Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 566

Tick-tock, 30 seconds.

With Bonita in the lead, the Imperial Guard boarded the dragon.

Bonita told the dragon that once they reached the final signal point, the guards would descend and infiltrate the barrier. The dragon just blinked, its expression unreadable, as if it didn’t understand.

Tick-tock, 25 seconds.

With a single flap of its massive wings, it soared tens of meters forward.

Except for Beric, the other Imperial Guards were riding a dragon for the first time, and they stiffened their bodies, focusing intently on the shocking speed. The fallen golems and the bloody battles of the soldiers gradually came into view.

Tick-tock, 20 seconds.

The mages fighting in the sky noticed the dragon’s movement.

Ruswena’s side deployed a new shield to stop the dragon from breaking through, but the Bariel mages immediately unleashed an attack to shatter it.

“Ian!”

Tick-tock, 18 seconds.

Beric shouted loudly, instantly noticing that Ian’s complexion was poor. His dark clothes were soaked, and it was blood. He could tell thanks to Ian’s pale fingers.

“What’s wrong with you?!”

“Beric! Look ahead! Focus!”

“Hey! Ian!”

Tick-tock, 15 seconds.

Ian frowned and nodded. It was a signal to focus on the mission, along with his nagging comrades.

Although he didn’t know the details of the mission, Ian guessed it was an infiltration team, given the composition of only Imperial Guards. The best defense is offense. They were clearly trying to eliminate threats to protect the Emperor.

Whoosh!

Tick-tock, 10 seconds.

The dragon completely crossed the barrier. The massive triple defense line was visible at a glance.

Barsabe quickly scanned around, then pointed in one direction. One hundred meters north of the first gate. With the Burgos flag planted there, it was easy to direct the dragon.

“That way!”

“Prepare to descend!”

Tick-tock, 8 seconds.

The dragon turned, its tail at a right angle. An Idgal arrow had been fired.

The dragon glided freely, gracefully curving as it extended its wings toward the designated point. A huge gust of wind whipped the Imperial Guards’ hair.

“Descend!”

Tick-tock, 7 seconds.

On Bonita’s command, Kanna and Wakion jumped without hesitation. They unleashed their magic, and soon their eyes met those of the soldiers who were staring blankly at the sky from the barrier. The soldiers stammered, then scattered in all directions to avoid the guards.

“The sky has been breached!”

“The enemies are invading! Five of them!”

“Emergency! Emerrrgency!”

Tick-tock, 6 seconds.

Where should he land? As Beric kept looking down, Barsabe kicked him in the back.

“Huh?”

Beric fell awkwardly. Unlike Kanna and Wakion, he was falling headfirst.

Regardless, Barsabe followed suit, throwing herself down coolly. Bonita patted the dragon’s neck, expressing her gratitude.

“Now, you go back. Safely.”

-Koo-ooo!

Whoosh!

Once Bonita had jumped, the dragon spun around once in place. Then, it flew back to the Bariel camp even faster than it had come.

Tick-tock, 3 seconds.

Kanna and Wakion slowed their descent by grabbing onto the flagpole with the Burgos flag.

Ten meters below, Burgos soldiers were looking up at them, spears raised. As if they would skewer them the moment they fell.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Ignoring them, the two released their grip simultaneously, using their massive magic as a cushion to land.

The two’s specific mission was to draw all attention within the Burgos barrier. This would buy time for Beric to find Clark, and for Bonita and Barsabe to figure out the mysterious attack.

Thud!

Tick-tock, 1 second.

Beric, Barsabe, and Bonita landed inside the barrier in quick succession.

In the rising dust, three figures appeared. They were already holding the heads of soldiers in one hand each, having sliced them off in the short moment of landing.

Thump, the casually tossed heads rolled away, and the soldiers stared at them with a sense of disbelief.

“Beric, Barsabe.”

“Yes, Captain.”

On Bonita’s command, Barsabe took Beric and went down the stairs. First, Beric, who knew Clark, would lead the way, and Bonita and Barsabe would assist him in clearing the path.

Deep into the barrier—

Even if they couldn’t return alive.

It would be good to know the source of the mysterious attack, and even better if they could kill Rutherford. The three’s wills were aligned and firm.

“Hey, tooth! Which way is it?”

“I don’t know the details from here!”

“Okay. So, we’re winging it?”

Thwack!

“Enemies!”

“Kill them!”

Beric punched the charging soldiers as he moved forward. The area was so crowded that the soldiers couldn’t easily swing their swords, and they just pushed forward.

To the magic swordsmen, these guys were easy and annoying. It was only difficult because there were so many of them, but their strength was not a problem.

Tap!

“This way!”

Barsabe took advantage of an opening and turned the corner. The rough sound of soldiers’ boots echoed from all directions, and as Beric tried to draw his magic sword, Bonita stopped him.

“If it explodes, the barrier will collapse! It’s not time yet!”

“So, we just keep running around like this?”

“At least until we find something!”

“Damn it, I knew it! That’s why I didn’t want to come!”

Thwack!

Beric punched a soldier in the face, and his body was pushed back like a doll, hitting the wall. Soldiers with torches threatened the three, telling them not to come closer.

“Here! The intruders are here!”

“Stay still! You guys!”

“They say they’re magic swordsmen, don’t get close! Wait until the higher-ups come!”

“Surround them! Don’t approach, surround them!”

The three exchanged glances. Higher-ups?

They didn’t know who it was, but it meant someone who could stand against magic swordsmen. Beric tried to break through the soldiers in one go, and the soldiers swung their torches in response.

Thwack! Swish!

The flames flickered wildly, and eventually, they caught the end of Beric’s sleeve.

Beric punched a soldier in the face while still on fire, caving it in. The impact extinguished the fire, sending gray smoke billowing around.

“Get out of my way, you bastards!”

“Ugh!”

“Clark! Clark! If you hear me, give a signal!”

“What’s a Clark? There’s no such thing here!”

“What do you know, you bastard!”

Taptap!

Beric broke through the crowd and ran quickly, with Barsabe and Bonita following behind.

How long had they been running, breaking through, and escaping, causing chaos inside the barrier? Beric suddenly detected a disgusting smell.

“Huh?”

What was it? It wasn’t the smell of gunpowder, nor was it the smell of blood… It was a stench like a mixture of fish and rotten food.

Beric unconsciously turned his head and found a broken window. Suspicious. Everywhere else was fine, so why just that spot?

“Hey, tooth!”

“Yeah! Okay!”

At Beric’s shout, Barsabe jumped up and grabbed the window frame. And the moment she looked inside—

“Shit.”

She unconsciously uttered a shocked curse.

Fallen soldiers and a thick, lingering stench. And an unknown liquid stretching out from the outside…

“I think it’s here! Captain!”

“Understood! Beric, keep guarding the surroundings!”

Thwack!

“You mean, take care of the bastards?”

“Find Clark!”

“Clark! Where are you! Mrs. Rien’s boyfriend!”

Bonita followed Barsabe through the broken window.

Left alone, Beric shouted and threw punches, and soon he spotted a familiar figure. A familiar man in Burgos armor.

“…This way.”

“Ugh!”

Whoosh!

Taptap!

Clark cut down a soldier’s back and pulled Beric deeper inside. The underground area was dark, with no sunlight, making it a good place to hide from the soldiers running around.

Clark took off his helmet, panting.

“Haa, ha, Beric, right?”

“Yeah. Long time no see. But, why are you breathing like that?”

“I fell from the window, and I think I broke a rib.”

“Ah. Is that so? No big deal. Anyway, where’s Rutherford? We came because your signal was cut off. We also need to find the Gypsy.”

Clark glanced at Beric with a dumbfounded look and took off his helmet, putting it on Beric. His red hair seemed to catch the eye.

“The Gypsy was captured by Rutherford. Her gills were torn, and it looked like it was the stage before cutting her open.”

“Because of the secret?”

“Rutherford wanted to find out Ian Hiero’s secret. I heard there’s also the Emperor’s.”

Beric blinked for a moment.

The Emperor’s secret? Jin didn’t say anything when mentioning the Gypsy? Beric tilted his head without realizing it, then waved his hand as if it was okay.

“Never mind, what else?”

“Never mind? Isn’t the Emperor’s secret a big deal? Especially now, during a war.”

“No, never mind. Was there anything else strange? There’s definitely something here. Someone who can attack from a distance, but I can’t figure out who it is. It’s dangerous for His Majesty too.”

Ugh. Clark pressed his aching waist and whispered through his teeth.

“I don’t know. I didn’t see anything special. There was someone looking at a doll, though.”

“A doll? What doll? In this mess?”

“That’s why it was weird. There’s a passage that comes out when you go up the stairs twice and turn right. I saw it while passing by. A man was looking at a doll.”

Oh, really?

Beric stood up and told Clark.

“There are two Imperial Guards causing a ruckus outside? Their names are Kanna and Wakion. Ask for their help, and if they’re dead, just get out of here. Go to the Bariel camp.”

“What about you?”

“Me?”

Taptap!

“It’s over there!”

“They’re there!”

The searching soldiers found Beric and Clark and rushed over. Beric threw the helmet he was wearing, hitting the lead soldier squarely in the head.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

“You guys! Did you eat boiled worms or something!”

Beric nodded to Clark and ran up the stairs. It was a signal to draw attention so he could get out quickly.

Clark hid in the darkness and moved slowly, glancing up at the commotion above. He was worried, but he was too busy taking care of himself right now.

‘Go up twice, he said. And then right!’

Whoosh!

Beric ran up the stairs in one go.

When he arrived on the floor, it was deserted. There weren’t many soldiers here. It was because the doll master had made the soldiers retreat quietly, but Beric didn’t know that.

“It’s upstairs!”

As he heard the sound of pursuit from below, Beric opened all the nearby doors.

The moment he opened the third door—

Thud!

“Ugh!”

He found a man staggering while leaning against the wall. On the table was a large doll board, and a doll was standing there.

Bagban wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and turned around.

“I told you not to make a fuss… Huh? Who are you!”

“And who are you?”

Swoosh.

Beric lightly picked up the doll and scanned Bagban up and down.

“A pervert?”

“What nonsense…”

“Damn it. If an old man is playing with dolls during a war, he’s a pervert. Did you make a hole in Ian’s stomach?”

“Put that down!”

“Put it down?”

“Yes, quickly! Ugh!”

As Bagban staggered as if he was dizzy, Beric grinned and grabbed the doll’s arms with both hands. Then, without hesitation, he tore it apart.

Rip!

“I don’t listen to what perverts say.”