Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 553

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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 552
Fire. The Ashen Field
‘One more time! Come at me!’
‘That’s my line, Berik.’
Every time Captain Jeirat saw Berik, his stomach turned. He wondered if there was another reckless fool like this in the world, yet memories of his own childhood—buried deep in the recesses of his mind—surfaced. So immature, so rough, so young.
Captain Jeirat clicked his tongue and flicked Berik’s forehead with a sharp tap.
‘Ugh! The match isn’t decided yet, so I can still do this!’
‘The one who gets knocked down and carried away every time has some nerve.’
‘No one knows until they’re dead. Even if I lose a hundred times, if I win at the end, that makes me the victor! Here I come!’
Crack!
How pathetic.
Captain Jeirat threw a punch at Berik while muttering this, but internally, he felt a rather refreshing shock. According to Berik’s logic, wouldn’t losing once at the end mean defeat, even after a hundred victories?
A truly terrifying reality. Captain Jeirat recalled once more that genius who had defeated himself. He too had walked the path of victory, only to be buried forever by a single defeat.
“Hah, hah….”
I exhaled and glared at my opponent. The figure wearing my face stared back at me with equal exhaustion.
I gripped the mana blade tightly, deliberately ignoring my trembling hands. I would not die to this creature here. Never.
Clang! Clang!
The endless exchange of blows continued.
The moment my blade pierced my opponent’s abdomen, I too was pierced in turn. The terror of death rose to my throat. I ignored the heavy pain creeping upward and pressed my attacks relentlessly.
Kill or be killed!
Screeeech!
Yet I sensed the end approaching. My mana was depleted. Was it fortunate? My opponent—myself—had also lost strength in equal measure. It was like staring into a mirror.
I clenched my fists and charged forward with every ounce of strength I had left. Just as I had at fifteen, burning with pure determination.
Thud! Crack!
After the final exchange of blows, my body fell first. How could I describe the helplessness of that moment? As my opponent straddled me and rained down fists, my consciousness grew distant.
Gasp!
The one strangling my throat wept profusely.
In that instant, I felt enlightened.
‘I am him, and he is me.’
Just as I feared my opponent, my opponent feared me equally.
If judged by the subject of ‘Captain Jeirat,’ I had lost, yet simultaneously, I had won.
I reached out and gripped my opponent’s shoulder. Only then did I realize I too was weeping.
“You’ve endured much.”
Through all these fierce years we’ve run, you and I have feared each other and spent such a long time together.
Whoooosh—
Then the world changed.
Vitality bloomed in a world that had been filled only with quiet darkness.
The figure wearing my face had become Berik. Berik wept openly and muttered.
“Damn it, old man. Can’t tell if you’ve come to your senses or if you’re just spouting nonsense.”
Stupid mutt. Crying like that is truly pathetic.
Jairot closed his eyes for a moment.
Was I like that at fifteen? When they said a genius had died, did I weep like that? I couldn’t remember.
“Old man! Damn it!”
“Berik, come here for a moment.”
“Captain, are you with us? Can you hear me?”
“Stop the bleeding first! You’ve lost too much blood.”
“Berik! Wrap your abdomen quickly. You’ll get yourself killed!”
Jairot overlaid the image of himself weeping down at him just moments ago with Berik’s current state.
The entity he’d deemed an absolute terror proved more manageable than expected, and though defeated as everyone said, he hadn’t died—so it wasn’t over.
“Berik.”
“Captain! Do you recognize us?”
“Are you alright? Berik! The captain is calling for you!”
“Old man! Damn it, you’re driving me crazy.”
As Berik wept, tears or snot streaming down his face, Jairot sighed. He couldn’t believe this one had grown strong enough to break him. Yet his own mark was all over that growth—perhaps Berik was simply another version of himself.
But that process bore his fingerprints all over it, so perhaps Berik was him after all.
“Old man! Say something!”
“…Mutt.”
“Huh?”
Berik’s eyes widened and he sniffled. Jairot merely tilted his head slightly, staring at the hole in his abdomen, then narrowed his eyes.
“You’re worth something.”
It was praise, encouragement, and consolation all at once. Don’t blame yourself for the wound you’ve made.
Berik wiped his nose with the back of his hand and replied with a twisted smile.
“Of course. How many years have I been doing this?”
Jairot smiled faintly, then rested his head on the ground. Exhaustion crashed over him suddenly. His entire body felt heavy, yet strangely his heart felt light and at ease.
He murmured with his eyes closed.
“…See you later.”
“Captain! Damn it, are there any Healing Mages up there?”
“No! The Healing Mages are with His Majesty! We can manage infusing mana!”
“It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing!”
“Clear the nearby monsters first!”
“Kyu! Let’s go! Down below!”
“Berik! You take mana too!”
“Yeah! My belly never gets a break!”
Berik flopped down beside Jairot in a sprawl, breathing heavily. Now that the pain registered, it was hard to endure.
“Everyone!”
“Everyone!”
“Guard Berik and Captain Jairot! Protect them!”
“Yes, Captain!”
The Palace Guards surrounded the two at Bonita’s command, cutting down the monsters that rushed at them with their blades. The Mages leaped from the dragon, landed between the two, and immediately grabbed their arms, infusing mana into them.
Taaht!
Zing! Zing!
“Administer emergency treatment and transport him via Dragon immediately.”
“Berik! Grab my hand!”
“Ugh, everything’s spinning.”
“Stay with me, damn it!”
I poured everything I had without reservation, but my mana had already bottomed out, leaving me feeling woefully insufficient. Just as the Mages were gasping and sharing their power with me.
Zing! Zing!
Whoooosh!
A massive inferno swept across the plains in an instant.
All the way to the horizon that caught my eye.
Countless monsters couldn’t escape the flames and crumbled to ash, perishing. As a wave of heat crashed down upon me, Berik cautiously opened his left eye.
“Oh. Ian.”
Ian with his golden eyes was looking down at me upside down. He glanced briefly toward Jeirat before asking, as if seeking confirmation.
“Is Jeirat alright?”
Free from brainwashing, and still an existence living for Bariel? If I have to say it twice, my mouth gets tired, Berik grumbled to himself.
“Of course. And now I’ve beaten the old man.”
“Really?”
That’s rather surprising.
When Ian smiled softly, Berik found himself grinning too. One part of my heart still ached, yet laughter came anyway. Have I lost my mind?
“What about you? Did you patch the hole?”
“Yes. The northern region should be fine for a while now.”
“Then we can continue forward.”
“Without worry, continue on.”
“The brainwashing—that was because of the Underworld Deity, right?”
Ian reached out and closed Berik’s eyes. As if telling him to stop and get some rest too.
As mana flowed through his warm palm, my ragged breathing found stability. Half-conscious and drifting, I muttered.
“The Underworld Deity, that bastard, I’ll kill him….”
Snore! And immediately passed out.
Ian exhaled a faint sigh and instructed the Mages.
“Move him onto the Dragon. I’ll handle things while we travel.”
“Ian, aren’t you overexerting yourself?”
“Yes, you’ve been using tremendous power continuously.”
“We don’t want to be a burden even if we can’t help. Let us do it. Please rest, even if just a little.”
“When you say the Fissure region is secure, does that mean you’ve sealed the gap? How… how did you manage it?”
Instead of answering, Ian showed his palm.
A palm, suddenly? Everyone huddled close and leaned in, their eyes widening. Bright light gathered and swirled, and it was Idgal that had been created.
“Ian!”
“I, it’s, it’s Idgal.”
“Is it magic? No, wait. Alchemy?”
“Move! Out of the way!”
“Ugh, Captain Akorella! Wait a moment. Don’t push!”
“Count Ian. I’ll take this one with me. Yes? That’s fine, right? Please, just tell me it’s okay.”
Akorella’s eyes were half-rolled back. If things went well, I might even see a nosebleed for once.
I smiled slightly and nodded, then ordered everyone to hurry back.
“His Majesty awaits.”
“Yes! We must go! We need to leave right away!”
Zing! Zing!
Whoosh!
“Captain Akorella! No, this is insane. Where did that groaning person go just now? Come with us!”
“The demon corpses need to be—”
The Mage trailed off, surveying the surroundings.
Nothing but ash everywhere. Whether from the scorched earth or the traces of the demon, I couldn’t say. But one thing was certain: no one who faced Bariel survived.
The Mages straightened their robes and rose to their feet.
“Let us return, Count Ian. You’ve worked hard.”
* * *
“Captain Jeirat is wounded?”
Inside the tent where the council was being held.
Jin rose from his chair, repeating the question. For anyone else, perhaps, but the very notion that Captain Jeirat had been injured and lost consciousness felt strange. He had always seemed like someone who would never fall.
Jin gestured for him to proceed, and Xiaoxi pulled back the tent flap.
“Yes, Your Majesty. It appears he suffered from a brainwashing effect caused by an unknown force emanating from the Crack’s fissure. When Berik blocked Captain Jeirat, both were severely injured and are currently receiving treatment.”
“Is Count Ian with them?”
“Yes. Upon arrival, he is tending to them alongside the Healing Mages.”
“Are there any other wounded besides these two?”
“Fortunately not. According to Count Ian’s report, he also sealed the northern fissure and discovered the method of Idgal creation in the process.”
“…Idgal?”
Remarkable. From Captain Jeirat’s injury to the discovery of Idgal’s creation method. Everything exceeded expectations.
Xiaoxi nodded and replied.
“The exact quantity remains unclear, but if it was sufficient to seal the northern fissure, it should be possible to deal with other fissures as well. Would it not be wise to send word to Cliffford?”
“Excellent. If we can seal the fissures, Cliffford can accelerate its national recovery, and moreover, it will be of great aid in the war. Xiaoxi, you shall draft the letter.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It will also greatly assist in controlling foreign mages. Which way is it?”
“This way, Your Majesty.”
“And that direction?”
“The advance soldiers who survived the demon attack are receiving treatment there.”
Jin paused briefly in thought, then turned toward the opposite direction.
The Imperial Guards held far greater importance, but this was wartime. As Emperor, he needed to personally encourage the survivors to boost morale among all soldiers.
“Raise it.”
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”
“All of you, show proper respect!”
The soldiers wrapping bandages startled and prostrated themselves, but Jin raised his hand lightly to stop them.
“It is done. There is no need for grand gestures. These brave souls sacrificed their lives with prayers for divine blessing, and I came to encourage their valor.”
“I-I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“It is an honor!”
“Is that all of you?”
“Your Majesty, there is one more. She lowered the cloth momentarily while binding her wounds.”
“Are her injuries severe?”
“No, it is simply that she is a woman, and…”
A woman?
From behind the hastily erected cloth nearby, I sensed a presence.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
Jin found the woman’s voice strangely familiar, but made no mention of it. Jairot and Berik were waiting, after all.
“Very well. You have endured much hardship too. I am genuinely pleased that you have returned alive. Do not lose that courage on the battlefield in days to come. I shall reward you with fine provisions, so eat well and recover without want.”
“Thank you.”
Only after the Emperor departed did the woman finally finish dressing, and only then could she lower the makeshift cloth. The soldiers clicked their tongues in disappointment.
“Bad luck, Eileen. It was an opportunity to see the Emperor’s face.”
If I dedicate myself to my homeland again someday, another chance will come. Eileen simply smiled.

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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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