Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 491

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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 491
Fire. Convergence
“Isn’t it strange?”
“Yes. It is strange.”
Nakina glared at Captain Heil while Idgal stood before her. Behind her, another Mage crouched down writing reports—Tomi.
Though the two looked in different directions, they muttered the same thing.
“It’s gotten worse lately.”
“That’s right. He wasn’t like this before, but something definitely changed.”
“Maybe he should quit smoking?”
“Yes. Smoking… why?”
“Huh?”
“What?”
The two stared at each other, blinking. Was this what they called being on different wavelengths? They thought they were discussing the same thing, but apparently not.
Tomi scratched his cheek with the back of his pen, his face puzzled.
“What are you talking about?”
“No, look at Captain Heil. Lately he seems spaced out, unfocused. He doesn’t seem physically ill, but he looks uncomfortable.”
At Nakina’s gesture, Tomi also looked toward Captain Heil. He was currently getting scolded among the Mages managing Idgal for smoking a cigarette. He seemed the same as always though? Tomi waved his hand dismissively, saying it was needless worry.
“It’s been quite a while since we left the capital, so it’s natural to be tired. This is our first time being away this long. The nearest tavern dilutes their alcohol with water anyway, so there’s no pleasure in getting drunk.”
“Is that so? Spring’s here now, so seasonal fatigue could be a factor too?”
“If you’re really worried, squeeze your senior for money and buy some alcohol.”
“Hell no. Captain Heil makes more salary than me anyway. By the way, what were you saying earlier? About Idgal?”
“Well. It seems the magical power surged once.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Tomi handed over the handwritten report to Nakina. Numbers scattered messily throughout. The recorded changes in Idgal installed alongside the magical anomaly detector were densely documented.
“Normally, one Idgal takes about two weeks to regulate the rift. But it absorbed maximum magical power in just one week. All at once. The magical anomaly detector readings are also outside normal range.”
“There was a change below the rift?”
“That’s my assumption.”
The same phenomenon was reported in the 2nd district at Cliffford, but north and south were opposite ends. Moreover, since reports were sent up and shared centered on the Imperial Palace, without contact from there, they could only interpret what this meant arbitrarily.
Just as Nakina, stroking her chin, was about to call Heil—
“Captain!”
Boom! Boom!
Small flames embroidered across the sky. The Mages simultaneously turned their heads. Annoyance was evident, but they couldn’t show it because of the Soldier rushing over in alarm.
Tap tap tap!
“Mages! Mages!”
“Yes, yes. We saw the signal just now. Where is it this time?”
“Near the large stone tomb on the northern mountain. There are… quite a lot of them. They seem to have come prepared! The Atan Tribe Leader was spotted too.”
“The bastard’s still alive. Captain!”
Nakina wrapped red cloth tightly around her wrists and between her fingers as she called out to Captain Heil. It was an attack by the Atan Clan. To be precise, it was more accurate to say they were causing a commotion to expand the rift.
“Anyway, true to Berik’s bloodline. They consume far too much. How about we all go together this time?”
“Yes. Since the Atan Tribe Leader has come, that would be better.”
“Yes, yes. Understood. This time, let’s go and make sure we kill Duwot. If we keep leaving him be, he just keeps growing larger. If we leave things as they are, we won’t be able to handle him later.”
Heil bit down on his cigarette in a way that suggested partial agreement. Kill Duwot—wasn’t it both simple and difficult to say?
Over the past decade, the Atan Clan’s numbers had grown to an astonishing degree. While the emergence of another rift near Bariel had contributed, the greatest factor was the absence of any force capable of actively checking them.
‘The Mage Division?’
The Mage Division’s mandate was solely to investigate rifts and prevent their expansion. Restraining the Atan Clan didn’t align with their objectives, and if they committed their full strength, they risked unintended disaster.
‘Torn between the Imperial Palace and the outside, then torn again between north and south. If mages were injured or killed in combat with the Atan Clan, it would be a loss that couldn’t possibly be calculated in economic terms.’
“Should I bring a sword? A really sharp one.”
“…No. Just a dagger.”
“Ugh! Again! Again again! What, you want to scratch someone’s back with a dagger!?”
Thus, a truly peculiar cohabitation continued. They repeatedly pushed each other back and forth within their respective interests. Through this process, the Atan Clan grew while the Mage Division stagnated.
Heil lit his cigarette and cautioned his subordinates.
“Everyone here understands—our goal is to drive the Atan Clan from the northern mountains without major armed conflict.”
“Captain. Their boundary violations are increasing in frequency. Has the Imperial Palace given any response?”
I felt the tense balance between us gradually distorting. I had reported the matter to the Imperial Palace and requested they send personnel capable of handling the Atan Clan, but who knew? With Prince Gin’s coming-of-age ceremony approaching, they might not have the attention to spare for this.
Besides, how many people at the Imperial Palace could handle the Atan Clan besides mages? Only the Mage Knights would suffice. But with rumors of war with Burgos circulating, the Imperial Guards wouldn’t easily spare their personnel.
“…They’ll arrive soon.”
“There’s nothing. Nothing.”
“Enough. Let’s go! We’ll grab food when we get back!”
“Once we return from the northern mountains, shall we wrap up today’s schedule? Let’s head to a tavern and have some drinks. Without alcohol, time moves too slowly here. Tsk tsk.”
“Captain of the Guard, you just focus on managing the barrier.”
“Ah, yes yes! Safe travels!”
“If anything happens, fire the signal flare immediately.”
“Don’t worry!”
Thump!
Heil gave the Captain of the Guard’s shoulder a couple of reassuring pats.
Not just the Captain of the Guard, but all those standing watch nearby focused their gazes on the mages. It was a moment when saliva caught in throats. These were people no different from themselves, yet now they embodied the will of God.
Zing! Zing!
Tap tap tap!
Whoooosh!
The mages simultaneously opened their golden eyes and soared into the sky. In that instant, a burst of magical power caused Idgal to shimmer briefly, but that was all. The mages quickly regained a certain level of luminescence as they distanced themselves from the ground.
“Heh, truly. It’s amazing every time I see it.”
“Indeed. Normally they seem like idle friends who live with cigarettes and alcohol, haha.”
“Lock the barrier! Just in case, restrict civilian passage in the vicinity!”
“Everyone’s going to complain. Here we go again, they’ll say.”
The guards climbed onto the barrier, glancing at the rift zone that resembled a golden amber field.
Through the dim and hazy smoke, Idgal gleamed subtly, spreading out like a spectacle.
Whoooosh!
Meanwhile, the mages ascending with Heil at the lead spotted smoke rising from the distant northern mountains. The peculiarity was that the smoke had a bluish tint rather than gray.
This was the magical trace of Efdiram, the Atan Tribe Leader.
“Captain, there it is.”
“Approach slowly.”
At Heil’s gesture, Nakina and Tomi split to either side, with the mages following in their wake. As if resonating with Efdiram’s magical power, waves of scorching heat surged from the cracks that periodically opened in the space.
“Oh, they’ve arrived. The Empire’s mages.”
“You’re a bit early today.”
“That’s right. Did you skip breakfast? You seem light on your feet.”
Sensing their presence, Efdiram’s golden eyes gleamed as she reached her hand toward the sky. By any measure, her reaction resembled welcoming an old friend rather than an enemy.
And for good reason—when mages clashed with one another, the resulting backlash would shake the cracks even more violently. Therefore, the mages had to respond by minimizing their magical power, and the Atan Clan, being mages of the Empire, couldn’t easily throw themselves into battle.
They clashed periodically, yet neither side suffered losses. If this wasn’t friendship, what was it?
“Hey, over here!”
“‘Over here’? Get lost!”
“It’s been a while, so why are you acting like that?”
“Your people came just a few days ago. You told them to stay outside the Bariel border and cause trouble there—why do you keep crawling back here and bothering us?”
“My subordinates came, not me. Anyway, come down this way for a moment. I have something to tell you.”
Efdiram gestured, requesting a conversation. At her slightly unusual response, Nakina and Tomi glanced toward Heil.
Heil instructed the mages to maintain their guard stance, then landed alone near Efdiram. The thick, sticky stench of beast blood wafted over him so strongly it made his stomach churn. Most of the Atan Clan, including Efdiram, were covered in dried blood from head to toe. It seemed they’d gone out and hunted some monsters.
“Oh, Captain Heil. Did you get a haircut?”
“State your business.”
“Quite the buzz cut.”
Tsk.
Efdiram chuckled and lit a cigarette. Then she placed her hand on her waist and paused for a moment. It seemed her claim about having something to say wasn’t idle talk.
“It’s nothing major, but have you heard?”
“Heard what?”
“That Rutherford has returned.”
“…?!”
The Imperial Palace had transmitted no such information. Heil concealed his startled expression by pretending to reach for a cigarette, but Efdiram keenly caught that shift.
“Looks like you haven’t heard. How can news travel so slowly?”
“Whether it’s news or just rumor, I wouldn’t know.”
“Ah, well, if you put it that way, I’ve nothing more to say. Anyway, we’re planning to cross over toward Burgos to make contact with our Rutherford, so we won’t be operating in the northern territories for a while.”
Heil frowned and exhaled cigarette smoke. So what? If they were leaving, they should disappear quietly—why stir up such a commotion and have the mages running back and forth?
As if reading Heil’s thoughts, Efdiram shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s a farewell greeting. But on the other hand, it’s a warning.”
“…What?”
“Once we meet with Rutherford and see each other again, this kind of loose talk won’t be the end of it. I’m saying goodbye in advance, wishing you well until then.”
Ting! Efdiram flicked her cigarette away and extended her hand toward Heil.
She was the woman who sensed the prelude to war before anyone else. Heil simply stared at the hand she offered, showing no reaction whatsoever.
“That’s disappointing.”
“If Rutherford has returned—”
“Hm?”
Efdiram furrowed her brow, indicating she hadn’t quite heard what Heil was saying.
“Then there’s a possibility that Minister Ian has also returned.”
“Ah, Ian. Well. I’m not really sure. Should I ask Rutherford about it?”
“Forget it. Get out of here. And the warning should come from us, not you. There won’t be a next time. When that happens, I’ll prevent the next disturbance by putting you all to death, cracks or otherwise.”
“You bastard, who do you think you’re talking to!”
“Ahem. That’s enough.”
The Atan Clan member standing behind Efdiram drew his sword and expressed his displeasure.
But Captain Heil paid no mind, turned his back, and signaled the Mages with a hand gesture. So Rutherford has returned. I’m not sure if the Imperial Palace knows about this, but I should submit a report first.
“Captain, what’s wrong?”
“They’re being especially loud today.”
“Rutherford has—”
Just as I was about to say that Rutherford seemed to have returned.
A bird cutting through the ashen sky. A familiar one. It was the messenger bird that connected the Imperial Palace and the northern border. It circled widely through the sky and landed on Heil’s shoulder.
Whoosh!
“A message.”
The note was brief. Heil recognized Romandro’s handwriting and quickly took in its contents.
-Minister Ian is heading north with Berik. Join them.
“…!”
“…!”
“Captain? What’s wrong?”
“What what? What’s the Imperial Palace saying?”
“How dare you! An Imperial message!”
“No, what’s going on? I’m just curious what it says.”
When Efdiram thrust her head forward, the Mages roughly pushed her back and shouted.
In the chaotic atmosphere, Heil finally understood. The reason for the strange sensation and abnormal reactions that had continued for days.
“…Return.”
“Return!”
“Damn it, let’s go!”
“Waaaaah!”
Whoooosh!
There is only one path into the northern barrier.
Heil leaped into the sky without hesitation, and the Mages immediately followed suit. I could hear Efdiram shouting something at the back of my head, but no one paid any attention.
And—
“Captain Heil! Over there!”
Between endless rolling hills, a group slowly walking across a vast meadow comes into view. One horse and two people. Red hair and golden hair. I couldn’t see their features clearly, but I was certain.
Heil and the Mages instinctively lowered their altitude and rushed toward them.
“Ah!”
Whoooosh!
The Mages drew closer and closer to the ground, then smoothly slid down the hillside.
As dozens of Mages approached simultaneously, Berik sensed their presence and waved his hand.
“Hey! How did you know to come meet us!?”
The Mages who had been rolling and tumbling finally managed to steady themselves as the slope became gentler. And then, they could face Ian, unchanged from their memories.
I smiled broadly and waved my hand.
It had been such a long time since I’d seen them, and my joy was evident in every gesture.
“How have you all been?”

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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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