Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 655

‘…That’s impossible.’

Tommy muttered, his face pale. It was the mage they had been fighting just moments ago. Yet, in an instant, he had unleashed forbidden magic.

There was no hesitation or fear in him. It was clear he wasn’t even considering the abyss’s curse that a mage should be prepared for. He had broken the taboo as easily as if it were just another spell.

‘How can a puppeteer do that—’

‘Tommy! Don’t lose focus!’

KWAANG!

The other Lusweena mages continued their attacks without wavering. Nakina swung the Shield of a Thousand Waters to protect Tommy, fighting against the endless barrage of attacks.

‘But, senior—’

‘There are no buts! Shut up and fight!’

The mage used forbidden magic without his own will. Was that even possible?

Everyone was terrified by the puppeteer’s power, which far exceeded their expectations. If they were to be strung up like the Barsebe members, the situation in Gaia could be reversed in an instant.

Especially if Ian were to be controlled by the puppeteer—

‘Damn it!’

The thought alone was horrifying.

Nakina looked pitifully at the mage, who was screaming while his whole body was burning. Even without reason, his nature remained, and his screams were filled with pain.

There was only one thing she could do to help.

‘Tommy! Hurry!’

‘Haa, understood!’

CHWAAAK!

To end his life before he could properly use the forbidden magic. His soul might fall into the abyss, but at least his body would rest in peace. Tommy and Nakina flew in, dodging the attacks of the Lusweena mages.

And Ian stood still, watching it all.

SAAK-

A cool breeze lightly brushed the child’s blonde hair. What was this feeling rising from the depths of his heart?

Ian unconsciously recalled Naum, whom he had seen in the abyss. The image of him suffering, repeating the moment of his death forever.

‘…Ian, please smile.’

And Wesley—

‘…Gale, do you think I would ever kill you?’

Zaira’s grandmother—

‘…Ian Hiero. I will not thank you for your mercy. This is a battlefield, I am a citizen of Lusweena, and the King holds our lives in his hands.’

Even Vitor, the mage who had annihilated Hiero.

They had all chosen their paths willingly, but that mage had not. Although they were fighting because of different nationalities and interests, weren’t mages supposed to be connected by a special bond?

‘KRAAAAK!’

It was the essence of baseness and meanness. Not only did they use their opponent, but they also shifted all the responsibility onto them.

Ian felt his sixth sense burning along with the mage. It was clear anger, pity, and sadness.

A surge of magical energy swirled around Ian. As he turned, light traced the path of his golden eyes.

‘LUSWEENA—!’

Ian’s roar thundered. They had crossed the line. Even ten years ago, when King Eriphony treated mages like tools, it wasn’t this bad. Back then, Ian could have helped in some way, but—

There was no way to save someone who was falling into the abyss.

If he had known a way, he would have saved Naum and been with him.

‘Do you know how deep the abyss is!’

Only those who had been there could know how deep, dark, cold, and painful it was.

The soldiers who witnessed Ian’s rage hesitated. Even from a distance, they could feel the boy’s spirit with their whole bodies.

‘Kuh, kuh-heut, heu-eut.’

Mrs. Darcy was also trembling, but she couldn’t stop laughing. She had perfectly controlled that great mage, and it was as good as half of Bariel’s flag being broken.

Martin was bewildered by the groans that were neither crying nor laughing, and he alternated his gaze between the front and the woman.

KUGUGUGUNG-

The clear sky suddenly darkened. It was like a summer storm was approaching.

No one knew if it was because of the forbidden magic, Ian’s anger, or the wrath of the gods.

‘Let’s do it! Let’s see what you’ve got!’

JIIING! JIIING!

As Mrs. Darcy stretched out her hand, the mage who had invoked the forbidden magic bent at the waist. It was an incredibly huge and powerful force. Tommy and Nakina, who were rushing towards the mage, were unable to withstand it and were thrown back.

‘Agh, damn it! Shit.’

‘Ian!’

The two called out to Ian at the same time. Ian was the only one who could stand against the forbidden magic. It was the same with Wesley, and with Zaira’s grandmother.

At the time, they thought it was because Ian’s magic was exceptionally strong, but now they knew. Ian was ‘one who existed because of forbidden magic,’ and that was why he could stand against it.

‘We’re sorry! It’s beyond our abilities!’

‘Ian, we’ll take the main force!’

It would be more appropriate for Tommy and Nakina to handle the puppeteer while Ian dealt with the forbidden magic. Instead of answering, Ian turned his body, and soon Tommy and Nakina quickly passed by him.

‘Look, General! The Bariel mages are panicking, aren’t they? Ohohot! Hurry and prepare for support!’

‘A-are you alright, Mrs. Darcy?’

‘Yes, of course. If only those mages hadn’t known about forbidden magic, this wouldn’t have happened. How foolish. Hohohot. Hurry, General! That swordsman is coming up!’

Recognition is immediate. If someone is told ‘apple,’ they will think of an apple regardless of their will. Even if they don’t want to think of an apple, that process can only happen after they have recognized the apple.

The same goes for ‘forbidden magic.’ If you order a mage whose senses are bound and will is severed to use forbidden magic, the spell itself is easy to figure out. It’s the activation method that’s the problem.

‘Did you see that, Your Highness?’

Mrs. Darcy smiled, feeling her heart pounding. Through her senses, the King of Tooloon must also be experiencing joy. As the sweat-soaked Mrs. Darcy frantically moved the puppet strings, General Martin stepped back.

‘Something’s off.’

It wasn’t just that she was sweating and excited, her clothes disheveled. Something about Mrs. Darcy’s appearance was a little strange. If he had to point it out, it was like her features were a little distorted.

Martin lightly shook his head and led his subordinates to the front of the formation.

‘I will strongly advise the King. Mrs. Darcy, no matter how I look at her, she is suspicious and strange. If we keep someone like that by our side, Lusweena will be in danger.’

KUGUGUNG- KUUNG!

A sudden thunder roared as if tearing the earth apart. It was an ominous event. Martin hardened his lips and watched the powerful vibrations exploding in the sky.

JIIING! JIIING!

POONG! POOOONG!

The clash between Ian and the forbidden mage. It was hard to see because of the dense flow of magic, but even if it were visible, it was definitely a speed that the human eye could not follow.

Ian fought against the force that seemed to swallow him, looking for an opening in the mage’s defenses.

‘What could it be?’

The caster’s wish is imbued in forbidden magic. Naum wanted to create a new path for himself, Wesley wanted to release the magic sealing stone and gain powerful strength, and Zaira’s grandmother wished for victory in the war.

Then, that person must also be wishing for something. Was it simply a desire for amplification of magic?

KWAANG! KWANG!

Sweat dripped down Ian’s chin. Since returning from the sea of the abyss, he had gained Idgal’s power and expanded magic, but the forbidden mage was still overwhelming. One who had risked both body and soul was desperate, and desperation was the most important element in battle.

Ian bit his lower lip and looked at the mage.

‘Should I use the Bitter River? But, that person has no consciousness.’

It was a mental magic that merged and exploded the pain of the user and the target. The side effects were severe, but he had used it on Zaira’s grandmother during the Clifford War.

She was a being with will, so the mental attack was effective, but now his opponent was a puppet of the puppeteer. It was unknown whether it would work on someone without will.

If it didn’t work, it could backfire.

‘Using Idgal would be the most effective, but the problem is getting close. The moment of contact is too dangerous.’

While Ian was holding out against the forbidden mage, Tommy and Nakina rushed towards the main force of the Lusweena army.

CHWAAAAK!

‘Where is that puppeteer bastard!’

‘Shouldn’t we just kill them all?’

‘Yeah, that’s a good idea! Those who want to live, bow your heads and lie down!’

JIIING!

‘Mages! Bariel mages are approaching!’

‘Prepare Idgal arrows!’

‘Aim! Fire!’

‘Fire! Hit them! Keep firing!’

‘Okay, so that’s how you want to play it?!’

‘Senior! Turn to the right! Watch out for the Idgal arrows! I’ll take care of the shield!’

‘Hwaaaap-!’

Tommy and Nakina flew over the dense ranks of soldiers like ants, unleashing a constant barrage of magical attacks.

Their momentum was good, but it was only for a moment. Black-armored knights riding dragons and other Lusweena mages flew towards them.

‘Kuh-heut!’

They were starting to feel the strain. It had been a long time since the Clifford War ten years ago that they had fought such a fierce battle. But that was why they couldn’t stop.

‘Those damn Lusweena bastards!’

If they had finished it completely back then, this wouldn’t have happened. And to avoid making the same regret ten years later, they had to break the chain right now.

Mrs. Darcy, seeing that the two mages had come close, hurriedly pulled out another puppet.

‘Kill them! Kill them! Kill them now!’

Then, she once again moved her fingers flexibly, like playing the piano. Soon, another mage’s waist bent, and the forbidden magic spell appeared in front of him. Nakina, realizing this, rushed forward with all her might, but—

JIIING! JIIING!

‘Shibaal! No! Please!’

‘Senior! Be careful!’

POOONG! PUNG!

The soldiers ducked low to avoid the intense heat. Even Mrs. Darcy, who was some distance away, was thrown backward. She giggled in the dust and lifted the puppet into the sky. This time, too, it was forbidden magic…….

‘Oh my?’

Why are my hands like this?

Mrs. Darcy paused, looking at her wrinkled hand. It wasn’t just her hand. She felt like the skin all over her body was becoming limp and melting away.

Since there was no mirror nearby, Mrs. Darcy touched her body with her hands in confusion. What on earth was this…….

‘O-oh my?’

She called out to a nearby soldier.

‘Hey, do you happen to—’

‘Hweek!’

The soldier, who had been out of his mind, was horrified by Mrs. Darcy’s appearance and stepped back. Soon, all the soldiers nearby moved away from Mrs. Darcy, keeping their distance. As she took one step forward, they moved two steps back, and some even drew their swords and spears.

‘Why, why are you all like this?!’

‘Euaaak!’

‘Step back!’

Meanwhile, Tommy noticed the commotion spreading among the Lusweena soldiers. Because of the crowd that had spread out in a circle with one person as the center, he could see the woman in the dress at a glance.

‘Senior—!’

‘Go! Hurry!’

Nakina was binding her opponent with a binding spell. But she knew, and Tommy knew, that it was only for a moment. In front of forbidden magic, her magic was nothing more than a piece of glass that couldn’t even make a small scratch, and there were too many opponents targeting them.

Perhaps because of the commotion on the puppeteer’s side, the mage facing Nakina was only invoking the forbidden magic, not activating it, and was in a stalemate.

‘Senior, please—!’

‘I understand! I won’t die!’

Tommy flew towards the puppeteer, tears welling up in his eyes. It was a situation where they couldn’t see an inch ahead. But one thing was clear. The current battle in Lusweena would surely remain as a scar for the mages.

‘Hold on!’

‘It’s okay! I will never—! I won’t dieee!’

The moment Nakina shouted as if making a vow—

The black-armored knight’s sword, which had approached unnoticed, slashed her back.

O