Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 535

“Beric, you rascal! Get down!”

Romandro shouted at the top of his lungs, but Beric paid him no mind. Beric glanced down, then tugged at the dragon’s neck, looking annoyed.

“This thing is surprisingly stubborn. Hey! Listen to me!”

“Get down! You crazy bastard!”

“What do you want me to do if it won’t come down? I’m not a mage, and if I jump from here, I’ll die!”

“I know you won’t die, you idiot! Get down! Everyone inside is watching, and if you don’t stop, Ian will scold you! It’s not just about whether you get to eat or not!”

“Sigh, this is how I’m treated. Just like this.”

Beric picked at his ear, but he couldn’t ignore the mention of Ian scolding him. He seemed to think for a moment, then started patting the dragon’s forehead. It was a signal to go down.

“Aish, let’s just go down!”

Krrraaang!

“Oh, you’re talking back? Just because I bit your neck? Huh? If you’re upset, you bite me too.”

The dragon swung its tail roughly, and Beric dodged around, biting its neck again. The dragon’s eyes widened as if they would pop out, and its wings spread wide as if it had goosebumps. Here we go again.

Luckily, it wasn’t going outside the garden. Whether it was thanks to the mages’ magic or because it had some sense, no one knew.

But whatever it was, it was a headache. Romandro made a shade with his hand and looked up at the distant sky, aimlessly. What should he do with that colt [a young, spirited horse, often used to describe a young man]?

“Romandro!”

“Ah, come here! Beric’s gone crazy. He’s finally gone mad!”

“Beric, do you know what day it is today?”

“I know! That’s why I came to the banquet hall to eat meat!”

“Get down! I’ll catch you!”

“Trust you? Ha! Do you think I’m a moron?”

“Haa. Looking at you, you are a moron!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Thud!

The mages, realizing the situation, rushed into the backyard and simultaneously flew into the sky. Finally, Hale. He threw his cigarette to the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and activated his magic.

「Restraint」.

Whoosh!

Romandro, who was standing nearby without a thought, paused and stepped back. He had seen the magic so many times that he clearly remembered its shape and aura. However, Hale’s Restraint was slightly different from Ian’s.

“It’s a rope?”

Unlike Ian’s, which had pillars of light falling from the sky along the floor and walls, Hale shot out something in the shape of a rope. The mages in the air did the same.

They wrapped ropes around the dragon’s neck, legs, wings, and tail, and then pulled it down with all their might. It wasn’t easy because it was so heavy.

Whoosh!

“What is this? This wasn’t the original magic.”

“I haven’t been slacking off for ten years, Romandro.”

“Did you modify it? Amazing, huh. Oh my, you’ve suffered a lot going north! Should I help?”

“When the dragon comes down, grab Beric’s hair and pull it.”

“Okay! Don’t worry about that! I’ll do it properly!”

“On the count of one, two, three, put your strength in!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Tommy, are you on the left wing, and Nakina on the right?”

“Yes! But it’s a dragon, so it’s no joke.”

“On three, pull the wings in opposite directions! We can’t handle it with just weight!”

Ziiing!

They had been through thick and thin together for most of their lives, so they knew each other well. On Hale’s command, the mages stood in place and straightened their posture.

“One, two, three!”

Kaang!

The dragon struggled, but it couldn’t move properly because its wings were tied. The dragon, slowly and gradually descending, eventually gave up and lay down on its back, exposing its belly.

Thump!

“Ugh! I, I’m crushed!”

Beric, who had been clinging to its back, struggled, unable to bear the weight. He barely managed to get his face out and take a breath, but then shadows fell over him. It was the mages, grinning wickedly.

“Yo. Hello.”

“Hello? Hellooo?”

“It’s not my fault. That thing suddenly flew up.”

“Whether it flew up or not, why did you get on it?!”

“Ack! Wait, I’m crushed! I’m crushed!”

“Shut up! That’s why we’re hitting you!”

“Ugh! I’ll remember this, ugh! Ack!”

The mages rushed in at the same time, grabbing Beric’s hair, cheeks, and nose, venting their anger, and Beric had no choice but to suffer. Romandro tried to join in and help, but the mages were so fierce that he was pushed back.

“Everyone, stop.”

“Huff, huff…”

“I haven’t hit Beric yet.”

“Oh my, I’m tired. Even hitting is a chore.”

At Hale’s command, the mages sat down, breathing heavily. They were already worn out from maintaining the White Night [likely a magical barrier or event], and this additional waste of energy was infuriating.

Hale put a new cigarette in his mouth and looked at the dragon lying on its back.

“This one’s not easy either.”

It wasn’t unconscious, nor was it frozen in shock. It knew that Beric couldn’t move because of its weight, and it hadn’t moved to let Beric suffer. It was no ordinary creature.

Even now, the dragon realized that Hale was talking about it, and it turned its head, blinking its eyes rapidly. Very cutely, with a touch of charm.

-Kyuu?

“Ugh. What was that sound just now? Did you make it? You’re huge, but where did you learn to act cute-”

-Kyuuuu?

“Ugh! My back, my back is breaking!”

The dragon shook its body, crushing Beric, and the mages just watched, then fell back. Beric reached out to Romandro for help, but Romandro turned away, pretending not to see. He thought it would be good for him to suffer properly.

Realizing that no one would help him, Beric had no choice but to cry out.

“Iaaaaan!”

* * *

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the banquet hall was a little different from outside. The dragon illusion moved wildly, passing through the second floor, the ceiling, and the feet, giving the feeling of being in a planned performance.

The dragon’s vivid movements, the wonder of flying in the sky, the mystery of seeing an unfamiliar creature up close. Everything swirled together, filling the banquet hall.

And a mage was frantically weaving through the gaps.

“Ian, sir. Should we stop the magic?”

Should they keep showing it? The mages seemed confused and lost, taken aback by Beric’s unexpected appearance.

But Ian lightly raised his hand to stop them and remained silent, telling them to wait a moment. He quickly read the chaotic reactions in the banquet hall.

“Beric? Is that the Imperial Guard swordsman?”

“Yes. The one Ian brought from outside.”

“I heard he eats like a beast, but his impression is very different from what I imagined. But what is he saying? It sounds like he’s shouting something.”

“I don’t know. I can’t hear him.”

“I wonder if they put safety measures in place.”

“Hey, he’s a swordsman, so he doesn’t need that.”

“My goodness, such boldness. He must have nothing to fear.”

“Amazing! Amazing!”

Fortunately, the vulgar conversations from the garden were not heard. From the outside, the Imperial Guard swordsman Beric seemed to be skillfully handling the unfamiliar dragon, freely soaring through the sky, which was a fresh shock to the audience.

Ian covered his mouth and whispered to the mages.

“We’ll stop it when I signal. Everyone, prepare to divert their attention. Where is Commander Hale?”

“He went out to deal with it immediately.”

“Good. To your positions.”

“Yes, Ian, sir.”

The nobles laughed and treated the dragon as entertainment, but Repin frowned and stroked his mustache, displeased. He had been trying to find fault with them for not presenting the tribute directly, but it was completely gone now.

Moreover, this kind of production. It wasn’t just a simple display; it was enhancing the dragon’s majesty and mystery without holding back.

“…Tch.”

“But why is a guard riding the dragon?”

“I don’t know about that either.”

“Could it be a mistake? The mages’ movements are also unusual.”

“Hmm? Really?”

Repin’s eyes darted around at his attendant’s words. There was no change on the face of Ian Hielo, the head of the Magic Department, but the faces of the scattered mages seemed to show signs of panic.

‘I wish they would drop him and kill him!’

In his heart, he prayed and prayed for the red-haired man to fall. If that happened, Bariel’s face would fall to the ground, no different from death, wouldn’t it? The loss of their best force would be a bonus.

As Repin was watching the dragon illusion and cursing, he suddenly felt a cold gaze. When he slowly turned around, Jin was staring at him, resting his chin on his hand.

“……!”

“Isn’t it enjoyable to watch? It’s certainly a great tribute.”

“…Yes, yes. Your Highness. If Your Highness finds it enjoyable and great, we are simply grateful.”

It was then. The moment the dragon illusion was in the center of the banquet hall. Beams of light shot out from all directions, and soon, they bound the dragon.

What appeared next were the mages, flying around the dragon. The beams of light from their hands adorned the banquet hall. A powerful and beautiful sight.

“Oh my, it’s the mages!”

“Wow, are they flying in the sky right now?”

“Look at how the dragon can’t move. As expected, they’re amazing. No matter what kind of monster comes, it’s no match for the mages. I look forward to their performance in the war!”

“Yes. The tide of the war is clear! Victory will only be with Bariel!”

As the mages subdued the dragon in perfect unison, the nobles once again burst into admiration.

This wasn’t just a battle between mages and a dragon. It was a kind of monster from an enemy country, different from humans. The dragon symbolized Lusweena, Burgos, and even the rifts. No matter how great the danger, the nobles praised that as long as the mages were there, there would be no problem.

“That’s enough.”

Ian signaled to the mages in the banquet hall with a gesture, and at the same time, all the magic was withdrawn. The image of the dragon falling down disappeared in an instant, and only flower petals scattered in its place.

King Clifford, who had been watching with interest, stood up and applauded as if to show off.

Clap clap clap!

“Very wonderful! Bariel’s power is amazing!”

Then, the entire Clifford delegation followed suit and applauded, and the Hawan Kingdom delegation next to them also joined in with praise. The nobles also gracefully raised their hands, expressing their gratitude for the entertainment.

Ian placed his hand on his chest and nodded, then stepped down from the platform to conclude the audience.

“Envoy Repin.”

“Yes, yesss. Your Highness.”

“The precious tribute, I have seen it all. You may now step back and enjoy Bariel’s festival.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Jin waved his hand as if there was no more time to spare, and the audience was concluded. While the Lusweena delegation was organizing and bringing down their items, Ian approached Clifford and bowed lightly.

“Your Highness. Thank you.”

To finish well, the applause and cheers of the audience were essential. Ian could have led it, but the atmosphere was more natural with a third party like Clifford taking the lead.

King Clifford, with his cheeks flushed with excitement, kept laughing.

“Wonderful, wonderful! So, you put Beric with the red hair on the red dragon? That was a very excellent insight. I have one suggestion. If you show that scene at the send-off ceremony, the soldiers’ morale will be great.”

“……”

Ian paused for a moment, looking at the king’s face. Beric’s appearance was a mistake, didn’t he know? King Clifford offered Ian a glass of wine with sparkling eyes, and Ian accepted it nonchalantly.

“…I will consider it carefully.”

“Yes, yes! Hahaha! Oh, it was spectacular! It was very enjoyable to watch.”

“Then, I’ll be going.”

Ian gave a small nod to the mages who were looking at him worriedly, signaling that everything was okay. And then he gave an order. With a bright smile, as there were many eyes watching.

“Bring Beric.”