Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 404

“A rift?”

Eriphony flicked her cigarette, asking again. A rift? It was a word she had never even considered.

The values of Clifford would naturally include fertile land, fresh leaves, and a deep sunset. The seven cities that Lusweena would occupy would be no different, so a rift?

Eriphony looked at Eldert to confirm if she had heard correctly. His face was also bewildered, so it seemed she hadn’t misheard.

“Yes. I heard it from the mages who were going back and forth for treatment. They said that a huge rift was fluctuating under the land of Clifford, and the Bariel mages were having trouble using their powers. It seemed almost like a given. The Clifford soldiers seemed to know about it too.”

“Wait. When you say rift, you mean the one I know, right? The one that’s called the foundation of monsters.”

“Yes. That must be it.”

“For a rift to occur, there must be an earthquake-”

Earthquake.

Eriphony paused involuntarily. Come to think of it, that bastard Damon had told her first. That there would soon be an earthquake in Clifford.

Eriphony chewed on the end of a new cigarette, rubbing her forehead.

“Unbelievable. Those Burgos bastards are playing a false game with Lusweena.”

“Your Majesty. Please calm down. Nothing is certain yet.”

“No. The circumstances suggest that what he said is right. That small piece that I was suspicious about when I met Damon. I didn’t know what it was, but now I know. They knew the land would be contaminated anyway, so they re-agreed to the alliance without any other offers. That damned bastard.”

Eriphony slammed the table, unable to control her anger. With a loud bang, Zaira pretended to be surprised and crouched down even lower.

“Your Majesty. Please calm down. I will send someone to check. If even the Clifford soldiers know about it, it will be easy to find out.”

It wasn’t just the land contamination that was the problem. What if the mages, especially Ian, couldn’t use their powers properly because of the rift? What if the unforgettable resurrection of the great fire god attacked Lusweena with even greater power?

Could the Lusweena mages, who were a disorganized bunch compared to Bariel, withstand it? Wouldn’t they barely be able to win only by casting forbidden magic at the cost of their lives?

Eriphony grabbed her hair in frustration.

“Ugh, I’m going crazy.”

“Your Majesty. About Minister Ian Hielo, who fought with our grandmother for the last time.”

“Why Ian?”

“He seemed to be suffering from magical side effects. I’m not sure about this either, but based on the fact that most mental magic has side effects, it seems certain.”

Really? Eriphony recalled Ian, whom she had seen during the prisoner exchange on the land earlier. He seemed a little thinner, but he looked the same as usual.

Rather, he was sharp, and he was not easy to deal with. Didn’t he openly ignore the king’s questions in front of everyone? He was even more annoying.

“Does mental magic have mental side effects?”

“It varies depending on the magic, so it’s hard to say for sure. High-level magic is so high that there is little data. If we go back to Lusweena, we can find out…”

Zaira raised her head slightly.

If she returned to the residence where she had lived and studied with her grandmother all her life, she could bring the data. Knowledge is power, so that data might be necessary to deal with the mages in the future.

It would be unnecessary if her grandmother were alive, but as everyone knew, she had fallen into the abyss.

“We cannot send even one mage back to the home country right now.”

But Eldert drew a line.

The reason why Lusweena was showing its presence in the current war was for two reasons: the black armor and the mages. If even one of them was removed, the balance of power would be broken, which would soon lead to a tilt in the war situation.

Eldert shook his head at Eriphony, meaning absolutely not.

“Absolutely not, Your Majesty.”

“Well. If the mages are being cautious because of the rift, wouldn’t there be no special reaction unless our mages step forward? The black armor was mainly dealt with by the magic swordsmen, and if Ian has side effects, he wouldn’t be the first to step forward.”

“Acting is not the only power. Having it is power itself. And Your Majesty, first of all, I will check if what that mage said is correct. Please give me a little time.”

‘That thing’. And ‘that mage’.

Zaira realized that there were many names for her. Inside the Clifford wall, she had been called all sorts of things, like ‘kid’ or ‘baby’.

“However, it will be difficult to predict their actions because of the head of the mage from Burgos. I felt that the whole of Clifford was in an uproar.”

“Yes. Anyway, that bastard. I will slaughter them after this war.”

Eriphony muttered, clenching her cigarette.

It was a foreseen event anyway. Even if they defeated Bariel and Clifford and occupied this land, Lusweena and Burgos would surely fight for even more profit.

Burgos had blatantly deceived Lusweena. This was an inevitable future, a path that countless histories had told.

“It would be good to watch how Bariel treats Burgos.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will increase the number of scouts further.”

“Also, is there anything else?”

The king checked if the child had told everything she had seen and heard. Zaira slowly raised her crouched body and then suggested.

“There is.”

“Yes. Keep telling me.”

‘No one can treat those who know their own value carelessly.’

Zaira pondered for a moment, recalling Ian’s words. The mages she had seen inside the wall were truly worthy of that sentence. They shone just by being mages, and everyone revered and respected them.

But what about here? Everyone under the king was being used like a tool.

Zaira paused for a moment, her eyes wide open. When the report did not continue, Eriphony and Eldert simultaneously raised their eyebrows and looked down at the child.

“I am very outstanding.”

“What?”

What was she talking about all of a sudden? Leaving the two bewildered people behind, Zaira recited in a clear voice.

“Age cannot measure the limits and depth of magical power, but Sir Ian said so. He said that I am very exceptional. He said that I shine compared to the mages in that place.”

She added a little lie, but it wasn’t entirely wrong. When he bound her with his magic before, Ian had asserted that only his magic would be effective.

Eriphony chuckled and tilted her head to one shoulder.

“So?”

“I would like you to know. Just as there is Sir Ian on that side, there is me on this side.”

“Yes. I’m very reassured. Is that how I should say it?”

How amusing and cute. Eriphony chuckled and said that, and Zaira just bowed her head briefly without answering. At that moment, the murmuring of the subordinates was heard from outside.

“Your Majesty. The Clifford wall has opened wide.”

“The wall is open?”

“Yes. It seems like they are trying to send out soldiers. It would be good to come out and check.”

Chak!

No sooner had the words ended than Eriphony pulled back the tent and picked up the telescope.

As the subordinate said, the wall gate was wide open. Soon, Clifford soldiers, lined up in a dense formation, were seen coming out in an orderly manner. Judging by the angle of the front, their target seemed to be Burgos, not Lusweena.

She had expected a reaction since they had beheaded the Bariel mage, but she didn’t expect it to be this fast. Hadn’t they just returned from the prisoner exchange?

Eriphony gestured to Eldert.

“Send a messenger to Burgos. If Clifford clashes with Burgos, the rear and right side of the wall will be completely empty, which is an opportunity for us. But if the damned rift is real, there will be a lot to think about.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will send the message quickly.”

“Your Majesty. May I go back now?”

Zaira dusted off her knees and straightened her back. She even turned her stiff shoulders somewhat rudely, but Eriphony was focused on the telescope and didn’t see it.

“Yes. Go back and wait for orders.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Zaira walked out of the tent with quick steps. And she entered the place where the mages were waiting. The bloody smell left by Jang was still there.

“Zaira. What did His Majesty say?”

“Come here. Let me give you some magic power. Did Bariel do anything bad to you? You don’t seem to be hurt on the outside.”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m not hurt at all.”

Zaira lightly hugged the mages and then stepped away. And she whispered very quietly.

“Soon, Bariel and Burgos will clash big time.”

“Zaira?”

“Listen carefully. But Eriphony can’t go forward or backward. It’s too deep to pull out now, and it’s also unfair to support Burgos with all her might, and she can’t put the mages on the front line.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just listen. Decide after listening.”

Zaira gestured to the mages to gather closer.

“It would be best to pass the Bariel mages, including Sir Ian, to Damon. Anyway, they have a clear reason to fight because they beheaded the mages. Then Lusweena has no choice but to face Clifford? They will need more troops and support.”

“War is originally a fight for troops and supplies.”

“If the palace is empty, let’s go back.”

“Huh?”

The mages blinked at Zaira’s words.

“Let’s go to the palace, take our families, and go to Bariel. I’ve already talked to them. Let’s go and research forbidden magic. They said they would help Bariel find a way to save our grandmother. We’ll move while watching the situation and then run away.”

Did the child know what she was saying? Desertion? And even after rescuing the family held captive in the palace, naturalization?

When the mages touched Zaira’s forehead, Zaira held out her palm.

“Is there anyone here who knows contract magic?”

“Contract magic. I’ve heard of it.”

“Oh? Really? I didn’t know. Look at this.”

Ziiing. Ziiing.

Zaira activated her magic and pulled out the contract engraved deep within her body. Numerous concentric circles rose from her palm. They moved in an orderly manner, drawing a huge magic circle.

“Proof that we can return to Bariel. It’s a contract with that mage. Those who want to stay in Lusweena can stay. But if possible, let’s go together. We’re family.”

Zaira persuaded them, holding the mages’ hands. They were family, colleagues, and friends who had spent their entire lives together in the forest.

If it weren’t for the hostages, they would have returned to their home country and hid in the deep forest anyway. What did it matter if the deep forest was in Lusweena or Bariel?

“But will that work? War doesn’t flow as easily as you say-”

Kwaaang! Kwang!

As if refuting the mage’s words, a roar erupted. Zaira smiled and pointed upwards with two fingers. It was a sound from the sky. Everyone knew where the source was.

“It doesn’t flow easily, but you can make it flow the way you want. In my opinion, Sir Ian is like that.”

“Zaira. Have you been brainwashed?”

The child had been taken prisoner and came back, and why did she keep mentioning Ian? When the mage put his hand on Zaira’s forehead again, the child nodded, holding his hand.

“Yeah. I’ve been brainwashed. So, no matter what I say, you won’t listen. They said they can save my grandmother, so why would I refuse? So, let’s all go together. Otherwise, we will be forever oppressed under the king’s name.”