Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 550

Ian covered his lower face with his sleeve, the air thick with the sticky, unpleasant stench unique to the monsters. It was like looking at a massive waterfall of filth.

He floated gently in the air, searching for the source of the problem. Surely, there would be a trace within the flow of the monsters…

Swish!

Each time Ian passed by, the monsters raised their heads and followed him. To Ian, they were objects of disgust, but to them, Ian felt like a sweet and pure mana crystal.

‘Ah.’

There it was.

Broken black swords were scattered among the monsters. It seemed the Atan used them to lure the monsters, and Jayrut had stopped them. That meant the crack was nearby.

Ian lowered his altitude and soon heard a familiar voice.

‘Ian.’

It was the Underworld God. The crack must have widened more than he thought. To dare show his presence on the land of Gaia [the world].

‘…Impudent.’

Ian frowned and looked around, then lightly raised his hand. A beam of light shone brightly from his fingertips and scattered.

They formed concentric circles, burst into geometric patterns, and then spun as if they were alive.

「Many Leaves」.

Since it could stimulate the crack, the goal was to resolve the situation in one go. To do that, he needed a stronger and more precise power. Ian carefully adjusted the magic circle and clasped his hands together.

Kugugung!

Kuoong!

His right hand was the right land, and his left hand was the left land. If there was a crack, couldn’t he just put it back together?

The world tree stretched out, and the earth moved, but Ian stopped shortly after. Something was blocking him.

‘Come closer.’

‘Shut up. Go back to your place.’

Ian immediately recognized it as the Underworld God’s power. A cackling laugh echoed from all directions, and the monsters howled in response.

‘Behold. The god tried to stop me, but I am alive and speaking to you! The moment I fully emerge from the crack, I will no longer be a shadow of the god, but exist as myself.’

What should he do?

Ian withdrew his magic and pondered. The god surely knew the way, and he was likely to as well. Everything was a moment of fate flowing according to the god’s will. The very fact that he was here to resolve the situation was proof of that.

‘What is it? What did the god tell me?’

The wind blew relentlessly. The more it did, the more ferocious the monsters became. Ian suddenly looked down at his palm and muttered.

‘Idgal.’

If he could create Idgal [a substance or energy], and if he could fill the huge crack with it, wouldn’t that be enough? As a bastard, Ian knew the method, and he had already done it before.

‘Think. Bastard Ian, the clues the god left behind.’

Numerous memories swirled in Ian’s mind. From the moment he opened his eyes in Bratz, to the moment he met the god in the abyss and shared warmth.

And suddenly, the papers he saw in Bastard Ian’s room came to mind. At first, he thought it was practice writing, but they were clearly unfamiliar languages.

What did he think when he saw them?

‘They are letters, right? Judging by the patterns, he wrote something…’

Patterns!

Ian raised his hand again. Then, on the outside of the concentric circles, on the part where the magic activation incantation was, he drew the pattern he remembered as much as possible.

The magic circle seemed to emit a faint light and then began to rotate.

‘Is it not here?’

Then the opposite side.

The magic circle shone a little brighter.

Swish.

Ian kept recalling his memories, correcting the pattern again and again, and as he did, the light of the magic circle turned golden. It was a signpost telling him he was on the right path.

Before he knew it, Ian realized the pattern was familiar at his fingertips, and the magic circle was ready to activate, spinning and scattering.

Ziiing!

Ziiing!

He moved instinctively.

Ian approached the crack and then stretched out both hands. Starting from him, a huge amber wave surged. It gradually spread, covering the monsters, filling the crack, and slowly solidified.

…It was a huge Idgal.

Kiyaaaak!

Kkiek! Kkieeeek!

‘……!’

Different cries of monsters than before were heard from everywhere. The death throes of those who were neutralized by Idgal.

The monsters that avoided the Idgal rushed to escape, and the area around the crack was instantly cleared.

Thud.

Ian landed lightly on the Idgal. Then, he slowly passed by the solidified monsters, checking if there were any problems.

Surprisingly, there was almost no mana consumption. Rather, a warm and satisfying sensation seemed to dominate his entire body.

‘Can you hear me?’

Ian looked down at the opaque Idgal and stared into the crack.

Only a dark space stretched out infinitely, and there was no trace of the monsters that had tried to pass through.

‘I’m sorry. I can’t hear you on this side.’

* * *

Clang! Clang!

Whoosh!

Meanwhile, Beric and Jayrut’s mana swords burned hotter than ever, aiming for each other’s necks.

Two or three exchanges happened in the blink of an eye, and the surrounding area was filled with explosions and booming sounds, causing the monsters to die helplessly.

‘Old man! Get a grip!’

Kwaang!

He reacted a little every time he called him ‘old man’? The problem was that his mana was getting stronger.

Beric deflected the lightning falling from the sky with his sword and then charged at Jayrut.

Paak!

‘Ugh!’

His attack was blocked, and his temple was struck by the opposite elbow.

Beric rolled over with a scream and fell face down. The mages who were watching grimaced as if they had been hit themselves. If it were a normal person, they would have died in that state.

They grabbed the dragon’s horn and approached Beric.

‘Should we just leave him like that?’

‘Yeah. Beric! Do you need help?’

‘I don’t have much mana, but I can hold him for a while with speed!’

-Kkyuuu!

But Beric waved his hand dismissively, saying he was fine. Ptooey! He must have bitten his tongue while rolling, as his saliva was mixed with blood.

‘I’m fine, just watch!’

‘We were watching fine, but it hurts us to see you like that! Don’t be reckless, are you really okay?’

‘Yeah! And this isn’t recklessness, it’s confidence! I, someday-!’

Whoosh! Bang!

Beric bared his teeth and swung his greatsword wildly. A fire tornado rose from his mana sword and completely surrounded Jayrut.

‘I thought I could beat the old man! But! Today was the day!’

He would break him. He had to break him.

Otherwise, Jayrut would die at Ian’s hands.

Beric knew well that he loved honor as much as he loved meat. He couldn’t let Jayrut die here. He couldn’t let him be recorded as a traitor who wielded his sword against his country while being brainwashed by monsters.

His death had to be recorded inside the Imperial Guard building, with his badge.

Swish!

Jayrut was the strongest person he had ever crossed swords with.

‘Old-! Man-! You-! Geezer-!’

But he was also a strong person. He had always overcome his limits and protected what he wanted in battle.

So he would do it now too. He would take a step forward, break Jayrut, and protect him at the same time.

‘Let’s see each other again when you come to your senses!’

So, just come back.

Come back, and let’s go together.

‘Captain Bonita! The number of monsters seems to be decreasing!’

‘Yes, it’s the same here. The rate at which they are pouring out has slowed down!’

‘Just a little more! Just a little more and we’ll make it!’

‘Everyone, don’t let go of your swords until the end! Not a single one must cross the northern region! Remember that even low-level monsters are deadly to the citizens of the empire! If we don’t fight like we’re going to die here, the citizens of the empire will die!’

‘Beric! How is Captain Jayrut doing?’

‘I don’t know, damn it! He’s the same!’

Clang! Clang!

Did Ian fix the crack? The number of monsters has decreased significantly, so there must have been some change on that side-

‘……’

Captain Jayrut was still charging with dead eyes.

Suddenly, Beric’s heart sank. What if he never came back in this state? Beyond brainwashing, what if his mind was completely broken?

‘Ah.’

It was fear. This was fear.

Beric let out a small gasp as if he had realized something and moved closer to Jayrut. His sword moved fiercely, aiming for Beric’s vitals.

‘Beric. Feel it well. Emotions are contained in the sword.’

‘What nonsense.’

Thwack!

‘More precisely, they are contained in the attack. Even if you swing in the same trajectory, the result will be different depending on your emotions.’

‘You’re making a big deal out of something obvious. Isn’t it obvious? It’s different when you swing in a fit of rage versus when you’re just a little angry.’

‘Then, what do you think this is like?’

Swish!

Beric suddenly remembered his training with Jayrut.

Did Jayrut feel fear in his attacks? No, he wouldn’t have. Jayrut had never feared his sword.

Then, what were Jayrut’s emotions now?

Clang!

Whoosh!

Beric fully received his attack and focused his senses. The persistent attacks were rough and indiscriminate, unlike usual. It was emotion. Jayrut’s emotions hidden within the power.

‘Huh.’

It was strange to feel something he hadn’t felt before. It was quite desperate and sharp, as if he was cornered on a cliff.

Beric was puzzled. Jayrut would never act like this against him, not now or ever.

Was he seeing him in a different light?

What was it that made Jayrut like this-

Swish!

At that moment, Beric’s side was cut. Hot pain rose through his skin, and Beric cleared his mind and quickly turned his body.

The mana swords of both of them began to fade little by little. Their inherent mana was running out. Jayrut also seemed to realize this, and he squeezed out his last bit of strength and swung his sword at Beric.

Thwack!

‘…Beric!’

‘Captain!’

The two men’s attacks simultaneously pierced each other’s stomachs. The mages closed their eyes and turned their heads, and the Imperial Guards shouted in alarm.

Beric was already injured in the stomach. No matter how strong he was, it was a fatal wound to endure.

Swish!

The swords that had pierced the two men’s bodies crumbled and disappeared like dust. Their mana was depleted.

They staggered but barely managed to stand, and Beric clutched his wound, sweating profusely.

‘This damn……’

He was poking at a sore spot again.

Beric clenched his teeth and punched him.

Thwack!

Jayrut, who was staggering greatly, also attacked reflexively, and the two men punched and bled. After a back-and-forth struggle, Beric managed to get on top of Jayrut and kept punching him.

Thwack! Thud!

‘You’re going this far! Why can’t you come to your senses!’

Ian is coming now, you damn old man.

Jayrut’s empty eyes continued to stare at Beric. And then, for a moment, a single tear flowed down his wrinkles. Beric paused and then dropped his fist weakly.

‘What are you looking at?’

What is tormenting the old man so much?

Beric buried his face in his shoulder and gasped for breath. Their blood mixed and soaked their clothes.

‘…I’m going crazy, really.’

But there was no other way.

Beric wrapped his arms around his neck and slowly applied pressure. He could feel that he was alive at his fingertips. Just like Jayrut had done, Beric also shed a tear, which fell down his nose.

‘Let’s think of it as taking a nap and waking up. Okay? And when you wake up, you have to, you have to scold me. For making the old man like this.’