Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 886

“Dangerous?”

Ian paused, his expression serious. The owner chuckled, as if amused by his reaction. She held up the amber gem and whispered softly, “It’s like a sealing stone that steals a mage’s power.”

“……!”

“That was in the past. Long ago.”

“Then what about now?”

“As you can see, it’s just a very pretty amber gem.”

She picked up the gem with her fingertips and murmured with a hint of regret, “It’s said that it used to have enough power to rival a magic sealing stone. But over time, it completely lost its power. No one knows why.”

“Isn’t it just a legend?”

“I don’t think so. There are records of its use. It was even used in the crack control device of the Clifford capital. Look.”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

The owner’s orange eyes instantly turned gold. She was a mage. Ian, realizing her identity, watched with bated breath.

However, the gem didn’t move. Even with the mage’s power, it didn’t elicit any reaction.

“The structure is definitely that of a magic stone… but it doesn’t react to magic power. It’s a very strange and peculiar thing, so I’m working hard to find out the cause. All I’ve found out so far is that its name is ‘Idgal.’ Oh, you shouldn’t mention that you saw this anywhere else.”

Otherwise, she would have to pack up and run away again.

Ian nodded slightly and asked, “Are you affiliated with the Magic Department?”

“No. I’m the owner here.”

“But you’re a mage.”

“Just because I’m a mage doesn’t mean I have to be affiliated with the Magic Department. It’s full of crazy people, so I’m not interested.”

All she wanted was to research magic stones. She had wandered the world for several years as a mercenary and was confident that she had seen almost every magic stone in the world. She didn’t know how much longer she would continue, but for now, she was settled here at Joy Department Store, focusing on her research.

Ian stared at the owner and muttered, “But-”

“Yes!”

“Didn’t you tell me not to use magic earlier?”

“Haha! Because you’re still inexperienced, young man!”

“The magic stones behind you are glowing.”

“Huh?”

The owner was surprised and quickly turned around. The colorful magic stones lined up on the display were glowing.

The owner rushed over in surprise, but the area was already filled with thick smoke.

“Ugh! What, what’s going on?”

Crash! Bang!

Amidst the chaos of drawers falling over and the owner running around frantically, Ian quietly left the store. He instinctively knew it was a dangerous place to stay for long.

‘I should come back later to restore Cronie’s voice.’

Boom! Bang!

…If the store is still intact by then.

Ian flinched at the sound of something shattering. The sign above, having lost its grip, fell to his feet with a thud.

‘Professor Rock Rock’ Ako’s Lab’

The boy memorized the store’s name.

“You crazy woman! What did you do again?”

“It’s not what I did, help me! Fire! There’s a fire!”

“Ako’s place is blowing up again! Everyone, put up a shield!”

“We should report her or something.”

“Instead of that, help me put out the fire, you bastards! If you want to die together, just keep talking!”

As thick smoke poured out, the nearby store owners gathered and scolded her. The shopping district was instantly in an uproar, and Ian approached Romandro and Hanna, who were sitting down, exhausted.

“Romandro, are you alright?”

“Oh, yes, yes. Ian, sir.”

“What about Hanna?”

“Me too. Did you finish your business?”

“Yeah. If you’ve bought everything, let’s go back.”

“Yes!”

Hanna got up, cracking her knees. Her eyes were dark, so it must have been a tough day.

Romandro glanced at the chaotic magic stone store and asked, “Why is it like that over there?”

“The owner is a bit… unique.”

Ian replied, thinking of the amber gem. It seemed like a forbidden magic stone, but how did she get it?

Anyway-

‘Idgal, huh.’

It kept strangely lingering in his mind.

Romandro might know something, but it would be better to refrain since the owner asked him not to reveal it.

‘I can find the information separately if I go to the Magic Department.’

“Why are you like that, Ian, sir? Do you have anything else to buy?”

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go back quickly.”

“Whew- thank you, thank you……”

At that moment, Hanna, who had been worried, let out a big sigh of relief and tears of joy streamed down her face. She already had a mountain of luggage. If they bought any more, they would have to hire a porter.

“Let’s go quickly, young master. I’ll lead the way.”

Meanwhile-

Ako, who had put out the fire, sat on the table, sweating. If it had blown up again, she would have been banned from the department store by the merchants’ association.

“Wow, I thought I was going to die.”

She was covered in soot and was just about to take a breather when she was startled. The Idgal she had placed on the table was glowing.

“……?!”

What, what is this? Why is it doing this? She quickly picked it up and examined it, but she had no idea what was going on.

Was it a reaction from the magic stone explosion? What had exploded just now? Or was it the heat? The smoke? Why was it acting up after being quiet for years?

‘Or could it be……?’

Thud!

Ako quickly went outside and looked around. Ian Hadel was gone. Her body was awkwardly still, and her face was bewildered. But it slowly turned into joy.

“Yaaay! Crazy! Really?!”

Ian Hadel, did it react to that kid? Idgal? What a fun situation!

Ako jumped up and down, shouting, and the store owners who were returning to their stores after putting out the fire slapped her on the back of the head.

“You’re the crazy one.”

“Ugh, can’t someone take that crazy person away?”

Ako grabbed the hand of the person who had hit her on the back of the head and her eyes sparkled.

“Where does Ian Hadel live?”

“What? Out of the blue? I don’t know. He’s rich, so he probably lives near the central street? If you want to find him, ask the Magic Department.”

“The Magic Department……”

“Yeah. And while you’re asking, get lost over there.”

“Magic Department-!”

“Hey, are you listening to me?”

“Uwaaaaaa-!”

The owners, watching Ako’s rampage, felt a strange sense of pity for Ian Hadel.

They didn’t know why he had caught Ako’s interest, but he was experiencing a truly extravagant life from such a young age. Tsk tsk.

* * *

“Huff! Huff!”

Barsabe swung her sword with short breaths. Her movements were so precise and clean that it was hard to believe she was a child.

As the sword aura flickered faintly with her disciplined movements, the family’s swordsmanship instructor, who was watching from the side, tapped her arm with a stick.

“Magic power is leaking. Concentrate.”

“Huff! Huff!”

“The body is a vessel for magic power. At your age, you must focus all your energy on strengthening the vessel. The power to control magic is also important. If magic power leaks out again, it’s ten laps around the training ground.”

“Yes, sir!”

Sweat dripped from Barsabe’s chin.

Even considering that she was the daughter of Commander Herchi, the child’s talent was exceptional. Her desire for growth was intense, and she absorbed what she learned at an alarming rate. At this rate, she might enter the imperial palace before she reached the right age and immediately take on the position of commander of the Imperial Guard.

‘Even though she inherited the blood of a prestigious martial arts family… she’s truly amazing.’

Haa! Just as Barsabe was about to finish her stance by thrusting her wooden sword into the air, she saw a familiar face watching her from afar. It was Ian Hadel. The instructor handed her a water bottle, saying she had done well, and Barsabe held it up and shouted to Ian.

“If you want to come over here, come!”

Who was she calling? The instructor turned his head and saw Ian running towards them.

“You ran away yesterday.”

“I didn’t run away, I fell asleep.”

“It’s the same thing.”

Barsabe retorted bluntly, and the instructor chuckled as he tidied up the training ground. So, this was the ‘mage’ child the servant had mentioned.

“I’ve finished my business and came in. Today’s schedule is over. I’m not as tired as yesterday.”

“Business?”

Barsabe asked, slinging her wooden sword over her shoulder.

“I looked at some mansions and bought the things I need for school.”

“You went to Joy Department Store? What about the mansion?”

“I’ve looked at a few places, but I haven’t decided yet. But at the department store, I met an Energes student named Ethan. Do you know who he is?”

“Ethan?”

Barsabe’s eyes narrowed. She tried to recall, but it wasn’t clear. She felt like she had heard it somewhere, but maybe not.

“I don’t know. I’d recognize him if I saw his face.”

“I see.”

Ian nodded as if he understood and changed the subject. There was a reason he had come all the way to the training ground.

“But earlier, I felt magic power in your sword.”

“……!”

You felt that? It was very faint and fleeting.

“The magic power used by a magic swordsman didn’t feel much different from that of a mage.”

“Well, yeah. It’s not like mages who use incantations, but the core is the same. If you keep training, you can create weapons with magic power later. I’m not there yet, though.”

“You’ll be able to do it soon.”

“Humility is a virtue of a warrior, and arrogance in front of a blade is forbidden. If you raise your head, your neck will be cut.”

The instructor, who had been eavesdropping on Barsabe’s clear-cut teachings, smiled faintly. Still, she was more mature than him, even though she was his younger sister.

“Then, do magic swordsmen also have tests like mages? I played a harp called the Light of the Oracle.”

“Magic swordsmen don’t have that. Unfortunately, a mage has to ‘open’ your ‘ki’ [life force].”

“Ki?”

Was it similar to the ‘path of the soul’ that Romandro had mentioned? Curious, Ian pulled up a chair and sat down.

“A magic swordsman’s magic power remains dormant unless it reacts to external stimuli. So, in the past, many people died without even knowing they were magic swordsmen. There’s no way to know unless you meet a mage.”

The reason why many outstanding magic swordsmen were produced in the Jack family was not only due to their innate bloodline but also because of their environment, which allowed them to work closely with the imperial palace. Children who seemed talented were immediately sent to the Magic Department to receive magic power injection and to determine if they were magic swordsmen.

Barsabe had also confirmed her magic swordsman talent at the age of seven and entered Energes.

“Then how do mages recognize magic swordsmen? Should they send magic power to everyone they meet?”

“If you recklessly pour magic power into an ordinary person, they won’t be able to withstand it and will die. Except for healing magic, it can cause fatal injuries, so you have to be careful. Didn’t the Magic Department tell you this?”

“No. Not yet.”

Barsabe hung her wooden sword on the rack and added, “I don’t know much since I was awakened through the Magic Department, but they say that the meeting between a mage and a magic swordsman sometimes comes as fate.”

A mage sensing the faint power of a magic swordsman, in other words, a small connection.

“And there are also criteria for recognizing a magic swordsman. A personality that values faith and honor, a spirit like a blazing fire, and……”

Barsabe was about to add more but stopped. Certainly, a ‘dirty and brutal personality’ was excluded. She had the pride of a magic swordsman, it was definitely excluded!

As Barsabe turned her back, pretending not to notice, Ian followed her.

“Are you done with training? Let’s do it together.”

“What are you talking about, it’s almost dinner!”

“Then let’s do it after dinner.”

“You’ll fall asleep again.”

“No, I won’t. Let’s eat together and come out together.”

“…Really?”

“Really!”

“Well, if you say so. Have you ever held a sword before?”

Ian shook his head at Barsabe’s question. Oh dear, he was her first disciple! The child shrugged as if there was no other choice.

“Then I’ll teach you. Follow me closely. Just don’t hold me back.”