Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 636

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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 635. The Bag
Ian, Berik, and Romandro crouched together, staring down at the Natan Tribesman. Half-concealed by shadow, his face was gaunt and skeletal.
“Ian, so who exactly is this?”
“A Natan Tribesman. One of the northern ethnic minorities. He manipulates shadows freely, but I detected him through the magical formation’s resonance. As for why he’s here—that’s a mystery to me as well.”
“Listen here, if Ian’s confused, you’d better answer.”
Berik grabbed the Natan Tribesman’s hair and shook it lightly. What kind of madman had crawled into this place?
Romandro clicked his tongue and glanced around. Since one of the Magic Department’s primary duties was protecting the Royal Palace, word could spread if this went wrong.
“I-I’ve been here for quite a while, *cough*. M-my name is Nabusiratakunitopu.”
“Nabu… what? I didn’t ask your name. I asked why you’re here.”
“…I c-came to assassinate King Damon, but something went wrong.”
At the mention of King Damon, Romandro’s eyes widened. He’d found the thread connecting to the assassination attempt on the King from before. The incident had been left unresolved because they couldn’t find the intruder’s entry route, but now it was becoming clear.
“Did you enter through the shadows?”
“No, that’s not it. I received help from someone who delivers food supplies to the Royal Palace and entered by carriage.”
“What?!”
Romandro’s shout of surprise echoed out, causing Philia in the distance to flinch. Even Heil, who’d been gathering supplies, paused to assess the situation. Romandro seized Nabu by the collar and shook him like fruit falling from a tree.
“Which damned fool dared do such a thing to the Royal Palace?”
“Ugh, p-please stop shaking me. I’m getting dizzy.”
“Tell me! Which company?”
“I-I don’t know the details exactly, but the coachman… it was something like Alkaen? Something similar to that.”
Romandro’s jaw clenched as he fumed. Once Ian’s group crossed into Burgos, he would search the entire capital to find that man and punish him.
“But why are you still here? Don’t you have a home?”
Berik tapped Nabu’s forehead lightly, his question genuinely innocent and curious. It seemed to be around the time of the siege of Agiar, so he was truly puzzled why this man remained in the Royal Palace.
“N-no, that’s not it.”
“Then what? Were you waiting for another chance to kill Damon?”
“…”
“Wow, Ian. This bastard can’t lie. Look at his sealed lips. I want to beat him.”
“That’s not it! I wasn’t just waiting for an opportunity! After that day, the Royal Palace’s security was strengthened, and I couldn’t leave. If I could traverse magical barriers freely, I wouldn’t have taken a civilian carriage in the first place!”
“Ah, so you had no carriage to ride out on?”
“Since none came even after waiting… yes. I thought something had gone seriously wrong. And well, I thought new orders might eventually come down while I waited.”
“Hmm. You’re foolish, but I like your honesty.”
Ian let out a small sigh. Who could have guessed that such a person was hiding somewhere in the vast shadows of the Royal Palace? He’d found a secluded spot and ended up settling beside the empty Magic Department. That’s how Ian had discovered him.
“Infiltrating the Royal Palace and causing a disturbance is a grave crime.”
“Yes, I know. That’s why I hid.”
“What did you eat while you were here? Did you raid the Magic Department’s dining hall? Anyway, the Chef here is apparently pretty careless, right? If you just know how to pick locks, you could eat until you burst. Yeah, I know all about it.”
As Berik nodded knowingly, Romandro mourned for the Chef. Some curses were truly inescapable. Because Berik stole food so often, the Chef had even taken up swordsmanship. He’d become quite skilled at it.
“No. I never attempted to enter the buildings. I had things stored inside here, and I rationed them carefully. I’m telling the truth.”
“Inside? Where?”
Berik thrust his head toward the shadow, but couldn’t enter and bumped into the grass instead.
“I-I don’t want to show you.”
“What?! Why?!”
“It’s… my heart’s desire.”
“Are you insane? Do you not understand the situation you’re in?”
“Aaahhhhh!”
Berik grabbed Nabu by the hair again, shaking him violently. Romandro cheered him on from the side, muttering, “This bastard deserves it!”
“Is it some kind of space?”
Ian traced the shadow with his fingertips. Blended with the tree’s shadow, he couldn’t discern its boundaries. He’d felt it before when fighting the Natan Tribe, but it was truly a remarkable ability—cutting and attaching shadows freely, using them as a dedicated space.
“How many can fit inside?”
“It varies by individual, but I… I can comfortably fit about twenty strongmen.”
“How long can a person survive inside?”
“If they’re not Natan Tribe, at most about an hour.”
“Likely because the air is cut off.”
“Y-yes, but… why do you ask?”
Why? How dare an intruder be so presumptuous! As Berik reached for Nabu’s neck again to shake him, the man frantically begged forgiveness, waving his hands. He was asking for a beating.
“Choose. We’re about to enter Burgos. Will you come with us, or will you pay for your crimes here?”
“P-pay for my crimes? What do you mean?”
“Death.”
“Gasp!”
Nabu clutched his throat in shock. He’d barely survived by scrounging meager scraps of food, and now they wanted him to die like this?
“Of course, of course! I’ll go to Burgos!”
“And I may need to use your shadow from time to time. Do you understand?”
“Yes! …Yes?”
Did that mean he couldn’t return to his tribe, and would have to serve as Ian’s living shadow-bag indefinitely? As Nabu’s mouth fell slightly open, Ian smiled wickedly.
“You understand.”
“Um… for how long?”
“Unknown. At least until the war with Toollun ends.”
One thing to note was that the Toollun war hadn’t even begun yet. As Nabu hesitated in confusion, Berik gripped his sword again.
“Don’t like it? Then forget it.”
“Wait! No! Just a moment!”
“We don’t force unwilling people to do things either.”
“That’s not it! I-I’ll do it! Really!”
There was no other choice. If he didn’t follow them, he’d die on the spot. Ian patted his shoulder approvingly.
“Besides, you can’t return to your tribe now anyway. When Rutherford fell, all the northern tribesmen who cooperated with him disappeared without a trace. It will take time to find them. But if you work for us, we’ll eventually arrange for the Natan Tribe to be pardoned.”
“R-Rutherford has fallen? How did that happen?”
“How? Because we won. Ian, I’m not sure if this dimwit can be useful. Should we just kill him?”
“I’ll work hard! I can do this, really!”
As Nabu cried out for mercy, Romandro nudged Berik’s side and secretly gave a thumbs up. Berik’s face turned blank. He’d spoken in earnest about killing him, so there was no helping it.
“We should put a safeguard in place just to be sure.”
“Mm, ah! You there!”
Romandro called over one of the mages remaining in the royal palace. He intended to establish a contract magic. The mage, having heard the situation, drew a magic circle on his palm and offered Nabu a handshake.
“Grasp it, and you’ll be bound by contract. You will cooperate absolutely with Bariel. The duration will be determined by us according to circumstances. Should you act against this, the power of God will tear your heart asunder. Do you consent?”
“I don’t agree, but I have no choice but to accept it…”
“Oh, quite the loose tongue after all. But you smell rather strong?”
“I’m not entirely sure what you mean…”
Nabu muttered something under his breath and clasped the Mage’s hand. The concentric magic circle that had been drawn stretched out lengthily, binding their wrists firmly before vanishing.
“Well then, let’s prepare. Heil, did you gather everything?”
“Yes, Ian. I couldn’t manage to get absolutely everything, but at this point-”
Captain Heil paused as if he’d realized something. He’d just noticed a rather useful bag had become available.
Ian gestured for him to use it well, and Heil set down his luggage before heading back into the laboratory. At this rate, they might be able to move the entire laboratory wholesale.
“Romandro. Keep the matter regarding the Natan Tribe classified, but conduct a thorough investigation into the truth. Please submit a report.”
“Right! Don’t you worry. I’ll make absolutely sure to get to the bottom of this!”
There had already been considerable concerns about security during the recent intrusion into the Royal Palace. If it became known that an outsider had been living hidden here all this time, it would cause quite a stir. It was better that only the Prime Minister and those responsible knew about it.
“I’m well aware the Magic Department is understaffed. But hold on just a bit longer. From now on, pay even closer attention to security.”
“Yes, Ian. Leave it to me. I’ll stay sharp and focused.”
Ian smiled with satisfaction. Philia, knowing the time for her son’s departure had truly arrived, quietly grasped his sleeve.
“Ian. Please take care of yourself.”
“Yes, Mother. Please stay healthy as well.”
“…Thank you.”
There was no need for lengthy words. Philia embraced Ian and released her final regrets, then whispered softly.
“I’ll pray for you. Every single day, I’ll pray to God for your safe return.”
Ian answered by gently patting Philia’s back.
Just then, Heil emerged from the laboratory and set down about five enormous bundles of luggage with a thud, and Berik pushed Nabu’s back.
“Hey! Take care of it, Nabu!”
“I-I am Nabusiratakunitopu…”
“Shut it. From now on, you’re Nabu.”
Plodding along with listless steps, Nabu approached Heil and dragged the luggage toward his shadow. And just like that, it vanished as if swallowed by a hole. What a remarkable sight—Heil clapped lightly. It was certainly convenient not having to carry heavy things.
Zing. Zing.
Ian reactivated the portal magic circle that had been suspended because of Nabu. This time, a black moon appeared on the ground, hidden from outside view. Just like Nabu’s shadow.
“Then, we’ll be going.”
“Safe travels, Ian! I’ll get that report to you right away!”
“Ian, go safely! Be careful!”
“Berik, Captain Heil, and Operative Barsabe—take care of yourselves! See you soon! When you return, I’ll buy you all a hearty drink! Except for Berik!”
“Why am I excluded!”
“You eat too much!”
Pffft. Berik stuck out his tongue and grabbed Nabu by the scruff of his neck. Then he was the first to leap into the black moon. Followed by Barsabe, then Heil.
Ian nodded in farewell and soon disappeared after them.
* * *
“Sigh.”
In the Burgos Kalamatt Royal Palace, the Mages gazed up at the clear sky and let out a sigh of unknown meaning.
“I wonder how Ian is doing?”
“Since Berik went with him, he shouldn’t be bored.”
“It’s only been a few days since he left, but I don’t quite know how to describe this…”
“Feels good, doesn’t it?”
When Nakinage interjected with the question, the Mages smiled mysteriously. I couldn’t quite find the words to express this feeling. I genuinely missed Ian and longed for him, yet at the same time, my body felt incredibly at ease.
With my perfectionist, workaholic boss away on business, a single day felt this leisurely. We truly loved Ian, but this freedom was far too sweet.
“Ugh. I can’t remember the last time I had a proper lunch break.”
“Honestly, I’ve been shedding tears of joy since earlier. Eating lunch outside instead of at my desk! And in the sunshine no less. This is what living is supposed to be like, ah.”
“Blissfully happy… but I do miss him. Though I wouldn’t mind if he took a bit longer. I do hope his objective goes smoothly, but I’d prefer if he didn’t rush…”
“Huh?”
“Pfft—!”
The Mage who had been taking a careful sip of coffee froze. A black moon had suddenly appeared in the sky. They spat out what they were eating and looked up in bewilderment. The presence was unmistakably felt.
“I-Isn’t that Ian?”
“S-Surely not…”
“Why, why is he back already?”
The boss had returned. And far too quickly at that.

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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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