Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 225

A strange silence filled the office. Ian and Jin were both taken aback, but no less surprised were the two priests themselves. The god they served was one, and the voice should also be one. How could their descriptions be so different?

Macael stammered, adding,

“Ah, Avidiel’s oracle was a full ten years ago. There may be differences in memory. Besides, humans perceive the same things differently. It seems we have caused concern due to a misunderstanding in expression.”

Ten years. No matter how sacred the experience that resonated in their minds, it would be difficult to fully remember a fleeting voice.

Avidiel also bowed her head at Macael’s attempt to smooth things over. Although her face was hidden by her veil, her gestures clearly showed her bewilderment.

“It’s understandable for humans. But aren’t you priests? Those who dedicate their entire lives to hearing the voice of God. I think I need to hear more details.”

“Please ask. We will answer with all our hearts.”

“Ten years ago, was there another oracle between the oracle of His Highness Jin and the recent one?”

“There were two.”

“Who heard them?”

“One remains in the temple, and the other is waiting at the Stone Mountain.”

“Is that so? Good.”

How could two voices come from one being? If they brought that person, they could have a three-way confrontation to see whose oracle was suspicious.

Macael, realizing Ian’s intention, prostrated himself again and added,

“Minister Ian. I speak out of concern that the honor of the Carbo Temple might be tarnished. When a message is delivered, the light of the oracle shines beautifully, so everyone present can see it. The same was true on that rainy night ten years ago. And it was the same a few days ago.”

Something clicked in Ian’s mind, like mismatched pieces slowly fitting together. He muttered involuntarily,

“Yes. The light of the oracle.”

Why hadn’t he realized it? Why was the light of the ‘oracle’ used to identify mana users? Ian paused, turning to Jin.

“Lord Ian?”

“Do you know what else mages are called?”

“Those who are close to the power of God, aren’t they?”

“That’s right. If they are close to the power of God, they can all activate the light of the oracle.”

Avidiel and Macael raised their heads simultaneously. Their gazes showed they had no idea what he was trying to say. A hint of shock colored their faces, but they bit their lips with a sliver of hope. No matter how high-ranking the Minister of Magic was, he could not insult God and the temple.

“God is one, but there are many things close to the power of God. It’s not just mages.”

“Lord Ian! Wh, what are you trying to say?”

The two priests’ faces turned pale. Something close to the power of God, but not a mage? Only one thing came to mind.

‘No. Please, no.’

Their eyes pleaded desperately for him not to say it. But Ian concluded firmly and sharply,

“A fiend.”

“Lord Ian! This is blasphemy! This cannot be!”

“Please stop! God is watching!”

Avidiel and Macael screamed and reacted violently. It was understandable, as they were beings who had given their lives, even their very existence, to God.

But now, Ian was saying that one of their oracles was from a fiend? It was an insult that felt like their hearts were being torn apart and their souls were being devoured.

Thud!

“We will leave! We will formally request a severance of ties from the Carbo Temple.”

“I especially doubt Avidiel, your oracle. If the question I raised is true, how will you take responsibility?”

“That wasn’t a question, it was an irresponsible statement! Lord Ian will be held responsible.”

Avidiel was truly furious, grinding her teeth. Jin, who had been startled, saw this and spoke with dignity.

“Who do you think you are to raise your voice in front of me!”

It was a short shout, but it was enough to calm the excited priests. They seemed to regain their senses, firmly closing their mouths and glaring at Ian.

Again, a strange silence. The displeased Avidiel and Macael began a silent protest.

“You two will wait in the Magic Department. We will bring the priest waiting at the Stone Mountain for a three-way confrontation.”

“The temple is not affected by fiends!”

Avidiel, unable to bear it any longer, poured out a near-desperate rebuttal, as if begging him not to say such nonsense.

“Due to its sanctity, they cannot step even one foot inside! So how can you say they activated the light of the oracle and imitated the voice of God?”

“They cannot step even one foot inside?”

“There is only one entrance, and all entry is handled by the Holy Knights. If there is anything impure, it will never-!”

“What if it was unborn?”

“…Pardon?”

“What if it was unborn, so the Holy Knights didn’t notice it either?”

“Lord Ian. What on earth are you saying…?”

Avidiel shook her head and stepped back. Jin came into her view. Then, she remembered Delilah arriving at the temple long ago, her belly swollen like a mountain.

What did the Holy Knight guarding the entrance say back then?

‘Just a moment.’

‘What is it?’

‘Did Lady Delilah bring anything besides her attendants?’

‘No, why do you ask?’

‘It’s nothing. Sometimes the Imperial Palace raises all sorts of strange things. I just wanted to make sure. You may enter.’

She hadn’t asked in detail why the Holy Knight had stopped them then. The priests had seen Delilah’s bare body and confirmed that she carried only the noble future of Bariel.

“Are you saying His Highness is a fiend?”

“Be clear about the subject.”

There were two in the womb at the time. Jin and Arsen. Judging by Ian’s attitude, he was clearly suspecting Arsen.

“If not His Highness Jin, then His Highness Arsen? Surely not! If they didn’t know because he was unborn, what about after that? While Lady Delilah was recovering after childbirth, the two of them stayed in the temple. There’s no way the Holy Knights wouldn’t have known!”

The more Avidiel refuted, the more Ian was convinced. That a newborn baby would give an oracle as soon as he was born, using power beyond his limits.

“Do you know that the light of the oracle is something His Highness Arsen would use? He collapsed as soon as he showed his mana at Lord Gail’s residence. It seems difficult for his current body to handle, so a newborn would have lost even more power. To the Holy Knights, he would have looked no different from an ordinary human.”

“Look here!”

“Now I understand. Yes.”

Ian ignored Avidiel’s screams and tapped the armrest of the sofa. Based on the history he knew, hadn’t he guessed that if Arsen was truly a mana user, he wouldn’t be a member of the Imperial Family?

“…He wasn’t a ‘person’ of the Imperial Family.”

Putting aside the cruel aspects he had shown, there were many questionable things.

But if he was a fiend, everything was explained. How he could enter Gail’s residence that night, how he could bind Philia, and so on.

Swoosh.

Ian quickly rummaged through the desk. Soon, a book was in his hand. He flipped through the pages, finding the part he wanted. His low voice calmly read the words.

“[Riverside was finally left with only one fiend. The devil, in the form of a small child, begged with his hands clasped.]”

……

“[It was the moment Riverside was about to draw his sword, saying he deserved to die. The devil whispered cunningly. ‘If you let me live, I will hide. But if you kill me, my brother will avenge me. He will destroy everything you have gained.’]”

Jin, Avidiel, and Macael stared blankly at the scene. Ian handed a pen to Jin.

“Your Highness. Would you write the letters that Riverside told you in your dream?”

Riverside had told him letters in a dream? The priests frowned, focusing on the tip of the pen. Their eyes widened at the ancient script being written without hesitation.

“ᚫᚱᛋᛖᛀᛖ”

“Do you know what this is?”

“It’s a script that has been used in the Carbo Temple since ancient times. We don’t use it much now, but we sometimes use it when reading old records.”

Ian sat on the edge of the sofa, as if he had expected it. Then, he gestured for them to read it. Macael unconsciously pronounced each sound.

“a, r, s, è, n, e.”

Jin dropped the pen without realizing it. The name of the last fiend that Riverside had spoken of in his dream was Arsen.

“Lord Ian.”

“It’s alright, Your Highness.”

Jin hugged Ian, and Ian also held the child tightly, patting him. It was all too confusing. If a fiend was dwelling in his own brother, what should he do? The touch of the fiend, which had been with him since the beginning of his life, was too deep and persistent.

‘It’s deeply related to the devil’s curse. He came down here in the name of his brother. He said he would destroy everything Riverside had…’

Ian suddenly realized that Arsen was involved in the start of the rebellion. When Siao Xi tried to assassinate him as a show, Gail had truly coughed up blood, causing Marib to move unexpectedly.

‘The intention is to lead Bariel to ruin.’

Clench.

Ian’s grip on Jin tightened. The more he did, the more Jin closed his eyes, as if trying to forget his fear.

The priests still looked bewildered, as if they couldn’t believe that Arsen was a fiend. In particular, Avidiel looked as if she would collapse at any moment, feeling as if her very existence had been denied.

“Your Highness. You are the one who will carry on the glory of the Imperial Family.”

“Huh?”

“That’s why Arsen couldn’t use his power and spoke so maliciously. So persistently for all those years. Because you are truly the future of Bariel.”

There was a reason why he had constantly whispered that he was useless, cursed, and should not exist. Ian murmured, caressing Jin’s wounds.

“It’s okay now. I understand everything.”

“If there’s a problem with Arsen, what about Mother?”

“Lady Delilah…”

Over the past ten years, Delilah was the first person Arsen would have targeted whenever he had the chance. She was the woman who influenced him the most after the Emperor, and conversely, she also influenced Jin.

Thud! Bang!

“You can’t!”

“Have you forgotten the order? His Highness Jin is inside!”

“Lady Delilah cannot see His Highness without his permission! Please calm down! Please!”

“Please wait a little longer. Still, still inside-!”

At that moment, a commotion was heard outside. Judging by the faint sounds, it seemed that Delilah had come to the Magic Department. Forgetting the no-access order, she was there to help the priests. Or rather, to hasten Arsen’s mana confirmation ceremony.

“How dare you touch me!”

Clunk!

Delilah shrieked as she threw open the office door. Behind her, mages and Delilah’s attendants were tangled together. Jin very slowly blinked and looked up at his mother. It was the first time he had seen her this close since Marib’s trial.

“Are you the priests from the Carbo Temple?”

“Yes, I am Avidiel.”

“I, I am Macael.”

“I heard there was a problem with transferring the light of the oracle? What did Lord Ian say? Did he say he would provide support?”

It was a rash and hasty action, unbecoming of an Empress. She glanced at Jin, who was still looking up at her, then turned her head indifferently.

“I will also provide our personnel. The mages are busy, so even if they go to help, I don’t know if they will do their jobs properly. Lord Ian. Is that alright?”

Delilah proposed, putting her weight behind it. In fact, it was more like a notification.

Ian flipped over the paper with the devil’s name and readily agreed.

“Do as you please. If you bring the light of the oracle quickly, it will be good for us too. But the mages will go with you. It would be annoying if some insignificant creature played a prank.”