Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 760

…It’s wasteful.

Ian gritted his teeth and lunged at the Shadow God like a madman. He knew his actions were futile, but he couldn’t stop. If he did, it felt like something would collapse along with the heart-wrenching pain.

Kwaaaang!

The Shadow God knew this as well.

He simply endured Ian’s attacks in silence, waiting. Waiting for whatever Ian was clinging to to crumble, for the hopes of all those who had placed their expectations on him to shatter.

‘…This is strange.’

Amidst the endless barrage, Ian’s inner self gradually grew calm. And amidst that calm, a question arose—

Why exactly was he—

Why was he so agitated?

‘Even if everyone forgets that I am Verosian, what problem would that cause?’

He could understand rationally. Whether he was Verosian or not, the result would be the same. Bariel would win anyway, and the Shadow God would be defeated.

The process might be a bit more difficult and complicated, but it was something he could endure.

But why…….

‘Why is it so hard?’

Comparing the time he spent hiding his identity with the time he didn’t, it was even more puzzling.

From Bratz to the Imperial Palace, to the Abyss. And finally, back to the Imperial Palace again—

In the long, or perhaps short, journey, Ian was always ‘Ian Hielo.’ A bastard from the border, the Minister of Magic…….

‘I never intended to reveal that I was Verosian.’

Rather, when he first entered the palace, he had tried hard to hide his identity.

When the controversy over his imperial bloodline arose in the council, he had firmly denied it and punished those who dared to doubt him. He had even given the name Verosian as bait to the secret-eating gypsy for that very reason. If the truth were to leak out in an unexpected situation, it would be fatal for Jin, who was left alone.

‘But…….’

He had only tried to stop the chaos caused by the secret-eating gypsy. Moreover, now that Jin had grown up and firmly ascended to the throne, he judged that the situation was different from before.

So, he told everyone. Who he was, where he came from, and how he had ended up here.

‘…Really?’

A question arose within Ian.

Was that really all there was to it? Was that the only reason he revealed the name Ian Verosian?

The golden eyes, shining brightly, trembled greatly. He couldn’t answer. It was a question he knew better than anyone, yet Ian couldn’t find a suitable answer right away.

-It was precious.

At that moment, the Shadow God whispered.

-Because that is human instinct.

The desire to know about the one you love, and at the same time, the desire to be known. To share what happened in the past when they didn’t even recognize each other, and thus, what meaning their current selves held. Surprisingly, that was how the Shadow God defined human instinct.

Ian’s breath hitched slightly. A flash of light scattered in all directions.

‘Ah.’

Ian finally realized. What the Shadow God had erased was not limited to the name ‘Verosian.’

‘I remain alone in the memories. In the precious memories, I am left alone…….’

It’s being erased.

“Cronie, that bastard is really pissing me off. What kind of human is he? He doesn’t deserve the food he eats!”

Beric, who had been constantly fuming while holding a fork and knife, was erased. Only he remained, the one who had smiled faintly at the sight of Beric getting angry on his behalf that day.

“Huh? Ian-nim is, is the Emperor? And a forbidden magical creation from the future…….”

“I knew it! Wow, yeah. I knew it!”

“Captain Hale. Are you okay? Your cigarette ash is falling.”

“Ah- hot!”

“Tsk tsk. You made a hole in your clothes.”

“Ian-nim, is the Magic Department still intact back then?”

“You clueless bastard, why are you asking such a question? Something must have happened for him to come all the way here.”

“Please tell me the location of the new mineral deposit in 100 years!”

“Drag him away. Captain Ako has gone crazy again.”

“Let me goooo! There’s a living encyclopedia here! I love you! Ian-nim! Yay, loyalty!”

“Ian-nim. Still, Ian-nim is our superior. That much will not change.”

“Yes, thank you for telling me. I feel good after hearing it. Because Ian-nim is such an amazing person.”

They were erased again. The Magic Department, who were surprised but quickly accepted it as if it were nothing.

Those who had surrounded him disappeared, and he was left alone once more.

“I’m Beric!”

“It’s Nakina!”

“Tommy’s here! And Captain Hale too!”

The voices of those who had awakened him from the darkness of the Abyss also disappeared.

He was so grateful, but from now on, he would have to keep it all in his heart. Tears welled up in Ian’s eyes.

“Ian-kyung [a respectful title for a younger person]. I am glad. That you and I are connected by blood.”

Jin also began to disappear.

“I am truly glad. Ian-kyung. The name Verosian feels more beautiful than ever.”

Jin’s voice, as if moved, faded away.

He felt the same way. It was like proof that the Bariel of the future and the Bariel of the present were connected, and he was deeply grateful that the name Verosian was so beautiful.

Jin, who had been holding his hand, was erased.

‘Is this why my heart is so heavy?’

The other person in the shared memories disappears.

It was overwhelming. To bear the weight of the memories all alone.

-How pitiful. A fragment of God is also a fragment of me. It’s not too late. The rain is erasing the name Verosian, but in a few hours, it will erase Hielo as well.

So, before that, give up everything and turn to me. That is the only way for you to not suffer. The Shadow God’s whisper tempted Ian.

-There is no need to return to the future. Stay here and live out your life with those you cherish. God? Do you really not know? That guy will ruthlessly cut you out of the world when your role is done. I, at least, will not do that.

The endless barrage of attacks stopped. Ian slowly raised his head. His face was wet, and raindrops were dripping from the ends of his hair.

He knew instinctively. This was the last offer of conciliation from the Shadow.

“……”

Ian’s gaze lowered.

He saw Hale and his group still struggling to draw the magic circle, the royal guards and mages fighting the King of Toloon. And the imperial soldiers shouting their lungs out. Even Jin, who was watching him with concern.

Yes. They were all precious people.

‘That’s why I can’t be here.’

He was an anomaly. A stranger running on a clearly different timeline.

Even as ten years passed, he had remained still. While the years of Ian Verosian passed, perhaps they would remain still.

He knew better than anyone that they were destined to not go together. Regardless of knowing that, it couldn’t be helped that his heart ached.

‘It’s for everyone’s sake.’

A small change could create a completely different future. There were already too many parts that had been changed by Ian’s intervention. But, if he left his traces here and returned?

Regardless of right or wrong, he didn’t want that himself.

Ian wanted to meet his complete Bariel again in the distant future. His destiny to move forward without being broken by Cronie.

“…Is it raining in Bariel too?”

In Burgos too? In Luswena too?

The Shadow God chuckled at Ian’s question.

-Yes. The rainwater will seep into the wells and remain there for a long time. No one but me can stop it or reverse it.

It seemed it hadn’t reached beyond the desert. That must be the limit of the Shadow. Ian nodded gently and then smiled.

That was… enough.

“That’s good.”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Ian’s green eyes flashed back to gold. The last chance the Shadow God had offered, that was his answer.

Then, the Shadow, who had been passively enduring Ian’s attacks, also unleashed a sinister aura.

Chwaaaak!

Demonic beasts burst out in dozens, hundreds of directions. They roughly dug into the gaps as if trying to tear apart Ian’s limbs.

Pueoong! Pung!

Kwazijijik!

Ian dodged them, struck them down, and continued the fight.

Chwaak-!

Whenever he directly received the Shadow’s power, his skin was torn and blood splattered.

But it was quickly washed away by the rain. Gradually fading away, just like his name.

Flash!

Kugururung! Kwang!

As the Shadow unleashed its power, the sky grew darker. Amidst it, Captain Jeyrut’s white lightning rained down, and golden eyes left traces along Ian’s trajectory. The process of shaking, bursting, colliding, and exploding continued without stopping.

The imperial soldiers who watched this felt like they were witnessing the end of the world. They couldn’t even breathe properly due to the overwhelming pressure.

“Dieeeeee!”

Amidst the tense battle between Ian and the Shadow, Beric’s shout was heard. Looking down, he saw that both the mages and the magic swordsmen were throwing themselves at the King of Toloon, swinging their swords.

A sword that defied death. A noble sacrifice, willing to die together to cut down the enemy, was driving the King of Toloon into a corner.

Chwaaaak!

Beric’s sword cut the king’s shoulder. At the same time, the arm of the magic swordsman, who was blocking the king’s retreat, was also cut.

The king tried to secure space by lowering his body, but the mage stopped him by throwing a magic orb. The king faltered, and the magic orb went straight and struck another mage in the abdomen.

“…Haa, haa. We’re going to kill each other like this.”

As the king said, breathing heavily, Captain Jeyrut shattered the lightning with the strength of his grip and shouted.

“As you wish, you too will inevitably die, Kumasha. The one who survives in the end will surely be a warrior of the Empire.”

Flash!

Jeyrut’s lightning exploded and struck the king.

Could he avoid it? As if time had stopped, the king’s heightened senses scanned his surroundings. Front, back, left, right, and even up and down. He was completely surrounded.

‘Damn it.’

This was the royal palace grounds. If the underground device hadn’t been broken, he could have easily secured space. Whether it was because of the Shadow God’s manifestation or for another reason, his senses were cut off.

At this moment, the child had no idea that Banusa had seeped into the underground. The lightning of Jeyrut that was approaching was too intense.

Saaaak!

He was going to die. The king sensed it.

But before that, the Shadow God moved. A demonic beast wriggled and flew towards the king. It was to protect the child.

Ian, who noticed this, also lowered his altitude and followed it. It was the moment of the final battle.

“……!”

Captain Jeyrut instantly grasped the distance between the demonic beast flying towards him and the king. It was close. Both the Shadow’s attack and the distance to the king.

If he hesitated and retreated here, he could avoid the demonic beast, but there was no guarantee that there would be another chance.

“Beric!”

When Jeyrut called Beric’s name, he reflexively moved behind the king. To block the one who was trying to retreat, and to hold him if he was pushed back.

Puk!

The process happened in an instant. Jeyrut’s sword accurately reached the king. The flashing tip of the sword pierced through the child’s back.

He finally got him, Beric thought, but at that moment—

Sreureuk.

As the king collapsed to the side, spitting blood, Jeyrut’s figure came into view.

He too had been pierced through the chest. Just like the king, in the same way.

“……!”

Beric’s eyes widened endlessly.

“Cap-”

Chwaaaak!

Ian, who had followed, cut off the demonic beast. At the same time, Captain Jeyrut’s body was pushed back by the reaction and fell over. Blood flowed down under his dusty combat uniform, and soon, gray powder scattered little by little.

“…Ah.”

“Captain!”

“Captain Jeyrut!”

Everyone was surprised and tried to rush to him, but Jeyrut firmly refused with his gaze. Stay in place. It wasn’t over yet.

“For the honor of the Empire, everyone, until the end—”

He believed they would understand even if he didn’t say it. My kids.

“…Fight following Beric.”

You crazy bastard. Thanks to you, it was a colorful life. If Barsabe is alive, please send my regards. To all the members who are not here as well.

You’re the next captain, Beric.

Saaak.

The moment Jeyrut’s body turned into gray powder, a signal was heard from afar.

Duung! Dung! Dung!

“The magic circle is ready!”

Along with Hale’s voice.