Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 377

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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 377
Fire. The Real Beginning
Ruswena’s supply soldiers moved cautiously, escorting the wagon. Boxes were piled high in the cargo bed, and the uneven terrain of the dead land caused them to sway constantly.
An officer on horseback walked slowly, continuously scanning their surroundings.
“Move slowly, but do not stop!”
“Yes, understood!”
Muddy earth and gravel jutting out in places.
One of the subordinates made a suggestion to the officer. No matter how he thought about it, this didn’t seem like the right path. When it came to supplies, shouldn’t they be transported as quickly as possible? They were taking the longest detour through the dead land.
This was inefficient, and more importantly, the soldiers’ stamina was being depleted considerably. It seemed better to turn the horses’ heads now and head toward the direction closer to Cliffford.
“General. If we go a bit further, we’ll reach a fork in the road leading to the upper path. The soldiers’ stamina depletion and the wagon’s durability could become problematic. Would it not be better to change our route? The rear is gradually falling behind, and the gap is widening. As a result, our speed is slowing.”
“No. We will take the longest detour away from Cliffford. Prince Eriponi said that Bariel intends to cease trade with Ruswena.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent a formal protest, but when a response would arrive was unknown. Even if one did come, it was unlikely to contain anything satisfactory.
“Bariel has discovered the existence of these supplies. While haste is important, what matters more is secure delivery. Pursuers may follow, so we have no choice but to hide ourselves in the roughest terrain possible.”
What they were transporting included dragon scales and several materials necessary for crafting black armor.
The fortunate thing was that since this was a covert operation, the cargo loaded was minimal. Of course, more than a dozen massive wagons were moving in a single line, but considering this was trade between kingdoms, it was modest in scale.
‘It seems His Highness is keeping in mind the possibility that we might be discovered.’
The opposing forces had mages.
Those who swam through the sky as if through water would easily be able to spot them. Thus, Eriponi had devised the supply route half as genuine strategy and half as bait.
The general maintained his vigilance and urged his subordinates forward, and groaning sounds could be heard from various places.
Screech.
Neigh!
“Why won’t this cursed foal move forward?”
A soldier, frustrated by a horse that refused to advance, grabbed its reins and pulled.
But at that moment, it wasn’t just the horse under that soldier’s care—all the beasts accompanying them were faltering and losing their senses.
As the procession slowed, the general turned around with a stern expression.
“What is the matter?”
“We don’t know. The beasts won’t move.”
“All the beasts?”
“Yes, sir.”
Wondering what the problem might be, he placed his foot on the ground and felt a subtle vibration. It was an extremely faint tremor—so slight that only those with keen senses could detect it.
“An earthquake.”
“An earthquake? We didn’t notice anything.”
“Let’s take a brief rest here. Ten minutes of rest!”
“Ten minutes of rest!”
As the order was given, the supply soldiers exhaled wearily and collapsed onto the ground. Then they too could feel that trembling.
“Ah, it’s true. The ground is shaking.”
“Did an earthquake happen nearby?”
“I’m not sure. It doesn’t seem like that.”
They twisted their sore bodies this way and that, gazing up at the clear sky. They had never imagined that war would occur in their generation. Even if it was a conflict between foreign nations like Burgos and Cliffford.
From Ruswena’s perspective, participation seemed only a matter of time. What would happen after they completed the supply mission? Would they have to cross this dead land once more?
“I wish we could have gone through Cliffford instead.”
“Wait. This sound is getting louder.”
A Soldier pressed himself flat against the ground, eyes wide open. Though he was the type to make pointless observations even in normal times, his Colleagues simply clicked their tongues and shook their heads in exasperation.
Tap-tap-tap!
Tap-a-tap-tap!
The Soldier muttered softly.
“That’s the sound of hoofbeats.”
In that moment, a brilliant flash of light descended from the sky.
Everyone jolted to their feet in alarm and simultaneously drew their weapons. A line of shimmering light stretched across the heavens, stopping directly above their heads—precisely in the sky above where they stood.
“What… what is that…?”
If a god were to walk, surely it would be like this. The beautiful, undulating radiance was utterly mesmerizing.
Unlike the Soldiers who stood dazed and transfixed, the Minister cried out in sudden alarm.
“Regroup! Move out immediately! It’s a Mage! A Bariel Mage!”
Only a Mage could perform such a feat. They were revealing the location of the supply column to someone.
At the General’s command, everyone hastily seized their reins, and the supply wagons were positioned at the front to depart first.
Neigh!
“Ride! Don’t stop! If you reach a fork in the road, split up if you must! We’ll regroup at the supply depot!”
“Yes, General!”
“Infantry, follow me!”
The luminous path in the sky gradually extended toward them. Then, suddenly, horses burst forth from the forest. They descended like they were flying, blocking the path ahead.
Ornate, sturdy armor adorned their frames. And blue markings. They were unmistakably Bariel Soldiers.
With a resounding clash, the Ruswena Soldiers charged forward, swinging their blades. They fought to buy time for the supply wagons to escape.
“Are you not from Bariel? What brings you to these distant lands?”
“We have heard that there are those who would disturb the order of the Gaia Continent. The Prince of the Great Empire Bariel himself has sent us. Are you not Ruswena’s supply troops?”
“That’s right. We belong to Ruswena!”
The General raised his hand high and shouted. A yellow seal was bound to his armor.
“We are not thieves, nor do we intend to bring chaos to Gaia. Yet this threatening confrontation is an insult and an attack upon Ruswena, and our King will regard it most gravely!”
He was demanding to know why they would block Ruswena without just cause.
But the Bariel forces did not even respond. Instead, their commander quietly issued an order to his Subordinate.
“Chase the wagons. They won’t be moving very fast. If they resist heavily, you may kill them all. However, since we wish to identify the supply depots of Ruswena and Burgos, attach a Shadow to follow one wagon. Deal with them before they cross the border.”
“Yes. Understood.”
As the Bariel Soldiers moved to pursue, the Ruswena General stepped forward, swinging his blade.
“You dare—do you know who I am!”
Clash!
Crack!
But then, one final figure burst from the forest. In a single motion, Tweller drove his axe down upon the General’s neck, and the General’s throat was half-severed before he even realized what had happened, gurgling helplessly.
Whoosh.
As Tweller withdrew his axe, blood fountained from the General’s neck. His horse bolted in terror, and the Soldiers were too stunned by the sudden brutality to react.
Their commander—fully armored from head to toe. Yet through the smallest gap, his neck had been targeted in a single strike? By that old man?
“Who are you?”
“Gack, gack-aaagh….”
“I am Maxim Tweller, Minister of Imperial Defense. I’ll ask again—who are you?”
The General trembled, gripping Tweller by the throat as he looked up at him. The backlighting from the ever-shifting brilliant glow cast his face in shadow.
Tweller showed no mercy as he grasped the axe handle once more.
“It seems you cannot speak. I shall hear your name again in the afterlife. At that time, I too shall remove my title as Minister of Imperial Defense and reintroduce myself.”
Shwack!
Tweller brought the axe down with all his strength, as if felling a tree. The General’s head flew free with a metallic clang. Tweller planted his foot upon it and gazed at the trembling soldiers.
“Those who wish to surrender will be spared.”
“H-hieek-”
“Let me show you that a moment’s choice determines one’s fate.”
“Kyaaaagh!”
Clang! Clang!
One of the General’s subordinates rushed forward, drawing his blade.
Tweller’s subordinate immediately intercepted, launching a counterattack. After six or seven exchanges, blood bloomed—the point of Tweller’s subordinate’s sword had pierced a Ruswena soldier’s heart.
At that moment, the soldiers surged forward as one. Fleeing men and those seeking to kill them tangled together, their cries and screams rising and falling.
“Spare me, spare me-!”
“Let those who surrender live! They are soldiers who have lost their pride! Kill all who resist! They will one day become Ruswena’s strength and threaten Bariel! They are not worth keeping alive!”
Tweller wiped the blood from his axe and shouted.
The beam of light continued to expand. Soon a Mage descended from the sky and surveyed the chaos below, pressing his lips together.
“Mage. Is it safe to come down? What if we lose the carriage?”
“Ah, one of the carriages has overturned and stopped. The rest are heading west, so finish up here quickly and rejoin the vanguard.”
The Mages had been waiting for Bariel’s reinforcements, so they could easily recognize those riding in with such grandeur. The Mage deliberately turned away from the General’s head rolling across the ground.
“Shall I have those searching the other routes gather here? It might be better to combine our forces, would it not?”
Since Ian had ordered them to move according to the Minister of Imperial Defense’s commands, the Mage could only inquire about his intentions. Tweller considered for a moment, then shook his head.
“I noticed the number of carriages seemed rather small. They may be traveling in dispersed groups, so continue searching from your respective positions. However, please inform them that we have cut off their supply routes.”
“Yes, Minister. Um, you need not be so formal.”
Though a Mage, Tweller held the rank of Minister. The Mage found his unexpectedly courteous behavior rather uncomfortable. But the old man chuckled and waved his hand.
“I prefer to regard everyone except my colleagues as strangers in enemy territory.”
No matter how much they were allies, he could not lower his guard with those not belonging to the Imperial Defense Ministry.
What an odd old man, the Mage thought, shrugging his shoulders before taking flight once more into the sky.
“Continue following the light. I shall inform the others of our progress. What shall we do about the cleanup here?”
“This is dead land. What does it matter if corpses lie scattered about? I shall investigate their belongings for anything of value, then pursue them immediately.”
“Understood.”
The Mage vanished, and Tweller surveyed the bloodbath around him. Those who had surrendered trembled with their heads pressed to the ground. He gestured to his subordinate to handle the cleanup, then mounted his horse once more.
“The rest of you, follow me! We shall track the carriages. That light inscribed in the sky is our path. There is no room for error, no time to waste. Let us go!”
“Yes, Minister!”
Tap-tap-tap!
They turned their horses toward the light the Mage had indicated and leaned low in their saddles to increase their speed.
Though their numbers had been halved for the cleanup, Tweller was unconcerned. The Mage was present, and he had allies nearby who could provide reinforcements whenever needed.
And above all, his instincts burned hot. That sixth sense beyond the five—the one he felt whenever a thrilling victory awaited. The old man laughed heartily, and those who followed him smiled at the sound.
In the distance, I could see the overturned carriage the Mage had mentioned.
* * *
“Excellent news!”
A Soldier came running, breathing heavily.
Ian and Prince Noah turned their heads simultaneously. Just as Akorelra was about to shout a warning for him to be careful, Berik silenced her by popping a grape into her mouth.
“What is it?”
“Bariel’s reinforcements have crossed the Cliffford border. The momentum was so fierce that all the Soldiers were astounded. Soon we should receive word regarding the supply line front as well. Count Ian, the palace asked me to convey their gratitude.”
As the Soldier prostrated himself, I simply turned my head away with a smile. This wasn’t a favor—it was gratitude.
“Tell the palace that this was the Prince’s natural decision for the future of Bariel, Cliffford, and indeed all of Gaia. In any case, once Bariel and Ruswena clash, the true conflict begins.”
“The true conflict? Ian, what do you mean?”
When Berik asked, I raised my eyebrows as if he were asking something obvious.
“From Ruswena’s perspective, this is as good as an unprovoked attack. They’ll frame it as a preemptive strike and secure their justification. A full-scale confrontation between four nations will now begin. From this point on, there won’t even be time to eat, Berik.”
At my words, Berik froze with a startled expression.
Then his hands moved frantically. He snatched even the grapes Akorelra was about to eat, stuffing both cheeks as he chewed rapidly.

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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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