Margrave’s Bastard Son Was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 570

Verosian.

A legendary being, born of both god and human, who quelled the chaos of Gaia, founded Bariel, and is believed to have ruled the empire with unwavering power for over 300 years.

If one is the Emperor of Bariel, they should rightfully bear the name Verosian, a sign and glory of being chosen by Bariel.

Verosian.

The Emperor of Bariel.

The center of Gaia, the pinnacle of the empire.

‘…Ian Verosian.’

Jin, without realizing it, rolled the name on his tongue, echoing Ian’s words. The softly flowing syllables were truly beautiful and sorrowful.

Just as joy had bloomed in Ian’s eyes, an indescribable emotion welled up in Jin’s. Ian smiled brightly and clasped his hand.

‘Your Majesty. Compose yourself.’

This is a battlefield. How can Your Majesty, the lord of all here, show such raw emotion? This is what I told you, and in fact, what you told me. Your will flowed and reached me, 100 years into the future, did it not?

‘How, how on earth—’

‘There are mountains of things to explain, so I cannot go into detail right now. But, if I were to put it simply…’

Ian trailed off, looking around at the people nearby. Their reactions were all too clear. Most were too surprised to even breathe.

‘…’

‘…!’

Hale dropped his dry cigarette, and Acorella let out a silent scream, grabbing the hair of the mages on either side of her. The mages whose hair was being pulled were also frozen in place.

Ian gestured slightly, as if to calm them, and continued.

‘100 years from now, I became emperor at a young age and faced a rebellion before I came of age. My opponent was my older nephew, who had controlled my life since childhood. Just as I was about to be imprisoned and killed, I was brought here by my friend and Minister of Magic, Naum Obia.’

‘…Such magic exists?’

‘It was forbidden magic.’

The reason he was so interested in the abyss.

Everyone understood Ian’s answer. Especially Zaira, who covered her mouth in surprise, never imagining that Ian would have the same goal as her.

‘This eventually reached the gods. The gods, worried about the shadows disrupting Gaia, arranged for me to enter the body of the illegitimate son Ian, and that is how I came to be here.’

‘Arranged?’

‘It is the path we have walked until now, and the path we will walk in the future.’

The use of Rutherford to create Idgal, the attempt to balance the overflowing rifts, the fact that one blessed by the imperial family dealt with the wicked monster Arsen, and Jin ascending to the throne as was meant to be.

Everything was the work of the god ‘Ian’. Whether it was the illegitimate son Ian or the Emperor Ian.

‘Just as the gods used me as a device, the shadows also used Rutherford as a device. Though they eroded and carved away at the soul.’

The mind control of a monster that cannot be easily escaped without the blessing of the imperial family.

Jin frowned slightly, thinking of his mother, Dilaina. It was a parasite that had penetrated deep into his heart, trying to destroy Gaia and Bariel. One with his face.

‘Simply put, that is all. However, as I said, this is Your Majesty’s Bariel, and I am merely a device of the gods, so I will continue to be Ian Hiel, the Minister of Magic, as before.’

Ian smiled and nodded.

As the answer was given, solutions simultaneously surfaced in everyone’s minds.

‘…So, you knew about ‘that passage’.’

‘Huh? Commander Hale, what are you talking about? What passage?’

‘Wow, wait a minute. It’s surprisingly easy to understand considering how suddenly this came up. This isn’t my delusion, is it?’

‘…Huh, that’s right, that’s right.’

‘What? That it’s my delusion?’

‘No, you crazy bastard. Remember when Ian told us to find and refer to a precedent that even the administration didn’t know about? I thought it was strange then?’

‘When was that? There have been so many incidents, I don’t remember.’

‘Oh my god, so Ian, wow, were you a mage from the start?’

‘Of course, he would be. Otherwise, how could he draw that magic circle! At that age! Is that even possible?’

‘Are you perhaps an idiot? Ian just said it. He became that way before he came of age.’

‘Oh. Th, then—’

‘There’s not much difference between his original age and now.’

‘Oh… I see.’

The mages, having regained their senses, approached Ian, endlessly pouring out curious questions. They were the humans closest to the gods, and those who were said to be loved by him. The fact that Ian’s body was of the gods was so surprising and moving that they couldn’t contain themselves.

‘Are you a mage and an emperor, Ian?’

‘Yes. I was the first mage to become emperor.’

They were mages who now worked and earned money in the imperial palace, but most of them were from low social classes. They were amazed that a mage could also become an emperor, their eyes wide with admiration.

‘Was your magic power always this strong?’

‘No, originally my true body was incomparably stronger. But after seeing the gods in the abyss, it seems to be similar to that time, or perhaps even stronger now.’

‘Crazy, so that was weak?’

‘W, what were the gods like?’

‘…Warm.’

As Ian murmured, vividly recalling the warmth of that day, the mages’ eyes were filled with longing.

Ian Hiel, no, Ian Verosian. He was already great and amazing before, but now he felt like he had far surpassed those limits.

Similar to the mages’ commotion, the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Defense Force were also in an uproar, filled with whispers.

‘Is it true that he’s the future emperor?’

‘We saw him earlier. The one with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.’

‘We have no choice but to believe it. How else can we explain him?’

‘Now everything makes sense. Earlier, 10 years ago, Haiman raised the issue. That he was of imperial blood.’

‘Damon also said so. There are commonalities.’

‘It wasn’t nonsense. How did they find out, I wonder?’

‘Haiman is dead and gone, but Damon remains, so it won’t take long to find the answer.’

‘Yes, and before that, Sir Ian might give us the answer.’

Is this why they say there’s no smoke without fire? A long-standing suspicion, which had seemed so absurd, was now being realized. Everyone exclaimed, falling into shock, awe, and admiration.

‘Berick! Are you okay?’

One of the Imperial Guards poked Berick, who was sitting blankly on Kkyu. But there was no response. He stared at Ian with a vacant look, then fell backward.

Thud!

‘Berick! You idiot! Did this bastard faint with his eyes open?’

‘Let’s treat him first. Look at his leg. Seriously.’

‘What if he can’t walk because of this?’

‘But what about Commander Bonita and Barsabe…’

Come to think of it, they didn’t know what had happened to Commander Bonita and Barsabe. Were they under the collapsed Agiar Wall, or had they escaped and were chasing Rutherford?

Ian was pondering for a moment, looking towards Agiar, when the atmosphere around him suddenly froze. Why was that? Feeling puzzled, Ian turned around, and his eyes widened slightly.

‘…Your Majesty.’

A single tear fell from Jin’s indifferent eyes. He didn’t even seem to realize it, as he was surprised when Ian called out to him and wiped it away with his fingertips.

Everyone deliberately lowered or turned their heads, averting their gaze. The emperor’s tears were not to be seen, nor could they be seen.

‘Ah.’

Feeling Jin’s embarrassment at just one tear, Ian approached him and clasped his hand again.

‘I’m sorry, Sir Ian.’

‘It’s alright. You can erase them from now on.’

‘My, my heart is so confused and chaotic.’

‘Yes. I understand. You must be surprised.’

‘It’s not just the surprise—’

Jin paused for a moment, clearing his throat.

The first emotion he recognized was joy. The fact that Ian, who had guided his hand, was actually the one who shared the name Verosian with him, made him so happy that he didn’t know what to do.

Next, he felt sorry, as all of Ian’s actions were now understood. How could he have endured alone in the imperial palace, carrying such a huge secret? Ian’s feelings, unable to answer his request to stay by his side and lead Bariel together, instantly overwhelmed him.

‘Everything you have done was truly for Bariel. It was not just the name of Verosian, but the will of the gods.’

‘That is correct, Your Majesty. I am truly grateful. Because I was able to serve Your Majesty, I was able to fully love Bariel 100 years from now.’

‘Don’t say such things. I am also grateful, and I don’t know how to express it. You are, after all, a sign of the future that I exist and will exist.’

‘I see. Just as I am, so are you, Your Majesty.’

‘I don’t know what happened 100 years from now, but remember one thing. You are Verosian. The Verosian of Bariel. And so, you created Bariel 100 years ago.’

Ian was moved and could only smile. It was the greatest encouragement he could receive as Emperor Ian Verosian.

Jin watched him, barely holding back the tears that were threatening to fall again. Ah. Now he understood. Why it wasn’t just joy and sorrow.

‘Ian’s Bariel…’

This was his Bariel, so Ian had to return to his Bariel someday.

He realized it instinctively before he even recognized it. That they could not be together. That there were clear paths for each of them, now that he had ascended to the throne.

‘…Still, I am happy.’

‘What is it, Your Majesty?’

‘That you are my family.’

‘Is that so? I feel the same. I am incredibly proud that someone like Your Majesty is my family.’

Firmly.

The two nodded, holding hands.

‘Let’s have a long conversation later.’

‘Good. I have many questions to ask and much to hear.’

‘I, I will tell you everything.’

Ian answered, looking around at the people nearby. It was a signal that they, too, should now wake up from their surprise and fulfill their respective roles.

In the lull of the battle, the Rusweena side was regrouping and retreating behind the Agiar Wall, while simultaneously observing their movements. It was as if…

‘They’re watching us, wondering what we’re doing just standing here.’

Jin muttered, drawing his sword high.

‘Let’s go!’

It was the moment Ian’s existence was newly recognized. A being from Bariel 100 years in the future. It was as if the gods themselves had shown that the empire would be safe and sound in the future after overcoming this war.

Following Jin, the officers raised their weapons, and in succession, the soldiers also prepared for battle.

Booooo-

Boo-

‘All troops—!’

‘All troops!’

‘Charge!’

Swish!

As Jin swung his sword, the Bariel soldiers began to rush forward again in formation. If they could just get over the piled-up stones, there would be no obstacles to the wall. The soldiers let out loud, spirited shouts.

‘Uwaaaah!’

‘Chaaarge!’

Taptap!

Taat!

Amidst the soldiers pouring like grains of sand, Jin, with his sword raised high, shouted.

‘The gods are with us!’

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