Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 548

“No!” Beric blocked Jayrut’s path. The cloth tightly wrapped around his abdomen had come loose, half-unraveled. Blood gushed out along with it, but Beric didn’t seem to care. Instead, Jayrut’s gaze was fixed on the wound.

“You’re bleeding badly, Beric.”

“Damn it, what can you do by going, old man?”

“It’s not about what I can do, but about going to do it. Neither Ian nor any of the mages anticipated the rift. This isn’t a natural phenomenon, but something caused by Athan’s machinations. Just as they did, we can stop it.”

“I don’t know! If you’re unlucky, you’ll die! Do you not understand the word ‘die’?”

Jayrut chuckled softly. Time had indeed passed. To see Beric so agitated, saying he might die. It was a novel feeling.

“Why, weren’t you happy about it before?”

“What?”

“Because if the commander’s position is vacant, the subordinates can move up.”

“That’s-!”

It was absurd that he still remembered. The image of that reckless rascal, who had been so agitated in the preliminaries, saying he would kill him and take the commander’s position.

Jayrut slowly lowered his stance, his hand touching the ground as if he were about to dash off.

“Why would I die to please anyone?”

“Old man! Ah, seriously, damn it! Don’t go! Please!”

“Shut up and take care of things here. And-”

Ziiing!

Mana expanded around Jayrut. All the Imperial Guards watched the scene reverently, and Bonita placed her hand on her chest in awe.

“Beric. Well done. Grasping your own sword is the first step for a magic swordsman. It will be interesting to see what you become.”

“Damn it! Ah, someone stop him! Grrr!”

“Beric, step aside. It’s the commander’s resolve.”

Beric turned to Barsabe for help, but she shook her head.

Unable to do anything else, Beric tried to grab Jayrut alone, but-

KWA-BOOOM!

Flash!

Jayrut roared and struck the ground.

In an instant, lightning flashed all around, and the world went dark and then bright again. The monster horde was helplessly burned and crumbled by the thunder that poured down like rain.

Once a path was cleared, Jayrut flew into the gap in one go and dashed to the top of the northern hill.

Whoosh!

“Old man!”

“Beric, stop it and pick up your sword.”

“Bonita! You, you-!”

“Don’t forget Commander Jayrut’s orders.”

‘It is the Emperor’s command. Those who block Bariel’s path will be dealt with decisively. Remember this. We are Bariel’s heart.’

Bonita calmly addressed the troops, looking back at them. Behind her, large, powerful lightning bolts continued to strike.

Kugugung!

Kooong!

“Pick up your swords, and we will fulfill our duty.”

“Understood.”

“Understood.”

Clang!

They saluted Bonita, but they knew. Everyone’s heart was heading north.

KWA-BOOOM!

Kieak!

Jayrut continued to move north, cutting through the monster horde. He had thought it was unusual, but seeing the inside left him speechless.

The barrier where the mages had been stationed was destroyed, not even a trace of it remained, and the world seemed to be filled with black water. The dirty, disgusting water that was the monsters.

Woo-oong-

Thump! Thump!

Jayrut struck lightning bolts here and there to find the rift. He could see the flow of the monsters, but it was impossible to go against it and identify the source. It was chaos itself, the order was so messed up.

KWAANG!

Screech!

Then, he felt a faint presence among the monsters. A very familiar energy. Thanks to Beric.

‘Black Sword.’

He slowly approached, feeling a strong gravity. Dozens of Athan’s black swords were stuck in the ground like tombstones on a grave.

Regardless of how the rift had opened, it seemed they were using it to lure monsters out. Jayrut immediately began to smash the black swords one by one.

Flash! KWA-BOOOM!

Once he recognized the black swords, the flow of monsters became clearer. As the swords cooled and fell to the ground, the number of monsters pouring out of the rift gradually decreased.

Even if he couldn’t completely close the hole, it was significant. At this rate, the Imperial Guard could hold out until the Magic Department arrived.

-Human.

“……?!”

As he was relentlessly destroying the black swords, an unpleasant voice reached his ears.

He paused for a moment, and then Jayrut noticed a shadow flickering at his feet.

* * *

Kyuuuuu!

“There, it’s a dragon! The dragon is coming back!”

“It’s quite fast, as expected, you can’t beat something with wings.”

“Huh? But who’s riding on its back?”

“It’s, it’s Bariel armor! It seems to be the advance team!”

“The dragon is landing! Everyone, step back!”

Whoosh!

The dragon slid and landed on the wide open field, and the soldiers couldn’t open their eyes due to the thick dust.

Seemingly satisfied with the landing, Kyu chuckled, emitting small flames.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“My god, all this blood-”

The soldiers took down the people who were slumped on the dragon’s back one by one. Judging by the ropes tied around their bodies, it seemed they had tied themselves, but they seemed to have lost consciousness during the flight.

“Are they dead?”

“No, they’re still breathing.”

“Get a hold of yourself! Medic! Bring the medic!”

It wasn’t like they had been dipped in blood, what had happened to them to be in this state? Out of the hundreds of advance team members, only six had returned alive.

“Siaoshi-nim [a respectful title]. This way.”

“…Who is conscious?”

“Ugh, ugh…”

“Here! This soldier here, he’s regained consciousness!”

Someone shouted from the end. It was a middle-aged man, and he barely mumbled, gasping for breath. It seemed he was suffering from a severe mental shock rather than any major external injuries.

“Monsters, monsters poured out. A woman killed all the soldiers from behind… and in front, when the monsters were, were, were dying, a god saved us. Imperial Guard, I really thought I was going to die then…”

Siaoshi frowned. He had thought there might be a problem with the rift, but it had actually gone wrong.

“Who is the woman?”

“I, I don’t know. Her strength was superhuman, and she had no fear of cutting down people. She seemed to be a mage, but I don’t know for sure.”

“A mage.”

“It seems that the woman and her accomplices brought the monsters. The ground shook, and they came down the hill from afar… all my comrades died, and I, I, I found myself running. With a cross engraved on me. If it weren’t for the soldier who ran first, I would have died there too.”

A cross.

As the man struggled to move his fingertips, Siaoshi examined his body. There was a cross engraved on the left side of his neck, as if it had been cut with a knife. A sign of praying for God’s protection to fight against the monsters.

“I understand. Focus on treatment first.”

What about the others? Siaoshi glanced at the soldiers. One woman and five men. Only one was conscious. He memorized what he needed to report and turned away.

“…….”

Then, he suddenly glanced back at the female soldier who was passed out. There was something familiar about her.

But she was covered in blood from head to toe, and her condition was so bad that it was difficult to distinguish her features.

“After treatment, bring her up when she regains consciousness.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Put a leash on the dragon.”

Kyuuuuu!

The dragon thumped the ground with its tail, making a pleasant sound. But the soldiers were too scared to approach.

Tap tap!

“Your Majesty. This is Siaoshi. The dragon has returned with the advance team.”

“Come in.”

Perhaps it was because he sensed the chaotic atmosphere of the army. The air inside the conference room was quite heavy. Siaoshi bowed his head and reported to Jin.

“It seems there is a problem with the rift in the northern region, not Clifford. Monsters are overflowing, and the Imperial Guard is currently holding them back. However, there seems to be a force working with the monsters, and we suspect it might be Athan.”

Jin’s face darkened, and Ian’s gaze narrowed. He suddenly remembered a forgotten history.

‘The Great Monster Attack.’

The history of how the Athan tribe, who had greatly increased their power in the north of Bariel, were eventually defeated and annihilated by the commander of the Imperial Guard. The timing and circumstances matched.

The shaking of the rift must be Rutherford’s doing, and it was natural for the Athan tribe, who were being used as tools, to appear.

“Out of the six surviving advance team soldiers, only one has regained consciousness and reported.”

Only six. Jin closed his eyes in dismay and then called Ian.

If the rift had opened, no other department could move now. Only the Magic Department, and among them, Ian, who was the strongest and had personally experienced the rift, could suggest a solution.

“Ian.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will go.”

It’s okay. There’s no problem.

If the clash between the Athan tribe and the Imperial Guard was recorded in history, then the result was also determined. Ian added firmly, telling them not to worry.

“Bariel will be safe.”

Because of his resolute attitude, without any worry, Jin nodded without realizing it. Yes. Bariel will be safe. Even if monsters overflowed, they wouldn’t be able to trample even a single grain of wheat.

“Minister Tweller. Please form a new unit with the soldiers who have been supplied with the Dera tribe’s weapons. I trust the Imperial Guard, but there will surely be monsters that have slipped through.”

“We will search and advance north.”

“Yes. Your Majesty, I apologize, but I will take my leave first.”

“Ian.”

Jin carefully called Ian.

“Everyone must return safely.”

Not only Ian, but also Beric, the Imperial Guard, and even the other soldiers. Each and every one of them was a precious person of Bariel. Ian bowed his head at Jin’s request.

“I will do my best.”

How could one discuss a war without death, or a battle without pain? But Ian deeply understood Jin’s heart.

Because he had been the same.

He had lamented the many lives that were extinguished on the battlefield.

Even if he would realize it later, he had no choice but to bow his head for him now.

Whoosh!

As Ian left the tent, Zaira approached. She had been waiting for news for a long time. Some of the mages had also regained consciousness earlier, but their recovered mana was far from enough.

“Ian-nim. What’s going on? Haaam.”

“I woke up because it was noisy. But weren’t you sleeping? Zaira, you too? Wow, you have good stamina.”

“You guys go and rest more. Acorella!”

“Yes?”

Acorella, who had been enjoying her leisure while swinging in a hammock, raised her head.

“How many mana amplifiers and recovery potions are currently available?”

“There are still plenty. About… fifteen of each? The kids have already drunk enough, and we can manufacture them while moving, so the reserves will be maintained. Oh, right. Commander Jayrut took one earlier, so it’s fourteen.”

Ian handed over a small pouch and said.

“Put two bottles of each in there and bring them to me.”

“Are you going, Ian-nim? Why? Did something really happen?”

“A rift has opened. I’m going to fix it.”

A rift.

At Ian’s words, the mages, except for Zaira, stopped, their eyes wide. Did Ian just say the word ‘rift’? And, what? He’s going to fix it?

It was a combination of words that vividly brought back the trauma of ten years ago. The mages just gaped, then ran towards the place where the mages slept.

KWAANG! BANG!

They opened the carriage door as if they were going to break it, and walked as if they were going to tear the tent, then they pulled up their breath from below their dantian [a traditional Chinese concept referring to the energy center below the navel] and shouted.

“Get up! Get up! Get up! Ian-nim is going to see the rift!”

“Get up, you bastards! Don’t lie there sleeping! Ian-nim is going to the rift! Hurry up and follow him!”

“…Eh, what?”

“Wipe your drool! Rub your eyes! Get up!”

“Ian-nim is going to the rift? Am I hearing things?”

“He’s going to go alone again! Get a hold of yourself!”

Ian was checking the dragon’s leash when he turned his head at the sound of footsteps rushing from behind.

“I, Ian-nim. Let’s go together.”

“…….”

The mages, with their hair like a bird’s nest, their faces swollen, and covered in drool and eye boogers, were staggering towards him.