Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 157

-In the village of Danil, near Karenna, the Astanian fugitive Viyas and his grandson Hasha were discovered. Attempts to persuade them failed, ultimately leading to their deaths. The villagers also confirmed the bodies, and in preparation for a potential investigation from the Imperial Palace, they poisoned the well with a food poisoning agent.

This aligns with Hasha’s testimony. Ian confirmed the names of those involved in the tragic events in Danil.

-Bareto.

Wesley’s aide. It seems he led the operation with several members of the Magic Support Department.

‘Not many are involved. It’s mostly mages from within the Magic Support Department who were in charge of necromancy research. This means they were aware that it shouldn’t leak outside.’

Ian moved on to the research report on necromancy. It was a study that had been going on for several years, but the progress was terrible. There seemed to be some success with animals, but there were no successful cases of the forbidden necromancy that Wesley wanted, ‘casting on the living’.

-The results of using necromancy on the living are as follows: The targeted body rapidly decays, or even if it remains intact, it quickly leads to ego collapse and loss of control, making it no different from using necromancy on the dead. (Postscript) It is possible to transfer the soul of the subject to another body. However, this is not necromancy but an expansion into the forbidden realm of magic, which requires further research.

Ian frowned. It was exactly in line with his current situation. Due to the forbidden magic cast by Naum, he had transcended time and space and entered the body of the unknown ‘bastard Ian’.

-However, it is not possible to confirm whether the original abilities and ego are transferred when the soul is moved. Especially if the subject is of a different race or a mana user (mage, magic swordsman, etc.), the results cannot be predicted.

The person who submitted the report didn’t seem to know that Wesley’s target was Gale. Ian’s finger, which had been tracing the sentences, stopped.

‘Wait a minute.’

When a soul is moved by forbidden magic, it’s uncertain whether the abilities are transferred? Ian had assumed that the mana he had been using was his own. He had learned that magic resonates with the soul, not the body.

However, he realized that this was just a theoretical academic view, and it had not been proven whether it actually applied to forbidden magic.

‘Then there are two possibilities. Either you can use your abilities even if your soul is moved, or-‘

…the bastard Ian was originally a mana user.

He rubbed his eyebrows, slightly surprised. And slowly, very slowly, he recalled the moment he opened his eyes in the backyard of Count Bratz’s mansion. Surely, in the beginning, he could only release mana, right?

‘Right. If it resonated with the soul, I should have been able to use all the magic I knew from the beginning. But as time passed, as I released more mana, my limits grew to this point…….’

‘Ian, are you deaf? Romandro keeps knocking!’

It was at that moment. Beric’s deeply frowning face came into view. He was half-lying on the desk, snapping his fingers as if to tell him to get a grip.

‘Minister Ian?’

‘Ah, Romandro.’

‘Um, if you’re busy, should I come back later?’

‘No, it’s alright.’

Ian smiled and closed the documents. Beric was yelling for him to come in from inside, but Ian didn’t answer, so he just kept knocking.

Romandro looked around the messy minister’s office, utterly shocked. As if he was glad that he wasn’t his superior.

‘What brings you here?’

‘It’s not that, but I received a message from the mansion… They’ve found a mercenary group to send Hasha and the Astanians back to their homeland.’

He could speak informally to a viscount, but a minister was a line he couldn’t cross. Romandro awkwardly spoke formally, and Beric chuckled and mocked him.

‘Why are you talking like that? Received… They’ve found? Haha!’

‘Sh-Shut up, you.’

‘Romandro, please speak as you normally do when it’s just us. It’s hard for me to understand what you’re saying when you talk like that.’

Romandro cleared his throat and cooled his flushed face.

‘Are these mercenaries trustworthy?’

‘That’s what I was worried about… Mercenaries are often rough, aren’t they? But they are people Vivianna met when she was working in the field, so they are reliable.’

‘Then it’s safer than a merchant caravan in many ways. Is it a primary or secondary request?’

‘It’s obviously a secondary request. They’re going to the edge of the continent to hunt monsters, and Astan is on the way, so they accepted the request.’

‘Good. When is the departure?’

‘That’s the thing, it’s a bit urgent. They’re leaving as early as tomorrow, or within three days at the latest. I know you’re busy since taking office, but wouldn’t it be good to take some time to say goodbye to Hasha?’

Come to think of it, it had been several days since he had been to the mansion. Ian nodded, picking up his jacket.

‘Romandro, are you coming?’

‘Me? I’m going now.’

‘Let’s go together. Beric, are you staying here?’

‘Huh? Why would I?’

Ian gestured as if to hurry. Now that he had become a minister, the immediate crisis was over. Until the new Sildam potion was made and Gale’s curse was judged. There was only one thing he had to do.

‘Make the Sildam potion work in my favor.’

That might also be in Gale’s favor, but for now, keeping Gale alive was the same as securing a safe zone for Ian.

Squeak.

‘Minister Ian. Are you leaving? Aren’t you going to have a beer?’

‘Yeah, we should have one, even if no one else does!’

‘We can’t just finish the day by organizing documents!’

‘Be quiet. You guys drink beer every day.’

‘We have to drink today because it’s free! Captain Hale, say something!’

‘…Minister Ian. Are you really going home?’

Indeed, the real power line was different. He hadn’t even walked a few steps out of the minister’s office when he passed the Magic Operations Department office. Ian smiled and straightened his collar.

‘Next time. I have something urgent to do.’

‘Ah, that’s a shame. Is there anything you need us to do?’

‘Tell Captain Acorella to send me detailed real-time reports on the newly manufactured Sildam potion. Also, gather and organize the personnel information of all the mages who were in charge of necromancy in the Magic Support Department.’

At Ian’s instructions, Nakina scribbled with her pen and replied that she understood.

‘And it’s okay to have a company dinner today. Put it on my tab.’

At those words, Tommy dropped the documents he was holding. Nakina did the same. She dropped her pen and paused, her eyes sparkling.

‘Have a good trip! Minister!’

‘Wooo! Awesome! Let’s have the special set today!’

‘Thank you! I hope you won’t be surprised when you see the receipt tomorrow! We love you!’

‘We’ll finish our work within an hour.’

‘Captain! You know what’s up!’

While the three of them were excitedly agreeing, Ian smiled and walked to the entrance. All the mages he met bowed their heads and greeted him.

Swish.

‘Minister. Good day.’

‘Good work.’

‘Yes. Good work.’

Romandro smiled proudly behind him. Ian, who had taken over the position of Minister Wesley, the fourth-highest-ranking official in the Imperial Palace, was his friend! He couldn’t stop boasting inwardly.

* * *

‘Mini. I think this is enough food, don’t you?’

‘I think so, but there are so many people.’

‘I’ve paid for the food, so don’t worry. Tell everyone to pack an extra set of clothes. The wind will be stronger when we cross the border.’

Romandro’s mansion was in complete chaos. It was the atmosphere created by Vivianna and Mini, who were frantically running around to take care of Hasha and the Astanians who were leaving on a long journey. Ian smiled, listening to the noise from downstairs through the door.

Knock knock.

‘May I come in, or not?’

‘Come in.’

‘Ian, what are you doing? The preparations downstairs are almost done.’

Beric had his mouth full of food. Judging by the handprint on his shoulder, he must have been hit for stealing the Astanians’ lunch boxes.

‘I was writing a letter to Hielo.’

‘To the border?’

‘Yes. If you have anything you want to say, tell me. I’ll add it.’

It was a letter to Hielo, or more precisely, to Ian’s biological mother, Philia. Since there was a possibility that the bastard Ian was originally a mana user, he wanted to ask her about it.

‘When I bought the flowerpot in the park, it seemed like it was the first time I saw golden eyes, but maybe not. Maybe there were other unusual behaviors since childhood.’

Ian tapped the tip of his pen, shaking off the ink. Feeling a strong gaze from the side, Ian turned his head involuntarily.

‘Why are you looking at me like that?’

‘I’m thinking about who to send it to.’

Beric was lying on the bed, looking serious. He had no family, and no close friends. The first person he had formed a proper relationship with was Ian.

‘If you have nothing to send, you don’t have to.’

‘I want to send something, but I don’t know who to send it to or what to send.’

‘Hana is good, Nersarn is good, and Kakan is good too. The replies will be slow, but aren’t all the warriors in the Great Desert your friends?’

It was then.

-Ian, are you inside?

‘Hasha.’

-The preparations are done. We’re about to leave.

Hasha’s call came. Ian put down his pen and went outside. The once bustling house was now empty. All the luggage had been moved to the garden.

-Ian, it’s a shame to part like this, my nose is getting stuffy.

‘Hasha, don’t cry.’

Ian smiled, wiping the wet corners of the dog’s eyes with his hand. They hadn’t known each other for long, but it seemed they were truly family, given how sad they were to part.

-I will return to my Astan, stabilize my faction, and get a new body. And then I will come back to see you, Ian.

‘That’s something I look forward to.’

-Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

‘Hasha! What about me? Say goodbye to me too.’

At Beric’s words, Hasha chuckled and hugged him as well. It would have been a truly touching farewell if Beric hadn’t hugged him so tightly that he was about to crush him.

-Oh, take off the brooch.

‘You can take it if you want. Use it as travel money if you have any problems. If things are good, you can return it to me when you go back to Astan.’

The mana stone brooch hanging around the dog’s neck. Hasha smiled as if to say thank you, and then a loud wail was heard.

‘Oh my, go safely! Hooo.’

‘Master. Please stop crying. It sounds like someone died.’

‘No, it’s because I’m sad. Hooo! Hasha! Hasha!’

It was Romandro. His eyes were swollen, and he kept sniffling. When Hasha ran to him, he knelt down and gave another tearful farewell.

‘Farewell~! Hasha! It was so nice to meet you!’

-Thank you for your hospitality. Romandro, always be healthy, and may your wife have a safe delivery. I will pray to the great nature when I go to Astan.

Hasha lightly shook off the fur that was wet with Romandro’s tears. He said his last goodbyes to Vivianna and Mini, and then jumped into the mercenary group’s carriage.

-See you again.

‘Yes. See you again.’

‘Kkeueok. Hooo! Hooo! Hasha!’

‘Ah, Romandro. Your snot is dirty.’

‘Hooo!’

Neigh!

The mercenaries bowed to Vivianna, then drove the horses, and soon the carriages left Romandro’s mansion one by one. The hands of the Astanians waved from the windows. They were all filled with the joy of returning home.

Clatter clatter!

Hasha showed his face through the window until the very end, and Ian also stayed in his place until they disappeared into a dot.

With this, all those who were leaving had left.

Now, it was time to do what was left to do.