Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 634

Ian, Beric, and Romandro crouched down, observing the Natan tribesman. His face, partially hidden in the shadows, was gaunt and emaciated.

“Ian, who is this guy?”

“He’s a Natan, from one of the northern minority tribes. They can manipulate shadows. I noticed him because of the magic circle’s fluctuations. I’m also curious why he’s here.”

“Hey, Ian said he’s curious. Answer.”

Beric grabbed the Natan man’s hair and shook it lightly. How dare this guy sneak in here?

Romandro clicked his tongue and glanced around. Guarding the Imperial Palace was a key duty of the Magic Department, so this could cause trouble if it got out.

“W-well, I’ve been here for a while, *cough*. M-my name is Nabushilatakuraniitu.”

“Nabu… what? I didn’t ask for that. Why are you here?”

“…I came to get rid of King Damon, but things went wrong.”

Romandro’s eyes widened at the mention of King Damon. They had found a clue about the previous attack on the king. The case had been unresolved because they couldn’t find the enemy’s entry route, but now they had a lead.

“Did you come in through the shadows?”

“No, not that way. I came in a carriage with the help of someone who delivers food to the palace.”

“What?!”

*Screech!* Romandro shouted in surprise, and Philia, who was far away, flinched. Hale, who was coming out with a bundle of luggage, also stopped to assess the situation. Romandro grabbed Nabu by the collar and shook him like he was shaking a tree for fruit.

“Which bastard dared to do such a thing in the Imperial Palace?”

“Ugh, d-don’t shake me. I’m dizzy.”

“Tell me! Which company is it?”

“I don’t know the details, but the driver’s name was Alkaen? Or something like that.”

Romandro gritted his teeth, seething. He was determined to find that guy, even if he had to search the entire central region, and punish him once Ian’s group moved to Burgos.

“But why are you still here? Don’t you have a home?”

*Thump.* Beric tapped Nabu’s forehead, asking a genuinely innocent question. It was probably around the time of the Siege of Agiar [a major battle], so he was curious why he was still in the palace.

“N-no, I don’t.”

“Then? Were you waiting for another chance to kill Damon?”

“……”

“Wow, Ian. This guy can’t lie. Look at him keeping his mouth shut. I want to beat him up.”

“No! I wasn’t just waiting for a chance! After that day, palace security was tightened, and I couldn’t get out. If I could have crossed the magic barrier, I wouldn’t have come in a civilian carriage in the first place!”

“Ah, so you didn’t have a carriage to ride out again?”

“Seeing that it didn’t come… yes. I thought something was seriously wrong. And well, I thought maybe other instructions would come if I waited.”

“Hmm. You’re an idiot, but I like that you’re honest.”

Ian sighed softly. Who would have guessed that someone like this was hiding somewhere in the vast shadows of the Imperial Palace? He had found a place next to the empty Magic Department while looking for a place with no people. That’s why Ian caught him.

“It is a serious crime to infiltrate the Imperial Palace and cause a disturbance.”

“Yes, I know. That’s why I was hiding.”

“What have you been eating? Did you raid the Magic Department’s cafeteria? Seriously, the head chef here is so lax. If you know how to break into the storeroom, you can eat your fill. Yes, I know.”

Beric nodded, and Romandro mourned for the head chef. There was no worse fate. The head chef had even learned swordsmanship because of Beric, who kept stealing food. And he was quite good at it.

“No. I didn’t even try to go inside the building. I had some things stored here, and I’ve been eating them little by little. Really.”

“Inside? Where?”

Beric stretched his head toward the shadows, but he couldn’t go in and bumped into the grass.

“I, I don’t want to show you.”

“What?! Why?!”

“It’s, it’s my choice.”

“Is this guy crazy? Don’t you understand the situation?”

“Uwaaaah!”

Beric grabbed Nabu’s hair again, as if he was going to tear it out. Romandro also cheered Beric on, saying, ‘This guy is infuriating!’

“Is it like a subspace?”

Ian touched the shadows with his fingertips. It was impossible to feel the boundary as it was mixed with the tree’s shadow. He had felt it before when fighting the Natan tribe, but it was a truly amazing ability. To freely cut, attach, and use shadows as a personal space.

“How much can you fit inside?”

“It varies from person to person, but I can fit about twenty grown men without any problem.”

“How long can a person last inside?”

“If it’s a human who isn’t a Natan, about an hour at most.”

“I see, it’s because the air is cut off.”

“Y-yes, but… why?”

Why? How dare an intruder be so presumptuous! Beric was about to grab Nabu’s collar again, but he begged for forgiveness, rubbing his hands together. He was a guy who was asking for trouble.

“Choose. We are going to Burgos now. Will you come with us, or will you pay for your crimes here?”

“P-pay for my crimes?”

“Death.”

“Cough!”

Nabu grabbed his neck in shock. He had barely survived by rationing his meager food, and now he was going to die like this?

“Of course, of course! I’ll go to Burgos!”

“And I want to use your shadows from time to time. Do you understand?”

“Yes! …Yes?”

Wasn’t he being told that he couldn’t return to his tribe and would have to act as Ian’s bag indefinitely? Ian smiled as Nabu’s mouth slightly opened.

“I see you understand.”

“Um… until when?”

“I don’t know. At least until the war with Toallun is over.”

The thing was, the war with Toallun hadn’t even started yet. Nabu paused, flustered, and Beric gripped his sword.

“You don’t want to? If you don’t want to, forget it.”

“Wait a minute! No! Just a minute!”

“We don’t force people who don’t want to.”

“No, that’s not it! I will! I really will!”

There was no other choice. If he didn’t follow them, he would die right away. Ian patted his shoulder as if he had made a good decision.

“You can’t go back to your tribe right now anyway. With Rutherfurd’s downfall, all the northern tribesmen who cooperated with him have disappeared. It will take time to find them. But if you work with us, I will pardon the Natan tribe someday.”

“R-Rutherfurd has fallen? How did that happen?”

“What do you mean how? We won, that’s how. Ian, this guy is so dumb, I don’t know if we can use him properly? Can’t we just kill him?”

“I’ll do it quickly! I can do it well!”

Nabu cried out for his life, and Romandro nudged Beric’s side and secretly gave him a thumbs up. Beric looked confused. He had said it because he genuinely thought it would be okay to kill him, so he couldn’t help it.

“It’s better to have a safety measure, just in case.”

“Hmm, ah! You there!”

Romandro called out to a mage who was still in the palace. He wanted to make a contract magic. The mage, after hearing the situation, drew a magic circle on his palm and then offered a handshake to Nabu.

“If you grab my hand, you will be bound by a contract. You must absolutely cooperate with Bariel. The term will be decided by us depending on the situation. If you do anything against it, the power of God will tear your heart apart. Do you agree?”

“I don’t agree, but I have no choice but to accept it……”

“Oh, you’re still talking. But you smell a bit bad?”

“I don’t know……”

Nabu muttered and grabbed the mage’s hand. The magic circle, which had been drawing concentric circles, spread out and tightly bound their wrists before disappearing.

“Alright, let’s get ready. Hale, have you packed everything?”

“Yes, Ian. I couldn’t pack everything, but this should be enough-”

Captain Hale paused as if he had realized something. He had just realized that a good bag had appeared.

Ian gestured for him to use it, and Hale put down the luggage and went back into the lab. It seemed like they could move the entire lab like this.

“Romandro, please keep the Natan matter confidential, but thoroughly investigate the truth. Send me a report.”

“Okay! Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to get to the bottom of it!”

There had been considerable concern about security during the previous palace infiltration. If it became known that an outsider had been hiding there since then, there would be considerable chaos. It was better for only the prime minister and those in charge to know.

“I know that the Magic Department is short-staffed. But please try a little harder. Pay more attention to security, as you are doing now.”

“Yes, Ian. Leave it to me. I’ll be on my toes.”

Ian smiled contentedly. Philia, knowing that it was truly time to leave, quietly grabbed her son’s sleeve.

“Ian, please be careful.”

“Yes, Mother, please stay healthy.”

“…Thank you.”

It was enough without a long farewell. Philia hugged Ian, letting go of her last regrets, and then whispered softly.

“I’ll pray. I’ll pray to God every day. For your safe return.”

Ian patted Philia’s back lightly in response.

Just then, Hale came out of the lab and dropped about five huge bundles of luggage with a thud, and Beric pushed Nabu’s back.

“Hey! Handle it, Nabu!”

“Na, Nabushilatakuraniitu……”

“Shut up. You’re Nabu from now on.”

Nabu trudged toward Hale with a dejected gait and pulled the luggage toward his shadow. Then, as if a hole had opened, it disappeared inside. It was a truly amazing sight, and Hale clapped lightly. It was good that he didn’t have to carry it.

*Whirr.* *Whirr.*

Ian reactivated the portal magic circle that had been stopped because of Nabu. This time, a black moon appeared on the floor to avoid being detected from the outside. It was like Nabu’s shadow.

“Then, we’ll be going again.”

“Farewell, Ian! I’ll send the report soon!”

“Ian, goodbye! Be careful!”

“Beric, Captain Hale, and the Varsave members, be careful! See you soon! When you come back, I’ll buy you a big drink! Except for Beric!”

“Why exclude me!”

“You eat too much!”

*Ptooey.* Beric stuck out his tongue and grabbed Nabu’s neck. Then, he jumped into the black moon first. Followed by Varsave and then Hale.

Ian nodded, leaving his last greeting, and then disappeared after them.

* * *

“Haa.”

Burgos, Kalamat Royal Palace. The mages looked at the clear sky and sighed, not knowing what to say.

“I wonder if Ian is doing well?”

“Beric went with him, so he won’t be bored.”

“It hasn’t been a few days since he left, but it’s… what should I say……”

“Good?”

Nakina interjected, and the mages smiled strangely. They didn’t know how to express this feeling. They really missed Ian and were sad that he was gone, but on the other hand, their bodies were so comfortable.

With their perfectionist, workaholic boss gone on a business trip, the day was so leisurely. They really loved Ian, but this freedom was too sweet.

“Cough. I don’t know how long it’s been since I had lunch.”

“Actually, I’ve been shedding tears of joy since earlier. Lunch outside, not at my desk! Eating in the sun. This is how people live, haa.”

“I’m so happy…. But I miss him. But I hope he comes back a little later. But I hope he achieves his goal easily, but still, I hope he doesn’t rush……”

“Huh?”

“Pfft-!”

A mage who was sipping coffee paused. Suddenly, a black moon had appeared in the sky. They spat out what they were eating and looked up in dismay. They could clearly feel the energy.

“I-isn’t that Ian?”

“N-no way……”

“Why, why is he back already?”

The boss was back. And too soon.