Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 196

A blue dagger flickered under Barsabe’s palm.

A weapon forged from mana. She pulled Beric towards her and simultaneously struck down on the armor with all her might, channeling the dagger.

Clang!

Swish!

It was precisely where the collarbone would be. A powerful and clean attack that would have instantly killed an ordinary person.

However, Barsabe’s mana blade shattered like sand upon striking the armor. Startled by the dissipating rays of light, Barsabe unintentionally lowered her stance.

“…What are those things?”

A single blow only left a scratch. Armor that could withstand a swordmaster’s attack. Was it made from mana stones? Come to think of it, it looked familiar.

“Hayman, ugh, sons of bitches to kill. It freaking hurts, seriously.”

Beric rubbed his side, slightly staggering as if breathing was difficult. Barsabe frowned at his muttering.

Right. The armor had a similar design to the guards protecting the bank. But why were they doing this? Threatening Beric, or more precisely, Merry Daily?

“Molars, where did you pop out from?”

“I’ve been following you since you left the city gates.”

“Seems like you have a stalking fetish. How low.”

“Ha.”

Who was this idiot calling low? Barsabe gritted her teeth and grabbed Beric by the collar. The armored group they were facing off against had long been out of her mind.

“You crazy bastard, I can’t take that from you of all people. I save your sorry ass, and what?”

“Aha. Thanks for that. But you have a history. Last time, you lost a molar while stalking me and Ian, remember?”

“Shut up! I was on standby under Sir Jeirutt’s orders. But of all people, it had to be you who came out, so I followed!”

When the city gates opened midway, Jeirutt had issued orders to some subordinates as he entered the palace. To stand by outside, maintain order, assess the situation, and regroup if contact was lost.

“Why did you come out? How?”

“Ian’s errand.”

“Is everyone all right?”

“Your friends? Who knows? Probably? Oh, Riama, she’s from your group, right? That woman is dead. I believe they killed her.”

As Beric pointed, Barsabe blinked as if she had misheard.

What was this bastard saying? Lady Riama passed away? Lady Riama, one of the Three Captains? By those armored men?

“Those bastards really messed things up in the palace. Ian is losing his shit trying to handle it, seriously. Ptooey!”

The clues were fragmented but clear. Beric gripped the Black Sword properly and rushed forward, deflecting the incoming fist as if brushing it aside. Barsabe blankly stared at his back.

‘Riama was defeated.’

“No!”

“Ack!”

Swish!

As a chill flashed, Barsabe swiftly grabbed Beric by the nape. Losing his center of gravity, Beric moved in a zigzag like a drunkard, shaking his legs.

“What?! Don’t interfere!”

“You idiot, didn’t you say Riama was defeated? Even if we attack simultaneously, we definitely can’t win.”

The title of Three Captains wasn’t bestowed for nothing. It was an honorable title given only to the strongest knights who directly attended to and guarded the emperor, referred to as the world’s dignity.

If Riama, one of them, was defeated, the two of them stood no chance.

“Can’t win? Who decides that?”

“There’s nothing to decide. It’s already been decided.”

“You talk well for someone missing molars.”

“Hey!”

“I’ll win!”

“I’m telling you, we’ll die!”

“Ian will scold me if I can’t protect Viviana!”

Tap tap tap! Bang!

Swish!

Beric’s mind seemed to have no concept of superiority or inferiority in strength. He just charged in, flashing his eyes as if winning, killing, and breaking were everything in the world.

Beric slipped through the barrage of attacks and infiltrated their midst.

“You idiot!”

Barsabe gritted her teeth and jumped in with him. Then she barely deflected a fist aiming for the back of Beric’s neck.

Clang!

“I’ll win!”

“Ah, seriously!”

“Damn it, I only know how to win!”

Bang! Boom!

Bam!

As Beric leaped into the air and struck the opponent’s helmet, the Black Sword emitted a purple glow and unleashed a tremendous impact.

The windows of nearby buildings shattered sequentially, and cracks formed on the ground. The one who took a direct hit staggered and barely regained his stance.

‘Dangerous.’

Crack.

A fissure appeared on the helmet. The subordinate in armor met Beric’s flashing eyes through that gap.

Are those the eyes of a human?

The burning red contained the flames of hell itself.

“So there is a human inside. Heh.”

“This, this crazy…”

“I changed my mind. I’ll just take one.”

Bang! Boom!

Bam!

Every time he leaped off the ground, three or four attacks rained down. Beric laughed loudly, aiming for only one spot. The cracked spot where he could identify his opponent.

“If I kill this one, I’ll be stronger than Riama, right? Huh?”

“Even a mad dog doesn’t act this uppity.”

Swish!

Thud!

Another grabbed Beric’s head and threw him against the wall. Beric, who flew over a dozen meters and crashed into the wall, realized he couldn’t move his neck.

“Ah. Aah. Dammit, I’m going to die, ugh.”

“The commotion is too big. Let’s quickly clean up before the guards arrive.”

“I don’t think they’ll come. Haven’t seen the guards’ faces in a while since the palace closed.”

Crack. Distant.

Beric wiggled his head, gauging if his bones were shattered. Fortunately, they moved a little.

When he finally brushed off his spinning vision, Barsabe stood between him and the armored men, pointing her sword.

Shing!

“Do you know who your master is?”

“Step aside. If you want to die first, I can’t help it.”

“Our master doesn’t know what I’m doing. Then I suppose the same goes for your master.”

At Barsabe’s rebuke, the approaching men hesitated.

Her mind was complex right now. Thoughts and judgments occurred simultaneously, and they were blurted out without filtering. Every minute and second was urgent, so it was only natural. She could only hope it roughly aligned.

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”

Since the palace was closed, they likely didn’t receive direct orders from Hayman either. They simply knew their master’s plan and stepped forward to stop anything that went against it.

“Beric, tell me now! Whose orders are you acting on?”

“I told you, Ian’s?”

He wondered why she was suddenly asking that. Beric stood up, dusting off the dirt, and soon realized Barsabe was sending a hand signal behind her back.

Right? Left?

One? Fist? Ground?

What?

“I’m carrying out duties under the orders of Ministry of Magic Minister Ian Hielo. If you continue to interfere, I will inform the palace and formally raise the issue with your master.”

“…The dead don’t speak.”

“But I’m alive. Do you know they use Truth Potion during Ministry of Magic investigations? Even if it was unknown to him, it will be difficult for your master to avoid responsibility. Ah, my apologies. I should have said ‘Duke Hayman,’ right?”

Swish!

Barsabe deliberately scattered her mana to obstruct their vision.

It was a very brief moment. Silhouettes dispersing amidst the rays of light. Although Barsabe was clearly alone, two shadows split left and right and vanished.

“Chase them! They’re definitely heading to the palace.”

“As expected of a swordmaster, pulling a trick before leaving.”

“Two to the right, two to the left! Catch and kill them.”

“Catch them before they make contact with the outside.”

“One of you clean up here!”

Out of the five suits of armor, four split left and right to pursue Barsabe. Merry Daily was stuck in a corner, and Barsabe was running through winding alleyways, so it made sense for more pursuers to follow her.

Tap tap tap!

Thud! Thud!

Watching the disappearing armor, Beric laughed as if he finally understood.

‘Right, left, one, fist, ground.’

Split right and left to lure them away, so you take on one and fight. Or die trying.

“Ahahah! Crazy. Molars is going to lose her front teeth too.”

“Laughing when you’re about to die?”

“Of course I’m laughing, you idiot. Now she’s taking on four, and I’m taking on one. Ah, eeny meeny miny moe. Who’s going to die? Hehe.”

Ptooey!

Beric spat out saliva mixed with blood and gripped the Black Sword tightly. Grinning, his teeth were fully visible. They were all drenched red with blood.

The opponent gulped and clenched his fists.

The spirit of a madman felt through the armor. Even knowing he had the upper hand in strength, the opponent’s scorching energy made it hard to perceive it as reality.

“Ian said he’d buy me a whole pig-“

“Shut up!”

“If I win!!”

Bang! Boom!

The sound of clashing.

Viviana tightly gripped the dagger with both hands, trembling. Only the sounds could be heard from inside the building, not the sight.

Clank clank, whirr.

Tap! Tap tap! Screech!

Amidst the running printing press, the Merry Daily staff relentlessly pounded on their typewriters. Typing the same sentences over and over again. To produce as many extras as possible.

Bang! Bam!

Clank clank! Tap tap!

“Aaaargh! Damn it!”

“Flip the paper over!”

“We’re running out of ink! Bring more from the storage room!”

“Hurry! Hurry! Aaaargh!”

“Keep copying by hand while it’s printing! Keep going!”

The steady and monotonous noise from the office and the violent and intermittent booms from outside created a harmonious dissonance. Viviana continued to pray to the gods.

How long had passed like that?

Someone grabbed her shoulder.

“Ma’am!”

“Ah!”

Everyone had flushed faces. Filled with excitement and tension, even sweating. An employee pointed at the clock and shouted. It was almost five o’clock.

“It’s done. Let’s go now!”

“Ah, yes, give it to me! I’ll carry it!”

“There’s our cart out the back door. Load the extras and head to the main road! Let’s scatter them as close to the palace as possible!”

“Let’s go! Lock the door and come out! It’s dangerous!”

“Oh my, let’s hurry!”

The papers printed over an hour filled ten boxes. Viviana rolled up her sleeves and moved them to the cart, then took a seat next to the driver.

“Those who can’t fit in the cart, take shelter for now! The palace gates will open at five! See you again when it’s safe!”

“Please, please.”

“Yes. Please.”

They didn’t exchange long goodbyes but bid farewell with their eyes. Minnie and an employee sat behind the cart, tightly holding the tied boxes.

Neigh!

Tap!

“Hiyah!”

The horse, anxious from the commotion, ran vigorously when the time was right.

Soon, Viviana, who had turned the corner of the building, covered her mouth in horror as she looked towards the entrance. Wasn’t that Beric, drenched in blood and looking miserable, grasping the entrance frame with both hands?

“Sir Beric!”

“Ah, damn…”

“Sir Beric!”

“Dammit!”

One suit of armor tried to chase after the cart but soon had his legs tied up. It was because of Beric tightly grappling him.

“…Where are you going?”

“Get out of the way!”

“…Don’t you dare.”

Tap tap tap!

Viviana twisted her head back to look at Beric. Everything except his pupils was red, making his face unrecognizable. She bit her lip hard and shouted, “We’ll be right back!”

“Bring Ian.”

“Stay alive! Stay alive!”

The cart deftly exited the alley and ran along the main road.

In the past three days, hardly anyone had come out to the streets. Minnie spotted people in the distance and tearfully scattered the papers.

“Extra! Extra!”

“Extra! Mariv and Gale clashed in the palace!”

“The Ministry of Magic mediated and resolved it!”

“Extra! Extra!”

Tap tap tap!

Small papers fluttered where the cart passed. People standing by the roadside picked them up one by one and read them, then looked towards the palace.

“It’s an extra. Finally, some news!”

“Give me one too!”

“His Highness Mariv and His Highness Gale?”

“What about His Majesty? My goodness, what are the princes doing?”

“Extra! Extra!”

Dong! Dang!

The sound of a bell ringing in the distance.

The sound signaling five o’clock.

Viviana held her fluttering hair together and shouted, “Extra! The palace gates will open soon!”

Dong! Dang!

At the same time, the tightly closed city gates slowly opened. The waiting crowd in front stirred and gradually approached.

“Extra!”

Swish!

A sharp wind quickly passed through the gap. It headed towards the cart Viviana was riding with unerring precision.

“The Ministry of Magic is handling the palace situation!”

“Huh? Uh-oh?”

The man holding the cart’s reins stuttered and hesitated as he felt a cold energy approaching.

It was the wind.

A very sharp and huge wind that seemed capable of cutting through a veil.

“Extra!”

Flutter! Flap!

Swish!

The wind penetrated the cart.

The messily stacked papers suddenly shot into the air and spread in all directions, riding the air currents.

Like the flower petals the Ministry of Magic had shown before the New Year’s meeting, the extras blanketed all of Bariel.