Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 678

“Eldert, look closely.”

The elegant, beautiful, yet strong gaze, the sight of her turquoise hair flowing in the wind. And then, Eriphony’s soft smile—Eldert would never forget it.

*Whish!*

She raised her fan, pointing to the newly created city. It was a world she had built from scratch, together with him.

“That is Lusswennah, Elvasa. Our golden world.”

In the moment of death, Eldert recalled Eriphony’s voice. Of all times, it was because Ian Hielo had said ‘those’ words.

That his and Eriphony’s world had collapsed. And that something engraved in his memory had suddenly appeared, piercing through death.

Eldert’s body slumped forward powerlessly, and Ian confirmed that his breath had completely ceased.

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes.”

Ian stared down at Eldert for a long time.

If only all those he had lost could return with this man’s death. If only he could bring back someone’s life with this man’s death… Ian would gladly stain his hands with blood hundreds, thousands of times.

But it was an unrealizable thought. Ian lightly shook off his hand and turned away.

“Collect the body. We will decide how to handle it after checking the movements of the Lusswennah people.”

“Yes, Ian.”

“If possible, subdue and bind the dragon. You may dispose of all those wearing black armor.”

“Understood. We will need manpower to stay behind in the palace to handle the aftermath, so once the Bariel Central Army arrives in Hielo—”

*Thump!*

At that moment, a commotion was heard from downstairs.

He wondered if it was the palace people who had come looking for Eldert, but the reactions of the mages were a little different. Hale gestured as if to ask them to wait a moment and looked down the stairs.

“……?”

“Oh, it’s Commander Hale.”

“Prince Noah?”

It was Prince Noah who had entered the palace through the painting that connected to the west of Lusswennah. His white gloves were stained with blood; whose, no one knew.

Following him, Maye and Clifford soldiers also appeared. Prince Noah shrugged, looking around.

“The palace is more shabby than I thought.”

“How did you come here?”

“I was waiting in the west of Lusswennah when someone suddenly popped out of the painting, so I came to see what was going on. It’s certainly different in a country with mages.”

“Ah.”

It seemed that there was a magic stone painting in Lusswennah as well. Hale scratched his chin, and Ian also approached him and looked down.

“Oh, Minister Ian.”

“Your Highness. It’s been a while.”

“I don’t know if it’s a good time. It seems like something big happened.”

“No, you came at the right time. We just happened to need people.”

If there were Clifford soldiers, there was no need to wait for reinforcements from the center. They were trustworthy people. He could leave the aftermath to them.

Prince Noah looked at Ian’s blood-stained hand, just like his own, and nodded silently.

“By the way, where’s Beric, who’s always with you?”

“Beric is cleaning up at the barrier.”

“I see. Let’s move our soldiers to Elvasa first. We can talk about the details later.”

“Understood.”

Prince Noah roughly grasped the situation and went back downstairs. It was to move the soldiers who were left in the outer castle to this side.

How absurd it must be for the people of Lusswennah. As if it wasn’t enough that the heart of their country, the palace, was half-destroyed, Clifford soldiers were now coming out of it in droves.

Hale flicked his cigarette and gestured to the mages.

“It’s not over yet, so don’t just stand there, move.”

“Yes. But, it seems like Beric is a bit late.”

“It seems like the barrier side hasn’t been cleared yet.”

“Hmm. I wonder. Should I go check? I’m a little worried since I can’t see him.”

“Is it the first time he’s gotten lost? Leave him alone.”

“That’s enough. I’ll go check. Everyone, follow Commander Hale and clean up.”

Ian raised his hand to signal that he was okay and went outside through the broken glass ceiling.

The traces of defeat were rampant throughout Elvasa. Flames soared, black smoke rose, and the screams of those fleeing for their lives tore through the air.

*Whish!*

It was a chaotic situation, but he would surely stand out. Ian approached the barrier to find Beric.

The first barrier had been destroyed by magic bullets, so he just needed to see if the next barrier gate was open. If it was open, Beric would be doing his job well—

“……?”

Ian’s brow furrowed.

The barrier latch was half-broken, but the gate was still closed. Since the mages attacked by flying in the sky, it wasn’t a problem, but—

Where the hell did Beric go? And what was he doing that he couldn’t even open that?

“Beric!”

*Ziiing! Ziiing!*

Ian detonated a magic sphere and easily destroyed the barrier gate. The soldiers who were guarding the gate in case of emergency tumbled backward and fell.

“Beric!”

Where the hell did he go?

It was a critical time. He couldn’t spend too much time looking for Beric. He wasn’t the type to die in a strange place, so he thought he would come back on his own, and was about to turn around when—

“There he is.”

In the distance, in the middle of the spot where the Hawan army and mages had clashed until just now, a red-haired man was running at full speed.

A lieutenant on horseback was closely following him, but Ian couldn’t figure out the situation no matter how he looked at it.

“Iaaaaan!”

And who was that person on his back? He looked familiar, so he looked closely—

“Erica.”

It was Erica. She was disheveled and covered in dust, but it was definitely Bertie Erica.

Ian, who was looking down from the barrier, called out to Beric in disbelief.

“Beric, what are you up to again?”

“Nooo! These guys are weird!”

“You’re the weirdest one, in my opinion.”

“Ian. Don’t just watch, take her quickly! She keeps talking about King Tolun or something!”

*Whish!*

The lieutenant chasing Beric had his left arm cut off, but he was still attacking while riding his horse.

At Beric’s request, Ian approached and took Bertie Erica.

“Ugh, if it wasn’t for this, I would have punched that guy!”

With no baggage, Beric immediately turned and rushed at the lieutenant.

He was a man with unusual movements. He was no match for a magic swordsman, but he was undeniably a skilled swordsman. Suddenly, Ian realized that his movements were somewhat familiar.

‘Is he possessed by puppetry? His movements are similar.’

His reaction was similar to that of the mages who had been following orders without their will.

At that moment, Beric punched the lieutenant in the face, and he fell off his horse and rolled on the ground in just one blow.

Just as he was about to think it was easier than he thought, Ian immediately understood why Beric had run away with Erica on his back.

“Damn it, he’s getting up again!”

He kept getting up persistently as if he didn’t feel pain.

Beric tried to tear off the lieutenant’s head by grabbing it, shaking it, and hitting it here and there, but it was no use. He was finally able to knock him down after cutting off his remaining arm.

“Cough-!”

But it was Erica who coughed up blood.

Ian laid her down for a moment and looked around. Chaos had rushed into the barrier, but rather, the golden reed field was peaceful because of it. There were still fiercely burning flames and stragglers running around aimlessly, but.

“Cough, ugh—”

“Erica?”

“Ian, Ian Hielo……”

“Why did Beric save you?”

She was the one who had been attacking the mages with magic bullets until just now. There was no way Beric would have saved her without a special reason.

“…I called the mages, but they all went over the barrier… I didn’t know what to do. But Beric, that crazy horse, was on the barrier. Nothing has changed from 10 years ago, no, th—”

Blood flowed from Erica’s ears and mouth. Looking closely, the wounds on her back, side, and abdomen were severe.

“I know the secret of Tolun. Ian, I said it would be helpful to you, and you came with half doubt. It was truly, how should I say it. Like a dog.”

Erica smiled weakly. Even though it was not a situation to laugh, she had no choice but to laugh. Otherwise, she would face her end without remembering laughter in any part of her life. Even her most brilliant moments were stained with tears, so her life was far from laughter.

“Ian Hielo, listen carefully.”

She grabbed Ian’s coat and whispered.

“I killed Minister Shatima, but it wasn’t my will. It seems like there are quite a few people who have lost their ego like me. That lieutenant too, and probably among those leading the soldiers now.”

“You mean it’s Tolun’s doing.”

“Darcy, that bastard— Cough!”

Every time Erica coughed, thick blood poured out. She covered her mouth as if she was gathering Shatima’s blood and muttered.

“The way for those who have lost their ego to return is simple. Ignore the commands whispered in your ear, put down your heart that feels like it’s about to burst… and be prepared to die. I felt it. And so, the threads that had been binding my body were cut, and my time had returned.”

“Did that just happen?”

“Yes. It’s simple but very difficult. Because you have to gather your mind with your own strength. But if you know this, surely, there will be help from the outside……”

Her breath was fading. Even if Ian tried to help her recover with his magic, it was useless. Erica looked up at Ian with her fading eyes.

“Shatima’s and my will to Hawan, Bariel, please have mercy on Hawan……”

Erica pleaded, but Ian could not promise. Even if there was the intervention of a puppeteer, if it harmed Bariel in the process, he would naturally have to cut it off.

“The Eastern mages… Hawan… if they come… surely there will be light in Bariel too. So, please don’t misunderstand the attack from earlier, and consider it solely my fault……”

*Thud.* The hand that had been tightly holding Ian’s coat fell. Her time, which she had regained after a long time, had sunk into eternity.

Ian looked down at Erica for a moment, then turned his head.

“Beric.”

“Huh?”

Beric wiped his nose and turned to Ian. The lieutenant, who had lost both arms, had also turned into a cold corpse.

“What. Is she dead?”

“Yes. Just now.”

“Did she say anything? She was yelling about Tolun or something, so I helped her. Hmm. It feels weird since she died.”

They didn’t have a very pleasant relationship, so he wasn’t sad. He just felt weird, that was all. Ian nodded, taking off the badge on Erica’s chest.

“Let’s go back. It seems like there are many problems on the Hawan side as well.”

“What about her?”

“Cover her with your coat. Soon, the flames will come this way too.”

Flames that would never go out if there was something to burn. The traces of Erica’s attack were spreading towards this side.

Beric took off his coat and covered Erica as Ian instructed, looked at her for a moment, and then turned away.

*Thud.*

“Farewell.”

*Whish!*

Not long after Ian and Beric flew away, the flames engulfed her.

* * *

Meanwhile, the mages who were cleaning up inside the palace searched Eldert’s study and the palace warehouse, looking for anything important. This was not looting! They were just looking to see if there was anything related to the war or Tolun.

*Clatter!*

At that moment, one of the mages opened a drawer without thinking and screamed reflexively.

“Kyaaaaah!”

It was because he had encountered Mrs. Darcy, who was completely melted with only her eyeballs rolling around.