Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 404

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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 404
Fire. The Value of One Who Returns Alive
Ruswena’s encampment used the hillside as a barrier.
The Clippoford Soldiers frowned as they watched their own homeland being used in such a manner. Ruswena’s flags planted here and there, fluttering in the wind, turned their stomachs inside out.
Shortly after, a moving flag came into view. Ruswena’s forces were descending from their camp below for the prisoner exchange.
Ian tilted his head to the left, glancing at the distant end of that vast plain. Did Burgos know that Bariel and Ruswena were making contact? That seemed like it could become another variable….
“Count Ian. She’s coming.”
“It’s the King of Eriponi.”
“Jang? Can you see him?”
“All soldiers, gather and prepare for an ambush! Do not let your guard down. They are serpents!”
Eriponi rode down on horseback. She raised her bow smoothly in greeting, as if meeting an old friend after a long time. The King proceeded with dignified steps alongside her guards.
A prisoner exchange taking place on an open plain. The Mages flew slightly into the sky and pulled out their telescopes.
Whoosh!
“There is a carriage.”
“Can you feel Captain Jang’s presence?”
“I’m not sure. It seems the Ruswena Mages are with them as well. Or perhaps Jang’s magical power is so faint that we cannot detect it.”
As Zaira touched her wrist, bound by the magic-sealing stone, Ian placed a hand on the young boy’s shoulder. Ian’s gaze remained fixed on the approaching Eriponi.
“Zaira. Recite once more what path lies ahead for you.”
“To secure the safety of my family remaining in the palace and to obtain the magical research records.”
“Once you return immediately, Eriponi will question you about many things. She will demand you recount in detail everything that happened within the Clippoford barrier.”
“I can do it. I will keep my oath sealed.”
“Ruswena becomes quite troubled without Mages besides the black-armored ones. And always remember this.”
Zaira rubbed her swollen cheek against her shoulder and bit her lip. She would never forget the blow she received from that General.
“Those who know their own value cannot be treated carelessly by anyone.”
Clop clop clop!
Neigh!
Eriponi drove her horse to quite a close distance. Beside her were not ordinary soldiers but Mages. They recognized Zaira and waved their hands in welcome.
“My, Count Ian. I had my suspicions, but you’re alive and well. You don’t appear to have a single injury despite that fall from such a height. I suppose I should call it fortunate.”
“Indeed. All those arrows flew as if blind, unable to pierce even one target. It seems our side should rightly call it fortunate.”
A sarcastic remark, questioning how she could fail to achieve her desired outcome after firing so many arrows. Eriponi frowned and held up the arrow in her hand.
“My personal bow was destroyed because of someone. It was Bariel’s Mage Knight, so I wonder if I should hold them responsible.”
“Please do. Let us examine every fault from beginning to end and hold them accountable. Then Ruswena would have to strip the very skin from its people’s backs to pay the compensation.”
Welcome. Ian laughed lightly, spreading his hands slightly.
Is that one truly alive again? Eriponi looked at Zaira with an irritated expression. Both her hands were bound by magic-sealing stones.
‘In any case.’
Young ones truly cannot be helped. Eriponi brushed her long teal hair back and nodded.
“Send a Ruswena Mage to our side. Then we shall send a Bariel Mage to you.”
“I will confirm their condition first.”
“Eldetr!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Eldetr approached the carriage and returned with a bound adult man slung across his shoulder. Coarse hair hung limply downward. His pallid complexion was so dire that one questioned whether his heart still functioned at all.
The Mages cried out in alarm, calling Captain Jang’s name.
“Captain Jang! Please, come to your senses!”
“Jang! Jang! Are you alright? Open your eyes!”
Whoosh.
Eriponi declared this the end, covering his face with her fan. Now that they had confirmed the exchange of prisoners, shall we proceed?
Ian threw the key to the mana-sealing stone toward the Ruswena side first, then tapped Zaira’s shoulder.
‘Go.’
Zaira looked up at Ian one last time. Then, with a small nod, she walked away slowly.
Jang was the same. The ropes were cut, and he stumbled forward toward Bariel’s camp as though about to collapse. It was frantic, purely instinctive movement.
As Zaira and Jang drew near each other, Eriponi called out loudly for all to hear.
“Tell Bariel’s young Emperor that I have shown respect for your Mages by letting them live.”
Burgos had sent back severed heads, they say. Eriponi was carving out an escape route in case the war turned against her. Though allied with Burgos and fighting alongside them, her approach to Bariel was different.
Ian responded as he watched Jang approach him.
“Yes. I shall convey it directly. Prince Gin will surely offer something in return.”
“I have some questions.”
“You should know I have no obligation to answer.”
“Is it possible that the envoy Timothy has naturalized into Bariel?”
When Ian reacted with cold eyes, Eriponi’s gaze narrowed. The man who had always been at King Damon’s side had suddenly vanished, so Eriponi had made inquiries. In doing so, she had heard rumors that Timothy had deserted from the battlefield.
If he had indeed naturalized into Bariel, it would be quite troublesome for the Burgos side.
“It’s not worth answering.”
“A king’s question has no worth? Surely we are indeed in wartime! Hahaha! Then one more thing. Does Bariel truly have no intention of withdrawing from this war? Clifford and Burgos have had poor relations for ages. This situation is hardly so extraordinary, is it? If Bariel withdraws, Ruswena would also be willing to do the same.”
“We have already come too far. And you seem to be mistaken about something—Ruswena was the last to join this war. You should have known where to insert yourself appropriately. How dare you presume to direct Bariel’s course this way and that?”
As Ian spoke firmly, Eldetr and the Ruswena Soldiers placed their hands on their sword hilts. The Clifford Soldiers did likewise.
“Since Your Majesty asked a question, I shall ask one as well. What is there to gain by prowling about like this? Does King Damon intend to split Clifford in half with you?”
“Those who win wars always gain more than they expect.”
“I speak out of concern, so please take my words to heart. If Clifford becomes overrun with monsters, it will not end as merely Clifford’s problem. Bariel will safely guard our borders, and any monsters that fail to advance northward will surely seep sideways and flow toward Ruswena.”
“Wait, what do you mean by that?”
At Eriponi’s question, Ian let out a small exclamation internally. The Mages too exchanged glances and fell silent, as though discovering a small crack in the matter.
She truly doesn’t know. Well, from Damon’s position, Clifford’s territory was the only thing he had to offer Ruswena right now.
Zaira and Jang passed each other.
“Jang.”
Ian ignored Eriponi and called to Jang, who barely lifted his head in response. His entire body was swollen and puffy. I couldn’t tell which of his wounds might be threatening his life.
As Jang swayed and began to fall forward, Ian rushed toward him.
“Ian!”
“Captain Jang!”
The Mages moved with him. Ian caught Jang and held him tightly, just as Berik had done for him. At the sudden movement, the Ruswena Soldiers flinched in caution, and the Clifford Soldiers likewise drew their blades as if to say don’t interfere rashly.
Zing. Zing.
The moment Ian grasped Jang, he poured his mana into him. One part was cold, the other burning hot—so much so that one questioned whether this was truly a living body. Ian brushed back Jang’s hair and held onto his consciousness.
“Jang. Can you hear me?”
“…Ian.”
“Even if it’s difficult, continue absorbing my mana without pause. I’ll move within the barrier. Heil!”
“Ian. I think it would be better to infuse mana here first before we go. Captain Jang’s condition is too critical. Time is of the essence.”
Whirrrrr. Whirrrr.
Jang leaned against Heil’s shoulder and drew a deep, quiet breath. As mana flowed in, his breathing gradually eased.
I wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with my own hand and asked.
“Jang. Do you feel alive?”
“Yes, Ian. Ah, my head is pounding. Those bastards—without that mana-sealing stone, I could crush them with one fist. But they’re so petty, not even giving me a single drop of mana….”
“You talk too much. Ian, you don’t need to worry about Captain Jang anymore.”
“…I kept gagging him.”
“Since you know, try to keep quiet.”
Whirrrrr. Whirrrr.
Light rising softly from the center of the earth. It was mana released to save a mage colleague, but to the soldiers, it looked as though a fallen moon had descended upon them.
While they watched in a daze, Eriponi shouted.
“Ian! The demon asked what you meant!”
An order issued sharply, demanding an answer. I looked down at Jang without sparing her a glance.
He had returned alive. Selena had returned as a corpse, but Jang, one of those who remained, had come back alive like this. Jang closed his eyes with an awkward smile, as if ashamed.
“I apologize, Ian. I went deep into the camp, but I have nothing to show for it.”
“No. That’s enough. Jang, you’ve fulfilled your role simply by returning alive. I’m truly grateful. The fact that you’re alive means I can endure a little longer.”
“What are you saying? Did something happen while I was gone?”
“Captain Jang. Stay still. Keep smiling for Ian’s sake. Yes. You’re doing well.”
As Eriponi, openly ignored, picked up an arrow, the Clippoford Soldiers instantly raised their shields and stepped forward. Amid the tense standoff, the Ruswena Mages also embraced Zaira with all their strength.
“Zaira. Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine. I’m sorry. I thought I could do it well.”
“No, no. I’m just grateful you’re safe. It’s our fault for sending one so young.”
While Zaira basked in her comrades’ welcome, Eriponi irritably lowered her bowstring.
Continuing to ask unanswered questions was an act that cracked her dignity as a queen. She couldn’t lose more face here, so Eriponi’s gaze quickly shifted toward Zaira.
“Zaira.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You’ve done quite well. Thanks to you, we’ve lost a Bariel Mage hostage. Prove it to me. That you’re worth such a price, and that my choice was not wrong.”
Report everything you heard and saw within that barrier, without omission. And also, what exactly is the ‘demon’ that Ian spoke of.
Zaira answered innocently, rolling her eyes.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will convey everything in my memory to you.”
“You answer well. Indeed, dying once and coming back to life does help with rehabilitation. Eldetr! Let’s withdraw!”
Zaira mounted a horse with the mages and looked back at those still gathered around Jang, laughing and crying. Soon, someday, she and her own would also be like that. A bond that finds comfort even within the backdrop of war.
Zaira embraced the mage beside her tightly and recalled Ian’s instructions.
‘To save your family held in the palace and accomplish everything as you wish, you must induce division within the current camp. The palace must continue to dispatch troops. Then the palace will be emptied. Naturally, the eyes watching over your family will diminish as well. In war, this is a strategy burdensome for us, but for your goal, Zaira, there is nothing better.’

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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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