Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Jin, You're a Precious Child
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Silver hair, blue eyes, and a scar running from his left forehead to his right jaw. It was the face of the next emperor that Ian remembered.
The future of the twin who had been with him since the moment of birth was now splitting at this very instant.
Just like Jin's face.
“Prince Marib, step back.”
Ian warned Marib.
That child was his own bloodline.
Because of that child, his future self had been born.
In another sense, he was true family—a dignified existence that someone like Marib could not harm.
Swaaaa—
The natural breeze intertwined refreshingly with the air currents created by Ian's mana.
Ian extended both hands toward Jin, as if beckoning him to come.
“……”
Jin, who had been shedding tears, turned to look at Dillaina.
She remained frozen in panic, still holding Arsen in her arms.
There was no place for him in his mother's embrace.
Ta-at!
“…Jin!”
“……!”
Leaving Dillaina's cry behind, Jin dashed past Marib's sword.
Thump, thump—the violent pounding of his heart shook his senses.
If he looked back, it felt like someone would grab him, so the child clenched his teeth and ran with all his might.
His vision blurred with what might have been blood or tears, but it was okay.
The place where he would be welcomed stood firm.
Kwaaak.
Ian knelt to receive the running Jin.
The embrace dug in deeply, full of desperation.
Save me, it pleaded—help me, abandoned by my mother and brothers.
“Are you all right?”
Ian carefully examined the child's face.
The gash from his left forehead to his right jaw was deep.
Tears streamed endlessly from those sky-blue eyes.
“…Lord Ian.”
“Wipe away your tears. You are a precious one, Your Highness.”
At the gentle coaxing, the child finally burst into loud sobs.
Ian's comforting touch felt especially tender.
He had been the same way once.
Even an emperor couldn't escape the scars of life.
Just as Naum had comforted him when he hid away crying, Ian could only soothe Jin's tears.
“Ian. Hand over Jin.”
At that moment, Marib's sword pointed at Ian.
Jin's life was the price Dillaina had offered.
To boost his faction's morale, and to signal there was no turning back, he had to sever Jin's lifeline.
Jin flinched, sensing the killing intent directed at him.
“I cannot do that.”
“Not content with betrayal, you'll obstruct me now too?”
“That's a false accusation. Isn't this situation the result of Your Highness stealing His Majesty's seal?”
“Shut your mouth. If you hadn't colluded with Gail, I would have dealt with him long ago. No need for all this.”
Sreung.
Ian scooped up Jin.
At the same time, his hair fluttered.
Golden and silver strands swayed together, showing they stood in the same place.
“If it weren't for me, wouldn't Prince Marib have been the one dealt with instead? Have you never considered that?”
“Insolent!”
“Kyaaak!”
Chaeng! Chaeng!
At Marib's shout, the soldiers drew their swords.
Dillaina crouched protectively over Arsen, while Berik and Xiaoshi took defensive stances.
“……”
Xiaoshi glanced at Jin and Arsen, gripping his dagger.
Silver hair, blue eyes.
It was definitely the child he had seen in Gail's chambers the day before.
He had been startled thinking they were twins, but their auras were distinctly different, making them easy to distinguish.
'Arsen, was it. That prince.'
Cunning.
Just meeting his gaze triggered a sense of danger.
Had Arsen recognized Xiaoshi too?
His expression flickered oddly for a moment.
Perhaps just imagination.
Swish.
Marib, who had been in a tense standoff, suddenly sheathed his sword.
Instead, he aimed at Dillaina's nape and yelled at Jin.
“I must take someone's life right now. If you won't come, Jin, I'll kill your mother instead.”
“Kyaaaak!”
Dillaina screamed as if on the verge of fainting.
Jin's body jerked, but Ian covered the back of his head, as if telling him not to listen.
“L-Lord Ian.”
“No one can replace Your Highness. Your safety weighs more than their screams—it is far more precious.”
Jin's eyes widened at Ian's murmur.
Words he had never heard before in his life.
He had lived regarded as the imperial family's implicit curse.
Marib waggled his sword openly, baiting Jin.
“If Arsen dies, Jin, it will be because of you. The oracle will come true just as it foretold.”
What absurd intimidation.
Ian let out a scoff, and Jin strangely felt at ease.
Even in this crisis, it felt like nothing could go wrong.
“The one holding the sword is Prince Marib—how could this be Prince Jin's doing? You're trying to end Bariel's fate with your own hands. Truly impressive. The people will surely praise you.”
Even as he spoke, Ian thought he needed to investigate the oracle again.
Jin was the one to carry on Bariel's line, so why had the oracle's curse fallen on him? It was inexplicable.
Marib barked a hollow laugh and unhesitatingly raised his sword.
“Is that so? It's your choice.”
But at that moment.
Kwaang!
A nearby wall shattered, kicking up a whirlwind of dust.
Marib retreated under his guards' protection from the sudden impact.
Emerging from the hazy view was a massive matte-black suit of armor.
Berik's eyes sparkled with excitement.
“That's it! That's the one!”
It was the symbol of Haiman Bank, the mana stone armor responsible for security.
Guaranteeing more than one against a hundred, it was a trump card that could seize victory in any battle.
He didn't know who was inside, but it was definitely from Gail's faction.
“Prince Marib!”
“Get back!”
“It's Gail! Fight back!”
Just as Marib sought Gail, he too must have been searching for Marib.
The attack poured straight toward Marib, and Riama—one of the Three Great Commanders—unleashed her mana to erect a defensive barrier.
Kwaaaang! Kwang!
Chaeng! Chaeng!
Each clash of swords shook heaven and earth.
Heavy shockwaves burst rapidly, resounding everywhere, drowning out terrified screams.
Ian signaled Berik and Xiaoshi.
“Berik, Xiaoshi!”
“Okey-dokey!”
“……”
Ta-at!
They had secured the target—the twin princes, or more precisely, the next emperor.
Before getting caught in the battle again, the order was to hurry back to the Magic Department.
The two dashed over in one bound and grabbed the collapsed Dillaina's arms.
“If you don't wanna die, don't struggle!”
“Kyaaaak!”
Berik hoisted Dillaina over his shoulder and ran, while Xiaoshi picked up Arsen.
In the meantime, Ian slipped out of the garden first with Jin.
Marib's soldiers blocked the way, but they couldn't stop him.
“Where do you think you're going!”
“Your Highness, close your eyes.”
Ziiing. Ziiing.
Peureng!
The soldiers' heads exploded in an instant, collapsing.
Jin squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face in Ian's chest.
It felt the same as when he had touched the mana orb before.
Soft, warm, and somehow fluffy.
“Iaaan! This is too heavy!”
“Berik! Run in front of me!”
“Argh, I said it's heavy!”
It was to escort Jin front and back.
Berik panted up to them and ran ahead, while Ian shot a beam of light into the sky.
Piiing! Peong!
If Tommy and Nakina saw the signal, they would come to meet them.
They ran like that for a while.
Jin cracked his eyes open at the unfamiliar energy.
Tadak-tadak!
Over Ian's shoulder, his eyes met Arsen's, who was cradled in Xiaoshi's arms following behind.
His brother stared at Jin with an icy glare whose thoughts were impossible to fathom.
It brimmed with such killing intent that Jin's heart plummeted.
Xiaoshi could guess at Arsen's glare from Jin's expression.
“…Pardon me.”
So, pretending to protect him, he covered Arsen's face with his hand.
The child twisted his lips as his view was blocked, but that was all.
“Lord Ian!”
“Tommy, Nakina! Check if anyone's tailing us!”
Tommy and Nakina flew in from the sky and approached Ian's group.
After confirming no pursuers, they guided them to the Magic Department's safe zone.
“Lord Ian is coming!”
“Lord Ian! This way! Oh my god, the princes too!”
“Are you all right? Blood, so much blood….”
“Where's your shirt?”
“The prince's face! Doctor! Call a doctor!”
“No. Berik, you idiot! Is that how you carry Lady Dillaina?”
“What can I do, she's heavy?!”
As soon as they entered the protective barrier, Berik dropped Dillaina like a sack, and Ian let out ragged breaths.
He then headed straight to the infirmary still holding Jin.
The mages swarmed around them in chaos.
“Oh dear, how could such a delicate face….”
“It's Prince Jin. Disinfect the wound.”
“Which crazy bastard did this to His Highness's face!”
“Prince Marib's doing.”
“Huh. I see. Well, um, come this way, Prince Jin.”
It was the first time.
When disaster struck, he was receiving care before Arsen.
Jin unconsciously gripped Ian's sleeve tightly.
But seeing his smile, he slowly let go.
“You'll be fine, Your Highness. They're all trustworthy, so I'll wait outside.”
Jin nodded and was led away by the mages, while Ian rolled his stiff shoulders and stepped out.
Romandro was pouring water on Berik's sprawled face.
“Kuhk, I'm really gonna die!”
“The meat you eat in a day is probably heavier.”
“I already digested it. Argh, seriously. Crazy. Easier to kill a hundred men.”
Ian scanned the interior of the Magic Department.
Even more evacuees had arrived in the meantime.
In the chaotic scene, Arsen stood alone blankly.
He approached as if to say something but was blocked by Hail.
“Minister Ian. We've detected the Three Great Commanders' mana flows. Riama was last sensed near Lady Dillaina's palace—”
“I just came from there myself, so yes.”
“Jayer hasn't entered the palace, that's certain. The problem is Beols.”
Hail frowned, as if the results were too strange to comprehend.
“He suddenly went from His Majesty's chambers to the Third Palace, then back to the Second Palace—extremely quick movements. If he had His Majesty with him, that path would be impossible, so it's unreadable.”
Ian was equally puzzled.
But only for a moment.
As if realizing something, he let out a small exclamation and turned.
“Lord Ian?”
Ignoring Hail's call, Ian looked around as if searching for something.
The numerous paintings hung on the walls.
He rubbed them one by one with his hand, checking.
'A situation urgent enough for the emperor to have his seal stolen by his son. Naturally, there would be a secret passage only he knows. Just like I did.'
Ian too had used his own secret passage when attacked by Crony.
With a century's gap, it wouldn't be exactly the same.
But the principle and structure should be similar.
“What are you looking for?”
“…Berik!”
“Yeah, what! No way!”
“Get it together and get up.”
Berik rolled on the floor, but no choice.
While Ian whispered instructions to him, Arsen sat to the side, continuing to watch Ian.
“……”
And Xiaoshi surveilling him.
The tangled gazes settled over the Magic Department, but no one noticed.
The sounds of battle from outside were growing fiercer.