Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 651

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 650. Beast in the Thicket
Endless verdant foliage stretched before me.
I felt the breeze and surveyed the distant landscape. The Mage’s Forest was far more expansive and dense than I had anticipated. Save for the mountain birds soaring overhead, I sensed no trace of human presence.
Below, Berik pushed through the undergrowth, his voice booming across the forest.
“Ian! Do you see anything?”
“Nothing at all.”
“How in the world did that bastard Zaira survive in a place like this?”
“There must be a proper entrance and path elsewhere. The border region remains undeveloped because few travelers pass through it.”
I said this as I descended lightly to the forest floor. I could have made directly for the Royal Palace, but if the Ruswena forces found an alternate route into Hielo during that time, it would be disastrous.
The surest approach was to intercept Ruswena’s vanguard here at the forest’s edge first, assess their movements, and then systematically eliminate them before advancing.
I swore that anyone bearing Ruswena’s name would never set foot upon Bariel’s soil. Not while I drew breath.
“The forest is too dense to see from above. We have no choice but to search for a path from below.”
“So you’re saying I should hack through these weeds more vigorously?”
“Clever.”
Berik grinned and swung his blade with a satisfying crack, cleaving through a tree trunk to forge ahead. Then he suddenly asked:
“But why are we looking for where the Mages lived?”
Waiting here for Ruswena’s vanguard? Fine. I understood that. But why search for the village where Zaira had supposedly lived—that remained unclear to him.
I followed slowly behind Berik, scanning for any traces as I spoke.
“If the Mage returned to Ruswena, they now possess complete knowledge of Hielo’s situation.”
“Of course. They probably reported everything they saw, right? But you said the Mage used forbidden magic. Wouldn’t they be dead?”
“Death itself can be a report. It conveys that the battle in Hielo was not easily won, allowing us to predict the situation at the border.”
In truth, they had been completely annihilated, but Ruswena would have ample reason to interpret it differently.
That left them with only one option: to launch a total offensive following in the Mage’s wake before reinforcements from the capital could arrive.
Hielo and Merelrof were particularly crucial strongholds that had to be crossed before advancing toward the center. The war’s outcome would hinge entirely on whether these two territories could be seized.
“So regardless of whether Hielo fought well or poorly, the moment the Mage returned, Ruswena had no choice but to attack with urgency?”
“Exactly. Ruswena will come with everything they have. Such an opportunity will not come again. They believe I and His Majesty are in Kalamatt. And they possess the Mage, the Black-Armored Inspectors, and the Dragon.”
Therefore, I would find the Mage’s base. Zaira and her family had likely gathered their belongings before seeking asylum in Bariel, but their village had existed alongside Ruswena’s history. Something would remain.
“If Ruswena’s new Mages passed through here, we need to know what they found.”
“I see. Though I don’t quite grasp it all.”
“…If you don’t understand, make a habit of remembering anyway.”
“That’s why I’m working hard! Hacking away at these branches!”
How many Mages would there be? I had roughly assessed the numbers of the Dragon and Black-Armored Inspectors, but the variable was the Mages. Was their loyalty to Ruswena so absolute they would use forbidden magic? Or did they have other reasons, like Zaira’s Grandmother?
Even if a dozen Mages came, I was confident. But forbidden magic was different. If it intervened, everything would unravel.
‘Now, there can be no mistakes whatsoever.’
Not a single blade of grass in Bariel would be crushed beneath the enemy’s heel. I would protect the laughter of all those who had faced me.
“Ah!”
At last, something that could be called a path appeared. A fork in the road. I chose the southern direction, toward Ruswena’s capital, and it proved the right decision. Soon after, I discovered a quaint village of small cottages.
The roofs were covered with moss and vines, the walls built of oak, and scattered throughout were traces of practice—magical circles sketched upon the ground.
“Oh, it’s smaller than I expected.”
“Let’s search the perimeter. Berik, check over there.”
“What am I supposed to understand just by looking? I’ll check if there’s anything to eat.”
Berik took charge of searching what appeared to be residential quarters, while I examined the areas that had served as public facilities. Given how hastily they’d fled, papers and belongings lay scattered across the floor.
Through the half-open drawer gaps, I could see mana stones used for research and various potions. Upon inspection, nothing seemed particularly noteworthy, but…
Creak.
When I pulled at what seemed like a slightly protruding wall section, it opened like a door, revealing a hidden basement. Whether it was a storage place for old books or not, the mingled scent of rotting paper and earth rushed up all at once.
I stepped down slowly and picked up one book that gleamed particularly brightly among the rest.
-Counsel for Those Who Follow God
‘A book published by the Carbo Temple.’
The birthplace of Jin and the sacred temple of Bariel that originated from Roberside. Now that I thought about it, this place wasn’t far from there.
Judging by the book’s condition, it was a product of exchange from at least a hundred years ago. I dusted it off and carefully turned the pages.
Rustle.
It was a kind of guidebook organizing the mindset and discipline of priests. The Ruswena Mages had likely studied this book because of the common thread of ‘following God.’
I skimmed through it, then discovered a section someone had underlined and focused on it.
-…In God’s sight, the greatest achievement attainable through a human body is love, and the only way to materialize that love is through sacrifice. All actions accompanied by sacrifice carry God’s permission. Even if it challenges His authority.
Rustle.
-…To sacrifice oneself is like hot ice—a contradiction. If the combination of these two words forms in your mind, take a deep breath and face your inner self. Is it truly sacrifice, or is it merely greed?
What did this mean? I felt like I understood something, yet the feeling remained hazy, and I furrowed my brow. I examined the following pages, but nothing else was particularly recorded.
I tore out the problematic section, folded it into my chest, and searched thoroughly through the basement. Most of it appeared to be neatly organized, suggesting that Zaira and her family hadn’t had time to attend to this area when they fled.
“Ian!”
Just then, Berik’s cry came from outside. When I went out, he was looking up at the sky as if sensing something, his ears constantly perking up.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Something’s coming. I can hear it.”
And then his ears kept twitching.
I lowered my stance while concealing my presence. Who else besides us would find this abandoned village from long ago? My premonition felt ominous.
Soon the source of the noise became distinct.
“…!”
What Berik heard wasn’t ground vibrations, but the flow of the sky itself. Between the dense foliage, we both sensed something moving back and forth, and immediately looked up.
Enormous wings, azure scales, tremendous speed…
“Dragon.”
Whoosh!
Screech!
The scales seemed to have protective coloring, making it hard to see clearly, but its maneuverability was unmistakably impressive. It was clearly sent ahead for reconnaissance.
The dragon circled the vicinity of the Mage’s Forest several times, then turned back in the direction it came. It was leaving.
“Ian, what should we do? Should we catch—”
Berik asked while looking at me, then suddenly froze.
“…Ian?”
My eyes were gleaming. Like a predator that had spotted prey, my golden eyes shone brilliantly.
Without taking my gaze from the dragon, I walked forward slowly as if entranced, then immediately exploded with mana and soared into the sky.
Zing, zing!
Boom!
“Ian!”
It happened in an instant. I tried to catch up, but I didn’t dare attempt it. Berik watched helplessly as Ian flew toward the Dragon, his mouth hanging open. Damn it!
Whoooosh!
Ian soared toward the Dragon’s rear, gathering mana spheres in both hands with all his strength. The creature sensed his presence and altered its course, but Ian paid no mind, accelerating further to close the distance.
And then—
Boom! Boom!
Screeeech!
Scorching flames erupted multiple times across the clear sky.
The Dragon bared its sharp fangs and lunged at Ian, who clenched his teeth and drove his fist toward its snout. The moment its jaws opened to engulf him—
‘Idgal.’
Hundreds of razor-sharp Idgals extended outward, piercing through the Dragon’s head. Unlike its scales, which covered its entire body in impenetrable armor, the interior of its snout was soft flesh—the Dragon’s only weakness.
Ian did not stop, continuously generating Idgals, and the Dragon, pierced by an nearly infinite barrage, finally plummeted into the forest.
Boom!
The forest trembled as if the entire woodland shook from the impact of the Idgal-laden corpse. Berik rushed toward where the Dragon fell to assess its condition.
“Damn, it was dead before it even hit the ground. Ian, are you alright?”
Ian merely brushed the dragon blood from his sleeves, appearing unharmed.
“I’m fine. It seemed quite young.”
“Yeah. Compared to Kyu, it’s pretty small.”
Definitely a scout. And just one. Had there been multiple, even I would’ve found it troublesome. Berik looked up at Ian, leaving the limp Dragon behind.
“But if this was a scout, they’ll know now that it’s dead. They’ll realize something’s wrong in the Mage’s Forest.”
“Probably.”
Ian murmured this while neatly folding his sleeves, then lifted his gaze toward one section of the sky. He looked like a Priest preparing for a solemn ceremony.
Berik blinked in confusion, then climbed the tallest oak tree and looked in the direction Ian was gazing. His eyes narrowed.
In the distance, something was visible.
“What… what is that?”
“Dragons.”
“Yeah, yeah. Now that you mention it, I can see that.”
“And Black-Armored Inspectors.”
“Huh? Really? Ah, those bastards. How welcoming.”
Three Dragons approaching. Atop each one rode Black-Armored Inspectors, mounted like riders on beasts.
Ian casually brushed his hands clean and assessed his surroundings. Behind me lay nothing but desert. Below was the Mage’s Forest. Ahead and to the sides, dense reeds flourished in the height of summer.
‘An aerial battle… Three Dragons. Three Black-Armored Inspectors.’
It wasn’t strictly necessary, but fighting alongside Berik would make things easier.
Ian pondered briefly, then descended and surveyed the area. He positioned himself between the densely packed oak trees and knelt on one knee.
“Ian, what are you doing?”
“Shh.”
Ian raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence, and Berik followed suit, closing his mouth. When Ian says to do something, you do it!
In the quiet forest, the sound of massive wingbeats gradually grew louder in the distance. Ian waited calmly, and Berik soon understood what he was planning.
“Ian, they’re coming.”
“Yeah.”
As the Dragon passed overhead, I rapidly conjured Idgal.
A colossal net stretched forth from the earth. Slender golden Idgal strands wove through the trees and soared into the sky, interlacing densely with one another.
Whoooosh!
“…!”
The airborne Dragon and Black-Armored Inspectors recoiled in shock, but it was already too late. They had no choice but to descend to evade the falling Idgal net.
To be precise, they had been caught in the net and were falling. With dense trees on either side and an incomprehensible golden net above, their flight was severely constrained.
“W-What is this?”
“Hey, are you alright? It’s Idgal!”
“Idgal? Why would it suddenly….”
As they swung their blades to shatter the Idgal net, an unfamiliar presence made itself known.
Whoosh!
The sound of a nimble creature dashing through the undergrowth. The Black-Armored Inspectors looked around in bewilderment, then simultaneously locked eyes and cried out.
“Behind!”
‘Behind?’
Zing! Zing!
Berik and I burst forth from the brush, unleashing our mana. A crimson, scorching mana blade materialized in Berik’s grip, while a brilliant Idgal blade took form in mine.
“Berik!”
“I know!”
The weakness of the black armor was the head. Berik and I clenched our teeth and pressed as close as possible, swinging our blades with all our might.
The Black-Armored Inspectors reflexively countered with their own blades, and the Dragon, sensing the threat, thrashed wildly, shaking its body in all directions.
Boom! Crash! Crash!
A gale of such magnitude swept through that it snapped a massive oak. A mushroom cloud billowed upward, and gray smoke blanketed the sky.
Meanwhile, at a distance. Martin, the Minister of Defense of Ruswena, who observed this scene through a telescope, furrowed his brow.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————