Margrave’s Bastard Son Was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 546

“Rend and Tear.”

The wind, which had been flowing endlessly, took on a form.

Strong wolves raised their heads and let out eerie howls, then began to run at Efdiram’s gesture.

Where they passed, the grass was flattened, leaving a trail that stretched endlessly across the vast field.

“Berik! You know what? I didn’t dislike you that much!”

Efdiram also drew her sword and ran with the wolves. Her golden eyes gleamed with indescribable emotion.

“But why! What is so special about Bariel that-!”

Whoosh!

As Efdiram leaped, her robe billowed out. The muzzles of the wind wolves opened wide, aligning with her sword’s trajectory.

The killing intent was palpable.

A clear intention to strike a vital point in one go.

Clang!

Berik deflected her sword and stepped back, then proceeded to cut down the wolves’ heads in quick succession.

The wolves shattered and dissipated into gusts of wind, tearing at Berik’s skin. But Berik grinned, protecting only his face.

“Hey! Shit, that’s what I should be saying! There’s so much good food in Bariel, why would you eat that kind of crap!”

“It’s natural to live as you were born, how can you not know that!”

“Bullshit! Then at least come to some agreement! When Ian said he’d put you in charge of the north, you should have just done it!”

Clang! Clang! Whoosh!

A fierce exchange followed. If either of them lost focus or faltered, the other’s blade would surely graze their neck.

Both of them gritted their teeth, glaring at each other.

“Your arrogance, acting like the Empire is the center of the world, that’s why I refused. Who are they to draw lines on the land of Gaia?”

Screech!

The blades clashed, making a chilling sound. Berik felt Efdiram’s strength waning slightly, and he pressed his advantage, pushing her back forcefully.

“You can think that way. But-!”

Clang!

Boom!

Efdiram detonated a mana sphere, and Berik retreated, shaking his head. He was covered in dirt and grass.

“Isn’t it natural for the strong to create order? If you don’t like it, then win.”

“Yes, Berik, your neck will bring a new history to the Atan tribe, so it must be done. And I will bury Ian Hiel’s neck with it.”

Berik’s face turned cold at Efdiram’s provocation. As if she had crossed a line.

“Efdiram. I never liked you much.”

“Really? That’s a shame!”

“Especially when you say things you don’t mean!”

Clang! Clang!

The two charged at each other again, swinging their swords. In the blink of an eye, three or four exchanges came like lightning. But this time, it was a little different.

Buzz!

Berik’s black sword reacted to mana, gradually heating up. And at the last moment, when the blades collided, a tremendous explosion erupted.

KWA-BOOM!

“……!”

Efdiram’s sword broke, and she reflexively created a shield. The destructive heat was lethal. It felt like it could melt everything.

The worry was spot on. One side of Efdiram’s shield shattered, and a sharp flame pierced her abdomen. She ended up cringing.

“How’s that? Is your hair a little more frizzy now?”

“…You son of a bitch.”

Everything around Efdiram was burning, except for where she stood. Through the acrid smoke, Berik approached, tying his hair back.

“Sorry, but I don’t have time.”

“…….”

Blood gushed from between Efdiram’s fingers. She looked up at Berik, then gave a fishy smile.

Berik’s eyebrows twitched at the sudden change in her expression.

“You don’t know. The joy of living as you were born.”

“Stop with the bullshit.”

“Watch closely. Huh?”

Efdiram reached out and grabbed a nearby monster. Then, without hesitation, she drank its blood, followed by tearing off and chewing on its flesh.

She was like a beast in human form. Berik watched, wondering what she was up to, and Efdiram wiped her blood-soaked mouth.

“This is what happens when you follow nature, you moron.”

The bleeding from her abdomen was visibly slowing. Efdiram’s complexion and breathing also stabilized, and the fatigue from the battle seemed to have completely washed away.

Berik was speechless, and he slung his sword over his shoulder.

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yeah. I need to kill you right away without giving you a chance to recover. I’ll say goodbye in advance. Farewell.”

The monsters pouring out from behind were the lifeblood of the Atan tribe.

This was also something that was allowed for Berik, but still.

“…You, you wanted to become stronger, didn’t you?”

“…….”

“You want to fight, you want to kill, and become a complete predator! I know what your identity is! Because I was the same!”

Berik put down his sword for a moment and thought.

That’s right. As Efdiram said, he wanted to become stronger. The reason he joined the Bratz’s boy soldiers was because he wanted to become stronger, even before the issue of making a living. It was true that he found some relief in the violent clashes disguised as survival-

But was that really because of the Atan tribe’s nature?

“I like eating. But-”

The beginning of his desire to become stronger.

That was, rather than the instinct to survive…

“It was to save.”

“What?”

His family from his father’s violence-

His family once again from the robber’s attack-

Ian, who said he needed him-

And to save himself, who wanted to live-

That was the beginning of this feeling.

“It’s because I wanted to save. That’s why I can’t choose the Atan tribe, and why I can’t leave Bariel.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I just realized that living for others is a stronger path than living for myself.”

Swoosh.

Berik muttered, raising his sword high.

“Thanks. Thanks for telling me something good before you go.”

“Ha. Where am I going?”

Buzz!

“It doesn’t seem like anyone below Ian’s level would work on me.”

“Beno!”

“Huh?”

Efdiram shouted, deploying a magic circle. Beno, her right-hand man.

When Berik turned around, he met the gaze of a man who had approached him. Cold, calm, and unlike Efdiram, his eyes were filled with hatred.

Berik instinctively blocked the attack.

KWA-BOOM! Clang!

Boom!

Unlike the mage Efdiram, Beno was a magic swordsman. That meant he was skilled in swordsmanship and specialized in attacks.

In particular, Beno’s sword was not so much a manifestation of mana, but rather a way to freely transform mana. The fact that it was targeting Berik’s neck in an unconventional form was proof of that.

“Wow, huh?”

“You dare, you traitor to the race.”

“Get your facts straight, you bastard! When were we ever on the same side?”

“Rend and Tear.”

Whoosh!

Efdiram joined in, summoning wind wolves again.

It would be one thing if it were a normal person, but it was difficult for Berik to face two people alone. Beno could draw mana from Efdiram, and the monsters scattered across the land were like a kind of stamina booster.

“Damn it, I have Ian too!”

“Shut up! Berik! This is the real last time!”

“Die.”

Swish!

Beno’s sword accurately slashed Berik’s right arm. It felt like a tendon had been severed. The black sword shattered and flew away, and Berik staggered, losing his balance.

Whoosh!

Then, Beno’s sword cleanly pierced Berik’s abdomen.

“……!”

Thud!

When the mana sword disappeared, only a hole big enough for an arm remained in Berik’s abdomen. Beno looked down at Berik and stepped on his head.

“You will die.”

“You son of a bitch, you really-”

“Unless you lick the blood of a monster, you will die.”

Beno’s tone was mocking.

Resist endlessly, deny it.

Consider us to be no different from beasts.

Even so, the fact that you are also an Atan will not change. The more you deny us, the more you will be denied.

“Beno. Stop it.”

“Yes, I understand. Are you alright with your injury?”

“Yeah, what about the others?”

“They’re coming, over there.”

Thump thump!

Berik only rolled his eyes to look at the hill.

The Atan tribe were running down, gleefully mixed in with the monsters. It was as if they had a party, each of them covered in blood, and each of them holding a black sword that attracted monsters.

“Here!”

Efdiram waved her hand happily, and the Atan tribe cheered in response.

Berik, still lying down, turned his gaze back to the front. A piece of monster meat, split in two, was within reach.

‘Should I eat it?’

Should he eat it to recover from his injuries and kill those bastards?

He shook his head. He couldn’t die here, but he didn’t want to eat that either. It was just that. He felt like if he ate that, he wouldn’t be able to return to Bariel.

“Ah.”

The pain grew sharper, and his organs began to churn. As if asking for something to be done. Berik wiggled his fingertips. Without realizing it, his hand reached out towards the monster.

At that moment-

Thump!

Flash!

Light flashed in the clear sky, and lightning struck in front of them. Efdiram hurriedly created a shield, and Beno stood in front of her.

Sparkle sparkle. Berik, who had briefly frowned at the blinding light, immediately recognized what it was and grumbled.

“…You came way too fast.”

Thump!

The sound of thunder in a cloudless world.

There was only one person who could make this happen.

“Old man!”

KWA-BOOM!

It was a fleeting moment. As quick as blinking an eye.

Efdiram couldn’t believe that Jairet was standing tall in front of her, holding lightning in his hand.

When did he arrive? No, more than that, what was that in his hand? It was a mana sword like Beno’s, but his appearance gave off an overwhelming feeling, as if a god had manifested.

“Efdiram-nim!”

“Damn it!”

Fizz!

Flash! Jairet silently struck down with lightning, trying to break the shield. Blood flowed from Efdiram’s mouth as she held on, and eventually, she and Beno tumbled backward.

Whoosh!

Jairet glanced at Berik with his sword in hand.

…Like a foolish puppy.

“I don’t remember teaching you to get beaten up like that.”

“Damn it, don’t you know there’s no match for a gang-up?”

“Get up. For the dignity of the Imperial Guard.”

“Ah, yeah. Dignity, good.”

Jairet took something out of his pocket and threw it to Berik. It was Acorella’s mana amplifier. He had taken one just in case, but he didn’t expect to use it as soon as he arrived.

Thump! Thump!

And then, the Imperial Guard comrades landed steadily. The members stood in a line, facing the swarm of monsters head-on.

Jairet shouted, his back to them.

“Everyone!”

Clack!

“From now on, we will reclaim the northern region. We will eliminate the Atan tribe and the monsters, ensuring that not a single life passes you by.”

Buzz! Buzz!

The Imperial Guard placed their hands on their chests, paying their respects to the Imperial Palace. The sound of their hearts beating beneath their palms was powerful.

“This is the order of His Majesty the Emperor. Those who stand in the way of Bariel will be dealt with decisively. Remember. We are the heart of Bariel.”

“We will obey the order!”

Taptap!

The Imperial Guard simultaneously created mana swords and charged towards the swarm of monsters. They would stop the flood of monsters and kill all the Atan tribe!

Within the ranks, Barsabe also ran at full speed with a powerful shout.

“Haaah!”

“Hold them back! Everyone! With all your might!”

“Cut down the Atan tribe first!”

“They’re from the Imperial Palace! Kill them! Hahaha!”

“If we kill them, this world will be ours!”

The battle had begun in the back, and the clash was happening here. Berik quickly drank the potion, then tore his clothes and tied them around his abdomen.

“Let’s go for round two, you bastards!”

“Berik, your sword?”

“Sword? I don’t know, damn it!”

The black sword was broken and cold. Was he going to charge in bare-handed? Even for a foolish puppy, that was-

Buzz! Buzz!

“……!”

A huge, red greatsword, as big as his body, emerged from Berik’s hand. It wasn’t the black sword, but Berik’s mana sword, seen for the first time in the world.