it would be better to change the vessel itself.
“Wesley, what if we explored mind control magic more thoroughly instead of summoning arts? Even Prince Gail could not have received the Imperial Palace’s blessing in full. He is the child of a concubine, not the legitimate heir.”
“Baretto! Do you understand what you’ve just said?”
The Imperial Palace’s blessing. It was a mysterious power originating from Bariel’s founding. It was recorded in the founding mythology, and those who had demonstrated its effects were documented in history.
‘Those who inherit the glory of the imperial line are immune to mind control magic.’
It was a blessing bestowed by the divine upon Bariel to prevent the nation’s destiny from being swayed by magical manipulation. The phrase “imperial glory” allowed for various interpretations, but most understood it to refer to the Emperor and members of the imperial family.
“And do you not know Gail?”
“My apologies.”
Wesley knew well. Though she and Gail were lovers, their hearts were vastly different in magnitude. She loved him, believed in him, followed him—yet she felt acutely that he did not regard her with the same depth of feeling.
Wesley’s sharp intuition had once whispered thus:
‘If Gail ascends the throne, will he truly marry me?’
“He’s a man so meticulous he doesn’t remove the mana-sealing stone from his body even in the bedchamber. He’s surely erected protective barriers against mind control magic through other means.”
Not only Gail, but Marib as well—even the aging Emperor would be immune to mind control magic.
That’s why she’d sought roundabout methods, eventually arriving at summoning arts. It was remarkably similar to mind control, yet in some ways more suited to blind obedience.
“In any case, stop spouting nonsense and scrutinize the summoners more. The critical moment approaches, yet there’s been no progress whatsoever.”
“I will correct this.”
“When I demand they cough up money, they suddenly become sharp and work harder. Tsk. Pathetic creatures.”
Wesley pulled out a cigarette to soothe her frustration. The spirits drifting across the ceiling approached and created a small flame for her.
“Exhale.”
She gently stroked the spirit in gratitude, then turned her head away. She found it absurd that she was going to such lengths to keep Prince Gail, and she despised him with a passion for making her this way.
“What about Prince Gail?”
“I will attempt to contact him.”
“…No. Never mind.”
If she didn’t contact him first, he rarely called for her. Wesley tapped the ash from her cigarette into the ashtray and carelessly flipped through the remaining reports.
“By the way, this fellow Ian.”
“Yes, Wesley.”
“He’ll arrive at the Capital soon, won’t he?”
“Since his attendance at the New Year’s gathering is confirmed, yes.”
“To come up from Bratz to here, he’d have to pass through the Karenna region, wouldn’t he?”
Karenna. It was where the kin of Astana, who had rejected her experimental proposal and fled, had hidden themselves. Since necromancers as a race had a naturally dark and sinister nature, everyone else had readily accepted her proposal and continued their research, but they alone had opposed it to the end.
So she had made it impossible for them to return home.
“King Astana is truly pathetic. He secretly went into exile and just accepted it at face value.”
“There was a severe earthquake at the time, so he likely had no leisure to pay attention.”
Wesley chewed on her cigarette and recalled events from years ago. Though the memory had grown hazy, the commotion had been significant enough that it still remained.
‘Prince Gail is so perceptive. If he hears that I’ve been conducting research on living subjects, he’ll definitely suspect something.’
So what could she do?
Kill them. Make them dead and silent forever, and dispose of them so the secret doesn’t leak. The Steward roused his superior from her reverie and continued presenting documents.
“Wesley. And here is the next report.”
“Ah. Really, you’re ruining my cigarette.”
“It cannot be helped. The New Year’s gathering approaches, so there is much to approve. This concerns the truth serum, and this is an internal Magic Department conference report on Ian.”
“Where did they want to take him?”
“The atmosphere suggested everyone was reluctant.”
“Right. It’s obvious he’s Prince Marib’s puppet string, so it would be troublesome.”
Within the Magic Department, numerous subordinate divisions existed. While it was first necessary to test whether Ian was truly a mana user…
“For now, prepare to accept new recruits. I have no idea how long it’s been.”
Wesley laughed self-deprecatingly and closed the documents. At the same time, the spirits flying across the ceiling also dimmed their light and slowly seeped into the darkness.
* * *
“What? She killed them all? Wesley did?”
Berik had somehow become absorbed and leaned his upper body across the table. Hasha tapped the floor irritably with her tail.
-It wasn’t Wesley herself, but her subordinates who came and destroyed everything!
At first, the necromancers who seemed to have some connection tried to persuade the grandmother and Hasha. They said how much money they would give, that as research progressed, the necromancers’ status and authority would eventually rise, that such money would be such a great help to poor Astana, and so on.
Though the main reason was to establish a connection with Wesley, who held a central position of power in the great Empire of Bariel.
-Grandmother ultimately paid the price for her refusal, and I paid the price for defying the truth.
‘This one is still so young?’
‘Child, would you come with us instead?’
‘There are no children among the test subjects yet, right? Should I try casting a command spell on this one? Let’s see if it obeys.’
Berik, who had been listening quietly, rummaged through his pocket. I watched intently as he pulled something out—a scrap of bread he’d scraped together from the warehouse. Berik clicked his tongue and tossed the food to Hasha.
Gulp!
“Poor thing. Eat up and get your strength back.”
-How dare you treat me like a dog!
Yelp! When Hasha snapped at him again, Berik glared with an expression of disbelief. No matter how I thought about it, these two seemed to have the personalities of water and oil.
I broke off pieces of bread one by one and handed them to Hasha.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Look at this tiny thing, ungrateful and without manners, knowing nothing at all? Ridiculous.”
“Berik. For you to speak of manners is truly surprising.”
“Hey! I’m still a person!”
As the bread drew near, Hasha’s nostrils flared. Though he’d scavenged through mountains and fields eating whatever he found, such fare could hardly suit the palate of one who had once been human. When I gestured that it was fine, he swallowed it without hesitation.
“Was this dog one you were raising?”
-Yes. That day, the only living thing in my home was ‘Ruki,’ but the spell went wrong and I became this. Fortunately, the sorcerers thought I couldn’t absorb the power and died. I disappeared into the well with something unknown mixed in.
They killed everyone who traveled with the foreigner from Astana. Since they committed the deed, it was only natural that they should come to investigate. I clicked my tongue lightly at the Magic Department’s actions, which were more serious than I’d expected.
-My body, bound by the command spell, became undead. From the day I clawed my way out of the grave, I was constantly kept in place, unable to go anywhere. Then one day, I met thieves in the forest. From that moment on, my body began moving of its own accord, regardless of my will.
No matter how much I barked or dragged at their pant legs, I was helpless. It was truly the result of a forbidden act, so no speculation was permitted. I frowned and asked in return.
“Did those bastards intentionally take your body?”
-It didn’t seem that way. They were confused at first too. If the village found out, the guards would come. So they killed me twice.
There was no emotion in Hasha’s testimony. Yet he had witnessed fists raining down on his corpse and blades piercing through it.
-Once they realized my body wouldn’t die, they took the corpse with them. After some time passed, they somehow figured out how to use spells through my body. Every time an undead appeared, I opened my inner eye.
That’s how I could see the situation through the undead that came to the inn. It was more complicated than expected, and the situation was troubling. Hasha pressed his moist, blunt snout against my side.
-So I need someone, anyone, to dispose of my corpse.
That’s why I spoke to Berik while watching from the forest. From the appearance of the long caravan procession, they didn’t seem to be ordinary people. Besides, I also knew that thieves were targeting my carriage not far away.
-I hope you’ll help me.
Hasha made the request with a determined voice. Hearing this, Berik indifferently popped a bread scrap into his mouth.
“Really now, it seems like I’m the one who’ll be doing all the hard work, yet look how I’m being treated.”
I smiled faintly and stroked the dog’s head. It would be more accurate to say our interests aligned rather than that I was helping.
“Then you know where the thieves are right now?”
Hasha needed to find his corpse, and I needed to find my carriage. Besides, wasn’t he the only survivor who had witnessed Wesley’s atrocities and lived?
The dog flared his nostrils again and nodded vigorously.
-Of course. I have a dog’s nose, after all.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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