Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 565

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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 564
Fire. The Curtain of War Rises
“Move! Hurry! Once the sun rises, those Bariel bastards will come charging in! We must hold Agiar!”
“Over here! We’re beginning distribution of the black armor sent from Ruswena! Please take them quickly!”
“Gather all the armor you were wearing and move it inside the barrier! If the third gate falls, we’ll mobilize the residents! We’ll need supplies for them, so get in formation!”
“Come now, take this! Your final meal before the decisive battle!”
“Could I have a bit more, please?”
“No, that won’t do! Next!”
Inside the Agiar barrier, the chaos matched that of the Bariel encampment.
The soldiers who would lead the defense changed into the black armor supplied by Ruswena, gripping their weapons firmly as they waited atop each section of the barrier.
They were all people born and raised in Agiar. Even though Burgos was half-destroyed, their resolve to protect their homeland until the very end remained unshakeable.
“Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic, will take the vanguard.”
Tap.
Rutherford placed a small stone on the map as he spoke.
Burgos’s war council chamber. Centered around Rutherford were the Ruswena Mages, the northern chieftains, and—
“Can you handle the role in Tholun?”
Reinforcements from Tholun were seated at the table.
The Ruswena Mages and northern chieftains glanced over at them. All they knew was the single name ‘Bagvan.’ They could discern nothing of his purpose or abilities.
‘From his build and attire, he doesn’t seem to be a warrior.’
As everyone silently speculated, Bagvan chuckled and shook his head slightly. His eyes were long and narrow, and his front teeth were unusually prominent. Whenever he smiled, the corners of his mouth twitched strangely.
“Isn’t it only natural that mages face mages? I’ll take charge of the barrier. Emperor Jin Berosion and all of Bariel’s forces will swarm the barrier, and that location suits my movements well. What do you say, Ruswena Mages?”
“Well, we have no objection. It’s more convenient for mages to clash with mages as you say. We’d rather not get caught up in the chaos anyway.”
“Indeed. I hear Bariel has separate resources to support magical amplification. Does Ruswena possess the same? Didn’t you suffer—or rather, lose—in the Cliffford-Burgos War? The King must be quite worried. Kekeke.”
It was a statement that blended concern with mockery in equal measure.
The representative Ruswena Mage stiffened their face as they responded.
“Things are different now. Our mages have been completely replaced, and we too have personnel to handle amplification.”
“Replaced? Isn’t it more accurate to say completely wiped out?”
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to accomplish here.”
“Bagvan.”
Already tense before the coming battle, Bagvan’s attitude was quite insolent. Rutherford mediated as if to urge restraint, and Bagvan bowed his head with a smile lingering on his lips.
“Then let the Ruswena side and the northern tribes join forces against Bariel’s Magic Department. Bagvan will handle the barrier. However, once the location of Emperor Jin Berosion is identified, Bagvan will deal with him.”
“Understood. We shall do so.”
“Agreed. We’ll target the Emperor and respond appropriately as the situation develops. However—”
Bagvan seemed to accept, then asked lightly.
“To whom does the Emperor’s corpse belong?”
“We’ll determine that by assessing the situation. Don’t entertain premature thoughts.”
“Of course. I was merely wondering if anyone elsewhere might be harboring such ideas.”
“Listen here, those premature ideas would be coming from your side.”
“Among the northern tribes, there are sorcerers mixed in as well. One never knows, do they?”
Tap.
Rutherford placed another small stone on the table, warning them to cease their idle chatter.
“We are not merely defending Agiare. We must sever our enemies’ heads and advance into Bariel itself. That is the sole purpose of our gathering. Do not forget—the enemy is not here. They are outside.”
If we cannot crush Bariel, we die.
Or perhaps those who die will be the fortunate ones. The true price would fall upon those who survive.
Ruswena, following consecutive defeats in the Cliffford-Burgos war and now this, would inevitably march toward annihilation, while the anti-royalist forces within Burgos would be utterly annihilated, their entire nation absorbed into Bariel.
Was that all?
The other northern tribes, save Astana, would also pay a bitter price for standing against Bariel.
“What of the golems?”
“They lack cores, so indiscriminate attacks are inefficient. Killing the Astanains is the most convenient and cleanest solution.”
“Bagvan.”
“Yes, yes. I understand. Once their location is identified, likewise.”
His location. What exactly did he intend to do with it that he kept mentioning it? The mages found it puzzling, but given his disagreeable demeanor, they refrained from pressing further.
Bagvan added with a smirk.
“Do not worry and focus on fighting. I have many subordinates. My most reliable one is in Bariel, but I have more than enough to protect you all. This is what our King desires as well, so I shall do my utmost to assist you.”
“In Bariel?”
The mages reflexively questioned him in that moment.
Boooo—
Boo—
The buffalo horns sounded loudly across the entire encampment, announcing the break of dawn. The time had come. Bariel’s camp likely responded the same way.
“Then, good fortune.”
“Good fortune.”
With Rutherford’s nod, everyone filed out of the conference room.
Simultaneously, his subordinate approached with quick steps and whispered something to Rutherford.
“…Who did you say?”
“Shall we have him brought in? Dawn is breaking, but…”
“It’s not as though it takes days to meet someone. Have him brought here. An unexpected and welcome connection, is it not? I shall receive him gladly.”
“Yes, Rutherford.”
Whoosh!
Even as he spoke, Rutherford roughly swept back the curtains. The darkened conference room brightened instantly, and the orderly movements of the soldiers came into view at a glance.
And far beyond—
A blond boy standing with his back to the rising sun.
Crunch.
Without realizing it, he gripped the curtain tightly. Why would God remain silent in such a pressing moment? The path ahead was long and treacherous, yet he must crush that boy and advance.
Rutherford turned his head at the sound of footsteps behind him.
“Rutherford.”
“Ah, yes.”
Then, expressing genuine delight, he greeted his guest with a bright smile. Though the guest was prostrate on the ground, making it impossible to see their face clearly.
* * *
“The sun has fully risen.”
At someone’s murmur, I glanced toward the barrier. The Burgos flag still hung firmly in place. I gestured to the mages, and they took flight into the sky first.
Zing! Zing!
Whoosh!
The Mages followed suit, shedding their robes entirely as they pursued me. Sunlight streamed in at just that moment, revealing the entire vista of Agiar below us.
Among them were two Scribes who had been securely bound to the Dragon’s back and were now soaring through the air, their hands gripping fluttering parchment as they recorded everything without pause.
“Just a bit higher, upward, more upward please!”
“Does it understand words?”
-Kyuuuu!
“Screeeech!”
Whoosh! The Dragon’s sudden climb sent the Scribes’ bodies swaying violently. The Mages rushed past them in rapid succession, followed immediately by the opening salvo of the assault.
“Let’s go, everyone!”
“Protect Ian!”
Whoooosh!
I surged forward toward the barrier like cutting through waves, my senses heightened against unknown attacks that might come at any moment.
As the distance closed enough for visual confirmation, the Burgos archers unleashed their assault.
“All together—!”
Crack!
Amber gleamed at the arrow tips. Idgal-coated. Just as in the Cliffford-Burgos War, it was the primary means to neutralize the Mages dividing the battlefield.
“Fire!”
Whoooosh!
Hundreds of arrows launched by Burgos Soldiers traced gentle arcs through the air. It was magnificent—like a living wave of amber light crashing down upon us.
“Idgal arrows!”
“Brace yourselves!”
A brief panic rippled through our ranks, but it quickly subsided. I had raised one hand lightly, and a massive Idgal barrier materialized before the Mages.
Tap-tap-tap!
Tap! Crack!
The arrows struck the Idgal barrier and fell harmlessly. Simultaneously, my barrier—shattered by the Idgal arrows—crumbled into fragments and scattered downward.
At this, Akorelra flew forward with drool dripping from her mouth, while Heil and the Mages followed her with expressions of exasperation.
“You madmen! Do you know how precious this is?!”
“Captain, we understand, so please slow down a bit. Don’t get ahead of Ian, alright?”
“Ian! Drop it all down at once! Crush those youngsters to death!”
I grasped my right wrist with my left hand and twisted my body. A massive inferno began to surge within my palms.
‘Barriers or whatever—I’ll melt them all down.’
The moment my gaze fixed on the fluttering Burgos flag—
Whoooosh!
Zing! Zing!
Ruswena Mages who had been stationed throughout the barrier simultaneously took flight.
They generated protective shields against my attack, and my flames—blocked as if by an invisible sphere—never reached the barrier and dissipated.
Heat flowed smoothly in a curved trajectory. The Mages cried out.
“They’re Ruswena Mages!”
“Ian! Be careful!”
Zing.
I pressed the protective barrier gently with my fingertips. The depth was solid, and its texture was straight. By standards alone, it was considerable, but—
Crack!
Screech!
The point where the Idgal I created made contact began to fracture and shatter. It was only a matter of time. No matter how much magical power was poured in, how could a mage overcome the strength inherent in Idgal itself?
Whoooosh—
Whoosh—
“Advance!”
“Destroy the barrier!”
Tweller, who had been observing, issued the command to advance.
Following the sword he extended, Bariel’s soldiers rushed forward with a thunderous roar, slamming against the barrier. Stones tumbled down from above, and arrows rained down, but they could not stop the endless stream of soldiers charging forward.
“Ladders forward!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Keep running! Keep charging!”
“Golem!”
Boom! Boom!
The Astanains concentrated their focus to move the golem. Being composed of massive stone, it needed nothing else—just a single fist would suffice.
“Break through the gate!”
—Uuuaaah!
The moment the golem raised its enormous fist to strike down the city gate—
It stopped, frozen with barely a hair’s breadth remaining. The Astanain furrowed his brow in confusion, and soon noticed his colleague beside him clutching his chest.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Cough, something… something—”
Crimson blood welling up between his fingers.
It made no sense. Without any warning whatsoever, this had happened. The shock was brief before Hasha’s command snapped everyone to attention.
“Continue the assault!”
“Y-Your Highness!”
“I will find the cause!”
Was it the same mysterious attack that had wounded Count Ian’s cheek yesterday? At Hasha’s command, the Astanains once again concentrated their focus to move the golem.
Kuuuoom!
The golem’s left fist struck beside the city gate, and soldiers began climbing up the barrier in its wake. Jairot and the Imperial Guards watched the Astanains’ condition closely, reinforcing their vigilance.
“There is a mysterious attack occurring. Everyone concentrate carefully to identify it, but your highest priority is protecting His Majesty.”
“Yes, we obey your command!”
Crackle!
Meanwhile, in the sky, I remained unaware of this development as I confronted the protective barrier of the Ruswena Mages. Just a bit more and it will shatter, I thought, pushing my power harder, when Heil cried out.
“Ian!”
Whoooosh!
A massive bird came flying toward me from far away. Heil burst forth with magical power to block it, and soon its identity became clear.
“Ugh. What is that?”
“Captain Akorella, please have some dignity.”
“One of the northern tribes?”
Half-human, half-beast. A northern minority with wings sprouting from their shoulder blades. They continued hurling themselves at me, both hands gripping their swords.
The mages deployed protective barriers to shield me, but—
“Damn.”
“Watch out! Idgal fragments are scattering!”
“Ah! Yes, yes! Understood!”
Before the half-beast’s blade could even touch me, my Idgal shattered it first. It wasn’t just a threat to the Ruswena mages—it posed considerable danger to my own allies as well.
The mages swatted away the splintering Idgal shards with light strikes and shouted warnings, while I rolled up my sleeves.
‘I should reserve Idgal for when I need to neutralize Ruswena mages at close range.’
That was fine. No problem.
There were plenty of other methods.
“Stop wasting my time—”
Zing!
My eyes blazed as I charged toward the cracked protective barriers of the Ruswena mages.
“Hand over Rutherford!”
Flash!
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted across the sky.
The Bariel soldiers hesitated momentarily, but soon pressed forward without concern.
Jin gripped his sword tightly, his eyes fixed anxiously upward at the heavens.

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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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