Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 565

The Gills

Gold and silver treasures that rolled in.

Indeed. For Rutherford, there couldn’t be a better way to describe the appearance of the Gypsy.

The Beryl army’s momentum was so fierce it seemed to tear through the sky, and although the Burgos army seemed to be responding well, there was an inexplicable sense of unease.

Perhaps it was because the gods were not answering.

“Excuse me. Heh heh heh. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

At that moment, the Gypsy came to find Rutherford.

She was one who had wandered the abyss with Ian Hiero. A woman who was neither an enemy nor an ally, but rather a gray area, as she was friendly but not trustworthy.

It was known that she had a deep connection with Damon, but it seemed that this was the first time they had met face-to-face without that connection.

“We have met before. But what brings you here? Did Ian Hiero send you?”

“Of course not! I’ve only come because I have a good proposal for both of us.”

“Can’t you feel the barrier shaking? I hope your proposal is quick and appropriate. Otherwise, I’ll throw you outside the barrier.”

“How harsh you are.”

The Gypsy showed no sign of fear. Although her expression could not be read from the face hidden under her robe, her firm voice was proof of her composure.

The Gypsy slowly approached and whispered softly.

“Do you perhaps have a secret?”

“A secret?”

“Yes. I dare say, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I have all the secrets of the world. Even the emperor of the Beryl army, who is struggling outside, has given me a secret.”

“That’s quite interesting.”

“Ian Hiero. I also have a secret about the origin of the author, the Minister of Magic of Beryl. However, once something has entered my belly, it no longer gives me pleasure beyond satiety, so if you, Rutherford, have a secret equivalent to that, give it to me. I will give you Ian Hiero’s.”

“Ian Hiero’s secret.”

“You saw it then, in the abyss, didn’t you?”

Ian’s appearance in Gaia and in the abyss was completely different. He was not a young boy with blond hair and green eyes, but a more mature man with platinum blond hair and blue eyes.

His appearance, physique, and even his atmosphere seemed a little different, so Rutherford at the time could not tell who the platinum-blond man who had rushed at him was.

“Yes. I saw it. Is that Ian’s secret?”

“Of course! You didn’t think that the abyss was just a meaningless hallucination, did you?”

It was a question asking if he had such a foolish thought. Rutherford frowned slightly and placed his long pipe on the table.

“Of course not.”

“Then it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to see the truth at once.”

“…Come closer.”

Rutherford gestured to show that he accepted the offer.

At this, the Gypsy’s steps were filled with joy. The Gypsy came closer and leaned in. Rutherford whispered into her ear.

“But, is it real?”

“What is?”

“That the world will fall into chaos if your belly is cut open.”

The Gypsy paused slightly at the chilling tone, but didn’t care. It was just a question, wasn’t it? The Gypsy needed a great secret that would delight all her senses, and Rutherford seemed ready to give it up.

“That’s right. The secrets that remain will find their owners, and the world will become chaotic.”

“Just as I heard from King Damon.”

Squeeze.

Rutherford grabbed her shoulder tightly. She tried to twist her body reflexively, but the old woman could not escape and could only get closer to Rutherford.

“I’m so sorry, what should I do?”

“Let go of me!”

“I have no secrets to give. I, who have endured through dozens, hundreds of deaths and lives, rather wish that everyone would recognize me.”

Squeeze!

Rutherford strangled the Gypsy’s neck tightly. Through the exposed robe, gills could be seen fluttering. It was like a desperate attempt to breathe, but it wouldn’t be easy.

“I have nothing to give, and you seem to have something to give. May I accept it with a joyful heart?”

“Kuh-heok, you, you, damn it!”

Swish!

Fins flapped violently from under the Gypsy’s robe. For a moment, Rutherford felt her body become as soft as mud, and he immediately realized that it was a gesture to escape into the abyss. He immediately tightened his grip, but the speed at which the Gypsy disappeared was even faster.

“You, later-!”

If we meet again, I’ll kill you!

Just as the Gypsy was desperately trying to disappear-

“Cut off the fins.”

Rutherford had been waiting for the voice of God.

Upon hearing that voice, Rutherford reflexively pulled out a dagger and stabbed the half-disappeared fin, then put his strength into it.

“Before cutting open the belly, tear open the gills.”

Thwack!

“Aaaaargh!”

The half-disappeared figure began to regain its shape. Blue things, whether blood or something else, poured out of the cut fin, and the Gypsy, sensing danger, crawled away on her arms.

“It seems that the gods do not want you to go to the abyss. Now, let’s see inside. How much of Ian Hiero’s secret is left.”

“You who have been deceived by shadows, where do you think you are!”

“Shadows?”

Crash!

Rutherford drew his sword and cut off the fin again. The Gypsy writhed, letting out a painful groan. Tables and chairs were thrown around roughly.

Crash!

He was about to strike again with his sword, but stopped. As a price for blasphemy, wasn’t this enough? And above all-

“Go on, keep talking. The more you do, the more painfully you will die. I don’t know what confidence you had to appear before me.”

The god, who had been silent for a while, had answered.

The anxiety that had been rising in a corner of Rutherford’s mind until just now was completely washed away. It was just a different cycle, but the divine revelations were continuing.

The gods were still with him and watching over him. Although the barrier had shaken greatly, it now seemed like a step in the process of leaping forward.

“Anyway, thank you. Gypsy.”

Rutherford climbed on top of her and placed his sword near her neck.

At that moment, the door opened and soldiers who had heard the commotion rushed in, and Rutherford smiled as if it was nothing and said.

“I’m about to cut open the gold and silver treasures that rolled in.”

“Ah, that…”

“Get out.”

“Lord Rutherford.”

A familiar man appeared, pushing through the soldiers.

Rutherford’s brow furrowed for a moment. Who was this?

“Clark?”

“Yes, it’s Clark. I’m glad you seem to be safe.”

“How did you get out of the abyss?”

“It’s a long story, I’ll tell you slowly. Is that alright?”

Clark slowly approached and stared at Rutherford’s sword. The Gypsy looked at Clark with fearful eyes, and Rutherford noticed the strange energy between them.

Clark and the Gypsy know each other. Clark, a normal human, could not have come out of the abyss alone.

“Did you get help from this one?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“Aha. Clark.”

Thwack!

Rutherford instantly struck the Gypsy’s neck. The short, strong impact caused her to faint, and Rutherford beckoned Clark to come closer, flicking his dagger.

“What’s your purpose? Did you come to see me? Or to save this one?”

“…I’ve already paid the price for escaping. She’s no longer someone I’m connected to.”

“Then come here and tear open the gills, will you?”

“Pardon?”

Rutherford smiled and grabbed the Gypsy’s hair.

“Before cutting open the belly, I was told to tear open the gills in advance.”

“Is that what the gods said?”

“Yes. I just received a revelation.”

Clark paused for a moment.

Was Rutherford blind? In the abyss, he too had witnessed a great being. But it seemed more like a demon than a god…

“Don’t you want to?”

It was Rutherford’s test. If he didn’t kill the Gypsy here, he would suspect and reject him.

Clark took a step towards the fallen Gypsy.

Swoosh.

Wouldn’t it be better to just cut down Rutherford? If he pretended to attack the fallen Gypsy and killed Rutherford, wouldn’t all the problems be solved? The cause of all the tragedies happening now was that man.

“Clark.”

At that moment, Rutherford looked up at him and muttered.

“I’ve felt it before, but you don’t know how to hide your eyes.”

That’s why you had such a love with the Mereloff woman.

Rutherford swung his sword at Clark, who had come close, and at that signal, the soldiers also rushed in all at once.

Clang! Clang!

“After dealing with him, you are to tear open the Gypsy’s gills and belly here.”

“Th-that, that one?”

“You talk too much.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Meanwhile, Clark stepped back from the blades pouring in from all directions. Cold sweat poured down like rain.

The space was narrow. There were many obstacles that got in the way, including the Gypsy and all sorts of furniture, and there was only one exit. The window was several meters high, so it was not an option.

‘Can I take the Gypsy with me?’

Clark pressed his back against the wall while facing the soldiers. In that gap, a soldier who had received an order tried to tear open the Gypsy’s gills with a dagger, and Rutherford raised his hand to stop him.

“Do it after I leave.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

He seemed to know what kind of shock would come the moment the Gypsy was torn open.

Clark quickly parried the soldiers’ swords and shouted.

“No! You can’t kill that person!”

“Shut up! Push!”

“You intruder!”

“Kuh-heok!”

The soldiers’ attacks pierced Clark’s shoulder, waist, and thigh. Blood spurted out, but Clark didn’t care and broke through them, rushing towards the Gypsy.

A soldier who saw Clark rushing in thrust his sword into the Gypsy’s gills even faster.

Wham!

Clang! Crash!

At that moment, a huge explosion erupted around the Gypsy. The windows shattered and a strong wind swept through. It was such a strong explosion that all the furniture in the room fell over.

The soldiers lowered their bodies for a moment. The soldier who had torn open the gills stared blankly into the air before collapsing to the side.

“Hey! Are you alright?”

“Ugh! What is this smell?”

“Ugh, ugh! Ugh!”

Then, the soldiers vomited and fell forward.

Clark also had no way to avoid it. He crawled towards the broken window, craving fresh air, and barely held on to his fading mind. The Gypsy’s belly had not yet been cut open, so wasn’t there still hope? But how?

‘There’s hope, but no way.’

Thud!

Clark’s body tilted over the window frame. He fell helplessly from a height of several meters, and at the same time, the jewel he had put in his pocket shattered.

* * *

“The signal is lost!”

A soldier in charge of the jewel shouted loudly to Barsabe. Then, Melania turned her head, and then the three commanders also looked at the barrier with serious expressions.

“The signal being lost means that access to Rutherford has become impossible.”

“Or they may have been attacked after approaching.”

“Whatever it is, it’s a red light for us.”

The fact that the emperor’s safety was exposed to danger due to a mysterious attack was a particular problem.

Bonita, one of the three commanders, thought for a moment and then nodded.

“We can’t just stand here and wait. I will select a special task force. We will infiltrate the last place where the signal was detected, assess the situation, and deal with the attackers directly.”

“But it’s in the middle of enemy territory. It’s too dangerous.”

“If we stay like this, His Majesty the Emperor will be in danger.”

Look at how the Astanans died. They just stood there and died suddenly. If we don’t find the cause, the Imperial Guard will be defeated without even having a chance to protect the emperor.

“Is there anyone who will go with me?”

It was like going to die. But all the guards raised their hands to volunteer, and Beric just sat there, picking his ears.

Bonita checked her weapons and called out names.

“Alright. Beric, Barsabe, Kanna, and Wakion will go with me.”

“Me? I didn’t say I’d go?!”

“You’re the only one who knows the face of that Clark or whatever his name is, Beric.”

Wow, damn it. I have nothing to say.

As Beric froze with his mouth open, Bonita asked Barsabe.

“What is the exact location?”

“It’s about a hundred meters north of the first gate.”

“We will infiltrate through the sky. We will bypass the mages’ battle zone and descend. How long do you think it will take?”

“Uh, that’s…”

Fierce battles between soldiers were continuing at the barrier. They would need the help of a mage to go through the sky, but everyone was in the middle of a fierce battle…

“30 seconds.”

Sigh, damn it. Beric tightened his armor and replied.

“There’s Kyu coming. If we ride that, it’ll be a 30-second cut.”

-Kyuuuu!

Kyu, carrying two almost unconscious recorders, was spinning its tail and descending towards the Beryl camp.

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