Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 566

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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 565
Fire. Pierce the Doll with a Needle
“Charge forward!”
Eileen unleashed a roar that erupted from her core, raising her sword high. Soldiers running beside her fell to enemy arrows, yet their sacrifice could not break her resolve. With eyes fixed only ahead, I pressed forward until I reached the magnificent, towering barrier.
Wooaah!
Boom!
Each time the Golem’s fist descended, torrents of sand whipped around in all directions.
Eileen shielded her face with her arm and crouched briefly, then noticed that the entrance to the Third Gate barrier had shifted slightly ajar. The other soldiers noticed it too.
“It’s opening! It’s opening bit by bit!”
“Attack the gap!”
“Hyaaah!”
From within, desperate movements to seal the opening became visible. The Bariel Soldiers thrust swords and spears through the crevice, thirsting for Burgos blood.
“One more time!”
“Get back!”
As the Golem raised both fists, soldiers shouted warnings and retreated. Screech! Unknown blood clung thickly to the drawn blade.
Boom!
“The Golem is malfunctioning!”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Don’t mind it—keep climbing! Over the barrier!”
“Secure the ladder firmly!”
The Golem, which had maintained its balance so well, began to sway and tilt to one side. The soldiers were momentarily confused, but they forced themselves to ignore their confusion and climbed the barrier.
“Get out of here! You Bariel bastards!”
“Come here!”
“Argh!”
Bariel Soldiers climbing the ladder seized Burgos Soldiers by the hair and hurled them downward.
Bodies crushed beneath bodies, then stones crashing down again—a tragedy repeating endlessly. Yet in the chaos of the raging battle, no one recognized it as tragedy.
Boom!
With slightly different force than before, the Golem struck the barrier entrance. Finally, Burgos Soldiers poured through the half-collapsed gap like ants, and Eileen advanced madly, swinging her sword.
Clang! Clang!
“Damn you all!”
“Get out! Please, get out!”
“Clear the passage! Then I’ll spare you!”
“Argh!”
Then it happened. The Golem, which had moved so smoothly until now, creaked and groaned before stopping completely. It lost its balance and toppled forward.
“Huh? What?”
“Move! The Golem is falling!”
Crash!
Rumble! Boom!
The massive stone Golem, as it fell, completely destroyed the Burgos barrier entrance while simultaneously creating a new wall. Soldiers trapped beneath it let out agonized screams and died helplessly.
“The Golem!”
Why is this happening? What on earth is going on? What could possibly be the reason?
Only then did Eileen turn to look behind her. There was a small but chaotic commotion in the Bariel camp. The Astana sorcerers had fallen.
‘This makes no sense.’
All the mages capable of ranged attacks were engaged in fierce combat in the sky. Then was it the work of the northern sorcerer? But the Astanain was also a northern sorcerer, wasn’t he? In a situation where they knew each other well, there was no way they could have failed to prepare for an attack.
“Push through! Get past the golem!”
“Where are you going! Kill them! Kill them all!”
Eileen climbed the ladder and surveyed her surroundings from atop the barrier. It had to be there. Surely, the source of this mysterious attack existed somewhere.
“You insolent fool!”
Clang!
Burgos soldiers rushed at Eileen, and she hooked their feet and sent their bodies tumbling down the barrier.
Then, a tremendous roar erupted from the sky.
Boom!
Everyone flinched and crouched from the intense heat. It was an explosion caused by the mages fighting the winged half-beasts.
Among them, the blond boy stood out distinctly. The Minister of Magic seized one creature’s wing joint with fluid grace and tore it away, simultaneously releasing a surge of powerful mana.
Boom!
“Kyeeeeek!”
“Minister Ian! They keep coming!”
With strange shrieks, the half-beast tribe plummeted, continuously rushing at Ian and swinging their blades, while he methodically concentrated and parried each attack one by one.
Slash!
If I cut off their wings, they won’t be able to stay here. Just as they aimed for his throat, Ian aimed solely for their wings, continuing an efficient battle.
Unable to watch any longer, the Ruswena mages joined their hands and began drawing a magic circle in the sky.
Zing! Zing!
「Spiral Vortex」.
From the fingertips of the Ruswena mage, a massive torrent of water surged forth, spinning and swirling. It scattered gradually and engulfed Ian, confining him as if he were submerged within a water droplet.
“Minister Ian!”
Slash!
The mages frantically cut at the water, but how could a blade sever such a thing? Bubble, bubble—small air bubbles rose from Ian’s nose and mouth. He gestured for them to fall back and generated ‘Inferno’.
Whoosh!
The water evaporated instantly upon meeting the scorching heat. Rising steam billowed like a massive cloud. Ian swept his damp hair back and drew a magic circle with his fingertips.
“The Minister of Magic is drawing a magic circle!”
“Minister Ian is attacking!”
“Block it! Attack!”
“Protect him! Guard Minister Ian!”
The Ruswena mages rushed forward, and the Bariel mages rushed forward as well. With Ian at the center, they endlessly released their mana, blocking each other’s attacks.
Boom!
Boom!
A chaotic melee where they deflected incoming attacks, carved through gaps, and held their ground with all their strength in endless repetition.
Light entered the magic circle Ian had drawn, and concentric rings began spinning rapidly. It was the moment he reached out his hand, ready to collapse the entire barrier at once.
Ping!
Slash!
“…!”
“…!”
Something sharp pierced through my abdomen with terrifying speed. The impact, as if tearing through flesh, bent my waist, and the magic circle I had been unfolding vanished.
‘That same thing I was struck by yesterday, before the barrier.’
The thing that had grazed my cheek. I was certain of it.
As blood poured through the gaps in my fingers, the Mages cried out in alarm and erected protective barriers. It was already too late, but they were determined to block any follow-up attack.
Seizing that moment, the Ruswena Mages pooled their strength once more.
「Vortex」.
Whoooosh!
A massive torrent of water seized me again.
The water that had reflected the clear sky became stained with blood, and my vision gradually blurred. Not from consciousness fading, but from the blood obscuring my sight.
“Keep holding it!”
Keep holding it?
The Ruswena Mage’s cry rang out particularly loud. I realized that my mysterious opponent was someone who wielded ‘position’ itself.
* * *
Tap, tap, tap!
Deep within the interior of the Agiar Barrier.
Bagvan stood in the darkness, sweat pouring down his face as he gazed upon a massive puppet theater stage. The Agiar Barrier and hillside were roughly constructed, and upon them moved cotton dolls shifting slowly.
He hurled curses at the Soldiers who dashed about above.
“Quiet, damn it! I can’t concentrate!”
Crash! Bang!
Unable to contain his frustration, he struck the wall, but there was no chance the Soldiers fighting for their lives above would hear it.
Bagvan picked up the doll again with trembling hands. A cotton figure with no markings whatsoever.
“Let’s see, let’s see, again….”
As Bagvan released his hand, the doll stood upright on its own.
This was the crucial part. He was an ability user who could connect reality with this puppet stage and inflict physical harm upon his target. If he could only pinpoint the target’s location, he could pierce anyone’s heart without resistance.
Whoosh.
Closing his eyes and concentrating his spirit, the world beyond the barrier came into view, though extremely faintly. Like peering through five or six buttonholes, small wavering forms rippled into view.
Bagvan barely endured the nausea welling up within him as he fumbled with the doll, and soon succeeded in pinpointing an Astanain standing beside the Golem.
“Hehe. Got you! I can see you so clearly now. Perfect.”
This one.
A massive needle appeared in his hand. And with utmost care and sincerity, he pierced the doll’s heart.
Thump!
Though it was a cotton doll, when the curse took hold properly, the sensation was exactly like piercing a real heart. Bagvan’s face twisted with exhilaration as he let out a thin laugh, then pulled the needle through, extracting it from behind the doll’s back.
“Outside!”
“Yes? Yes, yes!”
“Check how many Astanains are left!”
“Ah, understood!”
Though the doll was pierced by a needle, what reached the actual target was like a thin blade flying through the air—the lethality was sufficient.
The problem was that if the target moved, the attack could miss, and it was difficult to pinpoint each individual target. Also, after striking two or three in succession, nausea would overwhelm him and he would collapse.
“Ugh—”
My subordinate who went to Bariel’s magic tower had likely disposed of King Damon using the same method. Yet why hadn’t he sent word?
Bagvan spat out the contents of his stomach, then refocused his mind.
Boom! Boom!
Judging by the thunderous explosions, Gera was giving the Ruswena Mages a hard time.
He clicked his tongue and peered at the situation through his “Third Eye.” The vision was so narrow and spinning so rapidly that he could see nothing but the sky.
“Mmm….”
Fabric, glimmering spheres of mana, feathers? What was that?
Amid the chaotic imagery, one figure stood out clearly.
“Oho. Quite the handsome one, isn’t he?”
Ian Hielo.
The moment Bagvan saw Ian’s face, he quickly seized the doll and pierced its abdomen with a needle. He should have aimed for the heart, but in his haste, he’d missed slightly.
Squelch!
“Excellent, excellent! Kahahaha!”
What a satisfying sensation! Even as Bagvan staggered and fell, he laughed and cheered. A hole had been torn through the Bariel Mage’s abdomen! Wasn’t this worthwhile?
Whoosh.
At the corner of the corridor where Bagvan’s laughter echoed.
Clark, concealed in the shadows, looked toward the sound with confusion. He had intended to approach, having heard the man was Rutherford’s former colleague, but the situation had prevented him from getting past the Gatekeepers. So he’d acquired armor and attempted to infiltrate discreetly, but his cover had been blown.
‘What is that?’
Clark watched Bagvan through a crack in the door. Playing with dolls? At a time like this? Outside, a desperate battle for survival was raging. Surely not.
Clark’s gaze scrutinized Bagvan intently, yet to him, the man appeared merely to be a lunatic alternating between meditation and doll-piercing.
‘Where is Rutherford?’
Whoosh.
Clark left the madman behind and moved toward where Rutherford was likely to be.
Soldiers rushing about glanced at Clark, but since he wore the same armor, they harbored no great suspicion. Besides, they were far too busy.
Boom! Boom!
Tap-tap-tap!
“Damn it! First squad, block the left entrance at the third gate!”
“Move the weapons! To the left!”
“Move faster!”
Clark too ran swiftly, feigning duty as he inspected the barriers. Each time the structure shook violently and dust fell, he wondered if he’d be crushed, but Agarir’s walls held firm.
Then—
“Ah.”
Unlike the other soldiers rushing about frantically, there were those standing motionless before a door. Someone important was being guarded inside. Clark approached carefully and saluted them.
“Pardon me. Is Rutherford here?”
“What is this about?”
He’d found him. Clark answered with a sense of relief.
“I have a matter to report directly.”
“State your unit and name.”
Unit? Name? He couldn’t possibly know those. Just as Clark reached for his sword, thinking he might manage with a few lies—
Crash! Bang! Bang!
Clang!
At the commotion erupting from within, the soldiers burst the door open.
“What’s happened?”
“Are you alright?”
Visible through the soldiers’ shoulders was Rutherford with his hair disheveled, and beneath him, the Gypsy thrashing about pinned to the ground.
“Ah, it’s fine. Nothing to worry about, so never mind.”
“B-but Rutherford, sir….”
“Never mind, I said. I’m simply-”
Rutherford laughed while pressing his dagger close against her throat.
“Examining the treasure that rolled in before me.”

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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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