Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 195

A blue dagger shimmered in Barsabe’s palm.

A weapon crafted from magic. She yanked Beric toward her and simultaneously slammed the dagger down onto the armor with all her might.

Clang!

Swish!

It struck precisely at the collarbone. A powerful, clean attack that would have instantly killed an ordinary person.

However, Barsabe’s magic blade shattered like sand upon hitting the armor. The fading light was so astonishing that Barsabe instinctively lowered her stance.

‘…What are those things?’

Even a direct hit only left a scratch. Armor that could withstand a magic swordsman’s attack? Was it made of magic stones? Come to think of it, she felt like she’d seen it somewhere before.

‘Haiman, ah, those bastards. It hurts like hell, seriously.’

Beric, sounding breathless, rubbed his side. Barsabe frowned at his muttering.

Right. It was armor with a design similar to that of the guards protecting the bank. But why were they acting like this? And threatening Beric, or rather, her?

‘Hey, where did you pop out from?’

‘We’ve been following you since you left the city gate.’

‘You have a low-class taste for stalking, I see.’

‘Ha.’

Who was this idiot calling low-class? Barsabe gritted her teeth and grabbed Beric by the collar. The armored group they were facing was already out of her mind.

‘You crazy bastard, I can’t believe I’m hearing that from you of all people. I saved you when you were about to explode, and now what?’

‘Ah, thanks, thanks. But you have a record, you know. Last time, you followed Ian and me and got your tooth knocked out, right?’

‘Shut up! I was on standby under Jeylut’s orders. But you just happened to be the one who came out, so I followed you!’

When the city gate opened in the middle, Jeylut had given instructions to some of his subordinates as he entered the palace. Just in case, they were to wait outside to maintain security, assess the situation, and regroup if contact was lost.

‘Why, how did you come out?’

‘Ian’s errand.’

‘Is everyone safe?’

‘Your friends? I don’t know? Probably? Ah, Riamah, from the same group, right? That woman is dead. I think those guys killed her.’

Beric gestured, and Barsabe blinked as if she had misheard.

What was this guy saying? Riamah was dead? Riamah, one of the three great knights? By those armored figures?

‘Those bastards messed up the Imperial Palace big time. Ian is working his ass off to clean it up, seriously. Ptoo!’

The clues were fragmented but clear. Beric gripped his black sword and, as if deflecting an incoming fist, charged forward. Barsabe just stared blankly at his back.

‘Riamah was attacked.’

‘No way!’

‘Ugh!’

Swish!

As a chill flashed, Barsabe quickly grabbed Beric by the scruff of his neck and pulled him back. Beric, off balance, staggered like a drunk, shaking his legs.

‘What?! Don’t interfere!’

‘You idiot, you said Riamah was attacked? We can’t win even if we attack at the same time.’

The title of the three great knights wasn’t given for nothing. It was an honor bestowed only upon the strongest knights who served and protected the Emperor, the most revered being in the world.

If Riamah, one of them, was attacked, the two of them had no chance of winning.

‘Can’t win? Who decides that?’

‘There’s nothing to decide. It’s already decided.’

‘You talk big for someone with a missing tooth.’

‘Hey!’

‘I can win!’

‘You’ll die?!’

‘Ian will scold me if I don’t protect Vivianna!’

Tap tap! Bang!

Swish!

It seemed that in Beric’s mind, there was no concept of strength or weakness. He just charged, eyes blazing, as if winning, killing, and breaking were all that mattered.

Beric dove into the gaps of the barrage of attacks, infiltrating their ranks.

‘You idiot!’

Gritting her teeth, Barsabe jumped in as well. She barely managed to deflect a fist aimed at the back of Beric’s neck.

Clang!

‘I can win!’

‘Ah, seriously!’

‘Damn it, I only know how to win!’

Bang! Crash!

Boom!

The moment Beric flew into the air and struck the opponent’s helmet, the black sword glowed purple and unleashed a tremendous shock.

The windows of nearby buildings shattered in succession, and cracks appeared on the ground. The one who was hit directly staggered and barely regained his balance.

‘Dangerous.’

Crack.

A hairline crack appeared on the helmet. Through the gap, the armored subordinate met Beric’s blazing eyes.

Were those human eyes?

They were burning red, as if they contained the very flames of hell.

‘So there is a human inside. Heh.’

‘Y-you crazy…’

‘I changed my mind. I’ll just beat up one of you.’

Bang! Crash!

Boom!

Every time he landed, three or four attacks rained down. Beric laughed loudly, targeting only one spot. The place where he could see his opponent through the crack.

‘If I kill this one, does that mean I’m stronger than Riamah? Huh?’

‘Even a mad dog wouldn’t act this recklessly.’

Swish!

Thud!

Another one grabbed Beric’s head and slammed him into the wall. Beric, who flew dozens of meters and crashed into the wall, realized his neck wouldn’t move.

‘Ah. Ahh. Damn, I’m gonna, ugh.’

‘It’s too loud. Let’s finish this quickly before the guards arrive.’

‘I don’t think they’ll come. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the guards after the palace was closed.’

Crack. Crunch.

Beric tilted his head, assessing whether his bones were broken. Fortunately, he could move a little.

When he finally cleared his spinning vision, Barsabe stood between Beric and the armored figures, brandishing her sword.

Swoosh!

‘Does your master know what you’re doing?’

‘Get out of the way. If you want to die first, so be it.’

‘Our master doesn’t know what I’m doing. Then I guess your master doesn’t either.’

Barsabe’s retort made the approaching figures pause.

Her mind was racing. Thoughts and judgments were happening simultaneously, and they were being blurted out without filtering. Every second was urgent, so it was natural. She could only hope that it would be somewhat accurate.

‘I don’t know what you’re trying to say.’

Since the Imperial Palace was closed, they couldn’t have received direct orders from Haiman. They must have known their master’s plan and were acting to stop anything that went against it.

‘Beric, tell me now! Who ordered you to come here?’

‘Me? Ian, I told you?’

Why was she asking that out of the blue? Beric brushed off the dirt and stood up, then noticed that Barsabe, with her hands behind her back, was sending hand signals.

Right? Left?

One? Fist? Ground?

What was it?

‘I am on duty under the orders of Ian Hielo, the Minister of Magic. If you continue to interfere, I will report this to the Imperial Palace and officially raise the issue with your master.’

‘…The dead can’t speak.’

‘But I’m alive. Do you know that they use truth serum when the Ministry of Magic investigates? Even if your master didn’t know, he won’t be able to avoid responsibility. Ah, how rude of me. Should I have said, ‘Duke Haiman’?’

Tap!

Barsabe deliberately scattered her magic to block their vision.

It was a very brief moment. Figures blurred through the light. Although Barsabe was clearly one person, two shadows split left and right and disappeared.

‘Chase them! They’re definitely heading to the Imperial Palace.’

‘Typical magic swordsman, using tricks.’

‘Two on the right, two on the left! Catch them and kill them.’

‘Catch them before they contact the outside.’

‘One of you, clean up here!’

Out of the five armored figures, four split left and right, chasing after Barsabe. Beric was stuck in one corner, and Barsabe was running through the maze-like alleys, so it was natural that many pursuers would follow.

Tap tap!

Thud! Thud!

Watching the disappearing armored figures, Beric smiled as if he finally understood.

‘Right, left, one, fist, ground.’

They would split right and left to lure them, and you should fight one of them. Or die.

‘Hahaha! Crazy. That toothless guy is going to lose his front teeth too.’

‘Is a dying man laughing?’

‘Of course, it’s funny, you idiot. Right now, she’s taking on four, and I’m taking on one. Ah, what a joke. Who’s going to die? Hehe.’

Ptoo!

Beric spat out blood-soaked saliva and gripped his black sword. He grinned, revealing his teeth. They were all red with blood.

The opponent swallowed hard and clenched his fist.

The madman’s spirit, felt through the armor. He knew he had the upper hand in strength, but the opponent’s energy was so intense that it didn’t feel real.

‘Ian said! He’d buy me a whole pig-‘

‘Shut up!’

‘-if I did well!!’

Bang! Crash!

The sound of the collision was deafening.

Vivianna gripped the dagger tightly in both hands, her shoulders shaking. Inside the building, only the sounds could be heard, not the sight.

Clank clank, whir.

Tap! Tap tap! Zzz!

While the printing press was running, the employees were typing away non-stop. They were printing the same sentence over and over again, trying to produce as many extras as possible.

Bang! Boom!

Clank clank! Tap tap!

‘Ugh! You bastard!’

‘Turn the paper over!’

‘We’re running out of ink! Get some from the back warehouse!’

‘Search! Search! Ugh!’

‘Print by hand while copying! Keep going!’

The monotonous noise from the office and the violent, intermittent sounds from outside created a harmonious disharmony. Vivianna continued to pray to God.

How long had it been?

Someone grabbed her shoulder.

‘Madam!’

‘Ah!’

Everyone’s face was flushed. They were covered in excitement and tension, even sweating. An employee pointed at the clock and shouted. It was almost five o’clock.

‘It’s done. Let’s go now!’

‘Th-that, ah, give it to me! I’ll help!’

‘If we go out the back door, our wagon is there. We’ll load the extras on it and go out to the main road! Let’s spread them as close to the Imperial Palace as possible!’

‘Let’s go! Lock the door and come out! It’s dangerous!’

‘Okay, let’s hurry!’

The paper printed in one hour filled ten boxes. Vivianna rolled up her sleeves and moved them to the wagon, then took a seat next to the driver.

‘Those who can’t ride the wagon, please take cover first! The Imperial Palace gates will open at five o’clock! We’ll see you again when it’s safe!’

‘Please, please.’

‘Yes. Please.’

They didn’t talk much, but they wished each other well with their eyes. Mini and one employee got on the back of the wagon and held the boxes tightly.

Hee-heeing!

Tap!

‘Giddy up!’

The horse, which had been restless due to the commotion, ran powerfully as if it had been waiting for this moment.

Soon, Vivianna, who had turned the corner of the building, covered her mouth in shock as she looked at the entrance. Beric, soaked in blood and tattered, was holding onto the door frame with both hands, bent over.

‘Beric!’

‘Ah, damn…’

‘Beric!’

‘Damn it!’

One of the armored figures, realizing what was happening, tried to follow the wagon, but was soon restrained. It was Beric, who had wrapped himself around the figure and was holding him tight.

‘…Where do you think you’re going?’

‘Get out of the way!’

‘…Don’t, don’t go.’

Tap tap!

Vivianna turned her head back to look at Beric. Everything except his pupils was red, making it impossible to recognize his face. She bit her lip and shouted.

‘I’ll be back soon!’

‘Bring Ian with you.’

‘Please stay alive! Please stay alive!’

The wagon skillfully exited the alley and ran onto the main road.

There were hardly any people on the streets for the past three days. When Mini saw people in the distance, she cried and scattered the papers.

‘Extras! Extras!’

‘Extras! Marib and Gale clashed in the Imperial Palace!’

‘The Ministry of Magic intervened and resolved the situation!’

‘Extras! Extras!’

Tap tap!

Small pieces of paper fluttered in the wake of the wagon. People on the street picked them up and read them, then looked towards the Imperial Palace.

‘Extras. Finally, we’re hearing something!’

‘Give me one too!’

‘Prince Marib and Prince Gale?’

‘What about His Majesty? Oh, my god! What are the princes doing?’

‘Extras! Extras!’

Ding-! Dong!

The sound of a bell could be heard in the distance.

It was the sound of five o’clock.

Vivianna gathered her scattered hair and shouted.

‘Extras! The Imperial Palace gates will open soon!’

Ding! Dong!

At the same time, the firmly locked gates slowly opened. The crowd waiting in front stirred and moved forward little by little.

‘Extras!’

Swish!

A sharp wind quickly passed through the gap. It headed straight for the wagon Vivianna was riding in, without an inch of error.

‘The Ministry of Magic is resolving the situation in the Imperial Palace!’

‘Huh? Huh?’

The man holding the reins of the wagon stammered and stopped, feeling the cold air approaching.

It was the wind.

A very sharp and huge wind that could cut you.

‘Extras!’

Flap flap! Flap!

Swish!

The wind pierced through the wagon.

The scattered papers soared into the air and then spread in all directions, carried by the air currents.

Like the confetti the Ministry of Magic had shown before the New Year’s party, the extras covered all of Bariel.