Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 490

“Is it strange?”

“Yes. It’s strange.”

Nakina was staring intently at Hale, who stood before the Idgal [a magical substance]. In front of her, another mage, Tommy, was squatting, writing a report.

The two were looking in different directions, yet they were muttering the same thing.

“It’s been worse lately.”

“That’s right. It wasn’t like this before, but something has definitely changed.”

“I guess it’s better to tell him to quit smoking?”

“Yes. Cigarettes… Why?”

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

The two looked at each other and blinked. Was this what they called a pipe dream? They thought they were talking about the same thing, but it seemed they weren’t.

Tommy scratched his cheek with the back of his pen and asked with a puzzled look.

“What are you talking about?”

“No, look at Captain Hale. He’s been spacing out lately. He doesn’t seem to be in pain, but he looks uncomfortable.”

At Nakina’s gesture, Tommy also looked at Captain Hale. He was currently being scolded by the mages managing the Idgal for lighting a cigarette. Was it any different from usual? Tommy waved his hand, dismissing it as unnecessary worry.

“It’s been a while since we left the center, so he must be tired. It’s our first time being out here for so long. The closest pub waters down their alcohol, so there’s no joy in getting drunk.”

“Is that so? Maybe it’s because it’s spring and he’s feeling the change of seasons?”

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you buy him some drinks with your own money, senior?”

“Shut up. Captain Hale makes more money than I do, why should I? Anyway, what were you talking about? The Idgal?”

“Hmm. It seems like the magic power spiked once.”

“What does that mean?”

Tommy handed the handwritten report to Nakina. Numbers were scribbled all over it. The change values of the Idgal, installed with the magic anomaly device, were densely recorded.

“Originally, one Idgal’s rift control period is about fifteen days. But it absorbed the maximum magic power in just a week. All at once. The magic anomaly device records are also outside the normal range.”

“There was a change under the rift?”

“I’m guessing so.”

The same phenomenon was reported in Zone 2, Clifford, but the north and south were at opposite ends. Moreover, since reports were sent and shared centered around the Imperial Palace, they had to interpret what this meant on their own unless they received a call from that side.

Nakina was about to call Hale when she was stroking her chin.

“Captain!”

Boom! Boom!

Small fireworks decorated the sky. The mages turned their heads at the same time. They looked annoyed, but they couldn’t show it because the soldiers were running over in surprise.

Tap tap!

“Mages! Mages!”

“Yes, yes. We saw the signal just now. Where is it this time?”

“It’s near the large stone tomb in the northern mountains. There, there are quite a few of them. It seems like they came prepared! The Atan tribe chief was also seen.”

“They’re alive and kicking, those bastards. Captain!”

Nakina called Captain Hale, wrapping a red cloth around her wrist and fingers. It was an attack by the Atan tribe. To be precise, it was more like they were making a fuss to expand the rift.

“Anyway, they’re just like the Beric race. They eat so much. How about we all go together today?”

“Yeah. It’s better since the Atan tribe chief is here.”

“Yes, yes. I understand. Let’s go and kill a couple of them this time. If we leave them alone, they’ll just keep growing in size. If we leave them like this, we won’t be able to handle them later.”

Hale bit down on his cigarette, agreeing to some extent. Kill a couple of them, it was such an easy yet difficult thing to say.

Over the past 10 years, the number of Atan tribes had increased surprisingly. It was partly because another rift had formed near Bariel, but the biggest reason was that there was no force to keep them in check.

‘The Magic Department?’

The Magic Department’s mission was to investigate the rifts and prevent their expansion. Stopping the Atan tribe was not within their purpose, and if they were to stop them with all their might, they could unintentionally suffer a setback.

‘They were torn apart from the Imperial Palace, and then torn apart again to the north and south. If the mages were to get hurt or die in the battle with the Atan tribe, it would be an economic loss that could not be calculated.’

“Should I bring a sword? A really sharp one.”

“…No. Just a dagger.”

“Ugh! Again! Again! Are you going to scratch someone’s back with a dagger again!?”

Thus, a truly bizarre cohabitation continued. They would drive each other out and retreat in a relationship of mutual understanding. In the process, the Atan tribe grew, and the Magic Department stagnated.

Hale lit a cigarette and warned his subordinates.

“As you all know, the goal is to drive the Atan tribe out of the northern mountains without a major armed conflict.”

“Captain. The frequency of them crossing the line is increasing. Has there been no response from the Imperial Palace yet?”

It was felt that the balance between the two sides, which had been tightly maintained, was gradually being distorted. They had sent a message to the Imperial Palace, requesting that they send personnel to handle the Atan tribe, but who knows. With Prince Jin’s coming-of-age ceremony coming up, it was doubtful whether they could pay attention to this side.

Above all, how many people in the Imperial Palace could handle the Atan tribe other than mages? Only the magic swordsmen would be the only ones. But with rumors of war with Burgos circulating, they wouldn’t easily give up members of the Imperial Guard.

“…They’ll be here soon.”

“They’re not here, they’re not here.”

“Okay, let’s go! Let’s go and eat!”

“Let’s finish today’s schedule after going to the northern mountains? Let’s go to the pub and have a drink. Time doesn’t pass here without alcohol. Tsk tsk.”

“The guard captain should just manage the barrier well.”

“Ah, yes, yes! Please go!”

“If anything happens, shoot a flare right away.”

“Don’t worry!”

Thump!

Hale patted the guard captain’s shoulder as a sign of thanks.

Not only the guard captain, but all the guards standing watch around them focused their attention on the mages. It was a moment when they could feel that those who were no different from them had received the will of God. It was a moment that made their mouths water.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Tap tap!

Whoosh!

The mages opened their golden eyes at the same time and soared into the sky. The Idgal flickered for a moment due to the magic power that burst out, but that was it. Thanks to the mages quickly moving away from the ground, it immediately regained a certain level of light.

“Oh, my. It’s amazing every time I see it.”

“I know, right? They usually seem like lazy friends who live on cigarettes and alcohol, haha.”

“Lock the barrier! Just in case, ban the passage of nearby residents!”

“Everyone will complain. Saying it’s starting again.”

The guards glanced at the rift zone, which resembled a golden amber field, and climbed onto the barrier.

Amidst the dim and smoky haze, the subtly shining Idgal unfolded like a spectacle.

Whoosh!

Meanwhile, the mages, led by Hale, who were flying up, confirmed that smoke was rising from the distant northern mountains. The unique thing was that the smoke was bluish, not gray.

It was the magical trace of the Atan tribe chief, Efdram.

“Captain, they’re over there.”

“Approach slowly.”

At Hale’s nod, Nakina and Tommy split to the left and right, and the mages followed behind them. As if responding to Efdram’s magic power, hot air was gushing out from the rifts that were opening up from time to time.

“Oh, they’ve come. The Empire’s mages.”

“They’re a bit faster today.”

“I know. Did they not eat? They’re light on their feet.”

Efdram, sensing their presence, sparkled her golden eyes and reached out to the sky. No matter how you looked at it, it was more like a reaction to welcoming an old friend than an enemy.

That was because if mages fought each other, the aftermath would shake the rift even more. Therefore, mages had to minimize their magic power when responding, and the Atan tribe could not easily attack because they were mages belonging to the Empire.

They clashed periodically, but it was a relationship where neither side lost. If this wasn’t friendship, what was it?

“Hey, over here!”

“What do you mean, over here! Get lost!”

“It’s been a while, why are you like this?”

“You came a few days ago too. Why don’t you fight outside the Bariel border? Why do you keep crawling in here and bothering people?”

“My kids came, but I didn’t? Ah, ah. Don’t be like that, come down here for a bit. I have something to say.”

Efdram gestured and requested a conversation. Nakina and Tommy glanced at Hale, noticing her slightly different reaction than usual.

Hale ordered the mages to be on guard, then landed alone near Efdram. The thick smell of monster blood was so strong that it made his stomach churn. Efdram and most of the Atan tribe were covered in dried blood. It seemed like they had caught and eaten some monsters somewhere.

“Oh, Captain Hale. Did you get a haircut?”

“What’s the matter?”

“You’re so uptight.”

Chik.

Efdram chuckled and lit a cigarette. Then, she put her hand on her hip and paused for a moment. It seemed like she wasn’t just talking nonsense when she said she had something to say.

“It’s nothing much, but have you heard the news?”

“About what?”

“That Rutherford has returned.”

“……?!”

There was no information from the Imperial Palace. Hale pretended to be holding a cigarette to hide his embarrassment, but Efdram quickly noticed the change.

“You haven’t heard? How can the news be so slow?”

“I don’t know if it’s news or a rumor.”

“Ah, well, if you say so, I have nothing to say. Anyway, we’re going to cross over to Burgos to meet Rutherford? We won’t be active in the northern region for a while.”

Hale frowned and exhaled cigarette smoke. So what? If you’re going, just disappear quietly, why make a fuss and make the mages come and go?

As if she knew Hale’s thoughts, Efdram shrugged her shoulders.

“It’s a farewell greeting. But also, a warning.”

“…What?”

“If we meet again after meeting Rutherford, it won’t end with just talking like this. It’s been good, I’m saying goodbye in advance.”

Ding! Efdram flicked her cigarette and held out her hand to Hale.

She was a woman who sensed the beginning of war before anyone else. Hale just stared at her outstretched hand, showing no reaction.

“That’s disappointing.”

“If Rutherford has returned-”

“Huh?”

Efdram frowned, as if she couldn’t hear what Hale was saying.

“It means there’s a possibility that Ian has also returned.”

“Ah, Ian. Well, I don’t know. Should I ask Rutherford when I meet him?”

“Never mind. Get lost. And the warning is not for us, but for you. There will be no next time. Then, we will prevent the next disturbance by killing you, regardless of the rift or anything else.”

“This bastard, who do you think you’re talking to!”

“Hey. Stop it.”

The Atan tribe members who were listening behind Efdram raised their swords, expressing their displeasure.

But Captain Hale turned his back without paying attention and sent a hand signal to the mages. Rutherford’s return. He didn’t know if the Imperial Palace knew about this, but it would be better to send a report first.

“Captain, what’s wrong?”

“They’re being louder than usual today.”

“Rutherford-”

Just as he was about to say that Rutherford seemed to have returned.

A bird cuts through the gray sky. It was a familiar one. It was a carrier pigeon connecting the Imperial Palace and the northern border. The bird circled in the sky and landed on Hale’s shoulder.

Swoosh!

“It’s a letter.”

The note was short. Hale recognized Romandro’s handwriting and immediately read the contents.

-Minister Ian is heading north with Beric, join them.

“……!”

“……!”

“Captain? What’s wrong?”

“Why, why? What did the Imperial Palace say?”

“How dare you! The Imperial Palace’s letter!”

“No, who did what? I’m just curious about what it says.”

When Efdram stuck her head out, the mages roughly pushed her away and shouted.

In the chaotic atmosphere, Hale finally realized. The reason for the strange sensation and abnormal reaction that had been going on for days.

“…Return.”

“Return!”

“Damn it, let’s go!”

“Waaaaah!”

Whoosh!

There was only one way to enter the northern barrier.

Hale jumped into the sky without hesitation, and the mages immediately followed him. He could hear Efdram shouting something behind him, but no one paid attention.

And-

“Captain Hale! Over there!”

Between the endless hills, a group can be seen slowly walking along a wide meadow path. One horse and two people. Red hair and golden hair. Their features were not clearly visible, but it was certain.

Hale and the mages instinctively lowered their altitude and rushed towards them.

“Ah!”

Whoosh!

The mages got closer and closer to the ground, and then slid down the hillside smoothly.

The mages, who had been rolling and falling, were able to slowly recover their bodies only when they reached the gentle slope. And then, they were able to meet Ian, who had not changed at all from their memories.

Ian smiled and waved his hand.

It had been a long time since they had seen each other, and he was full of joy.

“Everyone, how have you been?”