Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 713

Naum studied the note for a long time. It contained information that Cronie was about to start a rebellion, a matter so grave that it was difficult to even speak of it.

He spent day and night in thought, and then went to see the Emperor.

“Your Majesty. It seems Lord Cronie harbors dangerous thoughts. It is appropriate to summon him for investigation.”

The Emperor looked down at the anonymous note, just as Naum had done. It seemed as if he was counting each fragment of the sentence with his fingertips.

“How can I believe this, Naum?”

“Your Majesty.”

“It’s not about the content. I know. I know that Lord Cronie is a dangerous man. And that he will surely be poison to me. But there is no proof.”

What if this was Cronie’s trap? If they rashly attacked, they might end up handing over their own necks.

Ian burned the note in the candlelight. The remaining ashes were naturally scattered by the wind.

“And this isn’t such a big turning point for me.”

Already, blasphemous words were circulating in the Imperial Palace. If it reached the Emperor’s ears, then even the gatekeepers would know. Everyone in the world, except for himself, must have imagined the new history Cronie would create.

“I have ordered Lord Cronie to go on a business trip to the North.”

“…He won’t stay still.”

“I don’t know. That man… I can’t figure him out.”

The Emperor smiled sadly. If he truly aimed his sword at him, he would have no choice but to do the same. He sighed and recalled the past. Memories of Cronie, who had been with him since they were very young. It seemed that it was time to settle things.

Naum, daringly, held the Emperor’s hand and whispered pitifully.

“Your Majesty, please be strong. You are the master of the Imperial Palace.”

“Don’t worry. Having ascended the throne, I must bear all of this.”

But at that time, they did not know. That the flames of a new rebellion were already reaching their feet.

Naum, having gained the Emperor’s trust, naturally distanced himself from the mages, and the Emperor, lacking any foundation, had his attendants, who were in charge of his appearance, changed daily. There were no adults in the Imperial Palace, and the Emperor was too young.

‘This can’t be happening.’

Thus, when Naum confirmed the extent of Cronie’s reach, he was in despair.

The investigation report received at the mansion was shocking. There was no place left for them to stand. The Emperor’s legs, which should have been firmly supporting the world, had long been severed, and the arms that should have embraced the world were holding weapons without their master’s knowledge.

There was no way out. No way to protect his lord and overcome this terrible situation…….

“It’s a rebellion!”

Naum turned around in surprise. His attendant was breathing heavily, tears streaming down his face.

“What?”

“They say His Majesty has been captured by Cronie!”

Too fast. He hadn’t expected this at all. How long had it been since he received that note? Not even a few days? Naum’s eyes shook violently. As he tried to rush out of the mansion, the servants of the mansion grabbed his waist, crying out.

“You can’t go now! You’ll surely be captured too!”

How could he be so incompetent? He wanted to push away the servant’s words, which were so absurd, but he couldn’t deny them.

Naum stared blankly at the Imperial Palace. Thick smoke was rising. Looking at it, something naturally came to his mind.

‘Forbidden magic.’

A strange light appeared in Naum’s eyes. With that, he could push back the mages and solidify the Emperor’s authority.

Naum went into his study, locked the door, and wept silently.

‘It’s okay. I can do it.’

…I’m not afraid. It won’t be that painful. This is not something to be sad about. There’s no need to be scared…….

Knock! Knock knock!

“Master! Master!”

“Everyone, step back!”

“Oh my god, please. Master!”

Swish!

Naum cut his palm with a knife. Blood poured onto the carpet. He took a deep breath, then drew a magic circle with the blood.

Zzzing! Zzzing!

The eyes that had been shedding tears turned golden. Naum smiled bitterly as he watched the magic circle gradually brighten, and then knelt down. He clasped his hands together and bowed down earnestly.

Swoosh!

‘I beseech you—’

Everything in the room was shaken by a strong gust of wind. Even his soft brown hair.

‘Take everything from me and grant me one thing.’

He begged the god who had created him. He earnestly pleaded through the prayer of forbidden magic. No matter how afraid he was, please do not mind and take his breath.

‘That Ian Verosion’s Bariel may be whole, and that only peace and glory may dwell upon him.’

Swoosh!

Then, the magic circle shone endlessly. The bright light was enough to erase the entire world. He had thought that forbidden magic would be tainted by darkness.

-I heard.

“……!”

-Tell Ian Verosion to go to the annex of the Magic Department. If he goes there, there will be an opportunity.

A clear voice that shook the world. The song of the rainbow, the chirping of birds, the whisper of sunlight, the laughter of leaves…. It was a pure and clear voice that could not be defined by anything.

Naum realized that the light of the magic circle was gradually fading, and then he looked down at his hand. The power of forbidden magic was with him. To save Ian.

-And Naum, to you as well.

* * *

“Hahaha! It’s amazing that such a day has come.”

Duke Hilon laughed loudly and took out a cigarette. He was from a noble family that had been with the central history, but his ancestors would surely be envious of his fate.

Who among the Hilon family’s lineage had ever cut down the soldiers of the Imperial Palace? Who had ever decided the Emperor’s end?

“You’ve worked hard.”

“It was nothing. It’s proof that a wrong master has been sitting there.”

“That’s right. From today, Bariel will be reborn.”

“What about Lord Cronie?”

“They say he took the Emperor down to the underground prison.”

“Is he going to kill him?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

To bring down the Emperor, they needed a clear justification. A justification to show to the nobles who were trembling while watching the bloodshed, and to the commoners who were curious about what was happening.

To solidify the justification, it would be better to keep him alive than to kill him. Duke Hilon flicked the cigarette and wiped the blood from his boots on the corpse’s clothes.

“Do as you see fit, but I can’t help but worry a little. That man is quite emotional.”

Ian Verosion, despite losing his magic, had deceived the Imperial Palace and sat on the throne. In the name of Bariel, he would punish him. This was the justification they would claim to the world.

With the magic sealing stone attached to his body, he would burn to death in front of the people. With the ridicule that there was no mage in the world who could not control even a single flame.

Bang! Kwaaang!

It was then. A strange roar was heard from afar. Duke Hilon tilted his head in bewilderment, and his subordinates also shifted their gaze.

“D, Duke.”

“What is that?”

“I, it seems to be magic.”

“Magic?”

They had already finished talking with the Magic Department, hadn’t they? Then why was such a commotion happening? He looked at them in confusion, but his subordinates had nothing to add.

Tap tap!

“It’s a disaster! Three mages and one magic swordsman are causing a commotion and entering this way!”

“A commotion? Does that mean they’re going against the revolution?”

“I, it seems so.”

“Goodness. How is Lord Cronie handling things! Send a quick message! And that, who was it?”

“The one designated as the next Minister of Magic is Luigi. He is currently organizing the Imperial Palace with the allied mages.”

Besides the mages who were observing, there were those who actively participated and stayed by Cronie’s side. Mages should be dealt with by mages, right? Duke Hilon, regaining his composure, gestured with his fingertips and gave instructions.

“Oh, yes. Contact Luigi as well. Tsk tsk. How can there be noise in such a big event? Oh, right. The commander of the Imperial Guard should be nearby too?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Duke Hilon shook his head and casually climbed onto his horse. The roar was getting closer, so it would be better to leave the rest to others, wouldn’t it?

“Hey! You bald-headed bastard!”

However, there was a shout that stopped him in his tracks—

It was Nakina.

She glared with her sword pointed towards Duke Hilon. Dozens, no, countless soldiers had blocked their path and become corpses. The soldiers who witnessed this could not dare to approach and kept a certain distance while guarding them.

“B, bald? Me?”

“Are you a noble? Who are you?”

“Y, you rude! Even if you are a sacred mage, there is a limit!”

“Sacred……?”

Crack. A glow emanated from Nakina’s eyes.

All four of them were covered in blood, but they were unharmed. Cutting, bursting, and breaking ordinary people was no different from a light jog. Nakina drew breath from her core and shouted.

“Who is the bastard making a fuss in the sacred mage’s Imperial Palace, raising his voiceeeeee!”

“Huk!”

How could such a large reverberation come from a woman’s body? The soldiers flinched and stepped back, and Duke Hilon also froze, swallowing hard. Ah, something was wrong.

“W, well, have a detailed conversation with Luis.”

“Luis or whatever, where is His Majesty?”

“O, oh. Are you going against the revolution? The mages have all agreed on this.”

Zzzing! Zzzing!

This bastard doesn’t understand words. Nakina opened her magic to the maximum and jumped into the sky. Duke Hilon’s eyes widened, and the soldiers scattered in all directions in terror.

Kwaang! Kwang!

But a man blocked her path. Behind him, a black mage’s robe fluttered. He blocked Nakina’s attack and landed lightly, turning to look at Duke Hilon.

“Go ahead, Duke. They are our people, so we will persuade them.”

“A, ah. I will. Well, do a good job.”

They were mages who had stepped forward under the orders of the next Minister of Magic. They actively wanted the Emperor’s downfall and were about to achieve what they wanted. At that instruction, the soldiers also hurriedly retreated, and only they remained in the vicinity.

“What are you all doing here? Not waiting in the Magic Department.”

“Oh. It’s good that you’re here. The kids keep asking, but they won’t tell us. Where is Ian?”

“…Seriously. There’s a limit to how foolish you can be.”

“You don’t know either? Then we’ll skip you?”

“Can’t you read the flow of the times? It’s a sinking ship, Ian Verosion.”

With his words as the last, Nakina took a step and flew high into the air. Then, Tommy and Hale did the same. The three of them, as if they had promised, kept a certain distance and then reached out, unleashing magic attacks.

Poong! Pung!

Kwajijijik! Pung!

The black mages, who had been blocking well, felt something strange. Surely, the core power of the Magic Department was them, so what was this power? Moreover, with skillful teamwork.

“……!”

“Oh? Look at this?”

Nakina lightly dodged the attacks coming at her and spun halfway in the air. She chuckled in disbelief and muttered.

“…They’re weak?”

“Hmm. Have you been eating rice with your training for 100 years?”

“Nakina, Tommy.”

「Restraint」.

The three created a huge pillar of light, and the mages, seeing this, also created sharp magic spheres to break it.

However, when Beric, who was facing them head-on, swung his magic greatsword, it was cut in half and lost its power.

Swoosh!

“Get your act together, you bastards.”

Kuuung!

The restraint magic fell beside the mages.

Beric also swung his greatsword and fell on top of them. He was so frustrated he could die. So annoyed he could die! That Ian was defeated by these insignificant guys. Ian, Ian-!

“Damn it, Ian is so strong-!”

Kwaaang!

Meanwhile, Duke Hilon, who was running away in a hurry, stopped at an unusual roar. But he didn’t have the courage to look back. He kicked the horse’s side again and ran towards the underground prison where Cronie was.