Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 488

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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 488
Fire. The Minister’s Command
The conference hall, the following day.
Those who entered for the meeting exchanged greetings, yet they quickly sensed the atmosphere was unusual. Save for a few officials, everyone stood in disarray. Even those not participating in conversation wore heavy expressions as they organized their reports.
“Good day to you. The weather seems especially fine today.”
“Ah, you’ve arrived. Yes, indeed. Winter is passing.”
“But what are you all discussing so intently? The Prince will be arriving soon.”
“It’s nothing major, ahem. But do you happen to know why yesterday’s meeting was postponed?”
“Yesterday? Ah, yes. I wasn’t among those attending, so I received word through my subordinates. King Damon caused a disturbance, they said. Since it’s one of the important matters, the Prince decided to proceed with the meeting after checking his condition. Such things happen, don’t they? Given that there’s been no further word, there’s no problem.”
“We heard the same. But upon investigation, it appears the imperial physician hasn’t entered the tower since two days ago.”
“…Is that so?”
The official tilted his head in confusion and took his seat. It was certainly strange. If his condition were serious enough to postpone a meeting, surely the doctors would be attending to him.
“Well, it seems there were other circumstances involved.”
If so, the palace had simply made up an excuse for canceling the meeting. Given how carelessly it was done, it seemed they didn’t mind being discovered, and one could infer this wasn’t a serious matter.
Something curious enough to wonder about but not concerning enough to worry over—that would be it. The official chuckled as he tapped his reports into order. This sort of thing happened at the palace all the time; he couldn’t understand why everyone was being so sensitive.
“Just let it pass. Curiosity about palace matters? Aren’t you afraid?”
“I’m afraid because something frightening might happen. Don’t you notice? Not a single person from the Magic Ministry is visible. The moment I arrived at work today, I sought out the Magic Ministry because of a report. And there was absolute chaos.”
Now that he mentioned it, not a single official from the Magic Ministry, including Romandro, was present. Since it was one of the critical core departments, their absence was nearly unprecedented.
“Chaos? Why?”
“They said they’re busy following the Minister’s command.”
“Pardon?”
What was this now? By Minister, did he mean that Magic Minister who disappeared ten years ago? Ian Hielo? The official couldn’t comprehend it and was about to ask again.
Creak.
The main doors of the conference hall opened, announcing the Prince’s entrance.
“The Prince arrives!”
“All rise!”
“Oh my.”
Thud.
The gathered officials hurried back to their positions and placed their hands over their chests. Jin Berosion entered, followed by the Prime Minister.
They appeared as usual, yet something felt different. The officials couldn’t tell whether this was due to their own confused perception or if the two had truly changed.
“Be seated.”
Jin gestured lightly, granting the officials permission to sit.
As he announced the meeting would begin, the officials exchanged glances more rapidly. The Magic Ministry was absent, yet there was not a word about it. This meant he had already been informed of their situation.
“Given that yesterday’s meeting was postponed, we can expect many matters to address today. Let us proceed swiftly. First….”
Jin flipped through his reports as he spoke.
“I thought we might address the Magic Ministry matter everyone’s been chattering about. What do you think?”
Gasp. The officials unconsciously held their breath and lowered their eyes. If they made eye contact now, they would surely face trouble, and they instinctively sensed the danger.
Jin observed them one by one as they shrank back and spoke quietly.
“…An urgent report came up from Cliffford regarding Rift Zone 2. The content stated that the magical power of the rift was increasing abnormally. To put it simply, it was a warning that a Zone 3 rift could be generated within Bariel.”
“What? A rift in Bariel? Does that mean magical beasts could be generated in Bariel?”
“If you call it a warning, then it means it hasn’t happened yet, correct?”
“This cannot be! Demons near Bariel?! This is unthinkable! In all of history, there has never been an instance of Bariel being exposed to demon threats!”
“Pardon me, but exactly which part of Bariel are you referring to?”
The officials jolted upright at the sudden bombshell announcement. Was this why the Magic Ministry had been in such turmoil? Had all the talk of ministers and such been based on false rumors?
As the murmur of officials filled the conference hall with chaos, the Prime Minister brought his gavel down forcefully.
Bang! Bang!
“Silence.”
“Yes, Prime Minister!”
The Prince had not yet finished speaking. The Prime Minister raised his gavel as a signal for quiet, and the surrounding commotion quickly subsided.
“Thus, I have discussed this matter in depth with the Magic Ministry. The suspected location of the third breach is near Mount Raza.”
“Oh no!”
It was not far from the capital. The officials clutched their heads in despair, their exclamations of distress filling the air.
“However, amidst all this, unexpected news has arrived.”
The officials detected the faintest hint of a smile in Jin’s voice. A smile from the Prince at such a critical moment of national crisis? Incredulous, they looked toward Jin, but his expression remained composed, as always.
“Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic, has returned from the breach.”
“…!”
“…!”
A man who had vanished from the imperial palace long ago, yet whose presence could not be ignored. Everyone knew of him, yet they had deliberately turned a blind eye. The very fact that Jin officially spoke his name was shocking enough, but what was this? Ian Hielo had returned from the breach? Truly?
The conference hall fell so silent that not even a breath could be heard. Jin seemed pleased by this silence, and he set the report down lightly.
“He regained consciousness near Mount Raza, and the mages will conduct a separate investigation to determine whether the abnormal mana flow of the breach is connected to this.”
After a moment of silence, a cacophony of reactions erupted.
“Pardon me, Your Highness. Did I hear that correctly?”
“…The Minister of Magic has survived?”
“You mean… Ian Hielo?”
“…This is unbelievable.”
“Heavens! Heavens! This is wonderful! Your Highness!”
“Remarkable, truly remarkable! Count Ian, truly! Haha!”
“Ian Hielo, you mean that nobleman?”
“Yes, that’s right. My goodness, he’s actually returned alive.”
Some embraced one another in celebration, hoping for the Magic Ministry’s revival, while others muttered quietly in dismay. Those who shared similar interests whispered among themselves, attempting to grasp the situation, seemingly unconcerned with Jin’s presence.
“Your Highness, is this truly the case? Could it not be an imposter?”
“I too find it suspicious. For someone who disappeared so long ago to suddenly appear like this…”
“A thorough investigation would be prudent.”
“Yes, Your Highness! This is not something to believe easily! Above all, if he truly returned from the breach, why did he not come directly to the imperial palace?”
Disrespectful. As the Prime Minister moved to bring down his gavel again, Jin stopped him with a light gesture.
“Count Ian will move to the first sector and return with the mages. His identity has already been verified. The Imperial Guard Berik is accompanying him, so harbor no unfounded suspicions.”
If the Imperial Guards had already confirmed the matter, there was nothing more to be said. Ian Hielo had truly, actually returned alive.
“Therefore, the mages of the second sector will investigate the abnormal situation at the breach, then withdraw and return to the homeland.”
“Are you saying you will recall the mages stationed in the Cliffford sector? Cliffford will likely resist strongly.”
“Unlike the northern sector, Cliffford is an important ally. Caution is warranted…”
The officials hedged their words, but they wouldn’t bend on their position. Everyone knew that chaos would soon grip Burgos, and that Jin was watching for that opportunity. It was war.
Therefore, a steadfast alliance with Cliffford was more important than ever. Wasn’t it a kind of shield that could minimize Bariel’s losses?
“If something goes wrong with the rift, it means our Mages conducting the investigation will also be in danger. How can you call this a withdrawal without justification?”
“Well, but….”
“Guests will arrive from Cliffford during the coming-of-age ceremony, so we’ll convene again then. There’s also the matter of the Idgal tribe, and we can’t ignore our ally’s circumstances when it could pose a danger to Bariel. And above all—”
What could be done? Jin merely shrugged his shoulders, conveying a sense of helplessness.
“Technically, it’s the Minister of Magic who oversees the Mages. When the Minister summons them, who would dare object?”
* * *
Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Magic.
The word “chaos” fit the scene perfectly.
Mages ran through the offices without caring whether their robes came undone, and Romandro swept piles of documents aside with his shirt sleeves rolled up. Even as he hurriedly scanned through the address list, yesterday’s events played vividly in his mind.
Boom!
”
Ian is coming back! Everyone!
”
”
Huh? Romandro, what are you talking about?
”
”
Ah, Captain Akorella! What experiment did you do this time?
”
”
There’s no one else here—let’s show each other some respect. What happens if even Romandro loses it?
”
”
Ian survived the rift and is coming back! Yesssss!
”
Romandro embraced the Mages and bounced around excitedly, while the Mages stood there, unable to hug him back or push him away.
Akorella spun a mana stone between her fingertips with a smile.
”
These fools lose their minds whenever they see me. Right? Berik actually pulled it off. He’s traveling with Ian right now.
”
”
Huh? What do you mean….
”
”
I don’t know the details either! I’ll ask Ian directly when he arrives.
”
”
Is, is Ian really coming back? For real?
”
”
I’ve been deceived my whole life, and now they’re coming back! With Captain Heil!”
”
”
Ah….
”
”
Wow, woooow! Ahhh! Unbelievable! Unbelievable!
”
”
Kyaaaah! What do I do! What do I do! I must be going crazy! Really?
”
The mages surrounded Romandro in the center, bouncing wildly and screaming like madmen. They seemed to have lost their minds entirely to joy, emotion, and overwhelming happiness.
From shouting themselves hoarse with cheers, all the mages’ voices had grown raspy.
“Ahem. Romandro. I’m heading toward the commercial district, but is there anywhere else nearby I should visit? Could you give me a list of addresses….”
That’s exactly how it went.
Romandro was about to flip through the papers and hand over the address list. But at that moment, Captain Akorella cut in.
“You have somewhere to stop by before heading to the commercial district. I’ll go there instead. I needed to pick up some things anyway, so this works out.”
“Captain?”
“Yeah. Any problem with that?”
All members of the Magic Ministry, gather at the imperial palace.
To carry out the Minister’s order—one that hadn’t been issued in ten years—the mages were carefully confirming the addresses of colleagues who had left the imperial palace.
“No problem. But what are you buying?”
“Materials for a mana recovery potion.”
“Don’t tell me it’s for Ian? Did you forget Berik’s letter? The one about not giving him the amplification potion—”
Thwack!
Captain Akorella lightly tapped the mage’s forehead, cutting off his words.
“From what I saw, the problem wasn’t the amplification potion—that bastard’s got a terrible sense of direction. I mean, how does someone even manage to stumble into Mount Raza like that? And this time I’m making a recovery potion, not an amplification one.”
Romandro pretended not to see or hear anything, burying his nose back in the documents, while Captain Akorella limped away down the Magic Ministry corridor with ease.
Mages rushed energetically alongside her. The moment they stepped outside, they activated their mana and soared high into the sky.
“We’ll be back!”
“We’ll return soon!”
Zing! Zing!
Whoosh!
‘What a hassle. If I were still a mage, I’d just be summoned back.’
The mages who had left the imperial palace had mana-sealing stones embedded in their bodies. Given how closely tied they were to state secrets and how a single mage’s power could shake the nation, they had given up divine power in exchange for freedom. To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, regular location tracking was unavoidable.
Zing! Zing!
Whoosh!
Captain Akorella also activated her mana and leaped into the sky. Without hesitation, she flew straight toward her colleague’s residence.
A man reading a book in a well-maintained garden noticed something glittering in the sky, and soon realized it was a familiar woman with pink hair.
“Huh?”
Huh?
Crash!
Whoooosh…
“Ahhhhh!”
The center of the garden was gouged out from the impact. The man sprawled backward, clutching his book to his chest. His household staff came rushing out, wondering if something terrible had happened.
“Ah, Captain Akorella? What brings you here so suddenly? We finished the location tracking for this quarter already.”
“Nonsense.”
“Yes?”
Captain Akorella clicked the mana seal removal device and smirked. You’ve had it easy all this time, haven’t you? It’s time to return to being a Mage, you bastard.
“Return immediately.”
“Y-yes, ma’am.”
“Let’s head back to the Imperial Palace. Count Ian is coming.”

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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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