Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 476

The new religion that had its roots in Toolun experienced a revival. Its beginnings were humble, but its end was grand, bringing religious wars to Gaia and seizing a large branch of the unified faith in God.

Ian realized that all beings called ‘shadows,’ including the underground god, were ‘the shadow.’ Thus, he accurately recognized why that thing was the shadow of God. It wouldn’t exist if God didn’t exist, and by existing, it was a paradoxical relationship that proved God’s existence. Therefore, the shadow arrogantly called itself God.

“…One of many names?”

Ian slowly raised his mana sword. Now he seemed to understand the cycle of fate he was standing in.

“To have the name of God while possessing the attributes of a demon. It’s excessive.”

All the circumstances that caused the earthquake were understood. Since it had its heart in the underground, that was the only way to expand its influence outside of Gaia.

Threatening Bariel was also a natural step. The Empire was a country that received God’s blessings in full, so it was one of the important foundations that made up God.

Looking at that, it seemed natural that God had created Idgeal. The existing mana sealing stones were so scarce that they couldn’t stop the overflowing demons. Idgeal was a threat to mages, but at the same time, it was a new way to suppress demons. Unlike mana sealing stones, Idgeal could be created and destroyed as needed. It was suitable for adjusting history.

“Did you raise your sword to cut me down?”

The underground god chuckled and looked down at Ian. To that thing, Ian was just a tiny ant. A being that could be crushed to death at any time.

“…I know. That I can’t cut you down.”

As long as God exists, that thing also exists. Unless all humans with vain beliefs die, its power will not diminish. Ian knew he could never defeat the underground god with his current strength.

“But having faced you, I have no choice but to do everything I can to cut you down. Because that is the calling God has given me, and the reason I exist in this place. It doesn’t matter that you can’t be cut down. I’m just doing what I have to do.”

“How foolish. Do you believe in God? Look at Bandor! He was considered a mage close to God, but he was completely ignored. You will be the same. You will live in illusion.”

“I believe in God.”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Chwaaaak!

Ian’s sword aura exploded. The mana sword, resembling his golden eyes, surged greatly, revealing its presence. A light that didn’t belong in the abyss. Small but clear, and even if it was submerged, it wouldn’t go out.

“Yes. The deeper the faith, the deeper the pain.”

“I’m not afraid. God is with me.”

Everything he did was God’s will, so there was no reason to be afraid, even if there was regret left behind.

The underground god noticed the fragment left in one corner of Ian’s heart and laughed.

“Don’t worry. Everything you’ve given your heart to will be buried underground.”

“Your delusion is laughable. If it were my companions, they would have cut you down with me. They would have made a decision before me without fear. Therefore, we would have laughed together under God’s blessing-”

‘Would have laughed together.’

Ian lowered his stance with a bitter smile.

Let’s target Rutherford first. If he couldn’t cut down the underground god, he would at least do his part by killing Rutherford, the thing’s toy. Since all the work on Gaia was centered around Rutherford, the world would naturally return to normal if he disappeared. And he himself would flow in the right direction.

Taat!

As Ian jumped towards the underground god, the gypsy tried to run away in the opposite direction at the same time. She was worried about getting caught up in the battle.

But at that moment-

“Hiiik!”

Someone grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and waist. When the gypsy turned around in surprise, two unfamiliar men and women were looking at her with desperate faces. It was Melania and Clark. The two of them grabbed the gypsy as if she were a messenger sent by God and asked desperately.

“Is this the rift? We followed you after seeing you move with Sir Ian earlier. It’s a long story, but we can help Sir Ian. We really can.”

“Why are you telling me that? If you can help, you can tell him over there! You must be feeling great, huh.”

“…Aren’t you on Sir Ian’s side?”

“I’m not on anyone’s side-”

Swoosh.

As the gypsy struggled to pull Melania’s hand away, Clark aimed a dagger at her neck. A distance that seemed like it would tear her flesh at any moment. The gypsy paused and glared.

“…What are you doing?”

“Didn’t you see everything? Not helping Sir Ian now means you’re on the side of that demon. We’re going to eliminate you in advance.”

“That’s ridiculous! You guys, I’ve been holding back!”

The gypsy wasn’t a mage, and she wasn’t so weak that she could be defeated by ordinary people. The problem was that she was too full. She opened her gills wide and threatened, and at the same time, she let out all sorts of terrible and eerie sounds.

Unlike Melania, who stepped back in horror, Clark calmly moved closer. He thought it was just noise, but he heard familiar words in between.

‘…Toolun language?’

“And you guys, isn’t it ridiculous to say you’re going to help him? You’re wearing the same clothes as the dead mages?”

It was because they wore the same coats when they infiltrated the Imperial Palace so that the other party wouldn’t recognize them.

The gypsy kept twisting her body, trying to get them to let go, and Melania mustered her courage again and grabbed her lower body.

“There was a reason!”

Ian had saved her during the destruction of the Hyman family. That act was to track Rutherford, but as a result, it was the same as giving Melania a chance. She was planning to use Rutherford to return to the Empire, but she never intended to exist by violating God’s will.

Clark was the same. Rutherford, who had met him in Toolun and taken him in, was his benefactor, but before that, there was Ian. He was the one who had brought peace to Mrs. Rien.

“I don’t know about that!”

“If you want a reward, I’ll give you this. It’s an imperial jewel!”

A jewel that had come with them from the Imperial Palace exhibition hall.

The gypsy seemed to pause for a moment, but then shook her head. She was someone who lived by eating secrets. It wasn’t the shiny stones that were important, but the secrets and stories intertwined with them.

“I know the details of the contract between Sir Ian and Rutherford!”

When the gypsy showed a lukewarm reaction, Melania closed her eyes tightly and shouted. From what she could see, Ian seemed to be a different being than Ian. If so, then the only ones who knew the details of the contract were Melania herself and Rutherford, right?

Only then did the gypsy react, twitching her eyebrows as if something had moved her.

“Can I eat it?”

“Yes? Well, I don’t know. Shouldn’t you ask Sir Ian?”

She said that, but her heart was light. It was a secret, but it was already a past secret. It was a contract that had been broken by Ian’s experience of death in the abyss. There was no reason not to throw it as bait.

The gypsy nodded as if to agree.

“I’ll tell you the way out. However, you have to make your own way. If you survive, promise to give me that secret later.”

“If Sir Ian allows it.”

“Promise to persuade him. That’s the attitude of someone who wants to survive.”

Melania bit her lip and carefully said she understood, and Clark lowered his dagger. He looked at Ian and muttered.

“Can we bring Sir Ian?”

“Are you crazy? It’s hard enough to take you two. And who’s worried about who?”

Look. How high that small human, who is confronting the underground god, is jumping. How brilliant the traces of Gaia that God left behind are.

The gypsy pulled her hood and moved her lower body diligently. It was slow, but she was definitely moving out of the danger zone. Melania and Clark looked back while clinging to the gypsy’s back.

Chwaaaak!

Puh-ung! Puh-ung!

Ian was wielding his mana sword calmly yet fiercely. His appearance was like a warrior who jumped into battle knowing he would die, and like a prophet who served fate.

Every time the mana sword drew its trajectory, golden flames burst out. Silently, fulfilling each sacred duty, Ian clenched his teeth and continued his attack.

“How pathetic.”

Tap tap!

Chwaaak!

Ian’s body shook greatly from the wave that the underground god had released. But that was all. He paused, but he didn’t back down. As Ian stepped into the air, a magic circle appeared at his feet, drawing concentric circles.

Quickly upward, higher, Ian rushed towards Rutherford, who was held by the underground god. His trajectory was drawn by mana and hair.

Taat!

Perhaps it was because he felt the greatly fluctuating energy. Rutherford, who had lost consciousness, frowned. The world was distorted as if he was submerged in water. What was that?

“Rutherford!”

It was the question itself. The roaring voice reached Rutherford, who was inside the underground god.

What was going on? Wasn’t he clearly killed by Ian? As Rutherford tried to move in confusion, a familiar voice was heard.

“Do not be afraid. I am with you.”

…God!

God had saved him again. He felt his body gradually fading. He was going to return without dying again. Indeed, God had not abandoned him.

“Ru-therford!”

Ian shouted again with a shout. As he forcefully pressed down his sword, holding the Idgeal that God had given him, the surroundings cracked like a spider web.

Then, Rutherford’s appearance, which had been inside the underground god, became clearer.

Chwaaak!

“……!”

He wouldn’t let go. With his own hands, he would at least hold onto one of your lives. Even as he was submerged in the waves of the underground god that blocked him, Ian’s determined eyes burned fiercely.

The mana sword approached Rutherford’s eyes as if to cut them.

Taat!

It was a reflex to raise his hand to block it. As God’s wave strangled Ian’s breath, a bright light leaked out from behind him. Everything turned white. Ian’s mana, the Idgeal that was emitting light, and even Rutherford himself. It was an intense light that erased everything.

As if time had stopped, Rutherford looked into Ian’s face, who was glaring at him. He was saying something.

“This is __God. The one you believe in ___……”

“…What?”

Perhaps the noise had been erased by the light. The latter part was muffled with a buzzing sound, and Rutherford soon fell into darkness.

He was a madman. To dare to challenge the power of God. He let out a hollow laugh. What was his identity? Platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. A dignified person. And….

‘…An imperial person.’

* * *

“So, what happened?”

As Rutherford’s words stopped, a Vergos subordinate urged him to continue. He shrugged his shoulders while holding a pipe.

“…There’s a part where I lost consciousness, so that’s all I remember.”

He didn’t say that the true identity of the illegitimate child Ian was an ‘imperial person.’ He didn’t know that he couldn’t say it because it had already been eaten by the gypsy.

“Are you saying that Minister Ian is definitely coming back? Hmm, that’s troublesome. I’ve heard news that the Crown Prince is being enthroned in Bariel.”

“I told you. It’s okay, now is the opportunity.”

“Perhaps, are you saying……”

The Vergos subordinates asked cautiously, with hope in their eyes.

To be so sure, it was clear that……

“Yes. God told me. There is an opportunity before the end of this year.”