Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 542

“Hey, wizard?”

At the attendant’s call, the wizard Ruthwena turned her head.

Contrary to her youthful appearance, the wizard’s eyes were deeply sunken. It was clear she had been sitting in that position for hours. The undisturbed bedding and untouched food were proof of that.

“Are you alright?”

“…What, what is it?”

“They’ve come from the Magic Department. They’re asking you to pack your things and come out.”

“I understand. I’ll be out soon.”

“Yes, please let me know if you need any help.”

The attendant left the room with a worried look, and as soon as the door closed, the wizard rushed to her luggage and rummaged through her clothes.

What she found with her trembling hands was a dagger disguised as jewelry. Its edge was so sharp that it looked like a thread from the side.

‘You must not return alone. Persuade those who have defected to Bariel. Wizards are connected by other senses; they are special to each other, aren’t they? It is something only you can do.’

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will keep that in mind.”

‘Once the coronation is over and the departure ceremony takes place, Bariel will immediately declare war on Burgos. Ruthwena is likely to do the same, especially after Repin’s death.’

‘…What should I do then?’

‘You will become Ruthwena’s first warrior. Entering the Imperial Palace means you are closer to Bariel’s heart than anyone else. Use your sword to cut it out and offer it to me.’

‘However, Your Majesty, I cannot face all of Bariel’s wizards. And before that, the moment I enter the Imperial Palace, I will be forced to wear a magic-sealing stone.’

‘The situation is a bit tricky, but you are going as a guest of Ruthwena. Surely they won’t put a shackle around your neck.’

Clink. The wizard fiddled with the magic-sealing stone bracelet tightly attached to her wrist, replaying her conversation with the king.

‘A magic-sealing stone, you can just cut it off. As long as it’s not on your neck.’

‘Y-you mean, cut it off…….’

‘Remember. You are a wizard of Ruthwena, and you have a duty to sacrifice yourself for your country. If Ruthwena is in danger, your family is in danger.’

It would have been easier if it were an ear. The wizard gripped the dagger tightly with her trembling hand.

‘…But even if I remove the magic-sealing stone, I don’t have the strength to fight them. I’ve heard that Ian Hiel, the head of the Magic Department, is so powerful that he rivals the gods. How can I possibly—’

‘If you draw blood, what is there to fear?’

A forbidden magic.

The wizard immediately understood what the king was urging her to do, and she ended up joining the delegation without refusing. On one hand, she also hoped that, contrary to the king’s expectations, Bariel might let them go unharmed.

“Ha, damn it, damn it!”

But she realized. Hope always ignores reality. The delegation leader, Repin, collapsed on the first day, seemingly from eating something bad, and didn’t wake up until the coronation. The rest of the people also scattered somewhere after the ceremony. They were not even preparing to return home; they didn’t even know if each other was alive within the Imperial Palace.

And now.

The Magic Department had come, so it was her turn.

“Hoo.”

The wizard took a breath and was about to cut her wrist with the sword when—

Wham!

The door suddenly burst open, and wizards and soldiers rushed in. Startled, the blade slipped and slightly cut her wrist, causing blood to flow.

“O-oh, don’t come!”

“Seriously, you haven’t changed.”

“I said don’t come!”

“You idiot! Calm down and listen! Get a cloth!”

It was Zaira. And the wizards from Ruthwena. As if they expected this, they all rushed in, subdued the wizard, and tightly wrapped a cloth around her bleeding wrist.

“I thought it was taking too long.”

“Let go of me!”

“Acorella wants you brought to her. Do you know what that means?”

The wizards checked if there were any problems with the magic-sealing stone, and they pressed down on her body to keep her from moving.

The struggling wizard had no choice but to give up. She felt like she would suffocate to death if she kept going.

“We’re giving you one last chance before taking you away. Because we have that trashy Ruthwena blood flowing through our veins! And because we went through the same thing!”

Squeeze.

“Whoa, hold her, hold her.”

“She was going to cut her wrist. You’re a tough one. Put another one on the other wrist.”

“Now you have two, so give up. Huh? How are you going to cut the other one?”

The wizards muttered one by one as they put a magic-sealing stone on the wizard’s other wrist.

She lay there, tears streaming down her face, and didn’t move, realizing that further resistance was pointless.

“What do you want me to do!”

“I understand you’re frustrated, but there’s nothing we can do.”

Zaira glanced at her watch and added,

“Five minutes. This is our last conversation. I guarantee, if you die? Then your whole family dies.”

“Yeah. If you fail your mission, your whole family will die as an example. But if you live? Then they’ll keep you alive as a hostage first. Because they don’t know what you’ll do. Understand?”

“So, let’s say we’ll cooperate with Bariel first. Okay?”

The wizards couldn’t hide their upset feelings. After so many years, the situation of Ruthwena’s wizards hadn’t changed. How lamentable and heartbreaking it was.

At this, the wizard lifted her tear-soaked face and murmured softly.

“Everyone……”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s okay, there’s a way—”

“I’m sorry……”

A hot, bright light rose from below her sobbing throat.

It was an explosion.

Zaira and the wizards instinctively sensed that something was about to burst inside the small child’s body.

Zzzing! Zzzing!

“Zaira!”

“Put up a shield!”

“Hic, hic……”

Leaving the sobbing wizard behind, Zaira immediately created a shield. Not only in the front, back, left, and right, but also on the ceiling.

They didn’t know how powerful the explosion would be, but no harm should come to the Imperial Palace. Not even a single twig should be broken.

“Is it a contract magic? Hey! Can’t you stop it?”

“Hic, I’m sorry, I’m sorry……”

“Zaira, the floor!”

“Oh, crap!”

Zzzing! Zzzing!

The moment Zaira lowered her body and put a shield on the floor—

Boom!

Wham!

With a huge roar, the wizard’s body exploded.

* * *

“Huh.”

When Beric, who had been banging his forehead on a stone, suddenly stood up, Romandro was about to snap at him. To ask where he had been slacking off.

But then, the Imperial Guard members gathered there all stopped simultaneously? Soon, everyone turned their heads in the same direction as Beric. Even Ian.

“Ian, why, what’s wrong?”

“It’s an explosion.”

“An explosion? Just now? Where?”

“It seems to be inside the Imperial Palace, but the energy is a bit strange.”

“Ian! This is the west, right?”

“Commander Jerritt.”

At Ian’s call, Jerritt nodded. Another commander was already protecting the position, but it was a signal that everyone would mobilize to reinforce his safety.

Ian stood up from his seat, activated his magic, and soon walked to the window.

“We need to check from the sky first. Romandro, please return to the Magic Department.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay alone?”

“Yes. Romandro, please move by carriage and check if there are any problems on the ground. Then.”

Zzzing! Zzzing!

Thud!

“Iannn! I wanna go tooo!”

“Beric, you’re an Imperial Guard. Get a grip!”

“Tch. Seriously, that old geezer. He likes me so much!”

At Jerritt’s scolding, Beric trudged towards the Emperor’s residence.

Romandro was left alone in an instant. He looked around warily, then hurried out of the room with quick steps.

Whoosh!

Meanwhile, the location of the commotion was not difficult to find. The guest annex given to Ruthwena. Other wizards were also flying in one by one, and from afar, soldiers were running in lines.

Thud.

“Ian!”

“What happened?”

There was smoke, but no fire was particularly visible. At Ian’s question, Zaira took off her half-broken glasses and sighed.

“I’m sorry.”

Zaira and the wizards from Ruthwena seemed to have suffered minor and major injuries. Some had small scratches, but Zaira, for example, had burn marks all over one arm.

Ian silently took her hand and transferred his magic.

Zzzing.

“I asked what happened.”

“…It seems Ruthwena sent a wizard with a contract magic. We were talking to persuade her for the last time, and then she exploded.”

Still, in a short moment, they had carefully set up a shield, so there didn’t seem to be any major damage to the building. Watching the black smoke gradually subside, Ian pondered for a moment.

“Dismiss all the soldiers.”

“Yes, that would be best. We can’t cause unnecessary commotion.”

“In any way, it shouldn’t be known that Ruthwena’s preemptive attack reached the Imperial Palace. Announce that the current explosion was a mistake during Acorella’s experiment.”

“Commander Acorella will be upset.”

“Well, she’s been doing that kind of thing, so there’s nothing we can do.”

“Haha. Hahaha……”

“That’s right. Because she’s been doing that kind of thing……”

The wizards seemed to be out of it. It was no wonder, as the wizard who had exploded and died was their past, wasn’t she? It must feel like the wounds that had barely healed were opening up again.

Ian personally moved the debris aside and stepped inside, examining the clothes and other items that were scattered haphazardly.

“Let’s clean up quickly.”

“Yes, I underst-!”

Zaira staggered as she stood up, but she immediately covered her mouth and turned her head. As if she couldn’t stand the nausea.

“Zaira, are you okay?”

“Hey, you go get treatment.”

“No, I’m fine.”

It was disgusting. It was a new reminder of how Ruthwena had thought of them.

She was disgusted by the way they used humans as mere tools. If the king of Ruthwena were in front of her, she would want to tear him to pieces. And once again, she felt sorry for her grandmother who had died for those vile bastards.

“What? What’s going on?”

“Is everyone safe!”

Wizards arrived one after another. Acorella was among them. She grabbed a passing soldier and demanded an explanation of the situation.

“What is it? What exploded?”

“Ah, yes. It’s nothing much. They say that Commander Acorella of the Magic Department blew up a building again while experimenting.”

“What are you talking about! Damn it, I’m Acorella! And what do you mean ‘again’?”

“Ugh, why, why are you doing this?”

Acorella grabbed the soldier by the collar, looking dumbfounded, and shook him violently. At this, other wizards came over and explained the situation, and she finally released her grip as if she understood. Though she was very displeased.

“Leave only the personnel to clean up, and the rest return to your positions.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Zaira. Let me see your injuries. Over here.”

“I’m fine.”

The wizards from Ruthwena just sat there blankly, not moving. The atmosphere was a complete mess. Those who were supposed to go to the battlefield with His Majesty the Emperor in a few hours were unable to even hold themselves up, as if they had lost their souls.

“These guys—”

“Commander!”

“Hey, you! And you, you, next to you! Who else is from Ruthwena? Uh-huh. Yeah, you too!”

Clap!

Acorella clapped her hands loudly, drawing their attention.

“I know you’re dumbfounded, but there’s nothing we can do. We have to leave the Imperial Palace when the sun rises and show them our smiling faces, saying we’ll win, but it’s a problem if you’re like this. Get treatment, have a sleeping pill or a drink, and then get some sleep! But if you’re still in pain and can’t take it—”

If you can’t take it? What?

Zaira raised her head and stared at her.

“Come get a forgetfulness potion. Sometimes you have to forget to move forward.”