Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 948

“What’s the situation with the general participants?”\n\n”We’re checking each participant, but so far, there’s no one who seems to have the potential of a mana user or a magic swordsman,” Ian replied, handing over the documents to the mage.\n\nBefore the sparring matches that were about to begin, the atmosphere was so heated that it felt like it was about to explode. Barsabe and Berrick were also seen going to their respective areas, warming up, praying solemnly, and hurling insults at their opponents as they prepared in their own ways.\n\n”Didn’t we say there were about 5,000 participants this time?”\n\n”That’s right. But looking at it today, it seems to be a little more than expected.”\n\n”But not a single one among them….”\n\nThe mage muttered in a frustrated tone, and Ian added,\n\n”I’ll go and check again.”\n\n”Yes. Let’s cross-check. Those guys over there are just a bunch of duds.”\n\nIt was something the mages in the general test area would immediately protest if they heard, but Ian just smiled faintly and nodded.\n\n”Still, we’ve secured two magic swordsmen, so this test is quite fruitful.”\n\nHe was referring to Barsabe and Berrick. The mage scratched his forehead with the edge of the documents and grumbled.\n\n”It’s only good for the Imperial Guard, huh.”\n\nThe Magic Department had lost two colleagues not long ago. Even putting aside the aching emptiness in their hearts, they were short-handed, so the Magic Department was in a state of emergency.\n\nBecause of that, even Arena’s iron rule of ‘Ian doesn’t do overtime’ had been broken.\n\n”If the Imperial Guard becomes stronger, it’s good for us too.”\n\n”Ian, sometimes you seem too old for your age.”\n\n”Is that so?”\n\nAt his light smile without denying it, the mage was at a loss for words.\n\nAt that moment, a whistle blew from somewhere. It was the signal to start the test. Ian and the mages raised the protective shields in the prepared arenas.\n\nZiiing! Ziiing!\n\nThey had separated as many as twenty spaces and set up independent protective shields in each. Those who saw it for the first time touched it with their hands as if amazed, and soon the staff’s guidance followed.\n\n”Once you enter, you cannot leave until the winner is decided. The protective shield cannot be broken by any means, so participants, please do your best to show your abilities.”\n\n”What if it breaks? I don’t have to pay for it, do I?”\n\nA rough-looking man tapped the protective shield and grinned. The staff’s expression twisted strangely at his arrogant attitude. Then, a mage nearby smiled brightly and guided him.\n\n”If anyone breaks the protective shield, they will immediately pass with honors, regardless of the rest of the test.”\n\n”What? Really?”\n\n”Of course. Isn’t that right, Ian?”\n\nAt the mage’s question, Ian nodded slightly.\n\nAlthough the mages were working together, it was entirely Ian who was maintaining the center, distributing mana, and focusing on maintaining the protective shield. Breaking the protective shield meant that they had broken through Ian’s mana. Even though he wasn’t a mage, if someone suppressed the power of a genius mage, they would be immediately recruited. If they could break it, that is.\n\n”That sounds good?”\n\n”I don’t have to suffer for days.”\n\n”Hey, don’t just focus on breaking the shield! I’m your opponent!”\n\n”Why not do both? Hahaha!”\n\nThe participants couldn’t hide their excitement.\n\nIn response, Barsabe clicked her tongue, looking disgusted as she put on her protective gear. Looking at their sorry state, they all seemed like street thugs who had lived like ruffians, relying only on their abilities.\n\n”Hey, pretty. Let’s play for a long time?”\n\nWhen her opponent greeted her with a sly smile, Barsabe drew her sword instead of replying.\n\nThen, Berrick, who was on the opposite side, put his face against the protective shield as if he had heard nonsense and shouted.\n\n”Pretty? That bastard’s eyes are messed up! Barsabe! If you lose to a guy like that, you better jump off that bridge over there.”\n\n”Shut up and do well yourself.”\n\nBarsabe took a breath and stepped onto the arena. She could see the Imperial Guard members on the second floor, who were there to observe the test. They were people she had been close to since she was young, like uncles and aunts.\n\nAnd most of all-\n\n’Father.’\n\nCommander Herch was watching Barsabe with his arms crossed.\n\nShe clenched the hilt of her sword, determined to show everything she had in this place.\n\nSwoosh.\n\n”Well, shall we start? Pretty?”\n\n”…I should cut off that tongue of yours first.”\n\n”What?”\n\nChwaaaak!\n\nIn the blink of an eye, Barsabe was in front of her opponent. Her eyes flashed, and mana swirled around her.\n\nThe man felt the energy of the sword blade coming at his side and reflexively activated his ability.\n\n”……!”\n\n”Almost got me?”\n\nThe man blocked Barsabe’s sword with his bare hand. His palm had turned into steel. He was an ability user who could alter and strengthen parts of his body.\n\nBarsabe quickly turned her waist and attacked the other side, but this time, his entire side turned into steel. The sword blade bounced off weakly. Under the torn hem of her clothes, dark metallic skin was revealed.\n\n”Hahaha! Miss! I’m sorry, but if you don’t want to get hurt, give up here! It would break my heart if your pretty face got a scratch?”\n\nBarsabe confirmed that her sword had been deflected. She clicked her tongue, threw away her sword, and pulled out a dagger from her waist.\n\nThe man continued to swagger, slowly and arrogantly approaching. Since she couldn’t cut him no matter what, he would eventually win, wouldn’t he?\n\n”……”\n\nBarsabe held the dagger with both hands and carefully examined her opponent. Then, once again, she moved around him at lightning speed, looking for an opening and stabbing wildly.\n\nPook! Pook!\n\nChwaaaak!\n\nHowever, the man’s steel body did not bleed a single drop. Instead, as if giving a lady a chance, he raised both hands and hummed a tune leisurely.\n\nChwaak! Swish!\n\nThe Magic Department and the Imperial Guard observers whispered at the same time as they watched.\n\n”He’s a tricky opponent. A mage would be able to handle him, but it might be difficult for a magic swordsman.”\n\n”I wonder if Barsabe can summon ‘the sword’ [a special technique or weapon].”\n\n”I don’t know about that. Commander, what do you think?”\n\nEven at the guards’ questions, Herch remained silent with his arms crossed.\n\nMeanwhile, the Magic Department also lamented Barsabe’s struggle.\n\n”Ugh, that bastard, I could just burn him to a crisp.”\n\n”Ian, Barsabe won’t lose, will she?”\n\n”Well, since there’s no attack that goes through when she stabs, I guess it’ll be a battle of attrition. Isn’t that the most vulnerable part for Barsabe?”\n\nIan leaned against the railing and carefully observed Barsabe’s attack. A sword that was faster than lightning and wrapped around the opponent’s body like the wind. As Ian watched it, a smile appeared on his lips.\n\n”It’s okay. She’s checking something right now.”\n\n”Checking? Checking what?”\n\nThe mages narrowed their eyes at Ian’s words, but they couldn’t figure it out. They only saw the pitiful situation of her endlessly launching attacks that didn’t work.\n\n”I’m getting bored, miss. Why don’t we stop and go play outside?”\n\nIt was the moment when the man, who had been showing off with his hands raised, yawned and muttered.\n\nPook!\n\nThe dagger was lodged in his mouth. Of course, it turned into steel reflexively, so he didn’t get a single scratch.\n\nEveryone was surprised by the unexpected attack. Except for one person, Barsabe. She twisted the dagger with a crunch and muttered.\n\n”…It only reacts to sharp parts?”\n\nShe realized that he only turned into steel to protect himself from attacks that cut the skin. The man, whose tongue had turned into steel, blinked in confusion.\n\nWhik!\n\nThwack!\n\nIf so, the sword was useless against him. Barsabe immediately punched him in the abdomen and kicked him in the face with all her might.\n\nChwaaaak!\n\nKooong!\n\nThe man, with a dagger in his mouth, flew into the air and crashed into the protective shield. It was an incredible force that was hard to believe came from a woman’s body. The man, whose spine was chilled, spat out the dagger and tried to get up.\n\n”Stay down.”\n\nBarsabe kneed him in the jaw.\n\n”……!”\n\nThe man felt it instinctively. He had lost. He wouldn’t be able to win even if he gave it his all.\n\nBut it was too late when he realized that. Barsabe continued to punch him without any mercy, and finally, she sat on his shoulders and began to choke his neck with her arm.\n\nSqueeze.\n\n”Cuh, cuh-huh, cough….”\n\nThe man tried to escape by hitting Barsabe with his arms, but she held on tightly and didn’t budge.\n\nAfter about 20 seconds, the man’s eyes rolled back, and he lost all strength in his body.\n\nKooong!\n\nAs the man fell forward and fainted with his mouth open, Barsabe picked up the dagger and grabbed him by the hair. Then, she muttered to her opponent, who couldn’t hear her.\n\n”Didn’t I tell you? I’d cut off your tongue?”\n\nDrops of sweat poured down Barsabe’s hair and chin like rain. It was because she had consumed an enormous amount of stamina in a short time. In addition to the explosive power that had subdued the man like a baby.\n\nThe eyes of the observers who were watching this shone. Although she didn’t defeat him with a sword, it was a duel that clearly showed how strong a warrior she was.\n\n”Sister.”\n\nWhen Ian called Barsabe, she smiled while holding the man’s hair.\n\n”Ah, don’t worry.”\n\nDamn it. She wanted to cut it off, but who knows? He might become a colleague in the Imperial Guard. Barsabe punched the man in the mouth one last time and got up.\n\n”Number 134, test complete. Barsabe wins, Alcaeman loses.”\n\nAs the examiner blew the whistle and announced the results, Ian removed the protective shield. At the same time, healing mages flew over to check the man’s condition.\n\nBarsabe wiped the sweat with a towel and looked up at the second floor, where her father was.\n\nSmirk.\n\nWhen Barsabe smiled and made a V sign with her fingers, Herch shrugged and gave an inscrutable smile. It was a smile that was hard to tell whether it was pride, admiration, or just thinking of her as a troublemaker.\n\n”Barsabe, well done! Damn, you have to be that good to be my meal.”\n\nBerrick cheered with his face pressed against the protective shield. She wiped her sweat and looked at Berrick.\n\n”What are you doing?”\n\nWhile I was finishing, you haven’t even started yet?\n\nUnlike the other arenas where loud noises and explosions were erupting one after another, Berrick’s arena was quiet. Barsabe received her certificate of passing and looked at Berrick’s opponent.\n\n”I don’t know. I want to fight too, but my opponent isn’t reacting.”\n\n”Is that a person?”\n\n”I don’t think it’s something you can eat.”\n\nIt was a mass of gooey liquid, clumped together in an unidentifiable shape.\n\nBarsabe frowned, and the mages and Imperial Guard members clicked their tongues as they checked the documents.\n\n”Ah, Berrick’s opponent is that person….”\n\n”We shouldn’t give that thing time.”\n\nBerrick, as if bored, sat down on the floor and poked his opponent with the tip of his sword.\n\n”Hey, let’s fight already. I was going to finish before Barsabe, but this is troublesome-“\n\nIt was then. The quiet mass of liquid wriggled and suddenly began to swell. Little by little, but endlessly, it swelled.\n\nIan, who was watching this, muttered.\n\n”…I’ll reset the area of the protective shield.”\n\nA huge body reaching tens of meters in height. And a mouth dripping with poisonous liquid….\n\nBerrick stared blankly at it and tilted his head without realizing it.\n\n”Huh?”\n\n…Is that a person?