Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 360

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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 360
Fire. The Experts
The King despaired, though he did not show it.
Before the unfamiliar precipice of a composite monster, before the shock that Burgos harbored an unexpectedly sharper blade than anticipated, before the dread that the very threshold to the capital had been breached, he composed his expression and listened to my information.
His advisors were no different. With bowed heads, they racked their minds for how to overcome this desperate situation. Since they essentially knew nothing, it was akin to searching for answers on a blank page.
“I’ve positioned some of my subordinates at the outer barriers. We should have no difficulty buying time, so you would do well to prepare in the interim.”
“Yes, yes, what did you say their names were?”
“Bergman and Tiefe. Not all monster hides are equally tough, but those two are known to be particularly hard among their kind.”
“Even ordinary bear hide is like that, so it would make sense for monsters with inherited traits. The problem is the core within them. What should we do?”
“There are weapons coated with mana-sealing stones.”
A measure of sorts to counter Bariel. Prince Noah himself had carried such weapons when visiting Bariel. I wasn’t certain of their quantity, but it was clear that a select few within the kingdom possessed them.
“Yes, that’s so.”
“Are there enough to distribute to all the mages?”
Everyone fell silent. They hadn’t properly grasped what I had just said.
“Though it’s a corpse, the hide still possesses mana. It would be easier to cut than with ordinary blades, and moreover, Tiefe’s tongue is extraordinarily long and moves with complete freedom, serving as his hands. His regenerative ability is also superior. With the aid of mana-sealing stones, I believe the mages would have a significant advantage in combat.”
“Your Majesty!”
The proposal was to hand over the mana-sealing stones the kingdom possessed to Bariel’s mages. An alarmed advisor cut off the conversation and called to the King.
Since I was watching, he couldn’t continue, but his gaze spoke volumes. This was absolutely unacceptable. Above all else, the mana-sealing stones were instruments that held Cliffford’s very fate.
The deal with Idgal had already fallen through, and if we surrendered what we possessed to Bariel here, Cliffford would be left with nothing. Even if we defeated Burgos immediately and escaped the danger, it would be no different from becoming Bariel’s vassal state.
“Battle has not yet occurred, and furthermore, no reports of the composite monster have been received. I believe it would be prudent to observe the situation and make a careful decision, Your Majesty.”
“I concur, Your Majesty.”
“Whether mana-sealing stone-infused weapons are effective against monsters remains unknown. This is merely Count Ian’s conjecture, is it not? Your Majesty, please exercise wise judgment….”
One faction prostrated themselves on the ground in vehement opposition. Then the opposing advisors rebutted, watching my reaction.
“Think about it logically. Mana-sealing stones literally seal mana. Since monster power is the same as mana, wouldn’t they be effective? That’s why Count Ian is asking for them.”
“Exactly. This isn’t an ordinary monster—it’s a mixture of two. Without the mages’ assistance now, defeat is certain. If we fall, Cliffford falls with us. So what are you all worried about? We have someone from another land working so hard for us!”
“Yes, my apologies. Everyone, rise. Your Majesty, it is right to grant Count Ian’s request. Once the barrier crumbles, everything will fall. It’s only a matter of time.”
“This is not Count Ian’s conjecture, but an expert’s assessment!”
Opinion split sharply among the advisors. The stones were extraordinarily expensive and rare, difficult to obtain. Regardless of the situation, surrendering them carelessly was unthinkable.
Heil, the mages, and I watched the advisors argue heatedly. The King remained motionless, his thoughts inscrutable.
“Count Ian. It seems internal division may arise.”
“Hush. It’s fine. The King will grant it.”
Heil’s eyebrows twitched. How could I possibly know that? The advisors’ opposition was so fierce. Yet I too raised my eyebrows with confidence.
‘Since I know Prince Noah received a proposal for Idgal trading from a mysterious outsider, I can infer that Idgal has already been released in large quantities to other nations. Since it produces effects similar to mana-sealing stones, their value cannot be what it once was. Of course, the right choice now is to provide them and receive the mages’ assistance.’
As I thought this, the King raised his hand. The advisors who had been arguing fiercely fell silent and turned their heads. The King had made his decision and commanded firmly.
“Deliver all mana-sealing stones owned by the palace to Count Ian, and provide weapons coated with them as well.”
“Your Majesty! This cannot be!”
“Wise decision!”
“It is my choice, and if you are my advisors, follow me with one voice. I will hear no objections. Count Ian, is there anything else you require?”
The advisors’ reactions, divided left and right, were stark. One side showed relief, the other expressions as if the heavens were collapsing.
I placed my hand over my chest and offered my gratitude lightly.
“We’ll also confiscate the Idgal you’re carrying.”
“Very well. Do as you see fit.”
“And I’d like to borrow the royal blacksmith’s workshop for a time.”
“Of course. Cliffford’s finest craftsmen work there—they’ll fulfill whatever you need. You there, guide Count Ian.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Will that suffice, Count Ian?”
As an Advisor opened the door, the King added his question. I turned to leave, but paused for a moment before offering a smile.
“Once the work is complete, please prepare plenty of meat.”
“Meat?”
“Beef, if possible.”
The King blinked at my cryptic request.
Cattle were the most vital animals for agriculture, but what was one herd compared to saving the nation? It seemed like a jest, so the King laughed heartily and agreed.
“Of course! I’ll provide as much as you desire!”
You may come to regret that promise. Heil sighed with concern and bowed his head before following me.
“What about Akorelra?”
“She said she’d be down shortly—”
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Whoooosh!
Before the words left his mouth, Akorelra’s piercing laughter echoed from above. She was sliding down the staircase railing like it was a slide. Her back was laden with a bundle of goods she’d gathered from the palace.
“You didn’t steal anything, did you?”
“Of course not! Just scraps left over from making the stamina potion. Too wasteful to leave behind. But Ian, where did the children go? Where are we headed?”
“To the blacksmith’s workshop.”
“The blacksmith’s workshop? Nice! But why?”
“We’ll liquefy the mana-sealing stones and Idgal, then synthesize them with weapons. Grandly called synthesis, but essentially embedding them near the blade so that mana cannot regenerate at the moment of attack—”
Thump.
Clang!
I stopped mid-sentence and turned to look at Akorelra. She stood vacant-eyed, staring at me, when suddenly blood began trickling from her right nostril.
“Akorelra?”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Heil, startled, grabbed her shoulder and asked. Unknown objects spilled from her bundle scattered across the floor, but she continued staring at me.
“So… so you’re saying we can actually melt the mana-sealing stones?”
“Yes. Working together with the blacksmiths.”
“A-and the Idgal too? By melting it?”
“Of course. Cliffford doesn’t possess many mana-sealing stones to begin with.”
Akorelra squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists. Blood erupted from her left nostril. Then came a thunderous cry—a bestial roar of pure joy, excitement, and exhilaration.
“Kyaaaaaaah! XXXX! XXX!”
Never in my life did I think this day would come! The day I could destroy mana-sealing stones with my own hands, melt them, and even synthesize them with other materials! We’d conducted research on Idgal back at Bariel, but the quantities were too limited to satisfy my desires.
Akorelra seized my hand eagerly. Blood dripped from her nose, tears streamed down her face, her teeth chattered—she was clearly not in her right mind.
“C-can I lick it?”
“The mana-sealing stone? You might lose your mana.”
“Ah, I see. Then who will take my place….”
As Akorelra turned to look at the mages, they all instinctively averted their gaze and subtly shifted behind me.
“Berik and the other mages are currently holding back the synthetic monsters. Once the weapons are complete, go deliver them directly. Therefore, I permit you to conduct experiments on monsters. As long as it doesn’t interfere with combat.”
“Let’s go! Come on! Listen here, Cliffford Retainer! Lead the way quickly to the blacksmith, hurry!”
“Huh? Ah, yes, yes. This way.”
“Run!”
“I-I’ll run!”
As Akorelra wiped the blood from the back of her hand and shouted, the servant began running with an expression as if he might cry.
The mages dashed off in a flurry. I followed slowly behind them and gave instructions to Heil.
“Heil, you clean up this place.”
“Pardon?”
Akorelra’s scattered bundle and miscellaneous items lay strewn about. Heil pointed at himself with a puzzled expression, and I shrugged my shoulders.
“You’re Akorelra’s dedicated attendant, aren’t you.”
“Me? Since when?”
“Hurry up.”
Since I marked Heil and Akorelra as the next heads of the Magic Division. I chuckled and disappeared, while Heil stood dumbfounded before beginning to pick up the items.
* * *
“Well, they stopped right there.”
Berik rocked his chair and surveyed the front with a telescope. The Burgos forces, which seemed ready to charge forward at any moment, had stopped and were setting up tents instead. As the sun began to set, they had apparently decided that further advancement was impossible.
Thanks to this, a crude but long trench was successfully dug along the barrier, and it was then filled with adhesive to restrain Baekgak’s movements. The Cliffford soldiers remained vigilant, keeping watch on the Burgos side.
“General. They’re not coming. Shouldn’t we go to them?”
“That’s not advisable. Since our objective is to protect the barrier, the greater the distance, the more variables arise. And above all, the sun is about to set. While we have the advantage in terrain, who knows what might happen. There could be nocturnal monsters.”
Moreover, no significant word had yet come from the royal palace. The mages’ leader, Ian, was said to be seeking countermeasures, but without his answer, we couldn’t move rashly.
Berik yawned widely and kept tapping his toes. If they came close, he’d just cut them all down! Ah, this is frustrating.
“What’s Ian doing. Eating meat alone?”
“Ian? And you ate all the jerky that was here. Why do you keep complaining about food?”
“I’m doing this to eat and survive. But why do you keep using informal speech with me? How old are you?”
“Thirty-five.”
Berik pretended not to hear and sniffled his nose.
The sky grew dim. The sunset painted the clouds red, blending with various shades of blue. From the veteran soldiers to the lowest-ranking troops, everyone in the Cliffford camp felt a moment of true peace.
Boom! Bang!
A loud noise came from somewhere. Startled soldiers flinched and gripped their swords again, and Berik and the mages also stepped outside the barrier and raised their telescopes. The sound had come from the Burgos side.
“What is it? Looks like something exploded over there?”
“Is it Baekgak?”
“Could they have failed to manage what they brought?”
“Wait, the soldiers are moving.”
The general detected unusual movement and hesitated. Something seemed to have gone wrong in the rear, and if that were the case….
“Prince Noah?”
The surviving Prince Noah’s forces, having bypassed the collapsed bridge and climbed toward the capital, had encountered the Burgos side.
In other words, they had fallen right into enemy territory. If Burgos divided his left and right flanks to capture them, it would be nearly impossible to escape without flying.
The General hastily summoned the commanders.
“All units, listen! The Second Legion must immediately advance toward Burgos and scatter their attention! Sound the drums loudly! We must create an opening for the Prince to escape!”
Boom-boom- Boom-
The General’s orders swiftly spread throughout the entire army via buffalo horn trumpets and military flags. At this unexpected command to sortie, Berik bounced around excitedly, darting about near the Mages.
“Let’s go, we’re going too!”
“We’re just supposed to draw their attention.”
As Berik gestured as if he would leap down beneath the barrier at any moment, the Mages grabbed his collar.
But Berik knew well. If he fell, the Mages would make him fly with magic. He grinned wickedly and threw himself forward without hesitation.
“That’s my specialty!”

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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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