Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 434

“There is someone to meet in the abyss, so I have no choice but to look towards that direction, even if it means giving up everything, Your Highness.”

As Ian said those words to Jin, the child’s heart crumbled.

Was that really the Ian he knew? The Ian who, like him, held only Bariel in his heart and seemed to share the same lifelong goal. He had thought that place on the hill was their haven, but it felt as if Ian was letting go of his hand here, saying he would stop here.

That must mean there was something even more important to him. Jin couldn’t hold back his tears, and they streamed down his face, which Ian gently wiped away.

“…I apologize, Your Highness.”

“Who is it in the abyss that makes you do this? I am here, Sia is here, and Beric is here. Is that not enough? There’s Romandro and the mages who follow you, and your mother, Philia. You know the weight of the empire’s people without me having to say it. Is that person so precious that you would leave all of us behind?”

Ian’s fingertips paused for a moment. How could he weigh the importance of each person?

Jin bit his lip hard and grabbed Ian’s sleeve. He knew instinctively that it wouldn’t work, but it was all Jin could do right now.

“Convince me that person is so precious that you would leave us all behind. Otherwise, I will not allow it. This is an order as the Crown Prince of Bariel.”

At the Crown Prince’s stern command, Ian merely smiled. His green eyes, meeting the child’s gaze, held a warm light.

Looking at his silent, gentle face, Jin felt his insides burning even more.

“Your Highness, that person… gave everything to bring me into existence. Though it may be presumptuous, coming to the Imperial Palace and the Magic Department was all to meet that person.”

That person must occupy a very large part of Ian’s heart. Jin sniffled and opened his eyes wide. He was determined to find fault if he didn’t understand even a little.

“Is that all?”

“Of course, coming here was for that person, but everything I have done was for Bariel and Your Highness. That much is my sincere heart, please know that. And Your Highness, everyone, including you, has taken a piece of my heart.”

Ian said carefully. He was smiling brightly, but somehow his eyes seemed to be wet. Jin, confused, frustrated, and at a loss, didn’t notice it.

“But I know my path. There are flowers along that path that I can offer to Your Highness, so how could I turn my back empty-handed?”

“Sir Ian, you are truly wicked. The officials were right.”

“Haha. Is that so? The officials are those who have devoted themselves to the Imperial Palace throughout their lives. Surely their eyes are accurate. I didn’t want to appear that way to Your Highness, though.”

“You’re wicked. Everyone will say so. Especially Philia will be even more heartbroken. Throwing yourself into something based on a small record from long ago is truly foolish. And even if that information is true, it’s a full ten years. There’s no guarantee you’ll return safely. Yet, you still want to go? Really?”

“Your Highness, may I say something even more wicked?”

Ian patted the back of Jin’s hand, which was tightly gripping his sleeve.

“I am more capable than that man, Bandor. He took ten years, but I will complete the investigation of the rift even sooner. I can swear this in the name of Bariel.”

At Ian’s playful words, Jin pouted. But he had no grounds to argue. Unlike the man named Bandor who had passed through the Magic Department of the Imperial Palace, Ian was clearly a figure who would be written about importantly in Bariel’s history.

Even without his genius and extraordinary magical talent, the mark he had left on Bariel in the short span of half a year was so remarkable in many ways that it could not be overlooked.

“So, please don’t worry too much. The rift in Clifford isn’t just a problem for Clifford, is it? Bariel, the center of Gaia, needs to step forward and resolve it.”

In Bariel a hundred years later, the rift in Clifford was something that Ian Berosian knew had never happened.

The past had been distorted by the regressed Damon. For the sake of the current Bariel and the future Bariel, Ian had a duty to fix it. He was the only one running on a different timeline. And above all, he was the emperor of future Bariel.

“…I understand that.”

“Your Highness, and there is one more thing you should know.”

Ian glanced at Siaosi and winked. It was a signal to make sure the doors were locked. Siaosi, who had been picking up the fallen chair, approached the door and peered through the gap.

The outside was dimly visible. Several people were gathered in groups, deeply discussing something, and were aware of this side, but no one was brazen enough to try to eavesdrop. Sometimes in the Imperial Palace, knowing things could become poison and stain one’s blood. Who could approach between Ian and Jin, who moved like sharp winds?

Creak.

“What is it? I’m afraid to talk to you now.”

“It’s about King Damon. He is living a second life.”

“Huh?”

Jin frowned, and Siaosi, who was firmly closing the door, couldn’t help but stop. Ian lowered his voice a little more and continued.

“I heard it from the gypsy Damon was chasing before. Your Highness has also met that gypsy, haven’t you?”

“Y-yes, I did.”

“A secret eater, he took the secret Damon had inside his stomach and told me. Damon also admitted it, so there is no room for doubt about this. Above all, he is already a prisoner after being defeated, so Your Highness doesn’t need to worry too much about it, just know the facts. However, the problem is-”

“Wait a minute. A second life, what does that mean? Is it what I understand it to be?”

“Yes. Literally, it means he has both the time when he was Prince Damon and the time when he was King Damon.”

“H-how is that possible?”

“Sometimes, things happen in the world that cannot be understood from a human perspective. Everything is arranged by God, so it seems natural that we cannot fathom the meaning.”

In Ian’s muttering, Jin felt for the first time something like his grumbling and lament. He was always noble, looking only beyond the horizon, but under the existence of God, he was clearly a human being no different from himself.

Jin didn’t let go of Ian’s hand and asked again.

“What is the problem you were about to say?”

“Ah, it’s that Rutherford is behind Damon.”

“Rutherford is a merchant guild, so how can a mere merchant guild be behind a country’s king?”

“It’s not just a mere merchant guild, Your Highness. It is the source of Idgal [a type of magical artifact] and a group directly related to King Damon’s regression. Please, this.”

Ian stood up from his kneeling position and brought the report from his place. It was a document for Jin only, not given to other officials. It contained all the information Ian had gathered so far, neatly organized, and Jin quickly scanned the text.

Clatter.

“That’s absurd.”

“It’s absurd, but Damon did it. He’s a remarkable king in many ways.”

His tone was full of irony, but Jin didn’t respond and continued to read Ian’s report.

Too many things rushed into his head at once. The Idgal accessories that had been subtly gaining popularity since Ian was at the border. King Damon’s wealth and siblings. The Marib civil war. The war….

“Do you know what Rutherford’s goal is?”

“Unfortunately, I have nothing to say. However, judging from their actions, they seem far from secular things like wealth, honor, or power. With this war, Idgal distribution channels would have opened up in neighboring countries except for Bariel. Money would just be a number.”

Ian tapped the table with his fingertips.

Rutherford. He didn’t know that person, but that person knew him. To be precise, they knew the illegitimate son, Ian.

However, the difference in perspective arising from the imbalance of information was creating a deeper angle than expected. Ian couldn’t see that person, but that person could see Ian.

“It would be good to see how Rutherford will react to the execution of King Damon.”

Ian said that and stood up from his seat, returning to his place.

Ian had moved away again. Jin placed the report on the table with a thud, giving a displeased look.

“Um, Your Highness. There is one thing I would like to ask.”

“Ask?”

He was surprised by the word ‘ask’ but quickly relaxed. Had Ian ever asked for anything? Ian was someone who had always planned and ‘obtained’ what he wanted.

“What is it?”

“The next Minister of Magic will have a different color from me for smooth operations. A strong internal policy will be needed to fix the divided Magic Department.”

“You know the Magic Department will be divided.”

“Of course. Haven’t I, the head, caused a great ripple? There will be those who waver, and naturally, there will be those who remain steadfast. I’m not trying to criticize or praise. The Magic Department will be greatly shaken, but it will never break or be destroyed. They are those who possess the power of God, so in a way, they are truly brothers and sisters.”

“…By strong internal policy, you mean the construction of the annex.”

“That’s right. Regardless of the minister’s political position, it’s what everyone from Wesley to the entire Magic Department has wanted. The budget is already allocated, so if the Imperial Family gives a little support, it can proceed without difficulty.”

“I have no reason to grant it. Didn’t Sir Ian say that he would be my stepping stone to strengthen the imperial authority? To let you go and then allow the Magic Department annex. It doesn’t make sense. And above all, I don’t like Sir Ian because you’re wicked.”

Ian chuckled softly.

“Please reconsider. When the Magic Department annex is completed, I will return to the Imperial Palace even while investigating the rift.”

Jin’s ears perked up. Ian had just given him a condition that would allow him to stop the rift investigation midway. Of course, even if he returned, everything between them wouldn’t be the same as before.

“The next minister won’t welcome me, so I might not stay long.”

Once the annex was completed, and if he found a clue about the abyss in the rift, Ian would surely return to Bariel a hundred years later. So, he would leave again.

Ian had subtly given Jin a clue, but Jin didn’t notice and frowned.

“Isn’t the next minister either Hale or Acorella? Why wouldn’t they welcome you?”

“The water that has flowed must continue to flow that way. If the water goes against the flow and returns, who would welcome it? Also, in the position of minister, it is right to completely exclude personal friendships. Ah, and please exclude Acorella.”

“Uung. That’s right.”

A moment of silence passed. Jin rolled his eyes, then jumped up from his seat and cleared his throat. He had been swayed by Ian, and the conversation had become too light.

“I, I’m confused right now and need time to think. Tell everyone to postpone the meeting for a day. The recovery of King Damon as well, and it seems that no one will be able to give a suitable opinion right now. Thanks to someone.”

Bang!

Now he even knew how to openly criticize. Just as Ian was about to be impressed, Jin strode away and left the conference room. The officials were startled by the suddenly opened door and followed Jin, and Ian sat alone and let out a small sigh.

The rift, the abyss within that fiercely surging gap. So, let’s not put a heavy weight on our steps. Ian closed his empty eyes and recalled the fading future.

Bariel a hundred years later, he was Emperor Ian Berosian.

* * *

“…Ian doesn’t know this song very well?”

At Philia’s trembling voice, Ian realized something was amiss. The way she was giving so much meaning to the song.

Ian immediately recalled the note from his mother that he had received through Count Bratz. He knew it, it was the melody of memories his mother had played for him when he was young, the standard answer lingered on Ian’s tongue, but he hesitated.

At the end of Ian’s gaze, Philia’s belly came into view. Was she showing a bit of her pregnancy? If he went into the rift and returned to the future, that woman would lose her son again. Unless the illegitimate son Ian returned to his body.

“Yes. I’m familiar with it, but I don’t know it very well.”

Ian recalled Philia’s voice calling him ‘my beloved stone’ and said that.

He was not the illegitimate son Ian, so even if he disappeared, do not waver and ride the rough waves. Those words, too, could not be uttered.