Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 747

“Aaaah!”\n\n”Kuaaaah!”\n\nBoth Berics fell backward simultaneously, clutching their heads. It seemed they were both deadly to each other. They weren’t the type of blockheads to go down easily.\n\nThe mages, as if they were the ones in pain, frowned and approached the Berics.\n\n”Are you okay? You didn’t get any dumber, did you?”\n\n”Agh! Cut it out!”\n\n”Okay, okay. That’s a relief.”\n\n”Why are you asking him that? You idiot!”\n\n”Tsk, tsk. Look at this sly bastard.”\n\nThe mages pounced on one of the Berics, grabbing his collar, smacking his head, and pinching his cheeks. It was as if they didn’t care whether he was the real Beric or a fake. If he was real, great, and if he was fake, they could do whatever they wanted.\n\nWhen Beric irritably shook them off, Ian clapped his hands lightly.\n\n”That’s enough. Stop it.”\n\nIan glanced at the mages who had attacked Beric. Judging by their actions, they seemed to be the real ones. No matter how well they copied memories, they couldn’t replicate the reflexive actions.\n\nIan turned to the mages standing blankly and sighed softly.\n\n”I’m going to ask questions now, so answer quickly.”\n\n”No, Ian. Why are you doing this to us?”\n\n”Ugh, are you suspecting us?”\n\n”I’ll ask everyone one by one. It’s just a matter of order.”\n\nUgh. The mages looked displeased, but they pursed their lips and nodded. As if they had no choice.\n\nIan needed to confirm the limits of what the monsters could copy.\n\n’Or maybe Kanchi, who was spouting information earlier, is the real one.’\n\nWhat should he ask? Ian was pondering when Beric, still clutching his head, suddenly interjected.\n\n”Nakina!”\n\n”What.”\n\n”Honestly, haven’t you ever wanted to beat the crap out of Captain Hale?”\n\nNakina paused for a moment. She had to give an answer based on emotion, not information. Nakina grinned and gave a thumbs up as if it were obvious.\n\n”Of course! I want to beat him up every single day!”\n\n”Shut uuuup!”\n\nPaah!\n\nThen, another Nakina rushed over and kicked her in the face.\n\nA sudden act of violence. The mages gasped. They wondered who they should help, but the situation resolved itself quickly. It was when the Nakina who had been hit stood up.\n\n”You little-!”\n\n”Oh… my god.”\n\nHalf of the hit Nakina’s face was sliding down. Like clay being squashed. It seemed she had been kicked with all her might.\n\nThe unharmed Nakina pointed at the ‘Hales’ as if to say, ‘Look at this.’\n\n”Captain Hale, look. I would never think such a thing. Even if the captain is a chain smoker! And sometimes quiet and frustrating! How could I ever dare to think of hitting him on the head?”\n\n”…Okay, calm down.”\n\n”C-calm down, senior.”\n\n”Tommy, you believe me, right? Huh? You believe me?”\n\n”I believe you, so please do something about those crazy eyes.”\n\nNakina huffed and puffed, then glared at the monster imitating her. How dare it try to frame her!\n\n”I’ll tear you to pieces!”\n\nZiiing! Ziiing!\n\nPuh-uh-uhng!\n\nThe two Nakinas unleashed their magic simultaneously, and their powers collided in mid-air.\n\nBut the outcome was instantaneous. No matter how well they copied the ability, how could a mere monster defeat a mage close to a fragment of a god?\n\nThe Nakina with the distorted face gradually melted away, turning into a thick, black liquid.\n\n”Ugh. I feel nauseous.”\n\n”Is that the puppeteer’s ability? Mrs. Darci was like that too.”\n\n”Nakina! Take care of it yourself!”\n\n”Shouldn’t we just go one-on-one?”\n\n”That’s right!”\n\nThe mages’ eyes gleamed as if they had realized something, and they unleashed their magic again. Magic exploded like fireworks everywhere.\n\nIan sighed, lightly touching his forehead.\n\n”Dieee! You bastard!”\n\n”You die! You monster!”\n\n…It was noisy but not chaotic before. Why are they wasting their energy on such things?\n\nThey aimed magic at each other in mid-air, shouting. Then, Ian snapped his fingers and commanded.\n\n”Stop.”\n\n”Huh?”\n\nAmidst the deafening noise, the mages, despite the small voice, quickly understood.\n\nAt the same time, the group split into half that stopped reflexively and half that continued to attack.\n\n”Good.”\n\nNow that it was clear who was real and who was fake, Ian didn’t miss the moment and quickly extended his hand to create a magic circle.\n\n「Many Leaves」.\n\nChwaaak!\n\nPuh-ook!\n\nThe World Tree’s tendrils that extended from Ian pierced the hearts of the fakes in the blink of an eye. They bled black liquid instead of red blood and began to melt away.\n\n”Aaaah!”\n\n”Ian! No! That’s not it!”\n\n”Those things until the end-!”\n\nThe monsters screamed and cried as if to show off. Looking straight into Ian’s eyes.\n\nIan frowned, and the World Tree tendrils that pierced their hearts grew thicker, splitting their bodies in half.\n\nJjeo-eok!\n\nThud, the black lumps that were just bodies a moment ago fell to the floor. The mages looked back at Ian with complex expressions.\n\n”Ian, are you okay?”\n\n”Of course.”\n\n”I’m sorry. I should have done it myself.”\n\nYou shouldn’t have had to see such a sight. Even if they were illusions, taking the lives of your subordinates is a disturbing experience.\n\nIan waved his hand as if to say it was okay. There was still one left.\n\n”Beric.”\n\nBeric was a different case. Both had reflexively stopped fighting at Ian’s command. They glared at each other irritably, pointing fingers.\n\n”Ian! This guy is a bit different!”\n\n”That’s what I should be saying! This bastard’s head is so hard!”\n\nThanks to Beric, they could roughly distinguish the real and fake mages. But what about Beric? How could they distinguish them?\n\nIan approached the two and put his hands on his hips.\n\n”Beric, I’ll ask you a question.”\n\n”Don’t ask anything difficult.”\n\n”I’m a blockhead, so I might answer wrong.”\n\n”Who are you calling a blockhead?”\n\n”Wow. Funny. I’m calling myself-!”\n\n”Shhh.”\n\nIan smiled and signaled them to be quiet. The Berics closed their mouths like obedient children. Then, the mages behind them seized the opportunity to ask.\n\n”Beric! Are you and Barsabe in that kind of relationship?”\n\n”Bullshit! That’s disgusting!”\n\n”Oh, that guy seems real.”\n\n”Then, was it you who caused the flood in the kitchen on Thanksgiving?”\n\n”It wasn’t me!”\n\n”Oh my, they’re both denying it the same way. Ian, they seem a little different.”\n\n”When Ian made you count as punishment, did you honestly finish counting before getting up, or not?”\n\n”…Why are you asking that?!”\n\nThe Berics answered alternately, but their reactions seemed plausible. They glared at each other, pouting. Damn bastards!\n\nNakina shook her head as if such questions were unnecessary and stepped forward.\n\n”You have to do it like me. What are you all doing?”\n\n”Huh? Are you sure you can handle it?”\n\n”Then what? Would you rather go back-to-back with a fake and get stabbed? Beric! Have you ever been so pissed at Ian that you wanted to beat him up, yes or no?”\n\nThe Berics paused at Nakina’s question. One couldn’t speak easily, and the other cautiously opened his mouth.\n\n”I, I, I have been pissed. But I’ve never wanted to beat him up. Really.”\n\nThe Beric who had been stuttering grabbed Nakina’s collar, bursting into anger.\n\n”No, but! If you’re going to die, die alone, you jerk!”\n\n”Oh, look at that temper. Ian, this guy is the real one.”\n\nNakina chuckled and headbutted Beric’s chin. Maybe that was her plan from the start…\n\nThe mages continued to ask questions several times, but they didn’t achieve any significant results. Hale, unable to watch any longer, suggested to Ian.\n\n”Ian, instead of that, how about putting both of them in front? If the situation changes, they will surely show their true colors, and it would be better to judge then.”\n\n”Ian! Why don’t you recognize me!”\n\n”I’m disappointed, really! Huh?! You mages, you only pretend to be good, you can’t do anything right!”\n\nIan stared at the Berics who were throwing a tantrum and finally nodded. There was no other way for now. Unlike the mages who were quickly identified when they fought, these two couldn’t be distinguished even with a sincere headbutt.\n\n’I can’t tell them to cross swords either.’\n\nIt would be a waste of power, and if the monster was overwhelming Beric, it would be irreversible. It seemed like a different kind of monster than the ones that imitated the mages.\n\n”Beric. Lead the way.”\n\n”Ha! Seriously! Okay! Let’s go, let’s go.”\n\n”Anyway, just watch. I’m going to kill that bastard.”\n\nThe two Berics glared at each other, then walked side by side, shoulder to shoulder.\n\nIt was a truly bizarre sight. The mages, while remaining vigilant, let out absurd laughs at the sight.\n\n”Banusa. Where do we go now?”\n\n”Ah, the king’s residence is north of the center of the palace. We got a little lost because of the incident earlier, so-“\n\nWith paths leading in all directions, Banusa circled her finger as she pondered the direction, and the Berics naturally split left and right as they walked.\n\n”Then it’s this way!”\n\n”It seems to be this way!”\n\nHuh? The two looked at each other as if they didn’t understand. It’s north, so why there?\n\nThe mages seized the opportunity and looked at Banusa. Her finger cautiously tilted to the left.\n\n”The left is north.”\n\n”The left is north…?”\n\n”That means…”\n\nFlash! The mages’ eyes lit up. They looked meaningfully at the Beric on the left and slowly approached him.\n\n”Why, why, why are you doing this?”\n\n”…You know what? I’ve never seen Beric find the right way in one go. Not even once.”\n\n”Huh? They said the left is north.”\n\n”That’s right. And you’re standing on the left.”\n\n”No, wait a minute!”\n\nThe Beric on the left stammered, opening and closing his mouth. Could it be, that they were using this to identify him?\n\n”Yiaaaah!”\n\nThe mages rushed at once, grabbing Beric’s head and squashing his face.\n\nBut at that moment-\n\n”Th-that’s my bad. The right is north.”\n\nBanusa said, realizing her mistake, and turned her finger to the right.\n\n”Huh?”\n\n”The right, the right is north! You idiots!”\n\nThe Beric who had been beaten struggled as if he was wronged.\n\nThe mages looked back and forth between the Beric standing still and the Beric who had fallen, then continued their punches and kicks as if it didn’t matter. Yay, it’s the real one! This guy is the real one! Yes, if he’s real, it’s all good.\n\nPuh-uck! Thwack!\n\n”Ian! Ian! Stop these crazy guys!”\n\nBut Ian slowly walked towards the Beric on the right. Then, the one who had been wearing an awkward smile tilted his head, and then ran away as if fleeing.\n\nTadak tadak!\n\nIan immediately unleashed his magic to attack, but the monster had already hidden around the corner, so it only grazed him.\n\n”Ian! Should we chase him?”\n\n”It’s okay. We won’t be scattered now.”\n\n”Yes, I understand. Well, we’re going that way anyway.”\n\nThe mages who had surrounded Beric scattered and shook their hands with satisfaction.\n\n”But why did they leave Ian out?”\n\n”That’s right. Ian was alone.”\n\n”Would it work? They’d get caught right away.”\n\n”That’s right. They can’t create Idgal [a type of magic] even if they have magic. It’ll be obvious right away.”\n\nIan ignored all the speculations and turned the corner first in the direction the monster had fled. The mages followed right behind, but they stopped before taking even one step.\n\n”…Huh.”\n\nTwo Ians were standing at the corner. The Ians were staring at each other indifferently.\n\nThe mages and Beric stood rooted to the spot, blinking in disbelief.\n\n”Wow.”\n\nThere are two Ians.\n\nIn a way, it’s real…\n\n’Kill them.’\n\n’They’re dead.’\n\n’We’re screwed.’