Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 415

Knock, knock.

The mage’s approach to Ian was unusually cautious. Just moments ago, he had displayed intense emotions in front of Damon, and more importantly, they knew his physical condition was far from good.

When Hale granted permission to enter, the mage peeked his head in, checking on Ian’s condition. He looked even paler, drenched in cold sweat.

Ian tilted his head, as if asking what was the matter.

“Sir Ian, the Serreo family has arrived.”

“Serreo?”

“Yes. They claim to be reinforcements and have reached the Clifford Wall. Prince Noah asked me to confirm with you, Sir Ian. Even if the situation is resolved, they’ve come all this way, so we can’t just send them back… Especially if they’re from Bariel, Clifford should be even more cautious, shouldn’t they?”

Ian frowned, pushing his damp hair back.

Traditionally, nobles participating in war was encouraged. Based on the principle of *noblesse oblige* [the responsibility of the nobility to act generously and honorably], their private soldiers, even in small numbers, were a great help to the empire, and they protected the lives of the empire’s people.

And above all, there were countless people who wanted to share the spoils of war. Like light and darkness, as the flowing blood overflowed and the painful groans grew louder, someone’s vault would be filled with gold bars, and their satisfied smiles would grow wider.

But this war was a bit of an exception.

“Why Serreo?”

Hale, also aware of this, asked with a puzzled expression.

First of all, this was not a war of Bariel, but a war between Clifford and Vergos. Moreover, most of the magic division’s forces, including Ian, were here under the guise of support.

Then, wouldn’t it be natural for the central nobles to worry about the emptiness of the Bariel Imperial Palace and stay to protect the capital?

The mage just shrugged, implying he had no idea.

“Did Lady Alenara come as well?”

“Lady Alenara? You mean the daughter of the Serreo family?”

If one had to understand, it was possible. To revive the declining Serreo family, the pressure to do something must have driven them here. Perhaps, for Serreo, this was a war of his own, where he risked everything.

The mage shook his head, still implying he didn’t know.

“I only saw Lord Serreo. I don’t know if the lady is there. The troop size is quite large, around 1,000, and Clifford says they need to prepare to receive them. They asked if you, Sir Ian, could mediate.”

“Ask Serreo if he has the Emperor’s seal.”

“The Emperor’s seal?”

“The dispatch seal.”

Officially, for a central noble to participate in the war, the Emperor’s permission was required. That was proof that they were a special support force from Bariel, and it was a kind of token for the nobles. It meant that the Emperor would remember their contributions at the end of the war, and they would receive a fair reward.

Ian waved his hand, as if to say that was enough, and got up from his seat. It seemed better for him to greet Serreo himself rather than going through several people.

“Sir Ian.”

“Are, are you alright?”

His body swayed greatly, even with just a slight movement. Ian clenched his teeth. He was someone who shouldn’t falter, but in front of Hale and the mage, it was not easy. The fact that things didn’t go as he wished was so frustrating and made his breath heavy.

But then, Hale casually grabbed Ian’s arm and supported him.

“Hold on, Sir Ian.”

What was so difficult about holding on if he could, or leaning if he could? Why was his superior trying to stand alone?

With Hale’s natural consideration, Ian slowly grabbed his shoulder. The mage also opened the door wide, helping him pass through comfortably.

“If this happens again when we return to Bariel, Hale, remember what I said last time.”

“I refuse. I clearly rejected it. And this is an effect of Idgal, so it will surely return with time. Everyone else is like that, so there’s no way you, Sir Ian, won’t be.”

Hale looked away, not wanting to hear about the next head of the magic division.

As Ian carefully made his way up to the wall, he saw a line of soldiers, about a thousand strong. The Bariel flag and the Serreo family crest fluttered everywhere. Serreo recognized Ian’s golden hair at once and waved his hand.

“Sir Ian! It’s me! Serreo!”

“What brings you here?”

“I couldn’t just sit in the center while the mages were struggling in a foreign land. And it’s you, Sir Ian. I heard the situation was resolved. I’m a bit disappointed that I came all this way, but I’d like to help with the cleanup.”

“Where is the Emperor’s seal?”

“Huh?”

“If you don’t have the Emperor’s seal, show me the Crown Prince’s seal.”

Serreo paused. He had come down without even meeting the Emperor, let alone the Crown Prince, and now they were asking for that. Serreo, aware of the gazes of the mercenaries watching him with their arms crossed, shouted.

“I came down in a hurry, so I didn’t get the Imperial blessing. Sir Ian, aren’t we close? I believe you’ll understand my desire to help as quickly as possible.”

“I see. Thank you. I didn’t know you thought so highly of me and the magic division, Lord Serreo. Well, it’s true that there are things to be gained after adversity. It seems my relationship with you will become even stronger.”

Ian leaned against the wall and smiled as he replied.

Well, then, should they open the gate? Serreo looked up with expectant eyes, but Ian didn’t move.

“But Lord Serreo, if you enter the wall, Clifford will have no choice but to treat you lavishly. It’s a matter of welcoming the support forces from Bariel. Since they are already busy wrapping up the current situation, wouldn’t it be better for me to politely receive Lord Serreo’s entry on my own? I think that’s the way to help Clifford.”

“Huh? Isn’t there a shortage of manpower?”

“Not at all. One of Clifford’s great strengths is its large population. I was planning to leave for Bariel early tomorrow morning. Since you’ve come, why don’t you return with me? With you, Lord Serreo, the journey back will be safe, and I can rest easy. Do you have a carriage?”

A carriage. He meant a long-distance carriage, not a battle carriage. If they had brought this, it was highly likely that Alenara was with them, so Ian naturally tested Serreo.

And Serreo was very easy to test.

“There’s only one carriage.”

Hmm. Ian’s eyebrows slightly rose.

Alenara had come too. But since she wasn’t visible now, she must have turned towards Luswennia at the crossroads. It wasn’t just for the purpose of rebuilding the family, but she had completely turned towards Luswennia. What she had been testing since the Crown Prince’s appointment ceremony must have suited Alenara’s taste perfectly.

Hale turned his head towards Ian and whispered.

“What should we do, Sir Ian? Should we open the wall? Actually, as long as we don’t have to welcome them, it’s not bad for Clifford to have more manpower.”

“No. We must never let them inside the wall.”

“Ah. Yes. I understand. I’ll tell them below.”

Hale didn’t ask the reason and immediately gave a hand signal to the stairs below. The soldiers who had been waiting to open the wall all returned to their positions.

Kugugugung.

A roar was heard from somewhere.

Before they could even recognize what the sound was, the ground began to shake. Very slightly, but definitely. The flagpoles stuck in the ground swayed slowly from side to side, and the helmets and clothes that the soldiers had hung clattered.

Ian stepped away from the wall and looked in the direction of the sound.

Kwaaang!

“Wh, what is that sound?”

“Did reinforcements from Luswennia arrive?”

“No, the sound came from the palace.”

The tremors continued. They had experienced earthquakes a few times, but this was the first time they felt something exploding besides the ground shaking.

The soldiers cowered in fear, and Hale immediately jumped into the sky to survey the surroundings.

Chwaaaak!

“Sir Ian! A tornado is rising in the distance!”

A tornado? Serreo couldn’t believe it and held out his palm. There wasn’t a single cloud, and the wind was also cool, so how could a tornado rise?

Ian suddenly remembered the Idgal pendant that had been destroyed in his hand. And the constant flow of his magic power at that time.

“It’s a rift.”

Earthquakes were an unchanging law of nature. Coupled with that, the traces of the crust had created a rift.

Ian quickly gave instructions to Clifford. Even then, the earthquake continued. As if it was just the beginning, it was gradually increasing its power.

“Tell Prince Noah that it would be best to evacuate all residents near the rift.”

“Ah. Yes, yes! I understand.”

“Sir Ian, should we go scout?”

One of the mages asked, but Ian hesitated for a moment.

Regardless of capturing King Damon, they were still facing the enemy. The support forces from the north, Luswennia, and even Serreo, who had arrived at the perfect time.

Turning their backs here would be like giving the enemy an opening. And above all, the rift was occurring inside the Clifford Wall, under the jurisdiction of the palace. Ian summoned Acorella.

“Acorella, take one of your subordinates and investigate the tornado. Report in detail on its size, power, and the extent of the crustal movement. Calculate how much time is left until the rift.”

“Captain Acorella!”

“Yes? Yes, yes. I heard you! I’m here!”

Acorella came out, wiping her greasy mouth with the back of her hand. She seemed to get along well with Beric, and she must have eaten at the same table with Atan Chieftain Efdram without any problems.

Efdram also came outside, holding a piece of meat in his hand.

“Hmm. A good smell.”

The smell of a monster emanating from the rift. As she savored it and hummed a tune, Beric unconsciously grabbed his nose. Yes. He couldn’t deny it. There was a subtle, sweet something that was different from the smell of meat from the dining hall.

But if he admitted this, wouldn’t he be admitting that he had the same identity as Efdram, and that his path with Bariel and Ian was different? His body’s reaction was not what he wanted, and he felt annoyed.

Kuuung!

Kugugugung!

“Uwaaaa!”

“It’s, it’s getting worse!”

“Everyone get out of there! It’ll be a disaster if it collapses! To a wide open space, this way! This way!”

Kwaang! Dududu!

The earth convulsed greatly. The traces of countless years that they had built, including humans, were also distorted by the irresistible force, and the sky gradually turned red along the source of the sound.

As if the blue sky was being devoured, the world they knew was slowly changing.

Kuuung!

Kwaaaang!

The mages floated Ian into the sky to protect him. As his vision gradually rose, he could see the source of the commotion inside Clifford. Buildings were tilting, and people were running around in a panic, like ants that had been splashed with hot water.

And inside the gap where the tornado was coming out, something like lava was glowing…

“That’s…”

“Sir Ian! What’s going on? Open the gate!”

If that boiled over and flowed into the world, it would become a monster.

Ian frowned, looking back and forth between the Luswennia side watching from the hill and the Vergos side gathered without knowing what was going on. And he thought.

Once something is crushed, it cannot be reversed. Only the question of how long it will take to completely collapse remains.