Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 551

‘Do it again! Come on!’

‘I should be the one saying that, Beric.’

Jayrut’s stomach churned every time he saw Beric. He wondered if there could be another scoundrel like him in the world, but it also reminded him of his own childhood, buried deep in his memories. How immature, rough, and young he had been.

Jayrut clicked his tongue and flicked Beric’s forehead.

‘Ouch! The match isn’t over yet, so I can still do it!’

‘You’re always getting knocked out and carried away, yet you’re so shameless.’

‘You never know until you die. Even if you lose a hundred times, if you win in the end, you’re the victor! Here I come!’

Whack!

How pathetic.

Jayrut muttered as he punched Beric, but inwardly, he was quite shocked. If what Beric said was true, then even if you win a hundred times, if you lose in the end, you’re a loser, right?

It was a truly frightening reality. Jayrut once again thought of the genius who had lost himself. He too had been on the path of a victor, but was buried forever by a single defeat.

‘Haa, haa…’

He exhaled and glared at his opponent. The opponent, who looked just like him, was also looking back, exhausted.

Jayrut tried to ignore his trembling hands and gripped his magic sword tighter. He would never, ever die here at the hands of that thing.

Clang! Clang!

The endless exchange continued once more.

The moment Jayrut’s sword pierced his opponent’s abdomen, he too was pierced by his opponent. The fear of death rose to his throat. Jayrut ignored the heavy pain and continued to attack.

If I don’t kill him, I’ll die!

Swish!

But he sensed the end. His mana was depleted. Should he be relieved? His opponent, who was also himself, had lost his strength similarly. It was like looking in a mirror.

Jayrut clenched his fist and charged with all his might. Just like when he was fifteen, full of pure spirit.

Thud! Thwack!

After exchanging blows, his body fell first. How could he describe the helplessness of that moment? As his opponent, who was on top of him, kept throwing punches, his consciousness faded.

Squeeze!

The one strangling his neck was shedding tears.

In that moment, Jayrut felt like he was awakening.

‘I am him, and he is me.’

Just as he feared his opponent, his opponent also feared him.

From the perspective of the entity ‘Jayrut,’ he had lost, but at the same time, it was as if he had won.

Jayrut reached out and grabbed his opponent’s shoulder. Only then did he realize that he too was crying.

‘You’ve worked hard.’

Through the fierce years, you and I have feared each other and spent a very long time together.

Swish-

Then, the world changed.

The world, which had been filled with desolate darkness, was now full of life.

The opponent who had looked like him was now Beric. Beric was shedding tears and muttering.

‘Damn it, old man. I can’t tell if you’ve come to your senses or if you’re just talking nonsense.’

You stupid mutt. Your crying face is a real sight.

Jayrut closed his eyes for a moment.

Was he like that when he was fifteen? Did he cry like that when they said the genius was dead? He couldn’t remember.

‘Old man! Ah, really!’

‘Beric, come out for a second.’

‘Captain, are you back to your senses? Can you hear me?’

‘Stop the bleeding first! You’ve lost too much blood.’

‘Beric! You should wrap your stomach too. You’re in danger!’

Jayrut quietly overlapped the image of himself crying while looking down at him with Beric.

The being he had considered an absolute fear was more manageable than he thought, and as someone said, he had lost but not died, so it wasn’t over yet.

‘Beric.’

‘Captain! Do you recognize us?’

‘Are you okay? Beric! The captain is calling you!’

‘Old man! Damn it, you’re such a pain in the ass.’

As Beric cried, snot and tears streaming down his face, Jayrut sighed. He couldn’t believe that this guy had grown enough to defeat him.

But his traces were all over the process, so maybe Beric was him.

‘Old man! Say something!’

‘…You mutt.’

‘Huh?’

Beric widened his eyes and sniffled. Jayrut just tilted his head and looked at the hole in his stomach, then narrowed his eyes.

‘You were useful.’

It was a compliment, an encouragement, and a comfort. Telling him not to worry too much about making the wound.

Beric rubbed his nose with the back of his hand and replied with a sulky face.

‘Of course, I’ve been at it for years.’

Jayrut smiled faintly and laid his head on the ground. Fatigue rushed in. His whole body was heavy, but strangely, his heart was light and at ease.

He closed his eyes and muttered.

‘…See you later.’

‘Captain! Damn it, is there a healing mage up there?’

‘No! The healing mages are with His Majesty! We can at least inject mana!’

‘It’s still not enough, but it’s better than nothing!’

‘Clear the nearby monsters first!’

‘Kyu! Let’s go! Down below!’

‘Beric! You take mana too!’

‘Okay! My stomach never gets a break!’

Thump! Beric lay sprawled out next to Jayrut, breathing heavily. Now that he was aware of the pain, it was hard to endure.

‘Everyone!’

‘Everyone!’

‘Protect Beric and Captain Jayrut!’

‘Yes, Captain!’

The Imperial Guard surrounded the two at Bonita’s command, cutting down the attacking monsters. The mages jumped off the dragons and landed between the two, immediately grabbing their arms and injecting mana.

Thud!

Buzz! Buzz!

‘Let’s do emergency treatment and transport them immediately via dragon.’

‘Beric! Grab my hand!’

‘Ugh, I’m dizzy.’

‘Snap out of it, you idiot!’

They were giving everything they had, but since their mana was already depleted, it felt like it wasn’t enough. As the mages struggled to share their power, then.

Buzz! Buzz!

Whoosh!

A massive flame swept across the field in an instant.

All the way to the horizon.

Numerous monsters failed to escape the flames and died, reduced to ashes. Beric slightly opened his left eye, feeling the heat engulf him.

‘Oh. Ian.’

Ian with golden eyes was looking down at him upside down. He glanced at Jayrut for a moment, then asked as if wanting confirmation.

‘Is Jayrut okay?’

Was he free from the brainwashing, and was he still living for Bariel? Beric grumbled, saying it was tiring to say it twice.

‘Of course. And now I can beat the old man.’

‘Really?’

That’s a bit surprising.

When Ian smiled, Beric also grinned. One side of his heart was still aching, but he was smiling. Was he crazy?

‘How about you? Did you fix the hole?’

‘Yeah. The northern area is fine for now.’

‘Then, we can keep going.’

‘Without worry, keep going.’

‘That brainwashing, it’s because of the Underworld God, right?’

Ian reached out and closed Beric’s eyes. As if telling him to stop and get some rest.

As mana flowed through his warm palm, his labored breathing stabilized. He mumbled, half-conscious and dazed.

‘Underworld God, you bastard, I’ll kill you……’

And then he immediately fell asleep.

Ian let out a faint sigh and instructed the mages.

‘Move them onto the dragons. I’ll take care of them while we move.’

‘Ian, are you overdoing it?’

‘Yes, you’ve been using a lot of power continuously.’

‘We don’t want to be a burden, even if we can’t help. We’ll do it. Please rest, even a little.’

‘Does the fact that the crack zone is okay mean you’ve filled the gap? How did you do it?’

Instead of answering, Ian showed his palm.

Why a palm all of a sudden? Everyone gathered around and stared, blinking their eyes. A bright light bubbled and connected, and an Idgal [a magical construct] was created.

‘Ian!’

‘I, I, it’s an Idgal.’

‘Is it magic? No. Alchemy?’

‘Get out of the way, you guys!’

‘Ugh, Captain Acorella! Wait a minute. Don’t push!’

‘Ian. I’ll take this one. Okay? Please say it’s okay, I’d be grateful.’

Acorella’s eyes were half-flipped. If he was lucky, he might see a nosebleed for the first time in a while.

Ian smiled and nodded, telling them to hurry back.

‘His Majesty is waiting.’

‘Yes! We have to go! We have to go quickly!’

Buzz! Buzz!

Thud!

‘Captain Acorella! No, you crazy. Where did the guy who was just groaning go? Let’s go together!’

‘The monster cleanup…’

The mage trailed off, looking around.

It was all ashes. Whether it was from the burned land or the traces of monsters, he didn’t know. However, one thing was certain. None of those who fought against Bariel had survived.

The mages straightened their robes and stood up.

‘Let’s go back. Ian. You’ve worked hard.’

* * *

‘Captain Jayrut is injured?’

Inside the tent where the meeting was being held.

Jin stood up from his chair and asked again. If it were anyone else, it might be different, but the fact that Captain Jayrut was injured and had lost consciousness was strange. He had thought he was someone who would never fall.

Jin gestured as if to lead the way, and Siao Shi opened the tent.

‘Yes, Your Majesty. It is said that he experienced brainwashing symptoms due to an unknown force flowing from the crack. Beric stopped Captain Jayrut, and both of them were seriously injured and are being treated.’

‘What about Ian? Is he by their side?’

‘Yes. He is taking care of them with the healing mages as soon as he arrived.’

‘Besides the two, are there any other injuries?’

‘Fortunately, no. According to Ian, he also blocked the northern crack, and in the process, he also learned how to create Idgal.’

‘…Idgal?’

Amazing. From Captain Jayrut’s injury to the method of creating Idgal. Everything was beyond expectations.

Siao Shi nodded and replied.

‘It is unclear how much, but if it is enough to block the northern crack, it is expected that other cracks can also be dealt with. How about sending a message to Clifford?’

‘Good. If we can fill the cracks, Clifford will be able to shorten the time to restore national power, and it will be of great help in the war. Siao Shi, you should write the letter.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

‘It is also a great help in controlling the mages of other countries. Which way is it?’

‘This way, Your Majesty.’

‘And that place?’

‘The vanguard soldiers who survived the monster attack are being treated.’

Jin pondered for a moment, then turned to the opposite side.

Although the importance of the Imperial Guard was overwhelmingly high, it was wartime. As an emperor, he needed to personally encourage the survivors to boost the morale of the entire army.

‘Open it.’

‘His Majesty the Emperor is here!’

‘Everyone, pay your respects!’

The soldiers who were wrapping bandages were startled and prostrated themselves, but Jin waved his hand lightly to stop them.

‘That’s enough. There is no need to move much. I have come to encourage the bravery of those who have risked their lives for the sake of God.’

‘We, we, we are sorry, Your Majesty.’

‘It is an honor!’

‘Are you all?’

‘Yes? Ah, yes, yes. There is one more, but she lowered the cloth for a moment to wrap the bandage on her body.’

‘Is the injury serious?’

‘It’s not that, but she’s a woman…’

A woman?

Right next to them, behind a makeshift cloth, a presence was felt.

‘I apologize, Your Majesty.’

Jin thought the woman’s voice sounded familiar, but he didn’t mention it. Jayrut and Beric were waiting.

‘That’s enough. You’ve worked hard too. I am truly glad that you have returned alive. Do not lose that courage on the battlefield in the future. I will reward you with a good meal, so eat well and recover quickly.’

‘Thank you.’

The woman was finally able to put on her clothes after the emperor left, and she was able to remove the makeshift cloth late. The soldiers clicked their tongues in disappointment.

‘Bad luck, Aileen. It was a chance to see His Majesty the Emperor’s face.’

If I risk my life for my country again someday, there will be another chance. Aileen just smiled.