Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 796

Romandro wiped away the cold sweat, watching Jin’s expression.

It was all because of Hans from just now. He had suddenly barged in while they were applying pain relievers to the Magic Department kids in the lobby, grabbed him by the collar, and shook him like crazy!

“Where were you?”

“Me? I was in the Minister’s office the whole time.”

“Then why didn’t you open the door? Seriously!”

Hans, relieved to finally meet him, handed over a bundle of notes. Three sheets of paper filled with small, neat writing. Romandro had checked the contents and immediately rushed down to the basement to give them to Jin.

And now-

“Romandro.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jin finally put down the papers and turned to him. The whole story of the incident was written there, without any embellishment. From the beginning in Hawan to the explosion near Eirin’s tavern.

Jin tapped the paper with his fingertip, looking utterly bewildered.

“What on earth is Sir Ian thinking?”

“I, I apologize.”

“No, I’m not asking for that. I’m genuinely curious. I thought you might know something, Romandro.”

Ugh. Romandro chuckled awkwardly and sniffled. He really wanted to know too. Ian’s hidden intentions.

“I thought that silver wolf was spouting complete nonsense. Sir Ian being a demon or whatever, it’s such an absurd claim.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. A demon, of all things. He must not know Bariel well, that’s why he said such things.”

“But why didn’t Sir Ian deny it?”

When the silver wolf and Hohan questioned his identity and claimed he was different. According to Melania’s report, he didn’t deny or refute it, but rather seemed to agree with some of it.

Of course, he didn’t believe it literally, but since the Eastern mage was making consistent claims, he couldn’t help but be suspicious. Romandro rubbed his neck, looking troubled.

“And one more thing-”

There was another suspicious point for Jin.

“About the fire cannon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“According to Melania’s claim, the Eastern mages didn’t collect the fire cannons. Why was that? Even if they’re not rare weapons to them, Melania told them the value of the fire cannon, which could have been advantageous in their deal.”

Even though Melania had deliberately mentioned it, they didn’t care, saying it was fine. It was a point that supported Melania’s claim that there seemed to be a hidden secret.

‘Besides, in the underground prison just now, they swore to donate the fire cannon. Is it just a tactic to avoid the crisis? It’s too sloppy for that, isn’t it? It’s a truth that will be revealed soon.’

To donate the fire cannon, they would have to contact the East. That would directly violate their position of running away from the Great Mage.

Jin rubbed his forehead lightly, looking complicated.

“Romandro. For now, keep the contents a secret.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Once Sir Ian wakes up, I will seek his advice and make a decision again.”

Romandro bowed his head to show he understood.

Jin tucked the letter into his chest and came out of the lobby. The ministers and officials who had been waiting for them from afar turned their heads to look.

“Your Majesty. What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it.”

The ministers and officials were curious, but they couldn’t add anything more when the Emperor had so clearly told them to stop paying attention. They returned to the main topic and discussed the fate of the Eastern mages.

“Your Majesty. What should we do with the Eastern mages?”

“No matter how I think about it, targeting the Bariel ministers is unforgivable. Just the damage to Minister Rayburn’s mansion alone… Yes, they should pay with their lives.”

“Hic-”

“Oh my, you’re crying again. Look here, everyone. Calm down and think carefully. Don’t you know that killing them is the end? Let’s not do this here and move the location.”

“I agree. It’s really uncomfortable to discuss the fire cannon in front of the Magic Department members.”

“Look, Commander Acorella is looking this way.”

“Ahem! Your Majesty, please, let’s move to the main palace…”

Jin raised his hand as if to say stop, and the noisy surroundings became quiet in an instant. The mages who were grumbling in the distance were the same. And then, Jin’s decision came.

“The Eastern mages will not be executed.”

The reactions were clearly divided. Those who supported the import of the fire cannon cheered inwardly and clenched their fists, while the mages stood up in protest. Romandro also had a look of disbelief at Jin’s decision. But-

“They are not envoys of the East, but collaborators.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“I have reliable information. They are the ones who stole items from the Great Mage of the East and brought them to Gaia, so I cannot be sure if they can fulfill their promise to donate the fire cannon.”

Even if the fire cannon was related to magic, it wouldn’t deviate much from the general weapon manufacturing process. Perhaps it could be made in another way, but they couldn’t judge that for now.

“Then, shouldn’t we execute them to set an example? If the donation of the fire cannon is uncertain, there is no need to keep them alive.”

“No.”

Jin shook his head firmly. The important thing was not the fire cannon, but the Great Mage himself.

“Their custody will be handed over to the Great Mage.”

“Ah!”

“He is the absolute ruler of the entire East. We have the Magic Department, but-”

Jin looked at the mages, and they straightened their backs and blinked proudly. They were all covered in soot and looked like beggars, but they were not ridiculous at all.

“Everyone is exhausted from the war, and above all, we don’t know the extent of the opponent’s power, so we need to maintain a neutral relationship for now. We will hand over the silver wolf and Hohan as a sign of reconciliation and gain benefits, so be aware of that.”

Benefits.

Each listener thought of something different. Some thought of the fire cannon, some of trade with the new world, some of peace, and others dreamed of the endless development of magic.

“If they are collaborators-”

The Prime Minister was the first to show his approval.

“There would be no greater punishment for them.”

“That’s right.”

What could be more painful and frightening than having their lives handed over to the Great Mage of the East, whom they had so desperately wanted to escape?

The East has its own laws, and there would be despair that Gaians could not understand. They knew that death could sometimes be a salvation, not an extreme punishment. They had experienced it with Damon and Rutherford.

“Let’s move the location first. Before that-”

Jin turned to Acorella. She was also lost in thought, thinking about the Great Mage of the East.

“Commander Acorella?”

“Yes?”

“May I see Sir Ian for a moment?”

Jin’s question was close to a plea. The news that he was unconscious kept burning somewhere in his heart.

Acorella nodded as if to ask him to wait a moment, and then went straight into the Minister’s office.

Squeak.

“Ha, then we will go to the main palace first.”

“Let’s do that. It’s just confusing if too many people go in at once.”

“Your Majesty, please give my regards to Minister Ian.”

“Look here. They said he’s unconscious.”

“Oh, right. I mean, I mean that our hearts will connect. Haha.”

“By the way, is it true that Minister Ian was defeated by those two Eastern mages?”

“The Eastern mages seemed clueless.”

“Come on, it’s Minister Ian, not just anyone. It must be because of the war fatigue.”

How could he have lost? Even if the opponents were Eastern mages, they were captured so easily by Ian’s subordinates. If Ian lost, what would become of the Minister’s reputation? In the Magic Department, where the leader is chosen solely by strength.

Nakina, realizing their meaning, shouted angrily.

“Look here!”

“…Nakina, restrain yourself.”

“Commander Hale, but!”

“Responding to nonsense will only hurt us.”

Hale replied, putting a cigarette in his mouth. He looked calm, but his jaw was also clenched tightly.

At that moment, the door to the Minister’s office opened again, and Acorella peeked her head out.

“You may come in. Fortunately, his breathing has stabilized.”

“May I also go in?”

“Prime Minister?”

The Prime Minister, who was standing behind the Emperor, added his question, and Acorella’s eyes narrowed. She was not very trusting, but she didn’t have a good reason to refuse.

“Yes, come in.”

Acorella eventually opened the door and led them inside.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the noise from outside completely disappeared. It was due to the space separation magic. Jin sighed softly as he saw Ian lying on the sofa.

“…Good heavens.”

Pale skin and sweat-soaked hair. The mages who were nursing him next to him also looked terrible. No matter how much magic they poured in, it didn’t even make a dent, so there was no noticeable change.

But they couldn’t stop either. Was this what it felt like to pour water into a bottomless pit?

“Sir Ian.”

Jin’s voice trembled slightly as he called Ian. Other than breathing a little roughly, Ian showed no reaction.

“Is he able to wake up?”

Acorella paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully at the Emperor’s question. There were hardly any records of the pursuit magic in the Central Archives. It seemed that only Ian knew the extent of its side effects, so it was difficult to speak rashly about his recovery.

But even so, they would not stop.

“Of course. We are doing our best to help Sir Ian recover. He will recover soon.”

Acorella shared a look with the Prime Minister and muttered as if declaring it. Don’t even think about messing with Sir Ian or the Magic Department, now that they had this opportunity.

“Sir Ian.”

The bloodstains on Ian’s pillow and blanket were clear. It was the same condition as when he was first brought in. The mages were busy looking for the silver wolf and Hohan, but it was also because his condition was so bad that they couldn’t even think about tidying up.

‘Damn it.’

Jin sat next to Ian and covered his head in regret. If he had known this would happen, he should have gone to find Sir Ian instead of returning to the palace when the explosion occurred. Would things have been different if he had gone with Beric?

“The Eastern mages claim they didn’t attack him, so what is the cause of this?”

The Prime Minister also looked at Ian with a puzzled gaze. Looking at him like this, he really looked like a young child of his age, which was pitiful.

“It’s the aftermath of using too much magic during the war.”

Acorella answered vaguely. It wasn’t a lie. But she had no intention of telling them every detail of Ian’s condition.

“I apologize, but it seems that the war has taken its toll, and even creating Idgal is now too much for me.”

Jin suddenly remembered Ian, who had smiled brightly in the past. He had thought it was just a lie to keep the Magic Department in check, but it wasn’t.

He knew that Idgal was unrelated to magic power, but if his body was damaged like this, there must have been a clear burden.

“Haa.”

Jin sighed deeply and lowered his head. Meanwhile, Acorella left the Minister’s office after saying goodbye to the mages who were beckoning her.

“……”

Silence fell in the room. The Prime Minister stood behind and quietly watched Ian.

Swoosh.

Then, he took out a white fur from his chest. He secretly held it close to his eyes and looked at the Emperor, but there was nothing special.

Next, it was Ian’s turn.

“……!”

The Prime Minister’s eyes widened. It was as the Eastern mages had said. Ian’s appearance was something distorted beyond recognition.

The Prime Minister watched the Emperor’s back, who was holding Ian’s hand, for a long time before carefully leaving the Minister’s office.