Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 920

-Kkyuuuuu!

Ako whipped her head around at the dragon’s distant cry. That little punk! She’d been waiting, eyes burning, for him to show up, and he’d walked right into it!

“You little rascal!”

Whoosh!

Kkyu’s flapping wings made the nearby tents shake precariously. Ian covered his face with his sleeve, and the soldiers, startled by the dragon’s sudden landing, hurriedly backed away.

Ako, clearly annoyed, threw a jab at the dragon’s side. It didn’t do any damage because of his hard scales, but she felt like she wouldn’t be able to calm her anger if she didn’t do something.

“Why would a punk like you raid the warehouse? I told you not to do anything that would get you caught here, didn’t I? You’ve lived for 100 years; it’s time you learned some sense!”

-Kkyuuuuu!

Kkyu slammed his tail on the ground as if protesting and let out a snort. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but Ako was already seeing red, and Hale was too busy smoking a cigarette. It was the moment Ian stepped forward to stop Ako.

Flap!

A carrier pigeon flew into the Bariel camp.

Hale also raised his head, looking puzzled. What business would a carrier pigeon have here? If it was from central command, they would have sent it before they left, but he hadn’t heard anything. More importantly, it came from the north.

“Hey, Ako.”

“Huh?”

Ako, who had been gnawing on the dragon’s wing, belatedly looked up at the sky.

“What’s with the sudden pigeon?”

The carrier pigeon went straight into Crony’s tent. It was definitely a message from the north. The question was what it said…

“What is it? Why are the northern guys contacting us?”

“It could be about us-”

“Huh?”

Ako tilted her head. It couldn’t be about something so trivial. It would be about something more important, the very reason they were camped out in the middle of nowhere facing each other.

“Sending a carrier pigeon when there are so many eyes in broad daylight?”

Otherwise, they wouldn’t send a carrier pigeon so openly. It would have been less suspicious if they had sent a messenger instead.

Whoosh!

Shortly after, Crony’s subordinates rushed out of his tent. Trumpets sounded from all over, and all the soldiers except the mages were busy rushing to their positions.

“What’s going on?” Ako asked Crony, who appeared. He looked north without any change in his expression and replied.

“…I proposed a surrender to the north, but they flatly refused. I can’t let it go any longer, so I will launch a preemptive attack.”

“Suddenly?”

“Suddenly? Is there any battlefield where you give a warning before fighting? Oh, and you said the return date is in six days, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“It seems like I won’t be able to have a deep conversation with Uncle Ian because of the battle, so let’s make time before that day. Mages, please stay in this camp. You have a separate mission.”

As he said, the mages hadn’t come to participate in the war, but just to get the guardian’s consent, right? So, he meant for them to step back from the battlefield and just watch.

They were going to do that anyway, but when Crony added that, the three mages’ eyes narrowed at the same time.

“Well, then.”

After nodding, Crony walked past them, listening to his subordinates’ reports and quickly moving away.

Ian felt an unknown sense of unease as he subtly tugged on Ako’s sleeve. Ako and Hale felt the same way.

“Isn’t it strange?”

“Yeah. No matter how you look at it.”

“It would be good to watch for a bit.”

It was then. Kkyu grabbed Ian’s shirt and flew into the sky in an instant.

“Ugh.”

Whoosh!

“Kkyu! Ian!”

“Why is he doing that?”

Ako and Hale, who hadn’t been in the Magic Department for long, couldn’t accurately interpret Kkyu’s actions. Was it just a dragon’s prank or a whim? Not knowing what was going on, the two followed the dragon into the sky.

Thud!

Kkyu, who had quickly put Ian on his back, rose higher and higher. In an instant, they were high enough to see both camps at a glance. Everything looked small, like ants moving around a toy flag.

“Kkyu, what’s wrong?”

“You little punk, do you really want to die?”

While Ako was climbing onto Kkyu’s back, Hale stood still and looked down.

The Bariel soldiers were forming ranks and marching out, as if they had been waiting for the order to advance. Ako turned to Hale with a suspicious look.

“Is it even possible to advance like that right after the order is given?”

“…It is possible. And that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

If it was a ‘normal’ state of war, that is.

However, the two camps were only nominally in a state of confrontation, and the soldiers’ morale was also at rock bottom. Moreover, there had been no reconnaissance or scouting operations for the past few days, so Crony was basically ordering an advance without any preparation.

“What confidence does he have? Why is he doing this?”

“Huh? Ako. Look over there.”

Ian pointed to the north. As soon as the trumpets sounded for the advance, the northern minority tribes abandoned their camps and slowly, little by little, retreated. Their movements were so orderly and calm, as if they knew in advance that Bariel would advance. Except for Astana.

“……!”

In an instant, lightning struck Ian’s mind. From the movements of both sides seen from the sky, he guessed what the message the carrier pigeon had brought was.

“They found it.”

“What?”

“Crony found Idgal’s location.”

Ako and Hale turned to Ian with puzzled faces, as if to say, what kind of nonsense is that? Ian explained step by step.

“Look. Only Astana is reacting differently. They look flustered because Bariel is suddenly advancing. It seems like they’re trying to fight back.”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

Unlike the other tribes that were retreating right away, Astana seemed too busy preparing for an attack.

“But why is that?”

“Astana holds the clue to Idgal, and because of this, the talks between the Northern Alliance and Crony have been indefinitely postponed. But now Crony is ordering an attack and advancing as if he doesn’t care about Astana.”

Hale’s eyes deepened as he listened silently.

“It means they don’t need Astana anymore.”

“I don’t know how they did it, but it’s clear that they confirmed Idgal’s location through another tribe. The tribes are trying to get rid of Astana at this opportunity.”

It is the only kingdom among the Northern Alliance. If Astana is destroyed by Bariel, other tribes will have a chance to aim for hegemony [leadership or dominance]. They have already cooperated by informing Crony of Idgal’s location, so if they take advantage of the opportunity, they might be able to build a kingdom even greater than Astana. They must be dreaming sweet dreams.

“So, you’re saying that the tribal guys are pretending to retreat and guiding them to where Idgal is?”

“Yeah. That’s how I see it. Professor Hale. What do you think?”

“It makes sense. The interests are clear.”

Hale nodded as if agreeing with Ian’s interpretation. Ako was dumbfounded and kept rubbing Ian’s cheeks.

“Those punks, how did they find out Idgal’s location?”

-Kkyuuuuuuu!

Kkyu roared loudly as if saying he knew too, but Ako just grabbed his horns and shook them back and forth, telling him to be quiet since she was already confused.

“Ako, and Professor. I think it’s right to save Astana for now.”

Isn’t there a saying that the enemy of an enemy is an ally? Crony was trying to destroy Astana, and Astana was friendly to Ian. It seemed like saving them would be helpful to Ian in the future.

And more than anything-

[Are you comfortable, both body and mind? And do you laugh often? I wonder if you are enjoying the morning sun every day, and if you are fully enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the night.]

Hasha’s voice, who was sincerely worried about him, bothered Ian. An emotion that he couldn’t put into words, as if he had to help them, confused Ian.

Hale took out a cigarette and nodded.

“Well. Astana also said that their goal was to get rid of Crony. It’s right to save them.”

“We can’t get involved.”

Ako added, staring at Hale.

If a member of the Magic Department turned their back on Bariel and helped the enemy, it was obvious what kind of disciplinary action, no, punishment they would receive upon returning to central command. If they were unlucky, they would be executed for treason.

Ako murmured, admiring the foresight of the Arena Minister.

“Seriously, that woman. She’s got the experience of a minister. Her judgment is top-notch.”

She was talking about the decision to assign a mage who was not affiliated with the Magic Department. Hale shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“I also make a living in Bariel, so I can’t attack my own side. I’ll try to buy some time by blocking them. But I can’t do it for long.”

“How long?”

“Five hours if I just use a shield?”

“That’s plenty of time!”

It wasn’t an attack from other mages or magical creatures, but just blocking the swords and spears of ordinary soldiers. He could easily handle that much by putting up a shield alone. Of course, it was also because Hale’s own magic power was vast.

“Okay. Then we’ll follow them.”

She was talking about Crony and the Northern Alliance guys who were putting on a show. Ako grabbed Kkyu’s horns and lightly shook them, giving instructions.

“Kkyu. Let’s go up higher so we don’t get caught and follow them slowly.”

-Kkyuuuuu!

Whoosh!

“Uwaaaaaaak!”

“Ugh!”

However, Kkyu ignored Ako’s words and flew straight ahead quickly. For some reason, the snorts he was letting out were a bonus. Idgal’s location, I know it too! Surprised by Kkyu’s sudden action, Ako and Ian had to lie flat and hold on tightly to Kkyu.

Hale, who was watching this, was amazed as he saw the dragon quickly moving away.

“He really doesn’t listen.”

It couldn’t be helped. He would leave the Idgal burial site to them, and he just had to do his job.

Hale descended vertically and landed in front of the Astana camp.

Thud.

“M-Mage!”

“Isn’t that the mage from before?”

“Be careful! It could be a trap from the Bariel guys.”

Ignoring the Astana soldiers who were flustered and didn’t know what to do, Hale looked straight ahead. The Bariel soldiers were screaming and running towards them.

“Hey.”

Hale made eye contact with the Astana representative who had just rushed over.

“Don’t step a single foot outside the camp.”

“Y-Yes?”

“And prepare a cigarette.”

Hale placed his hand on the ground and opened his golden eyes. A gust of wind instantly swirled around him. The short bushes fluttered and shook, and the Astana soldiers closed their eyes tightly and lowered their bodies.

Buzz! Buzz!

A huge shield centered on Hale enveloped the entire Astana camp in a semicircle. It was invisible because it was transparent, but every time a flying pebble hit it, it made a ‘thud’ sound and created a circular wave, like ripples on a quiet surface.

“Hey, move aside.”

Hale, having completed the shield, squeezed through the soldiers. Even if he wasn’t affiliated with the Magic Department, there was no need to openly announce that he had set up a shield.

Seeing this, the Astana representative swallowed hard as he looked at the Bariel soldiers charging from afar.

‘There was no mention of this, what is going on…’

Hale secretly approached the representative from behind, who was in a state of confusion.

“Didn’t you hear me? I’ll explain what’s going on-”

“…Yes?”

“Cigarette.”

“Ah! Ah, yes, yes!”

At Hale’s request, the representative followed him. The soldiers also hesitated and returned to their positions inside the shield, holding their weapons tightly.

* * *

Meanwhile, Ako and Ian felt like they were losing their minds due to Kkyu’s reckless flight.

Then, the speed gradually slowed down. Ako was still throwing up and feeling nauseous, and Ian was finally able to raise his head and look around.

“Ueeeeeek. Uek! You crazy lizard-”

“Ako, are you okay?”

“Are you?”

“I’m okay…”

Ian’s words stopped abruptly. At the same time, a golden hill could be seen in the distance. It was Idgal’s burial site.

“……!”

Ian’s eyes sparkled. It was unknown whether it was because of the joy of finally finding Idgal, or whether it was just shining because it was reflecting the golden hill.