Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 686

“A mage!” someone shouted, pointing to the sky. The refugees who had flocked to Karenna reflexively turned their heads. Soon, fear surfaced on each of their faces. It was a fleeting moment, but it was the look of those who had experienced hell. On the other hand, the residents of Karenna seemed a little intrigued by the presence of mages, something they hadn’t seen in a long time. If they had witnessed firsthand how destructive and terrifying magic could be, they wouldn’t have looked so curious. “It seems they are mages from the Bariel Imperial Palace!” “Oh, my goodness! Mages!” The gold patterns on their robes revealed their identities. The refugees finally relaxed and shielded their eyes with their hands, trying to see who they were. Was it Sir Ian? No, they were too old, and their hair was too dark. *Thud!* Hale and Tommy landed lightly in the middle of the crowd. They took out their identification to show they were mages from the Imperial Palace and got straight to the point. “I am Commander Hale of the Imperial Magic Division.” “I’m Tommy.” “Where is the residence of the mayor of Karenna?” “The mayor’s residence?” There were a mountain of questions they wanted to ask, like how the war was going and if things were okay in Hiel, but it didn’t seem like they would be allowed. Seeing the mages’ resolute faces, one of the residents pointed. “It’s that big mansion over there. But the mayor isn’t there right now. He went to greet the central support troops who arrived nearby.” “That’s actually better.” Hale and Tommy’s first mission was to destroy the mana drawing passage used by the Toolrun sorcerers inside the mansion. And then… ‘Annihilate the mayor’s family, who have been turned into puppets.’ If the mayor wasn’t there, they could proceed more easily. No matter how they explained the situation, it would be hard for the mayor to accept. His family, whom he had been sharing daily life with until just now, were now puppets under someone’s control… It was difficult. The cleanup would have to wait until after the mission was completed. *Whoosh!* As Hale and Tommy flew towards the mansion, the residents, sensing something unusual, also began to move quickly. It wasn’t that they suspected the Imperial mages, but they felt the mayor, the owner of the mansion, should be aware of the situation. They started a fire and fanned the smoke so the mayor, who was far away, could see it. Meanwhile… “Oh my, who are you?” “We are Imperial mages. Where is the detached building?” “J-Just a moment!” In the mansion’s garden, the mayor’s servants reflexively blocked the mages’ path. Mage or not, what kind of ruckus was this at the mayor’s residence? Just as they were about to ask them to wait a moment, *Whirr! Whirr!* Hale released his mana and opened his golden eyes. In an instant, his human eyes turned into those of a beast, and the servants were overwhelmed and froze on the spot. “This is by order of the Minister of Magic, and it is also the will of the Imperial Palace. If you interfere, you will not be spared. I will ask one last time. Where is the detached building?” “T-That way.” “Tommy.” “Yes, Commander.” Tommy, who entered the detached building, easily found the still life painting of fruit. The sorcerers’ passage was hanging right there in the hallway. Tommy created a flame and completely burned the painting. *Sizzle!* At the same time, Hale searched for the mayor’s family. His wife and children, he would take care of them before the mayor returned. But the mayor’s family was nowhere to be seen in the mansion. They should have come out to see what the commotion was about, but something was off. “Where is the mayor’s family?” “They are with the mayor, greeting the support troops. They will be back soon.” Damn it. Hale frowned. He gestured to Tommy, who had just finished burning the painting, and they flew into the sky. “Tommy, we’re going that way. Let’s deal with them before they do anything to the central support troops.” “Yes, Commander!” *Whoosh!* The sight of them flying with their robes billowing was so majestic it was breathtaking. How could humans fly so freely in the sky? The servants stared blankly at them, then snapped out of it and ran outside. “D-Did the mages just say they were going to take care of it?” “Let’s hurry and follow them!” “W-What is going on all of a sudden…” A little while later. Hale and Tommy spotted a carriage and the central support troops approaching in the distance and tilted their heads. It was strange. Even if it was just the advance team, their numbers seemed too small. Hale frowned, and Tommy also muttered suspiciously. “Commander, something is off.” “I know. It seems like only the mobile unit from the advance team came down separately.” “That’s not it, it’s that carriage.” “Carriage?” As Tommy said, the carriage in the middle was shaking abnormally. The coachman also seemed to sense something was wrong, glancing back repeatedly. It seemed likely that the mayor’s party, who had gone to greet them, were inside. If so, could it be? *Whoosh!* The puppets might be plotting something! Hale quickly descended and blocked the carriage’s path, and the coachman was startled and pulled on the reins. The adjutants also reflexively reached for their swords but recognized the Imperial mages and turned their horses to the side. *Neigh!* “Whoa, whoa.” “Are you mages?” “I thought-” When they stopped, the creaking wheels became silent, the horses’ panting subsided, and even the wind grew still. Only then did they notice the strange moans and cries coming from the carriage. “H-Heuk, heuk…” “Aah…” Hale didn’t hesitate and flung open the carriage door. The pungent smell of blood wafted out. What they saw next was- “Lady Philia!” “Roel!” Philia and another woman were covered in blood and slumped on the floor of the carriage, and Roel was desperately trying to pull the woman out while tears streamed down her face. But she wouldn’t budge, and Roel was overwhelmed by helplessness and fear, clinging to her. Hale immediately tried to pull the woman out, grabbing her collar, but was taken aback by her unusual strength. “Y-You bitch!” It was a puppet. There was no way an ordinary woman could have such a grip. Tommy, realizing the situation, opened the other carriage door and grabbed the woman by the neck. Then- “Aaaah!” *Bang!* He released his mana and instantly killed the woman. At the same time, her limbs went limp, and her body slumped onto Philia, and Roel wailed, trying to support her. “Please, help her. Please, help her. Please. On my mom’s stomach…” “Madam! Are you alright?” “Please get this off of her. Oh my god, Madam!” “What’s going on? What’s with all the blood… Huh! Honey!” Mayor Onyx and the soldiers rushed over and were shocked by the scene. It was a horrific sight beyond words. When they threw the ‘thing that was once Mrs. Onyx’ onto the ground, Philia, who was groaning, was revealed. Her dress was soaked in blood, and every bit of exposed skin was cut. “Ro…el…” “Mom, Mom.” “…Are you okay?” Philia barely managed to lift her hand and caress Roel’s shoulder. It seemed she had blocked a dagger with her hand, as every single one of her fingers was injured. Her gaze, which seemed to struggle even to breathe, landed on Roel’s torn shoulder. “I’m sorry.” I could have blocked it, but the carriage was shaking too much, and it must have missed. Philia smiled as if to reassure her child, but Roel silently buried her forehead in her mother’s chest. It was hot, so hot. It was so hard to breathe, she couldn’t even exhale. “Please save her. Please, please save her.” Who was she praying to? Was she praying to the mages and soldiers looking down at them, or to the god who held her in the vast sky? Or was she begging to be saved from the feeling that she was about to collapse? She didn’t know. Hale, realizing that Philia’s breathing was becoming shallower, grabbed her hand. “Madam, excuse me. Tommy, I’ll hold her, so go to the village and bring a doctor.” “A-Ah! Yes!” Her mangled fingers were pitiful. Hale calmly calmed his pounding heart and released his mana. He wasn’t a healing mage, so he didn’t know what effect his mana would have on Philia. But, shouldn’t he try anything? *Whirr! Whirr!* As Hale’s mana slowly flowed into Philia, she smiled faintly as if she felt something. “Are you feeling a little better, Madam?” …Please, please say yes. Everything felt like a dream to Hale. He didn’t know how Philia, who should have been in the center, ended up here, and even the gruesome scene he saw when he opened the carriage door felt like an illusion. Philia whispered very softly. “…Ah. It’s warm.” Good. Is this the sixth sense? Since they share it… Ian must have felt this warmth too. “…Thank you.” At her words, Hale suddenly remembered the moment he met Ian in the northern plains. The way he smiled, saying the mana the mages shared was warm. Was it because Philia and Ian looked so alike, or was it because the tone of her voice saying it was so peaceful? Hale’s nose tingled without him realizing it. “Madam, don’t worry. I will save you no matter what.” Philia smiled with her eyes closed, and Roel silently shed tears. Even then, her other hand continued to caress her daughter’s hand. “Roel. Can you hear me?” “Don’t talk. Please. I’m sorry. I-” “Don’t be sorry. It’s the path I chose. I… I’m actually grateful to God. Because he allowed me to protect you and Ian. I’m so happy that I can protect my beloved children.” “I don’t know. I really don’t know.” “It’s okay. You’ll naturally understand someday.” Philia, what her death meant to her two children. She was certain and seemed genuinely content. Except for one thing. “Um, Commander Hale. My body is getting colder, could you make it warmer?” “Oh my god, Madam.” It was the request of someone facing death. Even though he was pouring in so much mana, there was no improvement. Hale continued to pour in mana and gestured to the people standing there, unsure of what to do. “Give me paper and a pen! Quickly!” “Ah, y-yes, just a moment!” They had to inform Sir Ian immediately. There were healing mages in Kalamat, and there were also imperial doctors, so it was best to request support from there. However, the problem was- “Madam. You can’t fall asleep. Open your eyes.” Philia’s condition was too bad. She was barely holding on because he was constantly pouring in mana like crazy. If he reduced the power even a little, she would stop breathing, and he couldn’t do anything about it. “Commander! Here’s the doctor!” The doctor, whom Tommy had dragged along, landed unsteadily. But even with his medical bag in his arms, he just paused when he saw Philia’s condition. “How did this happen…” At a glance, she was torn everywhere and had lost too much blood. It meant there was nothing he could do. “Tommy, open a portal and contact Sir Ian. I can’t take my hands off Philia.” “But I don’t have enough mana alone.” “Just a small note, that size is enough. Just deliver it, and they’ll open a portal again from there. Commander Acorella is there, right?” Philia blinked in her fading consciousness. If she could just hold on a little longer, she could see Ian. So, just a little, just a little more… “…Haa, haa.” Even breathing was difficult now. The clear sky was getting brighter, and it felt like the whole world was turning white. In her increasingly distant vision, something flickered. “Ah.” Is that Ian? She reached out her hand, but it felt like it wasn’t hers. Philia smiled and whispered to Ian, who was looking at her. “Thank you, Ian. And I love you. Always… Thank you for being my son. And… don’t be too sad. Wherever…” Ian didn’t say anything, just looked down at her. Philia smiled faintly and murmured. “…It’s a shame I won’t get to see Nersarn. My loves. Please… smile.” * * * The crimson blood and white skin were so contrasting, as if they were from different worlds. “…” Ian grabbed Philia’s hand, which had fallen limply, and stared down at her for a long time without a word. It was as if an angel who had descended to earth was asleep. Philia was smiling in her eternal sleep, but Ian, like someone trapped in an eternity of silence, continued to look down at his mother.