Margrave’s Bastard Son Was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 233

The performance reached its climax, but the murmuring filled with admiration completely died down.

What was stretched out on the stage was clearly the shadow of the oracle’s light. No matter how hard one looked, Arsen’s shadow was nowhere to be seen.

‘Isn’t it strange?’ If something exists, it should have its trace. Even a spider web, which is not easily found, casts a shadow when the sun shines.

But, Arsen?

He stood under the strong light as if he didn’t exist.

“Am I, am I seeing things wrong?”

“I’m seeing the same thing. There’s no shadow.”

“Could the Magic Department have done something…?”

“Only the light of the oracle is emitting. There’s no reason for the Carbo Temple to do that. If another mage had intervened, wouldn’t His Highness Arsen know? Mages are said to sense each other even from a distance.”

“Then, could it be…”

“Really…”

It was as Ian intended. The strange phenomenon, occurring when the question of whether Arsen was a demon had been raised, turned their denial into suspicion, and for some, even into conviction.

“I-is it because he’s a demon?”

“Oh my god. A demon in the Bariel Imperial Family.”

“…Oh God, are you watching? What should we do? Please, watch over Bariel.”

*Kugugung!*

Arsen was intoxicated by the light of the oracle he had created, and the orchestra, facing away from the audience, could not read the atmosphere of the hall.

The rising melody. The orchestra’s hands moved passionately in time with the conductor’s command. One could feel the artist’s soul trying to breathe life into the light of the oracle.

*Thump! Kuung!*

Everyone’s hearts beat at the same time. However, it was unknown whether this was due to the majestic music or the truth that was about to come.

“Lecore-! Tio!”

The elated conductor shouted loudly and snatched at the air. The performers simultaneously reached the end with perfect harmony, and soon, silence filled the hall.

“…?”

There was no applause. Arsen, too, stood up, dripping with sweat, but it was the same. Unlike the heated performers, the audience was coldly indifferent, and on the other hand, there was a sense of shock. It was a completely unexpected reaction.

*Clap. Clapping. Clap!*

Someone’s applause cut through the silence. It was Ian. Ian slowly sent his praise with an elegant attitude, as if he had seen a very wonderful performance.

Arsen’s brow furrowed involuntarily. He had a strong feeling that something, something was going wrong.

“It’s a performance that one can’t see twice in a lifetime.”

“Lord Ian. What was that just now?”

“Please tell us. Please.”

Arsen flinched and looked down at his palm. It was still white and beautiful. He had directly activated the light of the oracle, but everything was the same without any side effects. He suddenly met eyes with Delilah, who was looking at him. She was covering her mouth, making an expression that was hard to understand.

“The suspicion that Arsen is a demon started from the testimony of the Carbo priest. The voices that came down through the oracle were different. Therefore, my aides and the priests looked for ancient records to confirm this.”

*Swoosh.*

Ian took out a piece of paper from inside his uniform. The inside was not visible, but the administrative seal stamped on the outside was clear. It meant that the information was officially inherited by the Imperial Family.

“Then, we found something very meaningful. It was the record of Priest Raju, who was executed for blasphemy at the Hamangmer Temple. He is said to have stated at the time:”

-Demons are rampant everywhere. I live each day prepared for death, but what is God doing? I guess, God doesn’t know about the existence of demons. When demons stir up the temple, did you see the light of the oracle? There wasn’t even a shadow. The Almighty One is only looking at the sacred, so it is clear that he does not even recognize evil things. Can such a person be called omniscient? I doubt if the name God is really suitable.

“Priest Raju was summarily executed, and this was the last of it. The important thing is one thing. The demon standing in front of the light of the oracle had no shadow.”

Arsen lowered his gaze. A long shadow was cast beside his feet. Was it not there during the light of the oracle? He couldn’t remember. He didn’t know, except for the feeling that he was just happy.

“The Carbo Temple desperately hoped that the prince was not a demon. Therefore, we politely refuse the claim that there is a problem with the light of the oracle.”

Ian smiled lightly, placing his hand on his chest. His gaze was fixed on Arsen, so the nobles naturally followed him and looked at the stage. The child was just standing still, like a doll, without showing any emotion.

“Ah, well, instead of that, since the Carbo priests are here, how about doing a more detailed verification?”

“That’s right. If His Highness Arsen is really, that, a de-demon! The priests would know. Wouldn’t they?”

At someone’s suggestion, opinions agreeing with it were added here and there. Once a suspicion has sprouted, it continues to grow until it is uprooted. They wanted to know the truth about Arsen right here, right now. Whatever it was.

“Duke Hyman. What should we do?”

“This seems to be a problem.”

Hyman, who was awkwardly stroking his beard, and his supporters. The Duke glanced at Delilah. Judging by her dumbfounded expression, it didn’t seem like even her mother knew the truth perfectly.

What if Arsen was a real demon?

‘It’s over.’

After the Marib and Gale rebellions, it was like holding the devil’s hand. Hyman felt a throbbing headache and whispered to Delilah.

“It would be better to leave this place first.”

If it came to this, there was no way. First, they had to escape and somehow blame it on the Magic Department’s conspiracy.

The truth didn’t matter. Whatever Arsen’s identity was, he was not a demon. Absolutely.

*Kwaang!*

At that moment, the door slammed shut. It was the will of the Magic Department that no one could leave the place until it was certified that Arsen was a demon.

Romandro, who was firmly guarding the door, solemnly requested them to step back. In fact, the mages standing next to him were the main force.

“…Li, Lily!”

Delilah looked for the High Priest with a bewildered face. She had known him since she was young, had watched the birth of Arsen and Jin, and was the one in charge of Carbo. Instead of the insolent Ian, she thought he would tell them that the light of the oracle was an error.

Delilah trembled and let out a shrill voice.

“High Priest, speak up, what is going on! Arsen just used magic! He clearly used it! Did you feel any evil? How can such a bright and warm light be the power of a demon? Priests, swear to God and tell the truth without lying!”

*Chaeng!*

A glass that was nearby fell due to her excited movements.

The situation was unusual. The public slowly retreated and moved away from Delilah. Hyman was among them. When everyone retreated, there was only one person who approached.

“Mother.”

It was Jin. Jin looked up at his mother with concern. There was pity in his big eyes, so Delilah trembled her lips without realizing it. The moment she was about to say something, Ian spoke first.

“Arsen has several abilities. The light of the oracle we saw earlier, isn’t it similar to what I showed at the New Year’s party?”

“There was definitely that, that feeling.”

“I thought all mages were similar.”

“Me too. I thought the light of the oracle was always like that?”

Arsen had only ‘imitated’ the power of a mage, so he must have been able to easily hide the disgusting energy of his evil nature.

When Ian nodded, the High Priest and Avidel went up the stairs. Arsen had been silently watching the situation until then.

“Your Highness.”

“……”

The High Priest knelt in front of Arsen. And carefully raised the holy water. It was the proof of divinity created by prayer.

“This is to prove Your Highness’s innocence. Please drink this and hold my hand.”

If he was a demon, he would die with the pain of his insides burning. If he was not a demon, this would quench any thirst.

Even if there was only a shadow in the light of the oracle, the High Priest would not have brought this out. Lily did not give up hope until the end and kept bowing her head. Please, please…….

*Swoosh.*

Arsen calmly picked up the holy water. The moment relief bloomed deep in the High Priest’s heart.

*Chwaak!*

The child poured it on the High Priest’s head without hesitation. The transparent liquid soaked the robe and then the floor.

“It’s absurd. You’re trying to poison me with various tricks. Does everyone believe those words? I don’t know when the Carbo Temple became so corrupt. I deny everything.”

Although he said he denied everything, the atmosphere did not easily reverse. That was because the priests ran and grabbed Arsen’s arms. The High Priest got up, wiping the water, and held up new holy water. His voice was very low. The High Priest, too, had felt the truth he did not want to admit.

“…It’s not poison. I’ll drink it to prove it.”

And as if to show off, he poured half of the holy water down his throat. The priests, disregarding the rudeness, opened Arsen’s jaw, and the child refused, convulsing. The screams he was yelling sounded like screams.

“Let go of me! Let go! Do you know who I am!”

“Arsen! Arsen!”

“Mother! Save me! Save me! Aaaah!”

“What are you all doing? Get the priests off of him!”

“No! If His Highness Arsen is truly a demon, Carbo cannot let this go! Lady Delilah!”

“Right now! Get them off right now!”

Like the other nobles, Delilah’s guards were all waiting outside the hall. Delilah shouted to stop them, but the guards only hesitated, and no one came forward. They were all people from the Magic Department.

The mother gritted her teeth and tried to run to Arsen.

“Arsen!”

“Mother!”

But this time, Jin blocked her with his whole body. He wouldn’t let go, he begged desperately, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Please, please just watch.”

“Jin! Let go of me! Get out of the way!”

“No! I can’t let go! I can’t let go of Mother!”

A space that had turned into chaos in an instant. Exclamations of helplessness erupted from everywhere. Five priests pressed down on Arsen’s limbs to subdue him, and the High Priest tilted the holy water into his open mouth. The moment it was about to flow down.

*Ziiing!*

“Ah……”

The High Priest staggered, clutching his head. Suddenly, wasn’t it like the sky and the earth were mixed up and shaking? His mind turned blank, and he felt dizzy. The holy water that the High Priest had dropped fell to the floor and shattered again.

*Chaeng!*

“High Priest!”

“Suddenly, why……”

“Ah, this……”

“Ugh! Uuuugh!”

The priests who were close to Arsen covered their mouths and vomited. They, too, soon succumbed to dizziness and fell to the side.

Avidel looked at Arsen, hugging the High Priest. The child was lying sprawled out, looking up at the ceiling.

“…It’s annoying.”

When Arsen muttered, a sense of déjà vu came over him.

That was, clear and slender……

“Ian. This is not fun.”

…The voice of the oracle. That day ten years ago. It was the voice he had heard directly. Avidel covered his mouth, tears streaming down his face.

“His, His Highness’s atmosphere……”

“Why are the priests like that? Suddenly?”

The priests, as well as the mages, felt that something was wrong and hesitated. Arsen dusted off his clothes and stood up, then stared straight at Ian.

Ian signaled Romandro to evacuate the people, and then released his magic power. A sharp flow of magic power settled in with his golden eyes.

*Ziiing!*

*Ziiing.*

“That’s a shame. I’m having a lot of fun.”