Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 650

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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 649. Into the Mage’s Forest
Click.
Eldetr slowly moved the wooden piece across the map. Then he paused, stopping it in mid-air.
“….”
If we depart from the Royal Palace and cross the Mage’s Forest heading north, we reach Hielo. If we go west instead, we can pass through the city of Karenna and enter the interior directly.
However, Karenna had once suffered from unstable security due to thieves, so it would have more soldiers than other cities.
‘There’s no need for such complications when Hielo lies empty before us.’
Tap.
The wooden piece moved to Hielo. Simultaneously, the piece that had been in Hawan shifted to Merelrof.
Merelrof. A truly vital region. Completely separated from the center by the Denba Mountains and bordering the Great Desert, if we can secure this place alone, there’s nothing to worry about regarding counterattacks from behind.
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness.”
“Enter.”
At that moment, with a signal, my advisor slightly opened the closed door. A faint blue light filtered through the gap. Dawn was breaking.
The military campaign for war was only hours away. Since I knew preparations were already complete, the news my advisor brought was likely related to the Puppeteer. I gestured with my eyes for him to report quickly. Having stayed awake all night, my cheeks were pale.
“It is Countess Darsi.”
“Let her enter.”
Creak.
The door opened fully, and Countess Darsi entered the room with quick steps. With sleeves protected by arm guards to keep them clean, she proudly displayed a bundle of dolls strung together.
One, two, three, four…. As I counted with my eyes, I soon recalled the number of Mages and nodded with satisfaction.
“You’ve done it all.”
“This much is easy work. Perhaps it’s because the Mages came from different origins? There was hardly any sense of camaraderie among them. Hehehehe.”
Most people didn’t even know there was a Puppeteer from Toollun. And even if they did, there were fools who couldn’t comprehend what her existence meant.
Countess Darsi manipulated the dolls by lightly moving the strings with both hands. From a distance, it looked like a scene from a children’s puppet show.
“…Even the Forbidden Mage?”
“Yes, this one here. This one was the most difficult. She had a very sharp and sensitive temperament. But then again, isn’t everyone like that when they’re suffering?”
Tap, tap. Countess Darsi smiled and held up one doll. An X mark was drawn in the center of it.
Only then did I relax, settling into my chair with a soft sound. I had succeeded in ‘weaponizing’ all the Mages. Now I didn’t need to worry about paying gold coins or the Royal Palace collapsing. Without realizing it, I pressed my brow and exhaled a breath of relief.
“…Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”
“No need for such words. It’s all for the greater cause. Hehehehe!”
“What of the Mages’ will?”
“None remains whatsoever. If problems arise before an important task, it would be disastrous. It’s best to eliminate latent dangers from the start.”
As I nodded, Countess Darsi smiled and put the dolls away. Looking at the clock, it was already seven in the morning. I had wanted to get some sleep, but it seemed impractical. She stretched contentedly and made a request of me.
“Oh, if possible, I’d like my personal carriage to be the largest and most spacious one available. I need proper space to manipulate the dolls effectively. They do take up quite a bit of room.”
“I’ll see to it.”
“Thank you. You won’t be departing immediately yourself, will you?”
“I’ll organize the main force after occupying Hielo. We’ll meet again there.”
Since time was pressing, I would send Minister of Defense Martin ahead first. After assessing the situation there to some degree, it would be proper to enter Bariel.
“Yes, I understand. Then I shall take my leave.”
Countess Darsi bowed lightly and turned to leave the room with quick steps. At that same moment, sunlight poured across my face. The sun had already risen completely.
The view of the Royal Palace visible through the window was truly lush and radiant. The brick patterns mimicking wood grain, the reeds swaying in the morning breeze—when autumn arrived, the world would be painted in gold, truly beautiful.
“How magnificent! This is why I love touring other nations. Oh ho ho!”
She cupped her prominent cheekbones in both hands, exclaiming with admiration. The way her feet bounced up and down made her seem like an innocent girl.
The servants standing several paces behind her clicked their tongues.
‘…Insane.’
They watched clearly. Humming to herself, she pierced through the mage’s flesh, cut him apart as though handling merchandise, dominated her opponent, and then toyed with him mockingly.
The servants deliberately lowered their heads, concealing their contemptuous gazes. They didn’t know where the nation of Toollun was located, but it was certainly a revolting place.
“Oh my, Minister Martin!”
At the end of the corridor, Countess Darsi recognized the minister and waved her hand broadly. He bowed slightly in greeting, approached, and asked.
“How many mages do you plan to take to Hielo?”
“The Prince said to take only half. Why? Ho ho!”
“I see. I was merely confirming that all the mages present are accounted for. Let us go together. This way.”
As they left the Royal Palace, the sight that unfolded before Countess Darsi moved her so deeply that she clasped her hands together again.
The golden-hued armor reminiscent of the golden reed fields she had seen earlier, and the heavy black-armored soldiers. The Ruswena flags fluttering with dignity. And beyond that—
“Oh my!”
A dragon, which she had only seen in books!
She giggled excitedly, chattering away. Oh right, she had almost forgotten the most important thing! And my lovely dolls!
“Good morning—!”
It was the mages who received Darsi’s cheerful greeting. Their pupils, devoid of vitality and pallid, could not capture the bright light of the morning.
Like scarecrows standing in a line beside the carriage, the mages did not respond to Countess Darsi’s greeting, merely staring blankly into empty space.
“Ugh, the smell. I need to do something about this one. Minister! Can I send him to the back of the carriage?”
It was Vitor, a mage who was decomposing from using forbidden magic. Seeing him in the bright light, his appearance was nothing short of horrific.
As Countess Darsi pinched her nose and grimaced, the minister gestured to clear the space. She moved her fingertips rapidly like playing piano, then moved Vitor out of sight.
“If necessary, I should use that one first. From the looks of it, he won’t last long.”
“I shall take note of your judgment, madam.”
“Right. Well, I am the owner of the dolls, after all.”
At Countess Darsi’s answer, the minister hesitated for a moment, but said nothing further and moved on. It was a sensitive subject, and without the sovereign’s guidance, he could not venture to add anything.
Buu-uu— Buu—
The sound of a buffalo horn announcing the time of departure. Soldiers arrayed on both sides drew their swords and thrust them toward the sky, while the vanguard at the front advanced with flags in hand.
Following that, the inner castle gates slowly began to open. Being on elevated ground, even before they fully opened, a vast plain stretched out before them in a single glance.
Rustle. Rustle.
The Royal Palace’s hunting grounds where deer, bison, rabbits, and the like roamed freely. The beasts raised their heads at the sudden commotion and scurried away, while the military band began gradually raising the volume of their instruments.
Boom—! Boom!
Then on one side, endless golden fields stretched forth. Whenever the wind blew, the grass leaves swayed like waves. Below the hills, villages where the people lived came into view.
Before the four gates in the cardinal directions, soldiers from each barracks gathered to bless the expedition.
“Advance—!”
“Advance!”
The people too rushed into the streets to witness the soldiers moving with such discipline. They sensed the clouds of war, yet hadn’t they all lived peaceful days just yesterday? But now, this morning, an advance on Bariel?
They murmured among themselves while encouraging their own soldiers, who were taking to the battlefield for the first time since the Cliffford War.
“Go safely! Please return alive, in victory!”
“I pray for victory! Let us avenge the humiliation we suffered in the Cliffford War! This time, Bariel will kneel before us!”
“Yes! Vengeance for the Previous King!”
“Let us repay their trade embargo!”
As the people waved their flags and cheered, Countess Darsi responded with a graceful gesture.
“Ohoho. Everyone, do not worry! Victory shall be ours!”
“Who is that woman?”
“I’m not sure. From her accent, she seems foreign.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. As long as we achieve victory!”
Creeeeak! Boom!
At last, the massive inner fortress gate groaned heavily as it swung fully open. When those in black armor gestured, Dragons soared swiftly into the sky.
The soldiers atop the outer walls, arranged in concentric circles at wide intervals, waved their flags upon seeing the Dragons take flight. Now the outer fortress gate opened as well.
‘It seems there was some sense of crisis during the Cliffford-Burgos War. The walls are layered multiple times.’
Countess Darsi rested her chin in her hand inside the rattling carriage, then gazed affectionately at the Mages creaking along behind me.
“Oh my, Minister! What is our route?”
“Once we pass through the Mages’ Forest, we can enter Hielo directly.”
“How long will that take?”
“The Dragons will arrive in a day, but the infantry will need over a week. We will send the black-armored units and Dragons as an advance force first.”
“I see. Just to be safe, bring some Mages along as well. Since I can see what the Mages see, it will be easier to assess the situation.”
“Understood, Countess.”
At her words, the Minister looked at the Mage who had lost his will. When Countess Darsi flicked her hand, the Mages playfully stuck out their tongues and bent their heads backward.
Countess Darsi giggled and clutched her belly, but the Minister merely offered a perfunctory smile as he urged his horse forward. She was an unsettling woman. No matter how I looked at it.
* * *
“It’s as if a forest sprouted in the desert.”
Berik murmured as he gazed at the lush forest visible in the distance.
The place where they stood was truly peculiar. To the right, grass grew on moderately damp earth, while to the left stretched an entirely arid sandy desert. Yet ahead lay a forest. It felt as though they stood at the boundary of a land torn into three sections.
“But this is the border, right? Why don’t I see any Border Guards?”
“You can see the guards if you go east. This area borders the desert and was once the residence of Mages. Ordinary people wouldn’t have thought to pass through here. And more than anything—”
Zing. Ziiing.
I raised my fingertips and caressed the empty air. An invisible barrier existed. Since all the Mages had gone to the Royal Palace, it didn’t seem to be maintained by magical power…
“Mana stones.”
“Right. With something like this, ordinary people can’t even approach it. It’s more effective than stringing up barbed wire.”
Berik tapped the invisible wall, wondering where the boundary ended.
“So what do we do, Ian? Should we take out the Border Guards first and go in? Or should we look for a gap here? Wait, does this thing break?”
Berik rolled up his sleeves and threw a punch with all his might. Whoooosh! The air tore with a sound, and the vibration in the void became visible. But that was all.
Berik shook his fist as if in pain, glaring irritably at the wall.
“It won’t even crack, damn it! Ugh, it hurts like hell!”
Then he headbutted it again, swung his fists, and kicked repeatedly. The transparent barrier trembled a few times, but instead grew progressively more solid.
“Move aside.”
“No, let me try. I think I can do it.”
“It seems to be a material that becomes harder the more impact it receives.”
“So you’re saying we just need to break it all at once?”
CRASH!
“Aaahhh!”
Berik twisted at the waist and threw his fist with all his might, but what came back was an irritated scream.
Ian left Berik sprawling behind and placed his hand on the ground.
WHIRRR! WHIRRR!
Was he trying to destroy the wall? Berik watched from his prone position as Ian worked. But something felt off about the flow of mana. Not the wall—the ground beneath it….
“Huh? What?”
“That’s why I said move.”
“Ian, wait!”
CRASH! BOOM! BANG!
An explosion erupted before Berik’s eyes in an instant. The ground burst open in a flash, shaking everything around them as dirt and rubble rained down like a downpour. This was to remove the mana stones buried beneath the ground.
WHIRRR— WHIRRR!
CLANG!
Several sharp bursts of sound followed in succession.
…Was it finally over?
Berik peeked his eyes open and looked around, then brushed the dust from his hands and spotted Ian casually entering Ruswena’s territory.

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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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