Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 717

“I didn’t know. I’ve never been down below,” Vanusa mumbled, her face half-submerged in the water. Bubbles rose to the surface, yet her voice was clear. The mages moved closer to Acorella, clutching her clothes tightly, whether to protect her from danger or to prevent her from recklessly charging in was unclear. Acorella raised her upper body slightly and asked, “What didn’t you know?” “That there’s a sea underground.” When Vanusa went underground, she would never forget the abyss that rippled behind High Priest Raju. It was that shocking to her. Moreover, the monster that seemed to swallow the whole world with its gaping maw. “I also learned what the temple’s faith meant then.” “I heard you hold a fairly important position in Tolun, but you really didn’t know?” “That’s right. I swear to the gods.” “I don’t care whether you swear or not, since I don’t know who the gods you believe in are. Anyway, what’s the situation underground? Are my superior and colleagues safe?” “…Well.” “Do you want to die?” Damn it! As Acorella tried to grab Vanusa by the collar, the mages reflexively stopped her. What would that change? It would only make you feel worse, please, calm down! Vanusa glanced up at the flustered mages, then mumbled again, “I really don’t know. After being swept into the darkness, soaked in the High Priest’s blood, he hasn’t been seen.” “The High Priest’s blood? Does that mean Ian defeated him?” “Not at all. He wounded himself. He said he was an immortal.” “What does that-” Acorella frowned and paused. The records of High Priest Raju from the distant past. Unlike Rutherford, who extended his life through numerous possessions, Raju had existed for a long time through his own power. Immortal? Judging by the way he confidently spouted nonsense, it was clearly a trick… “There was a huge monster in the abyss. It seems to be the true form of High Priest Raju.” Just as she thought. “Are you sure?” “Yes.” Before seeing him face Ian, Vanusa had only suspected it, but not anymore. Judging by his attitude of resonating with the monster, High Priest Raju was clearly connected to the monster. “Acorella, if it’s a monster of the abyss, it must be a follower of the underground god.” “Seriously. Damn it, this is the end of times, really. A monster pretending to be a priest. And where did Beric go? He’s crazy about food. Did he get swept away too?” “Yes. He disappeared with him.” “Ha, damn it.” Acorella bit her lower lip. A space connected to the sea of the abyss. What if they had completely flowed into that side? Would the distortion of space-time be okay? No, before that, how strong was it to break Ian’s barrier? “High Priest Raju had the Idgal dagger.” As if she had seen through her thoughts, Vanusa answered. “Unbelievable. A monster using Idgal [a mythical dagger].” “The mages’ barrier was broken, but there seemed to be no problem with breathing or movement.” “Because it’s the sea of the abyss. It means it’s not pure water as it seems. Since Raju bled, he might have abandoned his human body.” That meant it was okay to put up a barrier. But to save Ian’s group, they had to infiltrate, but not get submerged. Someone had to stay in the ‘present’ and hold onto the thread connecting them. “Let’s see.” Acorella looked around at the mages, then gestured with her head. “You. You. And you. Only three of you stay, the rest follow me.” “Are we going down?” “Then do you want to go up?” The mages chuckled at Acorella’s lame joke. They took off their robes without saying a word. “If we die, wouldn’t that be a terrible last joke? It’s awful.” “It’s okay. We’re all going to die together.” “That’s what I mean. We’re the ones who are awful.” “Vanusa, add your power to our barrier. I mean, make another barrier with water.” Vanusa silently looked up at Acorella. Like the eyes of a mermaid looking at a strange human. “If I do that?” “If you do that?” Is she talking nonsense? “We’re saving your country from a baseless cult that worships monsters. Shouldn’t you just shut up and obey?” “There’s too much at stake for me to just shut up and obey. It’s not easy.” For example, the puppet magic of the King of Tolun. Acorella looked down at Vanusa with a cold gaze, then slowly put her foot into the water. “Tell that to Ian. I have no authority.” “Won’t you show some sincerity?” “Do you need my sincerity?” Acorella knew. Vanusa had no choice but to help them. She was bound by puppet magic, facing a family crisis, and had seen with her own eyes that their faith was a monster. If not for the mages of Bariel, nothing could be solved here. “I don’t know when the King of Tolun will use my senses.” “If that’s the case, get out of here.” Acorella gestured for them to go ahead, then submerged. Ziiing! Ziiing! Splash! Following her, the mages also followed Acorella. Vanusa, who seemed resigned, slowly began to disappear. Eirin hugged her sword and began to pray, while Cedric once again put his ear to the floor. Lying flat, he asked the mage, “By the way.” “Hmm?” “Does Senior Beric eat monsters too?” What Acorella said earlier was a bit strange… At the child’s question, the mage smiled awkwardly and shrugged. “Well, he’s not picky.” “Ah, I see.” Ah, I see? The mage glanced at the back of Cedric’s head, who nodded without saying anything. The more he looked at him, the more he understood why Captain Jaylott had assigned Beric as his squad leader. * * * Meanwhile, Acorella and the mages went down, cutting through the blue shimmering water. Although a large vibration had collapsed part of the temple, it was not difficult to find the way thanks to Vanusa. Avoiding the debris here and there, she led the mages to the bottom floor. “Be careful from here on.” “Oh, I can hear you well.” “I told you, Ian’s group had no problem breathing or moving. Anyway, stay alert. The temple seemed to want not only Ian’s body but also the mages’ bodies.” “What? Why?” “To offer the sacred as a sacrifice. Aren’t you the ones close to the gods?” Everything was clearly different from the upper floors. The closer they got to the space connected to the sea of the abyss, the darker it became, and the unfamiliar energy became even colder. “Captain, over there!” And a huge object moving within it. The monster Vanusa had mentioned. A body that could easily swallow dozens of people. The ends of its scales repeatedly opened and closed with its breathing. Something was not right. “Where’s Ian?” “I don’t see him.” “Keep the communication magic up. I’m approaching.” “Captain, be careful.” “You too.” As Acorella gestured, the mages spread out and slowly approached. The monster seemed to be waiting for something, crouching down. Judging by the way its eyes were darting around, it seemed to know that the mages were approaching, but it didn’t move. ‘That’s strange.’ According to Vanusa, that thing wouldn’t leave the mages alone. Something about the sacred, wanting to offer sacrifices, right? But, it remained still, with its long body curled up. Even if she looked inside to see if it was holding something, all she could see was darkness. ‘Sacred body.’ Acorella suddenly realized Ian’s value. He was a being made of the Emperor’s soul and a god’s body. If those things had a priority, it would be Ian rather than the mages. Then- “Try shining a light over there.” “Huh?” “It’s holding darkness. Light up that side.” She couldn’t help but guess that there was something important inside. At Acorella’s instruction, one of the mages carefully flicked a small magic orb. Ziiing! Ting! Then, the area around it briefly brightened enough to be discernible. She had thought it was just dark because it was the floor, but it was a darkness made of something like smoke. The monster’s eyes completely turned back, wary of the mages. “Oh, you.” Look at that? “Captain. It’s holding something.” “Oh, it is. Try again. This time, everyone lights it up at the same time!” As a dozen mages simultaneously drew magic circles with their fingertips, light shone from all over. Like stars in the night sky. The monster turned its eyes this way and that, wary of its surroundings, and curled its long body even more. “Ah!” It was then. The mages all exclaimed at the same time. A faint figure emerged from the darkness. It wasn’t clear, but it was definitely- ‘A person.’ “Isn’t that Ian?” “There are other people next to him.” “Captain Hale! Nakina! Tommy!” “Beric, you bastard!” It was Ian’s group, who had lost consciousness and were entrusting their bodies to the darkness. The monster had been waiting for them. It was about to unleash its crouching body and open its maw wide to swallow them in one go. “No!” “How dare that bastard-!” Splash! The mages reflexively rushed at the monster and unleashed their magic. Acorella also rubbed one of her ears with her hand and sent a message to Ian’s group. “Can you hear me, Ian!” Damn it. Why are they like that? “Hale, Tommy, Nakina, Beric! We’ll save you right now. Stay strong!” Ziiing! Ziiing! Clang! Clang! The mages attacked the monster, unleashing their magic. But the hard scales did not break easily. The power of the magic also felt weaker than outside. Kiiiik! As the monster’s gills opened, a fierce spray of water swirled around. As the unconscious Ian’s group swayed helplessly, the mages sent out beams of light to grab them. “Grab them! Hold on!” “Kill it quickly! Damn it!” “Ian! Wake up! Beric, you bastard!” Clang! Bang! Continuous roars and vibrations. The mages moved desperately to stop the monster. And it finally- “……” Made Ian open his eyes. Because they were underwater, no one knew that tears were flowing from his eyes. Not even himself. Ian frowned at the unpleasant feeling of the monster’s rough palate. And then he raised one finger- Ziiing! Splash! And made a hole in the roof of its mouth. With a strong explosion, the monster recoiled and thrashed. Ian, who had been thrown out, lightly turned his body and landed, and the other members of the group, who had not regained consciousness, rolled on the floor a few times before opening their eyes. “Ugh, damn it.” “Senior, are you okay?” “Yeah. Captain. Are you awake?” “Where’s Beric?” “Over there – he’s upside down.” Beric, who was flipped over and half-folded, blinked his eyes. He had seen Ian’s darkness collapse, but when he came to his senses, he was like this? Beric used the elasticity of his body to jump up and immediately looked around. “Ian!” “I’m here.” “Oh. There you are.” As Ian gestured, telling him not to worry, Beric sighed in relief. Then, he looked up at the mages standing there blankly and shouted, “You idiots! What are you doing?” “No, Ian’s appearance is…” “You’ve become very elegant.” “Are you really Ian?” It was the first time they had seen Verosian’s appearance, not Ian Hiel, so close. The mages were shocked and stared blankly at Ian’s face. Swoosh. At that moment, the monster that had been thrown back by Ian’s attack rose to its feet. It didn’t seem to be retreating. As long as there were delicious pieces of god in front of it, it wouldn’t be able to retreat. “H-Hey! Behind it!” Behind the collapsed wall, shadows appeared in the endless abyss. Dozens, hundreds of huge monsters. They were the ones who had gathered to devour Ian Verosian and the mages. It was on a different level than the great monster flood in the north. Each one was as big as a magic tower. The mages tensed up and clenched their fists, and Ian watched them, his long hair fluttering. “Everyone-” Ian said, communicating with the mages. His voice was clearly transmitted to the mages waiting outside the temple. “Follow me. I will not let a single one of them live.”