Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 436

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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 436
Fire. Counterattack
Philia leaned against the wall as she stepped out of the office, her strength utterly depleted. She couldn’t comprehend it. Ian didn’t know that song—it was unthinkable.
In his childhood, the Boy’s days were always filled with it. A gentle humming that drifted beside him like the scent of soft sunlight. Children often forget their early memories, but even the night before he was taken away by Count Derga, he had asked her to sing that song for him. It had been less than a year…
“Did you see Minister Ian, Philia?”
“What? He didn’t say anything special?”
“Did he perhaps mention anything to you? This isn’t suspicious or anything, but for us it’s incredibly important and we’re dying to know. If you don’t mind, could you tell us everything that happened? Wait… Philia? Are you alright?”
“Oh, yes.”
The Mages who had been gathered in small clusters at the end of the corridor surrounded Philia tightly, each throwing questions at her. Her complexion had grown so pale that they fell silent.
“Um, you Mages there.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Is there a side effect of magic that causes memory loss? I heard Minister Ian suffered greatly on the battlefield.”
“I’ve never heard of side effects related to memory. Is Minister Ian experiencing that? Memory problems?”
“I knew it! There’s something wrong with his mind! Otherwise, how could he speak of entering the Rift? And he’s not even an adult yet, stepping down from his ministerial position—what kind of situation is this? Starting life and immediately closing shop.”
“Where might Captain Heil be?”
“Captain Heil? He went to support the Imperial Guards. He’s replenishing the mana of the Mage Knights there. Minister Ian sent him. Why do you ask?”
“I need… someone to consult with. Lord Romandro is at his estate so that won’t work. Please, please arrange for me to meet Captain Heil.”
“Wait a moment. Philia, didn’t you receive word not to leave the Magic Ministry? The Coachman mentioned it. Please wait here for a bit. I’ll send word to Captain Heil.”
“Yes, yes. If you could hurry, I would be truly, truly grateful.”
Philia wrapped her arms around her stomach with trembling hands and sank to the floor. The startled Mages followed suit, sitting down beside her, looking utterly bewildered and distressed.
Then, Berik appeared from behind, scratching his ear with a curious expression about what everyone was doing.
“What are you all doing? Playing on the floor?”
“Does this look like playing to you?”
“Or are you working? Haah. Never mind. Where’s the Boy?”
“Minister Ian is in his office, but don’t go in. He’s not in good condition today.”
“What? Why? Is he sick?”
Berik, who had been casually scratching his belly, froze. When he saw him in the underground interrogation chamber, he seemed perfectly fine. So fine that he didn’t even stop King Damon’s head from being crushed.
As Berik blinked blankly, one of the Mages sighed and explained the situation. The Rift investigation and ministerial resignation. And the suspicions of Imperial involvement and Idgal that were the cause of these matters.
“Ah. I heard the rumors. So the Boy is going to the Rift?”
“…Why do you look so pleased?”
“Hell yeah! That’s awesome! I’m so damn happy!”
Berik thrust his fist into the air with genuine enthusiasm. The Mages stared at him as if his soul had left his body. They knew he was a madman, but they hadn’t expected this level. It was clear that Berik didn’t properly understand the gravity of the situation.
One of the Mages stammered out a question.
“You… you understood correctly, right?”
“Yeah. I understood. The Rift is a monster pit, right? If he’s investigating there, damn, there’ll be tons of delicious, crispy ones. My mouth’s already watering. The Imperial Palace has nothing but boring food anyway. I was frustrated because there’s nothing to cut. Hell yeah! I’m gonna go have a blast!”
So that’s it. This bastard’s brain function is worse than expected. The Mages simultaneously reached the same truth and let out synchronized sighs.
“Berik. You can’t go, you idiot.”
“Me? Why?”
“You belong to the Imperial Guards. To go to the Rift, you need permission from the Three Captains and the Emperor himself. Would the Imperial Palace send a Mage Knight and lose personnel like that?”
“Huh?”
Berik paused, as if he hadn’t considered it, but that was all. There was a very simple solution after all.
“Forget it! The Imperial Guards just drained my wallet anyway. Leaving the palace is actually good for my finances! Hahahaha!”
“If not the Imperial Guards, would Ian put you in the Rift Investigation Squad? That dangerous place, with someone as reckless as you? Huh?”
“Of course! Wherever Ian goes, I go too. That’s how it’s always been. And damn it, I completely support Ian quitting! Staring at scraps of paper without even time to sleep—is that any way to live? He doesn’t even have time to eat.”
“…That food, the kilograms of it you consume daily. Who do you think is paying for that?”
When the Mage pointed out reality, Berik scratched his nose slightly. He’d realized the atmosphere was turning strange, not as he’d expected. Damn. He hated situations like this.
“Ian has plenty of money even without working, so it’s fine.”
“You really think he’d take you to the Rift?”
Without a word to the Mages, he’d caused quite a scene at the grand conference. Or was it them who were the problem? Captain Heil, Captain Akorella, even the Steward Romandro, and Prince Gin at the heart of the imperial family—they’d all been caught off guard, so to speak. But Berik?
Berik began backing toward the office, then suddenly shuddered and cried out.
“Iaaaaaaan!”
“Hey, grab him!”
“Ahhhhh! Iaaaaaaan! What is this?!”
“Should we grab him? Or maybe we should let Berik loose and scare Ian half to death? One frantic dog wouldn’t be a problem. Worth a try!”
“Who are you calling a dog?! Iaaagh!”
“You bastard. Damn, why is he so strong?!”
“Beasts are naturally stronger than their size suggests. Don’t provoke Ian until Captain Heil arrives! We can’t predict him as it is, and Berik’s making things even more chaotic!”
Philia simply watched as the Mages and Berik tangled together, tumbling down the corridor. An incredibly loud commotion was erupting, yet the office door remained firmly shut. As if no one was inside.
“What’s all this about?”
Then came a low, measured presence that effortlessly cut through the noise. The Mages and Philia turned their heads simultaneously. Heil, with a robe carelessly draped over him, stood looking down at them with a dry cigarette between his lips.
“Captain? Why are you here? We were just about to fetch you.”
“Is it strange for a Mage to be in the Magic Division?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“The whispering around here was so severe I couldn’t stay outside.”
Heil muttered this while biting the end of his cigarette. What he’d initially dismissed as cheap rumors had spread uncontrollably after the grand conference began.
Since Prince Gin’s movements had prompted immediate responses from the Imperial Guards, Heil too had naturally grasped the gravity of the situation. He extended his hand to help Philia up.
“Countess. The floor is dirty.”
“Actually, Captain Heil, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”
“If my guess is correct, you’re asking me to prevent Ian from going to the Rift Investigation, aren’t you?”
“What?”
Heil casually adjusted Philia’s collar as he spoke.
“You don’t need to worry about that. He keeps trying to dump his work on me, but I have no intention of accepting it.”
Unlike his usual composure, there was an edge to Heil’s tone. As if he held a grievance against Ian for acting so arbitrarily. He turned to the Mages and spoke.
“You all already know Ian is acting strange, don’t you?”
“Yes. I even wondered if he’d somehow reverted to being Bariel. Truly.”
“He wasn’t like this when he was in Cliffford.”
“…C-confinement, perhaps?”
“You confident about that? I can’t beat Ian.”
“N-neither can I.”
“You madmen! And here I thought the Empire’s elite personnel had actual solutions to offer!”
“Hush.”
Heil gestured with his fingers, demanding silence from everyone. It was a gesture suggesting he had some solution in mind. The mages looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
“I’m going too.”
“What?”
“I’m volunteering for the rift investigation as well. You said you’d recruit volunteers, didn’t you? So I’ll gladly accompany Ian.”
…This crazy bastard. Damn it.
All the mages simultaneously cursed in their minds, but soon realized Heil’s response was better than expected.
If Ian left, Heil was the most likely candidate for the next minister, so his absence would disrupt Ian’s plans.
“…That’s not a bad idea?”
“And all of you are going too.”
“Wha—?!”
“I can’t know exactly what Ian is thinking, but one thing is certain. He’s prioritizing Bariel’s safety. But if all the mages say they’ll follow Ian to the rift, what happens to things here?”
“W-we’d have another hole opening up, wouldn’t we?”
“Poor Romandro. What do we do?”
A kind of strike. A way to express dissatisfaction with Ian through action.
Heil shrugged his shoulders and turned his body naturally. Then, one by one, he made eye contact with each mage and cautioned them.
“To outmaneuver Ian, it’s important that we all work together. Keep that in mind as you move forward.”
“Ah, of course. I understand what you’re saying. No matter how capable Ian is, what can he do if we all strike together?”
“Right, right. If Ian says he’s going to the rift, let’s all say we’re going too. Then he’ll reconsider.”
“Okay. Good! Let’s write up a petition!”
The mages’ eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of landing a blow against Ian. Berik was bouncing around in agreement as well. He had judged that maintaining daily life like this was better than being left behind while Ian departed.
Philia gazed at Heil standing among the mages while gently cradling her belly. Did Heil realize? That every time he commanded the mages, he was proving Ian’s foresight.
“Heil, that’s not it.”
“Ah, yes?”
“There’s something I’d like to discuss separately. Could you spare me some time?”
Philia requested a meeting with Heil to ask about memory loss among magical side effects. Heil nodded and guided her to his office, then locked the door.
Creak.
Boom!
* * *
“How about we postpone the conference until King Damon recovers? The mages and imperial guards are treating him, so consciousness should return within a short time.”
“I agree. We can time it so that Ruswena and officials from other nations enter the palace then. Let’s say roughly ten days.”
“Cliffford, Ruswena, Burgos. And the northern allied forces as well. They’re all waiting for Bariel’s summons and have made preparations. I don’t think it will take ten days.”
“Yes, yes. I think so too.”
The Prime Minister and high-ranking officials gathered in the Prince’s office continued wrapping up the conference while sharing the schedule for the next meeting. They were pretending it was nothing, but they couldn’t help their pupils continuing to drift toward the Prince.
“Your Highness? What do you think? Do you agree?”
“Well, you see…”
“Yes?”
He seemed lost in thought rather than engaged in the conference. The Boy removed his hand from his chin and turned to the Prime Minister as if recalling something.
“The rift occurred within Cliffford’s territory, so it seems the rift investigation cannot proceed without Cliffford’s permission, correct?”
“In principle, that’s true, but there’s no reason for Cliffford to refuse that…”
The Prime Minister chuckled and glanced back at the officials. I couldn’t fathom what Jin was saying. Sending Ian to the Rift was an opportunity to break through the complex current situation. By crushing Ian, who was suspected of having imperial blood, he could stand completely alone.
But Jin rose from his seat as though a brilliant idea had occurred to him.
“Yes. That will do.”
Jin spoke to the Prime Minister while deepening the dimples in his cheeks.
“Ten days is too long. Tell everyone to enter the imperial palace within a week. All those involved in this war, all those who must bear responsibility, and all those who must receive compensation.”

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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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