Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 293

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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 293
Fire. A Secret Conversation with Captain Jairot
The Imperial Guards had two buildings. Given the nature of their duties, one stood near the Emperor’s quarters, and another at the training grounds. Berik had rushed ahead to the one closer to the Emperor’s residence.
Romandro glanced around curiously, muttering to himself.
“Come to think of it, I think this is almost my first time setting foot here directly.”
No one could deny that the Emperor’s quarters were the most noble and magnificent place in Bariel.
“It’s gloomy.”
Berik expressed it quite differently, turning his body around and walking backward ahead of us.
“And there are far too many things we’re told not to do.”
“It’s only natural, being so close to the Emperor. Still, Berik, you’re the luckiest Guard I know. The other guards live in the barracks—they say they wake with their swords in the morning and sleep with them at night. But you….”
Thud!
The moment Romandro started his nagging, Berik, walking backward, took the door square in the back of his head. The door swung open at the sound. It was Barsabe. She grabbed her head and glanced down at Berik, who had crouched down, with exasperation.
“…Welcome.”
“Oh, you did that on purpose, didn’t you? Romandro!”
“Did I tell you to walk backward? You’re the one who did it, so what are you complaining about?”
I passed Berik and followed Barsabe inside.
The first thing that came into view was a wall covered entirely with golden badges. They all belonged to Warriors of the Imperial Guards. Those who had faced glorious deaths for Bariel, against enemies or monsters. In my time, there had been so many that they extended to the wall beside this one.
‘How strange.’
That this place I was standing in had been the palace a hundred years ago. As I paused in that gap of memory, Captain Jairot stood beside me, gazing at the badges together. His eyes held a weighty reverence.
“Do you know? The number of Imperial Guards who have passed through history matches exactly the number of these badges.”
“Captain Jairot.”
“To die with honor. That is the true period at the end of an Imperial Guard’s story.”
The badge of Riama, the former Captain of Three who had betrayed us, was not hung here. She had been stripped of her qualifications.
The whirlwind of history where countless Emperors ascended and disappeared. Naturally, the Imperial Guards who stood beside them could not expect peaceful deaths.
“How come I don’t have a badge?”
Berik squeezed through between me and Captain Jairot. Barsabe grabbed him by the nape of his neck, telling him not to interrupt.
“When you die. I’ll polish it well and hang it up for you.”
“Stop joking around. Once I’m dead, what do I care if it’s gold or silver? Give it to me while I’m alive! My salary is already in the negatives—”
“Please, just be quiet and follow me.”
I watched Berik being dragged away and smiled at Captain Jairot. This was our first meeting since the selection tournament, wasn’t it? As someone who had rapidly risen to become the center of an opposing faction, meetings themselves couldn’t be easy.
“It’s been a while, Captain Jairot. Berik has caused quite a bit of trouble, and I wanted to convey my apologies, but I haven’t had the chance.”
“It’s fine. I anticipated it to some degree and accepted it. I know you’ve been busy with the appointment ceremony. However, there’s something urgent we need to discuss. Please, this way.”
A wide round table sat in the center of the common office, and the new captains Simon and Bonita stood there. They had been carefully examining a spread map and letters when they noticed me and offered their greetings.
“Good day to you, Minister. I am Captain Simon of the Three.”
“I am Bonita.”
A light handshake. They were being courteous, but it was stiff nonetheless. That made sense—though they were called equal captains, Captain Jairot, who was their senior and their pillar of support, was wary of me. These were not soldiers who would clutter their words with unnecessary pleasantries.
“The matter is this: we received a report from the southern border garrison. They inspected the mana anomaly detection device, and the readings are abnormal compared to normal years.”
“To what extent?”
“…It has reached three times the usual level.”
I skimmed through the report bearing the garrison’s seal. My expression showed no sign of doubt whatsoever.
Simon and Bonita exchanged glances, looking somewhat taken aback. At least they knew what a magical anomaly detection device was.
“Forgive me, but what exactly is that?”
Just like Romandro over there.
Simon handed over another report and began his explanation.
“It’s a type of warning system installed at regular intervals along the border. Bariel is relatively safe from monster attacks, but we cannot afford to be negligent. The northern and western regions are so treacherous that the annual baseline readings fluctuate between five and six.”
“It detects magical energy, then?”
“That’s correct. Though technically, it’s not limited to monsters alone. However, this is the first time such readings have appeared in the south, near Cliffford.”
What was happening across all of Gaia, centered on Bariel? I tilted my head as I flipped through the report.
“So the sudden inspection of the magical anomaly detection devices was due to the aftermath of the earthquake.”
“I was thinking we might dispatch our personnel and mages to investigate the entire border. Didn’t you yourself go out to earthquake-damaged areas as a reconstruction advisor before taking on the role of Steward?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. I was engaged in such work until just before heading down to Hielo. It’s true that small and large earthquakes have become more frequent.”
Now that I thought about it, tears blurred my vision again. A provincial posting right after my return? I clenched my fists, vowing never to leave the capital again.
“How many personnel are we talking about?”
Then came Ian’s sharp question. Having finished reading all the reports, he placed the stack on the table. Simon and Bonita carefully offered their opinions while gauging Captain Jairot’s reaction.
“The more, the better.”
At those words, Romandro snapped out of his reverie. With mages already in short supply, and now they wanted to scatter them across all four directions on assignment. The intention was far too clear.
They meant to dismantle it.
My influence. Everything.
“The Imperial Guards? How many are you thinking of, to speak in such terms?”
“We plan to conduct the inspection based on the personnel determined by the Magic Ministry. Since the Imperial Defense Ministry has agreed to provide additional escort forces for any shortfall, there’s no need to worry about security.”
“Now, hold on.”
As Romandro bristled and moved to object, Ian raised his hand lightly to stop him. It was a very slow, quiet gesture, yet it was enough to silence the room.
“Everyone except Captain Jairot, please leave.”
At his request, Romandro cleared his throat and withdrew, while Simon and Bonita also disappeared after receiving Captain Jairot’s permission.
I traced the borders of Bariel marked on the map with my fingertips.
“Captain Jairot. First, let me answer: I will not send mages to the border. Even if I did, the maximum I could provide is just one.”
What I wanted was to check myself, not to check the Magic Ministry. The Magic Ministry—or rather, the mages themselves—were the very backbone of Bariel. If that wavered, Jin could never move forward.
‘Is this the limitation of warriors? The Imperial Defense Ministry seems to have aligned their interests with us to some degree, but still….’
They seemed to need someone to observe the situation on their behalf. A righteous heart is a powerful force. But if the direction is wrong, it’s worse than having nothing at all.
I flicked the map and smiled faintly.
“It seems I’ve somehow fallen out of favor with Captain Jairot. Should I entrust someone reckless like Berik to you?”
“That’s not it at all, sir.”
“There’s been quite a bit of talk lately, and since I have ears, I keep hearing things that trouble me. It’s true that with His Majesty the Emperor maintaining his position so firmly, things are somewhat chaotic, but aren’t all the officials doing their best in their respective roles?”
The Emperor’s personal guard. Since that was their foundation, it would be advantageous in many ways to maintain closer ties with the administrative branch rather than the Imperial Defense Ministry.
“The same goes for the Magic Ministry. There’s been talk that our treatment is excessive, and if we lose even the palace mages, it’s obvious the department will face operational problems. I trust you anticipated my refusal.”
Jairot simply nodded calmly. As I said, he had never expected an immediate agreement.
“Right. But it doesn’t seem like you called me just to discuss this.”
I sat down in my chair and clasped my hands. Then Jairot exhaled deeply and rummaged inside his garment. A bundle of letters emerged from his hands. He offered them to me to read.
“What is this?”
“You’ll understand once you see it.”
Captain Jairot’s voice carried an unusual tone. I loosened the cord, and soon found myself pressing my temples in surprise.
* * *
“Where is Ian?”
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Romandro emerged outside with a distinctly displeased expression and approached Berik. For reasons unknown, Berik was doing a handstand against the wall. Romandro crouched down and muttered incomprehensibly, venting complaints that made no sense whatsoever.
“What are you saying? Where is Ian?”
“Inside meeting with Captain Jairot.”
“Oh no, I’m not in trouble, am I?”
“Have you done something wrong again?”
Whoosh! Berik sprang up with a light motion and drew an X with his hands, denying it emphatically. Apparently, he didn’t understand that strong denial was affirmation.
“Absolutely not! There’s nothing at all!”
“…Very well. I’m sure that’s the case.”
“By the way, when exactly is the appointment ceremony? I heard that outside is complete chaos right now. Alcohol flowing through the sewers, strangers dancing and singing in the streets, everyone too busy celebrating.”
He wanted to go out and celebrate too. As Berik drew close with sparkling eyes, Romandro pushed his face away.
“Don’t even dream of it until the guests leave after the ceremony. How can a salaried man go out and play like everyone else?”
Eriponi had only just arrived as the first guest, and he was saying such things!
Berik clicked his tongue and lay flat on the ground. The three captains, Simon and Bonita, seemed accustomed to this, ignoring him as they discussed something between themselves.
“Will Viviana come to the appointment ceremony?”
“Since Emperor Jhin extended the invitation, of course she will.”
At the mention of Viviana, Romandro’s expression softened slightly.
The appointment ceremony itself would take place only before the nobility and a select few invited guests, after which the crowned one would walk the Emperor’s path as the final schedule.
Creak.
“Ah! Ian!”
“Ian! How did it go? Was everything settled?”
I wore an expression much like my usual one, but Berik sensed something amiss and sniffed the air. Alarmed by this, Romandro grabbed Berik by his sideburns.
“Berik! You can’t do that while wearing your dress uniform!”
“I have completed my business. Let us return to the Mage Division.”
“Ah, very well. I understand.”
“Berik, what about you?”
“I’m coming too! I’ve finished all my training for today!”
He made the decision on his own without even asking his superiors Simon and Bonita. I nodded and gave them a respectful glance.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Please go ahead.”
The two bowed respectfully, and I set off without hesitation. For some reason, I seemed to be hurrying.
Romandro ran alongside me on the left and asked.
“Ian, what’s wrong? What did Jairot say? What about the Mages?”
“We will not be sending the Mages.”
“Right? Ah yes. The Imperial Guards were being too much!”
And Berik running on the right. He whined to be told as well, but was drowned out by the gesture of the Mage standing beside the carriage. The Mage cried out loudly the moment he spotted me.
“Sir Ian! Cliffford’s carriage has begun to appear!”

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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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