Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 788

“What do you mean?”

Melania’s voice cut through the silence. It was understandable. Eunrang and Hohun, confident in their abilities, trusted their judgment. Ian, though surprised, didn’t feel the need to deny it. After all, it was the truth. He was Hiel, a Verosian, and not just from the past, but from the future.

‘How fascinating. Is that a tool that reads souls?’

The idea that a single strand of hair could pierce someone’s essence was astounding. The level of the East might be far beyond what Ian had imagined. He recalled the lengths he had gone to, gathering people and making a scene to reveal Arsen’s identity, and this felt like a different world.

“This person is definitely Ian Hiel. The timeline issue is likely due to the Abyss.”

“The Abyss? You’ve been there?”

“Yes. I was with him-”

Melania stopped mid-sentence, her memories fragmented, as if they had been shattered.

Eunrang frowned, sensing something amiss. The atmosphere turned cold, despite the warm glow of the paper lamps. Melania couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Hohun put the white hair away and said, “Melania, you and he are different.”

Hohun used the hair again to confirm Melania’s identity. She remained unchanged. Regardless of whether she had been to the Abyss, Ian was fundamentally different.

Eunrang muttered with interest, “Is he a demon?”

“I don’t know.”

Hohun’s answer was unexpected. He usually preferred to define things precisely.

“It’s a bit different from a demon.”

Hohun trailed off, unable to describe Ian’s essence. It was as if he couldn’t quite grasp what he had seen.

But Eunrang didn’t seem to care much. “Okay. Does it matter?”

In the East, demons often infiltrated and lived as humans. From the moment she heard he was a mage who created magic stones, she had suspected there was more to him. Eunrang took out her pipe and relaxed.

“The box?”

Their priority was finding the box.

But Ian remained silent, observing them. Eunrang tapped the ashes from her pipe, a knowing smile on her face.

“Right. Everyone has their own angle. I don’t think it’s bad. The clearer the intention, the more certain the overlap of interests. What do you want?”

He was a boy who had everything—money, fame, and power. He wouldn’t be swayed by anything superficial. Moreover, given that he had hidden his identity and infiltrated the imperial palace, his goal must be something grand. Eunrang whispered sweetly, “Bariel?”

Ian, who had been nonchalant, finally reacted. Melania held her breath, curious about what Eunrang was talking about.

“What else could it be, hiding your identity and taking a position in the imperial family? There are many like you in the East. There was even a time when a fox who bewitched the king ruined the country.”

Besides, the Magic Department was in conflict with the imperial family, right? Everything was clear. Eunrang rested her chin on her hand and grinned. “You return the box, and we’ll keep silent about your identity and help you achieve what you want. Where else can you find a deal like this? Just say it. I’ll even bring you the Emperor’s head.”

Eunrang was confident. Bariel was likely unaware of their presence, especially since Gaia and the East didn’t know each other well. An ambush in the dark was something that couldn’t be easily overcome without luck.

“Hmm?”

Eunrang looked Ian up and down, her gaze cold and dangerous. Melania swallowed hard. She couldn’t tell what Ian was thinking just by looking at him.

‘Bring the Emperor’s head?’

Ian smiled faintly, repeating Eunrang’s words. How presumptuous.

He met Eunrang’s gaze calmly and said in a low voice, “Putting aside my identity.”

Melania was taken aback. It was an admission that Hohun’s words were partly true, rather than a denial.

“What are you people, anyway?”

“What do you mean? Are you worried we’re demons like you?”

Eunrang and Hohun were almost certain that Ian was a demon. If he were from this world, he wouldn’t have reacted to the white tiger’s hair. Only those from the rift, below, or other worlds would show such strange phenomena.

“A demon?”

“Shut up, Melania. Stop interrupting.”

Melania’s plea was useless. Eunrang leaned towards Ian, her hair sliding down her shoulder.

“We are mages of the East, chosen by the heavens to wield power and create miracles. We are fundamentally different from you, who are just clumsily imitating us.”

Ian sneered and leaned closer, their faces inches apart. Eunrang sensed something flickering in his green eyes—a cold, swirling thing.

‘Anger?’

“Besides,” he said, his voice astonishingly cold, “your real purpose.”

“…I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Your actions don’t make sense from beginning to end, making you more questionable than I am.”

Ian reached out and took the Idgal [a magic stone] that Eunrang had taken out. It happened so quickly that Eunrang and Hohun couldn’t react.

“Idgal is an anomaly that disrupts the world just by existing. You said there’s nothing similar in the East, right? But for those who came all the way to Gaia on a secret mission to collect Idgal, it doesn’t make sense. If you take this to the East, all your previous actions will be exposed.”

They wanted secrecy, yet they were taking something that would cause a stir. What could be more contradictory?

“Judging by the size of the pouch, it’s not an amount for research. Even the Hawan rebels know you’re interested in Idgal and are reporting it to Bariel. Isn’t that too much?”

Instead of answering, Eunrang exhaled smoke. Her relaxed smile was gone.

“In my experience, there are only two types of people who want Idgal: those who want to suppress the rift, and those who want to keep mages in check.”

The atmosphere grew colder. The cloth on the ceiling, which had been swaying gently, was now swirling roughly. Ian didn’t stop.

“The way you’re looking for the box is also suspicious.”

Even if a great mage was reckless, the one who stole it was someone else. Why were they being so cautious and trying to keep it a secret?

If finding it was important, they would reveal their identity to the leaders of each country and ask for cooperation. Secretly and quickly? That wasn’t a logical choice in a foreign land.

‘Then this also means one thing: they are afraid of the backlash for not properly carrying out their mission to protect the sacred object.’

But if that were the case, it made even less sense that they were trying to collect Idgal.

“Or perhaps-”

Ian asked with a bright smile, “Are you and the one who stole the box in cahoots?”

If that were the case, everything made sense. Why they were moving in that way, and even why they wanted Idgal.

“It seems the so-called great mage of the East has quite a few enemies.”

The box was a sacred object that enhanced a mage’s power. If they strengthened themselves and kept their opponent in check with Idgal, even a great mage would think it was worth it. He didn’t know the extent of that person’s skill, though.

Eunrang laughed, and Melania moved closer to Ian. She had thought they were guests from the East, but now they seemed like thieves.

“That’s why you’re a minister. I wondered how a child could have risen to such a high position in such a pathetic country. Anyway, so-”

She tilted her head in annoyance and then spoke directly, “Is that important right now?”

Just as they weren’t curious about his identity, shouldn’t he do the same? What was so difficult about giving each other what they needed? They would receive the box, and Ian would achieve what he wanted. That was all.

Swoosh!

The air expanded, creating a destructive flow. Red and yellow cloths tangled chaotically, creating a bizarre atmosphere.

Ian swept his disheveled hair back and felt the flow of magic. Eunrang, he could tell, was quite skilled. If he had to compare, she was slightly superior to Hale.

‘I was going to ask about the details written on the box.’

He couldn’t guess what kind of chaos would be caused if he entrusted the translation to those he didn’t trust. Furthermore, he couldn’t predict how they would react if they found out that they had already used the box.

Ian casually threw out a question, “By the way, does the great mage of the East really not know about the disappearance of the box?”

“What?”

Eunrang’s brow furrowed at the sudden question.

“I don’t think so.”

Could it be that the one with the title of absolute being didn’t notice the disappearance and use of the box? It was a sacred object that created new magic circles and advanced the history of magic. If such a person was an absolute being, wouldn’t the level of the East be a bit disappointing?

Ian had just thrown out the words without knowing the truth, but it caused considerable confusion for Eunrang and Hohun.

“What, what do you know?”

Even if his essence was a demon, he was still the minister of the Magic Department of a great empire. Perhaps he had received a message or heard something from the East.

But Ian didn’t seem to have any intention of telling them easily, as he pressed his right ear with his hand.

Buzz! Buzz!

-Romandro, contact me now.

It was a message spell, sent to Romandro, who was waiting nearby. He couldn’t handle the two of them in his current state.

‘…How unfortunate.’

Three people were needed to use the box. It was said that the greater the difference in their power, the more dangerous it would be, so the three must have similar skills.

The mage Vitor, who once burned Cheonryeo and Hiel. And the woman Eunrang. The man named Hohun would also be no different from the other two.

‘If my magic was intact, I would have torn them apart right here.’

How dare they talk about the Emperor’s life. He should have done it right away, but it was not possible.

“……!”

Eunrang, who had seen Ian’s golden eyes for a moment, reflexively stood up. Then, just as she was about to unleash magic to attack him.

Clack.

Hohun grabbed her wrist.

“Eunrang.”

This was the heart of Bariel, not far from the imperial palace. If all the mages came, even they couldn’t guarantee their survival. But since they had found out something, it was better to step back for now.

“You were curious about what I wanted.”

Ian continued to release his magic as if to show off. As if to say, try attacking me.

“Take your firecrackers and get out. Back to your country.”

Whoosh!

Flames engulfed the surroundings. At the same time, Hohun swung his sleeve. Boom! A huge explosion shook the entire ground.

Melania covered her face and sat down. She felt like she would burn to death in the swirling flames. But soon, she realized that she wasn’t in pain.

“Ah.”

The mages of the East had disappeared.

Ian’s flames, which had filled the space, also subsided in an instant. Ian’s back was still standing. Something felt uneasy. She didn’t know anything about magic, but she had a gut feeling that something was wrong.

“Um, are you, are you okay? Minister Ian.”

“…Please turn your head away.”

Thud.

Ian collapsed. A pale face. Dark red blood was flowing endlessly from the corner of his mouth.