Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 465

The mages who remained in the Magic Department of the Second Imperial Palace simultaneously paused. As beings connected by a sixth sense, they instinctively sensed the vortex of a storm brewing somewhere within the palace.

The mages slowly put down their pens and turned to Hale with dissatisfaction.

“Captain.”

Rutherford had invaded the Imperial Palace. A being who threatened mages by manufacturing Idgal [a type of magical artifact]. Furthermore, he was the cause of eroding the foundation of Bariel and driving Ian away from the palace.

In their hearts, they wanted to rush to the scene immediately and capture those evil beings. They wanted to make Rutherford kneel before the esteemed one and achieve eternal peace for Bariel.

However, due to the request of the Imperial Defense Department, they had no choice but to thoroughly guard the Magic Department. To be precise, it was to protect King Damon, who was detained in the Magic Department.

“Stand by. Don’t waver.”

“Didn’t you feel it just now? This is no ordinary matter.”

“Of course, it’s not ordinary if an intruder has entered the palace. Instead of talking nonsense, finish your reports.”

“Captain Hale! Let’s hand over King Damon to the Imperial Defense Department and go provide support! They’ve already taken the Vergos delegation, and now they want us to handle King Damon too!”

“Yes, that’s right. The only magic power with such a deep resonance is Lord Ian’s. You know better than anyone that we have more synergy when we’re together! Because we’re on the field!”

“No one knows if there are means to bind mages other than Idgal. I am a mage, but Minister Tweller is a warrior. We should respect and follow his deeper thinking in combat.”

“Ugh, seriously! Captain!”

“Shut up, you. Do you think I’m comfortable being here?”

“Then let’s go! Since when did you listen so well to your superiors?”

Hale chewed on his cigarette and sighed. Across from him, through the window of the detention room, he could see Damon’s back. He was standing there motionless for a long time, as if lost in thought, which bothered him.

He gestured to the mages to shut up and get back to work, then approached the window. Due to the mages’ protective barrier, the area was completely sealed off.

Knock, knock.

When Hale knocked on the window, Damon turned his head. His expression was calm, almost indifferent. He looked behind Hale, and after confirming that nothing was amiss, he just shrugged.

“Are you comfortable?”

Nod. Damon moved his head slightly. His tongue had been cut off. Hale pondered for a moment, then leaned against the window, frowning.

“Did you expect Rutherford to invade the Imperial Palace?”

“……”

“Answer me, this is an interrogation. Whether it’s Rutherford or his grandfather, nothing will change just because there’s an intruder. This is the Imperial Palace, and they cannot destroy Bariel.”

Damon smiled as if Hale’s words were truly amusing. He then pressed his mouth close to the window and blew on it, revealing the raw cross-section of his severed tongue.

Swoosh.

-We have an opportunity you do not.

A short phrase written on the breath. Something that some would consider a curse, and others an opportunity. A life after death.

It was hard to admit, but Damon had ‘currently’ lost. However, unless he died, that defeat was not the true end, was it? Knowing that there was a third life, and that Rutherford, who coordinated the gods and the world, was behind him, he had nothing to fear. He believed that he was bound to win, so what could possibly shake him?

Since only Ian and Jin knew about Damon’s reincarnation, Hale frowned, wondering what nonsense he was spouting.

Ziiing!

At that moment, a very powerful force vibrated the back of his neck. Hale and the mages reacted again. Strangely, something familiar and unfamiliar was mixed together. This meant two forces.

The familiar one was-

“…The moon has risen.”

The black moon. The huge, dark moon that Ian had summoned and was descending towards the edge of the First Imperial Palace.

The unfamiliar one was-

“Intruders! Intruders have arrived!”

The presence of intruders, Rutherford’s subordinates, who had approached to secure Damon.

Hale drew his sword, and the mages rushed outside, strengthening their defenses. Where were they? Where had they hidden? They couldn’t be seen.

“Secure your positions!”

“Kill them! You bastards.”

“If I catch you, I’ll tear you apart! Do you know how much we’ve suffered because of you? Why did you even make Idgal!?”

“Yeah. And what’s your relationship with Lord Ian?”

“Have you ever heard of Mamayeon [a mythical creature or concept]? Huh?”

The mages shouted into the air, glaring at the intruders who might be listening from somewhere. At that moment, a pillar of light struck down with a flash. Hale reflexively rushed towards it and unleashed his magic power, and a figure wearing a black hood appeared.

Ziiing! Thud!

Was it just one? As Hale wondered, a roar erupted from behind. It was the direction where Damon was detained.

The mages spread their magic like a net, creating a wall that prevented anyone unauthorized from taking even a single step forward.

Crash! Bang!

Two more intruders in black hoods appeared. As the mages reached out to cast their spells, another one fell from the ceiling like a meteor.

The world brightened and darkened with each exchange. The seemingly endless, tense battle began to crack not long after.

“……?”

The intruders, as if sensing something, simultaneously paused and turned to look in one direction. It was the direction of the First Imperial Palace, where the black moon had risen. They frowned, unable to hide their perplexed expressions.

“Tigmore, what should we do?”

“Did Lord Rutherford abandon us? Leave us behind?”

“What? What about Rutherford?”

“Haa, haa, you bastards. You’re talking big because you think you’re losing.”

“Keep coming, you punks!”

The mages, drenched in sweat, waved their red headbands and tried to charge at the intruders. Just as the intruders had sensed an odd energy, they too couldn’t help but pause.

“…Huh?”

“Why……”

Why had the magic power that had been overflowing from the First Imperial Palace vanished without a trace? The mages slowly looked up at the clear sky, where the black moon had disappeared.

* * *

For Ian, it was the right choice.

He had already died in the name of Verosian, and therefore, he could not run on the same timeline as the people he had met here.

If he could enter the abyss and meet Naum at the same time as dealing with Rutherford, if he could say a word to Naum, who was dying in constant pain, if the gods would allow him to bring him out, any choice would be right. Definitely.

Ziiing!

“Lord Rutherford!”

Ian’s coughing up blood was endless. It was the trace of burning everything, thinking it was the last time.

Rutherford and the mages stepped back to avoid Ian, but who could avoid the moon falling from the sky? Everyone would be devoured. Everyone would seep into that darkness, pass through the rift, and open their eyes in the abyss.

「Many Leaves」.

Screeeech!

The World Tree spread out like wings from Ian’s back.

Rutherford, as well as his mages, could not believe what was happening. They were sure that he was suffering from the pain of his insides being torn apart and his heart being crushed by the contract magic. How could he not only open a portal in that condition but also summon Many Leaves?

The portal was highly likely to be connected to the rift of Qliphoth [a concept in Kabbalah representing the realm of evil]. It would be closer than the north.

Swish!

“Lord Rutherford! This is no good! We must get out of the building. There’s no end to this!”

The mages continuously struck down the World Tree, but they knew that there was nothing they could do unless Ian died.

In that gap, a thick tree trunk rose up, wrapping around Rutherford’s ankle. It wrapped around his thigh, passed his waist, and instantly grabbed his neck. Rutherford struggled with all his might and shouted.

“You, this-!”

Ian! Ian! Ian!

Rutherford repeatedly called Ian’s name in his mind, invoking the sanctity of the contract magic. Judging by the faint reaction below his chest, the power was clearly still being activated.

But why wasn’t that bastard falling?

But why wasn’t he kneeling again?

“Lord Ian!”

“To, to go to the abyss……”

The injured mages called out to Ian, limping, but he did not turn his gaze even slightly. He was using all the strength in his body to maintain the portal and summon Many Leaves. If he lost his focus even a little, everything would be for naught.

That was how desperately Ian was collapsing. It felt like only a very small and fragile thread was supporting him. He didn’t know what it was. Was it the detachment of accepting his fate, or was it love for Bariel? Even thinking about it was a luxury for Ian.

Swoosh!

“Ugh!”

As if connected by an unknown force, Ian and Rutherford were connected by the World Tree. Ian was trying to drag him into the black moon, and Rutherford was resisting. Blood stained the fingertips that were trying to tear off the vines.

At that moment, a hand reached out among the mages who were blankly watching the situation.

Grab.

It was Acorella. She crawled through the hallway and grabbed Ian’s World Tree. It seemed like she was trying to stop him for a moment. The mages realized that Acorella was pouring her remaining power into Ian. She rubbed her blood-soaked face and shouted.

“You idiots, they’re busy saving their master, and we’re just watching?”

“Cap, Captain! But-”

“But what, but what!?”

“Lord Ian said he’s going to the abyss……”

“Whether it’s the abyss or hell! It’s Lord Ian’s judgment and decision. Who are you to question his decision? Get your heads straight? His Highness Jin is outside!”

If they failed to deal with Rutherford here and left a future threat, could they take responsibility? Since it was a matter decided by Ian, their guide, it was right to trust and follow him completely.

Acorella shouted while transferring her magic power. Ian wasn’t looking this way, but he would be able to hear the sound.

“Lord Ian! I don’t know about anything else, but please live!”

“Captain, please! This is really not good!”

“If you’re alive, we can see you again! Thank you for the Luron stone. And, haa. Please eat well.”

“Captain, I don’t want to. I can’t do it. It feels like I’m pushing Lord Ian into the abyss-”

“Lord Ian! Please come back! We’ll be waiting!”

“Please! Don’t do it! No!”

Opinions were divided among the mages. Some were helping Acorella and giving all their remaining magic power, while others couldn’t bring themselves to do that.

Swish!

The World Tree, empowered by the mages, surged even more fiercely. Ian only looked at Rutherford and did not turn back. His choice was definitely right. When he considered everything, it was the right choice without a single flaw.

But why was one side of his heart so painful? Ian didn’t even realize that he was crying as he threw himself into the black moon.

Slowly, his surroundings were erased.

The mages, the chandeliers-

The painting on the wall…….

‘Ah.’

The huge painting that reached the ceiling lingered in Ian’s gaze. A painting of an angel blessing Bariel. The eyes within the painting were so detailed that they seemed to move as if they were alive. As Ian was drawn into it, he suddenly realized.

‘Jin is behind that painting.’

What a suitable hiding place. Just like the Emperor, he had been watching everything from behind the painting.

Ian smiled faintly and hugged the World Tree tightly. It felt like sinking into a sea of tranquility. The screams of Rutherford, who was rushing at the end, felt distant.