Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 857

“For Gaia, the East is an unknown world.”

“Wouldn’t the same be true for the East?”

Jin paused, exchanging drinks with Ja-an. Looking at the unconscious Beric, it was clear he was not someone who could be subdued by force. Rather, upsetting him might endanger the people of the central empire.

Jin decided it would be better to approach Ja-an’s pipe in a different way.

“Looking at the few remaining records, it seems the East values righteousness and chivalry. Is that true?”

“It is the heart that forms the foundation of the world. Though the words are different, the human affairs of the West must surely revolve around it as well.”

Clack! Ja-an emptied his cup and closed his eyes as if savoring the moment. His smile was light, but his voice was infinitely heavy.

“Just as we understand youth through old age and remember love through separation, it is only when the world is gone that we truly know it was the world.”

Jin recalled Eun-rang’s words at his lament.

So far, Ja-an’s only identified goal was the annihilation of the aberrations. The side effects of the binding magic were also originally meant to be borne by the three great mages of the East, including Ja-an.

This meant they craved even greater power, even at the cost of enduring the erosion of their souls. In other words, nothing was as meaningful to Ja-an as the annihilation of the aberrations.

“What you call aberrations in the East are called monsters here.”

“Ah, yes. We often use the terms interchangeably.”

“Have you ever seen the king of monsters?”

If so, the results of the last war that sealed the Undergod might pique Ja-an’s interest. A lot of it.

As expected, the smile vanished from Ja-an’s lips.

“The king of monsters, you say?”

“In Gaia, it is a being called the Undergod or the shadow of God. It was identified as the root of all monsters, existing deep in the abyss. When rifts appeared and the earth cracked, it spread its power through the gaps, throwing the world into chaos.”

“In the East, earthquakes and the twisting of the earth are also considered precursors to aberrations.”

Ja-an seemed to be assessing whether Jin was telling the truth. Finally, a real conversation. Jin smiled and added,

“I see. It seems the West and the East are united under the will of God. In Gaia, the damage from monsters has noticeably decreased since the great monster outbreak, so it’s safe to say we’ve overcome a major hurdle. I hope the East has good fortune as well.”

“You’ve overcome a hurdle?”

“Yes. It wasn’t long ago, but there was a great war. It was a glorious victory where we directly defeated the Undergod.”

“Puhahahahaha!”

Ja-an suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter. It was a blatant and frivolous laugh, but Jin guessed why he was laughing.

“You don’t believe it?”

It was understandable, as Acorella had said that even if all the mages of the current imperial palace attacked together, it would not be easy to face Ja-an.

There was no way Ja-an wouldn’t know what they knew. He had already grasped the power of the imperial palace, and because of that, he had no choice but to deny Jin’s words.

They had to gather three great mages and sacrifice their souls to accomplish such a feat, so how could they have done it?

“Ahem, aha. My apologies. I think I’ve had a bit too much to drink.”

“All of Gaia is a witness, why would I lie?”

“Did the Emperor himself defeat this Undergod?”

Jin moistened his lips with wine and answered.

“Ian Hielo.”

“Oh?”

That name again?

Ja-an crossed his arms and lowered his head. Beric was the same; they all kept mentioning Ian Hielo, who was supposedly not in the imperial palace. He didn’t know the extent of his skill, but yes, if it was based on binding magic, it was possible.

“Sir Ian did not use binding magic.”

Jin, having caught on to his thoughts, added with a slight smile.

“Instead, he found the Undergod’s weakness.”

“Weakness, you say?”

“Well, this and that?”

Clink. Jin clinked his glass against Ja-an’s, brushing it off vaguely.

‘Aha, look at this?’ Ja-an decided it would be good to check that part with Eun-rang and Ho-heun. If it was true that they had defeated the king of aberrations….

‘It’s right to give what’s due and take what’s due.’

“No, wait a minute.”

Ja-an, feeling something was off, tilted his head and muttered.

“Look here, Your Majesty. Even if it was my damned disciples who started it, wasn’t it you lot who used the other’s aberrations as you pleased? You should be telling us quickly for the sake of peace in the East, but why are you being so hesitant? It’s making this old geezer’s stomach churn.”

“It doesn’t look like your stomach would churn so easily.”

Bang! Thud!

It was then. Acorella dramatically threw open the door with a solemn expression. In her hands was a silver tray.

On it was a wine bottle, looking ‘special’ with its sly smile.

“Please have some new wine, Sir Ja-an.”

“Oh!”

Ja-an’s eyes lit up, and he rolled up his sleeves, urging her to come closer. Jin and Acorella exchanged glances, and the mages who followed stood at a distance, watching.

“What kind of wine is this?”

“It’s the imperial palace’s special wine, only served to honored guests. It’s called Cliffopord; there’s a country famous for its grapes right below us. The prince there offered it as a tribute.”

“Oh my, should I be drinking something like this? Huh? Your Majesty, is it alright?”

Jin gestured for him to enjoy it as much as he liked. Squeak, squeak. Acorella poured a glass full of wine and handed it to him with a precise gesture.

“Then!”

As Ja-an picked up the glass, Acorella’s eyes flashed. This was Acorella’s strongest special sleeping potion, capable of knocking out anyone within exactly three minutes.

As Ja-an slightly opened his mouth, Acorella opened her mouth as if to say, ‘Hurry! Drink it, old geezer!’

“Ah, right. But you know.”

“Yes?”

“His Majesty just told me something interesting.”

“W-what is it?”

Ja-an, about to drink, suddenly remembered something and put the glass down. Acorella made an awkward smile, trying not to show her disappointment.

“His Majesty said he saw the king of aberrations himself and even sealed it, is that true?”

“The king of aberrations? Ah, you mean the Undergod?”

“I heard a man named Ian Hielo led it.”

Acorella glanced at Jin, then nodded in agreement.

“That’s right.”

“Oh, so the one who annihilated the aberrations died for treason. I can see how much has happened here.”

Ja-an poured wine into Jin’s glass. Acorella’s eyes shook in panic, but Jin calmly accepted it.

“Ja-an, while we’re on the topic, let me make a proposal.”

“Anything. It doesn’t cost anything to listen.”

“If you solve the side effects of binding magic, I will tell you in detail about the war we had with the Undergod. I believe this will surely be helpful to the East as well.”

“Hmm.”

“Through the righteousness you value, we seek to achieve harmony and development between the West and the East.”

The words harmony and development held many meanings. It meant not harming the imperial palace, having friendly exchanges, treating people with care, and even if Beric lost, to show mercy, and so on.

Ja-an’s eyes narrowed.

“Those are truly pleasant words. But in the East, we are very cautious before forming a bond.”

Ja-an leaned on his knee with his arm. It was a relaxed and leisurely attitude.

“Tell me about Ian Hielo.”

He was a hero who saved Gaia, right?

From Ja-an’s perspective, it was an absolute sacrifice. Even he was prepared to have his soul destroyed to eliminate the aberrations in the East.

How could such a sacrificial person have rebelled, and if the reason was valid, wouldn’t there be doubts about the qualifications of the Emperor of Bariel?

“If he died for treason, he shouldn’t exist in this world, yet why are you all looking for him, and what is the relationship between him and His Majesty?”

Jin looked around the quiet hall. There was no one but the sprawled-out Beric and the mages. He smiled softly and replied.

“If you go to the central plaza, there is a flower tomb. Even though his body was disposed of a long time ago, flowers still bloom profusely there.”

The traces of people commemorating Ian Hielo’s end.

“Sir Ian is that kind of person. A being who is grateful just for existing. I believe you will think of me the same way.”

“Like family.”

“He is family.”

As Jin stated firmly, Ja-an curled his lips.

“Is that so?”

“Beric thinks so too. That’s why he rushed in without a second thought. I heard the last bet was about breaking the pipe.”

“That’s right.”

Ja-an twirled his pipe with his fingertips. As smoke spiraled out, Jin added a smile.

“I will also do my best to help Beric win.”

“The more participants in a gamble, the more fun it is! You are welcome to join. Even if you lose, Beric will take the blame, so Your Majesty, please enjoy yourself.”

At Ja-an’s words, Beric twitched. Even while unconscious, he reacted to his name. Seeing this, Ja-an tapped Beric’s forehead with his pipe.

“If I use my wish ticket, I’ll take this guy. He’s cute, perfect to use as a servant.”

“Hmm. That’s troublesome.”

Jin gestured for Barsabe to come closer. Barsabe, not knowing why, stood next to Jin.

“I heard you won the coin toss with a landslide victory.”

“It’s because Beric made a stupid mistake.”

“But, you hit Barsabe’s hand with that pipe?”

Eh? Ja-an blinked, wondering what that was about.

“Aren’t you a mage?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Besides, that pipe is the item to be ‘broken’ in the bet. It must be an unusual artifact, right?”

Could it be a ‘magic staff’ of some sort? It was an item used by a great mage who had reached the absolute realm, so they suspected it might have some mysterious power that made it impossible to break with anything in the world.

Ja-an shouted with a dumbfounded look.

“Hey! What do you take me for!”

“A guest from the East who lives and dies by righteousness and chivalry. But just as you suspect us, we have no choice but to suspect you. Because we don’t know each other well.”

“Your jokes are going too far! I might play tricks with my rice bowl, but I don’t play tricks with my gambling bowl. I told Beric that too, you know?”

Ja-an looked as if he was about to fall backward in frustration. What kind of nonsense was that?

“I’m going to ask Eun-rang and Ho-heun, who know you well, about the pipe. Do you agree?”

“Aigo, Your Majesty. Are you even saying that? Those guys would say anything. Do you think I didn’t hear? If they’re coaxed into saying they’ll help me escape through the back door, they’ll insist I’m a woman, not a man.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Jin looked as if he hadn’t thought of that at all and raised both hands. Ja-an’s nature was unique, and the words he had already spoken were clear.

“Then, oh guest from the East who values righteousness and chivalry, prove that you did not use any tricks. Show me that the pipe is just an old, worn-out stick.”

“Huh?”

How? Jin pointed at the pipe with a nod.

“Show me that it really breaks, break it in front of me.”