Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 156

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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 156. Where Pollen Dances
“Count Ian. Are you busy?”
I turned at the sound of someone’s voice. My sleeves had been rolled up for quite some time, and my once-neat hair had grown slightly disheveled—the price of being buried under mountains of documents for days on end. As the sole bridge between the Magic Ministry and the Imperial Palace, it was an inevitable sight.
“What is it?”
“A carriage has arrived for you, Count Ian.”
“Ah, the Luronstone? I’ll head out shortly.”
“And you’re aware there’s a mana verification scheduled for later, yes?”
I nodded. Quite naturally, I had begun receiving formal speech from the other mages. Though it was customary for young newcomers to be addressed casually, even among nobility, my emergence as a leading candidate for the next minister had brought an unexpected dignity.
Neigh!
In the distance, three or four carriages came galloping in a line. The mages, myself included, rushed out to see the Luronstone, and among them stood Captain Akorella. She, who had been nervously biting her nails, quickly bounded down the stairs.
“Hurry! Come quickly!!”
“Captain Akorella, it’s dangerous!”
Neigh!
Regardless of the startled horses, Akorella bounced about, gesturing to her subordinates to unload the cargo. Romandro and Berik poked their heads out from inside the carriage, searching for me.
“Ian! Ian!”
“Should we unload this here?”
I smiled and responded to their enthusiastic wave. As the guards and staff lowered the boxes to the ground, Akorella exhaled sharply and carefully opened the lid. It was filled with gleaming, violet-hued Luronstone chunks.
“Heavens! Heavens!”
“I’ve never seen pieces this large before.”
“Wow, these are massive chunks. Each box must weigh several kilograms easily. I’ll need to call more people.”
Akorella lifted the Luronstone with trembling hands. The mages watching from the stairs stirred with admiration. Even those not in the Mana Stone Management Division recognized that such a large supply of precious mana stones was beneficial for everyone.
“Captain Akorella! You’re bleeding! Nosebleed!”
“…The color is so radiant and beautiful, ah, I’m going mad. I want to grind it, burn it, mix it with everything and research it right now. Can I lick it!? Minister Ian!?”
“Are you insane? Why would you lick it?”
“Did I ask you? I asked the owner of the Luronstone.”
She grinned with half-crazed eyes while blood streamed from both nostrils. Fearing disaster if I refused, I nodded and gestured.
“It’s your department’s property now, so lick it or not as you please. However, I’d suggest moving it to storage quickly. Someone from the Imperial Treasury will be arriving soon.”
“Yippee! Thank you!”
“Yes, understood.”
After confirming with the mage that the Luronstone had actually been delivered, payment would be issued to me. For now, only a few tens of thousands of gold coins would arrive, but that was more than enough to settle the donation records and compensate Romandro.
“Ian! Or rather, Master! Want to eat?”
“Don’t be fooled. This fool emptied every food store at the Imperial Training Grounds. He doesn’t do the training he’s supposed to and just loafs around. By fortune, he has the best luck of all.”
“When I went, Jairot wasn’t there and neither was Barsabe. There were only minor soldiers, so I took it easy.”
The imperial security had become even more rigorous following the Wesley incident. As a result, both Jairot and Barsabe had become busier and rarely appeared at the training grounds. The mages immediately recognized the red-haired young swordsman.
“Ah, that’s him. The one who made Captain Jairot open his mana.”
“He’s younger than I expected. But he’s Count Ian’s escort?”
“Impressive, matching Captain Jairot’s level.”
“I heard he was brought from the borderlands, but it’s hard to say for certain. There are Luronstone deposits there, and there are crazy dogs like that too….”
A smile flickered at the corners of Berik’s mouth as he looked at me. His eyes sparkled, his ears perked up. Whether it was praise or insult, he seemed delighted to be the center of attention, his joy evident. I chuckled and patted his shoulder.
“Does it feel good?”
“Oh ho, this is rather pleasant.”
“Those who make the sword their destiny tend to feel that way.”
“Ian, so what about food?”
At Berik’s question, I checked my watch. It was an awkward hour for a meal, and besides, I had an important schedule ahead of me today.
“It won’t work. I need to conduct a mana verification ceremony soon.”
“A mana verification ceremony? You already did that at the New Year’s gathering.”
“That was merely to confirm whether mana existed at all. This time, we’re determining rank and order. If I’m to be called the captain of the mages, I must possess mana that everyone will acknowledge.”
Everyone could gauge it intuitively, but actually competing to establish hierarchy was another matter entirely. Perhaps some who hadn’t run as candidates for captain had withdrawn because they didn’t want their true level revealed.
“Can I come along?”
“Do as you wish.”
With my permission granted, Berik bounced excitedly around the area. Romandro followed behind Akorella, waving his hand.
“Count Ian, I’ll handle the rest of the cleanup here. Once the Finance Ministry issues a check, I’ll process it as a donation immediately.”
“Thank you, Romandro.”
“Right then. As for Berik, you’ll handle him.”
“…I nearly took back my gratitude.”
Romandro made a face, saying it would be better to handle administrative work than to spend time in the imperial palace with that reckless fool—it was life-shortening work. Berik, paying no mind, tugged at my collar and pestered me.
“So? Where do you do it? The mages fighting!”
* * *
Though it had the official name of “Mana Training Hall,” all the mages called this place the “Glass Dome.” The dome walls were reinforced with defensive mana stones to prevent external damage when mages practiced offensive magic.
“Ian! Master! Fighting spirit! Kill them all! Grind them to dust! Crush them flat! Stomp them down! Go, go, go!”
Berik stood out distinctly among the composed mages, his fists clenched as he shouted what he called encouragement. When I gave Nakina a meaningful look, she unhesitatingly grabbed Berik’s collar and sat him down in place.
“Is everyone here?”
It was the captain from another department who would oversee the selection. He scanned the surroundings, then paused as his gaze fixed on a point in the upper level. Then he immediately bowed his head. I and the other candidates turned to look back as well.
“Isn’t that Prince Marib?”
“The Minister of Justice is here too.”
“They’re all showing their faces, it seems.”
“What brings the Prince here, I wonder.”
The mages murmured among themselves, then glanced at me. There was surely a reason—they wanted to see with their own eyes the abilities of me, whom Marib was personally backing.
Whoosh.
All the mages, including myself, placed our hands over our hearts and bowed in that direction, and the captain cleared his throat before explaining the procedure of the mana verification ceremony.
“Face each other and project mana, confirming who pushes and who is pushed back. Magic spells are forbidden—you must prove your ability with pure mana spheres alone. The time limit is three minutes total. No objections will be heard, and those who wish to withdraw now may do so. There’s nothing more shameful than being knocked down by an opponent’s mana.”
A brief silence. One mage raised his hand.
“…I withdraw.”
“Very well.”
“I also withdraw.”
“Anyone else?”
They declared their withdrawal while glancing at me. The outline of the next captain was already becoming clear. Internally, more than half the department stood with me, and externally, I had the full support of the imperial palace’s real power. Moreover, judging from my confrontation with Wesley, my raw mana power was not to be underestimated.
“I withdraw.”
“Then those remaining are…”
The captain raised his eyebrows at Jang, as if asking whether he would withdraw. I turned to look at him as well, and his expression appeared quite complex and troubled.
‘If Deilaina were to withdraw her support, it would be utterly meaningless.’
Beyond meaninglessness, it could actually become dangerous. Marib, Prince Gail, and Deilaina pushing forward someone to break the current Minister and claim the position? How long would such a seat truly last?
When someone no one desires seizes victory in a power struggle, it is no different from drinking from a poisoned chalice.
“Jang?”
“…I… I won’t give up.”
After a long deliberation, Jang declared it as if wringing the words from his very soul. He clearly possessed pride, and on the other hand, it revealed just how deeply he clung to the position of Minister. Whether this was foolishness or steadfast determination would become clear in time.
“I see. Very well. Then only Ian and Jang will proceed with the mana verification ceremony. It won’t take long. The outcome will be decided in a single round.”
Snap!
The Captain marked each endpoint with her hand. It was a signal to move apart. As the two walked to their respective ends, all others evacuated the dome.
“Master! Win this! If you win, I’ll—I won’t eat the whole pig today!! For us, there is only victory!!”
“My ears are going to burst, you fool. Quiet down.”
“Ian! Show us what you’ve got!”
“Isn’t this the same strength that defeated Wesley!”
“Defeated isn’t the right word—he blocked it, that’s all!”
“Jang! Be careful!”
“What’s this, Jang. You didn’t give up? That’s unexpected.”
The mages’ clamor erupted all at once. Magical light slowly spread across the dome. Soon, large numbers bloomed across the glass. It was a countdown.
“Ian, I don’t know what you did when you met Deilaina, but this isn’t over yet.”
-10. 9, 8….
“I-I will p-prove myself again with this.”
Jang stammered, unable to overcome his nervousness. He had calculated that if he could defeat Ian here, he might turn Deilaina’s heart and even reverse the entire opinion of the Magic Ministry. Ian smiled genuinely and slowly released his mana.
Zing.
“Jang. Your determination to do your best until the end is admirable.”
“Shut up. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day since entering the Magic Ministry? What could you possibly understand, having just arrived!?”
-7, 6, 5….
“Must one understand?”
“What?”
“You don’t fully know my circumstances either, do you?”
“Now that you mention it, that’s irritating.”
-4, 3….
“Consider this merely a missed opportunity. It is an eternal truth that those who do not give up will eventually see the fruits of their labor. I hold your refusal to surrender in high regard.”
At those words, Jang bit his lip hard. The courage to take a step forward even while knowing the path ahead was blocked. The determination to cling to even the smallest hope until the very end. Not now, but someday, a new opportunity would surely come for Jang.
“Silence!”
-2, 1….
Whoooosh!
The moment the numbers vanished, Jang unleashed his mana. Sweeping across the short grass, he closed the distance to Ian’s eyes in an instant.
But the moment he met Ian’s golden gaze.
Boom! Bang!
Crackle!
Jang’s force rebounded and scattered in all directions. Light poured endlessly from Ian’s body. The two manas clashed in midair, locking into a test of strength.
No, I thought he had already entered.
“What? Jang?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!?”
“Jang! Damn it! What are you doing?”
“Aaaagh! Damn it, what is this!”
Mere seconds.
Jang held back my magical power for only a few seconds.
Unable to withstand the overwhelming force pushing forward, his feet began sliding backward. Sweat dripped down his face, yet no one noticed. Not even Jang himself.
“No!”
Crash!
The moment his strength faltered, Jang’s body flew through the air and slammed into the wall. Dust settled in thick clouds, and all the mages rose from their seats simultaneously.
Whoosh.
I swept away the smoke with an elegant gesture, then looked up toward the spectators’ box. As if to ask why they hadn’t announced the verdict yet.
Then, a single flower drifted down slowly before me.
“Well done.”
It was a flower thrown by Prince Marib. A white flower to celebrate the victor.
At that, the mages around him conjured pollen with their magic. One by one, the pollen they sent drifted down and accumulated at my feet.
“Ian! He’s my master!”
“Excellent work, remarkable, Ian!”
“What was that just now? I didn’t see that wrong, did I?”
“Jang! Are you alright? Jang! Come to your senses!”
“He was extraordinary even at the New Year’s gathering, but wow.”
I picked up Prince Marib’s flower and saluted lightly. The mages’ awestruck applause continued to burst forth along with the pollen.

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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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