Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 712

“Let’s pledge our resolve.”

“We pledge our resolve.”

“For our Bariel!”

“For Lord Cronie’s Bariel!”

There’s a point of no return. Those who cross this line cannot go back. Like wine flowing down the throat in a chorus, they can only follow the path already set.

Cronie met the gazes of the nobles gathered before him, their wills pledged. Their smiles seemed to hold a hint of bloodlust.

“Shhh. It seems the time has finally come.”

“What is it?”

“Come here. Keep this to yourself. Yesterday, the Minister of Imperial Defense ordered the soldiers from the outskirts to return to the Imperial Palace.”

“Why would they do that?”

“I don’t know. Because they ‘didn’t report’ to the Imperial Palace.”

“……!”

“The Imperial Palace doesn’t know, but now we do.”

“…Oh my.”

“Will you join us? There’s no turning back now.”

Their movements were like the wind, invisible, yet they brushed against every corner, awakening them. People pretended not to see or hear, but they couldn’t hide their disheveled hair and clothes.

Those standing in the heart of the Imperial Palace all looked up at the sky, waiting for the next gust of wind. At the end of it, the flag of Bariel was always hanging.

“Let’s take this opportunity to reorganize the Magic Department altogether. Honestly, everyone is in the same position, receiving the same stipend, but it’s ridiculous that only the Minister of Magic is internally elected among themselves. Don’t they know that we all work together within the Imperial Palace?”

“I agree. The Magic Department has had too many privileges until now. As times have changed, it’s right to fix such things.”

“That’s right. Honestly, the Magic Department’s budget could support three other departments. The Imperial Defense is the one shedding blood and sweat on the battlefield, so why are they treated like this?”

“Ahem. Perhaps it’s because His Majesty is a mage, but he has been too biased.”

“There are divided opinions even within the Magic Department. When Naum was appointed as the Minister of Magic, didn’t the rights to the magic sealing stone also get transferred as a price? The mages are endlessly complaining about it.”

“Then we can do the opposite. Wouldn’t it be good to get closer by giving back the magic sealing stone?”

“I’ve heard rumors that weapons capable of countering mages are already being developed in the East. Even if we temporarily hand over the magic sealing stone, there will soon be a way to keep them in check again.”

Desire blazed like a flame, and hope was endless like the clouds clinging to the mountainside. The fire spread and spread, eventually reaching the Emperor’s feet.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty.”

“Karam. What is it?”

“Merni, one of the three great generals, is missing.”

“Why?”

“I am sorry. I will find out soon, so please punish me.”

While the Emperor was puzzled and looking ahead, the hands of the attendants in charge of his grooming moved busily. The accessories with the magic sealing stone embedded in them were naturally hidden into the jewelry box.

The Emperor, unaware of anything, suppressed a deep sigh and told them to leave, and the attendant carefully took his long hair and combed it.

Clank!

The soft touch caressing his neck suddenly turned cold. The Emperor turned around in surprise, but the attendants only backed away with fearful faces.

Then-

Crash!

Merni, who had been unreachable until just now, appeared holding Karam’s head.

Shiny eyes, ragged breaths, and blood-soaked skin. Ian instinctively sensed danger. So, he tried to activate his magic, but-

“Your Majesty. I am truly sorry.”

It was gone. All his magic was gone. Ian tried to tear off what was hanging around his neck with one hand, and he looked around, leaning against the wall. A sword sheath was visible nearby. He drew the sword.

Swoosh!

“Aaaah!”

The Emperor first beheaded the attendants standing in the corner. They all ran to the great general Merni, begging for their lives, but he did not help. If he could soothe the Emperor’s last moments, the lives of a few attendants were nothing.

Clang! Clang!

Ian gritted his teeth and swung his sword at Merni. But with his magic sealed, he was no different from an ordinary person, so it was natural that he was no match for Merni, the strongest of the magic swordsmen.

Ian burst out of the office door and ran, and Merni slowly followed behind him, as if herding prey. There was no need to rush.

“Aaaah!”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

“Get out of the way! It’s a rebellion!”

“You damned things-! How dare you do this here!”

Thud. Was it rain? Ian blankly wiped away what had fallen on his face. It was blood. It was the blood of someone who had died on the second-floor railing. Those who wanted to protect Ian and those who wanted to push him away were intertwined, creating hell.

“Come this way!”

“Oh my, oh my! What on earth-!”

“Noooo! Please don’t do this! What are you all possessed by? This is the Imperial Palace!”

“Your Majesty! Run away! Hurry!”

The rage and confusion that had filled Ian’s mind until just now collapsed. He felt nothing. His sense of reality disappeared, and his five senses also dulled.

Merni, who had slowly followed, stood behind him and said,

“Your Majesty. Come with me. Then the remaining people will live.”

“Your Majesty! No! You must not surrender yourself!”

“Someone protect His Majesty! Please!”

“Everyone will die. Choose.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Aaaah!”

Someone’s painful scream tore at Ian’s heart. He ignored his pounding heartbeat and rushed towards it.

“Stop!”

Stop. Put down your swords from my people.

But the soldiers of the Imperial Defense did not care and continued to kill people in front of Ian, and Merni watched the scene calmly, with a cigarette in his mouth.

It was a scene of chaos. Those who wanted to protect the Emperor tried to stop Ian, and the more they did, the more he was covered in the blood of his close aides. One, two, three… everyone was dying.

“Stop-!”

Ian turned around and shouted at Merni. He didn’t even seem to realize that he was crying.

Ah, yes. Blood is naturally hotter and stickier than tears. Merni smiled and gestured lightly, and then the swords that had not stopped even at the Emperor’s strict orders were all withdrawn.

“Your Majesty.”

Merni shook his head as if he was sorry. Ian heard the murmurs of his dying retainers as they grabbed his clothes. Run away. You must live. Your Majesty is the center of Bariel. This is clearly a rebellion, so may God judge……

“Why didn’t you decide sooner? They’re all dead now.”

Ian glared at Merni, tears streaming down his face. Even a mere captain of the Imperial Guard stood above him. The world changed so quickly in an instant. It was a moment of new realization for both the victim and the perpetrator.

“This is Your Majesty’s lack of virtue.”

“You bastard-!”

“Take him away. Tell those who surrender that only meaningless death remains, now that the Emperor has been secured. Report to Lord Cronie as well. What about the Second Imperial Palace?”

“There’s no contact yet.”

“Pay special attention to the Magic Department.”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

Upon hearing Cronie’s name, lightning struck Ian’s mind. …You have truly crossed the line, Cronie.

“Hmm.”

Merni watched the kneeling Emperor. Looking at him like this, he was just a boy. But the sky had fallen. And by his own hand.

The strange sense of elation was fleeting. When he met the Emperor’s resentful gaze, he couldn’t help but turn his head away.

“…Cover him.”

“Yes.”

The soldiers covered the child’s head with something like a sack, and the Emperor of Bariel was plunged into darkness. Everything was over.

* * *

“Haa.”

Nakina sighed and exhaled cigarette smoke. In the distance, the lights of the chaotic First Imperial Palace flickered. Smoke rose, flames soared, and faint screams could be heard. She stubbed out her cigarette and muttered.

“Seriously. Damn it. What a mess the house is in. Seeing this chaos with my own eyes makes my stomach churn.”

“It’s a swift operation.”

“Yes. It seems they were already prepared.”

“I wonder where Uncle Naum is and what he’s doing.”

“I know. I haven’t seen him since then.”

She handed over a note. It said that Cronie’s rebellion was bound to happen, so it would be good to prepare. Naum had looked at the note for a long time, then carefully got up and went out of the Magic Department. So, she naturally thought he had told Ian, but what was this?

‘The news has been cut off.’

And finally, that day came. Like an unavoidable fate.

“Excuse me. Lord Cronie has summoned you. Those who will follow, please take off your robes and come out.”

“Hey, you guys!”

“I’m sorry. I will not answer any questions.”

“Seriously! Ha!”

“Hey! Are you going to take off your robe?”

“The world has tilted. If you stand straight, you’ll fall.”

“You crazy bastards!”

“Then you stay here. And roll on the floor with the Emperor. Like before. That miserable life you experienced before entering the Imperial Palace.”

They watched the mages leaving the Magic Department, having taken off their robes. They were the ones who would submit to the new era.

Some made a fuss, saying they couldn’t do this, but since the current Minister of Magic was not present, there was no way to control them. Like other departments, after a fierce argument, those on Cronie’s side were the ones who eventually won.

“…This won’t do.”

Swoosh.

Nakina slowly got up and stretched her body. The muscles all over her body awakened with her movements. Tommy and Hale were the same. Instead of taking off their robes, they put on weapons like daggers at their waists.

“Let’s go. If we drag this out, we’ll be stuck in the middle.”

“What about Beric?”

“He’s coming over there.”

A magic swordsman entered the Magic Department, covered in blood. The mages all looked at him in bewilderment. Beric glared at them with wide eyes, then called out to the three in an annoyed tone.

“Ian has been captured.”

“Is he crazy? How dare he call His Majesty the Emperor by his name……!”

“Shut your mouth! Damn it! Do you feel bad that you traitors are calling the Emperor’s name? You X-like bastards.”

“H-How rude!”

“Yeah. Your face.”

As the four were about to leave, ignoring the commotion, the mages stopped them.

“Where are you going?”

“Where else? To save Ian.”

“Don’t you understand the situation? The Minister hasn’t shown up either. There’s no way to know what’s going on. If you interfere, you’ll only get hurt.”

Nakina stared intently at the hand of the mage who had grabbed her arm. The mage carefully released his grip at her piercing gaze and added,

“Don’t go and wait here. It’s better to move after everything is over.”

“You stay here and wait. If you crawl out of the Magic Department and interfere with us, then it’s really going to be you die and I live. Got it?”

Unlike other departments, the Magic Department’s position was closer to observation. It was certain that the Emperor’s fate had declined, but they were mages who shared their fate, and it didn’t matter which way the current upheaval was resolved.

If the Emperor regained power, the mages would gain strength, and if Cronie won, they would get the magic sealing stone back without any problems, as promised. What reason was there to move rashly?

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Beric!”

“I’m going.”

…Captain? Why that title? The mages watched them leave the Magic Department grounds in bewilderment.

Just then, soldiers who had spotted them blocked their way.

“Mages?”

“What.”

“You can’t come out. Stay in the Magic Department.”

“Whose order is that?”

“Huh? Of course-”

Thump! Nakina grabbed the soldier’s neck with her hand. Golden eyes shining. Soon after-

Thud!

It was a small amount of magic, but it was not difficult to blow off a soldier’s head. After that, they all unleashed their magic and rushed towards the First Imperial Palace, where a storm of blood was raging.

Oh