Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 171

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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 171. Spreading Embers
Clang! Clang!
“Aaaahhh!”
“Stop, please! Spare me!”
“Don’t let a single one escape! Drive them this way!”
“Kill them! For Prince Gail!”
“Prince Marib watches over us!”
The daylight scene was painted with madness. What darkness would have mercifully concealed at night lay starkly exposed under the brilliant sun. It felt like hell itself had unfurled beneath a cloudless sky.
Crash!
A corpse plummeting from the window left a trail of blood across the outer wall. Shattered glass scattered like sleet, and I reflexively raised my sleeve to shield my eyes.
Whoosh!
Spears and arrows flew without aim, and Berik deflected them with precise sword strikes while roaring at the top of his lungs.
“You damn fools! Look at who you’re throwing at!”
“Ahhh! Charge! Charge forward!”
“Kill them all!”
“Wait, this is Ian, Minister Hielo! Our master! Huh? Ian, didn’t you say I’d be safe if I said your name?”
“Those consumed by madness won’t listen to reason.”
“Kill the traitors! Protect Bariel!”
“Ugh! Really! What can I do! Hahaha!”
But those consumed by frenzy would hear nothing. Berik swung his blade without hesitation at those blocking his path. Blood erupted in arcs, screams tore through the air, and laughter escaped his lips.
“Berik. That’s enough. Let’s move.”
“But they’re asking to be killed!”
“Should I go ahead?”
“No, that won’t do. Let’s go, let’s go.”
Pure chaos. Within the tension of life and death, I couldn’t even distinguish ally from enemy. A single misjudgment in that instant could lead to my own demise.
What could be more worthless than a war sustained only by excitement rather than conviction? I pressed my shoulder against the wall and squeezed through the turmoil.
Clang! Clang!
“One, two! Come on! Block! Okay!”
“Berik, be quiet. Their attention keeps turning this way.”
“I’m the quietest one here!”
For all his talk, his protection was flawless. While I couldn’t prevent the bloodshed around us, he didn’t allow a single attack to reach me.
Clang!
“This way, Berik!”
“That way? Really?”
Familiar with the palace’s layout, I spotted a passage and changed direction. It was a shortcut commonly used by lower-ranking officials. As we rushed through, the sounds of battle gradually faded. We were moving away. Away from that terrible hell.
Tap tap tap!
“What will we find if we keep going?”
“The rear gate of the Third Imperial Palace should appear. It’s somewhat distant from Deilaina’s quarters, but it would be wise to rendezvous with Xiaoxi first before searching for them.”
I wasn’t certain whether Deilaina and the twin princes had guards, but if they didn’t, Xiaoxi’s presence alone would prove invaluable. Securing reinforcements and returning to the Magic Ministry immediately was the best course of action.
“Wait, Ian, this is a dead end?”
“Get down.”
Thud!
At my command, Berik prostrated himself, offering his back. I stepped onto him and vaulted over the wall, where the entrance to the Third Palace’s underground dungeon came immediately into view. Heavily barred gates and shield-bearing gatekeepers stood alert, their spears trained directly at me.
“Halt! This is the imperial palace’s underground dungeon. Turn back!”
“I am Ian Hielo, Minister of the Magic Bureau. I’ve come to search for an intruder who entered Prince Gail’s quarters at dawn.”
“…I apologize, but we cannot permit entry. We are currently under Security Level One alert due to the danger of prisoners escaping from the underground dungeon.”
They opened their visors, their expressions troubled. The distant sound of explosions seemed to draw steadily closer, as if the raging battle spreading across the palace was about to reach this very place.
Zing.
I released my magical power as a warning to the gatekeepers.
“Your diligence in duty is commendable, but assess the situation accurately. What is your superior’s name?”
“W-Wyvern, sir.”
“Fortunate. He is currently securing the Magic Bureau. He has pledged his allegiance to me, so who holds command authority now? I will take only one prisoner. If problems arise from this, report my name.”
The gatekeepers exchanged glances and fell silent, unable to make a judgment amid the palace’s incomprehensible chaos.
“This is a crucial figure for restoring order to the palace. If you refuse, I will have no choice but to break through the iron door.”
“Break it? Smash it to pieces?”
“Wait, please! Your credentials—show us your credentials!”
I removed my formal overcoat and handed it to them. It was drenched in blood of unknown origin, but it was sufficient to serve as proof of authority.
Clank!
“Please proceed.”
The iron door, firmly sealed, swung open. Berik and I descended into the underground, guided by the guards. A damp place devoid of sunlight, reeking of mold—completely severed from the outside world, like a different realm entirely.
Creak.
In the darkness, I found a man collapsed on the ground. Xiaoxi, bound at all four limbs and curled up. His eyes were covered, but I could recognize him by his ash-gray hair.
“Release him.”
“Yes. Please wait a moment.”
His ears, which had been perfectly still as if dead, twitched slightly. As the guard removed the blindfold, two differently colored eyes met mine directly.
“…”
“Xiaoxi. Can you walk?”
“Y-yes, yes, hello.”
I raised the lantern to illuminate Xiaoxi. Bruises marked his cheeks, and a gash ran across one arm. He squinted against the lantern’s brightness.
“…Where am I?”
“Where? Your master came to retrieve his slave. But why do you look like this? I gave Gail explicit instructions.”
It was a suspicious order, yet I had guaranteed that nothing would happen to Xiaoxi. So why did he look like this? I had made it clear to Gail.
“…”
“Speak.”
“The man said he wanted to see blood, so I inflicted the wound myself.”
My suspicion was correct. Gail had wanted Xiaoxi to be wounded so he could later use it against me. Then what about the bruises on his face? When I looked at the guard, he shook his head as if his feet were burning.
“W-we didn’t torture him. We simply transported him here and locked him up immediately.”
Boom!
At that moment, a distant explosion. For it to be heard this clearly in the underground dungeon, the scale must be considerable. I signaled Berik with my eyes to help Xiaoxi to his feet.
Whoosh.
“…What am I supposed to do now?”
The absence of orders. During my imprisonment, that was harder to bear than anything else. Born a slave, every moment of my life had been defined by commands. Eating, sleeping, resting, working—my entire existence had been shaped by someone else’s direction. Without it, I felt as though my compass had shattered.
“What weapons do you typically use?”
“…In the arena, we usually fight bare-handed.”
“If you do that now, you’ll die for nothing. I’m going out there to cut through the chaos and retrieve someone.”
“…A dagger.”
A dagger? Ian glanced at the Guard to see if he carried one. The Guard startled and fumbled at his waist.
“Well, I have a small one I use sometimes to peel fruit.”
A folding knife that fit perfectly in the palm. Xiaoxi accepted it wordlessly, while Berik waved his hand dismissively.
“How are you supposed to kill someone with that?”
“….”
“Stab it in and it’ll smell like fruit! Xiao, forget that—grab something longer. Then you can swing it around carelessly and it’ll go clang-clang just fine.”
“Fine. We have no time to waste. Xiaoxi, report everything that happened last night without omission as we go.”
“…Yes.”
Tap-tap-tap!
Ian led Xiaoxi out of the underground prison. In the darkness, Xiaoxi’s eyes had been ashen, but now they gleamed with unmistakable clarity. The Gatekeepers managing the entrance scrambled and shouted.
“Should we open the gates? If you’re leaving, hurry!”
“The fighting has spread here! We’re sealing the exits completely!”
The battle Ian and Berik had passed through had reached this place. Flames and smoke erupted everywhere, and the sounds of destruction echoed around them. Ian gestured for the gates to be opened and ran.
Crash!
“Aaaaagh! Kill them!”
“Don’t let a single one live!”
“Their blood will nourish Bariel!”
“Vermin! How dare you speak Bariel’s name!”
Boom! Bang!
Clang! Crackle!
Blood pooled on the floor like the embers burning the building. So that’s why Ian’s clothes were soiled. Xiaoxi was somewhat startled, but remained composed, gripping the knife firmly.
“You said you dislike seeing blood.”
“…It’s fine.”
“Yahahoo! Kill!”
Whoooosh!
“Aaaaagh!”
“Right. You have to be fine now. That’s how you survive.”
Berik drove his sword into the heart of a Soldier lunging at Ian. He pulled the blade free in one motion, the steel emerging through the back, then slashed across the ribs.
Xiaoxi frowned down at the convulsing Soldier. If it had been instant death, there would be no suffering.
“Dieeee!”
Another Soldier lunged at Ian. Berik tried to parry, but the corpse caught on his blade. Ian opened his golden eyes and condensed his mana.
Zing. Zing.
Crack!
But faster than that, Xiaoxi blocked it. One hand seized the Soldier’s hair while the other drove the knife into his eye socket.
“….”
Like slaughtering livestock, the intent to sever life with a single strike was evident. The vital points were known with precision, and the movements to strike them contained no wasted motion. The soldier collapsed forward without even managing a scream.
Thud.
“….”
“….”
“…sigh.”
Weighty, concise, and swift. Even in the hand retrieving the knife, that power was palpable. Berik stared at Xiaoxi with his mouth agape, while Ian too fell silent, equally taken aback. Only Xiaoxi wiped the knife on his upper garment and sighed.
“…Aren’t you going?”
“…Let’s go.”
“Yaaaa! Xiao! What are you doing! What the hell are you!”
“Quiet, Berik. Don’t distract me.”
“No, Ian. You just saw that, right? Whoosh, crack! Ugh! What was that, how did you do that? Teach me too! Actually, let’s spar right now!”
Zing!
As Berik clung to Xiaoxi without restraint, I opened my golden eyes. A clear warning that silence and obedience were expected, or consequences would follow. Berik snapped to attention, his eyes wide and blinking.
“I almost made a mistake. Right?”
“There are no second warnings. Berik.”
“Aw, why so scary? Then after we finish this, want to have a match? Xiaoxi! Xiaoxi!”
Crack!
Xiaoxi ignored Berik and walked ahead. He cleanly eliminated those blocking my path. Witnessing blood wasn’t pleasant, but with my master’s orders, even this could be endured.
I followed the path Berik and Xiaoxi carved out, lifting my head. Soon now, I would reach Deilaina’s imperial palace.
* * *
“Lady Deilaina! Lady Deilaina!”
“Disaster has struck! Lady Deilaina!”
Deilaina woke somewhat later than usual. Her sleep had been restless due to troubled dreams. While she was being prepared at her vanity, the Chamberlain’s cry reached her ears.
“What is the matter?”
A man who rarely raised his voice was now in such a panic. The Chamberlain reported breathlessly.
“P-Prince Marib has received His Majesty’s seal. Ah, there are intruders in Prince Gail’s quarters….”
“Speak clearly!”
The atmosphere was grave. Guards rushed in with thunderous footsteps, dragging all manner of heavy furniture to block the entrance to her palace.
“Prince Marib and Prince Gail are battling over His Majesty’s seal. Knights and soldiers from each house have entered the palace and are in standoff.”
“That is….”
Her mind went blank. For the Emperor’s seal? Then what of His Majesty?
“The Magic Ministry has blocked the exits. There is no way out. For now, it would be best to hide here-”
“Arcen! Jin!”
Deilaina rushed to the princes’ chambers. If Marib and Gail had drawn blades against each other, the fallout would surely reach them as well.
Creak!
Upon opening the door, Arcen and Jin sat on the sofa. Arcen was smiling brightly, looking particularly pleased.

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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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