Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 544

Near the northern border.

The small advance team that had departed first during the coronation was silently marching across the vast land.

Most of them had lived their entire lives in the central region. The desolate, expansive landscape made them realize they had left their homes.

Yet, they were also excited. The path they were taking seemed to symbolize the beginning of a new era.

“Hey.”

A middle-aged soldier, who had been walking silently, spoke to his companion beside him.

“You’re Aileen, right?”

“Yes, and you are Tobo, sir.”

“Sir? We’re just soldiers. Are you alright?”

Aileen was carrying a pack that was almost as big as she was. But she smiled and nodded, as if to say she was fine.

“I’m fine. It’s just the beginning.”

“See that dark zone over there? In front of the rocky mountain.”

“Yes, I see it.”

Unlike the lush fields they were passing through, there was a black zone that seemed to be filled with death. Aileen roughly wiped the sweat from her chin.

“We’ll probably rest around there. It’s right before the entrance to the rift zone, so we need to prepare. There’s also a barrier where the Imperial mages were stationed until recently. It’s a good place to rest.”

“You know a lot. Have you been here often?”

“I’m from the north, but I joined the Imperial Army in the central region. It was a long time ago. Haha. Probably before Aileen was even born?”

Scattered houses began to appear. They were not quite villages, just a few dilapidated buildings made of wooden planks.

The advance team entered the village and surveyed the surroundings. There was no one around, and only the building with the sign ‘Tavern’ seemed to have any signs of life.

“Oh my. You must be from the central region.”

“There’s no one here, so are you doing business?”

“It’s not business, I’m just guarding the place.”

As the soldiers passed by and made comments, the young woman smiled, resting her chin on her hand. She occasionally waved and conspicuously took a swig of cool beer.

“Eating delicious things all by yourself!”

“What else is there for a tavern owner? Are you going straight over the border? Or would you like some beer delivered?”

“No, thank you! Drinking during a march is against military law!”

“Oh, I see. That’s a shame.”

While the relaxed soldiers were chatting noisily, Tobo looked increasingly puzzled as he approached the tavern. After passing the building, he even turned back to look at it.

Aileen felt something was off and nudged his shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hmm. It’s nothing. I’ve been here before, and the owner seems different. She was so talkative and scattered-brained that I couldn’t even have a drink. I remember her so vividly.”

“Maybe it’s her daughter?”

“I don’t know. She looks about the same age, so I don’t think so.”

Tobo brushed it off, thinking something must have happened, but Aileen couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling.

How could she make a living in such a remote place with no customers? Did she take over the tavern? If she were family, it would be different, but something seemed suspicious.

Aileen also turned back to look at the tavern, but that was all. The advance team gradually moved away from the tavern without incident.

Whoosh!

“Halt!”

“Halt!”

The flag at the front was raised high. The marching soldiers stopped, and they craned their necks to see what was going on, but they couldn’t see anything ahead.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“Oh, I wish we could sit down for a bit!”

“And have a drink at the tavern. Hahaha!”

“Are we on a picnic? What nonsense.”

The surrounding soldiers chuckled and whispered, but Aileen silently stared ahead. And in a flash, just as the flag seemed to tilt to the right-

“M-monsters!”

Booo-ooo-

Booo-

Sudden warnings and the sound of a water buffalo horn rang out. Everyone was flustered, and at the front, dark red blood suddenly spurted out. Aileen sensed that the formation was about to collapse.

Whoosh!

“W-what!”

“Get a grip! Everyone, battle formation!”

“Y-yes, battle formation!”

“Aaaah!”

They were only guarding the front, but another scream came from behind.

More red blood shot into the air. It scattered under the clear sky and splattered onto Aileen’s cheek. Aileen instinctively grabbed the hilt of her sword, not even realizing her pupils were dilating.

Clench.

“Over there! There!”

“Don’t get close! Spearmen, spear squad! To the front!”

“Damn it, push!”

What had happened? Had the enemy set a trap for the advance team? Or was it a rift issue that had occurred in the absence of the mages?

Aileen shouted with the other soldiers and rushed to the back, which was closer, and soon found the tavern woman covered in blood.

‘Oh no.’

Was she injured? I should protect her first…

“… !”

Contrary to her worries, the woman was smiling, covered in blood. In her hand was the head of a Bariel soldier.

The possibilities were few.

She was either a mage or a magic swordsman. Or…

‘A monster.’

* * *

Meanwhile, the Emperor’s regular army, having left the central region, was slowly but steadily marching north towards Mount Laja.

The number of soldiers alone was in the tens of thousands, and the supplies were like a mountain, so they were far behind the advance team.

“Oh, I’m so tired!”

“How can you be like that on the first day?”

“Can’t I even say I’m tired? I wish I could have a good meal! How many more days until we reach Burgos?”

“I wish the mages would use their power at times like this.”

“Exactly. They said that with that black moon or hole thing, we could go straight to Burgos, right? But why aren’t they doing it?”

“Do you think that’s some kind of easy magic? And the higher-ups have their reasons! Yes. I believe that!”

“Damn it. I’m so tired, I’m talking nonsense.”

The day was coming to an end.

The soldiers, who had marched a long distance, each found a place to sit and rest, and there was a commotion as tents were being set up everywhere.

Of course, Chloe’s sigh was among them.

“Ugh.”

She had been riding all day, and her back and thighs were so stiff that she could barely stand.

As she staggered and sat down, the surrounding soldiers lowered their voices and quietly moved away. She was a noble lady, and they didn’t know why she was here, but it was uncomfortable.

Chloe glared at them, then noticed a familiar figure passing by in the distance.

“Sir Xiaoshi!”

“…Lady Chloe.”

“Where is His Majesty?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m worried about whether he’s okay with this strenuous schedule. Please let me speak with him for a moment.”

Xiaoshi stared down at Chloe. Her hair was tied up, and her clothes were simple, which seemed to show some determination, but her powdered skin and red lips clearly showed her intentions.

“I’m sorry. Conversations are only possible when His Majesty wishes it.”

“Don’t be so harsh.”

“Lady. If I may give you some advice-”

Swoosh.

Xiaoshi took off Chloe’s hair ornament and shook it slightly.

“Unless it’s to be used as a weapon, do not wear any ornaments on your body. On the battlefield, it will only… put you in danger.”

Chloe narrowed her eyes, then silently snatched the ornament from Xiaoshi’s hand. How annoying!

Tap tap!

Xiaoshi watched Chloe’s retreating figure for a moment, then climbed up the hill where Jin was resting.

The soldiers were densely packed, guarding him, but unlike the tension, Jin was staring straight ahead as if he were in a trance.

To be precise, he was looking at the scenery below.

“Your Majesty, are you not tired?”

Xiaoshi asked cautiously, but Jin answered without turning around.

“We haven’t even left Bariel yet, how could I be?”

“Then, is there a problem?”

“…It’s amazing. It’s amazing and unbelievable that this is also Bariel, my country.”

He had spent most of his life in the Imperial Palace, and although he occasionally went to the city, he had never left the central region.

So, the endless mountain ranges were fascinating, the farmhouses with straw tied to their roofs were interesting, and the fields where livestock roamed freely were beautiful.

These are all part of my Bariel. Jin couldn’t easily take his eyes off the scene because of a feeling akin to emotion.

“…Is the meeting preparation finished?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

So, even though he knew why Xiaoshi had called him, he couldn’t easily move his feet. He finally composed himself and entered the tent that served as both a meeting room and the Emperor’s residence.

“Have you arrived?”

“Yes. Everyone, please sit down.”

Hasha, Ian, Maxim Tweller, Jayrut. And finally, Pim of the Dera tribe. All the heads of each department were gathered.

As Jin sat down, Ian was the first to speak.

“We expect to arrive near Mount Laja by tomorrow afternoon, Your Majesty.”

Ian unfolded a map centered on Mount Laja.

“Some of the Dera tribe will return to their base on Mount Laja to set up an intermediate supply point, which will serve as a kind of bridge between the Bariel army in Burgos and the central region.”

“I heard the terrain is rough, will it be alright?”

“The paths are underground, so there won’t be any major problems. And the place where the central army will set up its base is a plain next to Mount Laja. However, one concern is a unique species called ‘Dryads’.”

“Dryads?”

“They are tree spirits, and they are aggressive, so it would be best to conduct a Dryad subjugation before stationing. We don’t need to deploy a large force, and I suggest forming a small subjugation team with the Dera tribe. Dryad wood burns for a long time, so it will surely be useful in the war.”

“Alright. It’s getting hotter, but firewood is essential as military supplies. Keep supplying it. Sir Tweller.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will proceed without any worries.”

Pim also nodded, saying there would be no problem.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly without any major problems, as it was just the beginning. Just as they were about to continue the meeting, they heard a commotion outside.

“I apologize. This is Zaira from the Magic Department.”

“Zaira?”

Jin turned to Ian. It was a look asking what was going on, but Ian also seemed to be unaware.

“Let her in.”

“Excuse me.”

“Weren’t you sleeping, Zaira?”

At Ian’s question, Zaira shook her head lightly. Since leaving the central region, all the members of the Magic Department had been lying in the carriages, fast asleep. After sharing a sip of Acorella’s recovery potion, they had collapsed as if they had fainted. It was because everyone had reached their limit due to the magic used during the coronation.

Swoosh.

“Do you remember the report I submitted earlier? The one I wrote in Clifford, saying there might be another rift near Mount Laja?”

“Yes. I remember.”

And perhaps, the reason Ian had first opened his eyes near Mount Laja was also related to that.

“Since it’s near Mount Laja, I measured the magical anomaly again. But the result was unexpected.”

“What is it?”

“The values are normal. Not just normal, but far below expectations.”

“Then isn’t that a good thing?” Maxim Tweller asked, puzzled, and Zaira shrugged.

“It could be, or it might not be. The rift itself has become closer to an inactive value, but the process is important. Generally, we can assume that another rift zone has been activated, making this one relatively safe.”

“Another rift zone…?”

“It could be one of two, but I’m not sure.”

Zaira calmly adjusted her glasses.

“It could be the northern zone, or it could be Clifford.”