Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 891

“That’s it for today’s class.”

As soon as the professor closed his book, Hans turned sharply to look at Ian. Ian, who had been busy finishing his notes, flinched for a moment before giving an awkward smile.

“Ian Hadel.”

“Yeah.”

His tone was sharp. He looked really angry… Why was he acting like that? Ian was puzzled by Hans’s behavior.

“You asked why I was hurt earlier, right?”

Hans pointed to each of his injuries, explaining them one by one.

“This is from a tree branch that flew at me, this bruise is from getting hit in the back of the head by a broken statue, and this is from falling forward and scraping my skin. And, damn it, even my school uniform sleeve is torn.”

“Ah.”

So, he was close by when the park incident happened. Only then did Ian realize why Hans was in such a state. It wasn’t intentional, but he was hurt because of him, so he should apologize.

“Sorry. Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?”

“Yeah. If you came to class instead of going to the hospital, doesn’t that mean you’re okay?”

Hans narrowed his eyes and frowned. He wanted to argue, but he had no words. He had come to class because he could endure it. Hans snorted and started packing his bag.

“Be careful from now on. People around you are likely to get hit by a bolt from the blue.”

“Okay, I will. But, Hans.”

Hans? Hansss? That arrogant little noble brat. Everyone is equal inside the school, but why is he acting so friendly?

Ian followed closely behind Hans, asking,

“I saw you heading towards the main gate earlier, why did you come to the garden?”

It was a question that hit a weak spot. Hans, who had been walking away quickly as if escaping, stopped and turned to look at Ian. The child’s large eyes reflected the sky.

“I heard the garden is a place students don’t go near. But Hans, why did you come?”

He said he was tricked, but why did you come?

Hans paused, choosing his words carefully. He couldn’t just say he went to pick up the scraps, could he?

As Hans hesitated, Ian’s smile grew brighter.

“Did you come to save me?”

“Huh?”

He knew those guys were putting him in danger, so he came to save him! Otherwise, there was no reason for Hans, who was heading to the main gate, to come to the garden on the opposite side. Students were prohibited from entering, and he didn’t seem like the type to waste time.

‘It’s not wrong, but it’s not right either….’

Hans pondered for a moment before turning his head away.

“Figure it out yourself.”

“Thank you, Hans. But how did you know those kids were trying to trick me?”

Everyone knew except you? You didn’t even have to eavesdrop; we could all hear you guys talking.

But Hans didn’t answer. He was a kid who had been caught up in all sorts of noisy chaos since his first day at school. There was no point in hurting him more.

“Hans, what about those kids?”

“The ones who took you to the garden?”

“Yeah. I really want to meet them.”

“Well, they said they couldn’t be treated at the infirmary, so they were taken to the hospital.”

Hans recalled. He heard that a small building in the annex collapsed at the same time the park’s barrier broke.

At first, he thought it was because of the shockwave in the garden, but soon it was revealed to be the dragon’s doing. Thump, thump! It had been hitting the roof and pillars with its tail.

“They said they got buried under the rubble and broke some bones.”

“What?”

Oh no, that’s not good? Ian stopped in his tracks, looking flustered.

Hans also stopped walking. He suddenly realized that he was matching his pace to Ian’s.

“Ha!”

What a waste of time! Hans snapped back to his senses and walked ahead, and Ian quickly followed.

“Anyway, Hans. I’m sorry. You got hurt and your uniform got torn because of me. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Make it up?”

“Yeah. What do you want? Should I buy you a new uniform? Anything.”

Hans pursed his lips.

That’s why it’s good to be rich. The ability to fix your mistakes. Not having to grovel for an apology, and not equating yourself with your mistakes.

Hans fiddled with the torn end of his sleeve, then turned his head away.

“It’s okay. Don’t talk to me anymore.”

“But-”

“Why are you still following me?!”

“…? Because this is the way to the main gate?”

Not only Hans and Ian, but most of the students were walking the same way. Ian also had to meet Barsabe at the main gate, so he had no choice. Ian asked with a clear face.

“Do you want a ride in my carriage?”

“No, thanks. My brother is coming to pick me up.”

“You have a brother. I’m jealous.”

Hans was Naum’s pride, and Naum was Hans’s pride. At this pure admiration, Hans’s reaction softened a little.

“You have an annex in your magic department, right?”

“Huh? Annex?”

Hmm? The unknown being he saw in the park also mentioned an ‘annex.’ Ian was slightly surprised and looked up when Hans said the same thing.

“They said our ancestors built that annex.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It was a long time ago, though.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. Not just anyone can build a palace building.”

“Well, I guess so.”

Though it was only a past glory.

Hans trailed off, then spotted a bicycle approaching in the distance. Naum, who had finished work, was waving as he approached.

Then-

Swoosh.

The leaves on the trees swayed like waves. And through them, the afternoon sunlight seeped in-

A deep resonance spread from somewhere in Ian’s heart.

“Hans!”

“I’m going.”

Hans slung his bag over his shoulder and ran towards the bicycle. Ian was so overwhelmed by his rapidly beating heart that he couldn’t even answer.

“Hey-”

Ian barely managed to speak, but the bicycle with Hans on it was already far away.

‘It’s fuzzy.’

A strange sensation in his heart. Ian’s fingertips trembled. It felt like someone’s trace existed in the depths of his memory, a place he didn’t know. Deeply and warmly.

Ian frowned and watched the path where Hans had disappeared until the end. How long had it been? He heard a presence behind him.

“Hey, Ian!”

It was Barsabe.

Unlike this morning, she was covered in sweat and dirt. If Ian looked like this because of the explosion, Barsabe just looked like she was having a normal day.

“I heard you made a big splash on your first day?”

“……”

“What’s wrong? What are you looking at?”

“Sister.”

“Yeah.”

“I feel a strange sensation. A wordless sensation beyond the five senses, like something is trying to awaken me.”

What the hell is he talking about? Barsabe crossed her arms and scanned Ian up and down. Then, she clapped her hands. I see, you rascal! Did you fall in love on your first day of school? This guy is hilarious.

Sure enough, Ian stammered, pointing to where Hans and Naum had disappeared with a serious face.

“H-Hans, he’s my classmate.”

“Yeah. Is he cute?”

“No. Anyway, that’s not the problem. Hans’s brother. His brother is a bit strange.”

“…Brother? Uh-huh? Look at this?”

“It felt like someone snapped their fingers in my head.”

“Uh-huh-huh?”

Barsabe approached Ian with interest, raising her eyebrows. Looking closely at his face, it didn’t seem like he was in love.

“Could this be it?”

“Uh-huh, no. That’s not love-”

“Magic swordsman.”

“Ah. Ahem.”

Didn’t Barsabe say that? That a magician can recognize a magic swordsman. That there is a destined and inevitable meeting for those who share magic power.

Barsabe shrugged.

“Just check it out next time you meet.”

“I will. And there’s the matter of compensation left….”

“Compensation?”

It was then. Romandro walked over from afar, looking exhausted. It seemed he had finished dealing with the school regarding the aftermath of the incident.

“Oh, Ian-nim!”

“Romandro. I’m sorry. From the first day.”

“No, no. I’m just glad you weren’t seriously hurt. I’ve settled things with the school, so you don’t have to worry about it at all.”

“What about the Minister?”

“He said he was busy and flew away.”

I see. Ian nodded and got into the carriage.

It had only been about nine hours since the first day, but the two children looked completely different from the morning. They were dirty and their clothes were disheveled. Romandro wiped the dirt off Ian’s face with a handkerchief and asked,

“We’re going to stop by the magic department, are you not tired?”

“Of course not.”

“It’s good to be young.”

“Me too! Am I going to the Imperial Palace too?”

“Miss Barsabe, if you wish. Would you like to go with your father when he gets off work?”

“Yes!”

Unlike the jumping Barsabe, Ian fidgeted and straightened his clothes. His dangling legs were covered in dirt.

Romandro felt like he was on the front lines of childcare and looked up at the sky for no reason.

* * *

In the main building of the Imperial Palace, the officers gathered on the upper floor of the Imperial Defense Department building, sitting around a table in a disciplined manner, waiting for their Minister.

Among them, one person stood out for his relaxed demeanor, and that was Chrony.

“The Minister has arrived.”

Squeak.

Thud!

As the Minister of the Imperial Defense Department, Sharto, appeared, the officers stood up from their seats and saluted sharply. Sharto walked casually to the table, as if everything was a bother, and threw his gloves down.

“Okay, okay. Make yourselves comfortable.”

It was the daily meeting time at the Imperial Defense Department. They exchanged reports and had casual conversations for a while-

“Did you hear about it?”

Someone glanced at Chrony and reported to the Minister.

“About the magician who newly entered the magic department.”

“Ah, yes. Ian Hadel. Isn’t he our Commander Chrony’s uncle?”

Having someone much younger as an uncle was not a pleasant thing. It meant there was a problem with the family tree. The Minister clicked his tongue and added,

“They say he’s amazing.”

The plan to bring in the Hadel family’s wealth had already been discussed with the Minister. It was unexpected that it would stall and fall apart like this.

“The magic department itself is in an uproar, calling him a genius.”

Chrony didn’t say anything, just nodded. The expectations were too high to deny it publicly, and honestly, it twisted his insides to agree.

“But, why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?”

“Ian Hadel entered Energes [a magic academy], but it seems there was a problem. Because of that, the Minister of the Magic Department had an unscheduled field trip, and there are documents he couldn’t process.”

“Problem? At Energes?”

The Minister looked at Chrony, not the officer who was reporting. It was a look asking if it was intentional.

“I heard he damaged school equipment due to his powerful magic.”

Chrony smiled and answered instead. It was based on facts, with a slight mix of lies.

“Chrony-nim. It seems the first attempt failed.”

He would continue to look for opportunities through the informants he had planted in Energes. But the power Ian possessed was proving to be more formidable than expected. Chrony presented the report he had written and proposed,

“Since his growth rate is more astonishing than expected, I would like to request one task from the magic department.”

Swish.

The Minister and officers examined the report.

“How about requesting Ian Hadel’s accompaniment in the upcoming dispatch of troops to the northern region?”

“Ian Hadel? Is that possible?”

He was only five years old. Even if he was a genius, taking a child to the battlefield. It would be more likely to hinder the soldiers than help the war effort.

“Why wouldn’t it be possible?”

But Chrony was firm.

“Since he has officially joined the magic department, he can be drafted into all battles the Empire undertakes. Above all, isn’t he called a genius ‘magician’? One person can replace many soldiers. Surely, the Emperor will welcome it.”

To keep the Imperial Defense Department in check, the Emperor was quite passive in moving troops. But what about Ian Hadel? The Emperor would also readily agree.

“Of course, he may not have the delicate magical skills due to his lack of experience, but the northern region has few civilian houses, so destructive and ostentatious power alone will be sufficient. It’s just to show the northern minority tribes the power of the Empire, so it’s not a dangerous battle. There is no better opportunity for a young child to gain experience.”

“But he’s too young….”

“Age is not important. Didn’t the Commander also fight his first battle at the age of thirteen?”

Age could not be a reason to refuse the draft. If being young was a problem, then working in the magic department was also a problem, and if that were the case, then the magic department’s admission itself would have to be invalidated. Ian would lose his protector, the magic department.

The officers, understanding this, nodded.

“Let’s just say he’s going on a trip to the north for a while. Well.”

“The Emperor seems like he would allow it….”

“The problem is the magic department?”

“How are they treating Ian Hadel there?”

“It seemed like they were just treating him like a newbie….”

If this was accepted and Ian could be sent to the north? It would be much easier and more certain to deal with him than waiting for him to die at Energes.

Chrony smiled as he watched the officers talking about this matter.

Yes, put more effort into it. No matter what the outcome, it’s a win-win situation for me.”