Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 639

At the edge of Hielo, the desert began to appear. Nersarn noticed the hawk was descending and slowly pulled on Kushile’s reins. In the distance, two giant rocks marking the border came into view.

He suddenly recalled the time he returned to ‘Brats’ with Ian. Then and now, Ian was the same, and Beric was also the same in a different sense. It felt like only yesterday he was being carried on Kushile with a hole in his stomach…

*Swoosh.*

Nersarn knelt on one knee. There were hoofprints in the sand. Though almost erased by the wind, the traces were clear. At least three horses. They had moved around, going this way and that.

‘What is this?’

There weren’t many who would ride horses this far. The Cheonryeo people used Kushiles [a type of large, rideable beast], and the Hielo territory residents knew the situation was chaotic, so they didn’t go near the border. It wasn’t their usual area, so there was no reason for them to come, and most of all, when the territory residents used horses, they usually hitched them to carts.

‘But here… there are no wheel tracks.’

Moreover, the hawk’s movements were unusual. It was certainly an intrusion by strangers. Nersarn mounted Kushile and continued to follow the tracks. There were many sand dunes, but he thought he could get a clear view if he climbed high enough.

‘Strange. It’s strange no matter how I think about it.’

If they were intruders, they had crossed the Great Desert and entered Bariel.

The Great Desert was vast and sparsely populated, so those who crossed it had to move in groups. This was no exception even for the Cheonryeo people who lived in the desert.

But only three of them? Something was off. Moreover, they seemed to have turned their horses around without entering Hielo. Nersarn sensed something was amiss.

*Swish!*

The wind of the Great Desert was as hot and strong as ever. Nersarn covered his face with his sleeve and continued to look around. He had no intention of going further, but he also had no intention of turning back.

‘The tracks are gone.’

In a very short time, the wind carried sand and covered the intruders’ traces. This was a setback. Just as Nersarn was about to click his tongue, a fishy smell wafted in on the wind.

*Whistle!*

Nersarn whistled to signal the hawk. If it saw anything, the hawk would fly with its body tilted to the side.

“… !”

The signal came. Nersarn urged Kushile forward, following the hawk that was flying with its wings tilted. And after a while, he faintly saw something buried in the sand.

Nersarn approached slowly, tense, and was shocked when he recognized what it was.

“…Shalai!”

It was a member of the Cheonryeo family. He couldn’t understand why he was lying alone in the desert without a Kushile. Nersarn hurriedly lifted his upper body. Then, he saw the middle of his stomach. There was a large wound there.

“Shalai. Wake up.”

He shook him several times, but there was no response. He had passed away. Judging by the warmth of his skin, it had only been a short time ago.

Nersarn was flustered and froze while holding him. And then, a realization struck him like lightning.

‘It’s related to the intruders.’

The intruders didn’t enter Hielo but stayed at the desert border to find something. That something was probably Shalai. The fact that Shalai, who should be in Cheonryeo, was here…

*Swoosh!*

Nersarn narrowly avoided a suddenly flying arrow. The arrow that missed shattered in the air and disappeared into light, which was not normal.

Nersarn laid Shalai’s body down and slowly turned around.

“Are you Nersarn? The stepfather of Hielo.”

Three people wearing robes were looking down at Nersarn on horseback. He hadn’t even sensed their presence before they were behind him. He didn’t know if it was because he was distracted by Shalai’s body or because of their skill. Nersarn sent Kushile away just in case and faced them.

“…Did you kill Shalai?”

“…”

“What happened to Cheonryeo?”

“They were strong.”

A vein popped out on Nersarn’s forehead. Cheonryeo had been attacked. His Cheonryeo, who had protected and been respected in the Great Desert for so long, had been defeated by strangers he didn’t even know… He couldn’t forgive them.

*Clench.*

The one in the middle of the intruders took out a huge bow. Then, he pulled the bowstring without an arrow. The mouth visible under the robe drew a graceful line. Nersarn was certain.

“It’s Lusweena.”

“Why do you think so? It could be Hawan, right?”

The drawn bowstring shimmered. An arrow created by magic was generated, emitting light. Nersarn lowered his stance to sense the change in the wind, then clenched his fists tightly.

“There are no mages in Hawan. And they don’t have the leeway to consider Cheonryeo.”

“Oh.” The one with the bow smiled and released the bowstring. A sharp, intangible arrow flew towards Nersarn’s heart.

*Bang!*

The arrow grazed Nersarn’s shoulder and plunged into the middle of the desert. A pit was dug, and sand rained down endlessly.

The intruders frowned, saying they couldn’t get used to it. This dry sand.

“Nersarn, I don’t know if it’s a good thing that we met you here.”

Most of Hielo’s forces were handled by Cheonryeo. No, they even influenced Mereloff, so they were essentially guarding the entire eastern border of Bariel.

So, from Lusweena’s perspective, it was in order to deal with them first. Cheonryeo was outside the Bariel border, a minority group, and not officially in diplomatic relations with Bariel-

“Our plan went a little awry. Is that guy’s name Shalai? It’s amazing that he escaped all the way here. I applaud his will.”

So, they had planned to quietly deal with Cheonryeo first without Bariel knowing. Of course, Nersarn had expected it to some extent, but he couldn’t respond. The situation in Hawan was too chaotic.

But anyway, the deed was already done.

“… !”

“…?”

When the sand dust cleared, the intruders had unbelievable expressions. Nersarn had disappeared without a trace. Was he hiding? Where could he hide in this place with nothing but sand?

*Thud!*

Then, Nersarn, who suddenly appeared from behind, threw a big punch. It was incredibly fast. It was so fast that it wouldn’t be out of place if it were a beast’s.

The mages on the left and right reflexively created shields, and the one in the middle created an arrow. It was even better since he was close to the target. He could hit it right away without missing…

*Crack!*

The shield was broken by Nersarn’s punch. It was impossible. This couldn’t be happening.

As the mages hesitated and opened their mouths, Nersarn opened his fist and muttered. Idgal [a magical artifact] was in his hand.

“My son makes these things.”

*Thud!*

Then, without giving them time to regroup, he immediately closed in on the mages. It was nearly impossible to escape from those with such great mobility. Killing them and surviving was just as difficult, but there was no other choice.

Idgal, which could break magic, the revenge of Cheonryeo, and the pride of a warrior, all heated up Nersarn’s fighting spirit. Stronger and fiercer than the midday sun!

“Foolish-!”

The mages frowned as if they were looking at a madman. No matter how close to inhuman the Cheonryeo were, how could they handle three mages?

*Buzz! Buzz!*

*Bang! Crash! Boom!*

Chunks of magic shot down from the sky to kill Nersarn, but he lightly moved his body left and right to avoid them.

Then, his gaze was fixed. He was filled with a resolute will to take at least one of them down. His momentum, as if he would rush in and bite their necks at any moment, was like that of a male lion.

“What are you doing?!”

The one in the middle shouted in a shrill voice. They were no match in terms of power, but how could they be pushed back by momentum?

Soon, the mages bit their lower lips and gathered magic again, and Nersarn charged in, ready to die.

‘Philia, Roel, Ian.’

The moment a huge light flashed before his eyes, Nersarn thought of the three people in turn. Then, time seemed to slow down.

This might be… his wish. To stay in this world a little longer and be able to picture them. If the gods were watching, he hoped they would grant that small wish.

*Swoosh!*

*Crash!*

The mage’s attack hit Nersarn directly. Blood burst from his mouth, and he flew dozens of meters without resistance. It was the first time he had felt such pain. The pain of defeat that he had never experienced as a Cheonryeo.

‘Since I sent Kushile away, the Hielo territory will know in time. If these guys move right away, the damage will be great, but…’

Nersarn suddenly stopped thinking. He realized that such worries were a luxury for him, who was facing death.

Luxury was not like Cheonryeo. Cheonryeo lived, fought, and died for simple and personal things. And for Nersarn, that was-

‘Philia…’

His family.

…It’s a shame. He wanted to see Philia’s face one last time. He wanted to hold her hand and share warmth with a warm hug… Tears flowed from Nersarn’s eyes. His body was covered in blood and sand dust. His consciousness gradually faded.

At that moment, the clear sky was instantly covered with dark clouds.

“Suddenly, what is this?”

“The desert’s climate is naturally erratic.”

*Rumble! Crash!*

“Damn it.” The mages frowned at the sound that seemed to tear the sky apart.

In his fading consciousness, Nersarn vaguely recognized the change in nature. And in the distance, his hawk, Byan, flying in the sky.

It was flying with its body tilted to the side.

*Whoosh-!*

*Whoosh!*

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Amidst the fierce wind, a familiar sound was heard. It was slightly different from the high and clear sound of Bariel. This was…

‘It’s Cheonryeo’s.’

“Demosha!”

“Demoshaaa! Gurun Tu!” [Cheonryeo war cries]

Cheonryeo warriors on Kushiles appeared over the sand dunes. They were all severely injured, but their eyes were like those of wild beasts.

And Kakan appeared among them. The chieftain had lost one arm, but he didn’t seem to care. He was just satisfied that he had been able to chase the intruders to the end.

“Look at these guys…”

Were there so many who survived? And yet, instead of being cautious, they had come after them? The mages scoffed and unleashed magic with both hands.

“They came on their own! How kind of them!”

Kakan took in the sight of Nersarn and Shalai’s bodies. Too many of his family had already fallen in Cheonryeo. He would shed tears when he returned there.

*Boom! Boom!*

Thunder and lightning raged relentlessly. The mages realized that the wind was unusual, unlike before. This was a sandstorm.

“What should we do? Should we retreat for now?”

“Even if they survived, they are outnumbered. We’ve achieved our goal, so let’s go back.”

“Damn it, wait! I’ll take care of the chieftain and then leave. It’ll be over soon, right? He’s a guy with only one arm.”

Kakan raised his sword with his remaining arm. They knew about the storm. After Ian had given them the Great Desert, they had repeatedly researched and awakened to the ‘method of counting the sky’ [a way to predict weather]. So, the storm that was now engulfing them was a double-edged sword.

“If I don’t have an arm, I will tear your necks with my teeth.”

“Demosha!”

“Those who killed my family, I will chase them to the underworld and stain my hands with their blood. Those who disturb the Great Desert-!”

“Demosha!”

Kakan growled through his teeth and charged.

“The gods will not forgive you!”

“Let’s gooo!”

With Kakan in the lead, the Cheonryeo poured down. The mages scoffed as if they were ridiculous and lightly unleashed magic.

At that moment, a huge sandstorm engulfed the mages and swirled fiercely. Kakan threw himself into the storm.

“We are the heart of the Great Desert!”

No one, not even mages, could stop them in the Great Desert. They were willing to die. The glory of a warrior continued even after that.