Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 768

“Krrroooaaarrrr!”

“…Damn it.”

That crazy snoring!

Akorella, irritated, got up and searched for the source of the noise. Surprisingly, it wasn’t just one person. It was a splendid ensemble created by three or four people simultaneously.

With genuine annoyance, Akorella smacked the cheek of the nearest mage before stretching. It was early dawn.

*Slap!*

“Ugh! Ugh?”

“Get up, you guys.”

“Why, why are you waking us up so early? You’re such a grumpy old man-”

“Shut up! Want me to fuse your nostrils into one?”

“Leave them be. It’s a side effect of the mana amplifier.”

“What is? The snoring?”

“No. It’s the Captain’s temper.”

*Thwack!*

Pillows flew simultaneously, hitting the mages squarely in the face. Does she really have that much strength left? She’s using magic for no reason in the morning? It’s an unbelievably energetic awakening.

The mages rubbed their noses and got out of bed, and Akorella pulled back the curtain towards Ian’s bedroom. The first thing to do was to check on Ian’s condition.

“Haaah. It seems like Barsabe has left.”

“She probably ran away because of your snoring. She’s already sensitive.”

*Swish!*

But Akorella froze. The mages, with their swollen eyes, also turned their heads and stopped.

“Ah…….”

The bed was neatly made, and Ian was nowhere to be seen. His outer garment was also not hanging there.

Everyone let out a bewildered groan, and then, without a word, they all rushed outside at the same time.

*Thud!*

“I, Ian-nim! Ian-nim!”

“Ian-nim! Where are you!”

“Captain Akorella, should we report to His Majesty the Emperor?”

“We’ll search first, then report.”

“I’ll check from above! I’ll signal as soon as I find him!”

“Hail! You go up too!”

“…Damn it.”

The guards looked at the mages with bewildered faces at the sudden commotion.

“Excuse me, have you seen Minister Ian?”

“Blond hair, green eyes. A pretty boy!”

“Ah, no. I haven’t seen him.”

*Pitter-patter!*

The commotion spread quickly. One by one, the soldiers also moved and looked around, and many people were calling Ian’s name here and there. But Ian was nowhere to be seen.

Shortly after, around dawn. Hail raised his hand to his right ear and relayed a message.

-…I found Ian-nim.

-Where?!

A small river flowed along the outskirts of the castle. The boy sitting by the water was looking inside with his head down, as if he was curious about something. He looked exactly like a child.

He was so noticeable even from the high sky that Hail unknowingly let out a sigh of relief. Soon, the mages who heard his message flew in like a flash of light.

*Whoosh!*

“Ian-niiim!”

“No, what are you doing here!”

Ian turned his head and looked up at the sky. The mages were approaching with tearful faces. A smile bloomed on the child’s lips at the sight. They didn’t even know they were making him frustrated!

Ian shook the water off his hands and asked back.

“And what about you all? Why are you making such a fuss?”

“How can you say that? We thought you had left!”

“Me? Where to?”

At the simple question, the mages’ heads went *ding*. That’s right? Why were they so flustered and surprised? Where would Ian even go? He wouldn’t be the type to just return to Bariel first.

The mages looked at each other, collectively puzzled. Now that they had regained their senses, their fuss was quite something.

“W, we were surprised because you suddenly disappeared.”

“I was uncomfortable because I had been lying down for days.”

“Why did you make the bed so neatly!”

“…When you wake up, tidying up is basic.”

“Ah.”

“Y, your outer garment is gone too!”

“It’s cold at dawn.”

The more Ian answered, the more the mages felt like fools. They kept rubbing their foreheads, trying to find a logical reason for their fuss. But it wasn’t easy. What was it, did they subconsciously think that Ian might disappear?

As the mages groaned and let out confused moans, Ian got up.

“Alright. Everyone’s morning sleep is fully gone now.”

“Don’t even mention it. I felt like my heart was going to drop.”

“Ian-nim. Please wake us up next time. You’re not feeling well, so it’s dangerous to move alone.”

“I’m fine?”

“Huh?”

Ian tilted his head, telling them to look at him. Even though he had been sleeping for days, his skin was smooth, his complexion was bright, and his eyes were clear. He looked distinctly different from the dark circles under their eyes. It was hard to admit, but to others, the mages would look more like the sick ones.

“B, but still.”

“Okay. I won’t surprise you next time.”

“Yes, thank you for saying that.”

“Then, shall we go back and check?”

“Yes? Check what?”

Ian looked at them as if asking something obvious.

“The reports.”

“Ah.”

“We will discuss the progress of the recovery work and the method of returning home. Bring the report that I submitted to His Majesty the Emperor when I was lying down. And I will submit a new report by the afternoon, so finish the work by then.”

‘Idiots. Where would Ian-nim even go.’

‘You’re talking nonsense. Who was the first one to run out?’

‘Shut up, everyone. It’s embarrassing.’

‘Seriously, they always create work for themselves.’

The mages completely forgot that they were the ones who had made a fuss and glared at the person next to them. Then, when Ian moved a little further away, they quickly ran after him again.

“Ian-nim! Let’s go together!”

“Aish, really! I told you not to go first!”

As the mages’ backs disappeared into the distance.

“…….”

A person’s head emerged from the river.

It was Banusa. She only peeked out her eyes and watched Ian’s back. He was truly an unfathomable person. And frustratingly-

‘What he wants, you say?’

He was also one step ahead. She had wanted to shake the Imperial Palace for revenge, but he had said that he wanted that instead.

Can doing what the opponent wants be called revenge? As Banusa sighed, bubbles rose to the surface.

“Banusa. You will not regret your choice. No, you cannot. All the actions His Majesty took in the war were for the victory of Bariel. If you regret your choice, it is the same as regretting the victory.”

She slowly disappeared into the water, repeating Ian’s words.

“But I can take responsibility. I will bear the sin in place of His Majesty, so please do not be too angry and wait. Now that the Underworld God has disappeared, I do not particularly wish for Toolun to collapse either.”

Although she hadn’t known him for long, Ian was not one to make empty promises. He was definitely worth waiting for. The capital was devastated, and there was nothing she could do right now.

Besides, more than anything-

‘…He looks weary.’

Ian, smiling among those whose memories had been erased, looked a little pitiful. Compared to her people who had died without knowing why, it was nothing, but still, it was a little like that.

Banusa frowned and sank back into the water, disappearing from sight.

* * *

Inside a solemn and serious tent.

“Sniff. Sniff!”

An endless stream of strange sobbing that was embarrassing to listen to flowed out.

The officers covered their eyes and ears and stared straight ahead, and Jin also kept his eyes fixed on the report. But as time passed, the sobbing became even more sorrowful. Unable to bear it any longer, Jin put down the report and rebuked her.

“Lady Chloe.”

“Sniff. Y, yes?”

Her face, covered in tears and snot, was red as if it would burst at any moment. Chloe rubbed her cheeks with the back of her hand, but how could she stop the tears flowing like a faucet? Jin looked at her with a disgusted expression and asked.

“I wish you would restrain yourself.”

“I’m sorry, sniff, I’m sorry. I can’t help it-”

Chloe’s gaze was fixed on the seat next to the Emperor. It was none other than her lover, Xiaoshi.

Jin pressed his eye sockets as if he was tired.

“Sniff! Waaah!”

“Goodness. Who died?”

“Y, you, you came back from the dead…….”

“Exactly. You came back alive, so why are you crying so much?”

Jin burst out laughing as if he was dumbfounded. In front of the Emperor, how sincere.

As Chloe sobbed, her shoulders shaking, Xiaoshi nodded slightly. It was okay now, calm down.

At that sight, Chloe raised her voice again.

“Waaah!”

“Ah, seriously.”

*Thud.*

Jin finally put down the report. Then, as if he couldn’t stand it any longer, he turned to Xiaoshi. Look at this. Why are his eyes red? The two of them are making a scene.

Even in the midst of this, Chloe did her best to cover her mouth, but it was no use.

“Xiaoshi.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Escort the Lady outside. My mind is in chaos and I cannot concentrate. If she collapses like that, who will take responsibility? Since the war is over, it’s difficult to treat her as a meritorious person.”

Xiaoshi supported Chloe and went outside as if he had been waiting for it. Even while doing so, the sound of sobbing continued to be heard.

The officers carefully watched the Emperor’s mood. Unlike his irritated tone, his expression was gentle. Since the war had ended in victory, it was an attitude of generously understanding the joy of reunion. On the outside, he pretended not to be, with a strict face.

“So, how much supplies are left?”

“We have about fifteen days’ worth left. Since the capital itself has been devastated, it is difficult to procure supplies from nearby.”

Tweller answered Jin’s question.

“What is the situation with the collapsed palace? Have all the Imperial soldiers been rescued?”

“Yes. For now, most of the casualties have been recovered.”

It was a cold statement, but the reconstruction of the palace and the capital was Toolun’s responsibility. That was the burden that the defeated had to bear.

Of course, since there was no leadership, it would be difficult to proceed right away. It was right for some of the Imperial soldiers to remain in Toolun to elect a leader and take the lead in the recovery.

‘Was it Banusa? She is suitable.’

She had ability, was trusted, and was friendly to Bariel. But strangely, news about her had completely stopped. As he was wondering what to do, someone carefully called out to Jin.

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“It would be best to return to Bariel as soon as possible.”

Jin raised his eyebrows as if he was puzzled. It didn’t seem to be because of the supply shortage. Judging from the officers’ atmosphere, they seemed to know something among themselves. Tweller also did not object and turned his gaze away.

Jin closed the report.

“Returning to Bariel is also what I want. But there is an order to everything. Tell me the reason for such haste.”

“It’s embarrassing, but there are false rumors circulating among the soldiers. Since we have achieved a great victory, it seems like a natural phenomenon….”

“False rumors?”

When the officer hesitated to speak, Jin nodded, saying it was okay.

“Yes. The rumor is that Ian Hiel, the Minister of Magic, is of the Imperial family. Although we have threatened to severely punish those who spread the rumors, they are not easily subsiding.”

“What?”

When Jin asked back in surprise, the officers’ heads dropped even lower.

Ian was of the same Imperial bloodline as him? Jin unknowingly rested his chin on his hand and pondered. To be honest…….

‘Good.’

He was deeply pleased to trust and follow Ian.

But as the Emperor, it was something he could never allow. If Ian, an unprecedented mage who had made great contributions in the war, was truly of the Imperial family, he would be in a position to aim for the Emperor’s seat. Ian would never do that, though.

“…It’s disrespectful.”

He couldn’t reveal these inner thoughts. He was the Emperor. Jin reluctantly gave the order.

“Ian is of the Imperial family. It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely impossible. Punish those who spread false rumors by law and show our strictness.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Just as everyone was receiving the Emperor’s order, Ian was waiting outside the tent with a report in his hand. When the attendant glanced at him with a troubled expression, Ian gestured that it was okay.

“…Wait a little longer before making a sound.”

If he went in now, the Emperor would be uncomfortable.

The hand holding the report tightened.