Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 669

Haile couldn’t help but smile faintly. A battle that could decide life or death was imminent, but his subordinates’ confidence was so pure and transparent that it was a pleasant sight.

Conversely, he could also guess the extent of the defeat and helplessness they had felt in the previous battles, which also weighed on his mind.

The mages once again shouted in unison towards the main Ruswena army.

‘Come out, you forbidden mages!’

‘Elderte, you’ve really made a mistake! Do you know what the abyss of hell means to a mage? Do you know what it means for those who serve the will of God to fall into the abyss!’

‘Those, those insolent imperial bastards!’

‘How dare you speak so carelessly about His Majesty-!’

‘Shut up! You’re next after the forbidden mages, so stay quiet!’

The Ruswena officers, their necks stiff, clicked their tongues at the mages’ provocation.

But that was all. Even with Idgal weapons [weapons made from a special metal], they were just mere humans. How could they possibly face the mages floating in the sky, looking down at them?

Zhiing, zhiing!

‘…They’re coming.’

‘……!’

Haile muttered as the Ruswena mages flew in at the same time.

They approached in the blink of an eye and met the eyes of the Bariel mages. Their eyes were hazy and devoid of any emotion, but the malice within was clear. To kill the mages and crush them to their very core.

Haile, with a cigarette in his mouth, parried the opponent’s attack.

Kwaaang!

‘Where is the forbidden mage?’

All those who attacked the Bariel mages were ordinary Ruswena mages. The last remaining forbidden mage was nowhere to be seen. The one who had faced Beric in the mages’ forest….

‘Ian, sir!’

A blurry figure appeared behind Ian. It was the forbidden mage. Trying to sneak up from behind so cowardly, Haile was about to turn around, but Ian’s reaction was even faster.

Thud.

Ian lightly touched the mage’s forehead with his fingertip and unleashed his magic power. Kwaang! A gale swept through, and the nearby reed field rippled beautifully.

‘Y-Your Majesty!’

The officer, seeing this, called for Elderte. The momentum of the Bariel mages was unusual. Had they fully recovered their stamina in just one day? The Ruswena mages had also replenished their magic power, but something was different.

As Elderte gestured, the officers tightened their helmet straps and stepped forward, shouting.

‘Bring out the dragons!’

‘We will cut them down ourselves!’

They rode dragons, wore black armor, and even carried Idgal weapons. Now that the balance was somewhat even, they couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity to provide support.

Just as the officers were about to order the soldiers to advance.

‘Maa!’

Kwaaaang!

Kwoong!

A huge flame split the earth. It was Gyu. Beric, who had jumped off his back, got up, supporting himself with his sword. Dust rose, followed by a scorching heat.

‘I’ll take care of the ground-crawlers. Get down from the dragons, you bastards.’

‘A, a swordsmage!’

‘Charge! Forward!’

Gyu blocked the Ruswena dragons flying towards the mages by ramming into them. The enraged dragons opened their huge mouths, threatening, but Gyu widened his eyes and spewed out his breath.

Gyuuuuu!

As the fierce battle raged, Elderte nocked an arrow on his bowstring. He intended to shoot down the enemy himself if the opportunity arose.

Minister Martin, reading the signal, swung his baton widely.

‘Advance! Advance! Let’s protect our land!’

‘Waaaah! Waaah!’

‘Drive out Bariel!’

The Ruswena soldiers charged, shaking the ground. In response, the Bariel mages spread out their angles and flew.

And the branches of the World Tree moved in sync with them. The intertwined tree they created was one, yet not one. Because each mage’s will was embedded in it, the movement of the branches was more complex and free.

In other words, the mages had summoned the intertwined World Tree together and used its branches as their weapons.

Zhiing! Zhiing!

Poong!

The movements of Ian and Haile, who had consumed the mystical orbs, were nimbler and smoother than usual. It seemed that their good physical condition was not a lie. The mages were relieved and looked at each other, determined.

‘Let’s go, guys!’

‘Split up!’

Half turned their backs to help Ian, and the other half to help Haile, and then quickly flew towards them.

Bwoong- bwoong-!

Meanwhile, Haile was in the midst of a battle against the Ruswena mages. His fist, imbued with magic power, was swung fiercely, but it only cut through the air. They were quite good at dodging. Even though their minds were entirely focused on ‘Ian Hielro,’ their movements were nimble.

Chwaaak!

At that moment, numerous branches shot out from behind him. It was his subordinates who had just joined.

The branches grabbed the ankles, arms, or waists of the Ruswena mages. The Ruswena mages tried to cut them off and escape, but-

‘……!’

They were so strong that they couldn’t be cut by any attack.

That was because it was a magic circle based on the power of Ian and Haile. Moreover, it was activated by the combined efforts of all the Bariel mages, so each of these branches was like a condensation of the power of all the Bariel mages. There was no way that an ordinary mage, let alone a forbidden mage, could break through it alone.

Sasaak!

Chwaaaak!

The leaves swirled roughly, cutting the skin of the Ruswena mages here and there. They screamed in pain, but their cries could not reach anyone’s ears. There was already too much noise around them.

The roar of dragons colliding. The shouts of soldiers filled with fear, anger, and excitement. Beric’s curses. And the explosions of magic power bursting from all directions.

‘Ian, sir!’

The mages who had come to help Ian each reached out their hands. Then, six or seven branches connected to them rushed towards the forbidden mage with their own will.

Finally, when they succeeded in binding his limbs and firmly holding his waist, the mages shook their hands and cheered.

‘Kyaaaak! Success! It works! He’s caught!’

‘Awesome! Ian, sir, we’ll support you! Finally! We can help Ian, sir!’

‘You bastard, your good days are over! Keuheuk!’

‘Don’t cry and get a grip, you idiot!’

‘You’re crying too!’

‘Kill him! You, you…! Are you listening! King Toolrun! We’re not afraid of forbidden mages anymore! Heueuk!’

Even Beric, who was usually noisy, wasn’t this bad, even on the battlefield. It was mostly their first time being deployed in a proper battle, so the mages couldn’t hide their excitement as they chattered.

Come to think of it, it was true. It was mainly the Imperial Guard who had fought at the forefront during the attack of the Great Demon in the North and the Battle of Agiar. The mages, who were not field workers like Haile, were essentially in their ‘first battle’ since ten years ago.

‘Keuheue…’

The forbidden mage twisted his hands and feet, trying to break free, but he quickly realized it wouldn’t be easy. What had happened in just one day? So, there was a reason why that crazy swordsmage had infiltrated the mages’ forest.

-Move. Cut it off.

Kumasha, who was controlling the forbidden mage, continued to give orders. He clenched his teeth, and even though blood flowed from his mouth, he didn’t let go. It was a reaction that would have been impossible if he had his own ego.

Caddeuk.

Whether it was a tooth that broke or another bodily organ, it was unknown. With an unpleasant and strange sound, the mage twisted his body and broke free from the restraints.

‘Ah!’

‘It’s okay! We can catch him again!’

The Bariel mages surrounded the forbidden mage and moved the branch stems.

Until now, they had believed that they were contributing to the glory of Bariel simply by existing. But fighting directly against the enemy and engaging in a battle where they clashed with their whole bodies was another kind of joy.

Even if they were injured, they would leave with the satisfaction of having done their best. Even if they died, they would fulfill their mission as the magic department. They hoped to leave something meaningful….

Zhiing! Zhiing!

At that moment, the forbidden mage’s eyes glowed gold. As the tree stems rushed in again, the King of Toolrun whispered.

-Deal with it quickly. Use any power you have. Otherwise, you’ll taste the same pain as before, won’t you?

It was a reaction created by fear.

He spread his hands wide and created a magic circle.

「Late Arrival」.

It was a time-based magic that Ian and Beric had experienced before. As the magic circle transformed into a clock shape and began to emit light, the mages paused. What was that again?

Chwaaak!

What blocked the mages was Ian. He also dyed his eyes gold and confronted the forbidden mage.

‘I won’t be caught twice.’

「Canopy」.

From Ian’s palm, a long, huge silk rose. It was a kind of curtain. It protected Ian and the mages from the light and isolated them from the effects of time.

As the mages were bewildered by the unfamiliar magic, Ian smiled and lightly gestured with his chin.

‘What are you doing? Not going?’

I will protect you from the wicked light, so move as you wish. I will make sure that no shadow falls on your steps.

The mages, feeling Ian’s strong will, closed their mouths tightly and then answered.

‘…Yes! Ian, sir! Just leave it to us!’

Chwaaak!

As the mages flew in unison, the silk curtain quickly followed them. And soon, a shower of light poured down on it. It was blocked and extinguished by the silk created by Ian.

However, the clock of Late Arrival did not stop and slowly changed its angle, and eventually, the light reached the Ruswena army on the ground, not the Bariel mages.

‘Uh-!’

‘T-This!’

The soldiers who were touched by the light froze in the same posture they were trying to escape. The effect of the magic was stopping! The soldiers scattered in terror, and the tense formation collapsed in an instant. The spread of chaos. The officers tried to control it, but it was out of hand.

‘Calm down! It’s friendly magic!’

‘Uwaaak! Back, retreat! Go into the shade!’

‘Stop! Those who do not obey orders will be severely punished by military law-!’

‘It’s coming this way again!’

‘This is crazy!’

What did it mean to have your movements stopped in the middle of a battlefield? Especially now, with Bariel’s crazy swordsmage rampaging right in front of them!

The soldiers were not easily controlled, and eventually, Elderte frowned and stepped forward. In times like these, the king had no choice but to show his dignity and calm the soldiers.

Kkwaaaak!

Elderte fixed his arrow towards the sky. Then, he pulled the bowstring with all his might and closed one eye.

The target of the Idgal arrow was only one, Ian Hielro.

Peeng-!

Chwaaaak!

The long arrow shot straight towards Ian.

But a branch of the World Tree mercilessly deflected it.

The Bariel mages, who had noticed the sniping, glared at Elderte, showing their palms. As if to say there was a limit to how much one could act up.

Zhiing! Zhiing!

Late Arrival was definitely a heavy magic. The forbidden mage’s movements had noticeably slowed down. If they could avoid the light while the clock made one revolution, it was actually an opportunity.

Taat!

Ian approached the forbidden mage, wrapping his whole body in the silk curtain.

Because the surroundings were fluttering with dazzling cloth, the forbidden mage’s vision was limited. Where was he? Where was he coming from? His eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, but all he could see was the rippling silk cloth.

‘The situation is getting worse, but there’s no movement to turn other mages into forbidden ones like Lady Darcy. Why? Is it not yet time, or…’

Was it because of some side effect that they couldn’t easily attempt it?

As Ian appeared, parting the cloth, he was right in front of the forbidden mage. He grabbed the mage’s face with his left hand and condensed magic power with his right hand.

‘…King of Toolrun.’

…I will kill you. I will tear you apart, you who dare to disturb the sanctity of the mages and bring destruction to Gaia.

Zhiing.

The boy’s golden eyes, about to explode. Ian looked directly into Kumasha’s eyes beyond the forbidden mage and asked.

‘Are you done?’