Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 722

The village chief lowered his gaze, sensing something was amiss. He had clearly seen the soldiers vanish before his eyes, so the next to disappear would be the magic swordsmen. Without a mage present, they were the only ones he could send to investigate the strange phenomenon. But it was quiet. His plan to lure the magic swordsmen out of the camp and then strike at the Emperor had been disrupted. “Chief.” “Wait.” Just a little more, just a little more… The invisible beings were waiting for the chief’s signal, their bodies concealed. Then, movement was seen from the Bariel army’s side. “Forward!” “Follow the General!” Clatter, clatter! A white-haired old man charged forward with an axe. His momentum was clear even in the darkness, a man who could change the very flow of the wind. And behind him, half a dozen warriors followed. Upon hearing the title ‘General,’ the people were startled and turned to the chief. “Ch-Chief. He’s called a General. Surely, he must be the Defense Minister of the Empire.” “He’s not a magic swordsman, is he? It’s different from what we expected.” “Those following him also seem extraordinary. Should we prepare the cloth again?” “Is it possible?” “Still, if they’re invisible, we should be able to handle them somehow. How can they stop what they can’t see?” The chief muttered, watching Tweller’s group charge without hesitation. “…They’ve noticed.” “Yes?” “They’ve noticed the existence of the invisible beings. They seem certain there’s no protective barrier. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be charging so fearlessly.” Certainty? How could they possibly know? “Ah!” An invisible being who infiltrated the Bariel camp must have been discovered. Otherwise, there was no way they could know. The people’s faces turned pale, and they froze. Being discovered meant her death. “Chief.” The chief pondered. There was probably someone near the Emperor who could sense the invisible beings. That must be why the situation had turned out this way. He struck the ground twice with his staff and then nodded. “Do not enter the barracks.” Going in would only lead to a pointless death. “We will stop them here.” “…Understood!” “Everyone, prepare! Protect the village!” The chief, amidst the scattering people, quietly stared straight ahead. It was still the same. There was no hesitation in the movements of those charging towards them. ‘It’s clear they’ve discovered the protective barrier is a sham. But why are they coming? There’s no need to send scouts; they could just push through with the main force and end it quickly. Is this something that warrants the General himself to step forward?’ There was something more. The chief saw a glimmer of hope. There was always a reason for unusual behavior. And that could be an opportunity to reverse the unfavorable situation. He carefully examined the approaching General’s face, and then his eyebrows twitched as if puzzled. Whoosh! Tweller raised his axe and commanded. “Set it ablaze!” “Yes!” Following his command, his subordinates scattered to the left and right, setting fire to the village entrance. The people who were preparing for battle stopped in surprise. What were they doing? “H-Hey!” “Fire! It’s catching fire!” It was a small village. The wells were shallow, and the houses were all made of wood. Even a small fire could quickly destroy everything. Thud! Tweller, having arrived at the village entrance, dismounted and looked around. His subordinates were moving about, continuing to start fires, especially focusing on the path leading to the entrance. ‘Isolation.’ The chief immediately grasped their intention. By closing off the entrance connected to the military unit, they aimed to isolate any invisible beings that might have been placed outside the village. A strategy to protect their rear from an unseen enemy. Tweller recognized the chief and nodded. “Are you the chief of this village?” “Yes, I am. But what is the meaning of this? We clearly declared our surrender, is this the mercy of Bariel?” “Shut up. Your schemes were discovered long ago. If the invisible beings show themselves and kneel now, I will grant you a painless death with a shred of mercy.” The crime of mocking and attempting to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor was grave. Tweller stared at the growing flames, his edge sharpened. Narrowing the area where people could stand, that was the second objective. He couldn’t pinpoint their exact location, but he needed to create a situation where he could at least get a sense of ‘where they might be.’ “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” The chief feigned ignorance. It was a small, powerless village. They had even surrendered cleanly. Yet, would the Bariel army mercilessly trample over them? And if that became known to the outside world? It would be a catalyst to ignite anger in Tolun, and it would cause a great stir in other countries occupied by Bariel. “I know the roots of the invisible beings. I heard they originated from another country. They’re from an assassin family, aren’t they?” At Tweller’s question, the chief’s brow furrowed slightly. It wasn’t a question that required an answer, as Tweller continued to speak. Even as he did, his subordinates were spreading something around. Whoosh! “How did you end up mixing with the natives of Tolun? I clearly encountered an invisible being in Bariel.” In Bariel? The chief’s cloudy eyes briefly flickered. The flames engulfing the surroundings were so intense that no one noticed, but somewhere in his dormant memories, something stirred rapidly. “Gasp. What is that?” Meanwhile, the residents finally saw what Tweller’s subordinates were spreading. Something sticky and gooey. Was it boiled feed? Or something else? They couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but they could understand its purpose. ‘They’re trying to see the footprints of the invisible beings.’ If they approached, the invisible beings’ footprints would leave traces. They could prepare for a sudden attack. These guys, their counterattack is considerable. The residents tensed, gripping their weapons tightly. “I will count to ten. By then, the invisible beings must show themselves. Otherwise, I will cut off the limbs of the residents one by one. The choice is yours.” It wasn’t a threat, but a warning. His voice was firm and monotonous. As the tension reached its peak, the chief raised his hand, drawing Tweller’s gaze. “It is true that invisible beings exist.” “You admit it.” “But this is not the way to do it. They are beings who protect the village, but they also possess personalities. Do you know how many invisible beings there are?” What if they hid themselves completely? And then, in the future, they slipped into your barracks, aiming for the Emperor’s neck? Even if there was someone near the Emperor who could ‘see the unseen,’ it would still leave a lingering threat. In this situation, you should try to appease rather than intimidate. The chief added with a faint smile. “If they are afraid and run away, I have no way of stopping them, I must tell you.” If they are afraid and run away? It was a natural statement, but Tweller sensed a thorn within it. The two men’s gazes met in the air, and a hot gust of wind swirled around them. ‘His spirit is formidable.’ That’s why he was able to send a spy to the Emperor’s side. That’s why he could scheme to stop the Bariel army with just a few hundred residents. Tweller pointed his axe at the chief’s forehead. “It is not difficult to find out how many invisible beings there are.” How many people were trembling in fear? Among the hundreds of residents, there would be at least one person who would tell the truth. It was a moment when a heavy silence fell between them. Thud! A sound of someone stepping on something wet was heard. It was an invisible being. Footprints were clearly imprinted along the path he was running. Tweller’s subordinates gripped their swords, watching his movements, and the chief desperately tried to stop him. “Ban! No!” No matter how pitiful your four younger brothers were who were killed in the barracks, now was not the time. Quickly get off the wet ground and hide yourself. But the invisible being, who had lost his reason, did not hear him. “Haaap!” It was over. The principle when approaching an opponent was to even silence your breathing, but consumed by anger, he even let out a rough shout. In response, Tweller’s subordinates easily tracked his movements by the sound. And then- Whoosh! They extended their swords and cleanly sliced off the arm of the charging man. Blood poured out, and the invisible being’s form was briefly revealed, but it was fleeting. It meant that the ability could not be undone unless he was killed. “Surround him!” “Agh!” Based on the location that was quickly identified, the subordinates moved. The invisible being was trapped. With swords flying from all sides, what could he do? Eventually, one of them pierced the invisible being’s stomach. The residents screamed in horror, and the chief calmly watched the scene. “Keep coming. Just because you’re invisible doesn’t mean you can’t be cut down. We have a long way to go.” “…General. What is your name?” What did it mean to ask each other’s names on the battlefield? In a fate of killing and being killed, it meant engraving the opponent in one’s memory, didn’t it? But the chief’s question was somehow meaningful. “Tweller. Maxim Tweller.” “Ah, I see. So it was…” The chief chuckled and nodded. His attitude, not at all intimidated despite the situation, was strange. Tweller’s subordinates kept glancing back and forth between him and their superior. “It is truly an amazing connection.” The chief threw down his staff and lightly clasped his hands together. His fingertips were slowly fading. Tweller’s eyes widened. “A man who was crying and begging for his life has risen to the position of General of the Empire. Is this your dazzling progress? Or is it the fall of the Empire?” Tweller sensed it. No, he was certain. ‘…That guy.’ It was him. The one who had cut down his master and heard his cowardly pleas. Something surged from the depths of Tweller’s heart. Anger, sadness, surprise… and- Joy and elation. “Ha!” Thank goodness. He was alive. As expected, there weren’t that many branches of the invisible beings. Tweller’s eyes sparkled as he shouted with delight. “Thank you!” For being alive. If I had died without cutting you down, my resentment would have prevented me from closing my eyes in peace. As the chief’s figure completely disappeared, the residents charged at once, as if they had made up their minds. “Stick to them!” “Drive them out!” As dozens of people rushed in, the ground quickly became a mess. Whether it was a measure to prevent the invisible beings from leaving traces, or simply a determination to protect the village, he didn’t know. The subordinates simply retreated, cutting down the people in a frenzy. Whoosh! Clang! Even for skilled warriors in armor, the onrushing crowd was overwhelming. “General!” Should we kill them all? If so, we need support-! But Tweller stood still, holding his axe. Even in the chaotic situation, he sharpened his senses to see something unseen. Swish! Swish! The tips of his ears became sensitive, and all his senses were heightened to the extreme. Tweller recalled Barsabe wielding her sword without hesitation and muttered. “The courage to cut down the unseen.” Whoosh! Something approached Tweller’s neck. Tweller didn’t deflect it but firmly grabbed it with his hand. A sword was barely touching his Adam’s apple. Blood trickled down Tweller’s palm. “I also have that courage.” Even if I can’t see it, I can still grab it. The chief pulled the dagger back and disappeared again. Tweller grinned and shouted loudly. “Come! I’ve been waiting for a long time! By cutting you down, I will also cut down my past!”