Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 175

Liamah lay on the floor, her limbs twisted grotesquely. A hole the size of a head was punched through her chest. Before she could even gasp, one of the three commanders was dead.

Marib picked up the spear that had pierced her heart.

*Swoosh.*

The magic sealing stone was sharply carved. Just touching it was enough to cut skin. Marib gently closed Liamah’s eyelids, then turned around.

‘Cough…’

‘Hah, hah!’

‘Your Highness Marib! Are you alright?’

‘What was that just now—’

‘Ugh, blood, the blood keeps coming.’

‘Your Highness!’

Delina’s garden was a mess. Not a single blade of grass remained from the battle, and more than half of the palace had collapsed.

And beneath the rubble lay black armor.

Traces of Liamah’s desperate struggle.

‘Gale, living as Wesley’s lover wasn’t in vain.’

The magic sealing stone, almost the only way to control mages. It was managed under the Imperial family’s direction, but most of it was handled by Gale, Wesley’s lover. It was a kind of tacit agreement. From Wesley’s perspective, he had given the Imperial family the leash of the magic department to the most trustworthy person.

‘But in the end, it strangled her.’

‘Where is Gale?’

‘He escaped. Towards the Third Imperial Palace.’

‘The magic department is still blocking access. He won’t be able to get out.’

Marib wiped his forehead with a handkerchief as he listened to his aide’s report. The blood wouldn’t stop flowing.

‘The Third Imperial Palace, huh.’

‘We’re pursuing him. Let’s join forces.’

‘No. Half will look for Gale, and half will go to the magic department. If things continue like this, Gale will surely try to find Ian. Jin is there too. I also have a lot to take care of.’

It was possible to ask Ian to open the palace gates, or as a last resort, surrender and enter the neutral zone. As long as Marib didn’t stop, Ian would have to protect Gale to mediate between them.

‘The Minister of the Imperial Defense Department, pursue Gale! The rest go to the magic department! We will meet mages, so everyone prepare your arrows!’

*Booooo-*

The sound of a water buffalo horn echoed throughout the palace.

Not far away, Gale, who was fleeing to the Third Imperial Palace, glanced back. His aide, whose arm had been severed, grabbed his shoulder.

‘Don’t look back, Your Highness.’

‘…My arm.’

‘It’s alright.’

Gale bit his lip. He didn’t know if it was a good thing or not that Bael’s soldiers were more skilled than he had thought.

The early advantage had shifted over time, and the fact that less than half of the magic armor that the Hyman family had promised to support had arrived was a sudden crisis.

*Tap tap!*

‘The other half should be outside the palace. It would be best to meet Sir Ian.’

‘Marib will be waiting there, entrenched.’

‘What if we can’t see His Majesty the Emperor?’

‘…’

Gale fell silent and quickened his pace. The situation was not good. He had tried to stage a fake assassination to betray them, but he had been hit hard first.

‘Your Highness, this way!’

The Third Imperial Palace was empty. Everyone had evacuated from the commotion, and not a single ant could be seen. Stepping on scattered objects and documents on the floor, Gale slowly walked down the hallway.

*Swoosh.*

And at the end of the hallway, he stood before a huge painting that was taller than a person. It was a painting of young angels flying in the sky, scattering flower petals. Gale knelt down lightly and placed his forehead against it.

‘Father.’

A fervent voice calling for the Emperor.

‘Father. Are you here? Can you hear me?’

But there was no answer. The angels were still smiling brightly, trapped in a static world. Gale called out to the Emperor again, desperately.

‘Your Highness, I don’t think he’s here.’

‘Are there other paintings?’

‘There’s one more at the end of the opposite hallway.’

‘Let’s go there.’

The Emperor’s secret passage. If it wasn’t a physical space passed down through generations, but something created in the current era, then the power of magic was absolutely necessary. Wesley, who was in charge of it, had even signed a non-disclosure agreement, but it was ineffective in the face of love.

*Tap tap!*

Gale got up to find the Emperor. Then, one of the angels in the painting slowly moved its eyes, following Gale’s back. The angel’s eyes were a faded blue.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the magic department.

Ian sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Magic sealing stones. They were the Achilles’ heel of mages. Even a tiny raw stone could seal their power, dragging those close to gods down to the ends of the earth. Even the great Wesley had fallen to a raw stone the size of an earring.

‘Sir Ian. What should we do?’

‘It must be Gale’s side that used the magic sealing stones. Before the situation gets out of hand, we must also intervene. With the goal of recovering the magic sealing stones.’

‘That’s right. It would be good to organize the sealing stones that the princes have at this time. They will pierce our necks at any time.’

‘Liamah is dead! One of the three commanders!’

Everyone threw out a word in a hurry, but Ian remained silent. Instead of answering, he looked down at the map of magic stone powder and muttered.

‘Everyone, stay calm and observe. Liamah is the core of Your Highness Marib’s forces. The fact that such a person has died means that the battle is reaching its end, and that means that the forces of the two princes have split again.’

Hale took out a new cigarette and nodded. He also looked visibly flustered, but he seemed to be maintaining his composure due to Acorella’s fuss.

‘I agree. Liamah is the strongest knight in Bael, responsible for the safety of His Majesty the Emperor. The last magic detected was unusual, so her death must not have been in vain. Your Highness Gale even used a precious magic sealing stone, so it can be seen as the end.’

The clock hands were only just pointing to the afternoon. In a short time, less than a day, so much had changed and changed again. Ian put down the documents he had received from Romandro and gave instructions.

‘Commander Acorella.’

‘Yes?’

‘I see that high-grade liquistone [a type of magic stone] was taken out during former Minister Wesley’s time. Do you know anything about this?’

‘Liquistone? Just a moment. Let me take a look.’

Acorella straightened her glasses and frowned. She knew even the smallest details about the outflow of magic stones, but she couldn’t remember anything. She exclaimed after flipping through the report.

‘Ah, ah, I see now. I remember. The Imperial family bought it. They said they were going to support the palace painters, so I was a bit dumbfounded. They were going to smear precious things on paintings.’

The palace painters.

Ian snapped his fingers as if he had found a clue.

‘You don’t know anything?’

‘Me? I’m a layman when it comes to art.’

‘I’m asking if Wesley was in charge at the time.’

‘Yes, yes. He was.’

Why would the Minister be curious about liquistone? Acorella kept pressing her temples and groaned.

But that was only for a moment. Soon, she realized that one of the main characteristics of liquistone was ‘absorbency.’

‘Hale, where was the last place Beols’ presence was felt?’

‘The Third Imperial Palace.’

‘Commander Acorella, take Beric to the Third Imperial Palace and collect all the paintings painted with liquistone.’

‘Me? Me with Beric, the pride of the magic department?’

‘He’s reliable in terms of skill.’

‘But he’s not reliable in terms of his appearance!’

The mages who had been listening quietly also bit their lips. The mad dog of the magic department and Ian’s mad dog were going on a mission together. They wondered if it would be alright. But Ian closed the documents, meaning he would not reconsider.

‘If it’s difficult to collect everything, it’s fine to bring just one.’

‘Ha, no. I, just in case, please add a few more people. Magic sealing stones have appeared in the battle, so I’m too scared.’

Acorella pleaded earnestly with her hands together, and Ian nodded. He didn’t know what kind of problem would arise if they went alone.

‘Alright. I’ll have Tommy escort you.’

‘Haa. I understand. What about Beric?’

‘He’s still eating, no, eating at the cafeteria.’

‘Let’s go. Yes. Let’s go.’

Acorella straightened her glasses and picked up her jacket. It was better to get it done quickly, like striking while the iron is hot. After all, she only needed to bring one painting.

‘Huh?’

At that moment, someone made a puzzled sound. Acorella, who was on edge, made an X with her hand and shouted.

‘No ‘huh?’ like something happened!’

‘No, look at this.’

‘What is it? Huh!’

‘It looks like Your Highness Marib is coming this way? The forces have split in two. One side is going to the Third Imperial Palace.’

The mage was right. It was impossible to know which side Marib was leading, but it was much more likely that he was coming to the magic department than to the Third Imperial Palace.

Acorella stared at Ian with her mouth open, and Hale blocked her gaze with his hand.

‘What are you doing? Not going?’

‘Marib’s soldiers are going to the Third Imperial Palace right now?’

‘There are two mages and one swordsman. Will they die?’

‘This X……’

‘The later you are, the more you lose.’

‘Damn it! Beric! Beric! Tommy!’

*Thump!*

Acorella hurriedly ran out, calling for Beric. Seeing the flagpoles approaching in the distance, the commotion among the mages gathered in the lobby was unusual.

Ian straightened his collar and nodded.

‘All the remaining commanders, follow me. Every department, without exception, participate in building the shield.’

‘Yes. I understand.’

*Thud!*

Everyone went outside, moving to maintain order and organize the situation. They evacuated the civilians deep into the building, and all the mages stepped forward to gather their magic. The color of the shield grew darker.

*Booooo-*

‘Sir Ian!’

And not long after, a voice calling for Ian. It was Marib’s aide. Ian, accompanied by the mages, looked down at them from the top of the stairs. Marib was looking up, holding a bow.

‘…You don’t look well, Your Highness Marib.’

‘Thanks to whom I became like this.’

‘If you intend to stop the commotion and restore the dignity of the Imperial Palace, you have come to the right place. Everyone, drop your weapons and apologize to His Majesty the Emperor.’

The corners of Marib’s mouth curled up slightly. As if he had heard a very funny joke.

‘The dignity of the Imperial Palace, I must find it. Therefore, hand over Delina and the twin princes that you took. They are accomplices of the traitor Gale and have humiliated me, so I will repay them with blood.’

Was it a humiliation that he couldn’t cut off Jin’s breath earlier? Ian raised his head with dignity and looked down at them. When there was no answer, Marib’s expression crumpled.

‘…I repeat, this is a neutral zone. Safety is the priority, and I will uphold the order that Your Highness has trampled on. Therefore, I refuse.’

‘Don’t hide behind the word neutral! Those who do not agree with me are ultimately against me! Even if you survive here, I will make you pay the price someday!’

It seemed like a black-and-white logic, but it made sense. Ian was going to clean up everything after this situation was over, no matter who the winner was. Marib aimed the bowstring at Ian’s head.

*Squeeze.*

‘Ian. I really liked you.’

Arrows could not penetrate the magic barrier. But the momentum was so fierce that the mages gathered their magic. Marib shouted one last time.

‘If you don’t cooperate, I will wipe this place out too.’

‘Again, I refuse.’

*Thwack!*

Marib released the bowstring. The arrow flew quickly and stopped right in front of Ian’s nose. The arrowhead, touching the barrier, began to spark and burn.

*Fizz! Crack!*

‘……?’

The mages who saw it were flustered and flinched. Normally, it should have just bounced off physically, but it felt like the arrowhead was gradually piercing through the barrier.

‘Get back, Ian.’

*Swoosh!*

*Clang!*

Hale knocked away the arrow he had stopped with his sword, and magic swirled around the arrowhead with a tremendous roar. It was the magic of the mages who had built the barrier.

‘Huh? Huh?’

‘Wait, the magic is leaking out!’

‘Maintain it! Keep putting in power!’

*Crack-*

But eventually, the barrier cracked. While the mages gasped in shock, Ian reached out his hand without realizing it.

‘This……’

The arrowhead that had absorbed the magic had turned amber.

The color that brilliantly captured the sunlight. It was the same as the mysterious raw stone that Ian had found in the flowerpot.