Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 547

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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 546
Fire. The Attack of the Demonic Beast
Either something had gone wrong in the northern territories, or with Cliffford.
Jin studied the map for a moment, considering. How long would it take from the center to Cliffford? The carriage was relatively light, so it shouldn’t take too long.
“If a problem has arisen in Cliffford’s territory, they will send word from there. Since the royal procession is already en route, I’ll leave the initial response to them. We’ll send Jeonseogoo, and dispatch a scout unit northward with haste.”
Ian nodded in agreement, but carefully reminded me of the Magic Department’s situation.
“A wise decision, Your Majesty, though I must apologize. Currently, there are no Mages available to send from the Magic Department. If you command it, I can go myself, but I’m reluctant to leave Your Majesty’s side unguarded.”
“If it’s merely reconnaissance, I can go.”
“Zaira. That’s reckless.”
Ian cut off Zaira’s offer firmly.
Why else would Zaira be unable to sleep unlike the other Mages? She had managed only brief naps throughout the coronation ceremony. The psychological trauma she had suffered from the Ruswena Mage incident was considerable—more than she could bear alone.
Zaira couldn’t argue back and merely touched her glasses lightly.
“The Imperial Defense Ministry can organize scout units. However, if this matter concerns the rift, we must prepare for demonic beast appearances, which ordinary soldiers cannot handle.”
“How is the weapons supply for the Dera Tribe progressing?”
“We’re primarily supplying spears. Spears, especially short spears, take less time to manufacture than swords. We’re hurrying, but we need more time.”
Then only one option remained.
Captain Jairot, understanding my intent, spoke up.
“The Imperial Guards will go. With our mobility, we can quickly assess the situation just as if we were sending and receiving word from Jeonseogoo.”
“Good. You go first. Should you encounter any demonic beasts or other obstacles blocking the way, deal with them decisively so the advance proceeds without hindrance.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I accept your command.”
“Captain Jairot.”
As Jairot bowed in imperial fashion, I called to him.
“Bring weapons from the Dera Tribe as well. They will be useful—both for the Imperial Guards and for other soldiers.”
The advance unit was literally a force sent to scout enemy terrain and movements. Since mobility was the priority, the number of spearmen was quite limited, so this was an instruction accounting for that.
“Understood.”
I hadn’t anticipated problems arising within the Bariel border. This was certainly no natural phenomenon. It was highly likely that Burgos—or rather, Rutherford—had activated something through some scheme in anticipation of the Bariel advance.
Jin gestured lightly, urging haste.
“Captain Jairot, depart immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Whoosh.
As Jairot left the command tent, the two other captains waiting outside—Simon and Bonita—approached with grave expressions. Their eyes asked what had happened.
“What is it?”
“By order of the Emperor, we’re organizing a scout unit to search for rifts. The destination is the northern territories. Simon and his forces will remain here to guard His Majesty, and the rest will come with me northward.”
“Reconnaissance, but with so many?”
Though they held the same rank, their experience differed. Jairot had lived in the same era as the previous captains, while Simon and Bonita had been promoted to fill the vacancies left by the three great captains who died during the civil war. In essence, Jairot was both mentor and superior to them.
“Demonic beast appearances are suspected, so this will be a subjugation operation. It won’t take long to travel from here to the north, so if there are no problems, we’ll return immediately.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare at once.”
“Everyone assemble! Emergency!”
At Bonita’s shout, the resting Imperial Guards turned their heads one by one. Emergency? Not knowing what it was, they reflexively began donning their armor again.
Berik was no different. He crawled over grumbling and complaining.
“You told me to rest, and now you’re saying something completely different!”
“Shut it. Didn’t you hear me say it’s an emergency?”
“That’s why I crawled over here. What’s the problem?”
“There’s trouble in the north. We’re going on reconnaissance. Everyone, release your mana. And Barsabe!”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Go to the Dera Tribe and retrieve weapons.”
The Mage Knights meticulously donned their protective gear and equipment while receiving their mission briefing. Dimensional rifts, possible monsters, advance scout confirmation, protection of imperial citizens—the list went on.
“Ah!”
Berik tore open a yawn so wide his jaw nearly dislocated, then shot his hand up. As if he’d suddenly remembered something. Jairot deliberated for a moment before finally nodding. Permission to speak.
“Can’t we just ride Kyu?”
“That dragon?”
“Flying through the sky is obviously fast—no need to even mention it. Honestly, it’s such a hassle, but if we just hop on and get back quickly, it’d be perfect.”
“Casual speech. You’re dead.”
“Wouldn’t that be better, sir?”
Jairot paused to consider. No matter how fast they could dash using mana, it would be incomparable to a dragon’s flight speed.
It was a reasonable proposal, but perhaps because it came from Berik… something felt off.
“Then you ride it, Berik.”
“Huh? Me?”
“The person who brought it up should do it. Who else would I ask?”
“Right. I remember seeing you ride it pretty well back then.”
The Imperial Guards chuckled as they laced their boots. His expression was priceless—he’d suggested it out of laziness, only to find himself volunteered.
“Berik.”
“Ugh, seriously.”
If it were merely for mobility, the Magic Department would have approved dragon usage anyway. Jairot issued his command firmly.
“Prepare yourself quickly. You’re in charge of the dragon.”
* * *
“Huff… huff…”
Eileen’s vision grew increasingly blurred, her brows furrowing deeply. Her entire body was drenched—whether from sweat or blood, she couldn’t tell.
She wiped her eyes roughly with the back of her hand, then stared at her palm, completely soaked in crimson. And that was only the beginning. The verdant field had transformed into pools of blood and torn corpses scattered everywhere.
Life was truly fleeting. Those who had been moving and breathing moments ago had lost all strength in an instant.
“Spearmen! Forward! Keep pushing forward!”
“Go! Damn it, there’s nowhere to retreat!”
“That’s right—show your back and you’re dead!”
“We are—!”
“We are!”
“Bariel’s soldiers! Bearing His Majesty’s will!”
“The beginning of this war rests on us! Eyes forward!”
Only after half the advance guard had fallen could they vaguely identify their opponent.
First, the woman who had posed as the tavern owner. She displayed bizarre physical abilities—lifting a soldier’s corpse with a single hand. It was a characteristic of monsters, and everyone assumed she was one.
The remaining spearmen positioned themselves among the soldiers, taking up an offensive stance.
“Reveal your identity!”
“If I do, what then?”
The Unknown Woman licked the blood smeared on her arm with a sinister smile.
And in that instant—
Zing!
‘Magic!’
Her eyes transformed into a golden hue.
Eileen cried out in shock.
“Get away!”
“Where to!”
The Unknown Woman lowered her stance and leaped into the center of the group. Like a predator lunging at its prey.
The Spearmen thrust their weapons forward with their eyes squeezed shut. Countless spear tips grazed the Unknown Woman’s neck and shoulders, and one struck true at her waist.
Crash!
“Ahhhhh!”
“…!?”
Even as she retreated swiftly, the Unknown Woman’s blade severed a Soldier’s neck. A gushing head rolled across the ground, but she paid it no mind, only repeatedly checking her own waist.
“What the hell was that just now?”
“Ugh, ugh—”
“Don’t cry! Stay calm!”
“The attack worked!”
A small and faint glimmer of hope.
The Soldiers huddled tightly together, protecting each other’s backs, while Eileen surveyed the opposite side. The vanguard ahead—the direction that had first warned of the monster—faced no different a situation.
“Thrust! Thrust!”
“Kill it!”
The monster they faced had the form of a one-eyed pig with severed limbs. It seemed to move using legs attached somewhere on its body, but they were hidden beneath fur and invisible.
Screech!
I couldn’t tell how many there were. But with the occasional cries of dying monsters, the Soldiers swung their weapons with battle cries. Fight, fight, keep fighting!
“We can do this!”
“We can survive! Everyone just a little more, just a little more—!”
“Hey!”
Then the Unknown Woman, rubbing her flank, cut them off irritably. As if telling them to stop making noise.
“What is that?”
“What?”
“That thing on the spear tip—it doesn’t look like metal?”
“D-don’t ask if I tell you?”
“…Hmph?”
When she returned what was given, the Unknown Woman laughed menacingly.
One side was in tense vigilance, the other in leisurely calm. Of course, the Soldiers were the former, so everyone’s hands gripping their weapons trembled.
Eileen’s head spun. All her senses were heightened. The fishy smell of blood, the cool breeze, someone’s dying moans, and the trembling of the earth…
‘Trembling?’
Rumble—
“An, an earthquake…”
“It’s an earthquake! Everyone’s fine! There are no buildings here!”
A tremendous boom erupted from the north. The woman then began whistling, striking her visor with the edge of her hand, gazing into the distant horizon. Eileen’s head naturally turned in that direction as well.
“…!”
“What, what is that?”
“Black, black things…”
“The Minister was right.”
Demonic beasts. They were pouring forth from the north.
Sweeping down the hillside as they surged forward, they resembled a black tempest. Everything visible was a demonic beast, and everything felt was despair.
The soldiers unconsciously lowered their weapons, staring northward with helpless eyes.
“Ah.”
Should they flee? No, could they even flee? They were pouring down like an avalanche across the barren expanse?
The soldiers were completely overwhelmed and stumbled backward, ultimately turning their backs.
“R, run! Flee!”
“Aaahhh!”
Slash!
But the reality that awaited those who fled was the woman’s blade.
Eileen watched the scene in a daze. So this was what it meant for one’s heart to crumble. Her breathing grew ragged, but what could she do? There was only one choice.
Swish.
Eileen carved a cross into her left arm with her dagger. A prayer—that she was a child of God, and moreover a subject of Bariel, asking for the grace of an honorable death.
She then seized a broken spear and charged forward.
Tap-tap-tap!
“Aaahhh!”
Toward thousands, tens of thousands of demonic beasts.
A single figure cutting through the endless expanse of earth alone. And a black wave surging like the tide. Several soldiers regained their senses and, like Eileen, carved crosses upon their bodies.
And then—
“Let’s goooo!”
“Forward!”
They charged after Eileen.
The woman held up a corpse’s head, watching their retreating forms. Those who had chosen death—there was no need to follow and finish them.
‘Well, at least it’s not too late. That bastard Rutherford, he really does have impeccable timing.’
Bariel’s advance. To effectively stop it, there was no choice but to utilize the northern demonic beast territory before Bariel’s forces crossed the border.
The woman wiped the corner of her mouth with a swish and swallowed. Ah, how exquisite. All of them becoming my blood and flesh…
—Kyuuuuu!
Crash!
Then, something flew in at tremendous speed, skimming close to the ground. Short grass in its wake fluttered as if being torn up, and the woman shielded her face with her arm, blocking the wind.
“…!”
Red, elongated wings and tail.
A gaping, ferocious maw.
A Dragon.
And upon its back, a man with crimson hair.
“Die!”
“Hey!”
Whoosh!
Just as Eileen clenched her teeth and swung her spear to meet the magical beasts head-on, Berik seized her arm, and the creatures tumbled away from that spot. Berik caught the other soldiers as well and hoisted them onto the Dragon’s back.
“If you fall, you’re dead. Hold the rope tight.”
“Gasp, gasp….”
The soldiers who had survived the brink of death gasped for breath and trembled uncontrollably. Berik tapped Kyu’s head repeatedly and commanded.
“You head back. Got it?”
-Kyuuuu!
As Kyu lowered altitude once more, Berik leaped without hesitation. Eileen, startled, reached out her hand, but quickly realized her concern was pointless.
Crash!
Berik landed steadily, then aimed his black sword toward the woman.
“You reckless fool. You really went all out, didn’t you? How did you manage it?”
“Why? Does it look like a buffet to you? Got your mouth watering?”
“In any case, when there’s nothing decent to eat, people resort to such things. How refined.”
“That’s my line. You ignorant bastard.”
Efdiram, drenched in blood, unleashed her magical power, and Berik lowered his stance, his gaze sharpening.
Today, at last, one of them would die here.
The two rushed toward each other simultaneously.
The two people rushed toward each other at the same time.

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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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