Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 896

Thwack! Thwack!

Boom!

Barsabe, mid-sword swing, glanced towards the annex. Explosions had been echoing from within for a while now.

Her curiosity was quickly sated. From the surrounding students, she learned that Ian Hadel was having a magic lesson.

“Ian Hadel? Isn’t he going to get himself killed at this rate?”

“Right? If a precious mage gets hurt, it’ll be a disaster.”

…How rude, she thought.

Barsabe narrowed her eyes, glaring at the students. The students, who were resting and wiping away sweat, hesitated and fell silent.

“…Why?”

“What?”

“Why… are you glaring at us?”

“Me? Was I?”

“Yeah. You are now.”

“Really? I guess I didn’t like that you guys were worn out after just five laps. Professor! I request a duel!”

The octopus-like, beast-man professor, with his multiple arms, swayed his body in a gesture of acceptance. Barsabe immediately charged at her friends, swinging her sword. They threw away their water bottles and scattered.

“Come here!”

Especially you, the one who said Ian Hadel might get hurt! I’ll pull out all your teeth!

As Barsabe charged with a fierce look in her eyes, the professor clapped repeatedly, praising her.

“That’s right! Swordsmanship is about momentum! A blade with momentum can cut through anything! Barsabe, try using your waist more flexibly! Then it will be harder for your friends to block your attacks!”

“Professor! Why are you only helping Barsabe?”

“Aha! Friends, focus on Barsabe’s sword! Barsabe’s sword doesn’t have a wide angle!”

“Aaaah!”

Clang! Clack!

The process of blocking and parrying each other’s swords was repeated. The octopus professor swayed his body as if it was a beautiful dance.

“Uwaaaah!”

At first, she was swinging her sword because she was annoyed by the students badmouthing Ian Hadel, but not anymore. With each exchange of blows, Barsabe’s concentration intensified.

Every time the swords clashed and vibrated, a hot sensation surged in her chest, and soon, when Barsabe’s sword reached near her opponent’s neck-

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Clang!

The octopus professor blocked it with his own sword.

Barsabe, catching her breath with heightened emotions, and the students, who were dumbfounded, watched as the octopus professor gently moved Barsabe’s sword with his fingertips and praised her.

“Good. As always, Barsabe is excellent!”

“…Thank you, Professor.”

“Alright, that’s it for today’s class. Everyone worked hard. Keep striving for improvement, but don’t get too caught up in it. If you do, the sword you wield will end up cutting your own neck. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Thank you for the good teaching.”

“Now, salute!”

“Thank you!”

Barsabe casually bumped fists with the student she had sparred with and passed by. Not a single word was exchanged, but they shared many unspoken greetings: Good work, that was fun, sorry, and so on.

As Barsabe slung her bag over her shoulder, the professor added a warning.

“Oh, and recently, there have been many reports of students fighting in the city! Proud Energes students, please be careful not to get involved in such disgraceful incidents! Remember that Energes students are different from ordinary people!”

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Since the class was over, most of the students answered casually and scattered. The octopus professor also swayed away from the training ground, and Barsabe immediately headed to the annex where Ian Hadel was.

Thwack! Thump!

Even in that short time, explosions could still be heard. Barsabe quickened her pace with worry. Soon, she threw open the door marked ‘Room 203.’

Creak!

“Huh?”

“Sister?”

She had expected some bizarre, violent, and absurd lesson to be going on, but Ian Hadel and Hale were floating in the air, freely swimming. Barsabe frowned and looked around the classroom.

“Ian, are you okay?”

“Yes? What do you mean? Sister, look at this. I can fly now!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Whoooosh!

Ian blasted a magic sphere against the wall, and his body was pushed back by the reaction. All the loud noises she had heard so far must have been from that.

“Ian, this is freestyle.”

“Oh…. Excellent.”

“Butterfly.”

“I’m doing backstroke.”

“Underwater.”

Isn’t that man a professor? What kind of magic professor teaches swimming poses? In the air, no less?

As Barsabe gave him a suspicious look, Hale made an excuse.

“We’re practicing basic flying postures.”

“……”

That means, don’t go telling the headmaster.

Barsabe glanced at Ian Hadel, who was happily flying, and replied.

“Class time is over, Professor.”

“Ah, already?”

“Ian, should I go first?”

“No, Sister. Let’s go together.”

Tap.

Ian landed carefully. The child, without even taking off his bag, bowed to Hale again.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, Professor.”

“Good work, Ian.”

Creak!

Sizzle-

As the two children left, Hale, as if he had been waiting, took out a lighter from his pocket and lit a cigarette. Wisps of smoke rose, and his thoughts followed.

‘No matter how I think about it, the depth of that magic power earlier was absurd. And the amount, too.’

He had seen all sorts of people while working as a mercenary, but in front of Ian Hadel, they were nothing but ordinary. A true genius, that’s what this must be.

“The magic department is in luck.”

The appearance of a genius mage has a great impact on the position of the entire magic department. Hale chuckled, thinking of the faded memories of mages, and slowly landed. Through the window in the distance, he could see the backs of Ian Hadel and Barsabe running away.

“I’ll have to watch a bit more.”

* * *

Tap tap!

“How’s the professor?”

“Hmm, he seems like a good person.”

“He seemed like a loafer……”

“Oh, the carriage is here.”

The coachman, who recognized Ian and Barsabe, took off his hat and greeted them. He took their bags, opened the door, and guided them in.

“Romandro has already gone to the Imperial Palace. I will be escorting you today. Will Miss Barsabe also be going to the Imperial Palace?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Neigh!

The carriage started to move lightly along the path. Then, Ian, who was looking out the window, noticed a familiar face. It was Hans.

Hans was running alone, and he looked somewhat lonely.

‘Didn’t his brother come to pick him up today?’

Toc toc.

Ian tapped on the coachman’s seat, signaling him to slow down. The carriage slowly slowed down and maintained a distance next to Hans.

“Hans.”

“Huh?”

Turning his head at the familiar voice, he saw Ian Hadel looking down at him. Hans turned his head away as if he wasn’t very happy to see him.

“Didn’t your brother come to pick you up today?”

“…My brother doesn’t come every day. He has to work.”

“I see. Then, do you want to ride in the carriage? I’ll give you a ride.”

He also wanted to see Hans’s brother again, but more than that, Hans looked a little tired.

His steps were weak. His face was a little pale…. But Hans immediately refused Ian’s offer.

“No thanks.”

“Why?”

The child didn’t answer. It seemed like there was a reason, but since he wasn’t saying it easily, Ian leaned against the window frame and waited calmly. It was the impatient Barsabe who shouted first.

“Hey! Did Ian Hadel do something wrong to you?”

“……?”

“He’s offering you a ride, and you’re acting all ungrateful. Ugh!”

“I did do something wrong, though?”

“What?”

“Here, the wound.”

Hans calmly pointed to the bandage on his forehead. And then, the bump on the back of his head, the scratches on his arm, and so on.

Barsabe wondered what he was talking about and turned to look at Ian. The child just smiled awkwardly and gestured that such a thing had happened.

“Hans, that’s why I’m saying I’ll give you a ride.”

“I said no!”

It was the moment Hans shouted.

Grumble.

The sound of a stomach rumbling came from somewhere.

As Ian and Barsabe paused with wide eyes, Hans’s pale cheeks flushed red. Today was his brother’s work day, so he had even skipped lunch.

“Oh, right, Hans. I haven’t eaten my lunch box yet-”

Ian rummaged through his bag as if he had remembered something. He had been so engrossed in the magic lesson that he had forgotten to eat his lunch box. To be precise, he wasn’t hungry because of the snacks Hale had given him.

“Do you want to eat this together while we ride?”

Hans stopped and stared at the lunch box. No matter what, he was helpless in front of food. As saliva was about to leak from Hans’s slightly open mouth, Barsabe kicked the door open.

“Get in.”

Yes. Thank you. Hans got into the carriage without saying another word and took the lunch box from Ian.

“Where is your house?”

“…Lugerspell.”

Lugerspell. It was a slum area considered a headache in the center. Barsabe paused for a moment, but Ian, who didn’t know much about it, cheerfully asked the coachman.

“Please go to Lugerspell!”

Hans devoured the lunch box like crazy. Ian and Barsabe had a casual conversation so that the child wouldn’t feel awkward, and the coachman hesitated for a moment before turning the horse’s head towards Lugerspell.

Neigh!

“Hans, how many siblings do you have?”

“I have one older brother. We live together.”

“Ah, I see. The one I saw last time?”

“Yeah. But why do you keep showing interest in my brother?”

Why? Ian smiled softly and tilted his head.

“I don’t know.”

“I have nothing else to do.”

“Hans, if you entered Energes, you must have some special ability. What is it? What about your brother? Is your brother ordinary?”

He had definitely felt something back then, but he didn’t know why only Hans was attending school. Hans chewed on the meat and answered.

“Mental calculation and memorization.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t forget anything I’ve seen. I can calculate any large number instantly.”

“Wow.”

He’s a genius. Ian and Barsabe let out an exclamation close to shock.

It’s not that ‘special schools’ necessarily require magic or supernatural abilities. If a student had the potential to become a talent for the empire’s future, they actively supported their educational opportunities.

‘The tuition is free, which is good, but they don’t give us food. Damn it.’

From Hans’s answer, Ian realized that they had never taken a magic sensitivity test.

It was a sad but common occurrence. He himself was a ‘noble’ but an orphan who had lost both parents, so he was given the opportunity, but if not, he would have lived without realizing his magical talent.

‘If it weren’t for the late Emperor Jin Verosian.’

Then, could Ian himself help others this time? What if one of these brothers had magical talent?

They would be able to escape their financial difficulties and live comfortably. A mage’s salary is said to be dozens of times higher than that of an ordinary person.

“Excuse me, young master, young lady.”

The coachman, who had been driving well, suddenly stopped the carriage. Looking around, they had already entered the entrance of the slum.

“Do we have to go further in?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, there are many thugs who target luxury carriages. If possible, I would like to turn back here……”

Hans waved his hand as if to say it was okay and opened the carriage door. Even though it was daytime, people with hazy eyes were giggling and staring at them.

“You can drop me off here. Thanks for the ride. Oh, and the food too.”

As Hans walked away, Ian followed him without hesitation. The reason he had come this far today was to meet Hans’s brother. If he turned back here, who knew when he would get another chance?

“Wait, Hans.”

“Huh? Ian! You wait!”

And Barsabe, startled, followed behind them. The coachman shouted not to go, but the children didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Go to the Imperial Palace first! We’ll go in after we’re done here!”

“Young Master Ian, please come back! Miss, you can’t go!”

“I’ll protect Ian, don’t worry!”

“How are you going to come back?”

“By flying!”

“What?”

What was that supposed to mean?

The coachman stared blankly at the children with a dumbfounded expression, then, feeling the gazes of the drunks, hurriedly turned the carriage around. It was impossible to catch them by running, so it would be better to inform Romandro or the Count’s residence about the situation.

“Giddyup!”

Tap!

At the coachman’s whip, the horses kicked their front legs and galloped powerfully.