Margrave’s Bastard Son Was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 764

Those in the Underground

“The King of Toloon is dead.”

The Minister of Magic’s sudden announcement echoed through the space.

Barsabe, mid-swing with her sword, and the man cowering before her, both froze.

“Ah, ugh… Save me, please!”

“Did you hear that too?”

“They said the king is dead! I surrender, unconditionally! If you spare my life, I’ll give you everything I own…”

Barsabe hesitated. Did the King of Toloon’s death mean the war was over? She was currently in the North Mountain Shelter, an underground passage connected to the royal palace. Without knowing the situation outside, she couldn’t tell if killing this man was a necessary act of war or a senseless slaughter.

But then, Ian’s message continued.

“Even though the god you believe in has manifested on earth, he couldn’t protect a single child. How can you call that a god?”

It seemed it wasn’t over yet. Barsabe raised her sword again, which she had slightly lowered. The man, sensing his impending death, pleaded, looking behind Barsabe.

“Banusa! Please!”

*Swoosh!*

Those were his last words. He collapsed without even a scream.

Barsabe, having sheathed her sword, surveyed the surroundings. About a hundred corpses were scattered around. Since Barsabe had dealt with them all alone, the precision of the wounds was almost surgical.

The corpses, covered in blood and dust, were all wearing expensive clothes. They were nobles of Toloon, chosen by the royal palace to hide underground.

Barsabe wiped her sword clean and turned around.

“Banusa, you could have stayed away. You must have felt bad.”

“No, it’s fine. These people are of no use to Toloon. They enjoy privileges without responsibility.”

“They said the King of Toloon is dead, did you hear?”

“Yes. It’s good news.”

Banusa, who was destroying the king’s weapons underground, and Barsabe, who had taken refuge below to avoid the collapsing palace ruins caused by the earthquake. Their meeting felt like a twist of fate.

“Because of that good news, I want to get out of here quickly.”

Barsabe muttered, looking at the shelter’s walls and ceiling. No matter how much she looked, she couldn’t see an exit.

Banusa nodded, her body turning into a liquid.

“Me too. I’ll go check if there’s a way out again.”

“Yes, please do.”

When the royal palace collapsed, Barsabe was trapped in a small space connected to the underground. The debris was too heavy to move.

After struggling for a while, just as she was about to risk using her magic power-

*Swoosh.*

“Instead of that, try lowering yourself down here.”

“Kyaaaaak!”

She met Banusa. Moving through the gaps in the debris in liquid form, Banusa had discovered Barsabe in her Bariel uniform, with its emblem.

Thanks to that, Barsabe reached the secret passage of the royal palace and dealt with those who had taken refuge there.

“Haa.”

As Banusa disappeared, Barsabe slumped down. Her comrades were risking their lives fighting outside, while she was stuck here.

Finding the North Mountain Shelter was good, but it didn’t seem to matter much. She roughly rubbed the dried blood with a handkerchief.

*Swoosh.*

At that moment, Banusa, who had gone to check outside, reappeared. Her face looked troubled.

“Banusa? You’re back so soon?”

“Yes, I can’t get out.”

“What do you mean?”

Banusa could move freely even through the thinnest gaps when in liquid form. There were many openings in the shelter that were obviously accessible.

“It’s raining.”

“Rain… you mean?”

“Yes. But it doesn’t seem like normal rain. Something foreign is mixed in it. It’s unfamiliar, not like an impurity… When I turned into liquid, it tried to seep in, so I hurried back.”

Banusa shook her head, as if she didn’t understand either.

Usually, even in liquid form, unwanted absorption or combination didn’t occur. But whatever was falling outside felt alive.

“Since we don’t know what it is, we can’t recklessly make contact with it.”

“Then, can we go up after the ground dries?”

“Yes. It’s still raining, so I don’t know when that will be. Or we can go back to the royal palace. This place is all dirt and wet, but that side is fine. I’ll go out through the gap to check the situation and ask for help from a mage or others.”

It was dangerous, but Barsabe could also directly use her magic power. If she couldn’t get out with one try, she would have to bear the full impact of the debris.

Barsabe picked up her sword and stood up.

“Then let’s go back for now.”

Barsabe was about to take a step when-

*Kugugugung!*

*Grrr!*

The earth shook violently, and an endless tremor that felt like it would collapse at any moment rushed in.

Sand fell from the ceiling, and the corpses trembled helplessly.

“… !”

“Let’s run!”

*Taat!*

It was a space with no support if it collapsed. Going towards the royal palace at least increased their chances of survival.

As Barsabe ran, Banusa made her body light and followed behind her.

*Kuguung!*

The vibration didn’t stop. The closer they got to the royal palace, the more they realized the epicenter was right there.

‘Damn it, shit.’

Barsabe opened the entrance door and firmly held onto the frame. It would be troublesome if the ground collapsed or the door frame twisted and blocked the exit.

*Kuguung!*

The booming sound continued. Barsabe’s heart pounded.

Although she couldn’t see it, she could feel explosive magic power from the other side. The magic of the mages and the imperial guards were mixed together, creating a desperate resonance. She was frustrated that she couldn’t join the battle.

“Banusa, can’t we get out of here either?”

“No. It’s still raining. It’s starting to pool instead of flowing.”

*Kwaaaang!*

*Grrr! Swoosh!*

The louder the roar, the more an unknown sense of oppression pressed down on Barsabe’s body. It was the aftermath of the fierce battle happening above.

Banusa also felt it, as she began to tremble and stagger. The two tried to regain their senses by leaning against the wall, but soon their vision gradually darkened.

“Get a hold of yourself, Banusa.”

“I can’t help it. Ugh, what is this…”

*Kuuung! Thud!*

It was an understatement to say the world was shaking. Through a faint gap, white and black energies flowed together.

Barsabe eventually knelt down, supporting herself with her sword, and Banusa fainted.

*Gooooo.*

Barsabe tried not to lose consciousness by cutting her palm with the blade of her sword, but she sensed she was reaching her limit.

And soon, she also lost consciousness.

* * *

*Thud. Thump.*

*Pat-pat.*

“Help me over here!”

“One, two, three!”

“Okay. Slowly! Slowly again!”

“Body found! It’s an Imperial soldier!”

“Found one here too. It seems to be a search team that entered with Barsabe’s guards.”

Barsabe slightly opened her eyes at the faint shouts. It was dark, but light seeped in from various places.

Barsabe, who had turned her gaze here and there, coughed. The debris must have shifted due to the explosion.

“Huh? Did you hear something just now?”

“Wait a minute. Shh!”

“Ah…”

Barsabe murmured with a groan. The loud voices stretched out.

She shook her head and reached her hand towards the light. A faint magic power flowed.

“Hey. You there.”

“Yes?”

“Is there something there?”

“Ah, yes! I heard a faint sound just now.”

“Right? Move aside.”

It was Beric.

Barsabe frowned and tried to get up. But her left arm, pinned under a huge piece of debris, wouldn’t move.

‘Banusa.’

What happened to Banusa? As Barsabe worriedly tried to turn her head, the pile of stones above her was removed.

Soon, a familiar face appeared.

“…”

Beric stared down at Barsabe, and Barsabe looked up with a frown.

“As expected. You’re alive, you old hag.”

“…You, you mutt.”

“Can’t you get out?”

“Because of my left arm.”

“Okay, okay. Wait.”

Beric gathered people and began to move the biggest boulder first. Once Beric moved it, four or five strong men rolled it to the side, and then another four or five men cleared the debris.

Watching that, Barsabe sighed inwardly. If she had as much strength as Beric, she would have cleared it herself.

“Commander Beric. There are survivors over there too.”

“Oh, but this place is first. Tell them I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Barsabe’s eyes widened. Did I hear wrong? Beric… what?

*Thud.*

As soon as the stone crushing Barsabe’s arm was removed, Beric lifted her up. Dust and small stones rolled down. Barsabe carefully asked, holding onto Beric’s arm.

“Why, why are you-?”

Why are you a commander? Why?

Instead of answering, Beric put her arm around his shoulder.

“Get treatment first. The war is over. Bariel won.”

“Beric.”

“…Be prepared.”

Not just Jaylott. There were too many casualties in the Imperial Guard.

Barsabe burst into tears at Beric’s unfamiliar appearance, and then her legs gave way and she collapsed.

Beric silently supported her and kept her walking. How long would she stay in this debris?

“Were you alone?”

“Ba, Banusa was with me. She guided me to the secret passage of the royal palace, and she was with me until I lost consciousness. But I can’t see her.”

Beric glanced behind her. The soldiers were searching deeper into the debris. Barsabe wiped away her tears and asked.

“…What happened to everyone?”

“Well. Those who survived, survived.”

“It was a force so strong that even underground couldn’t withstand it.”

“Yeah. Ian had a hard time.”

“Mi, Minister Ian?”

Minister Ian was the reason for the underground god to come to the past. If they had defeated it, what was next?

‘Could it be that he went back?’

But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She knew what Ian meant to Beric.

Barsabe cautiously looked at Beric.

“Ian?”

Beric answered, looking at the imperial guards approaching.

“He’s been sleeping for days. It’s natural since he had a hard time, but the magic department guys are making such a fuss, saying Ian might be dead, it’s driving me crazy.”

“Ah. I see. That’s a relief.”

“But since when did you care about Ian? Take care of yourself. Your left arm is shattered. Just like your old hag teeth.”

“What? But you mutt… Ah, ah!”

Only then did the pain in her left arm sting. Barsabe slightly bent her left arm, where the elbow bone was visible, and checked her senses. Fortunately, it was fine. Then, she said something carelessly.

“I thought Minister Ian had gone somewhere- Ack!”

“What?”

“What are you doing! Why are you twisting- Ack!”

“Where would Ian go?”

“Huh?”

Beric looked at Barsabe.

Barsabe also looked back at him, thinking it was strange that the conversation seemed off.

Their eyes met, not understanding each other. What should she say? While Barsabe was choosing her words, a soldier ran up from behind.

“Commander Beric! It’s an emergency! Please help!”

“Okay. I’m going. Hey, help her.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Get treatment. See you later.”