Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 573

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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 572
Fire. The Fall of Agiare
‘What the hell is this nonsense?’
Berik stood atop the Agiare barrier, staring blankly at the backs of the Bariel Soldiers scaling the walls, repeating this single thought over and over.
Both his legs were shattered beyond use—he couldn’t move without Kyu—but this was the first time he’d lost all will to fight so completely.
‘So what the hell happened?’
Ian came from the future? And he’s the Emperor? Then from the first time I met him at the Bratz training grounds until now, what is Ian? A bastard-born Minister of Magic? Or the Emperor?
A spark of clarity suddenly flickered in Berik’s vacant eyes as he stared into empty space.
“No, wait. Hold on.”
“Yes?”
The Medic tending to his legs looked up with a confused expression, but Berik continued rambling without even glancing at him.
“Listen. Ian first met me at Bratz, right?”
“Ah, yes. But—”
“From then until now, Ian has always been one person, that’s what I’m saying. You understand?”
“…I’m sorry. I don’t quite follow.”
“No, what I mean is, he didn’t change in the middle—Ian was always Ian. It’s like an unspoken past! Something like that, right? That’s it. I remember when I was a kid, I got caught stealing rice from the neighbor’s house and got my ass beaten. Something like that.”
Was he losing his mind? The Medic didn’t respond and simply wrapped bandages around both legs.
Regardless, Berik continued muttering to himself as if he’d finally found the answer.
“That’s it. I’m damn smart. Whether he’s the Minister of Magic or the Emperor, what does it matter? He’s Ian.”
“Excuse me, Guard. Someone might hear you.”
To speak of the Emperor with such crude language in the same breath was sacrilege.
But Berik narrowed his eyes in silence, sensing he was still missing something. Let me think. Just a bit more clearly…. What’s bothering me so much….
“Philia?”
Yes. Could it be Philia?
Before the possession, only one person remembers Ian—his biological mother, Philia. Romandro and I myself have built our relationship with Emperor Ian, but Philia gave birth to the bastard Ian. From her perspective, isn’t it as if her son was replaced in the middle?
That’s it! This unpleasant, unsettling feeling is pity for Philia! I couldn’t even begin to imagine what her reaction would be if she learned this truth.
Berik suddenly tried to stand, lifting one foot to move forward.
“No, you can’t!”
“What do you mean I can’t?”
Thud!
Before he could finish speaking, he lost his balance and tumbled forward.
Just as Berik began crawling forward, someone extended a foot in front of him.
“Oh, old man.”
It was Jairot. He stared down at Berik in silence while Berik wiggled his hand, asking for help.
“Help me up.”
But instead, he grabbed Berik by the scruff of his neck and hurled him back onto the bed. The Medic seized the moment to finish wrapping the loosened bandages, and Jairot dragged over a chair and sat down in front of him.
“You can’t even walk properly. Where do you think you’re going?”
“I just need Kyu. That dragon and I get along surprisingly well.”
“The dragon is also unable to move due to injuries. Now that the barrier has fallen, we can’t afford to exhaust our main forces recklessly. Stay put. The fastest way to help His Majesty and our colleagues is for both of us to recover quickly.”
“No! I’m not going to fight! I’m going to talk to Ian! I’m feeling pretty terrible right now. It’s because of Philia.”
“Philia? Count Ian’s biological mother—the one from his illegitimate birth?”
“Yes. I need to inform Romandro and discuss this with him. Otherwise, I won’t be able to eat or rest easy.”
Captain Jeirat studied him carefully with narrowed eyes.
Since Ian Hielo had revealed his true identity, people’s reactions fell into two categories: astonishment or celebration.
Most experienced the former, while the latter interpreted his very existence as a ‘victory.’ Though Emperor Jin seemed to fall into a different category altogether—
“Uneasy?”
“Yes. It’s frustrating, unsettling. Irritating. I don’t know.”
But what about Berik?
Captain Jeirat slowly crossed his legs and revealed what Berik had yet to comprehend.
“You’ve realized that Count Ian’s time flows from the future. Berik.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You called him the future Emperor. Through some event and divine will, he exists here now, but one day he will return to his own time. How can two suns rise in a single era?”
Berik stared blankly at Captain Jeirat again. He understood each word individually, but the full meaning wouldn’t settle in his mind.
He blinked, then lightly shook his head in denial.
“…That can’t be right.”
“What’s your evidence?”
“I’ll just ask him directly. Move.”
Berik tried to push past the Medic and stand, but Captain Jeirat was faster. He pressed his crutch against Berik’s chest, holding him back.
“Don’t be foolish. Recover and walk on your own. With your healing speed, it won’t take long.”
Berik fell backward with a thud and, unusually, remained still on the ground. The Medic, relieved at the sudden quiet, applied salve over the bandages to secure them, and Captain Jeirat clicked his tongue once before stepping outside.
The wind was cold. The battle that had begun at dawn was now past noon. In that brief span of time, how much had transpired?
“Captain Jeirat.”
Just then, Simon, one of the three commanders, called out to him. He had finished preparations for the search for Bonita and Barsabe.
Captain Jeirat nodded approvingly, patted his shoulder, and then studied the faces of the other Imperial Guards one by one.
“Go safely, but give your all to complete the mission.”
“We’ll return by evening when the meeting begins.”
“Bringing Commander Bonita and Barsabe with us.”
“Good. Make haste.”
“Please look after that fool Berik, Captain.”
The meeting would certainly be lengthy. Beyond assessing the state of Agiar and confirming their forces, there were mountains of matters to discuss with Ian.
Once the deployment report concluded, all the Imperial Guards released their mana and began rushing toward the barrier.
Zing! Zing!
Tap tap tap!
Captain Jeirat watched his soldiers’ retreating figures before shifting his gaze to the barrier. The Burgos flag that had fluttered atop Agiar’s wall drooped suddenly, then was torn down by the soldiers.
In its place rose the blue imperial banner of Bariel. A signal that the barrier had been completely captured.
Boooo—!
Boo!
Buffalo horns sounded simultaneously from various points as if announcing the victory, and Bariel soldiers roared in response.
Minister Tweller, riding on horseback, shouted upon confirming the imperial flag had been raised.
Hyeeigh!
“The Burgos flag has come down!”
“Waaaaah! Drive them out!”
“Ahhhhh! It’s Bariel! B-Bariel! Run!”
“Protect Agiar! Anyone fleeing is a traitor!”
“Please, save us, save us….”
“Burgos Soldiers! Over there!”
“The defeated soldiers have retreated down the left passage! No sign of Ruswena forces! It seems they moved using the Dragon, but this quickly….”
“Chase the defeated soldiers! To the very end!”
Whoooosh! Whoosh!
The Burgos Soldiers, now leaderless and confused, scattered in all directions, while the Bariel Soldiers pursued them relentlessly, driving their spears into their backs.
Civilians who witnessed death before their eyes let out piercing screams, and the narrow streets were instantly filled with chaos. Pursuers and the fleeing, the wailing and the resistant….
Tweller raised his voice and issued commands.
“Citizens of Agiar, surrender! Those who discard their weapons and submit will be spared! Come into the streets and show proper respect to His Majesty the Emperor! Listen! Do not lay hands on children!”
The barrier of Agiar and the city proper were closer than expected. The streets were cluttered with barrier debris from the earlier explosions. Partially destroyed buildings were scattered throughout.
Tweller’s orders were quickly relayed through the Officers to the entire army, and the Soldiers rushed past the trembling residents, driving deeper into the city.
“Surrender! Surrender!”
“Drop your weapons and lie down!”
The Bariel Soldiers swept through the central avenue of the city in an instant. To those who refused to surrender, they gladly dealt death, leaving their footprints firmly imprinted.
But then.
“Minister. We see no sign of Ruswena forces.”
“And Rutherford either. I suspect he may be buried beneath the barrier.”
At this, Tweller turned his horse and called out to the Mage hovering in the sky.
“What do you see from above?”
“Yes, our vanguard has just reached the center of Agiar. I see no sign of Ruswena Mages or the Dragon here either. Isn’t there another barrier on the opposite side?”
“There is a rear gate, but I’ve heard it’s useless—it connects directly to a cliff.”
“Two of our Mages will sweep around that way! Wouldn’t the area beneath the cliff be unsuitable for hiding a Dragon?”
“Ian!”
At the Mage’s cry, I turned to look back.
Having shed my robes for lighter clothing, my expression remained unchanged, yet my gaze was relentless, carefully scrutinizing the streets where thousands of people were entangled.
“Rutherford is nowhere to be found!”
“Then we must find his corpse.”
“Should we excavate beneath the barrier?”
“…How many Golems do we have available?”
“Ah, the Astana Sorcerers have suffered heavy casualties, so I’ll go check. Just a moment! Astana!”
“You there, do not touch the surrendered civilians and continue forward!”
“Those who disgrace Bariel’s honor shall not escape punishment! Spare those who surrender! Search the buildings!”
“Ian! We have only one available, and it will take just a few minutes at most. Shall we begin right away?”
I nodded at the Mage’s report.
If I failed to capture Rutherford, the value of the military achievement in taking Agiar would be diminished. This war was conducted solely under the pretext of locating Rutherford.
Moreover, he was connected to the Underworld Deity and held the secrets of reincarnation. I had to capture him alive if possible, but secure his corpse even if he was dead. No exceptions.
“Minister Tweller, I’m entrusting this to you.”
“Ah, yes. Don’t worry.”
As Ian turned his body and flew toward the barrier, Minister Tweller’s eyes lightly followed his figure.
He had regarded Ian as an extraordinary individual based on his swordsmanship bearing traces of the Imperial Palace and his worldly wisdom beyond his years, but he never imagined he harbored such a colossal secret.
For the first time on a battlefield, Tweller found himself more captivated by what lay behind than what lay ahead.
“Advance!”
What had become of Bariel a hundred years hence? Given the mention of rebellion, had the political situation grown turbulent? Yet if it were Ian as he had observed him until now, he would not have feared it so.
Just as Tweller, who had been lost in thought for a moment, was about to raise his sword—
Buuuu—
This time, the buffalo horn sounded low and prolonged.
A signal that the Emperor was advancing. A historic signal—victory in the first battle he commanded after his ascension, his first step into a conquered city.
The residents of Agiar instinctively pressed themselves flat against the ground and froze, while soldiers who had been shrieking fell silent and paid their respects.
Hiiing!
Tap-tap!
Jin gently pulled the reins and entered deeper into Agiar. The sentiment was fresh, but that was all. This place was merely one of Burgos’s anti-royalist strongholds. In other words, he had not conquered Burgos itself, only occupied a single city. The road ahead stretched far too long.
—Uooooh!
“You have exactly three minutes! The Golem’s left arm is unusable, so just support it from the right side!”
Meanwhile, the Golem barely managed to move and climbed atop what was presumed to be the source of the explosion.
Before the heap of stone debris piled as high as his frame, I gestured to the Mages and Imperial Guards with my eyes and commanded them.
“Begin. Verify the identity of every corpse that emerges without exception.”

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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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