Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 662

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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 661. Retreat
A temporary withdrawal.
At Ian’s command, the Mages slowly pushed themselves to their feet. They staggered forward one step at a time, grasping their Colleagues’ arms, supporting their waists, and sharing their magical power.
The strength I had given saved my Colleague, and that Colleague saved another, and in turn, it returned to me, ultimately saving myself.
We were one life. A cycle that would continue endlessly—brothers bound by fate.
“Berik!”
Nakina, riding the Dragon, descended toward Berik and shouted. Understanding the situation, Berik nodded and leaped onto the Dragon in one fluid motion. The two extended their hands downward, catching the Mages who couldn’t fly or were severely wounded.
Whoosh!
“Hold on! We’re leaving!”
Ian slowly backed away while watching the Mages depart one by one. Crack! The Idgal that had contained the Forbidden Mage began to fracture.
Even a power that destroys magical force cannot perfectly contain Forbidden Magic. There are limits.
Shatter!
Still, I’m fortunate. When I faced those two earlier, I couldn’t even use Idgal because it was difficult to approach, but now I can.
With almost no burden on my magical power, I continuously generated the massive Idgal without end. So that the Mages could safely cross the Ruswena border.
“Ian.”
Heil grasped Ian’s sleeve with a hand dripping blood. He said nothing, yet his deep concern was unmistakable.
Just as he had done, Heil worried whether Ian might also make ‘some sacrifice’ for the Magic Department, whether he would remain here alone to ensure the Mages’ safe retreat.
“There is nothing to worry about.”
Ian said so and turned his body alongside Heil.
The Mages who had been ahead all looked back at Ian and Heil. Their eyes clearly conveyed: ‘You are following us, aren’t you? Surely you’re not staying behind?’
When Ian stepped into the air, they finally felt reassured and looked forward.
Whoooosh—
The desert where sandstorms raged. The portal had vanished without a trace, yet the marks left by the sewage that had poured through it were unmistakable.
They cut through the scorching desert’s fierce winds and crossed the Ruswena border. Though unspoken, they all shared the same destination in their hearts.
‘Hielo’s Estate.’
Just before crossing the Ruswena border, Ian looked back one last time. Fortunately, the Forbidden Mage had not pursued. The other side had also judged that a ceasefire was necessary.
‘When I return again….’
I will show them what true ending truly means.
With that resolve, Ian flew after the Mages.
Moments later—
In the distance, a solitary estate stood within the devastated Hielo territory.
Thud.
“Ugh, it hurts.”
“Oh, I’m exhausted. Let me just lie down for a moment.”
“Who was bleeding earlier?”
“Captain Heil?”
“Not the Captain, ugh. Wait, I’m bleeding here too.”
The Mages collapsed onto the grass of Hielo’s Estate, sprawling out flat as soon as they landed. Without exaggeration, they were utterly exhausted—physically and emotionally alike.
“Hic….”
One Mage gazing at the blue sky could no longer hold back and burst into tears. Starting with him, sniffling sounds echoed from various places.
Captain Heil had attempted to use forbidden magic. Right before their very eyes, no less. That shocking image refused to leave their minds.
Thump.
As Heil landed lightly upon the grass, the Mages scrambled to their feet and rushed toward him. Their appearance—streaked with tears, mucus, and blood—was quite a sight.
Heil, unable to utter a word of apology, simply patted those who embraced him.
“Sob, sob….”
“Captain, that was truly too much.”
“You shouldn’t have done that. Captain, you shouldn’t have.”
They all wept while reproaching him, yet part of them understood his choice, which only deepened their despair.
They were called those closest to God, wielders of divine power. Though they had pooled their strength, before the Forbidden Mage they were insignificant, unable to inflict even a scratch. The sense of defeat was overwhelming.
“…The words of apology and gratitude—those are ours to speak, Captain.”
“Forgive us. For forcing you to make such a choice. And thank you. We know you did this for us.”
“But it cannot be. Even if we all died together, forbidden magic is unacceptable. It is a curse that shatters the soul.”
“That’s right, Heil.”
Ian approached and exhaled deeply. His face appeared unusually pale. He seemed to have exhausted himself confronting the Forbidden Mage.
Yet his steps were steady, and his cautionary tone was resolute. Ian wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand and turned to regard the Mages.
“As long as I draw breath, forbidden magic is absolutely forbidden. This applies not only to Captain Heil, but to all who stand with me.”
Engrave this firmly in your hearts. Whether now or a hundred years hence, this is a will that shall be passed down to the Bariel of the future.
“You will die in peace, and I will live for that purpose. So for my sake, and for Bariel’s, do not surrender yourselves. That burden is mine to bear. If you crumble, I shatter.”
It was a plea brimming with sincerity.
At Ian’s words, Heil exhaled softly and nodded.
“…I apologize. My thinking was shallow.”
“No. Since it can be undone, it is done.”
The Mages embraced one another in a deep hold. They were alive. They were here. They were together. That alone was solace enough.
Creak.
“All this crying and carrying on. Come now, let’s head inside, shall we? How much longer do you intend to stand out here?”
Just then, Berik, who had entered the manor, opened the door wide and called to them. Though decorative items lay shattered here and there, the space remained intact enough to serve as temporary shelter.
“That fool has no sense of emotion or tact.”
“At least he didn’t die. Everyone, come along. It looks like Hena left some medical supplies and food behind.”
“Who is Hena?”
“She’s here. The Butler of this manor.”
The Mages followed Berik into the manor. Though worn and broken in places, the manor exuded its own distinctive elegance throughout.
Several of the Mages showed signs of surprise. Having spent time in the imperial palace, they were not amazed by the manor’s beauty itself….
“This is Ian’s manor?”
“Ian, did you live here as a child? Oh, forgive me—you’re still young.”
“Berik lived here with you too, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I used the second floor room.”
“Wow, how fascinating. It’s hard to believe this is Ian’s manor. Haven’t you been living in a small office room or at Romand’s manor? Seeing it like this is quite surprising.”
“This way, everyone! Follow me to the drawing room!”
Though it had been quite some time, Berik’s feet still remembered the manor’s layout. He led the Mages to the drawing room and retrieved a box that Hena had left behind.
Carefully packed within were all the essentials for survival. They had been left for the survivors of Hielo, or—though it would not come to pass—in case Ian and Berik returned.
“Come on, those with cuts and lacerations first. Nakina! You’ve got the biggest knife wound on your back, right?”
“Apply it gently. If you hurt me, I’ll kill you.”
“Then you can leave. Hey! The hungry ones are eating jerky, one piece each.”
“Well, well. Since when does Berik tell people to eat first?”
“Why do you think? He set aside his own portion beforehand.”
“Eat one at a time, seriously. We’re dying here.”
They tended to each other’s wounds, shared food, and rested.
Ian wiped away the blood stains with a damp cloth, then leaned back against the sofa as exhaustion overtook him.
“Ian, are you alright?”
“Facing two Forbidden Mages alone and holding your ground is remarkable. However….”
One of the Mages trailed off, his voice carrying the weight of a decision.
“Ian. May I speak frankly about our current situation?”
“By all means.”
Ian granted permission with the damp cloth still pressed to his face. Perhaps because the tension had finally lifted, even the strength to respond was fading.
“To be honest, I believe we have limitations. We never anticipated that Ruswena would employ Forbidden Magic. This means the Authors are thinking several steps ahead of us, no matter how we look at it.”
What did he mean by thinking several steps ahead? Over the past decade, the Ruswena Mages had grown considerably.
While the Bariel Mages were split between north and south, they hid Idgal, hired mercenary Mages, developed black armor technology, and strengthened their national power in various ways.
“We certainly haven’t neglected our training, but this time we were clearly defeated. I don’t think that can be denied.”
“Well, you’re not wrong. Even with Toollun’s involvement, we couldn’t lay a finger on the Forbidden Mages anyway.”
“It felt like a different dimension entirely. The source of their power must be slightly different.”
“Beyond that, the Ruswena Mages’ level was actually quite impressive. Did you notice most of the magic they used was intermediate grade or higher?”
“Right. Some of it is probably thanks to the Forbidden Magic, but you can’t cast magic you don’t know at all, right? Especially the mercenary-born ones—they’re from different countries with vastly different experiences, so you could really feel the difference in their physical movements.”
The Mages nodded in agreement, each adding their own observations.
Once they acknowledged their defeat, the weight on their hearts lifted slightly. Lightening one’s heart—they could vaguely sense that this was the first step toward moving forward.
“There are many factors, but I think Captain Akorella’s dependence on potions was too high. They’re effective for temporarily boosting magical power, but it made us complacent. We barely did any mana expansion training.”
“Captain Akorella will foam at the mouth if she hears that.”
“The captain’s potion itself isn’t the problem—I’m saying that my own high dependence on it was the real issue.”
At the Mage’s reflection, the others began to speak up one by one.
“We kept using the same magic over and over.”
“Yeah, me too. I was confused when I used acceleration magic for the first time in a while. I thought I’d misread the spell formation.”
“Nakina got cut by Idgal twice.”
“Right. I got hit from behind. I should have kept protective barriers up on my back side constantly.”
They began reviewing their shortcomings. This wasn’t mere self-reproach—it was to quickly address their weaknesses and prepare for the next battle.
They might not achieve dramatic growth, but at least if they didn’t repeat the same mistakes, wouldn’t they improve from before?
‘If I grow stronger, my colleagues won’t get hurt. If I become their pillar, they won’t have to sacrifice themselves.’
Once this war ends, I’ll train like mad and draw closer to God.
Berik, who had been listening quietly beside him, asked with confusion.
“Wait, what? What was it again? Why, that thing about how Mage Knights open their meridians and Mages have some way to level up too, right? Or not?”
“Mage Knight. Where exactly are you picking up these things?”
“Berik. Unlike you, we don’t have meridians to open or anything like that. Expanding our vessel is the more accurate way to describe it.”
“No, wait—I’m pretty sure I saw something. In the Mage’s Forest….”
At Berik’s murmuring, I lowered the wet cloth and furrowed my brow.
“Berik. You didn’t even come down to the library.”
“Not the books—there was something strange in the drawer.”
“Something strange? What?”
“If it’s strange, how would I know what it is?”
The Mages’ eyes narrowed, and a brief silence settled over us. Berik scratched the area above his lip sheepishly before asking.
“…Should I go back and get it?”

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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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