Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 763

“It’s a scorched earth, literally.”

Chik. Commander Hale sat on the rubble of a building, pulling out a cigarette. There wasn’t a single building standing properly near the palace. They were all broken, smashed, and fragmented beyond recognition. And was it any better a bit further away? Not at all.

“There are still places smoking.”

“I know. Even with the rain, it hasn’t gone out.”

The fires set by the Imperial Army to clear out the followers had turned everything to ashes. The mages sat in a row, staring blankly ahead. Even as the Imperial soldiers busily moved the wounded and cleaned up, none of them thought of moving. Or rather, to be honest, they didn’t have the strength to.

“…It doesn’t feel real.”

That the war was over. And that the shadow of the god had disappeared from Gaia. It felt like it would be an endless cycle, but now the sky was so blue and hopeful. If it weren’t for the shattered landscape before them, they would honestly think it was a dream.

“Yeah. It’s like that.”

And, the absence of some of their comrades. The mages’ eyes became dull. They couldn’t grasp the absence of their comrades. It felt like they could still hear the nagging, ‘What are you doing not moving!’ amidst the chaotic soldiers. But now, they were destined to never be seen again.

Hale’s lips tightened as he flicked the ash from his cigarette.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“I’m fine, nothing much.”

Commander Hale’s answer was nonchalant, but the mages knew it was a white lie. His hand holding the cigarette was trembling. Besides, if he was really fine as he said, he wouldn’t be sitting here like this. He would have gone to help the soldiers cleaning up the rubble. He had no strength. Really.

“How is Ian?”

“Acorella is nursing him. They said Commander Hale is next after Ian gets better.”

“You guys go. I’m fine.”

“I, I’m fine too. Commander Acorella isn’t in her right mind right now, so it’s… a bit much.”

“So, because it’s a bit much, you want me to go first?”

Hale and the mages chuckled, exchanging jokes. It was like a spring day in a destroyed world. The surroundings were a mess, but they were happy and laughing just because they were alive. Though, if you looked closely, it was an empty laugh.

“But the world changes so quickly.”

“Why?”

“Look at Beric over there.”

In the distance, Beric was giving orders to his squad. In all their lives, they were seeing a little puppy acting like a commander. The mages rested their chins on their hands, shaking their heads. It was Toolun that had collapsed, but for some reason, they were worried about the Imperial Guard.

“What are you looking at?”

Beric, feeling their gaze, turned his head. The magic swordsmen seemed to have fewer injuries and less mana depletion than the mages, so they seemed to have no problem moving. When Beric turned around, the mages simultaneously clapped and teased him.

“Ooh. Even turning around looks like a commander. Look at that stiff neck?”

“I know. Commander Beric-!”

“Are we lower in rank than him now?”

“Ah. That’s a bit…”

“But he’s really tough, I’ll give him that. He’s really fine, really.”

Beric gritted his teeth. He was already busy and out of his mind, and these so-called mages were just sitting around, flapping their mouths?

“Hey, you empty shells, still alive and kicking?”

“We’re dying, you jerk.”

“When you get your strength back, find Barsabena for me.”

“Barsabena? Wasn’t she there?”

At that moment, a guard called out to Beric from afar. Beric gestured that he would be there soon and asked the mages again.

“Yeah. Lost contact after entering the palace. She’s probably not dead, but it’s a mess here, so it’s hard to find her.”

“Okay. I’ll look for her as soon as I get a little more mana.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Woah…”

“What, what did you just say?”

Thank you. Crazy. The mages rubbed their goosebumped arms, making a fuss, but Beric didn’t budge. Normally, he would have thrown a fit, but he just glared at them and turned away. The mages’ skin crawled.

But soon, they realized the reason and became solemn.

‘He’s trying to fill Commander Jerrat’s place.’

No one said it out loud, but they all thought the same thing. The mages sighed deeply, watching Beric walk away.

“Would we have been like that? If Ian wasn’t here.”

The mages tapped their feet, silent. They had won, but there was a sadness that couldn’t be comforted by that. That was what war was like. Some mages couldn’t hold back their tears and covered their eyes with their sleeves.

“…Don’t cry. Everyone’s watching us.”

With Commander Hale’s quiet words of comfort, the cigarette smoke scattered. The mages raised their heads. Soldiers clearing the rubble, moving the wounded. And when they occasionally made eye contact with a mage, they all smiled brightly. It was a smile that showed the joy of survival and the pride of being an Imperial citizen.

“Mages, are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, we’re fine, but we’re a bit tired. We’ll help you after we rest a bit. Please hang in there a little longer.”

“Oh, no, what are you saying? You’ve done a great job!”

“Yes, yes, just keep sitting there. It’s our turn now.”

“Heave-ho! Can you give me a hand?”

“Yeah, yeah. Hehehe. I’ve got a great story to tell. A war veteran, that’s the best title I’ve ever gotten in my life.”

“What’s next?”

“Probably a cripple?”

The mages sniffled, pretending to be okay as they stared ahead. The air was full of acrid dust, but the soldiers kept talking, sharing the joy of the end of the war. Then, at some point-

“I found it!”

A soldier searching the rubble shouted in a flustered voice. Was it Barsabena? The mages’ faces hardened as they tried to get up, but they stopped.

“It’s the body of King Toolun!”

“Move aside.”

Minister Tweller pushed through the soldiers and checked the child’s body. White hair and red eyes. It was definitely Kumasha. Jin also confirmed the king’s death and pondered. If possible, he wanted to hang it in the middle of the street to inform the residents of the defeat, but-

“How about burning it, Your Majesty?”

There was no street to hang it on, and there were no citizens who would be afraid or despair at the sight of the king’s body. It might be different in other cities, but at least the capital was utterly devastated.

“Good. Cut off the hair separately and cremate it with the followers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

If the body remained, it could also become an object of deification. It was a will not to leave even a single thing that could give the Shadow God an excuse. At Tweller’s nod, the soldiers picked up the child’s body and moved it. It was soon tossed somewhere in the distance, onto a mountain of corpses. Other bodies continued to pile up on top of the king’s body. The child was buried in an instant.

“Your Majesty.”

“Everyone, stay seated.”

The Emperor’s gaze turned to the mages sitting in a row. They looked so pitiful. If it were a normal soldier’s injury, a medic would take care of it, but mana depletion could only be helped by themselves. They would have to take care of themselves for the time being.

“How are your bodies?”

“We don’t have any major injuries.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

“Of course. Thanks to you all. How is Ian?”

“Commander Acorella is nursing him inside. It’s taking some time. Ian doesn’t seem to have any major external injuries either. Shall I announce your presence?”

Jin nodded, and the mage led him to a tent behind the rubble. It was barely a tent, more like a cloth spread out to block the outside view.

“Ian, Commander Acorella. The Emperor has arrived.”

“Bring him in.”

Ian’s voice was as clear and straight as ever. Jin felt a deep sense of relief as he pulled back the cloth and stepped inside.

* * *

“Ah- say ah.”

“Ah-”

“I’m going to cover your ears. Tell me if your brain throbs or anything. How is it?”

“No problem.”

Acorella examined Ian with a serious gaze. A medic had already come and gone, but his opinion was that there was nothing wrong. He had miraculously stopped at a minor internal injury, a blessing from Bariel [a deity], he diagnosed. But even so, Acorella didn’t stop examining Ian’s body.

“How long are you going to keep doing this?”

Ian asked with a slightly anxious face, and she pouted, showing her displeasure.

‘He used the Foresight Magic.’

A magic that draws on the power of the future. Moreover, he summoned five clones, and the advanced magic, Divine Expansion, filled the sky countless times. Even if Ian’s mana had no limit and his recovery was extraordinary, it was too strange that he was so fine.

“Acorella?”

“Please tell me honestly. Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“No. There isn’t.”

“Liar! If you keep doing this, I’m going to lose it?”

“It’s true. Acorella, do you want me to be sick?”

“Is that something you should be saying, huh?”

“I’m joking.”

Ian chuckled and pulled Acorella’s sleeve, as if to calm her down.

“Just think that the god helped me. The Underworld God is gone, and I’m here in front of you.”

“…Unnoticeable injuries are dangerous. No matter how much the god helped, it’s not something that should end like this. Do I not know you, Ian?”

How many times had they fought in wars, and how many times had she seen him collapse in the process? That was a problem in itself, but this was also a problem. Acorella muttered, putting some of her remaining mana into Ian.

“You’ll collapse. Have you ever seen a cracked ceramic? It looks fine on the outside, but it collapses irrevocably with the slightest shock. It’s important to recognize and treat it before that-”

That’s when it happened. There was a sound of someone approaching from beyond the cloth.

“Ian, Commander Acorella. The Emperor has arrived.”

“Bring him in.”

Ian said, as if it was a good thing, and Acorella scratched her head, reluctantly getting up. There was no room for her to intervene in their conversation. Acorella bowed to Jin and went out of the tent.

Jin approached Ian with a slightly brighter voice.

“Ian, how is your body?”

“It’s surprisingly peaceful. My mana is faint, though.”

“That’s good enough. It will naturally return over time. I’m grateful that you weren’t seriously injured.”

As Jin held Ian’s hand tightly, warmth seeped in. Then, the rain that had fallen during the battle with the shadow felt like a fantasy. Jin’s hair was still wet, but the warmth of their clasped hands was so vivid.

“Leave the cleanup to the Imperial Army and focus on recovering. Of course, your help is always needed.”

“Um, Your Majesty.”

“Yes?”

Ian cautiously called out to Jin, suddenly remembering Philia from his dream. But the words didn’t come out easily. The Emperor waited, looking at Ian with kind and gentle eyes. Ian smiled faintly and asked.

“Do you perhaps remember what my name is?”

“Name?”

Jin smiled, puzzled by the sudden question.

“Yes, just in case.”

“I can’t fathom it, but if it’s you, you must have a reason for asking.”

How difficult could it be? Jin looked into Ian’s eyes and said.

“Ian Hielo.”

“…”

“The Empire’s proud Minister of Magic.”

Ian waited for a moment, just in case. Just in case, he would add the name Veroshion. But Jin didn’t say anything more, as if that was all. A moment of silence. Jin thought Ian’s lips seemed to tremble slightly.

“Ian?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ian shook his head and smiled faintly.

“That’s right. That’s my name.”

It was the same Ian as always, but Jin paused for a moment. He had sensed something very subtle. But then, he turned his head at Siao’s call from outside.

“Your Majesty, Minister Tweller says he has something to report.”

“Ah, yes. Let’s go out.”

Jin patted Ian’s shoulder, urging him to rest.

“Ian. I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will recover quickly and return.”

“Don’t say that.”

Sarak.

As Jin pulled back the cloth and went out, Ian was left alone. After sitting still for a long time, Ian felt a sharp pain near his heart and coughed.

“…”

The blood that had flowed out gathered in his hands. Ian stared at the blood for a moment, then wiped it away with cloth and water. When Acorella returned, Ian was sleeping peacefully. Without any trace, with a serene face.