Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 259

‘Is this something a person should do?’

The two healing mages in the Magic Department rebuked Acorella. The mana emanating from her fingertips was unsettling.

Her pulse was irregular and unstable, faint as if it would break at any moment, and above all, its warmth was cold. It was not much different from Beric, whose insides were all turned upside down.

‘It’s a side effect of the mana amplifier…’

‘You know that’s not the only problem.’

‘Indeed. There’s no way there wouldn’t be side effects I don’t know about. It seems like a complex reaction based on that, right?’

Her body had developed cracks due to the mana amplifier. And in the midst of that, she had been researching Idgal [a substance that absorbs mana], which absorbed mana, and had even been close to the sacred Dragon Scales. The healing mage grumbled, poking at Acorella’s side.

‘Ouch, embarrassing.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. You’re getting scales.’

‘Huh? Really?’

Scales were rising along her waistline. Beneath the scales, her skin was torn and bleeding. Acorella touched them with her hand, then frowned in puzzlement.

‘This is it. A dragon antigen-antibody hypersensitivity reaction.’

‘…Please call it an infection. Do the scales hurt?’

‘No, not yet.’

‘…You should take painkillers in advance.’

Rough and foreign. Her body’s immunity must have weakened. She didn’t even remember what Hale had told her, and now these physical reactions were happening. It was the limit of limits.

She flopped backward as if everything was a bother.

‘It’ll hurt more soon, right?’

‘What on earth did you do during the days you were sick?’

‘I don’t know. You lose track of time in the basement.’

‘…In this condition, you kept taking those strange medicines you made yourself, didn’t you?’

The mage took a small medicine bottle from Acorella’s pocket. He had told her to stop taking strange things, but this crazy scientist seemed to think that the medicines approved by the country were just for show.

As the mages glared at her fiercely, Acorella put on her protective goggles, blocking their gaze.

‘I felt like I’d die if I didn’t take them.’

‘That’s why you’re dying now.’

‘…I’m the captain, you know.’

‘Captain or not, you’re nothing if you die.’

Still, she seemed to have enough energy to talk back. It must have been thanks to Captain Hale, who had been continuously pouring mana into her while bringing her here.

She wiped her mouth repeatedly with a towel on the table. The bitter, fishy taste of blood wouldn’t go away.

Knock knock.

‘Sir Ian.’

‘Acorella, how’s your condition?’

He looked tired, but that was all. He didn’t look like someone who had hung twenty-one bodies in the square, allowed the crowd to throw stones, and checked the heads of the remaining members of the seven families.

At Ian’s question, Acorella rolled her eyes as if she were about to die.

‘How is the treatment going?’

‘Well, it’s a complete set.’

‘A set? Did you just call it a set?’

‘It’s based on the side effects of the mana amplifier, so we’ll take measures, but there are already many physical complications. It’s best to leave that to a doctor.’

‘I heard her memory keeps cutting out.’

‘Her memory completely disappeared from the middle of the trial. She seems fine now, but I don’t know what will happen if her condition worsens again.’

‘Oh, I see now. You knew I’d lose my memory, so you were talking nonsense?’

‘Please, Captain.’

‘Heh, just kidding.’

Acorella showed the scales on her side. Instead of coughing up blood, now there was blood all over that area. Romandro, who had followed behind, was startled and covered his mouth. What was that on a person’s skin?

‘Do you know what this is?’

‘I’ve never seen it before.’

‘These are dragon scales. They used to be common, but I guess you don’t know about them. It’s usually a local disease that occurs near dragon habitats. When a pathogen from a dragon is transferred to a human, scales like this grow…’

Ian tilted his head in puzzlement. Dragon scales were not this flat. The ones confiscated in the Chetur area had a three-dimensional appearance, so much so that they were mistaken for raw ore. Acorella continued, tapping her side.

‘If this festers, it will swell up and harden, like that black ore.’

‘Acorella! Why are you talking like it’s someone else’s problem?’

‘Romandro, it’s okay. It’s a disease that used to spread when dragon breeding was indiscriminate, due to unsanitary conditions or abnormal breeding. Now everyone is very careful, so it hasn’t been seen for quite a while. Of course, I don’t know if there’s a cure stored, but the recipe definitely exists.’

‘Is it contagious? Is it okay for us to talk like this?’

‘Wow, I’m disappointed, but it’s a reasonable reaction, so I have nothing to say. Hehe. Yes, yes. It’s okay. It doesn’t spread between people, and it only spreads through direct contact with the scales. It’s just that my condition is a bit off, so I got it by bad luck…’

‘S-So, if your condition is off, it’s easy to get it?’

‘I guess so? Children and the elderly are also vulnerable.’

‘We’re all in bad shape right now!’

‘Hahaha. Romandro, you look fine.’

While Romandro was fussing with worry, Ian stood still, rubbing his chin.

According to Acorella, there was a problem with the scales confiscated in the Chetur area, and he could guess that the source was the root of the problem.

Ian swept back his half-fallen hair and asked. He had been busy all day, and his neat morning attire was now slightly disheveled.

‘Should we dispose of everything confiscated in Chetur?’

‘That would be best. I don’t know about the black armor that’s already been made. I’ll investigate it.’

‘Captain!’

‘Not me, my subordinates. Uh-huh. Yes.’

Acorella raised both hands as if surrendering and flopped back down. It was a shame, but it couldn’t be helped. What would they do if they mismanaged it and an epidemic broke out? Especially if the source was the Imperial Palace, the handling would become even more complicated.

‘Romandro.’

‘Ah, yes.’

Romandro rushed out to carry out Ian’s order to get rid of the scales immediately.

Acorella spat out blood-mixed saliva into the bucket next to her and requested.

‘Anyway, Sir Ian. Since I’m in this condition, please give me paid leave. And a bonus too. I’d be grateful if you could give it in Luron stones [a valuable currency].’

‘…What about the memory loss?’

‘I don’t know. What caused that symptom.’

She guessed it was a phenomenon caused by the collision between the mana amplifier and the absorbent Idgal, but she couldn’t be sure. She would have to research it as soon as her condition improved. Just in case, she might even be able to create a potion that could erase memories!

Acorella chuckled, hugging her pillow. Perhaps sensing that, her fellow mage glared and roughly slapped her protective goggles.

‘No access to the basement.’

‘What!? Are you crazy?’

‘You’re the crazy one, Captain. Don’t you know what leave means? Get a grip and please take care of yourself. Sir Ian too, I’m sorry to say this, but while we’re at it, let me say something. You were bleeding last time, but you didn’t call us, did you?’

Oh dear. Ian subtly got up, trying to avoid the situation.

They were the ones who had been running around more than the other mages in the two consecutive incidents. And there were only two of them. They were bound to be sensitive to the fatigue and injuries of their captains.

Squeak.

‘Sir Ian! Sir Ian!’

‘Acorella. I’ll take care of the leave.’

‘Where are you going? Hey!’

‘Rest well and recover.’

Bang!

Acorella stretched out her hand and called for Ian’s help, but the door slammed shut mercilessly.

Acorella’s hand stopped in mid-air. She chuckled and lay back down on the bed. Then, she frowned as if dizzy and groped for the bucket.

‘Ugh-‘

Acorella continued to vomit blood for a long time. Tears welled up in her eyes reflexively, but they were not visible due to the reflection of her protective goggles. The healing mage sighed as he watched, continuing to pat her back and pour mana into her.

‘How is Captain Acorella doing?’

Meanwhile, Ian, who had come out into the hallway, met Jin. The child looked very worried, with his hands clasped tightly. Ian knelt down lightly to meet his gaze.

‘She didn’t look very good.’

Although she had joked as usual, her complexion, unstable breathing, and trembling voice were obvious. And the bucket next to her was full of blood. She had only just gotten over the worst.

‘Really? Sigh, what on earth is going on?’

‘Please don’t worry, Your Highness. Acorella is a strong person. Rather, please put aside your concerns for a moment and refrain from coming this way for the time being.’

‘Why?’

‘It seems like Acorella doesn’t want to show you her sick appearance. And although it’s said that you need direct contact with the scales, which are the infection vector, I’m also worried. It’s said to be dangerous for children, the elderly, and those with weakened immunity.’

‘Then Sir Ian should also be careful.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

Soon, they would investigate the infection status of the members of the Mana Stone Management Department, who had been close to the scales, as well as the Imperial Guard and related personnel.

Judging by the fact that only Acorella was like this, the amplifier must have been a kind of trigger for the disease. The others would be fine, but there was always a possibility.

Tap tap!

Jin, who had been walking ahead, turned around. He was worried about Acorella, but there was something else that was bothering him just as much. Ian nodded as if to say, ‘Tell me.’

‘I heard that it’s customary for me to write the invitations myself for the foreign guests who will be coming to the successor inauguration ceremony.’

‘Ah.’

Usually, the successor inauguration ceremony was held after the coming-of-age ceremony, that is, around the age of Marib [a traditional coming-of-age age], for example.

By that time, they would have naturally built friendships with the successors or high-ranking officials of other countries, so sending invitations in their own handwriting was a natural phenomenon rather than a custom.

‘Your Highness, do you have any foreign envoys with whom you maintain a personal relationship?’

Jin was young, had been a cursed child until now, and just a few days ago, Arsen was still in power. Of course, he wouldn’t have any foreign connections. Jin shook his head shyly at the softly phrased question.

‘No. I don’t have any.’

‘In that case, there’s no need to send them in your own handwriting. If you happen to form relationships later, it would be good to write the invitations for the coronation yourself.’

The coronation, the day he would ascend to the throne. At that time, Jin would invite the guests himself.

The child’s blue eyes sparkled. After meeting the people of the Empire earlier that day, the position of emperor was becoming even more precious to him.

‘Okay. I understand.’

‘Still, they are Your Highness’s guests. Instead of handwritten letters, it would be sufficient to personally welcome them, so how about familiarizing yourself with them before they arrive?’

‘Of course! Sir Ian will tell me!’

Jin lightly hopped and grabbed Ian’s sleeve.

Unfortunately, Ian was not well-versed in foreign affairs either. He had a grasp of the major and minor histories, but he knew almost nothing about who the current power players were, their tendencies, and their characteristics.

‘I’m sorry. I don’t know much either, so, um. Shall we study together when Romandro returns?’

‘Romandro? That’s good.’

To move the chess pieces, you had to know what they were, right? How they moved, in what way they moved, and when they could move.

Ian gestured to Siao Shi and instructed.

‘Tell Romandro to report the relevant data when he finishes his work. And we will also begin the cleanup of the families and the preparations for the inauguration ceremony.’