Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 367

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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 367
Fire. Prisoner Exchange
“Us?”
Berik tilted his head in confusion.
You and me? And the mages here?
Akorelra casually gnawed at her brooch with her front teeth as she muttered.
“There’s been no research on cracks at Bariel either. If it means everything that uses and contains magical power, then our very existence could become a problem, couldn’t it?”
“Hmm, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Didn’t Cliffford say there were mages in the previous generation? If so, it would be natural for the situation to occur before now rather than at present.”
“Then is it the use of magical power? If we activate it and stimulate the power beneath the earth’s crust, it meshes with earthquakes and erupts? Is that right? Ian?”
“That seems like a reasonable theory. So Burgos deliberately mobilized monsters in the war. Of course, there’s an aspect of utilizing that military force, but monsters don’t emit magical power by their very existence, do they? Unlike us who must activate magical power. So they brought monsters to continuously stimulate Cliffford’s earth crust! Ah, this must be the answer.”
“I agree. And if a mage intervenes and activates magical power, it’s the same as adding acceleration. It’s a scheme to draw out as much of Gaia’s power as possible that’s crouching beneath Cliffford right now.”
“Then Burgos knew we would come over to this side?”
“No. That’s what ‘killing two birds with one stone’ means. They probably would have mobilized monsters even if we hadn’t come. The alliance relationships are tangled complexly, and in the meantime, we’re here too, so they thought it worked out well.”
“Wow, killing two birds with one stone? If mages use their power, that’s good, and if not, they can consume and advance to Bariel too? That’s efficient. Hmm. I concede.”
As a new perspective on magical power emerged, the mages couldn’t hide their excitement and chattered among themselves.
And well they might, for without magical power they would have been merely ordinary humans. This was a chance to take one step closer to understanding the source of magical power, so they couldn’t hide their instinctive curiosity.
Bang! Bang!
“Now, everyone speak one at a time, not all at once!”
When the General struck the table, the mages fell silent at once and looked toward him.
“We’ve said all we have to say?”
“Yes. We’re done.”
“So what is the conclusion?”
“We don’t know. We were just speculating. Ask Ian for the answer.”
At the mage’s gesture, everyone present, including the General, fixed their gaze on me.
I sipped my tea while raising my eyebrows slightly. I had only been in office for barely half a year. No matter how much of a Minister I was, the Magic Division’s manner of demanding answers from someone like me seemed quite amusing.
“Ian. Please explain it properly.”
“Everything they said is correct. For Gaia’s power crouching beneath the earth’s crust to burst forth, the surface must continue to provide stimulation. With the existence of monsters, the power of mages, and even Mage Knights of similar constitution included, when things of the same nature are activated, even the same earthquake would create a much deeper crack.”
“Eh? Me too? Really? Then I shouldn’t use my power?”
“The use of Baekgak among the numerous monsters was likely one such reason.”
It was useful in every way. It possessed explosive power, contaminated fertile land, and moreover, burrowed beneath it—if not dealt with quickly, it would multiply in an instant.
“Then… does that mean the mages can’t help us going forward?”
At the General’s question, Noah pressed his forehead. It seemed they would need the mages’ power to deal with the synthetic monsters, yet doing so could ultimately bring catastrophe upon Cliffford itself. There was no way forward and no way to retreat.
“We can help. I don’t know when the earthquake will occur, but everything has limits, doesn’t it? Burgos will try to exceed that limit, and we just need to participate within the line of defending it.”
“Can that be measured numerically? Can it be defined?”
With Cliffford’s fate hanging in the balance, how could they continue the war based on such vague criteria? As Noah muttered sharply in a sharp tone, the atmosphere froze as if doused with cold water.
“If Bariel hasn’t conducted research on this, how does Count Ian know so much and make such hasty judgments? If this is based merely on intuition—”
No matter how much the mages were helping Cliffford, this was unacceptable. The nation’s fate hung in the balance, and history accumulated from the past was at stake.
Noah barely swallowed his remaining words and chose appropriate language.
“There could be problems in the relationship between Cliffford and Bariel. Since we’ve formed an alliance, let us regard each other’s nations as our own. We cannot make decisions like gambling based on invisible thresholds we can’t even see. Please understand our position.”
The distinction between superior and subordinate was clear, but given the gravity of the matter, Noah’s side couldn’t simply be swept along by the mages either.
I set down my teacup and tilted my head quizzically.
“Of course, Your Highness. We have moved without a single misstep for Cliffford until now. It was our subordinates who rescued Prince Noah-”
Noah glanced sideways. The mage who had rescued me in Baki village averted his gaze. He had disobeyed orders to stand aside and saved Noah, so a report on the matter was essential. I had simply let it pass without further comment, though.
“It was our mages who responded to the synthetic monsters as well.”
“Yes, yes. Look at that rotten stench on our mutt!”
Had they not been there, the camps of both Cliffford and Burgos would have walked a vastly different path.
I chuckled softly, laying out our accomplishments one by one. It was both a reminder that limits existed not only for the Rift but also for mages—a warning to remain cautious.
“While research was not conducted in Bariel, it is not as though records do not exist. The imperial palace holds numerous….”
I paused. The moment I was about to mention the countless historical records and materials stored there, Romandro suddenly came to mind.
Before Romandro descended to Bratz, had he not been dispatched to restore a temple damaged by earthquakes? And there seemed to be other minor earthquake reports, though I couldn’t quite recall them. As my brow furrowed, Berik stepped forward with his arms crossed and shouted.
“And Ian knows everything! …yeah! If you were the King, you’d have trusted and entrusted it right away, wouldn’t you? Huh? The Prince is so picky, seriously. I was just over there fighting those Burgos bastards, and it was killing me, you know? Why? Because Ian told me to! Why did Ian tell me to? Ah, to help Cliffford!”
Crash!
It seemed like he was trying to help me by interjecting, but his words made no sense whatsoever. The mages looked up at the ceiling as if enlightened, and only Akorelra kept fidgeting with her brooch and shouting.
“This is hilarious! I saw him laughing and carrying on the whole time!”
“You didn’t see him vomit? That monster’s insides really-”
“Ah, quiet, quiet. Ian and the Prince are talking.”
Please, you two crazy people, close your mouths. As the mages pulled the two of them back and made them settle down, I crossed my legs and lifted my chin.
“If you wish for us to withdraw from the front lines, we shall do so immediately, Your Highness. You need only give the word.”
“…That was not my intention. If there has been any misunderstanding, think nothing of it.”
“Of course. However, there is one matter I wish to formalize in writing.”
“What is it?”
Prince Noah’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. At my gesture to bring paper, an officer of Cliffford moved.
“A contract stating that you acknowledge mage support can accelerate the Rift, and that should a Rift occur in Cliffford, Bariel will not be held responsible.”
“If Cliffford is submerged in monsters, Bariel, being adjacent, will also face difficulties. Why would you even ask for such a thing?”
“Even if the world overflows with monsters, Bariel alone will remain safe. That is our reason for existing. You asked us to understand Cliffford’s position, did you not?”
What? That line?! Berik suddenly shouted, remembering something I had said long ago.
“So Cliffford should understand us too and sign the contract! …yeah!”
I laughed and furrowed my brow. I gestured for silence, covering my lips with my hand, and Berik winked repeatedly before stepping back.
“If you draw up the contract, we shall regard our relationship as the ideal alliance you mentioned, and we will devise operations for Cliffford’s benefit to the fullest extent. There should be no problem with such a contract for Your Highness, or rather, for Cliffford, should there not?”
Face reality. If Gaia’s calamity crouches beneath Cliffford, we have no choice but to accept the mages’ aid all the more.
“…You are right. I was somewhat discourteous.”
“Not at all. In the grief of losing subordinates and the extreme circumstances of war, anyone might feel such things.”
But a leader must not succumb to such feelings. I swallowed my next words and smiled gently. Then, to Noah, who had picked up his pen, I pointed elegantly to the bottom of the paper and spoke.
“And one more thing.”
“….”
“During the war between Cliffford and Burgos, should our mages’ aid lead to a positive outcome in this current battle, please offer your gratitude not to Bariel, but to the Mage Division instead.”
“Gratitude? What sort?”
The mages’ ears perked up. But I simply tapped the paper with my fingertip as if to say, write it down.
“I shall explain that when the time comes.”
“That is far too vague an answer.”
“I shall also grant Prince Noah the right to refuse. However, I would prefer to set the proposed date to one of my choosing. I haven’t yet decided what would be best to discuss.”
Noah furrowed his brow, studying me carefully. The way I responded so smoothly suggested I had ulterior motives, but he couldn’t quite discern them.
Still, if I had the right to refuse, wouldn’t any deal potentially fall through? I could simply decline if I wished. Noah toyed with his pen suspiciously before eventually drafting the contract.
Swish.
Unaware that his subordinates had already informed him of the next curse manifestation date.
Prince Noah signed the document with certainty and handed it to me. His expression suggested he’d given me everything I wanted—now let’s see that brilliant strategy of mine. One that could suppress Burgos while minimizing impact on the Gaia Rift.
“Hasha.”
“Yes?”
“Provide detailed descriptions and information on the sorcerers deployed to the front lines and the heirs of each tribe—their appearances and identities. We’ll suppress them first. It should benefit Astana as well.”
The northern conflicts had grown tiresome. If I could eliminate the leaders of other factions with Hasha’s help, it would not only strengthen my position within Astana but also present an excellent opportunity to absorb the confused surrounding territories left leaderless.
Hasha naturally took the pen from Noah.
“Of course. The formations and positions shift somewhat, but most sorcerers should be near the synthetic monsters. However, none hide outside the army, and since I’m dressed as an ordinary soldier like them, finding them won’t be easy.”
“No. Since I’ve captured you as a prisoner, they’ll assume your identity is exposed over there. They’ll likely change clothes and break formation. So recognizing faces will be crucial.”
“Hmm, that could be true. Here, take a look.”
Hasha moved the pen swiftly, searching through memories. Noah, watching from beside, turned to me and asked.
“What do you intend to do by identifying the sorcerers? We’re already creating weapons to counter the synthetic monsters, so it seems we only need to cut open the beasts’ bellies.”
“To cut open those beasts’ bellies, magical power is essential. So if we can eliminate them through troop movements alone, that would be optimal. For Cliffford.”
I tapped my fingertips thoughtfully, pondering something.
“And I need one prisoner to naturally send to Burgos. We need a pretext to exchange with Hasha and return them to Burgos’ camp without suspicion…”
Tap tap tap!
That’s when footsteps sounded from outside.
Soon a soldier appeared carrying a rolled letter and shouted.
“Your Highness! A message from Burgos! They say they have May as a prisoner!”
At his words, Noah’s eyes widened. Snap! Akorelra and Berik clicked their fingers as if things were going well, and I nodded in agreement.
“How perfectly timed. We now have an appropriate exchange partner.”

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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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