Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 590

“Barsabe!”

The Imperial Guard members in Agiar Castle called out her name joyfully, as one.

‘I thought you had left to seek glory, too. It’s so good to see you up and about,’ they said, embracing each other, their greetings tinged with tears.

“Are you feeling okay? Is it alright for you to be moving around?”

“Why did you come all the way here? You should be resting.”

“I heard today was the execution of Rutherford’s remnants. I felt like my stomach would turn if I didn’t see it. And after lying down for a few days, my body feels stiff. It’s better to move around at times like this.”

“You’re crazy, really. Are you out of your mind?”

“Is it happening inside?”

Barsabe waved her hand as if to say not to worry, and her colleagues nodded. Judging by the fact that a healing mage had rushed in earlier, something must have happened, but there were no special instructions, so they were on standby.

“Commander Jeyrat is also observing.”

“Where? Over there? Is it okay to go in now?”

“Yeah. There are others there too. We can’t move because we’re on duty.”

“Okay. Have a good shift. See you later.”

They bumped fists lightly as a farewell, and they smiled brightly. Even though they had given their lives for Bariel, there were moments when they were grateful to be alive. Like now.

Creak.

Barsabe stepped into the outer corridor leading outside with her colleague.

The back of Agiar Castle, a space used as a training ground, was suitable for an execution. The tiered seating allowed a clear view of their deaths, and the dry sand made it easy to clean up the blood.

Above all, there were many tools used for training and torture, making the process easier.

“There he is.”

As her colleague pointed to one side, Barsabe’s gaze followed him.

Rutherford, who seemed to have fainted, and a mage healing him. And Ian, sitting indifferently, watching the scene. It was the moment Barsabe took in the whole scene.

Throb-!

“Ah.”

Again. The strange pain that assailed her again. It felt as if the back of her head was empty, and at the same time, a pain that pressed down on her nerves was mixed in.

As Barsabe groaned, grabbing the railing, her colleague was startled and supported her.

“Barsabe. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“My head feels a bit, strange.”

“In what way? Just sit here for a moment. I’ll go down and explain the situation and bring a healing mage right away.”

What kind of injury could cause such unpleasant pain? Barsabe had experienced a lot of pain so far, but this was a first.

She tried to say something, but her colleague didn’t hear her and quickly went down the stairs. Barsabe sat down, clutching the railing, and clenched her teeth.

-Will you look to the side?

It was a captivating tone. As if someone was blowing air into her ear, Barsabe’s head turned involuntarily.

It was scary. Now, more than pain, fear and dread began to dominate Barsabe. It felt like her body was being taken over while her mind was still intact. Yes. This was the sense of loss and despair when one’s whole self was being robbed.

“Th-this is…”

Her trembling eyes couldn’t find their focus. Soldiers standing in a dignified line. An officer reporting something to a general, Commander Jeyrat, servants moving busily, a mage organizing a stack of documents. And Ian and Rutherford…

It felt as if every detail of the scene was flowing into Barsabe’s head. Into that unknown, empty space.

As Barsabe touched her forehead-

Sparkle.

Something thin sparkled in the air.

Ian, who had been looking down at Rutherford, turned his gaze at this strange energy and soon discovered something sparkling under the clear sky. Something he had seen during the battle with the mages of Agiar-

Swoosh!

Whack! Boom!

“Ugh! Wh-what was that?”

“Lord Ian? Are you alright?”

“That was it! The thing those puppeteers did!”

It was that mysterious attack.

It came down in an instant, as if aiming for Ian’s head, and Ian slightly tilted his head to avoid the surprise attack. The attack, which failed to hit, instantly shattered a wall of the Agiar training ground. If it had hit him directly, not just his head, but his entire body would have exploded.

“Puppeteers? Was there one that survived?”

“If it’s them, they are capable of long-range attacks, Lord Ian! Please give us instructions!”

Ian stood up and turned to look at the direction from which the attack had come. It was a force that was incomparably larger and more powerful than the one that had pierced his stomach. Back then, a sharp needle had pierced his abdomen, but this was like a giant iron arrow flying in.

‘According to Beric’s testimony, what the puppeteers need is a perfectly realized background and a puppet called the subject. If they accurately identified my location and attacked, even though it’s not during a battle, it’s one of two things. Either they have a ‘stage’ that exactly matches the background inside Agiar Castle, or if not…

They’re watching directly.

The former was highly unlikely for the puppeteers who were fleeing. They had retreated in a hurry without having time to take anything. This was also confirmed by the bodies of the puppeteers found near the cliff. They were empty-handed except for the Tollun pass [a travel document] and some gold coins.

‘If so, it means they’re watching directly.’

Through Rutherford? Or the magic swordsmen kneeling next to him? If it was stealth, he would have noticed it first.

Tap!

Ian snapped his fingers and made the soldiers step back. And then, he covered Rutherford and the remnants with a black cloth. When the mages tried to ask what to do, Ian covered his mouth and signaled them to be silent.

“Concentrate. It might come again.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

The mages summoned their magic power and prepared to deploy a protective barrier at any moment, and Tweeler and Jeyrat also drew their swords and lowered their stances. The Imperial Guard members all ran inside the castle to check on the Emperor’s safety.

Sparkle!

“It’s coming! Lord Ian!”

Whoosh!

Ian’s reaction was faster than anyone’s shout. It had fallen from the left, aiming for Ian’s heart. Ian created an Idgal barrier [a magical shield] and easily broke through it.

Clang!

“The speed is a bit slow. Slower than what we saw at the barrier.”

“Oh, I can see it if I concentrate. The last one came down in the blink of an eye.”

“Could it be that it changes slightly depending on the distance from the subject?”

“The previous puppeteer was inside the Agiar Castle walls, so it was relatively close. Now, they’re a bit further away, so I think the speed has decreased.”

“Lord Ian! Did you hear that? It seems plausible.”

“Yes, I agree. It’s unlikely that a puppeteer is hiding inside the Agiar Castle walls. It seems to be coming from outside, from a farther distance.”

“Let’s move the location.”

“Yes. I think that’s the right thing to do, but-”

If the puppeteer was looking at this place with some kind of ability, moving the location would be poison. If their line of sight wasn’t blocked, it would be like conveying the structure of every part of the castle and even the current status of the entire Bariel army.

“Kuh, ugh!”

Rutherford, covered in a black cloth, coughed up blood repeatedly. The one who was with the dead puppeteer until the end. For now, he and his remnants are suspected to be the medium, but-

There’s one more.

The one who had contact with the puppeteers until the end.

“…Barsabe.”

“Yes? Why are you suddenly talking about Barsabe?”

“Has Barsabe entered the castle?”

“Uh, just a moment. I’ll go check.”

“No! There’s no need to go out! Barsabe is here! She came to her senses earlier and came to see the execution!”

A magic swordsman who was coming down told them instead, looking up at the spectator seats above. It wouldn’t be visible from this angle, but it would be visible from where Ian was. He kept calling out to Barsabe, asking her to respond.

“Barsabe! It might be hard to answer because you’re in pain, but hurry!”

“…There’s no one above you.”

“Yes? That can’t be. I just came down.”

The Imperial Guard member was flustered and ran to the middle of the training ground. Then, he was stunned. It was true. There was no one in the place where she should have been.

While everyone was confused and trying to figure out what was going on, Ian shouted.

“Find Barsabe! Cover her eyes and block her ears. If she resists, kill her honorably.”

“Ah…”

“Hurry! The Emperor’s location and appearance, Barsabe must not see them.”

They understood the order, but it took them a few seconds to understand its meaning. The mage’s face turned white, and Tweeler and Jeyrat also realized the seriousness of the situation and kicked the door open and ran out in an instant.

Tap tap!

Thud!

“Barsabe!”

“Officer Barsabe! Where are you?!”

Was her consciousness even taken away? Was Barsabe no longer Barsabe? Everyone was in a confused state and began to search every corner of the castle. Most of them ran towards the reception room where the Emperor was.

“Kuhuhu, heuk.”

Rutherford’s groans turned into laughter. So this was what the god had said. He didn’t know the details of what was going on, but did he need to? The fact that everything would end if Barsabe faced the Emperor was the important thing.

Ian went down from the platform and grabbed Rutherford’s neck with one hand.

“Rutherford.”

“Cough!”

“Show me everything you have engraved about the puppeteers, no, about Tollun.”

“Why? Are you going to kill me? Thank you. Then I will come to find you in my next body. Even if there is no next, I will laugh with joy. Because I have found the rest of my soul that I so desired.”

“Rest of your soul?”

Ian chuckled at the empty words. Because of the black cloth, only his silhouette was barely visible, but Rutherford could picture Ian’s expression. It was a sneer. A sincere one at that.

“Ask the god. If such a thing will be allowed for you.”

He had found a clue about Damon’s next life and Rutherford’s reincarnation. If he eliminated the underground god and collected all the black seeds in Tollun, he could break the cycle of repeated reincarnation for the two of them.

Then, the weight of the sin that the soul holds would be confirmed by the god.

Thud.

Ian released his grip, and Rutherford’s body fell limply. He had knocked him out with only his will and magic power. Ian nodded to the surprised soldiers.

“Wait until the situation calms down.”

Whirr! Whirr!

Ian’s Idgal rose around Rutherford and his remnants, creating a protective barrier. It was his will that no matter where a stray attack came from, it would not be able to take Rutherford’s breath without his permission.

* * *

“Haa, haa…”

Barsabe was running wherever her feet took her, feeling nauseous. Her whole body was screaming for help, wanting to shake off something in her head, but she couldn’t stop. If she stopped, it felt like she would really be eaten by the mysterious being.

Tap tap!

The inside of the castle, which had been quiet due to the execution, seemed to be getting more and more noisy. She didn’t know why. She didn’t have the energy to know.

As Barsabe ran, tears streaming down her face, she spotted the Imperial Guard members in the distance. Her colleagues, friends, family, and the very reason for her existence. Barsabe desperately moved, asking for help, asking them to do something about this.

“Did Barsabe come this way?”

“Tooth? She woke up? But why are we looking for her here?”

“Your Majesty! This way! Please move the location!”

“What’s going on, Beric?”

“I don’t know. What did Tooth do?”

“Details later-”

“Barsabe must not face the Emperor-”

Whoosh!

At the same time as she recognized the conversation, Barsabe’s body turned the corner. She must not see His Majesty the Emperor. But unlike her thoughts, her body moved by inertia, and soon she faced the pale faces and gazes of the Imperial Guard members.

Time seemed to be flowing slowly. She recognized their faces one by one, then Beric, and…

‘His Majesty the Emperor.’

It was when the left side of Jin’s face was about to slowly appear.

Thud!

“Barsabe.”

Commander Jeyrat pulled Barsabe’s neck from behind and covered her eyes with his other hand. Barsabe lost her balance and fell backward, and the Imperial Guard members drew their swords.

Swoosh!

And as expected, the window behind Jin shattered. It was an attack that had failed to accurately identify the target’s location.

“…I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I really didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

Something was wrong with her body. Barsabe burst into tears, and Jeyrat hugged her head even tighter.