Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 598

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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 597
Fire. The Road to Purpato
“Purpato? How long does it take to get there?”
“Remember when that messenger from there came on horseback last time? I’d say we’ll arrive in two to four days.”
“Is that so? It’s closer than I thought. I heard that once you reach Purpato, Kalamatt isn’t far, so I assumed it was much farther.”
“No, no, the distance from Purpato to Kalamatt is still considerable. But the path there is gentler and easier than other routes, or so I’ve heard. That’s why it seems closer.”
“Hmm, I see. Hey! Did you tie the other side properly? Why does it keep coming loose?”
“Wait a moment. Let me check.”
The day we departed Agiar for Purpato.
The soldiers moved busily, loading supplies onto the carriages. The provisions brought from Bariel were running low, but thanks to what we’d replenished in Agiar, the volume had only grown larger. Though it was difficult, knowing this was their lifeline, they couldn’t help but take as much as possible.
“Set aside anything of monetary value to send back to Bariel. Prioritize the supplies.”
“Yes, understood!”
“Should we move these items as well?”
“Those go on the rear carriage! Where is Count Ian?”
“He’s organizing the study inside.”
Tap, tap, tap!
The interior was just as chaotic as the area outside the castle. When the mage opened the study door, I could see Ian sorting through papers among worn and torn books.
Ian turned his head, wondering what was going on, and the mage pointed outside as he reported.
“Count Ian. The King of Astana wishes to see you briefly.”
“Tell him to come. Is the upper floor finished organizing?”
“Yes, it’s complete as you instructed. Please come!”
Creak.
Unlike the busy Bariel side, the Astana contingent appeared relaxed. Watching them, I smiled brightly and continued packing.
“I envy how leisurely you all seem.”
“Don’t say that so lightly. We chose to remain in Agiar in Bariel’s stead. That weight is anything but leisurely.”
Astana’s decision to remain in Agiar for surveillance purposes was quite rational. We could effectively control the area with minimal forces, continue research on Laromedia, and Agiar being north of Purpato made communication easier.
When Hasha sat on the sofa, I finished what I was doing and took a seat across from him.
“Where is Katimako?”
“He left early last night. For what you asked of him.”
Finding traces of the puppeteer and helping locate Philia was impossible alone. I also had to continue research on Laromedia here. So he departed to return to our homeland of Astana and gather those skilled in puppetry like myself.
If I trust and wait for him, word will surely come. I nodded in gratitude.
“When this is over, I shall repay this debt in the name of Ian Hielo.”
At my words of thanks and the clear boundary I drew, calling it a personal matter of the Minister of Magic, Hasha burst into laughter. A thorough man. Perhaps my statement just now slipped out without my own awareness.
“Once everything is settled, we’ll discuss the details then. I heard we’re leaving before lunch, so we should hurry. At this rate, we won’t depart until evening.”
Why? According to the mage, the organizing inside the castle was nearly complete? I raised my eyebrows in confusion, but Hasha only smiled knowingly.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. See you again later.”
As Hasha left, I glanced out the window. I wondered if something was wrong, but—good heavens.
“Just a bit more!”
“That won’t work, Berik. At this rate, the carriage will break! You saw it earlier. Really, truly, it won’t work.”
“No, just a little more, I’m telling you? Just this much!”
“Nooooo! Don’t put it there! Berik!”
Berik was shoving chunks of meat into the cargo hold, which was already piled high with supplies like a mountain. The soldiers beside him rolled up their sleeves and tried to stop him, but could anyone break through such stubbornness? He found a gap anyway and wedged the meat in, and as a result, the cart tilted precariously to one side.
Craaash!
“Nooooo! This can’t happen!”
“What? Why is this cart so flimsy?”
“Berik! I told you it wouldn’t work!”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. We’ll just set it upright. What’s the big deal?”
Were ordinary soldiers in the same position as Berik? They had to repair the cart, take blows to the shins from their superiors, and pick up scattered goods—yet he spoke with such carefree indifference, his head full of flowers. The soldiers leaned against the wall with tears in their eyes.
Watching this unfold, Ian clicked his tongue and called for the Mage.
“Bind Berik.”
“Yes, Ian. I’ve been waiting for your orders.”
The moment he received the command, he dashed off like the wind. Ian finished organizing the documents, then left the study and slowly surveyed the area outside the castle. Aside from the noisy section, it seemed the departure preparations were nearly complete.
Then—a movement caught his eye—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Barsabeda, practicing alone in a corner with a wooden sword.
Ian approached her slowly, and her body, focused on training, quickly pivoted. Without a moment’s hesitation, her blade pointed directly at Ian. She was still blindfolded, but her accuracy was remarkable.
“Who is it?”
“Minister of Magic, Ian Hielo.”
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
Thud. Barsabeda lowered her blade and offered a light bow.
“Your strikes are precise despite your blindness.”
“Thank you, but I still have much to learn.”
“Does it cause you discomfort?”
“Well, it would be a lie to say it doesn’t, but I manage. While everyone else is busy, I can train alone like this. And there’s something I can see now precisely because I cannot see.”
Barsabeda had regained the ability to hold her sword with the help of her colleagues. They had told her she could remove the blindfold once they left Agiar, but Barsabeda had no intention of doing so. She didn’t want to leave any danger to Bariel because of herself.
Practice would suffice. Training would suffice. Even if things weren’t exactly as they were before, she would be able to do her part. As a result, she seemed to have learned to perceive her opponent through senses other than sight.
“…A true swordsman.”
Beneath the blindfold, Barsabeda’s lips curved into a smile. Just then, Jairot entered the back courtyard to fetch her, and upon spotting Ian, he added immediately:
“There you are, Minister. About Berik—”
“I had him bound.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you.”
“Is it time to depart?”
“Yes, Barsabeda. Prepare yourself.”
“Understood, Captain.”
Outside, the prepared carts stretched in a long line. Armed Soldiers also stood in formation, waiting for the signal.
Ian spotted Jin coming out with Minister Tweller and greeted him.
“Count Ian. Shall we depart?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What is that?”
At Jin’s question, Ian’s gaze turned to the right. Among the Magic Department’s carts was a supply wagon with soldiers assigned to it separately.
Where the frozen Rutherford slept. Ian was certain there were no problems.
“Captain Akorella personally oversaw its creation. You need not worry.”
“You’ve done well. Maintain strict vigilance until we reach the Toollun Temple. Tweller, is it correct that a total of five hundred soldiers remain in Astana and Agiar?”
“Yes, Officer Mantis will remain to command them. Additionally, we plan to organize a separate unit of soldiers to transport the spoils of war to Bariel.”
Jin confirmed the final details of the plan before boarding the carriage.
The soldiers then waved the Bariel flags vigorously, and the Agiar residents standing outside the road watched them with conflicted hearts. The departure of those who had toppled the city walls was welcome news, but the Emperor’s departure was cause for concern. No one could predict how the Bariel soldiers remaining here would conduct themselves.
Boooo—
Booo—
The buffalo horn sounded loudly. The carriage at the front began moving slowly, and the soldiers fell into step behind it.
“Then, I entrust Agiar to your care.”
“Do not worry, Minister.”
“Hasha, thank you for everything.”
“Go forth, my friend.”
Hasha and the Astanains, along with Officer Mantis and his soldiers, bowed respectfully to the departing Emperor.
As they crossed over the collapsed walls of Agiar and emerged onto the endless road ahead, the procession began to accelerate.
Clop clop clop!
Neigh!
The destination was Purpato. It wasn’t far from here, so if they hurried, they could arrive by tomorrow morning. The mages watched the path ahead from the sky, and their march encountered no problems. At least—
“Ian! There’s a forest ahead!”
That was true until three hours after departure.
At a mage’s cry, Ian withdrew a map from his bosom and unfolded it. Strange. The map showed nothing particularly unusual. Though the elevation wasn’t marked, there should have been nothing in this area according to the original information. He wondered if there had been an error in the travel distance, but the expected route similarly showed no forest.
“I think it would be wise to halt for a moment, Minister Tweller.”
“Unit, stop!”
“Stop!”
At Ian’s suggestion, Tweller raised his hand. The soldiers then pulled on the reins, and the carriage came to a complete stop.
As Jin drew back the window curtain and poked his head out, Ian flew over to explain the situation.
“Your Majesty, there is a forest ahead that does not appear on the map.”
“A forest? Suddenly? How strange.”
“Yes, since this map was obtained from Agiar, it should normally be marked. Either the map has an issue, or perhaps the forest itself is the problem. At the moment, nothing is clear.”
“There is no need to take unnecessary risks. Is there another route?”
“Two hours ago, do you remember the massive ancient tree? If we turn right from there, there is another path. However, depending on the forest’s size, that path may also connect to the forest, and besides, that route is rough and would place considerable strain on the Bariel carriage wheels.”
We couldn’t replace all the carriage wheels. This route had its dangers, but so did the other one.
Ian read the signal from the mage in the sky and relayed it.
“The forest is reportedly not very large. From above, it appears the carriage could pass through in about ten minutes. Would it not be wise to send scouts first? If the carriage can pass through and there are no particular problems, it would be best to proceed immediately.”
“Hmm. Minister Tweller, what is your opinion?”
“Yes, I agree with Count Ian. We stopped because it wasn’t on the map, but otherwise we would have entered without issue. It doesn’t appear dangerous, and the mages continue to watch the path ahead from the sky….”
“Very well. Send out a scout unit.”
“I will send two mages quickly.”
“In the meantime, allow the soldiers to rest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Whoosh!
I signaled to the mages waiting in the sky above. The gesture meant to scout around the forest. Two mages flew down swiftly, and in the next moment, they were adjacent to the forest’s entrance.
Zing! Zing!
The instant they entered, their bodies were thrust backward and repelled. Both the observers and those who had ventured in were bewildered by what was happening.
The two mages threw themselves forward repeatedly, charging into the forest, but each time their bodies were turned around, facing the direction they came from.
“Count Ian, that…”
“It doesn’t seem to be an ordinary forest.”
As if the forest was rejecting entry, it simply sent back anyone who tried to enter. While everyone watched in confusion, I issued orders to the other mages.
“Scout the path that leads out to the right at the fork. Check if there are any unmarked forests or unusual terrain on that route.”
On the first day of the Bariel army’s southward march, it was an ill omen.

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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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