Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 280

Jeyrat lightly stepped over the railing and descended to the lower floor. It was a drop of several meters, but his movements were fluid and precise. The Imperial Guard members slowly gathered behind him. Each one was impressive on their own, but together in their uniforms, they were a formidable sight.

Naturally, they drew the attention of everyone around them. It was such a natural progression that no one found it strange, not even those conducting the test.

‘I-isn’t that the Commander of the Three?’

‘Aren’t you going to continue the test? We’ll have to disqualify them.’

‘Hey, just wait a moment. Everyone’s stopped, right? Do you think you can see him whenever you want? If you’re lucky, you might see him during a monster battle.’

‘If you’re lucky? What if you’re unlucky?’

‘If you’re unlucky, you die as soon as you join the battle.’

The murmurs and whispers grew louder. The position of Commander of the Three was an honor bestowed upon the strongest in the Empire, wasn’t it? The battles of ordinary magic swordsmen were already impressive, so what would the Commander be like? The anticipation made it hard to stay calm.

‘Beric.’

‘Why are you calling me? I won’t go easy on you even if you ask.’

Jeyrat took off his uniform jacket and rolled up his sleeves. The way he neatly folded each cuff was almost reverent. He was a reckless guy, but he was still an outsider participant. It was his duty as the host to show proper respect.

‘I will go easy on you if you ask. Don’t be too cocky, and make sure you don’t get yourself killed. Remember, it hasn’t been long since you got out of bed.’

‘Ugh. What’s with the worry?’

Beric made a vomiting gesture and waved his hand dismissively. It was a clear rejection and mockery. The Imperial Guard members frowned and were about to retort, but Jeyrat raised his hand to stop them.

‘Were you that upset about being matched up with Siao?’

‘Yeah! It felt like crap!’

‘Do you know why I, and you, did that?’

‘I don’t know. What’s the point of knowing? It already happened.’

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Swaaaak!

Beric amplified his magic power and raised his black sword. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and his red hair began to flutter.

Was it because of the small fangs that were visible?

He looked like a demon born from a fiery pit.

‘Beric, move back further! There’s no shield there!’

‘Damn it, are they listening? Are they blind? Expand the shield!’

‘L-Lord Ian!’

The wizards watching from above were shocked and shouted. Some quickly turned their heads to Ian, as if asking him to stop Beric.

But it was too late. Beric soared into the air and swung his sword. He shouted his determination once more.

‘I’ll be the Commander-!’

Pwang! Kwaaang!

It was instantaneous. Jeyrat grabbed Beric’s face, unleashed his magic power, and threw him backward.

Beric, thrown by the explosion, rolled and crashed into the shield wall. A small cloud of dust rose. Jeyrat slowly walked towards him.

‘This is supposed to be a test. I would appreciate it if you followed the procedure, participant Beric. Do not attack outside the boundaries, and unlike the sparring matches we’ve had so far, there are no restrictions on weapons. You can also forfeit, and if you become incapacitated, I will stop the test at my discretion.’

‘Yeah. Blah blah blah. I can’t hear a thing.’

As Beric got up, brushing off his clothes, an Imperial Guard member standing behind him couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted. Wasn’t his behavior not just rude but arrogant? It was unbearable.

‘Shut up! Don’t you know your place? You don’t even know the dignity of the title of Commander, you fool!’

‘Fool? If I’m a fool, then you’re a moron.’

‘W-what did you say? A m-moron?’

To hear such words from Beric! Romandro and Jin burst out laughing at the same time. He probably didn’t know how much of an insult he had just returned.

Beric pointed his sword at the Imperial Guard and shouted.

‘You guys should be cheering for me! Think about it! If the old geezer dies here, the Commander position will be vacant, right? Then, instead of two people, three people can go up! Ugh, idiots, I have to tell you even this. Tsk tsk.’

A miracle of illogic. The Imperial Guard members were speechless and shocked. His way of thinking was completely different. Judging by his performance, he would definitely join the Imperial Guard, but did they really have to accept him as a comrade?

The Imperial Guard members all looked at Jeyrat. Their faces were all the same, full of disgust.

‘No, this is crazy. That’s grounds for disqualification.’

‘Commander, please show that guy what’s what!’

‘Yes, we don’t need anything else. Just beat him half to death so he can’t join. I’ll work hard for his share. If possible, I’ll even give up my salary. I’m serious.’

Beric whistled and winked at the members. Especially to the one who said he would give up his salary, he winked two or three times in a row.

‘I’ll remember you well. When I become Commander, you’ll work for free. I’ll use that money to buy meat.’

Beeeep!

The whistle blew shrilly. It was as if it was trying to cut off Beric’s words. There were many people watching, and Romandro decided that further arguments would not help either side.

Beric, as if he had been waiting, gripped his sword again and rushed at Jeyrat.

Tap tap!

‘You know what?’

‘…….’

‘The more holes I get in my stomach, the stronger I get!?’

Kwaaaang! Kwang!

Ziiing!

Again, Beric’s attack stopped in mid-air. It was because Jeyrat had summoned his own sword.

The lightning that they had seen in the Chetur area bloomed again from all directions. Flashing streaks of light swirled and were grasped in his hand, and it soon transformed into the shape of a sword.

Magic power dripped down.

Things that touched the ground bounced up sporadically.

Chijijik! Chiik!

‘Beric. Shut up. You’ll bite your tongue.’

‘You should be careful, old geezer! Watch your teeth!’

Jeyrat knew Beric well. This included not only his skills but also his personality. A tenacity and fighting spirit that would not be crushed even if trampled, and the talent to back it up.

He was definitely a talented individual. The fact that Jeyrat released his magic power without hesitation was indirect proof that he acknowledged Beric.

Kwaaang! Kwang!

Chaeng! Chang!

Every time the two swords clashed, it felt like the heavens were shaking. The transparent wall of the shield vibrated, creating waves.

Those who were watching from right in front of them hesitated and stepped back. They thought that if the shield broke, they might die.

‘I-it’s amazing.’

‘The weight is different. It’s definitely different.’

The shockwaves were coming from them, but why was there a tremor deep in their hearts? The spectators watched their exchange without even thinking of blinking.

The inside was like another world. Explosions of light and fire bloomed, and the view was blurred by smoke. The figures of the two men appeared and disappeared intermittently.

Beric blocked, then Jeyrat blocked, Beric attacked, Jeyrat attacked….

‘Romandro. I can’t keep up.’

‘M-me neither, Your Highness.’

Just following with their eyes was already difficult. And yet, they were exchanging blows so many times in a split second. A seamless connection of sword and sword. In a way, it could be seen as a work of art.

‘No, damn it. How is he enduring that?’

Barsabe leaned her elbows on the railing and rubbed her forehead. Wasn’t it already a minute? She knew how long that time was, having sparred with Jeyrat several times.

She had barely managed to block while running away, but Beric was even launching effective counterattacks.

Oh, no way.

‘Damn it. What the hell is that guy?’

‘Commander! Don’t go easy on him! You can’t!’

‘He’s much lighter than when he first came to the palace. Is he really the type that gets stronger when he gets holes in his stomach?’

‘When he was injured, all the wizards were attached to him and pouring magic power into him. That’s why, what kind of nonsense are you believing so earnestly?’

She could feel that her fellow Imperial Guard members were also shaken. In hand-to-hand combat, physique was bound to play a big role, and Beric had already ranked high among them, hadn’t he? It was enough to create a subtle sense of tension for those who had been complacent in the top 10.

Kwaaang! Kwang!

It was then. Beric’s body flew out of the smoke and crashed into the shield. He was clutching his side, where blood was gushing out, as if he had been cut. Blood was dripping down, soaking the floor.

‘…Agh, damn it.’

‘Beric!’

‘Oh, you idiot! You’re going to tear your stomach open again!’

Jin and Romandro, who had noticed the injury, grabbed the railing and shouted. But Beric only frowned and glared into the smoke.

That damn old geezer. If he was this strong when he was old, how much stronger would he have been when he was young?

Swoosh.

Jeyrat appeared from the smoke. He walked slowly and stood in front of Beric.

‘……!’

‘Commander!’

His left arm, his white shirt, was soaked with blood. That wasn’t Beric’s blood.

‘Just give up, Beric.’

‘Bullshit. Don’t you dare.’

Was he going to go all the way to the end?

Jeyrat clenched his fist and took a rough breath. He was trying to maintain his composure, but it was true that he was struggling. Beric was unpredictable and reckless, and on top of that, he was fast and had good stamina.

Sweeek!

Jeyrat raised his sword as if he were whipping it.

An attack that was slammed down with all his might. Beric barely dodged by rolling to the side, but the relentless pressure was enough to make him feel dizzy. Bloodstains were smeared on the floor following his trail.

‘Agh, you bastard!’

‘Shut up!’

Every time Beric exerted force, blood gushed from his side. If this continued, he might end up rolling around the magic department corridors again for a while. Just as Romandro was about to tell him to stop.

Chwaaaak!

‘Kuhuk!’

The sword that Beric swung cut Jeyrat’s chin and ear cleanly. Not missing the opportunity when his opponent was surprised and stepped back-

‘Huh?’

‘What’s he doing?’

Beric also stepped back. And then, he quickly looked up and scanned around, and then, finding Ian, he jumped up.

Everyone was watching him with puzzled expressions, wondering what he was going to do.

‘Ian!’

‘…Beric?’

Beric hung onto the railing and extended his other hand to Ian. And very confidently-

‘Give me some magic power.’

Was he asking for magic power? The Imperial Guard members were shocked and protested as a group. They were about to rush at him as if they were going to drag him down.

‘That’s a foul! You, you coward!’

‘Come down! If you leave the sparring arena, you’re disqualified!’

‘Hey, disqualify him now! What are you doing?’

But Beric only picked at his ear and didn’t even pretend to listen. Rather, he just sniffed as if he was ignoring them.

‘Hey, you morons.’

‘M-moron!? Again with the moron? You bastard!’

‘Didn’t you hear what the old geezer said earlier? He said not to attack outside the sparring arena, right? I’m just standing still, right? And he said we could use any weapon we wanted without restrictions, right?’

‘How is magic power supply a weapon?’

‘If it’s not a weapon, is it meat? If you use it in a fight, even a random stick on the ground is a weapon. If you’re not happy, you can do it too.’

If they could.

Beric gestured for Ian to come closer. If he joined the Imperial Guard, and especially if he became the Commander, Ian’s influence would undoubtedly increase. That was the same as the expansion of the magic department’s power.

In this situation, what wizard would pour magic power into the Imperial Guard?

‘Ian, hurry up. My side hurts.’

‘Beric.’

‘Uh-huh. Hurry up. I’m going to die. That old geezer is so damn energetic.’

He even imitated his solemn tone. Ian smiled faintly and shook his head. As if he couldn’t do anything about it.

Swoosh.

Ian approached Beric and grabbed his arm. The wizards next to him also followed, flustered.

‘Lord Ian. I-is this okay?’

‘It’s not against the rules.’

‘No, that’s not it……’

It was an act that not only made it known to the world that Beric, who would join the Imperial Guard, was under Ian’s command, but also put a final nail in the coffin.

It was also a declaration of war to plant a force in the Imperial Guard while taking on the controversy of special treatment.

Even though the magic department was already in the spotlight these days….

Ziiing. Ziiing.

Ian resolutely activated his magic power and transferred it to Beric. His golden eyes shone, and his hair fluttered slightly. This was not just for Beric’s victory. It was a fuse to create a check.

‘Let’s go, Beric.’

‘It feels good to eat after a long time!’

Taat!

Beric smiled with satisfaction and jumped down. He could see the top of Jeyrat’s head, who was wiping away blood. He reflexively raised his right hand to block the attack, but he could clearly tell that the feeling was different.

Kwazijijik! Kwaang!

Jeyrat’s lightning-like magic sword was shattered and crumbled. Through the sparkling flames, Jeyrat and Beric’s eyes met. Beric smiled and winked one eye.

‘Old geezer. I clearly said it earlier. I won’t go easy on you.’