Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 740

Deep within Ian, there was a well of water. It existed serenely, but the surface would ripple occasionally, following the pulse that would surge up.

Ian found the swaying unsettling. But what troubled him more was that he didn’t know what moments caused him to waver. Everything in the world, everything that reached his eyes and ears, intermittently shook his heart.

The nameless wildflowers blooming by the roadside, the sand swirling in the wind, the soldiers’ tanned skin, the mages’ laughter, Beric’s meaningless jokes, the piano music that sounded like a hallucination, the warriors’ spirit, a mother fleeing with her child in her arms…

The moment these ordinary things touched some part of his life, Ian would stiffen without realizing it. Enduring the ache in his chest was truly uncomfortable. Yes. The word ‘uncomfortable’ would be the perfect description.

The waves were still irregular and unpredictable. In an already uncertain battlefield, this was something he could not allow.

At first, he ignored it. But the more he ignored it, the more he realized it was disrupting him. So, just as he began to accept that all these moments were a part of the life he had to bear-

“You don’t seem to understand.”

He met the father of King Tolun.

Ian lowered his sword and grabbed his throat. He felt the pulse. Was it his? Or was it his own? That pulse that shook something within him, that had been helplessly messing with his center.

Each time it throbbed, Ian had to endure a tingling sensation. Alone.

“I am Ian Hiel of Bariel. My mother is Philia, and my father is Nersarn. They were the people of Bariel and the guardians of the desert. Your son took my parents’ lives, so there is no reason why I shouldn’t do the same.”

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Whoosh!

The flames soared. The oil that had spilled from the lamp soaked the carpet and soon reached the edge of the bed canopy.

The child reflected in the Market Lord’s eyes was surprisingly unreal. Had Chief Examiner Mer deceived him? Or had he been deceived as well?

He didn’t know. He couldn’t believe that the man before him was the Minister of Magic of Bariel, even as he was looking at him. He couldn’t tell if the intense heat was from the fire or from the blazing golden eyes.

“Cough!”

In his fading vision, the Market Lord struggled desperately. But the more he struggled, the more he felt an inescapable force. His vision finally tilted towards the void, and only then did the strength leave Ian’s grasp.

“…”

The naked body of the man sprawled on the floor was unsightly. Ian wiped his chin with the back of his hand. Water was dripping, whether from the heat or not. This was a gift and a return gift to the king. He gripped his sword again to leave a mark on the corpse.

Tap tap!

“Master!”

“Gasp!”

At that moment, the mansion’s servants, having heard the woman’s cry for help, rushed in. They stopped short when they saw Ian standing alone in the burning room.

When they first heard the story, they had been grinding their teeth, ready to beat the ignorant slave to a pulp, but-

“M-M-Master?”

“Is he dead?”

When they actually faced Ian, they couldn’t take a single step closer.

They stood at the doorway, only peeking their heads out to look at the bed. The Market Lord was already dead, trapped in the amber-colored light.

Swish.

Slash!

Ian swung his sword at the corpse without hesitation.

Leaving injuries on a dead man was a clear act of insult. But no one dared to step forward. He pointed the tip of his sword, dripping with blood, at the servants.

“If you want to live, get out of here now.”

“Eek!”

“And tell everyone. The judgment of Bariel has arrived in this capital. Those who wish to live, kneel and beg for mercy.”

They quickly grasped the situation and ran outside. It would be better to call the guards or the defense forces; he was not someone they could handle.

As the mansion’s people fled outside, Mer, who had woken up, grabbed someone’s arm and asked.

“What’s going on?”

“The Market Lord is dead! That slave is not human!”

“What?”

“His eyes, his eyes were flashing! Let’s get out of here!”

“No, what-”

The servants dragged him away, saying there was no time to explain.

Mer looked back as he was being pushed away. Smoke rising from the darkness, and flames gradually growing in size. In between, a boy was leaning on the railing, looking down at him. He could see why the servants called him not human.

‘A mage.’

Mer immediately recognized his identity and quickly went out of the mansion ahead of the servants. Many people were already standing blankly on the street, watching the fire.

“What are you doing! Put out the fire!”

He urgently instructed the people who were standing there blankly and ran out. The slave, no, the mage, had a clear intention in looking at him.

‘Inform the royal palace.’

Your role is to go to the royal palace and inform them that mages have invaded the capital, that is.

He wondered if it was right to move as he wanted, but there was no other way. How could he, who had been blocking the examination board and taking small change, stand against a mage?

Neigh!

He fixed his horse’s head towards the royal palace. Citizens who had noticed the commotion at the mansion were gathering. They were lightly dressed, but they walked very carefully.

“What, what is this-”

“Gasp! Fire!”

“Please help! Damn it, we don’t have enough sand!”

“Water! We need water!”

“What about the young lady? Is Miss Aris okay?”

“She’s safe. She seems a little startled, but-”

“Hey! You there! What are you all standing around for? I said help!”

Unlike the mansion’s servants who were running around to fetch water, the citizens were just standing there, watching the fire. Even though he had asked for help directly, they still didn’t budge.

“Why should we?”

“…What?”

The citizens’ faces were illuminated by the blazing fire. They all looked ecstatic and satisfied.

Caught off guard, the servants stopped and looked back at them.

“The Market Lord tried to kill us, so I don’t know why we should help him.”

“Right. Just earlier today, he was stabbing us with spears. My kid’s forehead got cut.”

“He’s called the Market Lord, but all this time, it felt like we were serving two kings. Whether the mansion burns down or not, what do we care? It was all built with our blood and sweat anyway.”

“It’s nice to see this for a change. Yeah. That’s it.”

“These crazy…”

“You guys shouldn’t bother either. It’s already too late, and if the mansion is gone, you’re no different from us, are you?”

“Yeah. It’s over now, for the Market Lord.”

At the citizens’ murmuring, the servants who had been moving busily also stopped. That’s right. From what they heard, the Market Lord was already dead in his bedroom. The only one left was young Aris, and could that child pay them their wages?

As they reached that thought, the servants began to put down their buckets one by one. If the citizens helped, maybe it would be different, but it was pointless for them to struggle to put out the fire by themselves.

“No! Everyone move! Please!”

Aris mumbled and pleaded as if something was wrong. But no one paid attention to the child’s cries. After crying for a while, Aris just stared blankly at the mansion.

“…”

At dawn, the pillars of the completely burned-down mansion tilted weakly.

* * *

Creak.

Ian lightly grabbed and turned the handle of the building Banusa had told him about.

It must have been a very subtle and small sign of life. But at that moment, the sound of clattering came from inside. Ian hesitated whether to open it or not, then carefully pushed the door open.

“Ian!”

“You’re here!”

The mages, as if they were about to spill out of the door, crowded together and stuck their faces out. They looked very happy. Ian was about to take a step back without realizing it, but he chuckled and pushed them inside.

“So noisy.”

“It was noisier outside. People were running around like crazy. We’re glad you returned safely.”

“Aish, if you just give us the orders, we’ll do all the dangerous work. Ian, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yeah. It was nothing.”

That answer, that it was nothing, sounded strangely comfortable. Ian took off his robe and casually hung it on a chair, looking at the unfamiliar children.

“Who?”

“They’re Banusa’s kids.”

“I see.”

“Speak properly! They’re the children of Banusa’s family. Those little ones are so good at talking, they can tickle the citizens’ hearts and make them rise up.”

“But why are there only children?”

“The royal palace used a conscription order as an excuse to take all the family members. They barely managed to sneak the children out and hide here.”

“The royal palace must be in a hurry.”

“It seems so.”

Ian nodded and glanced at Banusa. Now that they had entered the capital, there was only one path to take.

“By now, the news should have reached the royal palace. Is there any reaction from the king?”

“Not really…”

“Then there’s no choice.”

Ian smiled slightly, as if he was looking forward to something. He was really curious to see what kind of face the king would make when he heard about his father’s death. Since they wouldn’t tell him, he had no choice but to go see it himself.

“Tyla, Yen.”

“Yes, Ian.”

“The three of you, go around the fortress walls and neutralize the gates. Start from the side farthest from where the Bariel army will enter.”

Mages have freedom of movement. By using this to draw the attention of the defense forces to the farthest gate, they could minimize the damage to the main force. The entry process would also be simplified.

“Understood.”

“Now that we’re in the capital, we can’t be free from the puppeteer’s attacks. Always keep that in mind and move quickly.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll do it.”

It was another way of saying to be careful because it could be dangerous. Ian put his hand on Hale’s shoulder and added to the other mages.

“Hale, Tommy, Nakina, and I will enter the royal palace directly. The other mages will wait outside the royal palace to help the Bariel army enter and prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.”

“Only the four of you are going in?”

“The inside of the royal palace is like the king’s palm. If too many of us go in, it will be more harmful.”

The mages pursed their lips worriedly, but that was it. They believed in their superiors’ abilities more than anyone else. The mages nodded vigorously.

“Understood! We’ll keep sending you communication magic.”

“Okay, gather around!”

Accorella waved her fingertips at the mages and wrapped her arm around Ian’s shoulder. They gathered together, put their heads together, and looked into each other’s eyes.

“Don’t die, let’s go back alive.”

“Of course!”

“If you die, you’ll die by my hand.”

“Living longer than Accorella is my life goal.”

“Ian. Say something.”

“No, but, did you really wear a ribbon when you went in?”

“This bastard can’t read the mood-!”

Thwack!

Accorella punished the mage who asked the question with a headbutt. Ian just smiled and patted the backs of the mages standing with him.

“Don’t get hurt-”

Ian hesitated for a moment, then continued.

“We’re almost there. Let’s all go home together.”

“Yes! Ian!”

“Let’s go!”

The mages gave a short, sharp shout and lightly clenched their fists.

“…”

Banusa watched them with her arms crossed.

Soon, it would be sunrise.