Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 179

‘Protect Ian!’

‘Iaaaan! Uhaaa!’

The warriors’ hearty laughter washed over Ian’s ears. They willingly threw themselves in front of the incoming arrows, easily catching them with their bare hands and snapping the shafts.

‘Sir Ian! Please be careful!’

The mages were the same. Without even acknowledging the sudden appearance of the borderlanders, they immediately formed a protective circle, clearing a path for Ian. The soldiers who had been pushing forward were helplessly shoved back, trampled underfoot, and sent tumbling down the stairs.

Kwaang! Kwajik!

Tap tap tap!

‘For Sir Ian!’

‘For Sir Ian!’

‘For Ian!’

Everyone shouted in unison, offering themselves as Ian’s shield. A clear light gathered in his hand, soon extending out like a cool stream of water between his fingers.

Peeng!

Marib’s arrow was aimed for his neck. Nersarn knocked it away with his hand and ran with Ian.

‘I didn’t expect you to come here.’

‘You said to help if the thin ice broke. Even though spring is coming, the imperial palace is still very cold.’

‘You block the wind, so it’s not cold now.’

‘In the name of my father—’

Chaeng!

Nersarn muttered, cutting down the soldiers who were attacking. Perhaps it was from running, but his ears were particularly red.

‘—I have come.’

‘Uwaaaak! It’s not a human, it’s a monster!’

‘We are warriors of the Great Desert!’

‘You beasts, how dare you come here!’

‘Your Highness Marib, please retreat first!’

‘You must join the Third Imperial Palace forces! Your Highness! Order a retreat!’

Chaeng!

Marib’s aide clashed with a warrior. They weren’t the only ones. Swords met swords everywhere, intermittently sparking. Marib didn’t stop drawing his bow even as he stepped back.

Shweeik!

Chaeng! Chang!

This time, it was Hale who knocked away the arrow. He also jumped down the stairs with Ian, personally batting away the bizarre projectiles flying at them.

Chwaaaak!

A pool of blood, belonging to someone, was everywhere. As Ian lowered his body and landed, the blood swirled around his feet, following the flow of mana.

‘Marib!’

Jiiing! Jiiing!

The voice was full of authority. Like a lion’s roar from a cliff, it easily suppressed the noisy battlefield. An earthquake occurred where Ian stepped.

「Many Leaves」

Hale wondered if he had misheard for a moment. But the cracks in the floor came before his realization, and the world shook as if it would split in two.

Kugugugung!

Many Leaves, an eternal tree with countless leaves, whose end could not be guessed. Wasn’t it a spell that brought the power of a magical tree from another world?

From behind Ian, the branches of an old tree extended beautifully.

Saaak.

As the branches stretched, green leaves sprouted, and Ian ran again. It was an illusion that made it seem as if Ian was running alone in a forest.

‘Move! Move with Sir Ian!’

Tap tap tap!

The tree trunks, like a mirage, moved as if alive, binding the soldiers. The more they struggled, the more mercilessly their limbs were entangled. Some died with broken necks, and some dropped their weapons due to suffocation.

‘Unlike a binding spell, this is magic that subdues opponents on a wide battlefield. However, since it calls upon a magical tree from another world, the mana consumption must be enormous.’

Hale watched Ian’s back with concern as he ran without hesitation. It seemed as if reliable people had come and were pouring out everything without holding back. Judging by the amount of bleeding, it seemed like he was already holding on with his willpower.

Shweeik! Ping!

‘Your Highness, they’re getting closer!’

‘Your Highness Marib, please take cover!’

‘Protect His Highness! Stop that man!’

‘Damn it.’

Marib muttered a curse after firing his last arrow. It was frustrating to lose a fish he had almost caught, and now the tide had completely turned. He knocked away the approaching branches with his bow. It seemed that a mysterious gemstone was embedded in the bow, causing small explosions every time it touched the magical tree.

‘……!’

Shwaaaaa!

Taat!

The wind blew. The scattering leaves were a spectacular sight. Marib, who met Ian’s golden eyes as he jumped into the air, involuntarily paused.

The two men’s gazes met in mid-air.

It was a fleeting moment, but it felt like an eternity to Marib.

Chwaaaak!

As Ian gestured, the magical tree’s branches rushed at Marib as if to pierce his torso. Marib drew a new sword from his waist and confronted it. Ian noticed that the color of the blade was slightly different.

‘…Just how many of those mysterious gemstones do you have?’

‘It’s not enough to kill all the lowly and filthy mages.’

Lowly and filthy.

It was the law of nature that most mages were born that way. Because the number of commoners in Bariel was overwhelmingly large.

‘It is you, Marib, who is lowly and filthy!’

‘That’s right! You turned the imperial palace into this mess overnight, and you’re talking nonsense!’

The mages, who had been on the verge of death, each threw out a word. Nakina even raised her middle finger and shouted incomprehensible curses.

‘Sir Ian! There are quite a few mages who were hit by arrows besides me! We need to beat that bastard, no, twist his neck and make him confess about the gemstones!’

‘How insolent! How dare you speak of His Highness Marib!’

‘Shut your mouth! You’re the only ones here calling Marib “Your Highness”!’

The veins in Marib’s temples bulged. He seemed to be properly provoked by the mages’ harsh words. He gripped his sword and glared at Ian.

‘The mistakes of subordinates are the responsibility of the leader. It is not this sword that will cut off your head, but their loose tongues.’

He immediately charged and cleanly cut through Ian’s magical tree illusion. The magic disappeared, turning into fine, shimmering dust. But Ian continued to draw mana and fight back. When the warriors rushed to help, Ian shouted.

‘No. Marib is someone I can handle.’

Politically speaking.

The Cheonryeo tribe was already looked down upon in Bariel as a small border tribe, and no one knew what kind of burden they would bear if they directly subdued a prince. Since there was no declaration from the Emperor regarding the current situation, Ian had to resolve the matter with Marib on his own.

Chwaak!

On one side, they were constantly attacking, and on the other, they were just blocking and holding their ground.

A heavy but static exchange continued. Jin and Philia, the magic department colleagues, the warriors, and everyone in the evacuated imperial palace silently watched their battle.

‘The power of mana that the gemstone is taking away is gradually decreasing.’

Those who were just swinging might not know, but Ian, who was facing it head-on, could clearly feel it. It was a green light. If there was a limit to the gemstones, there was a high possibility that the mages’ incapacitated state was temporary.

Tteok.

At that moment, the amber blade cracked.

‘Ian!’

Shweeik!

Marib, excited, didn’t notice and launched an attack, and it was mercilessly shattered as soon as it touched the magical tree.

The shattered blade fragments tore Marib’s earlobe, and Ian coughed up blood severely. Philia sat down as if she couldn’t bear to watch.

‘Ah! Ian!’

‘Madam, madam. It’s okay.’

Jin comforted Philia. The child’s hands were also trembling, but his eyes watching the battle were unwavering.

‘Sir Ian smiled.’

The moment the sword shattered, Ian smiled while coughing up blood. As if he had noticed an opening. He had pulled up all his strength with the thought that it was the last time, so blood had gushed out.

Shwaaaaa!

As Ian jumped into the air, the magical tree extended even more magnificently. It then grabbed Marib’s limbs, lifted him up, and mercilessly slammed him to the ground.

Kwaaang! Kwajik!

‘Keuheok……!’

Ian fell on top of Marib.

He pinned Marib’s solar plexus with his knee and grabbed his collar at the same time. Marib, pinned underneath, looked up at Ian with unfocused eyes.

‘Your Highness!’

‘Get him off! Get that man off His Highness!’

‘Who do you think you are! Kill him!’

‘Kill him!’

As Marib’s subordinates rushed in, another small commotion broke out. Marib, lying on the ground, realized that something wet and hot was flowing from his neck.

It was his subordinates’ blood. It flowed and soaked his blonde hair. Ian’s hair falling down was radiant, but Marib’s hair was a mess of dirt and blood.

‘…….’

‘I told you.’

Ian’s whisper tickled his ear.

‘Your Highness will not be recorded in history.’

That sound again. Marib raised his blue eyes and asked.

‘Then what about you?’

‘…….’

‘Will you be recorded in history?’

‘That is not important to me.’

Shwiik!

Marib pulled out a dagger hidden in his wrist and aimed for Ian’s neck. But all he could cut were the thick leaves.

The weight of the giant old tree increased more and more.

At this rate, he would die from being crushed.

‘I am, I am the first prince of the Bariel Empire! Everyone, look closely! See who is killing me now! This man sent an intruder to Gale’s residence and deceived me, causing a battle between brothers!’

It was a desperate struggle, barely uttered while panting. The evacuated people of the imperial palace murmured. As if to say, ‘Go on, keep talking,’ Ian tightened his grip on Marib’s throat even more.

‘After history flows, the descendants will judge! Who was right and who was wrong! The magic department intends to kill me and take over the imperial palace!’

‘That’s not true!’

A shrill voice directly refuted Marib’s words. It was Jin. Only then did Ian look back, startled. The child was squeezing out courage with tears welling up in his eyes.

‘Everyone, everyone listen carefully! Sir Ian and the magic department saved me, Arsen, and my mother. And they saved you too! Think without wavering about who caused the trouble to take over the imperial palace. What you have seen and experienced is the truth.’

He then paused for a moment and made a decision.

‘Brother Marib. You know what it means that you tried to kill me.’

A fight between princes. In the case of Marib and Jin, it was more of a one-sided act of violence than a fight, but it would be interpreted as a fight by convention.

‘Since you tried to kill me first, I also have the right to kill you, brother. Sir Ian. Do as you see fit. That is my will.’

It was a declaration of support that even if Ian killed Marib, there would be no problem.

Marib frowned and let out a ridiculous laugh. It was as if the little ones were plotting together.

‘I surrender.’

Marib finally pulled out his last card.

‘I surrender in the neutral zone.’

‘Your Highness!’

‘Will you still kill me?’

Before the Emperor’s declaration and trial, it was impossible to judge who was guilty. As Ian, who claimed to be a neutral zone, it would be difficult to execute a surrendered person in front of everyone.

Marib laughed, panting.

‘Will you kill me!?’

Sseueuk.

Instead of answering, Ian tightened his grip on his throat even more with the branches. His consciousness faded into the distance. As if he was about to lose his breath, Marib heard Ian’s voice drawn out.

‘You are pathetic, Your Highness.’

‘Keoeok…….’

Marib trembled and eventually lost consciousness. Leaving his sprawled body behind, Ian instructed the mages.

‘Is, is he dead?!’

‘Bind Marib and imprison him.’

‘O, oooo! Yes, yes! I understand!’

‘Sort out the soldiers, distinguishing between the dead and the living. Mages, inform the imperial palace of Marib’s surrender and secure Gale’s position. Also, the mages who have lost their mana may be confused, but first, maintain your ranks and wait. It is highly likely that this is a temporary phenomenon.’

It was when Ian was wiping the blood from his mouth and taking charge of the situation. From afar, Beric came running, swinging his black sword.

Tap tap tap!

Kung! Kuung!

‘You X bastards! What happened to our Ian! Ian! Ian! Huk!’

Beric, who had been running mindlessly, paused when he saw the warriors. And Marib, who was lying on the ground. Beric’s eyes widened as he looked around in confusion.

‘Wha, what is it?’

‘Our sassy Beric! It’s been a while!’

‘Ah, what is it, what is it! What’s going on! Uhaaaat!’

‘Come here! Let’s see how much you’ve grown!’

‘This guy, did you slack off on your training? You’re all soft.’

‘No, I’m not! How did you all get here? Huh? Did we win? It seems like we won?’

Beric couldn’t hide his joy, jumping around as if he was happy to see his friends after a long time. Ian, who was smiling at that, staggered and fell forward.

‘Sir Ian!’

‘Iaaaaan!’

‘My head is ringing. Please be quiet.’

‘Sir Ian, are you alright?’

The magic department colleagues, warriors, and Beric surrounded Ian. Philia and Jin even came down the stairs and stepped on the blood. Ian only smiled faintly as he looked at the faces of the people gathered together.

The day was too long.

The problem was, it wasn’t over yet.

Ian muttered with his eyes closed and asked.

‘Beric, the painting?’