Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 755

-A small flower bloomed beyond despair; it is hope. The people of Toloon huddled together, engrossed in their scriptures. Their nation was on the brink of collapse. The city walls had crumbled, the Imperial forces were relentlessly advancing, and there was no sign of movement from the royal palace. Had the king abandoned the country? If so, what could they do? They could only barricade their doors, press their foreheads against their families, and weep silently. The fact that their fate was not in their own hands but in the hands of an emperor they didn’t know was truly miserable. They realized that the future, which had seemed like it would last forever, was actually an illusion. “Let us pray.” And so, they clung to hope. They cried out to their god, begging to be pitied and shown a way out. In tens of thousands of homes, the sound of scriptures being read echoed softly. Kugugugu-! Kwaaang! When they heard the earth-shattering roar, they thought the end had finally come. It must be the power of the Bariel mages, they thought, those bastards were finally trying to annihilate Toloon. The people trembled. “…Mom.” “Come here! Get away from the window!” “Look, look at that.” “…Ah.” Good heavens. The pupils of their eyes, which had been peering through the window cracks, widened. A black entity that had risen from the royal palace was taking on a human form. They didn’t even realize that it was the god who had appeared in response to their calls; they just stared blankly. “M-mages are attacking!” “It’s a god! A god!” But only for a moment, they immediately realized that the shadow was on Toloon’s side. It was the moment when the flower of hope, which had been withering in their hearts, bloomed at once. “Let’s go out! Let’s drive out the Bariel army!” “Take up arms! Anything will do!” Taat! Those who had been hiding to preserve their lives rushed out into the streets one by one. They swung swords at the armed Bariel soldiers and bit their ears off with their bare teeth. Over the blood of the Toloon soldiers, the blood of the enemies gradually began to cover it. Ah, yes! ‘God exists.’ ‘He hasn’t abandoned us!’ Chwaaak! Those who were dying looked up at the sky and smiled. The black shadow was so vast that it reached everywhere they looked, making their deaths truly glorious and satisfying. “Let’s drive them out! Let’s protect it!” “Waaaaaa!” Those who had gained momentum threw themselves into the fray with a united spirit. The soldiers, who had been distracted by watching the mages struggle, were dumbfounded and fell over, and once they fell, it was difficult for them to get back up. The entire street was filled with the people of Toloon. No matter how much they swung their swords and tried to push them back with spears, it was difficult to withstand the onslaught of those who were willing to die, throwing their bodies against them. “Kill them! Kill! Kill the Bariel!” “Hiiik!” Buuuu-! Buu-! At that moment, a water buffalo horn sounded from somewhere. The excited crowd didn’t hear it, but the Bariel soldiers were so familiar with it that they immediately recognized it. It was a signal. That the counterattack of their allies would begin. Chwaaak! The head of a resident who was about to kill a fallen soldier was severed. A fountain of blood erupted, blurring their vision, but the tip of the majestic sword was clearly visible. And then, a silver-haired man reached out his hand directly to them. “Y-Your Majesty?” “Get up.” It was Jin Berosian, the emperor of the Bariel Empire. He could be recognized at once by the scar across his face and his gold-threaded shirt. The emperor personally helped the soldier up and then rushed into the chaos without hesitation. “Kill everyone except the infants! Those who know how to pray will be annihilated without exception!” The emperor’s sword was relentless. Every time he saw a tearful woman or child looking up at him, he felt suffocated, but he didn’t stop. If he didn’t kill them, Bariel would die. If he didn’t annihilate them, Bariel would be annihilated. “…Your Majesty!” “Your Majesty? It’s, it’s the Emperor! The Emperor has appeared!” “There! The man with the silver hair!” “Kill him! If we kill him-!” The emperor had personally come all the way here and shown himself, so this was an opportunity. Those who recognized Jin’s presence swarmed and attacked him. Puk! But the neck of the one at the front was torn in an instant. Tweller’s axe quickly and accurately cut off the enemies’ breaths. “Set fire! Kill those hiding inside the buildings too!” As soon as the commander’s order was given, flames shot up from nearby. The residents, who were resisting and fighting back, grabbed the soldiers’ pant legs and cursed them. “How can you do this!” “Let the children go! Please!” “You are worse than beasts! Even if you are human, there is a line you should not cross! Emperor, are you listening! You are a cruel tyrant! You may shine in the history of Bariel, but in our history-!” “You have given up on being human!” Sharp cries and screams flew from all directions, shaking Jin’s heart. Tweller glanced at him, but his inner feelings were not visible on the surface. Jin continued to be covered in blood and moved forward, massacring those who were not even worthy of being called opponents. “Everyone, look! See who is by your side!” I, Jin Berosian, am an emperor who will surely be recorded in history. Ian of 100 years later told me through his existence. Bariel will not lose here. We will not stop here and will continue to move forward. Everyone witnessed it in Burgos, so why are you afraid? “I, Jin Berosian, in the name of the Emperor, command you! Do not hesitate and cut them down! God is with us!” The only way to control the confused soldiers was to show them directly. The emperor did not back down, the war was still ongoing, and their victory was predetermined. At this, the soldiers, who had been in a state of panic, grabbed their weapons and followed the emperor. “Waaaaaa!” “Drive them! Drive them to one side!” They sharpened their minds with shouts and swung their swords. They reorganized their ranks and began to drive out the crowd, alternating between attack and defense according to the commander’s orders. “Back! Fall back!” “Damn it! They’re pushing in!” “Hold on! Please!” “Aaaaaaak!” Thump! Thump! Thump! The Bariel soldiers marched forward, stomping their feet in a steady rhythm. Where they had passed, corpses were scattered, and the crowd that was being pushed back retreated in step with the speed of the approaching soldiers. “Your Majesty, are you alright?” When Siao Shi called out to him, Jin’s steps stopped. The emperor was breathing heavily as he watched the soldiers advance. The soldiers, who had regained their composure, passed the emperor and continued to move forward. “Haa, haa-” Jin looked down at his clothes. They were wet and stained. He couldn’t even tell what the original color of his clothes had been. Jin closed his eyes for a moment, looking at the blood dripping from his sword. Now was not the time. Now was not the time to consider human emotions. “Hic, hic…” A cry came from somewhere. Jin slowly turned his head. A child who had taken refuge in an alley was crying, slumped forward. Following Jin’s gaze, Siao Shi’s head turned. “Please save me, save me, please save me…” “…” “Mom…” How could he not feel sorry for the life of a young human struggling to live? But Jin had no choice but to approach the child, gripping his sword. “God, please save us. Please look upon us, please, look here. We are here…” Because the child was praying to the Underworld God. As Jin strode closer, Siao Shi moved faster and swung his sword. Chwaaaak! Siao Shi, who had taken the child’s life, turned to Jin with a calm look. Jin met Siao Shi’s eyes. He was someone who hated killing. Yet, all he knew how to do was swing a sword, so he had willingly stepped forward to lighten the emperor’s burden. “Don’t hold it in, Your Majesty. It’s heavy.” Jin nodded at Siao Shi’s advice. It was true. If he held onto those things now, he wouldn’t be able to move forward. The emperor walked through the corpses toward the camp. “I will entrust the followers of the Shadow God to Commander Tweller.” The designation had changed. From the people of Toloon to the followers of the Shadow God. Jin knew the power of names. The essence did not change, but just by changing the name, many things would change. “Yes, Your Majesty.” “And just in case, search for underground shelters. I expect there will definitely be one.” Kwaaang! Kwang! Explosions continued to be heard from the royal palace. It meant that the mages and magic swordsmen were not giving up and were trying something. Thud thud! Heeing! There was no time. Jin spurred his horse and galloped through the center of the camp, reaching the front. The Bariel flags were fluttering everywhere. Of course, they were all covered in blood and dust and were not intact. “Soldiers, listen!” Jin shouted, holding onto a magic tool that amplified his voice. The soldiers seemed a little flustered by the emperor’s appearance, which they had never seen before. He had always been the emperor himself, neat, dignified, and unperturbed, but now he looked like a warrior rolling around with them on the battlefield. “Do you see the black shadow?” They saw it. So clearly. The soldiers swallowed hard. “I do not see it!” But Jin firmly denied it, as if he had read the soldiers’ thoughts. “There is only one thing that is visible! It is the future of Bariel!” The future emperor, Ian Berosian, has come down by the will of God and is blocking the shadow. Do not forget, Ian’s existence is proof that God exists. Focus on the golden wings hidden by the shadow. “My destiny is your destiny. We will not collapse here. Prove it with faith. If you walk towards the light, the shadow will never overtake us.” Absolutely, no matter what happens. The emperor swore firmly, gripping his sword. He would show them. He would show them how much power their faith held. “Follow me. Just follow me with sincerity.” When the emperor said that he would lead the way, the soldiers hesitated. But only for a moment, Jin slowly spurred his horse and approached the royal palace. Siao Shi and the officers of the Imperial Defense Department followed behind him, and the commanders also waved their flags, signaling. “Advance-!” Buuuuuu! Buuu-! The hesitant soldiers took their steps one by one. Now that the emperor had stepped forward, faith began to permeate their hearts. As the march continued, the sound of their footsteps became synchronized. It was a footwork that whipped themselves to overcome their fear. Thump! Thump! Thump! Along with the explosions from the royal palace, a vibration that shook the earth began. It was a subtle but clear change. They were not going into battle, but rather moving forward solemnly and solemnly, as if performing a ritual. And then, someone started a chant. * * * Thump. Thump thump. Thump. Ian’s closed eyelids twitched slightly. His consciousness was still hazy, but strangely, he was reacting to the vibrations of the earth. The tips of his fingers twitched in response to the unfamiliar reverberation. His whole body was aching and painful, and it was not even easy to groan. “…” A wall. Ian had encountered a wall. A wall of dimensions that he could neither cross nor break down. The area near his heart was beating unpleasantly, and blood continued to flow from his mouth. He was breathing heavily. Someone… …El! …It would be nice if someone would wake me up. Thump! Thump! It would be nice if someone would lift me up. …El! A faint song flowed into the gap in the stopped time. It was a humming sound, so he didn’t know what the lyrics were, but gradually the shape of the melody took form. Ba-riel! The beginning of the glory that the god holds- The heart of Gaia that turns golden when it rains- Hold your head high, and you will see- The light in the high place, the lamp of Bariel- Flash! Ian’s closed eyes opened in an instant.