Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 406

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 406
Fire. Reinforcements from the North
“Selena is dead.”
At my murmur, Jang’s body flinched. Selena. A name vivid enough to conjure her face with mere words, yet that word—dead—how could it possibly be true?
Unbelievable as it was, Jang understood. He himself had teetered on the brink of death mere moments ago in the Ruswena encampment. Selena had simply been unlucky. That her end was so wretched was purely the scourge of war, Damon’s decision alone.
“So we march directly to the Burgos encampment. We’ll rescue our remaining colleagues and make Damon acutely aware of the price for laying hands on Bariel’s mage.”
“R-right now, you mean? This very moment?”
Zing. Zing.
I pressed my hand against Jang’s and channeled mana into him. Fresh air sweeping through his lungs. His entire body felt weightless, as though he’d shed water-soaked clothes.
Ah, this is living. This is what it means to be alive. Only those who’d brushed death’s threshold could feel such exhilaration and relief, and it flooded through Jang completely.
I smiled brightly as I watched Jang’s complexion visibly ease.
“Yes. Right now. Jang, you can’t use mana because of the Idgal weapon, correct? From what we’ve gathered, three are being held hostage in Burgos. I’ll lead the charge to rescue them, and I’ll make certain Damon understands the price for harming Bariel’s mage.”
As I spoke, the mana flowing into Jang thinned slightly. I wanted to give everything I had, but with so few mages available and my own condition far from ideal, restraint was necessary. For now, the important thing was that he’d crossed the critical threshold.
“Um, Ian.”
As I pulled back slightly, Jang urgently grabbed my sleeve.
“The Ruswena mages, sir. Their loyalty to the royal family seemed lower than expected. I was half-conscious so I didn’t hear everything clearly, but I think if we persuade them right, we might be able to fracture their unity—”
“Captain Jang. You’re too late.”
“What?”
“Too late. Ian will handle everything himself, so Captain, just sleep inside the barrier. Ian, shall we move him now?”
“Huh? What?”
This is pretty sensitive intelligence! Jang looked around bewildered, but none of the mages—nor anyone else—seemed particularly interested. Jang had no knowledge of the Zaira matter.
Four soldiers loaded Jang onto a stretcher and carried him away, and even as they did, he turned back toward me and shouted.
“Ian! You really should hear the rest of this! What?!”
“Ruswena did send along a military doctor, it seems. Look how quickly he revives with mana infused. They never intended to kill him in the first place.”
“Right. Lucky for us. The mages inside the barrier are going to be loud though. Captain Jang loves making a scene.”
The next Minister of Magic would be himself—unchanged before or after my arrival, that was the sort of man he was. Everyone chuckled softly at someone’s joke and straightened their uniforms.
The sun rose fully, and morning came. A light heralding the start of new battle, yet the atmosphere was solemn. In other words, those held hostage would face another day of hell.
“So, how many of us are there?”
“Twelve, sir. Excluding you.”
Twelve. As time passed, some would recover their mana, but that was uncertain. I could only move forward counting these twelve as my entire force.
As I pulled on my gloves, the mages likewise drew theirs from their pockets.
“Good. Clipoford.”
“Yes, Ian.”
“Deliver word of our advance to Prince Noah.”
Thud.
The soldier saluted and rode hard toward the barrier.
The forces I’d organized alongside the Mage Knights waited inside the fortress gates. Once my order—disguised as Noah’s command—fell, they would pour forth like a waterfall and drive Burgos back.
“How long until the barrier gates open?”
“Won’t take long. About thirty minutes?”
“With the Mage Knights positioned, ground combat should be manageable. As long as Berik performs. Just Berik.”
“Ah, I’m worried about her. Captain Akorella fed her something strange. If she suddenly goes berserk, that’ll be a problem.”
“It’s fine. Captain Akorella is sticking right next to Berik to keep watch. Besides, she seems no different than usual.”
“That’s exactly the problem—she’s no different than usual.”
“What? Then everything’s a problem.”
Across the vast expanse of earth, twelve Mages stood facing the wind—all except me. Heil distributed cigarettes to each of my colleagues.
“Would you care to try one, sir? The breeze is refreshing, and occasionally these aren’t so bad.”
This might be the last time. During wartime, everything was always like this. Even joking around like now, even feeling the wind on our faces.
As I reached for the cigarette, the Mages let out a small cry of protest. The cigarette was intercepted before it reached me. The Mages placed their hands on their hips and confronted Heil.
“Captain Heil. We’re telling you, you should offer the good stuff to Ian, yes?”
“…No, I was just offering it.”
“That’s exactly the problem. Even that stubborn Captain Akorella doesn’t let Ian consume anything bad for his health. We’re definitely telling Captain Akorella about this.”
“Sir, please say something to them.”
Cornered, Heil appealed to me for help, but my gaze had already turned elsewhere. A distant sound, barely audible from this distance. The barrier was slowly opening.
Creeeeak.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Zing. Zing.
As I soared into the sky, Heil stubbed out his remaining cigarette and followed. As if everything had worked out perfectly. The Mages lined up and took off, shouting to catch that captain.
I confirmed that Prince Noah was the first to emerge from the barrier. The prince of Clipoford, fully armed and leading soldiers carrying flags.
Behind him, Clipoford soldiers poured out like grains of sand. Among them would be Bariel’s Mage Knights and the Imperial Defense Ministry.
Boom! Boooom!
From the Burgos camp, a massive drum sounded at the sight of Clipoford’s movement. It was a command for all to prepare and form ranks—the enemy was coming.
While Clipoford advanced, the Mages and I kept watch from the rear right for any movement from Ruswena.
“No response from Ruswena yet!”
“They just exchanged prisoners, so they’re probably in chaos. Keep watching the rear, and let’s move toward Burgos as well.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Mages and I carved through the sky, each staying within our designated patrol areas.
If Zaira mentioned the cracks to Eriponi, Ruswena would have much to consider. Even if battle broke out immediately, they wouldn’t be able to rush in recklessly—that was my calculation.
Later, they’d inevitably deploy additional forces to seize victory, but not now. Eriponi needed time to verify whether Zaira’s report was true.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Boom! Boom!
Clipoford soldiers thundered across the earth. Their massive footsteps seemed to shake heaven and earth alike.
I moved slowly toward the Burgos camp, following them. In the distance, Burgos soldiers had already formed their ranks in an instant.
Whoooosh—
Soon both sides entered long-range attack range.
As the Burgos general stepped forward, the flag swayed greatly, and in response, the Clipoford flag also waved powerfully.
“Does he have three Bariel Mages with him!?”
It was Prince Noah’s cry. The general merely tilted his head back without responding.
“King Damon of Burgos, hear this! Release the Bariel Mages at once and withdraw from Clipoford’s lands! You will answer in detail for destroying our fertile earth and trampling upon our daily lives!”
“How dare a mere prince speak the sovereign’s name so carelessly. We came to retrieve our envoy, and it is Clipoford that has failed to comply. An envoy carries the sovereign’s will—they are the sovereign’s very embodiment. If you have harmed them, you have harmed the sovereign himself, and moreover, this is provocation against Burgos! You Clipoford shall bear the consequences!”
Creeeeak.
The two forces drew their bowstrings toward each other. If anyone broke the silence, the sky would be covered in arrows once more.
The Burgos General took a deep breath, then spoke as if wanting the entire world to hear. His voice rang so loudly that the Burgos Soldier standing beside him flinched.
“Clipoford must immediately explain the Envoy’s circumstances and open your gates to receive us as honored guests! If you refuse, King Damon himself will tear down your barriers, cut you down, and advance to your capital. When that day comes, only wails will echo through Clipoford!”
Boom! Boom!
The Burgos Soldiers and Clipoford Soldiers simultaneously raised their spear shafts and struck the ground. The sound carried both support and absolute refusal simultaneously.
Swish.
Noah’s hand grasped the sword at his waist. They were not people who could be reasoned with. All they wanted was Clipoford’s downfall and Burgos’s rise in its place. If there had been any other intention, they would never have sent a Mage’s head when they dispatched the Messenger.
From the moment there was no word, not even a single letter, Noah had understood. But now he grasped it again—Burgos was not a subject for negotiation. They were merely something to be crushed, advanced upon, and destroyed.
“Wait.”
Then, behind the Burgos General, Damon appeared mounted on a white horse. In the sea of black that was the Burgos encampment, his arrival stood out distinctly.
It didn’t seem like a white horse last time, Noah thought, and at that same moment, Damon raised one hand. It was a signal to focus on him. It was not limited to Noah alone—it was also a greeting sent to Ian, who was watching from somewhere in the sky.
“Prince Noah. It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“Thanks to you, very well.”
“As I said, we have the three Bariel Mages. This is a war between Burgos and Clipoford. Foreign intervention seems unnecessary, so I make this proposal. If you withdraw the Bariel forces right now, I’ll return the Mages alive. Are you listening? Ian?”
Damon held his hand up and swept it left and right through the empty air. But he could not easily spot Ian.
“Right now, Bariel must retreat and return to your country. If you don’t, I’ll need to prepare more boxes similar to the one I sent at dawn.”
If you don’t listen, I’ll execute and kill the Mage. Damon threatened thus, but still no answer came.
He finally flicked his hand, and the bloodied Tomi was dragged out from inside. Noah clenched his fist to signal not to attack, and Damon opened his hand and lowered it to signal that he could attack.
“Here is Bariel’s Mage! If you don’t withdraw from this war, Iza’s neck will also fly. Is that acceptable? Hmm?”
Slash!
“Ahhhhh!”
Damon laughed as he severed Tomi’s thigh, and the blade dripping with blood gleamed brilliantly.
It was a sword made of Idgal. The blade, dripping with blood, was raised toward the sky. It seemed to declare that the Burgos forces could cut down ‘that’ Mage as easily as this.
Whoosh!
Slash!
But then, in the blink of an eye, a beam of light descended. It split Damon’s sword in two, and immediately a golden-haired, green-eyed man brought his face close to the King’s.
It was instantaneous. So fast that not even a presence could be sensed, let alone his approach. Their gazes locked for a fleeting moment, and surprise filled Damon’s violet pupils.
“I-!”
Boom! Crash!
Crackle!
As Damon swung his broken sword, soldiers surged forward with Idgal blades and spears.
Ian burst with mana and reached his hand toward Damon’s throat.
…Kill him. Kill him.
Kill him brutally.
“Now!”
“Advance! Sweep away all the Burgos forces!”
“Uwaaah! Kill them! Kill them!”
Noah commanded his soldiers to advance, and the surroundings instantly became a battlefield. Damon saw mana gleaming in Ian’s grasp and, panicking, tried to retreat when—
Crash!
Bang!
A tremendous explosion erupted, engulfing the surroundings in a cloud of dust. The force pushed me back while shielding Damon, yet something about it felt both familiar and distinctly different.
I turned toward its source. There, on the distant hill to the north, Burgos reinforcements stood in thick formation. Those positioned at the front bore human forms.
“…Atan.”
Damon murmured with a faint smile, while I furrowed my brow and lunged at him once more.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————