Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 492

“You have absolutely no magic power?”

“Unfortunately, it’s the lowest I’ve ever felt.”

“Goodness.”

Hale stroked his chin, looking quite surprised. He had wondered why Ian, who had returned from the abyss, had come north instead of to the Imperial Palace, and now he knew the reason.

The mages also straightened up, looking as if they couldn’t believe it, and carefully examined Ian. They had been relieved that he seemed fine externally, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. What on earth had happened in the abyss that had depleted Ian’s magic power, of all people?

“As far as I remember, this is the first time I’ve seen you unable to use your magic, Lord Ian. Didn’t you say it’s been a few days since you came out of the abyss? Someone like you should have recovered to some extent.”

“How far can you go?”

“I can’t even release my magic power.”

“This is unbelievable.”

As the mages hesitated, Berik picked at his ear, saying it was no big deal. He had been rolling around in the abyss, of all places, so it was okay to hit rock bottom.

One of the mages, noticing his indifferent gaze, snapped his fingers and added firmly,

“It’s not a simple matter, Berik. Lord Ian had much greater and stronger magic power than other mages. So, he often endured alone even when everyone else had reached their limits.”

“So?”

“So, that means it’s completely bottomed out. Releasing magic power is as instinctive as breathing. If that’s impossible…”

The mages simultaneously turned to Ian. They all had serious expressions, but Ian was facing them with a relaxed smile.

Ah, please stop smiling. It’s a serious moment, and you’re making me laugh along. As the mages smiled with tearful faces, Hale rolled up his sleeves.

“Since we can’t gauge it, let’s try it first.”

“Ehh. In short, you’re saying we have to pour it in like crazy? What a waste of resources.”

“The waste of resources is your stomach, Berik. Lord Ian’s recovery will speed up if we raise it to a certain level.”

Hale politely extended his hand, and Ian took it without hesitation.

In that moment, a despairing hypothesis flashed through the mages’ minds. Could it be that Lord Ian had permanently lost his magic power?

Long ago, wasn’t there a man named Bandor who returned from the abyss and ended up like that? He survived in another’s body, but he was still stripped of his qualifications as a mage. By the abyss, that is.

“Wait, wait a minute! Captain!”

“Is it okay to do this here? How about we go back to the Imperial Palace first, and then try it? Just in case…”

The mages grabbed Captain Hale’s wrist at once and shouted. If the hypothesis was true, and if Ian was now an ordinary person, he wouldn’t be able to handle Hale’s magic power. Rather, it would cause side effects, like pouring poison into his body.

“It’s okay.”

But Ian, as if he had foreseen their worries, lightly shook his head.

“Bandor lost his magic power in the abyss for a different reason, the abyss itself wasn’t the cause of the loss. And above all, I clearly felt you all approaching from afar.”

What could be more certain than that? Since they were mages connected by senses, Ian gestured for them to share their power without fear.

Hale’s eyes, with a cigarette in his mouth, instantly turned golden.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Whoosh!

The flow of magic power slowly circled around the two of them. It was warm, like a spring breeze itself.

Berik still watched with his chin resting on his hand from atop the horse, and the mages clasped their hands together and prayed. Please, may there be no more pain and trials for Lord Ian.

“Ah.”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

How long had it been? Sweat began to drip from Hale’s chin. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled meaningfully, as if something was wrong. The mages covered their mouths and tensed up.

“Lord Ian, this is a big problem.”

“Why is that?”

“At first, I thought I was mistaken because it had been so long, but it wasn’t. I’m not enough.”

In the past 10 years, Ian had remained the same, but something inside him had changed. The depth of the magic vessel, which was already so huge that it made them stick out their tongues, had become so deep that it was impossible to even guess.

This was not a level that Hale could fill, even if he gave all his strength.

“Didn’t you feel it too, Lord Ian?”

“Ah, a little. I thought it was not very good.”

“…I’ll give you as much as I can, but I don’t think it’ll be very effective.”

Ian casually flicked his small hand. Was it because he had been to the abyss, or because he realized that this body itself was divine? Or was it a blessing from God? He didn’t know.

Berik stood up abruptly, looking like he didn’t understand, and asked back.

“No effect? What does that mean?”

“It means, literally, that it’s not even a drop in the bucket. The depth of the vessel that holds magic power has become so vast that it can’t even be compared to before. It will take longer to recover, and if it does recover-”

If it recovers? They would see a different level of power. It was already a vessel that could hold the entire Magic Department, but now it was far beyond that. Hale couldn’t even imagine how vast and distant Ian’s limits were.

“So, does that mean he’ll be an empty can for the time being?”

“Stop calling him a can, a can! Lord Ian will be upset!”

“What? Ian, are you upset?”

“It’s not polite to even ask that!”

“You, you don’t treat me with respect, do you?”

“We’re the same rank, that’s funny. Get lost.”

While the mages and Berik were bickering, Ian felt a faint magic power stirring within him. It had been completely empty before, but thanks to Hale’s help, he was now able to feel the flow.

How much would he have to recover to use magic without any problems? As Ian looked down at his palm, the mages gathered around him one by one and placed their hands on top of his.

“Lord Ian, it’s our turn now.”

“It’ll be less than Captain Hale, but well, this is what it means to share. It would be great if it helps.”

“Sharing! Oh, I know that well now.”

“Lord Ian. Please receive it.”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

On the vast field, golden light flickered. It was the haze of magic power rising around Ian and the mages.

Among them, one mage, who had last seen him 10 years ago, was moved and shed tears like chicken droppings again. Back then, it was a power that drove Ian to death, but now it was to help him, which seemed to be touching.

Thanks to the concentrated magic power, Ian’s blond hair slowly fluttered.

“How is it?”

A mage, who was sweating a little, asked cautiously. He was asking if it was helping, but Ian’s answer was unexpected.

“It’s warm.”

“……!”

“……!”

The mages’ eyes widened as if they were about to pop out, and then they all released their magic power even more forcefully. He said it was warm, and he was smiling with his fresh green eyes, so how could they stop?

As the mages seemed to be overdoing it, Ian tried to pull his hand away.

“It’s better to save some power to go to the center.”

“It’s okay. When we return to the barrier, there’s a magic recovery potion that Commander Acorella sent. Please take it too, Lord Ian. It’s not noticeably good, but it does have an effect.”

“A recovery potion? Not an amplifier?”

“Yes, it’s already been 10 years, hasn’t it? Commander Acorella has caused quite a few accidents during that time. Haha. She’s made all sorts of things. Once, the basement explosion was so big that she gave the top floor to the magic stone management department.”

Looking at the mage laughing heartily, Ian thought that she was still the same. He wondered what else she might have made besides the recovery potion. She must have created amazing things.

As the mages held Ian’s hand tightly, telling him not to worry, Ian nodded in agreement and received all the power.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

“Huff, huff…”

“Oh my, I’m done.”

“I guess we’re getting old too? Right?”

“Don’t say ‘we.’ I’m still, okay.”

“Wipe the drool before you talk.”

A long time passed like that.

It was the time when the sun was gradually getting darker. The mages were sprawled out on the field, and only Ian was standing in the middle. They were all soaked with sweat, but they were smiling as if they felt refreshed.

Berik chewed on jerky and chuckled.

“Ian, it looks like you’ve taken them all down.”

“Can everyone make it to the barrier?”

“Yes, yes, just a little, just a little rest! Haha!”

“They’re happy, those guys. Sigh. Ian! Can you release your magic power now? We’ve poured all these guys in, so you should be able to now, right?”

At Berik’s question, the mages only slightly raised their heads and looked at Ian. Please, it should be possible, right?

“…Hmm.”

Ian seemed to be pondering something for a moment, then nodded.

The next moment. The wind around Ian stopped for a moment, then exploded strongly. The short grass swayed coolly, instantly cooling the mages’ sweat.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

“Wow, wow!”

“It’s done, it’s done! That’s enough for today, Lord Ian! Now all that’s left is to go to the Imperial Palace!”

“Yay!”

As Ian’s green eyes flashed gold, the mages cheered. They hugged each other and rolled around in the field, and some even rushed at Berik and willingly got piggybacked. It was only for a brief moment, but they had confirmed that there was no problem with Ian’s magic power, and they had indirectly guessed that some of its power had returned.

“The sun will be setting soon. Lord Ian, let’s go to the barrier first. Everyone has the strength to fly, right?”

“Just a moment, really. Just a little, five minutes!”

“Oh, right, Hale.”

As the mages playfully begged, Ian pointed at Berik with a nod.

“I heard that the Atan tribe is still causing problems in the vicinity. Berik will be negotiating with them under the orders of His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“…Is he the troubleshooter sent by the Imperial Palace?”

“Oh, damn it. I have no expectations at all. Berik, you know what a negotiation is, right? You can’t get angry and fight? There are rifts all over the barrier, so you’re sensitive to magic power.”

“Am I a kid?”

Hale, watching Berik and the mages bickering, looked north as if it was a good thing and told Ian. Come to think of it, he thought he could faintly see the barrier.

“It’s true that the Atan tribe is causing a disturbance in the vicinity. But before coming here, that is, before meeting Lord Ian, I met Efdram first. He said he was going to Burgos to find Rutherford. Considering that Lord Ian has returned from the abyss, it is expected that Rutherford will also be somewhere in Burgos. Anyway, since he’s going that way, there’s no chance of them causing problems at the northern barrier for the time being. Whether it’s appropriate to have Berik meet Efdram in the current situation…”

It could be a waste of time.

What if Ian’s existence was revealed in the process? No one could guarantee whether it would be beneficial or detrimental. Not even Ian himself.

“But if it’s an order from the Imperial Palace, it’s right to carry it out first. If we miss this opportunity, Berik might end up going into Burgos after the Atan tribe.”

At someone’s suggestion, Ian lightly snapped his fingers. As if that was it.

“Is the Atan tribe still in Bariel?”

“They were sighted in the northern mountains, so they won’t be leaving the border by tomorrow night, will they?”

“Good. That’s perfect. Hale, don’t worry about anything else by tomorrow, and first guide Berik to where the Atan tribe is. Berik, you-”

“Me? Why?”

Berik, with wide eyes, pointed at himself with his hand.

Ian firmly grabbed his arm and urged him. Like an adult sending a child on an errand. Even though Ian was a head shorter.

“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say and remember it. You can do that much now, right?”