Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 851

Whirr-!

Jin, chin propped on his hand, watched the flames blaze. Beside him was a mountain of paper—all imperial documents detailing Ian’s actions. Normally, an official would handle this, but Jin had dismissed everyone, stating he would burn them himself. As the flames died down, he’d toss in one sheet, then another after a pause. Jin was methodically erasing the history etched with Ian’s name.

“Ian Hielo protected the imperial family and officials against the former Minister of Magic, Wesley… Right. That did happen.”

Forgotten memories resurfaced, making him question if this truly constituted erasing history.

Jin traced the letters with his fingertips, a faint smile playing on his lips. Ian wouldn’t know. As long as he and his friends remembered, Ian would never truly be erased.

Jin burned the papers because Ian had requested it and because he believed it was the right thing to do, though he knew it held little real significance.

“Your Majesty, people are weeping. They say they owe their lives to him. It’s bizarre for a traitor to be mourned like this.”

“Flowers are piling up like mountains, Your Majesty.”

“If we don’t stop it, it will spread endlessly, like a wildfire.”

At his ministers’ worried advice, Jin reluctantly nodded but gave no specific orders.

Jin suddenly noticed that the paper in his hand was a record from Vergos.

“Ian Hielo is Ian Verosian. He is of the imperial bloodline, a gift from the gods to save Bariel. We will follow him.”

Flap. Jin whispered as he lifted the paper to the sky.

‘Follow him…’

Jin clenched his jaw. At the time, it was right to follow Ian, but not anymore.

Now, it was Ian’s turn to follow him, walking the grand road of Bariel that he had paved.

‘Ian, sir. Where are you going? Is it too dark or cold?’

He hoped Ian’s end would be happy and joyful. Jin lit the edge of the paper and stared at it. Could Ian be where the smoke was rising?

While lost in thought, Siao Shi made his presence known, his urgency evident.

“Your Majesty.”

As expected, Siao Shi looked troubled. Jin’s eyes hardened.

“Shane, the son of the Minister of Justice, was hiding private soldiers. He killed the soldiers sent to arrest him and is fleeing the central area.”

“Ah.”

‘Oh, is that all?’ Jin slowly rose, as if his surprise had been unnecessary. He’d thought he’d heard bad news about Ian.

Jin pushed the remaining papers into the flames.

“…The pursuit?”

“The Imperial Guard is on it.”

“To dare kill the Emperor’s soldiers is an insult to me. I will personally cut off his head. I will tear him to pieces and send him to his family as an example.”

Was there anyone else who needed to be eliminated for the sake of his Bariel, and for Ian’s Bariel? Jin picked up his sword, counting the countless names that came to mind.

“Let’s go.”

To cut off heads.

As Siao Shi cleared the way, Jin walked ahead. His long robe fluttered behind him, and his attendants followed in his wake. Those who met him in the palace prostrated themselves a hundred paces away, paying their respects to the Emperor.

Jin walked, looking only straight ahead, as if the faint dawn at the end was his destination.

Tap!

“You’re just making more work for us.”

“Yes, yes, you rascal!”

“Do you want your tongue cut off?”

Meanwhile, Beric, returning to the palace after capturing the fugitive, passed through the central square.

In the middle of the square, a single blond corpse hung forlornly. Below it, various colorful flowers were piled up. Some imperial citizens were there, whether they had been praying all night or had come out early to pray.

Beric stared at the scene for a while before turning around.

“Beric?”

“Oh, Barsabe.”

He had run into Barsabe, who was returning from his search.

“Did you find him?”

Beric asked, unable to take his eyes off the corpse, which shone brightly in the morning sun. Since he couldn’t see the face, it looked like Ian.

“No. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

If they couldn’t find him even after so many people had searched the forest thoroughly, it must have been Ian’s will. Still, he wouldn’t stop looking.

“Let’s go.”

Beric gestured to return to the palace. Just then, a breeze blew. Barsabe somehow felt like flower petals were scattering after him as he turned away.

And three days passed.

Ding- Ding- Ding-

The bell rang in the central square, announcing the morning.

The corpse had already been taken down, but the flower tomb still bloomed in its place. Late tributes from those who had just arrived in the center, and offerings from those who threw flowers without knowing the meaning, simply because there were flowers gathered there.

By then, people thought that there should naturally be flowers piled up in one spot in the central square.

And—

That belief continued for a year and five months, becoming a part of everyday life, on an ordinary day.

* * *

“You, you moron! You idiot!”

The Ministry of Magic was lively from the morning. Acorella stormed out of the minister’s office, shaking a report vigorously.

‘Here we go again.’ The passing mages quietly moved away, and the owner of the report jumped up in shock.

“Who, where, wrote a report like this—!”

“N-Now, wait a minute, Acorella-nim. Please calm down.”

“Calm down?! This is going to be presented at the Grand Assembly. Do you want to see someone’s head roll? Ah, I see. You, you bastard, you’re a spy. A spy sent by another department to assassinate me. Who! Who sent you!”

“Minister, please. We’ve been working together for ten years.”

Whether Acorella was grilling the mage or not, Romandro was used to sorting the letters that arrived at the Ministry of Magic. Dozens piled up every day. Most were from nobles, but—

“Huh?”

Sometimes, like today, there were some from unfamiliar places.

Romandro tilted his head, flipping through a postcard with no sender. It only had a picture of a beautiful waterfall, with no other content.

“Romandro-nim! Please stop the Minister. He’s going to die like that. No, he’s been more of a pain in the ass lately.”

“Look at this. There’s a postcard with no sender. Since it came into the Imperial Palace, it can’t be a mistake. It means they’ve paid for it.”

“Aren’t there a lot of weirdos? Where was it? The administrative department was in chaos the other day. A direct report of corruption came in.”

“That was a close call. Really.”

Romandro shook his shoulders in disgust. He didn’t know how so many things happened in the Imperial Palace every day. It felt like his lifespan was being cut in half. How did the former Prime Minister manage to work in the Imperial Palace until he was so old?

“Isn’t it just some country folk who can’t read sending support? But before that, please stop the Minister?”

“That could be it. I’ll keep it for now.”

“Hey? Can you hear me?”

Romandro checked the time and then struck the bell on his desk, ding, ding, ding.

Acorella, who had been grabbing the mage by the hair and shaking him, stopped and turned to him. She was like an animal that automatically reacted to the sound of the bell.

“Minister Acorella. It’s time to leave.”

“Already?”

“Yes. You’ll get in even more trouble if you’re late.”

“Ah…”

Acorella’s eyes returned to normal. She let go of the mage as if she couldn’t help it and tucked the report into her waist.

“Everyone, gather.”

“Just say let’s leave normally.”

“Advance.”

“…Yes, yes, we’re going.”

The mages also slowly got up and moved to attend the meeting.

It was a day when the sky was particularly blue and high. Acorella, who entered the conference hall, lightly saluted with a hand chop.

“Yo, good morning.”

“Good morning, Minister Acorella. You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Me? No way. Isn’t it just you feeling good and that’s why you feel that way? Minister Siao Shi?”

Siao Shi gave a faint smile as if he didn’t know.

Following them, the ministers of each department arrived one after another. Compared to a year ago, most were new. When Prime Minister Quintana entered last, the ministers rose from their seats as if they had been waiting.

“His Majesty the Emperor enters.”

Squeak.

Jin, dressed in full uniform, entered with dignity.

His eyes had become sharper with time. His atmosphere was always cold, as he was constantly immersed in work. Jin nodded roughly, and the ministers sat down at the same time.

“Good morning. Let’s begin.”

At Jin’s command, the ministers took turns presenting their agendas. He listened quietly, asking questions about anything suspicious, or simply saying ‘approved’ or ‘rejected’ as he led the meeting.

When it was Acorella’s turn, she raised her hand lightly.

“It’s a matter related to the East.”

“It’s been a while since we sent a message there, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s right. But we don’t even know if it arrived properly, so I’m thinking of sending someone directly from the Ministry of Magic this time. We can’t keep Eunrang and Hohon in the Ministry of Magic forever. It’s a waste of food.”

“Hmm.”

“We’re planning to send two or three mages and form a formal delegation to go with them. We need a budget, and since it’s a long-term mission, we need to check with the administrative department—”

That’s when it happened. Acorella suddenly stopped talking and froze.

It wasn’t just her. All the mages except Romandro stopped like her. And at the same time, their heads turned to the right.

“Minister Acorella?”

“Uh…”

Acorella’s eyes widened, and then the mages also opened their mouths as if they had sensed something. It was as if they had sensed something.

‘What’s going on?’ Quintana was about to ask when—

KWA-AAANG!

“… !”

“… !”

The Imperial Palace shook violently with a tremendous roar.

Siao Shi immediately stood up and hid Jin behind him, and Beric, who had been hiding his presence behind him, also drew his sword.

“U-Uwaaa!”

“What, what is going on?”

“Everyone, stay where you are! Don’t move!”

“Minister Acorella!”

“All mages, follow me!”

At Acorella’s command, the mages stormed out of the conference hall.

They all looked up at the sky of the Imperial Palace. The semi-circular barrier, usually transparently hidden, was vibrating with a rainbow light. It had been impacted by some tremendous force.

Zzzing, zzzing—

“M-Minister. This…”

A huge magical power that they instinctively felt. The mages hesitated for a moment. They had never felt such depth except for Ian.

Thud. Thud.

The officials of the Imperial Palace were also frozen, crouching low with the thunderous explosion. Everyone seemed tense and unable to breathe properly.

The mages swallowed hard and watched the vibrating barrier. They needed to check which part had been hit.

“There.”

Hale found a slight crack near the west side. At his signal, Nakina and Tommy flew through the wind.

“Whoa, man.”

The closer they got, the more the force pressed down on them like gravity. Nakina realized it was unusual and became tense. ‘What is it? Have the Undergods already returned? What is this pressure threatening the Imperial Palace—’

“Oh ho. A truly divine configuration of a barrier.”

Swish!

A man with long hair fluttering, who appeared from nowhere, tapped the barrier. Unfamiliar attire, but something they were already familiar with because of Eunrang and Hohon.

“I apologize if I startled you. I just finished my meditation, so my senses are still dull. I didn’t mean to.”

Thud. Thud.

The Great Mage of the East, Ja-an [慈眼, literally ‘Compassionate Eye’].

He smiled, his golden eyes shining.

“I’ve come to pick up my foolish disciples.”