Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 773

The Magic Department was empty. Not a single mage or staff member was at work; it was utterly silent. Only the scratching of a pen could be heard from the Minister’s office.

Ian glanced at Romandro, who was sitting across from him, and asked,

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“About what?”

“Working even on a day like today.”

Romandro’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. Who was saying what to whom? Was the Minister of Magic, who had been at the forefront of the war, saying this to his aide, who had only been looking after his desk? Good heavens! Romandro seized the opportunity and pulled his chair closer.

“Ian, that’s what I should be saying. Don’t stay here; let’s go to my place. Huh? Vivianna said she’d prepare a delicious chicken dish.”

“Is your wife doing well?”

“Well…”

“I’m asking sincerely.”

Romandro sighed softly.

It was understandable; Vivianna still felt deeply guilty. Sending the child to Hiel’s territory at Roel’s request, Philia’s anger upon finding out, and finally, the tragic news.

Vivianna had been crying every other day, praying for Philia’s soul. She had recovered somewhat, but it was clear she wasn’t the same as before.

When Romandro was slow to answer, Ian added, as if he knew it would be like this.

“Please tell her not to be too hard on herself. Mrs. Vivianna did nothing wrong, no matter what anyone says. It was Roel’s choice, her mother’s choice, and fate.”

“Hey, Ian.”

“It’s true. If she keeps suffering like that, her mother will be even sadder. You know that.”

Romandro sniffled again and carefully took Ian’s hand. Ian smiled genuinely.

“And regardless of the matter, I want to be alone for a while.”

“You’re not coming to my place?”

“No. I’ve been with others constantly during the war. Honestly, I’m a bit tired. I need some time alone in a familiar place.”

Romandro understood perfectly. You didn’t even need to go to war; just going out for earthquake recovery work was enough to be surrounded by noise, chaos, and nerve-wracking situations all day long. And a battlefield? Having to consider the enemy meant the energy expenditure was on a whole different level.

“Ugh. Yeah. I know exactly how you feel.”

“Thank you. Please apologize to your wife. Just tell her I’m only tired. I’ll definitely come next time.”

“Alright. Don’t push yourself; don’t feel pressured.”

“Yes. It makes me feel better to hear you say that.”

*Creak.*

Ian leaned back in his chair and looked at the clock. It was already evening. Romandro finished his work and got up, asking one last question, just in case.

“What about dinner?”

“I’m fine.”

“Okay, then I’ll see you again the day after tomorrow. Leave this as it is until then. I’ll help you. Okay?”

Bariel had declared the day after tomorrow as a victory celebration. More than half of the palace staff would be off work and not coming in. Ian saw Romandro off, replying that he understood.

“Tsk. Make sure you eat well.”

“Have a good holiday, Romandro-nim. I’ll rest well too.”

Romandro rolled his eyes and got into his carriage. Even though he said that, he was the type to sit right back at his desk as soon as he left. He hoped he wouldn’t overdo it.

Ian watched the carriage disappear, then turned around, his smile fading. He pressed his hand against his chest as if something was bothering him.

‘Hmm.’

…It’s a bit hard.

Ian breathed heavily and returned to the Minister’s office. In truth, he also wanted to go to Romandro’s house. For Ian, it was like a second home. No matter how bustling it was, it was one of the few places where he could fully relax.

Ian sat in his chair, spacing out for a moment, then picked up his pen again. If he didn’t hold onto work, it felt like he would be swept away. He didn’t know what it was, and that made it even scarier.

*Scribble.*

Then, he felt a magical power from somewhere.

Ian’s pen stopped, and he turned his head towards the fireplace. Green flames were slowly rising from the gaps in the fireplace, which had been extinguished.

“…Oh, dear.”

With a calm expression, Ian threw a piece of Papaleri wood next to him into the flames. The green flames flared up as if water and oil had met.

In the flickering flames, like a hallucination, someone slowly appeared.

“Tommy.”

[Ian-nim! You were here after all. Oh, thank goodness.]

It was Tommy, who had gone on an errand to Astana. His features were faint, and his voice was buzzing, but there was no problem identifying him. Ian sat on the sofa and crossed his legs.

“What would have happened if I wasn’t here?”

[Then I thought Romandro-nim would be here. I’m sorry. I couldn’t use any magic with my own power, so I borrowed some power from an Astana sorcerer.]

The green flames were not magic but a spell. Flames that allowed communication for a certain time if the other party allowed it. However, to grow the flames, you needed a piece of wood from the fairies, not just any ordinary piece of wood.

Ian looked at the flickering flames, which didn’t feel warm at all, and added,

“If Romandro-nim saw this, he would have said the Magic Department was on fire.”

[Hahaha! That’s right. That could have happened. Ian-nim, first, I went to Astana and delivered the letter directly to the king. He says you can see the sorcerer now, or you can reschedule later. However, he says a long conversation is not possible, as she is very old.]

“I’ll see her now. I don’t have many questions either. Tommy, please arrange for me to speak with the sorcerer alone.”

[Ah, just a moment!]

Tommy turned to the side and said something, but it wasn’t clear. It seemed that even a slight distance made it impossible to transmit sound.

After a moment, an old woman with sagging skin poked her head in. It was blurry, but it was clear that her left eye had three pupils. Pupils that saw the past, present, and future.

[Ian Hiel, Minister of Magic. It is an honor to meet you. I am Bannaglen, the seer of Astana.]

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Can you keep our conversation a secret? It’s not an issue for Astana, but entirely my own.”

The old woman slowly nodded. She had somewhat foreseen this. What else could it mean for the Minister of Bariel to seek out a sorcerer in distant Astana? It meant the content was something that shouldn’t be known in his own country.

Her left pupil began to spin. Ian paused for a moment, then asked calmly,

“…Can you see the end of my fate?”

Ian could clearly feel it. Ever since he had defeated the Underworld God, it had been constant. If Acorella had known, she would have been furious. Ah, would she have shed tears too? Ian chuckled, imagining her anger, which wasn’t really anger.

[The end of fate…]

Cruel as it was, the Underworld God’s words were somewhat correct. His work as a Hiel was done. So, it was only natural to erase his traces and return. Ian also sensed that the end was not far off. Every moment, the god was slowly gripping his heart, telling him to prepare.

Ian rubbed his chest with his fingertips. The longer the sorcerer’s answer was delayed, the more Ian chewed on his lip with an unknown anxiety.

[I see it. Very clearly.]

Being able to see it clearly meant it wasn’t far off.

The sorcerer’s pupil continued to spin in circles.

“What is it like?”

It was a delicate matter. For Ian personally, and for all of Bariel. That was why Ian had contacted Astana from such a distant place to get a clue.

The sorcerer’s pupil, which had been spinning continuously, suddenly stopped. Her voice flowed out faintly.

[You are smiling. And… there are many who are with you at the end.]

Ian was surprised by the unexpected words and paused. Then, he pressed his forehead as if he was confused. …Wasn’t that a message completely different from his plan?

The sorcerer then sighed softly.

[…It’s raining. It’s so clear, but I don’t know exactly when it will be.]

Ian sipped his tea and remained silent.

Rain…

[That is all I have to say. But remember this: trying to predict fate is like trying to count the waves in the middle of the ocean. It can easily change with a small breeze or the splash of a fish.]

“That’s something I’ve heard before. Thank you.”

Ian smiled faintly. It was a shame, but it was okay. The fact that he still had time was enough to satisfy him. He still had a lot to do here.

The sorcerer bowed her head and slowly disappeared. Then, Tommy widened his eyes and poked his face in.

[Ian-nim, are you done with your business?]

“Yes. So, Tommy, you should come back quickly too.”

Since he didn’t have much time left, he wanted to see him soon. Tommy, unaware of Ian’s feelings, smiled brightly and nodded.

And so, the green flames disappeared. Ian leaned back on the sofa and imagined his end. Smiling? Him? And with many people?

“…That shouldn’t be.”

According to his plan, that shouldn’t happen. As Ian muttered to himself, he heard a sound from the door.

“What do you mean, it shouldn’t be?”

It was Beric, holding a wine bottle and a lot of food. Ian turned around in surprise, and Beric frowned as he looked around the desk.

“Tsk, I knew it. How can you work on a day like this? How can the guys below have fun if they have to worry about you?”

“And what about you?”

“I’m the captain.”

Good heavens, why did that sound so funny? Ian burst out laughing. Beric scratched his chin awkwardly and sat across from him on the sofa.

“I’m the minister.”

“Whatever. It’s different with me.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Anyway, life is really fun. I’m a captain, Ian.”

“Yeah. It’s a shame I can’t just congratulate you.”

Beric poured wine into a glass. Then he stared at Ian. Their eyes met. Ian wondered if Beric had heard the conversation, and Beric was trying to find the source of the faint smell of blood.

“You’ve been acting strange lately.”

“How so?”

“You keep smelling like blood.”

Ian shrugged nonchalantly.

“I was on the battlefield just this afternoon.”

“It’s a bit different from that.”

“Beric, you’re a human. Don’t act too much like a dog.”

“Anyway, it’s strange. Tell me honestly. You-”

Beric lowered his voice with a serious expression.

“You keep getting nosebleeds, don’t you?”

Nosebleeds? Ian’s gaze shifted. Well, that was a reasonably good excuse. When he deliberately chose silence, Beric sighed.

“Ugh, seriously. Take care of yourself.”

“I will. I’ll be fine if I rest a bit.”

“And pass some of the work to the guys below. Huh? Like me.”

“You’ll get kicked out soon, Beric.”

“Hmph. There’s no one good enough to do that. They’re all weak.”

Ian looked at the glass of wine. It was full of deep purple. Then he added, as if muttering to himself,

“Beric, someone good enough is always close by. That’s why it’s dangerous.”