Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 511

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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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Free Side Story
. Side Effects of Magic Potion
The first day of the fourth month.
The Magic Department finally experienced a weekend that felt like a true weekend.
A gentle spring breeze drifted softly through the main building. The lobby lay peacefully empty, a duty mage sprawled across the sofa in slumber, and a cat crossing through the Garden. And then, there was Berik’s nose, snoring away in his afternoon nap.
“Ugh, what?”
Berik wiped the drool stretching from his lips with the back of his hand and looked around groggily. Ian was nowhere to be seen. He’d seemed to be working earlier, so where had he gone? I checked the small inner room as well, but it was empty.
Berik stretched powerfully, then gazed at the cluttered desk. Stacks of documents piled high, and one potion. The blue shimmer suggested it was a mana recovery elixir.
Whoosh.
-I’ve created a new recovery potion.
I mixed it with an amplifier, so please drink it all at once. Don’t give it to anyone else, okay? 🙂
I mixed it with an amplifier.
I
Go ahead and drink it all at once.
section
Don’t give it to other people. 🙂
It’s from Akorelra. Anyway, even though she seems out of her mind sometimes, she’s quick and skilled at making things like this. But why does she say not to give it to anyone else? Is she discriminating against people?
Pop!
As I opened the lid, a sweet fragrance wafted up. It looked more delicious than expected. I was already thirsty after waking up from my nap anyway.
‘Didn’t Ian drink this last time and sleep for a whole week?’
Perfect. Starting next week, there’s supposed to be some special war preparation training or whatever. It’s better to drink this and sleep through it. I’ll be a bit hungry, but what. The Dining Hall will probably be empty anyway—I can just raid it when the time comes.
Just as Berik nodded and was about to gulp down the potion.
“Berik. Have you seen Ian?”
“Huh? Romandro. Didn’t he go home?”
“Go home? He’s here.”
“That’s incredible, really. What are you going to do with all that money you’re making? Save it up bit by bit to use for hospital bills?”
“What else? I’m going to buy delicious things for my older Vivi and my younger Vivi.”
“Older Vivi? Ugh.”
Romandro waved the brown envelope at Berik, who made a retching gesture, then flopped onto the sofa almost in resignation. The mages could leave once they finished their assigned tasks, but his role was to assist Ian. As long as Ian didn’t leave, he couldn’t rest.
“So, have you seen Ian or not?”
“I just woke up from a nap. He wasn’t there.”
“Is that so? That’s strange. He should be waiting for approval documents.”
“I don’t know. He probably just went out to get some fresh air.”
“Hmm. Well, it’s good to take it easy. I’ll lie down for a bit too. Here goes! Uuuugh.”
As Romandro flopped backward, Berik alternated his gaze between the potion in his hand and him. Then a sinister smile spread across his face.
“Hehehehe.”
“What’s with that laugh?”
“What do you mean? It’s the cry of joy from someone who just got a week of paid leave.”
“Huh? You?”
Did this guy finally lose it? The one who breaks potion bottles every other day got paid leave? Romandro stared at Berik with bewildered eyes. Then his gaze suddenly fell on a single potion.
“Akorelra potion? You’re supposed to drink that?”
“War preparedness training? That’s not for me. I’d rather get into a bare-knuckle brawl. Standing in a line, marching in step, all that nonsense—forget it. I’m just going to sleep for a week and see you when I wake up.”
“Wait, hold on. Berik!”
Romandro jumped to his feet in surprise, and Berik instinctively stepped back. In the silence, their eyes locked for a moment. What? Why is he looking at me like that? As Berik stared, Romandro spoke first, his voice grave.
“…Just one sip for me too.”
“No way, I don’t share my stuff.”
“Just one sip. Just one. So we can rest for just one day, yeah? Just one day?”
“Sir, you don’t even have magical power.”
“Ah! I saw the report from last time—Akorelra used ordinary people in her experiments too, and there were no problems.”
“…Hmm.”
As Berik’s eyes narrowed, Romandro bared his front teeth and whined.
“So stingy. From now on, I’m not giving you anything I eat.”
“Huh? Where did that come from all of a sudden?”
“No, actually, don’t drink a single drop of water from our house from now on! Every time you go down to the Dining Hall, I’m telling the Chef about you. Just wait! You know he’s been sharpening his knives lately, right? He’s been itching for a match with you.”
He was literally sharpening actual kitchen knives, determined to protect the Imperial Palace Food Storage with the resolve of a true warrior.
Berik scratched his head a few times before nodding in agreement.
“Just… a little. Just a very little bit.”
“I really love you, Romandro. It’s hard not to finish it all.”
“Stop with the creepy talk. Hurry up.”
“Going.”
Berik drank down the half-full liquid in one go, leaving just one sip for Romandro. Romandro swallowed it without hesitation, as if there was no time to waste.
A sweet taste spread across their tongues in an instant. Both of them wiped their mouths simultaneously and tilted their heads. It was just like drinking sugar water.
“When will the effect kick in?”
“It shouldn’t take long. Ian drank some before the meeting, and all hell broke loose after it ended.”
Romandro rubbed his belly and tilted his head. That’s strange. Something warm was spreading through him, but it wasn’t a signal of hunger or sleepiness.
“Well then, let’s take another leisurely nap.”
That was when it happened.
The moment Berik stretched out his arm.
Pop.
“…B-Berik?”
“Huh?”
A tail sprouting from his rear end. With fluffy red fur, it was unmistakably that of a beast. Berik and Romandro froze in shock, their eyes blinking simultaneously.
“…A t-t-tail?”
“N-nooooo!”
Berik panicked and slapped his own rear, spinning around frantically in place. But regardless, two ears rose relentlessly.
Romandro muttered as if he’d figured something out.
“…A dog.”
“What is this! Aaaaah!”
“…You’re a dog.”
Then what about himself?
Romandro rushed to the mirror to check his reflection. Round and bulbous—something the size of a fist protruded from his backside. And those broad, elongated ears to match. Moments later, as Romandro caught sight of his considerably lengthened front teeth, the color drained from his face.
“…I’m a rabbit.”
“Damn it! Akorelra!”
“Ako! Ako!”
“I’m dead, you lunatic. Why the hell did you create this monstrosity?!”
“Ako! I’m sorry! I’ll work hard! I won’t slack off!”
Crash!
Patter patter!
Without hesitation, both figures bolted from the Minister’s Office. And watching their frantic escape from the garden across the way was a solitary observer.
Meow—
A cat with golden fur and emerald eyes.
The cat purred contentedly in the sunlight, then settled down comfortably. As if to say she would take it easy for at least the rest of today.

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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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