Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 118

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 118. Alley Fight
“Berik.”
“…Cough!”
At my call, Berik shot to his feet. His eyes gleamed with sharp clarity, yet the drool mark on his cheek betrayed that he’d enjoyed a honey-sweet slumber. Berik frowned with practiced innocence and muttered.
“Ah. I’ve been up all night, so I’m exhausted. I should go out and grab some meat today.”
“Berik. I heard you snoring just moments ago.”
“You must have misheard.”
Berik rubbed his philtrum nervously, gauging my reaction. He’d certainly kept watch with sharp focus until dawn, but the moment he saw the servant Mini cough, consciousness had abandoned him. Berik hovered about, anxiously watching for any sign of my displeasure.
“Nothing happened during the night?”
“Nope. Absolutely nothing.”
“Then wash your face before breakfast. You look rather rough.”
“Food! Let’s eat!”
Thump-thump-thump! With my permission, Berik bounded up the stairs. Mini, carrying a warm soup, hesitated mid-step.
“Has he already gone up? He asked for soup at dawn, so I prepared it. Such impatience.”
“Simply place it with the meal.”
“Yes, understood.”
According to Mini, at dawn he’d been standing before the main gate with bloodshot eyes wide open. Since he seemed to execute his tasks well enough, I entered the dining room satisfied. Mrs. Viviana and Romandro were already present in light clothing.
“Good morning, Count Ian.”
“Thanks to you. I slept quite comfortably.”
“You have much to accomplish today, so prepare and depart promptly.”
Viviana had meticulously drafted a shopping list overnight. She unfolded the neatly creased paper and slowly recited the route through the commercial district I’d need to traverse throughout the day.
Beneath the warm sunlight piercing through the scent of melting butter and cool air, I felt a peace I hadn’t known in ages. Hasha seemed similarly inclined, sitting quietly and sipping milk.
“Hasha. The scent—is it much different from yesterday?”
-It doesn’t seem so. Besides, the butter smell is too strong right now.
Hasha’s nose twitched, eyes lost in rapture.
‘Was I worrying over nothing?’
After creating enemies at the border, entering their den was much the same. Combined with the successive encounters with Marib and Gail, I’d grown overly sensitive.
“Food! Food, food!”
…I’d only picked on poor Berik.
I poured black tea for him myself, feeling somewhat sorry. Whether Berik noticed or not, he began ravenously clearing the table of food.
“Mmm-delicious!”
“My apologies, madam. It might not be good for your condition.”
“Oh, no. I saw him once when you two went out yesterday. He eats with such vigor—it’s pleasant to watch.”
“Mini! Prepare the carriage with warmth circulating inside.”
“Yes, Romandro!”
Just beyond the affluent district, the streets grow congested. The floating population increases considerably, and illegal couriers and children on bicycles weaving between carriages create heavy traffic. To avoid shivering in the cold, warming the carriage beforehand was essential.
“So, where do we go first?”
As Berik asked while chewing bread, Viviana answered instead.
“We’ll take the knight’s sword to be sharpened. There’s a very old blacksmith nearby—his blade work is extraordinary. We’ll leave it there, purchase clothing, and after eating, retrieve it on our way back. That’s the schedule.”
Berik nodded in understanding and finished his meal. His sword had grown so dull that it was better suited for slashing than cutting anyway.
“Yes! Let’s go! Cough cough.”
“Good heavens. Berik!”
“…My apologies.”
Hasha’s expression twisted into extreme exasperation as she sighed heavily. And so, their peaceful morning began.
* * *
“This is the blacksmith’s forge.”
“Ian, Viviana and I shall wait here, so do hurry back.”
“Very well. Berik, come along.”
“Yes! Let’s go get our sword sharpened~!”
The blacksmith’s forge was not far from Romandro’s estate. Ian and Berik entered with their swords in hand. The stifling heat mingled with the acrid smell of sweat, while the metallic clanging threatened to shatter their eardrums.
Whiiiing!
Clang! Clang-clang! Clang!
Berik covered his ears beside me and shouted something, but the noise drowned out even that. I glanced around and spotted a yellow bell.
Click.
When I pressed the button, all the lanterns visible to the blacksmiths lit up at once. It was a sort of doorbell to announce customers. They immediately ceased their hammering and turned toward the entrance.
“Master! We have a customer!”
“Ah, yes. What brings you here, my lord?”
My lord, wasn’t it? The blacksmith addressing me trailed off as he glanced sideways at Berik.
“The blade has grown dull. I wish to have it sharpened.”
“One moment. Hmm? Is this a sword?”
“It is. What is your price?”
“Five copper coins should suffice, but that’s not the issue. Do you know what this is made of?”
“I do not. I am no expert in such matters.”
I had merely thought the color somewhat dark. As the blacksmith examined the sword with evident concern, others gradually gathered to inspect it.
“What is this? Why is the color like that?”
“Was Mementeum infused into it after forging?”
“It’s darker than that. Could it possibly be demon stone?”
“Don’t speak such inauspicious words! Demon stone isn’t common!”
“My lord, if we don’t know what this is, we cannot be held responsible if it breaks during sharpening.”
At the blacksmith’s question, I looked at Berik. It was a silent inquiry of what to do. But he casually scratched his ear and nodded without concern.
“Even if it breaks further, that’s better. If it shatters in half, at least it’ll pierce better when we stab with it.”
“Do as you see fit. I would appreciate your best work.”
Even as I paid the fee, the blacksmiths continued to examine Berik’s sword. It seemed those thieves had stolen something quite remarkable indeed.
“Then I shall return this evening to collect it.”
“Yes! Thank you! We shall sharpen it with utmost care!”
Screeeech! Bang!
Upon stepping outside, Berik’s face had already flushed red from the forge’s heat. Mine was likely no different.
Whoosh.
I paused as I was about to board the carriage. A faint sound of footsteps crunching came from behind. Berik tilted his head, wondering why I wasn’t getting in, while Viviana turned the door handle, thinking it was locked. I tapped the window lightly to stop her.
Tap tap.
“Romandro. Please head to the wardrobe first.”
“Hm? Ian, what about you?”
“I’ll walk for a bit to cool off from the blacksmith’s heat. I’ve memorized the route, so don’t worry. It’s just past the crossing, then immediately left, correct?”
Had I ever set foot in this place before? I possessed a surprisingly thorough knowledge of the central district’s layout. Though puzzled, Romandro said nothing and urged the Coachman forward without further comment.
Whinnny!
As the carriage departed, Berik’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
“Ian! What about me? Romandro! Take me with you!”
“You’re coming with me.”
“But I’m really freezing!”
“Let’s go. Follow slowly.”
I turned down an alley in the opposite direction from the carriage. Berik had no choice but to chase after me, complaining all the while since he didn’t know the way. The two of us ventured deeper into the desolate, winding back alleys—to the very underbelly of the city where shadows from the buildings blocked out the midday sun.
Tap tap tap!
By then, Berik had noticed someone following us from behind. He rubbed his bare hands against his outer garment and muttered.
“Should’ve bought a new sword when I left the old one.”
“Sounds like you have some money. Berik.”
“Isn’t the master supposed to buy it for me?”
“This way.”
Thud! Tap tap tap!
The peculiar chase continued. The mysterious pursuer moved with agility, refusing to lose sight of us. Or rather, trying not to. But…
Thud!
“Ah.”
The moment we rounded the corner, we vanished without a trace. The pursuer breathed heavily, glancing around. Yet there was no obvious alley to slip into. Just as she gritted her teeth and turned back—
“Hello~?”
Crack!
Berik lunged forward and threw a punch. It was a sudden attack, but the pursuer received the blow with stability, flowing the recoil into a counterattack in one fluid motion. The robe draped over the pursuer billowed like waves.
Boom!
“Huh.”
Berik barely blocked it, his eyes blinking in genuine surprise. But that lasted only a moment before his eyes gleamed and he grinned widely, as if he’d found his prey.
“Hey! You’ve got some skill!”
“Quiet! Are you Ian?”
“Yep. I’m Ian~.”
Boom! Crack!
Crash!
Flawless exchanges of blows continued.
From her voice, she seemed to be a woman, yet her combat stance was extraordinary. Unlike Berik’s raw style, she fought with the posture of a properly trained warrior. Her strength didn’t falter either—nothing but astonishment filled my mind.
“Berik. The woman appears to be left-handed.”
She was favoring her left fist. That meant her right side was relatively exposed. As I pointed this out, Berik immediately exploited her right, driving his forehead into her jaw.
Crash!
“Ugh!”
Something cracked properly. Berik rubbed his forehead and prodded the pursuer’s ribs, urging her to get up.
“Come on. Wake up. You’re not quite—”
Zing.
The woman’s face came into view as she lifted her head. Her dark navy bob cut, neat and refined without a single strand out of place, spoke of a comfortable upbringing.
And above all, those eyes that gleamed with intensity. Her naturally dark pupils were ringed with a sharp, icy blue aura.
“…A Mage Knight?”
“So you’re Berik! Die!”
Crack!
Whether from Berik’s headbutt or her own momentum, the woman’s lower face was a mess of blood. She unleashed her mana, extending her hand. A shimmering blue dagger wavered in the air. She hurled it toward Berik as if throwing it from her palm.
Whoosh!
“Whoa! What the hell is that!”
“Berik!”
There was no time to dodge such speed. As Berik flinched in surprise, I explosively released my mana pulse.
Boom!
A deafening roar shook the alley, and thick dust scattered in all directions. Visibility was gone. I waved my hand to clear the dust. The pursuer lay gasping on the ground.
“What the—why did she attack and then collapse?”
“…Shut up! Huff, huff…”
“That must have been her final strike,” I said to Berik.
“Ah. One shot and done?”
At my words and Berik’s, the woman bit her lip and glared at us both. But she couldn’t refute it. It was true. She had never expected to use her ultimate technique like this.
“Well then. We’ll take it from here. Do you have a weapon? Nothing?”
“To offer a weapon to one who fights bare-handed is shame and excess.”
As Berik cracked his knuckles and approached, the woman staggered to her feet. She resumed her fighting stance and spat on the ground. A fragment of a molar fell away along with the blood.
“Ah, you’ve got guts. Should we introduce ourselves?”
“I am—!”
The woman let out a sharp cry like a battle shout and rushed at Berik, extending her fist.
“The daughter of Petreio, once a proud lieutenant of the Imperial Palace Guard!”
Petreio.
I recalled that name immediately—it was familiar to my ears.
The man who had been ordered by Mollin to kill me, and who ultimately took his own life to preserve his honor.
“Barsabe Bruteda!”
“Yeah, that’s right! Nice to meet you! I’ve got no proud parents! Damn it, I’m just Berik!”
“The enemy of my father!”
“What are you talking about? You’ve got the wrong guy!”
Crack!
Both their fists struck each other’s faces simultaneously. Even watching it made me wince slightly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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