Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 546

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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 545
Fire. The Vanguard Heading North
Near the northern border.
The small vanguard that had departed first during the coronation walked silently across the vast expanse of land.
Most of them had spent their entire lives only in the capital. The barren, boundless landscape made them acutely aware that they had left behind the foundations of their lives.
Yet on the other hand, there was anticipation. It felt as though the path they were treading symbolized the beginning of a new era.
“Hey.”
A middle-aged soldier who had been walking in silence spoke to his colleague beside him.
“Your name is Eileen, right?”
“Yes, and you are Tobo.”
“No need for formalities between fellow soldiers. Are you managing alright?”
Eileen was carrying military gear that was, with slight exaggeration, as large as her own body. Yet she showed no signs of struggle, grinning widely as she nodded.
“I’m fine. We’re only just beginning.”
“See that dark region over there? Beyond the rocky mountain.”
“Yes, I see it.”
Unlike the verdant fields they were passing through, that black expanse seemed to emanate death itself. Eileen casually wiped away the sweat trickling down her chin.
“We’ll likely rest around there. It’s just before entering the Rift Zone, so we’ll need to prepare. There’s also the barrier where the Imperial Mages used to station themselves. It’s an ideal place to rest.”
“You seem to know this area well. Have you come here often?”
“I’m from the north, but I came to the capital and enlisted in the Imperial Army. That was ages ago. Ha ha. It was probably before you were even born.”
Scattered signs of habitation began to appear. What could barely be called a village consisted of only a few buildings constructed from rotting wooden planks.
The vanguard soon entered the village and surveyed the surroundings. There were no people anywhere, save for a presence felt only from a building marked “Tavern.”
“Oh my. Looks like you’ve come from the capital.”
“There’s no one around, yet you run a business here?”
“I’m not really running a business—I’m just holding down the fort.”
Each time the soldiers passed and made a comment, the young woman rested her chin in her hand and smiled knowingly. Occasionally she waved her hand and deliberately drank deeply from a cool beer as if to show off.
“Enjoying something delicious all by yourself!”
“What other pleasures does a tavern owner have? Are you heading straight across the border? Or should I arrange a beer delivery for you?”
“That won’t do! Drinking while on a military campaign—military law is strict!”
“I see. What a shame.”
As the soldiers, their tension eased, chattered noisily among themselves, Tobo’s expression grew increasingly puzzled the closer he drew to the tavern. Even after passing the building, he deliberately turned back to examine the tavern more carefully.
Eileen sensed something odd and tapped his shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hmm. Nothing, I suppose. I’ve been to that place before, and the innkeeper seems different from what I remember. She was so talkative and scattered back then—I couldn’t even enjoy a drink. The impression was so strong I never forgot it.”
“Could it be her daughter?”
“I don’t think so. They appear to be around the same age.”
Tobo let the matter pass, assuming something must have happened, but Eileen couldn’t shake off a nagging sense of unease.
How could someone make a living in such a remote place with no customers? Had she taken over the tavern? If she were family, that would be different, but something about it seemed suspicious.
Eileen also glanced back, committing the tavern to memory, but that was all. Without incident, the vanguard gradually moved farther from the tavern.
Whoooosh!
“Halt!”
“Halt!”
A flag rose sharply at the front of the column. The marching soldiers stopped in their tracks, craning their necks to see what was happening, but they couldn’t see past the ranks ahead.
“What’s going on? Is there a problem?”
“Ugh, I wish we could sit down for a bit!”
“Maybe grab a drink at a tavern. Kahahaha!”
“Are we on a picnic? This is ridiculous.”
The soldiers around her snickered and whispered among themselves, but Eileen kept her gaze fixed forward. Then, in an instant, as the flag tilted to the right—
“M-Monsters—!”
Boooooo—
Booo—
War horns blared without warning. Everyone froze in confusion, and from the front of the column, blood suddenly erupted into the air. Eileen sensed it immediately—the formation was about to collapse.
Screeeech!
“W-What—!”
“Get your heads on straight! Everyone, battle formation!”
“B-Battle formation!”
“Aaaaaaah!”
They’d been watching only ahead, but another scream erupted from behind.
Blood fountained into the clear sky just the same, scattering beneath the bright sun before splattering across Eileen’s cheek. Without even noticing her own pupils dilating, she instinctively gripped her sword hilt.
Clang.
“It’s over there! There!”
“Don’t get close! Spearmen, spear unit! To the front!”
“Damn it, push forward!”
What was happening? Had the enemy laid traps in advance against the vanguard? Or was this a rift problem that emerged in the mages’ absence?
Eileen charged toward the rear with the other soldiers, shouting, and soon discovered a tavern woman drenched in blood.
‘Oh no.’
Was she wounded? I need to protect her first—
“…!”
Contrary to her concern, the woman was laughing, covered in blood. In her hand was the head of a Bariel Soldier.
There were few possibilities.
A Mage or a Mage Knight. Or perhaps—
‘A monster.’
* * *
Meanwhile, the Emperor’s regular forces, having left the capital, were advancing steadily northward toward Razasan.
With tens of thousands of soldiers and supplies piled high as mountains, the distance between them and the vanguard ahead was growing considerably.
“Ugh, I’m dying from exhaustion!”
“And it’s only the first day?”
“What, can’t I even complain? I wish the food was more filling! How many more days until we reach Burgos?”
“I wish the Mages would use their power at times like this.”
“Right? Why don’t they use that Black Moon thing or whatever it is to get us straight to Burgos? Why won’t they do it?”
“That’s not magic you can just use freely! Besides, the higher-ups have their reasons! Yeah, that’s what I believe!”
“Damn it. I’m tired—spare me the nonsense.”
Dusk was settling over the land.
Soldiers who had marched across vast distances claimed their spots and rested, while commotion erupted here and there as tents were being pitched.
Among those sighs, Princess Chloe’s was certainly included.
“Ugh.”
After riding all day, my lower back and thighs ached so badly I could barely stand properly.
As she stumbled and sat down heavily, the soldiers around her lowered their voices and quietly vacated the area. She was the daughter of a noble house, and though they couldn’t fathom why she’d come all this way, her presence was decidedly uncomfortable.
Chloe glanced around with fresh eyes and spotted a familiar figure passing in the distance.
“Count Xiaoxi!”
“…Princess Chloe.”
“Where is His Majesty?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m concerned whether he’s managing the arduous schedule without difficulty. Please allow me a moment to speak with him.”
Xiaoxi looked down at Chloe intently. Her hair tied in a single knot and simple attire suggested some resolve, but her powdered skin and crimson lips betrayed her true intentions.
“I apologize. Conversation is only permitted when His Majesty desires it.”
“Don’t be so stingy.”
“Princess. If I may offer one piece of advice—”
Swish.
Xiaoxi removed the hair ornament from Chloe’s head and shook it lightly.
“Unless it serves as a weapon, wear no ornaments on your person. On the battlefield, such things would only endanger the Princess.”
Chloe’s eyes narrowed to slits, and without a word, she snatched the ornament from Xiaoxi’s hand. How infuriating!
Tap-tap-tap!
Xiaoxi watched Chloe’s retreating figure disappear for a moment, then climbed the hill where Jin was resting.
Soldiers stood guard in seamless formation, yet despite that tension, Jin gazed forward as if entranced by something.
More precisely, he was looking out at the landscape spread below.
“Your Majesty, are you not finding this taxing?”
Xiaoxi asked carefully, but Jin answered without turning around.
“We haven’t even left Bariel yet—there’s no reason to be.”
“Then what troubles you?”
“…I’m amazed. That this too is Bariel, my own country—I can scarcely believe it.”
I spent most of my life within the imperial palace, and though I ventured into the city occasionally, I never left the capital.
So the endless mountain ranges fascinated me, the farmhouses with straw bundles lashed to their roofs amused me, and the fields where livestock roamed freely pleased my eyes.
All of this is my Bariel. I couldn’t easily tear my gaze away, overwhelmed by something akin to emotion.
“…Is the conference preparation complete?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Very well. Let us proceed.”
So even knowing why Xiaoxi had summoned me, my feet moved reluctantly. I barely composed myself and entered the tent that served as both conference room and the Emperor’s quarters.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes. Everyone, please be seated.”
Hasha, Ian, Maxim Tweller, Jairot. And finally, even Pim of the Dera Tribe. All the department heads had gathered.
As Jin took his seat, Ian was the first to speak.
“We expect to arrive near Rajasan by tomorrow afternoon, Your Majesty.”
I unfolded a map centered on Rajasan.
“A portion of the Dera Tribe will return to their settlement in Rajasan to establish intermediate supply points, which will serve as a bridge connecting Bariel’s forces in Burgos with the Central Army.”
“I heard the terrain is treacherous. Will that be manageable?”
“The routes of movement are established underground, so there should be no major issues. The location the Central Army will use as a base is the flatland beside Rajasan. However, there is one concern—a unique species called the Dryad.”
“A Dryad?”
“A tree spirit with aggressive tendencies. Before establishing our garrison, I recommend conducting a Dryad subjugation operation. We won’t need to deploy large numbers—I propose forming a small subjugation force alongside the Dera Tribe. Dryad wood burns slowly and intensely, so it will surely prove useful in the coming war.”
“Very well. The weather grows warmer, but firewood remains essential as a military supply. Continue procurement efforts. Count Tweller.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will proceed without concern.”
Pim also nodded, indicating no problems.
Since we were only just beginning, everything appeared to be proceeding smoothly without any significant issues. Just as we were about to continue the meeting, a sound came from outside.
“Forgive the intrusion. I am Zaira from the Magic Department.”
“Zaira?”
Jin turned to look at me. His gaze questioned what this was about, but I too appeared to have no idea.
“Come in.”
“Pardon me.”
“Haven’t you been sleeping, Zaira?”
At my question, Zaira shook her head lightly. Ever since departing the Central Army, all members of the Magic Department had been lying in the carriage, completely unconscious. They had collapsed as if dead after sharing sips of Akorelra’s recovery potion. It was because the magical exertion that had continued throughout the coronation had pushed everyone to their limits.
She stepped forward.
“Do you remember the report I submitted before? The one I made in Cliffford, where I mentioned there might be another rift near Rajasan?”
“Yes, I remember.”
And perhaps that was also related to when I first opened my eyes near Rajasan.
“Since it’s near Rajasan, I remeasured the mana anomaly response. However, the results were unexpected.”
“What kind of results?”
“The readings are normal. More than normal—they’re significantly below expectations.”
“Then isn’t that fortunate?”
As Maxim Tweller asked with confusion, Zaira shrugged her shoulders.
“It could be, or it might not be. While the rift itself has approached inactivity levels, the process matters. Generally speaking, we could interpret this as another rift zone becoming activated, making this one relatively safer by comparison.”
“Another rift zone, you say…?”
“It would be one of two possibilities, but I’m uncertain.”
Zaira calmly adjusted her glasses.
“It could be the northern region, or it could be Cliffford.”

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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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