Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 723

The chief felt a burning sensation.

Tweller’s cry resonated with the weight of years and the depth of the blood he had waded through. It was astonishing. This colleague, who had once trembled, prostrated himself, begged for his life, and fled in terror at the mere mention of his name, had transformed completely.

Whack!

Tweller paused to catch his breath, having created some distance. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t wielded a weapon in so long; his body wasn’t moving as he wished. He had aged without even realizing it.

He stubbornly ignored his cracked palms and gripped the axe handle tightly.

“Minister Tweller!”

“Cut down all who come! Those who do not surrender will face death!”

Tweller issued these instructions to his subordinates, who were awaiting his command, then quickly scanned his surroundings. Where was the chief? Where would he strike next?

Faced with the screams and violence of the near-riotous residents, the subordinates nodded, confirming Tweller’s resolve.

“Raise the flag!”

If that’s what they wanted, he would kill them all.

Meanwhile, at the main force, a flag was raised from the burning village. Siao-si, observing this, muttered softly.

“…It’s the signal. Send in the reinforcements.”

“Yes!”

Clatter, clatter!

The change in the situation was like a tidal wave. The momentum of the Bariel forces and the residents clashed fiercely, like two rocks colliding, sending debris flying.

Standing still in the middle of it all was Tweller. And the chief, who had concealed his presence.

Clatter, clatter!

Light but not reckless footsteps could be felt as a presence.

Thwack!

The chief’s dagger continued to pierce through, aiming for vital spots. From the eyes to the neck, from the neck to the chest, then to the side, and then the thigh. Tweller tried to grab the attacks that were cutting and stabbing him, but-

Whack!

Just when it seemed he would finally catch it, the attack slipped out of his grasp like water. Blood splattered, and wounds appeared all over his body, but Tweller remained patient.

Just once would be enough. Just once. If he could properly grab the attack, wouldn’t he be able to pinpoint the enemy’s location? He was preparing for a single strike, so these wounds were nothing! They were rather invigorating.

Moreover, this was the pain that his past self should have endured. He had ignored it all this time, so he was now paying the price.

“Minister!”

“I’m fine!”

The subordinates, who were pushing back the residents, cried out in worry, but Tweller’s answer was unwavering. The subordinates focused only on cutting down the enemies in front of them, leaving Tweller, who was becoming stained with blood, behind.

“Come-!”

Whack! Whack!

An attack that quickly passed from his left side to his right. Tweller accepted it. He did not evade or fear it. In an instant, he grabbed the blade with one hand and swung his axe with the other.

Thud!

This time, he couldn’t avoid it. Tweller’s axe severed the chief’s left arm in one swift motion. Just like before, blood gushed out in the air, revealing his hidden form.

“… !”

Joy. There was clear joy on Tweller’s face as he faced the chief. Like a beast that wouldn’t let go of its prey, his eyes gleamed as he swung his axe again.

“Look!”

I am not a magic swordsman. Like Barsabe, I cannot chase and cut down the unseen. But-

“This is my courage!”

There are many ways to cut down the unseen, aren’t there? To firmly grab the enemy by using one’s life as bait. He could do that. He had the courage to do so.

Swoosh!

The chief’s eyes widened. The axe blade was clearly reflected in them. It looked dull and faded on the outside, but the edge was surprisingly sharp.

It was said that to know a warrior’s worth, one should look at his weapon. Ah. So that was the kind of man Tweller was. In the short moment the chief blinked-

Whack!

Tweller’s axe severed the chief’s neck in one swift motion.

Blood gushed everywhere, and his head rolled into the flames. The people who had been resisting frantically continued to rush forward, unaware of what had happened.

Clatter, clatter!

“Clear the way!”

At that moment, Siao-si arrived with his soldiers and began to subdue the residents one by one. The fierce battle quickly subsided.

Tweller stood with his bloodied axe and quietly watched this.

“Minister, are you alright?”

“Ah-”

The palm of his hand, which he waved dismissively, was a mess, torn to shreds. The old general staggered and sat down on a stone, and Siao-si offered him a cigarette.

Tweller chuckled and lit the cigarette with the nearby flames.

“Oh dear, what to do. I’ve killed the chief. I have nothing to report to His Majesty.”

“It’s alright. The invisible beings are still here. We’ve also captured the one with the severed arm.”

“Is that so?”

When Tweller asked with a smile, Siao-si also smiled faintly. He didn’t know for sure, but even if they hadn’t captured anyone, Tweller would have cut down his opponent. He felt like he had come all this way for that purpose.

“Life is truly unpredictable.”

“What do you mean?”

The old general’s eyes, reflecting the flames, calmly flickered.

“It feels like I’ve been reborn. Just a moment ago, I was waiting for the day I would die.”

“Forgive me, Minister, but the day you die is too far away.”

“Hahaha! You never know. Everyone is equal before the sword.”

“Please get up. The flames are close.”

“Yes. I should.”

Tweller took a deep drag of the cigarette and exhaled, laughing. He didn’t know what emotion it was, but he kept chuckling.

Siao-si supported him and checked his condition.

“You’re badly injured.”

“It’s okay. I won.”

“Yes. I believed in you.”

No matter how deep the wounds were, could they be more than the blood gushing from a severed neck? Tweller limped over and looked down at the chief’s corpse.

‘At that time, you must have been looking at me like this.’

He had been so pathetic, prostrating himself and begging, that he hadn’t even considered cutting him down.

But now that he thought about it, wasn’t it because he had survived then that he had tasted so much glory? If he had charged in with a childish heart back then, wouldn’t he have ended his life without understanding the true meaning of death, or even the spirit of a warrior?

‘…That would have been the case. Probably. No, certainly.’

Whether that was the right answer or not was no longer important. Tweller decided to forgive his past self. As he had said, by cutting down that man, he had also cut down his past self.

“Minister!”

“This way!”

“Oh dear, the wounds-”

As Tweller passed by, the officers who were cleaning up the scene approached one by one, expressing their concern. Someone draped a robe over his shoulders.

Even so, Tweller only walked forward, exhaling cigarette smoke. As he left the village entrance, which had been blocked by flames, the main camp was clearly visible in the distance.

Thud.

The Emperor was looking this way. Tweller casually threw away the cigarette and placed one hand on his chest in salute.

“Clean up the battlefield and escort His Majesty. He will pass through here. There is a suitable plain for setting up camp beyond the village, so move quickly.”

“Yes, Minister!”

As I swore, I have cut down the enemies without any worries or concerns, Your Majesty. Tweller turned back into the village.

Jin, who was watching this, muttered softly.

“I don’t know about anything else, but-”

Barsabe, who was firmly guarding the Emperor’s side, reacted by turning her head.

“I know how great a blessing it is to share an era with such excellent people.”

Including Ian, and now Tweller. There were truly many people worthy of respect by Jin’s side, regardless of their status.

Barsabe also nodded in agreement.

“It is all thanks to Your Majesty that these excellent people are living in this era. I also learn a lot from Minister Tweller. When I grow old, I want to become a warrior like him.”

“You will become like that too. By the way, I think Commander Jeyrut would be disappointed if he heard that.”

“In front of the Commander, you just have to say that the Commander is the best.”

“That is a very wise way to handle things.”

Jin chuckled and rested his chin on his hand.

They were one step closer to the capital of Toolun. From now on, as they moved forward, they might have to overcome everything alone. Jin pondered the advice that Minister Tweller had given him and nodded.

“Now, advance. Our warriors have cleared the way for us.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

At the Emperor’s command, the tents were taken down, and the soldiers who had been waiting moved busily. Soon, as the flag was raised, the carriage carrying the Emperor slowly began to climb the hill.

* * *

“How is Minister Tweller? Is he alright?”

Chloe asked cautiously, tilting her head. She had heard that he had fought one-on-one with an invisible enemy and won, but since then, the movements of the medics had been unusual.

Siao-si patted her shoulder, telling her not to worry.

“The wounds are deep, but they say his life is not in danger.”

“I see. That’s a relief. Even so, he’s getting on in years, so I was worried that his recovery would be slow. Siao-si, please give this to the Minister and tell him to boil it well and drink it.”

Chloe rummaged through her pouch and secretly handed something over.

Siao-si looked at her, as if he didn’t understand. Just by looking at her, Chloe’s cheeks flushed red, and she thumped Siao-si’s chest.

“No, it’s not like that… Actually, I had prepared this to boil and give to you if you weren’t feeling well. But since the Minister is having a hard time right now, I’m giving it to him… Th, th, this is…”

“This is?”

“Isn’t it wifely support!”

Thwack!

Siao-si lightly caught Chloe’s fist as it flew towards him. Ah. I see, he thought with a smile.

“It’s good to be on good terms with your superior. Yes, that’s right.”

“…I understand. I will definitely convey Miss Chloe’s consideration to Minister Tweller. Thank you.”

“Yes, yes, I’d appreciate that. Are you going straight to work?”

Siao-si’s subordinates were approaching from afar. Since the village was burned and most of the residents were dead, there wasn’t much room to gather information. However.

“Yes. There is one invisible person we captured. There will be an interrogation soon.”

“I see. I understand. I should go and work too.”

“Take care. I’ll see you later.”

“Yes. Then.”

Chloe took small steps backward, not taking her eyes off him. Then, whoosh! She quickly disappeared behind the tent.

Siao-si, who had been watching her, smiled faintly and gestured for his subordinates to follow him.

“Did he confess willingly?”

“He’s stubborn. And malicious.”

“However, we found out that the female invisible person who approached His Majesty is his sister. According to Minister Tweller, the invisible ability is hereditary.”

“So, they are the chief’s children after all?”

“That’s what we strongly suspect, but he won’t confess, so there’s no progress. We need to dig a little deeper.”

Whack!

Siao-si pulled back the tent flap in the corner and stepped inside. A space separated by just a single sheet of cloth. But the moment he stepped inside, it was as if he had crossed into another world; the smell of blood was overwhelming.

In the middle of it, Minister Tweller was standing. He was bandaged all over and had a cigarette in his mouth, but his gaze was fixed firmly on the air.

It was the shackles that bound the invisible person.

“You’ve come.”

“Yes, Minister.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you. I need to change my bandages.”

Siao-si knew very well that he would just roughly treat himself and come back. He was the type to ignore the doctor’s prescription of ‘absolute rest’.

Siao-si sat down on the chair where he had been sitting and gestured to his subordinate.

Whack!

As the whip was swung hard, a man’s figure slowly appeared in the air. Even with one arm severed, the man glared at Siao-si with sharp eyes.

Siao-si said softly.

“Well, are you in the mood to open your mouth?”