This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 26

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

Chapter 26

 

Derivative Gate.

 

Another name for the Northern Mountain Gate was the Main Gate. It meant the main base of the derivative gates.

 

The reason derivative gates were created was known to be singular.

 

The main gate in the Northern Region periodically released large quantities of magical beasts.

 

Each time, they clashed with the Empire’s army that had reorganized their formation and was on standby. Most were eliminated, but the magical beasts that escaped from the north during the fierce battles spread throughout the Empire while hiding themselves.

 

Then, when they found an environment they liked, they created a transcendent space connected to the Northern Gate – a derivative gate.

 

To make that area their territory with the help of their kin. Or to return to their original home.

 

Derivative gates initially form at the size of a finger joint, but over time they grow large enough for several magical beasts to pass through simultaneously.

 

However, usually when a derivative gate occurred within a territory, the magical beast that caused it would be spotted by people and dealt with by armed knight orders.

 

This was because expanding the gate required the unique energy that magical beasts possessed, so they had to actively hunt for food.

 

When a magical beast was killed, the derivative gate would stop growing.

 

Afterward, the lord would announce that the magical beast had been caught to reassure the people, then quietly find the derivative gate and contact the Royal Court. Then the Emperor would go incognito or send a powerful commander to remove the gate.

 

Therefore, while the appearance of magical beasts was known among the Empire’s citizens, most were unaware of the existence of derivative gates.

 

Bloden and Raven, who were thinking about derivative gates, both furrowed their brows without either taking the lead.

 

“When Hailey discovered it, she said it was only fist-sized. Seeing how it’s grown since then, there seems to be a magical beast nearby…”

 

Raven stopped mid-sentence and jumped up in surprise, looking around.

 

“Then couldn’t Hailey be in danger?”

 

“But something’s strange.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“There doesn’t seem to be a magical beast.”

 

Bloden was also looking around in all directions.

 

“Ignis came here with Nuna. Magical beasts usually appear near gates, so there’s no way Ignis wouldn’t have detected it.”

 

“That’s right. Ignis can detect magical beasts.”

 

If there had been a magical beast, Ignis would have sent a signal to Bloden to protect Hailey. Because Bloden had ordered him to do so.

 

After thinking for a moment, Raven proposed a hypothesis.

 

“So the conclusion is that there’s no magical beast, but the gate is growing? Then it’s a new type of gate.”

 

“Well. Anyway.”

 

An extraordinary energy suddenly burst from Bloden’s fingertips.

 

“We need to eliminate it before it grows any larger.”

 

The rippling energy soon took the form of a sword and was grasped in his hand.

 

“Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be better if I removed the gate?”

 

By compressing and filling the internal space of the gate with magical power, the space would twist and eventually disappear.

 

It was a simple method, but one that consumed a lot of magical power.

 

“It takes a lot of magical power, so you’ll become even younger.”

 

“That’s what I’m trying to do. This scale is just right.”

 

Bloden thrust his sword into the derivative gate. Then he poured magical power inside and compressed it tightly.

 

Raven watched from the side.

 

He could see Bloden’s height gradually decreasing as he used more and more magical power.

 

Eventually, the derivative gate, unable to withstand the compression of magical power, vibrated greatly at its entrance and distorted before disappearing with a loud bang!

 

It was the annihilation of the gate.

 

* * *

 

I was absolutely thrilled after coming out for some tide pool exploration.

 

The water was incredibly clear, and with Serch’s bright light added to it, I could see in detail all the crabs, large and small fish, and various sea creatures swimming through the ocean as if they were dancing.

 

After quickly catching two good-sized crabs and putting them in the basket tied to my waist, I discovered a fairly large fish-shaped form in the sandy terrain.

 

‘Wow, it’s big! About 4 ja? Or maybe 5 ja?’

 

With its eyes shifted to the left, it was a flounder covered with a thin layer of sand.

 

Its body length was roughly 40 to 50 centimeters.

 

‘It would be too wasteful to let it go.’

 

I gently buried the net of my scoop in the sand near the flounder’s head and gripped the handle firmly with both hands. When I nudged its tail with my foot, the startled flounder shot forward and went right into the net.

 

I quickly lifted the scoop. The flounder thrashed powerfully, so I gripped the scoop tightly.

 

“Got it!”

 

Rumble rumble rumble-

 

At the same time, I felt vibrations as if the whole world was shaking.

 

“Wow, how strong must this flounder be to thrash around like this.”

 

Feeling thrilled by the satisfying resistance after so long, I quickly showed the scoop to Serch and bragged.

 

“Serch! Look at this! I caught it!”

 

But Serch’s reaction was somewhat strange. It started spinning rapidly around me.

 

At the same time, I could see muddy sediment rolling in like clouds through the previously crystal-clear seawater.

 

Waves began to ripple rapidly across the previously calm sea surface.

 

‘Oh, don’t tell me.’

 

The feeling of the whole world shaking didn’t seem to be from me catching the flounder.

 

“This… seems like an earthquake?”

 

It was shocking. My home base was in an earthquake zone!

 

Then Serch’s light range suddenly narrowed. Serch, whose light had become as small as a laser pointer, began moving rapidly in front of my eyes.

 

At the same time, I doubted my eyes.

 

The rapidly drawn light, like a bee doing a waggle dance, drew an arrow pointing toward the house.

 

‘Wow, they said flash fireflies were smart.’

 

At this level, it wasn’t just smart – wasn’t there just a person possessing it?

 

“Oh, right. Let’s hurry back. It would be terrible if a tsunami came!”

 

Fortunately, the vibrations were weak this time, but they could be a precursor to a major earthquake.

 

As soon as I answered, I hurried toward the house. There was a bonfire burning in front of the house, making it easy to find direction.

 

As soon as I started walking, Serch went behind me and emitted an even stronger light than usual.

 

Noticing Serch’s intention, I couldn’t help but smile even in this situation.

 

“Thank you, Serch.”

 

Even though mud had mixed with the seawater due to the earthquake, the concentration was still relatively low. So Serch’s light was still reaching well into the sea.

 

But Serch seemed worried that there might be areas around me where the light didn’t reach. After all, sea slimes were said to appear by taking advantage of places where light didn’t penetrate.

 

Since the tide was still going out, I was able to exit the sea quickly and safely with Serch.

 

“Baron, I’m back…?”

 

When I returned, Baron wasn’t at the house, and my heart sank.

 

I was so shocked that I threw down the flounder and crabs I’d caught and searched inside the house. When Baron was still nowhere to be seen, I came outside and called for Baron loudly.

 

“Baron! Baron!”

 

If there had been an earthquake, it was right to come outside. But there was no need to go far.

 

‘There’s no way Baron wouldn’t know that I’d come back soon and look for him.’

 

Since Baron was a smart child, I couldn’t understand the current situation even more.

 

I also thought that maybe he was so frightened that he lost his reason and just ran out blindly.

 

“Ah, everywhere is so dark that I can’t see an inch ahead without light, so where on earth did this little one go.”

 

In this state, if he went in the wrong direction, he could get his foot stuck in the stream behind us or in the uneven terrain and get hurt.

 

Aren’t children in great danger when they fall into puddles? I’d heard that it’s dangerous when kids fall into such places because they can’t get out.

 

When my thoughts reached this point, I became very worried about Baron.

 

‘It’s horrible just to imagine.’

 

I knew that Baron was from a knight family, had natural talent with swords, and had good athletic ability. But my worry didn’t diminish.

 

Because he was a young child.

 

‘How scared must that little one be right now.’

 

As my worry grew like a snowball, tears welled up and even blurred my vision.

 

“Don’t cry, Sojung. Now is not the time to cry. Calm down.”

 

I wiped away the tears that were dripping down with the palm of my hand.

 

“Even if I’m going to cry, I should cry after finding Baron. At least I have Serch with me for light. Right now, Baron must be even more scared.”

 

Comforting myself and taking a deep breath, I searched the stream behind the house with Serch and called Baron’s name even louder.

 

“Baron! Where are you!”

 

No matter how much I shouted until my throat was raw, Baron didn’t answer.

 

“Waaaah! Baron! Where are youuuu!”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Nuna!”

 

I heard Baron’s voice. Following the sound, I frantically ran toward it and found myself at the front of the house.

 

“Nuna!”

 

As soon as Baron saw me, he raised his hand high and greeted me cheerfully.

 

Raven holding a torch and Baron were standing side by side in front of the house.

 

I had been crying like a fool, but Baron looked perfectly fine and spirited. A look of bewilderment crossed Baron’s face as he examined mine.

 

“Huh? Nuna, were you crying?”

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