Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 644

Tap. Beric nudged the stranger’s head with his toe. The man wasn’t moving, so Beric thought he might be dead, but he wasn’t. The mages, utterly shocked, huddled together and asked Beric,

‘I-is he dead?’

‘No. He’s alive.’

‘Haa, this is, this is crazy. What the heck is that?’

‘I told you. The painting moves.’

Of course, I thought it was just drunken nonsense!

Tweller hid Jin behind his back, and Ian stepped in front of them. Then, the mages surrounded and protected the three of them. Beric sniffed, looking at the people standing in a strange formation.

‘Ian, should we pull him out of the painting?’

‘Yes. Be careful.’

‘Me? Or him?’

‘Both of you.’

‘Okay!’

Beric grabbed the stranger’s hair and yanked him out. Seeing him dragged around with a bloody nose, he looked pathetic and clumsy.

The mages whispered to Ian.

‘I-Ian, sir. He’s not a remnant of Rutherford, is he? We took care of them all in Agiar, didn’t we?’

‘Still, the method is the same as when they invaded the Imperial Palace. There seems to be a connection, but he looks so shabby.’

‘That’s right. I’m surprised, but not worried at all. And it seems like he tried to come alone?’

‘Crazy bastard, where does he think he is-!’

‘No, calm down. From his perspective, wasn’t he trying to get to the art gallery? It seems like this happened because Beric took the painting.’

‘Ah. That’s right. Then it’s Beric’s fault.’

‘Yeah. It’s all because of Beric.’

‘Hey! I can hear you! Can’t you shut up?’

‘Uh-huh. We meant for you to hear.’

Beric grabbed the man’s hair and shook him hard. The man started to groan a little. He seemed to regain consciousness, opening his eyes slightly and looking around.

‘Ugh…?’

‘Oh, this bastard’s awake. Hey! Who are you!’

Slap!

‘Don’t hit him, you idiot! He’ll pass out again!’

The mages were shocked and tried to stop Beric when he slapped the man’s cheek. The man, bewildered, wanted to ask what was going on. He looked around, confused, and reached for the painting, trying to escape.

‘Ugh, aagh…’

‘Where do you think you’re going! Who are you?’

‘W-who are you?’

‘Me? Beric.’

‘Who’s that?! Aaaah!’

Beric twisted the man’s arm behind his back and sat on him lightly. Unable to move a single finger, the man looked like he was about to pass out again from the confusion.

Then, Ian knelt down in front of him.

‘If you reveal your identity and purpose, I will release you. There might be a misunderstanding. A magic stone painting like this can be a major threat to national security. It would be beneficial for you to explain in detail how you came to use it.’

‘No, I’m, I’m an employee of Balijuad. The painting is from the merchant guild. It’s a route we use to deliver goods, but I really don’t know how the painting ended up here.’

At the man’s words, the mages glared at Beric, as if to say he was the reason the painting was out of place.

‘Balijuad?’

Ian turned around, wondering if anyone knew the name. But everyone just shook their heads.

‘It’s a merchant guild. We just deliver and transport goods. Could you please let me go? My head is ringing, and my arm hurts so much.’

‘Beric.’

At Ian’s command, Beric loosened his grip slightly.

‘You deliver goods? Your luggage is light for that.’

‘This time it’s a different mission.’

‘What kind?’

‘…It’s a business secret.’

It was natural to keep the client’s secrets. If a letter was leaked and caused problems, it would be a fatal flaw in the merchant guild’s reputation. And this was a mission involving a noblewoman and the Minister of Magic, no less.

Besides, from the man’s perspective, these people were thieves who had broken into the art gallery and stolen the painting, and thugs who were using violence without any reason.

‘Is that so? Excellent. But that’s not the right answer.’

Ian got up and turned around.

‘You can cool your head in the dungeon for a while. If there are no charges after the investigation, I will release you.’

Crossing the border without going through immigration procedures was punishable. However, given the circumstances, he was willing to release him at a reasonable level if there were no special charges. After all, the drunken dog was partly at fault.

‘No, I can’t!’

The man was startled and shouted at the mention of the dungeon. If he was detained, there was no telling when he would be released. This matter had to be resolved within a week at the latest. Lady Rien had promised an extra payment.

‘Why not?’

‘There’s a deadline. It’s urgent, so if you let me finish, I’ll go to the dungeon myself. Please, please, I beg you. I even have a bloody nose.’

Besides, before going to the dungeon, he would surely be searched. It was better to use the information as a bargaining chip now than to have it leaked then.

The man made a determined face and said quietly,

‘Ian Hielo!’

‘……?’

Everyone paused at the sudden name. The man thought it had worked, and he shouted in a serious voice,

‘You must have heard of him. The Minister of Magic of Bariel. The youngest and most capable in history, the light and salt of Bariel, the hope itself! He is the one who leads the Ministry of Magic with the full trust of His Majesty the Emperor! He is the target of my mission this time.’

The mages turned their eyes to look at Ian. Not only that, but Jin and Tweller, who were watching from behind, and even the servants waiting by the door, all did the same.

Since they could only see the back of Ian’s head, they couldn’t tell what his expression was. Had Ian ever faced someone who praised him so openly?

A strange silence followed, and the first to react was Beric.

‘Hahahaha! Crazy! Ugh, that’s so cringy!’

‘Ugh, it hurts. It hurts! Don’t move!’

‘This guy’s got a talent for making people laugh. Hahahaha!’

Ian stiffly knelt down in front of him again.

‘Why are you looking for Ian Hielo?’

‘I, I have a letter to deliver. It’s in my right pocket.’

‘Beric.’

‘Uh-huh. Oh, here it is.’

‘Aah. N-no!’

Beric took the letter from the struggling man and handed it over. Ian frowned as he read it. The mages’ eyes darted around, sensing something was wrong.

After a while, Ian placed the letter on the table for Jin to see.

‘Your Majesty. It seems there’s a problem with Hielo.’

‘A problem?’

‘Your Majesty?’

The man’s eyes widened as if they would pop out. Was he hearing correctly? There was only one person in all of Gaia who could be called ‘Your Majesty.’ The ruler of the Bariel Empire.

‘It’s a letter from Lady Rien Mereloff, saying that Nersarn has left his post and territory.’

‘What? Really? Could it be to find Philia? Are we too late?’

When Jin was silent, the mages rushed over and added worriedly.

‘I don’t know the details, but it’s clear that something is going on in Hielo. If it’s related to the unstable situation in Hawan and Ruswena, it’s a big problem.’

‘Oh dear. And Clark’s name is written here too. Was he from Mereloff?’

‘Yes. He’s one of Lady Rien’s people.’

‘They’re asking for Clark to be sent, what are you planning to do?’

‘First, it would be good to accurately assess the situation in Hielo, wouldn’t it? And Clark was once associated with Rutherford. Even if we send him, he should return to the Imperial Palace first and finish things up.’

‘I agree.’

‘Hey-! Wait a minute!’

The man hurriedly interrupted the mages’ conversation. If he missed the opportunity, he might not be able to keep up.

‘Y-you said Your Majesty…’

‘His Majesty the Emperor.’

Thump.

The mages made a platform with their hands and pointed to Jin. Silver hair, blue eyes, and a long scar across his face. It was Jin Verosian.

‘H-huh. Then, you are…’

‘The Minister of Magic.’

Thump.

The mages moved their hands again and pointed to Ian. Now that he thought about it, his radiant beauty was extraordinary, but the situation was so chaotic that he hadn’t noticed properly. This space, which he had thought was just a high-end mansion…

‘Ta-da! Kalamat Royal Palace.’

‘…I don’t know if I’m lucky or unlucky.’

Ian gestured for Beric to release the man.

Even though he was free, the man sat down blankly, staring straight ahead. Oh my god. The Emperor of the Empire, the mages, and the Minister were right in front of him.

‘You’re lucky. It’s a good thing Ian didn’t insult Ian in front of him.’

‘Beric. Don’t talk nonsense. Hey. You said you were from Balijuad?’

‘Yes? Ah, yes! That’s right!’

‘The painting is connected to Mereloff?’

‘Yes, it is!’

‘Your Majesty.’

Jin nodded. If they could go and return without consuming magic, it was the right thing to do. He also wanted to see the situation in Hawan with his own eyes.

Ian picked up the painting.

‘I want to go to Mereloff, is that possible?’

‘Ah, now?’

‘There seems to be a problem.’

‘To pass through the painting, we need this magic stone.’

The man took out a necklace he had hidden in his pocket. Inside, there was a faded light.

‘Once you go through the painting, the light goes out and enters a dormant state. It takes about an hour to turn it back on, but since we rarely go out and come back right away, I don’t really know exactly.’

‘Magic Stone Management Department.’

‘Ah, yes! I’ll check!’

Maybe they could replace it with something similar. The mages, who had rushed downstairs, returned with something in no time.

‘Ian, sir! Try this!’

‘Ah! And the passage is narrow, only two people besides me can enter.’

Lady Rien had asked for Clark to be brought, but the timing was not right. Then, Beric? He still seemed a bit drunk, would he be okay?

‘Let’s go, Ian.’

Without knowing Ian’s worries, Beric stepped forward and stuck his head into the painting first. Without a magic stone. Because of that, the paper stretched out, and the mages were horrified and punched him in the side.

‘You crazy bastard, it’ll tear!’

‘This, the magic stone!’

Ian put on his coat and bowed to Jin. Then, he ordered the mages.

‘I’ll leave the magic stone that Balijuad brought. If we don’t return within a day, it means there’s a problem in Hielo.’

‘Understood. Please return safely.’

‘Huh? Ian, they’re happy. You’re going on a business trip again.’

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The mages took turns hitting Beric on the head.

After exchanging their farewells, Ian reached into the painting, following the man. A cool yet cozy sensation engulfed him from his fingertips.

* * *

‘Huh?’

Beric frowned. Only the painting they had come through was lying on the floor of the darkened hotel lobby.

‘There’s no one here?’

‘Why, why is everyone…’

‘You bastard, did you scam us?!’

‘No! That can’t be. I’m also confused, no, I’m bewildered right now. Where did everyone go…’

Creak.

The front desk was also a mess.

Ian slowly stepped out of the building and faced Mereloff in the darkness. There was not a single light on.

It was literally an empty territory. There was no one. Not even the slightest sign of life, not even a dog roaming the streets.

‘Ian, is this Mereloff?’

‘It is, but…’

What happened? Ian released his magic and took a step forward, and Beric grabbed the man by the collar. It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes to fly to Hielo from here.

Whoosh!

As they soared into the sky, Ian’s pupils widened.

The view of Hielo spread out below was truly miserable. The houses were all destroyed, flames and smoke were rising everywhere, and there were corpses scattered on the streets.

Thump.

Ian’s heart sank.