Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 170

The Spreading Flames

Clang! Clang!

‘Ughhh!’

‘Stop, please spare me!’

‘Drive them all in! This way!’

‘Kill them! For His Highness Gale!’

‘His Highness Marib is watching!’

The daytime scene was marred by madness. It was as if everything that would have been hidden in the darkness of night was now exposed in broad daylight. It felt like hell had unfolded under the clear sky.

Thud!

A corpse falling from a window left a bloodstain on the outer wall. Broken glass shards flew like sleet, and Ian reflexively raised his sleeve to cover his eyes.

Swish!

Spears and arrows flew aimlessly. Berik accurately deflected them with his sword, yelling at the top of his lungs.

‘You bastards! Look where you’re throwing!’

‘Ugh! Charge! Charge forward!’

‘Kill them all!’

‘Wait, isn’t that Minister Ian Hielo! Our master! Huh? Ian, you said if I said your name, I’d be safe?’

‘It’s useless to speak to those who won’t listen.’

‘Kill the traitors! Protect Bariel!’

‘Aish! Seriously! Then! I have no choice! Ahahaha!’

But there was no way they could hear, consumed as they were by madness. Berik swung his sword without hesitation at those blocking his path. Blood spurted along the trajectory, screams tore through the air, and his laughter echoed.

‘Berik. That’s excessive. Let’s move.’

‘What am I supposed to do when they’re asking to be killed?’

‘Should I go first?’

‘That’s not it. Let’s go, let’s go.’

It was chaos itself. In the tension between life and death, it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe. That split-second decision could lead to one’s death.

What could be more worthless than a war fueled only by excitement without conviction? Ian pressed his shoulder against the wall as much as possible, pushing his way through the commotion.

Clang! Clang!

‘One, two! Coming! Block! Okay!’

‘Berik, be quiet. You keep drawing attention.’

‘I’m the quietest one here!’

Even though he said that, his protection was perfect. Even if he couldn’t stop the blood from splattering, he didn’t allow even a small attack to reach Ian.

Clang!

‘This way, Berik!’

‘There? Really?’

Ian, familiar with the palace’s layout, found a path and turned. It was a shortcut mainly used by lower-ranking officials. As they dashed through the gap, the battle cries gradually subsided. They were getting farther away from that terrible hell.

Taptap!

‘What’s at the end of this?’

‘The back gate of the Third Imperial Palace. It’s a bit far from Delilah’s residence, but it’s best to join Siochi first and then find them.’

He didn’t know if Delilah and the twin princes had guards, but if they didn’t, Siochi’s presence would be a great help. Securing him and returning to the Magic Department was the best course of action.

‘Huh? Ian, it’s a dead end?’

‘Get down.’

Thud!

At Ian’s command, Berik quickly showed his back. Stepping on it and climbing over the wall, the entrance to the Third Imperial Palace’s underground prison was immediately visible. Guards armed with shields and spears stood guard, aiming their weapons at Ian.

‘Who goes there! This is the Imperial Palace’s underground prison, turn back!’

‘I am Ian Hielo, the Minister of the Magic Department. I’ve come to find the intruder who entered His Highness Gale’s residence at dawn.’

‘…We are sorry, but we cannot allow it. Due to the current Level 1 alert, there is a risk of the prisoners in the underground prison escaping.’

They opened their helmets, looking troubled. The distant roar seemed to be getting closer. The battle, spreading and sweeping, seemed to be about to reach this place.

Buzz.

Ian released his magic, warning the guards.

‘It is commendable that you are carrying out your duties, but look at the situation accurately. What is your superior’s name?’

‘W-Wyvern, sir.’

‘Good. He is currently seeking safety in the Magic Department. He said he would join forces with me, so who has the command now? I will only take one prisoner. If any problems arise because of this, report my name.’

The guards glanced at each other, remaining silent. They seemed unable to make a decision in the unpredictable situation of the Imperial Palace.

‘He is an important figure to resolve the chaos in the Imperial Palace. If you refuse, I will have no choice but to break down the iron gate.’

‘Break it down? Huh? Smash it?’

‘W-wait a moment! Please, give us proof.’

Ian took off his uniform coat and handed it over. It was soaked with someone’s blood, but it was enough to serve as proof.

Clank!

‘Please, come in.’

The tightly closed iron gate opened. Ian and Berik were guided by the guards down into the underground. A damp place with no sunlight and filled with the smell of mold. It was completely cut off from the outside, like another world.

Creak.

Ian found a man collapsed in the darkness. Siochi, bound and huddled, his limbs restrained. His eyes were covered, but his gray hair made him recognizable.

‘Untie him.’

‘Yes. Please wait a moment.’

Twitch. His ear, which had been still as if dead, twitched. As the guard removed the blindfold, his two different colored eyes immediately met Ian’s gaze.

‘…’

‘Siochi. Can you walk?’

‘Hey, hey, hey. Hello, hello.’

Ian held up the lantern, illuminating Siochi. Bruised cheeks and a cut across one arm. Siochi squinted, as if the lantern light was too bright.

‘…How did you get here?’

‘What do you mean, how? The master came to find his slave. By the way, your injuries are deep.’

It was a suspicious order, but he had promised that there would be no problem with Siochi’s safety. But why was he in this state? He had told Gale firmly.

‘…’

‘Speak.’

‘The man said he wanted to see blood, so I cut myself.’

His guess was correct. Gale wanted Siochi to be injured so that he could later find fault with Ian. Then what about his cheek? When Ian looked at the guard, he shook his head as if his feet were burning.

‘W-we didn’t torture him. We just escorted him here and locked him up.’

Boom!

At that moment, a faint explosion was heard. If it could be heard this loudly in the underground prison, it must be quite large. Ian gestured to Berik to help Siochi up.

Swoosh.

‘…What should I do now?’

The absence of orders. While in prison, that was more difficult to endure than anything else. Since he was born a slave, every moment of his life had been an order. Eating, sleeping, resting, working—his entire life was dictated by someone else. But now that it was gone, it felt like his compass had been broken.

‘What weapons do you usually use?’

‘…In the arena, I usually fight with my bare hands.’

‘If you do that now, you’ll die meaninglessly. There’s someone we need to bring back through the chaos outside.’

‘…A dagger.’

A dagger? Ian looked back at the guard. Did he happen to have a dagger? The guard was startled and fumbled at his waist.

‘W-well, I have one that I sometimes use to cut fruit.’

It was a folding knife that fit snugly in the palm of his hand. Siochi silently accepted it, and Berik waved his hand as if disgusted.

‘No, how are you going to kill someone with that?’

‘…’

‘If you stab them, it’ll smell like fruit! Sio, don’t do that, take a long one. Then you can just swing it around and chop them up.’

‘That’s enough. There’s no time to waste. Siochi, report everything that happened last night while we’re going.’

‘…Yes.’

Taptap!

Ian led Siochi out of the underground prison. Siochi’s eyes, which had been gray in the darkness, now clearly shone with a different light. The guards managing the entrance shouted in a fluster.

‘Should we open the gate? If you’re going out, hurry!’

‘The battle has spread to this area. We will completely block the entrance!’

The battle that Ian and Berik had passed through had reached this point. Flames and smoke rose everywhere, and the sounds of breaking and shattering echoed. Ian gestured to open the gate and ran.

Thud!

‘Ughhh! Kill them!’

‘Don’t let a single one live!’

‘Their blood will be the nourishment for Bariel!’

‘You bug-like bastards. How dare you speak of Bariel!’

Boom! Bang!

Clang! Crack!

The blood pooling on the floor was like the flames burning the building. So that was why Ian’s clothes were dirty. Siochi was a little flustered, but he didn’t waver and gripped the knife tightly.

‘You said you didn’t like seeing blood.’

‘…It’s okay.’

‘Yeehaw! Kill!’

Swoosh!

‘Ughhh!’

‘Yes. You have to be okay now. That’s how you survive.’

Berik stabbed his sword into the heart of a soldier attacking Ian. He pulled out the blade that had pierced through his back in one motion, then slashed his side again.

Siochi frowned, looking down at the writhing soldier. If he had died instantly, he wouldn’t have suffered.

‘Dieee!’

At that moment, another soldier attacked Ian. Berik tried to deflect him, but the corpse got caught on the tip of his sword. Ian opened his golden eyes and condensed his magic.

Buzz. Buzz.

Thud!

But even faster than that, Siochi blocked it. He grabbed the soldier’s hair with one hand and stabbed the knife into his eye socket with the other.

‘…’

It was clear that he intended to end his life in one blow, like butchering an animal. He knew the vital points accurately, and there was no unnecessary movement in his actions. The soldier fell forward without even screaming.

Thud-

‘…’

‘…’

‘…Haa.’

Heavy, concise, and quick. The power could be felt even in the way he retrieved the knife. Berik stared at Siochi with his mouth wide open, and Ian was equally flustered and silent. Only Siochi wiped the knife on his shirt and sighed.

‘…Aren’t you going?’

‘…Let’s go.’

‘Yaaa! Sio! What are you! What kind of bastard are you!’

‘Be quiet, Berik. You’re being distracting, don’t spin around.’

‘No, Ian. You saw it too, right? Swish, thud! Ugh! What was that, how did you do that? Tell me too! No, let’s fight right now!’

Buzz!

As Berik couldn’t hide his excitement and clung to Siochi, Ian opened his golden eyes. As if to say that if he didn’t shut up and follow, he would be punished. Berik snapped back to his senses and blinked his eyes.

‘I almost made a mistake. Right?’

‘There won’t be a second warning, Berik.’

‘Hey, why so scary? Then, after all this is over, shall we have a match? Siochi! Siochiii!’

Thud!

Siochi ignored Berik and walked ahead. And he cleanly killed those who blocked Ian’s path. Seeing blood wasn’t pleasant, but since it was his master’s order, he could endure it.

Ian followed the path created by Berik and Siochi, raising his head. Soon, he would reach Delilah’s palace.

* * *

‘Lady Delilah! Lady Delilah!’

‘It’s a disaster! Lady Delilah!’

Delilah coughed a little later than usual. It was because she had a bad dream and couldn’t sleep well. While she was getting ready in front of her dressing table, the head maid’s cry was heard.

‘What’s going on?’

Someone who usually didn’t raise their voice was making such a fuss. The head maid reported, panting.

‘P-Prince Marib, the prince has received His Majesty’s seal. Haa, an intruder entered His Highness Gale’s residence…’

‘Speak clearly!’

The atmosphere was ominous. The sound of guards rushing in was heard, and they were dragging all sorts of heavy furniture to block the entrance to her palace.

‘Prince Marib and Prince Gale are fighting over His Majesty’s seal. All the knights and soldiers from each family have entered the palace and are confronting each other.’

‘What is this…’

Her mind seemed to go blank. To fight for His Majesty’s seal? Then what about His Majesty?

‘The Magic Department is blocking the exit, so there’s no way to leave. It’s best to hide here first-‘

‘Arsen! Jin!’

Delilah immediately ran to the princes’ bedrooms. If Marib and Gale were wielding swords, the sparks would surely fly to them as well.

Thud!

When she opened the door, Arsen and Jin were sitting on the sofa. Arsen was smiling brightly, and he seemed particularly happy.