Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 556

Swish, swish.

Ian lightly shook his head as the mages poured water over it.

As he wiped the dirt from his face, he quickly looked clean. The mages huddled around, checking for any injuries, but thankfully, he seemed fine. They looked up at Ian with wonder and asked,

“But Ian, how are you so good with a sword?”

“Is it because you’re young? You’re incredibly agile.”

“Seriously. How much older are you than Ian?”

“With the Abyss, it’s a twelve-year difference now.”

“Ah, right. Ian, have you ever formally learned swordsmanship? I heard you took noble classes before.”

“That bastard class in Bratz?”

“It seems too serious for something you learned formally. It’s unfair. Ian, please live moderately. Handsome people shouldn’t work out too hard. It’s a kind of social agreement. Yes.”

“What a load of crap.”

Even as the mages bickered noisily, Ian calmly wiped his neck.

“I did learn it. A long time ago.”

A very long time ago.

At an age when no matter how much he explained how sharp a sword was, how heavy it felt, and how hot human blood was, they wouldn’t understand.

Ian vividly remembered Crony, who had taught him swordsmanship.

‘You’re doing well. You have talent.’

‘Really?’

‘Of course. If magic power leaks out from time to time, suppress the energy with your sword. That way, your uncle will live, and I will live.’

‘I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean.’

‘It’s okay. Now, let’s try again.’

Squeeze.

Ian squeezed the wet sleeve tightly.

It wasn’t a pleasant memory. He was too young, lived in Crony’s world, and didn’t know how to pray to God.

The mages helped Ian adjust his clothes and added,

“You’re really amazing. Do you know how the soldiers felt earlier? Their morale was through the roof. They said there’s nothing to worry about as long as the mages are here.”

“Well, mages are mages, but, hmm. I can’t explain it in a cool way, geez. Heh heh. You’ve worked hard.”

“Ian-ahhh!”

Thud!

Then, Beric tumbled down from the golem’s shoulder. He rolled once and stopped right in front of Ian, giving a thumbs up. It was hard to believe he was an injured man with a hole in his stomach.

“You crazy bastard, you’ll open your wound!”

“If it opens, I’ll just sew it back up!”

“Do you think your skin is a piece of cloth? And we’re mages, not doctors! We don’t care about wound closures!”

“I don’t know! Anyway, Ian, you were pretty good?”

As Beric poked Ian’s waist and joked, the mages’ eyes narrowed. How dare this guy touch Ian’s waist? Does he want to die?

The mages stood in a line, facing Beric.

“That’s right, Beric. Our Ian, who only held a pen, had more fluid swordsmanship than you, who train all day.”

“Huh? Are you crazy? Who are you comparing to whom?”

“It’s an honor, isn’t it? So stop messing with Ian and go back to the Imperial Guard. When will Commander Jayrut wake up? Sigh.”

“Wait a minute, that’s absurd! Hey! If you’re going to pack that much magic power into the tip of your sword, shouldn’t you be able to do at least that much? If we’re just talking about swordsmanship, of course, I’d win?”

“Yes, yes. We understand. You’re just saying you can’t win without a handicap. We heard you loud and clear.”

“Ugh! You, come here! I’m going to beat you up first!”

“Oh, I can take you on now. Come at me.”

Ab-yo! As the mage taunted him with a flick of his fingers, Beric tried to jump in forcefully. But at that moment, Minister Maxim Tweller suddenly appeared and held out his hand, stopping him.

Tweller nodded as if to tell him to restrain himself. It was a signal that His Majesty the Emperor had arrived.

“Sir Ian!”

“Your Majesty.”

Jin pushed open the tent flap and entered with slightly hurried steps. At first, his face was full of worry, but seeing Ian sitting safely, his expression softened.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. It’s all the enemy’s blood.”

Amazing. You are truly amazing.

Although he didn’t say anything, Jin’s eyes were saying so.

In those sparkling eyes, Ian saw Jin from his childhood. The gaze of a child who was about ten years old was like that. Those eyes that admired him were like that. He realized anew that some things don’t change over time.

Ian smiled and neatly buttoned his coat.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I should have handled it without causing you any concern, but it seems I have worried you.”

“No, don’t say that. My concern is natural. I hold in my heart all those who have stepped forward for Bariel.”

“I am grateful that you say so.”

“The movement of the other tribes that were coming to support us from the rear has stopped. They must have felt something was amiss when they saw the fire. There’s a high chance they’ll retreat.”

“If they have the instinct to survive, they will. We will advance again before noon as planned. Minister Tweller, will there be any problems?”

“Of course not, Minister Ian.”

Ian had already taken care of everything, so why would there be any delay? Just in case, he had even lined up the troops. There was no problem going into battle right away.

“But, Minister Ian.”

“Yes, Minister Tweller.”

“You must have learned swordsmanship?”

“I learned a little when I was young, it’s embarrassing to even call it learning.”

A little when he was young. Was it from Bratz? Maxim Tweller stroked his beard and asked calmly,

“Did you learn from a teacher from the Imperial Palace?”

Tweller’s question was quite sharp. Crony was a former Deputy Minister of the Imperial Defense Department, and his teachings were ultimately based on Imperial swordsmanship.

At this, Jin turned to Ian with interest. It was amazing that there was an Imperial swordsman in the Bratz territory, and that Ian had been taught by him and was now affiliated with the Imperial Palace.

What should he answer? Ian pondered for a moment, but then nodded nonchalantly.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Oh, your teacher must be very happy. His disciple is shining so brightly.”

“I wonder.”

Ian muttered quietly. As he shone brighter, what was Crony like?

Maxim Tweller, noticing the shadow in his mutter, examined Ian’s expression, but could not find any particular reaction. It was because Ian had a white smile on his face.

“You flatter me.”

“…You’re humble.”

“Then, I’ll go prepare. Your Majesty, I’ll take my leave first. Please make sure to eat well. As we get closer to Burgos, unexpected things will happen.”

“Yes. You too, Sir Ian.”

Ian gave a light bow and turned his body. Behind him, the mages also followed in a line. And at the very end, even Beric joined.

“Minister Tweller. Let’s go too.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Jin’s urging, Tweller bowed, but his gaze was fixed on the tent where Ian had disappeared. For swordsmanship learned during his bastard days, its depth seemed extraordinary…

‘It’s strange.’

The expression ‘strange’ was more fitting than ‘suspicious.’ Knowing how heavy the work of the Magic Department was, it was nearly impossible for him to train separately. Even if he was supported by magic power, that was…

‘It was a battle with real combat experience.’

Tweller glanced at the blood-soaked towel and then turned his head. Later, when the war was settled and he had some time, he thought he should ask Ian properly.

* * *

“Cough!”

Romandro woke up with a start, startled from dozing in his chair. There was a clear drool mark next to his mouth, but the soldiers pretended not to notice and stared straight ahead. They thought he might fall off the chair, but he managed to wake up.

Romandro immediately poked his head towards King Damon’s bedroom to check the situation.

‘Nothing unusual.’

Damon was still standing with his face pressed against the window.

Romandro watched him quietly. Feeling something was off, he gestured to the soldiers.

“Hey you.”

“Yes. Did you call?”

“Block the window too.”

“The window?”

It was a window firmly secured with iron bars. Moreover, it was only the size of a palm, making escape or intrusion impossible. But why bother?

“Ahem, do I have to explain the reason?”

“No, sir. I’ll get a wooden board right away.”

“Get a servant! A servant! No soldiers are to leave!”

Geez, what is this after waking up from a good nap?

The soldiers grumbled inwardly, but Romandro was firm. If an assassin used a long-range weapon, wouldn’t even that small gap be dangerous? Since Damon was pressing his face close, a problem could arise without warning.

Well, even if there wasn’t a building as tall as this magic tower, this was a world where dragons flew.

Thump! Clang!

“Excuse me.”

“I’ll go inside for a bit.”

The soldiers who had brought wooden boards, nails, and hammers entered Damon’s bedroom.

With shackles on his wrists and ankles, Damon couldn’t move much and only turned his body. In fact, he seemed reluctant to move away from the window.

“We’ll block the window.”

Thud.

Damon pushed the soldier away with his bound hands, expressing his dissatisfaction. For someone who had his tongue cut and had been as good as dead until now, it was quite a violent protest. He was already completely confined, wasn’t it too much to prevent him from even seeing the outside?

The soldiers also agreed, but there was nothing they could do since Romandro was standing firm.

“I apologize.”

“Just a moment, this way.”

It was the moment Damon rebelled and roughly pushed the soldier away.

Clang!

Suddenly, the iron bars shattered. Did they hammer it wrong? Everyone tilted their heads in confusion, wondering what was going on, and then froze.

“… !”

“… !”

Blood was flowing from the forehead of the soldier who was standing near the window with a wooden board.

He fell without even realizing his death. Something small and sharp had flown a long distance, pierced the iron bars, and killed the person who was standing there.

“Aaaah!”

“Hey! Hey! Are you okay?”

“Get away from the window! Damn it!”

The soldiers shouted as they lowered their bodies, and Romandro ran to the fallen soldier.

Good heavens. What on earth is this…!

“King Damon!”

Romandro shouted reflexively, and the soldiers who had regained their senses turned to Damon.

In the meantime, he had approached the broken iron bar fragments and was holding a large piece in his hand. Would he swallow it, bite it, or stab with it? Damon was excited at the thought that this was finally the end and a new beginning.

“This is bad!”

“We can’t let him die!”

“Please don’t do this, please!”

Clang! Clatter!

Where did this strength come from? Damon was wrestling with two soldiers, and his shackles were clanging loudly.

While the soldiers held Damon, Romandro gathered the broken fragments and cleared them away. Including the piece of metal that Damon had dropped while struggling.

“That’s it! Outside! Call a doctor!”

“What’s going on? Huff!”

“Hurry! Hurry! And a duty mage from the Magic Department too!”

“Ah, yes!”

The soldiers who were waiting outside also looked bewildered at the sudden chaos. Just as they were about to go down the stairs-

Tap tap!

Another sound of footsteps was heard. An intruder.

Even though the Imperial Palace was empty, how could they have gotten in? The barrier was still solid! Romandro pulled out a sword from the fallen soldier’s waist.

“Y-you, you bastard! Where do you think you are…”

His hands were trembling and his voice was fading, but Romandro took one step forward at a time. Without realizing that his eyes were filled with tears.

Oh