Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 705

When we were in Kalamat, we didn’t realize it, but it was actually the perfect location to serve as the center of Burgos. The river flowed, the land was relatively flat, and the wind wasn’t too strong—just right. Only a few days after heading north, everyone in Bariel realized that Kalamat was actually a pretty comfortable place to live.

“It’s strange. We definitely came down from the north, from Agiar, but how come we didn’t realize it back then?” the wizard muttered.

Ian felt the wind coming straight at him. There could be many reasons. Either the wind had really changed, or we had changed to face it.

The wizard watching the front from the sky sent a signal with a hand gesture.

“Ian! It looks like Beric!”

“Are there any companions?”

“Uh, there are four in total, including Beric.”

“That’s just right.”

Clark and Eirin were not among the advance soldiers sent to investigate the Osu. So, the two people besides Beric and Cedric must be them. This also meant that Taoma had safely returned to the South.

Ian pulled on the reins and stopped next to the Emperor’s carriage.

“Your Majesty.”

“What is it?” Jin lightly parted the curtain and showed his face through the gap in the window. He was reading various documents inside, with a stack of papers in his hand.

“Beric has returned.”

“Does he seem safe?”

“Yes, the wizard’s message didn’t have any special additions, so it seems so.”

“Good job. As you said, Beric is someone who does his job well.”

Jin looked up at the sky where the sun was slowly setting.

“Stop the march around this time and let the soldiers rest. The path is narrow, so it’s not suitable to spend the night. We’ll just have a cup of warm tea and relax our legs.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At the Emperor’s command, Tweller raised his hand. Then, the officers moved in unison following his signal, and the speed of the horses and people gradually slowed down.

While the wizards were busy heating water, Ian stepped forward to the tent with the Emperor to wait for Beric’s group’s report.

“Beric.”

…He’s a mess. Ian looked at him, his expression saying he didn’t know what was going on. Did he take a bath in Osu? The stench was terrible.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m a bit of a mess, but yeah. I’m fine. Taoma seems to have integrated well, and I’ve also located the temple. Oh, and here are the letters left by Taoma and Banusa. I’m starving, but can I report while eating?”

Sss. Jayrut, who was standing behind the Emperor, glared and warned him. It meant not to act up. But Jin took pity on him and nodded to the attendants.

“Bring something simple to eat.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ian took the dirty paper instead and asked to read it to Jin first, and the Emperor readily nodded.

While Ian was reading the letters, Tweller asked Beric.

“The water level of the river seems to be getting lower.”

“I smashed the temple’s barrier. So, Banusa built a new wall with Osu, so that’s probably why.”

“…Good job.”

‘What’s with the praise? It doesn’t suit him.’ Beric snorted lightly and turned his gaze away from Tweller.

Just as Ian finished reading all the letters, he approached the Emperor and whispered.

“Your Majesty. It seems something has happened to Banusa’s family.”

“What do you mean by something?”

“It seems they are trying to hire mercenary wizards to fight against Bariel, but as you know, puppeteers are not favored. Above all, mercenary wizards have no reason to fight against Bariel. So, it won’t be easy to recruit them.”

“They entrusted that task to the Banusa family?”

“To be exact, to the spiritist families. Among them, Banusa’s family seems to be refusing, causing conflict with the royal palace. So, they urgently contacted her for help, and Banusa seems to want to return to her family.”

“Right. Banusa hinted at that to Eirin.”

Beric reported everything he had seen and heard to his lord without missing a single detail. The problem was that the format and content were too rough to feel like a report, but you couldn’t scold a dog that came back covered in Osu, could you?

‘What the hell is going on?’ Everyone was racking their brains. Jayrut was also just gauging the situation and guessing in his head.

Just as the silence was about to lengthen, Ian was the first to speak.

“Then-”

The child murmured as if he were looking at Toolun in his hand.

“There’s an internal conflict going on in Toolun right now.”

In Toolun, spiritists were in the same position as wizards. They were the pillars and roofs of the country with their mysterious powers.

But if they had to contact Banusa, who was even out at the temple, to ask for help, it was obvious how big the crack was.

“Well, that’s what it means, right?”

“Your Majesty. Banusa also wants to return to the capital, but the situation in Toolun is not favorable, so she probably couldn’t get the king’s permission.”

“Right. If the head of the family returns, the royal palace won’t be able to achieve what they want. Moreover, since they know we’re going to the temple, they’ll probably try to send even a non-existent wizard from the capital.”

If things go well, we might be able to proceed smoothly with Banusa’s help inside the temple. If the temple falls, Banusa will naturally be able to return to the capital and take care of her family’s affairs.

Besides.

“What if Banusa wants to cut off the current king from her heart?” Tweller pointed out quietly.

Banusa would know as much as they did. What the Masantar Temple meant to Toolun and the royal palace.

But if she sent such a letter to the enemy country, Bariel, as evidence, where would her heart be?

“Are you saying that Banusa wants to overthrow the royal palace right now?”

“The circumstances suggest so, and her actions suggest so.”

“But Banusa is a spiritist who has been in Toolun for a long time. She wouldn’t have made such a decision just because of pressure on her family.”

“Yes, and their relationship—that is, the strange relationship where the king controls the wizards with puppetry—is already considered a natural culture in their country. It’s unnatural to say that she suddenly felt a change of heart.”

The officials’ words also made sense. How could Banusa, who had been loyal to the king for generations, have harbored rebellion in her heart? There must be something convincing.

Beric scratched his head and added casually.

“The water source is inside the temple. From what I saw, Banusa’s help was crucial in draining the Osu. Maybe something pissed her off while working. If we go in and check, we’ll find out soon enough.”

No matter how much we talked here, it was impossible to confirm and be sure. First, we had to destroy the temple. And if we faced Banusa in the process, we would have to find the answer through the new clues she gave us.

“Your Majesty.”

It was then. Tweller, who had been silent for a long time after the question, opened his mouth. His voice had become quite low, so everyone’s attention was focused on him.

“I apologize for saying this, but we cannot currently determine if Toolun’s support troops are heading to the temple. The Bariel army has just reached the north of Kalamat, and all the advance soldiers we have sent so far have only focused on investigating the Osu.”

“That’s right. I know that.”

“But on the contrary, Toolun is convinced that the main force of Bariel is heading to the temple. Since all the ministers are from the temple, it would be difficult for even the king to ignore this. Especially if the source of that evil power comes from the temple.”

“Are you saying that support troops are coming from Toolun, Tweller?”

“Yes. Therefore, I propose that the Magic Department advance to the temple, and the Emperor and the Imperial Defense Department turn left to preempt the path where the Toolun advance team is coming down, and push forward.”

Jin’s fingertips moved along the path on the map. There were many paths leading from the capital of Toolun to the temple, but there were not many paths that a large army could move on. The timing was also right for an ambush.

“The temple is a strange place. Even if ordinary soldiers rush in, it will only lead to meaningless sacrifices. It would be better for the elite wizards to solve this, and for the ordinary soldiers to be given tasks that they can do.”

“Hmm. There’s some truth to that.”

‘There’s some truth to it, but it’s not easy to make a decision.’

Then, Tweller’s voice became a little more firm. His tone changed from a suggestion to a recommendation. That meant his thoughts were clear.

“Cutting off the enemy’s reinforcements is also very important in war. Once we stop them, it will be easier to push into the capital of Toolun, so please make a decision and take the first step of glory, I implore you.”

The appeal was to the Emperor, but Tweller’s gaze was on Ian. However, it was a gentle and polite look, so Ian smiled as if he understood.

‘It’s to give all the credit for the war to the Emperor.’

There was no lie in Tweller’s claim. What could the Emperor and ordinary soldiers do if they went to the temple?

But what if the Emperor defeated the enemy’s reinforcements and directly advanced to the royal palace?

‘We’ve already shown the presence of the Magic Department enough in the Burgos War and the Luswena War. We announced that everything was an achievement made under the Emperor’s command, but would all the people really think so? Especially the Luswena War was triggered by the Hielo territory.’

The Emperor’s light is too faint. The wizards are flying above the one who should be standing highest on the battlefield.

“What do you think, Minister Ian?”

“Yes, Minister Tweller.”

Tweller judged that turning left to face the reinforcements was an appropriate opportunity. Ian smiled and did not deny it.

“I think it’s a correct judgment.”

Perhaps the core of this war will be the Toolun royal palace. If the Emperor opens the door and enters, it will be like putting a period on the picture of victory. The Emperor’s achievements will be clearly engraved in everyone’s memory.

“If Banusa’s message is correct, there will be a limit to the support troops that Toolun can send. That is, the spiritists are not included. The Bariel soldiers alone are enough to stop them.”

“Besides, the Imperial Guard members are also with us. They are warriors who have reached the level of one against a hundred—no, one against ten thousand—so it doesn’t matter how many the enemy has. Even if spiritists are included, we can handle them.”

For example, Beric had once subdued Banusa in the capital of Toolun.

When Ian agreed with Tweller’s proposal, the other ministers also came forward, saying they agreed.

“Your Majesty. Go forward without fear. We will take care of the rest.”

Jin also vaguely felt Tweller’s intention. There was no reason to refuse, so he could only say that he understood.

“Good. Then, Minister Tweller, make a report by estimating the movement path of the enemy’s reinforcements. And likewise, select advance team members and organize the supplies to give to the Magic Department. Where is a good crossroads?”

“There is a road in the northwest.”

“That’s appropriate. This is the destination of today’s march.”

Tweller gave Ian a silent greeting, as if to thank him for following his wishes.

But this wasn’t especially for Minister Tweller, so Ian didn’t accept the greeting. Instead, he unfolded the next letter and said.

“There is still one more left, Your Majesty. It is presumed to be from Taoma, and there is a lot of information that would be good to know before the expedition.”