Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 131

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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 131. Imperial Palace Training Grounds
“Pardon me. Is this your first visit? Please show me your credentials.”
Snap!
A Guard stationed before the Imperial Palace training grounds saluted and blocked our path. As I retrieved my credentials, several Knights passed by us with practiced ease.
Most of them were burly specimens. When Berik unconsciously tried to follow them inside, I grabbed the back of his neck.
“Ah, Viscount Ian Hielo. Thank you for verifying your identity.”
“Much obliged.”
“Ian, did you see the build on those people who just passed?”
“Let’s go. There will be even more impressive ones inside.”
The facility was incomparably grander and more imposing than the worn training grounds I’d rolled around in at the frontier. The vast space, capable of accommodating hundreds simultaneously, was immaculate and perfect in every detail. The lighting, temperature, humidity—everything was precisely controlled!
“Wow, this is real. They all look incredibly strong. Even with a place like this, they still have guards. That guard out there looks like the weakest one here. Ohhh. Insane. Look at that guy’s muscles. I want to hit him. Damn.”
Ordinary Soldiers primarily trained in the outer training grounds of the central area, while those gathered here were mostly Knights serving the nobility. The Imperial Guardsmen were no exception. Since this was where extraordinary individuals assembled to train, the atmosphere itself was naturally different.
“There’s a second floor too.”
“It’s where the nobility watches the Knights train. Sometimes if a noble takes a particular interest in a Knight, they’ll bid against each other for exclusive contracts. Other times, the Guardsmen Captain observes and offers recruitment.”
Everywhere in the palace, there were structures designed so the upper levels could look down clearly upon the lower ones. Berik glanced up at the nobles chattering above, then quickly scurried after me.
“So, we’re heading to the first floor now?”
“Yes. Go watch how skilled warriors handle their blades, and naturally blend in with them.”
“Ah, I’m really shy around strangers.”
“Your jokes have increased considerably. Though I can’t say they’re particularly pleasant to hear.”
Creak.
As I smiled and nodded, the Guards opened the training grounds entrance for us. Simultaneously, the Warriors gathered in small groups turned their attention to us, watching intently.
“Who are they? I’ve never seen them before.”
“Ah. That’s Viscount Ian Hielo.”
“The first noble mage to enter the Magic Division.”
“Then is that red-haired one his escort?”
“Good heavens. They say he came up from the frontier, but look at that snot-nosed kid….”
Since these were people who made their living with their bodies, the atmosphere was rough and crude. Berik’s ears perked up as he looked their way, but they didn’t avert their gaze—only offered blatant mockery.
“Are those bastards seriously calling me a snot-nosed kid?”
“Berik. Those are external Knights brought by the nobility. They’re vulgar—not worth your attention. The ones you should use as teachers and models are over there.”
Berik rolled his eyes back and glared furiously, so I gently turned his head in another direction. In the distance, those dressed in Imperial Guardsmen training uniforms were watching each other’s form while crossing blades.
“They say a spear thrown toward the sun flies the farthest, do they not? Since these are those who serve His Majesty the Emperor in the palace, you have much to learn from them, Berik.”
Barsabe was among them as well. Though still an apprentice receiving instruction, her stance in learning swordsmanship was serious and distinctive.
“She’s there too.”
“I’ll be heading up to the second floor, so do your best. You haven’t forgotten what I taught you, have you?”
At my words, Berik simply sniffled and laughed. Hardly reassuring, but the gazes of other nobles watching from the second floor were piercing. For propriety’s sake, I couldn’t remain on the first floor any longer.
“I’ll do well, Master.”
“Just don’t cause too much of a scene. I can’t bring you to the Magic Division if you do.”
Today would likely prove meaningful for Berik in many ways. He was someone who grew each time he encountered stronger individuals, so clashing with those renowned in Bariel would teach him much.
‘I especially hope he learns some humility and restraint.’
Whether Berik knew my thoughts or not, he cheekily winked with one eyebrow and stepped onto the training grounds. Once I ascended to the second floor, I immediately exchanged greetings with the other nobility.
“Oh. Viscount Ian Hielo. How do you do? I thought it was such a fine day, and here we are meeting again.”
“How do you do. Of the Sereo family….”
“Malon Hof Sereo.”
He was the nobleman I had first exchanged greetings with upon entering the New Year’s gathering. He seemed delighted to meet me again and requested a handshake.
“I hear you’re joining the Magic Ministry today.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Before that, my escort knight is quite the aggressive sort, so I stopped by here.”
“Indeed, it does seem that way.”
…Indeed it seems that way?
At Malon’s meaningful remark, I turned my head and looked down. Berik was striding up to the man who had been biting at him earlier, pressing his forehead forward. At a distance where their noses were nearly touching, he was reciting a greeting.
“How do you do? I’m Berik, and, ah, damn it. Looking at you, it seems your skills are damn impressive. I was so amazed my jaw dropped wide open and now I can’t close it. You seem to have plenty of time—would you care for a match with me? I humbly request a lesson. Yes, if you refuse, I’ll just count myself as the winner.”
I closed my eyes without realizing it. The greeting I had taught him was certainly correct, but it had been gradually warped and corrupted beyond recognition. Malon found it amusing, resting his chin on his hand and pointing at Berik.
“Hahaha. How adorable. Where did you pick him up?”
“I don’t remember either. Where I picked him up.”
“The master of this fellow is probably… ah. There he is. Viscount Tabienna. I wonder if you know of him.”
“I have no memory of seeing him at the New Year’s gathering.”
“Yes. You remember correctly.”
At my response, Malon grinned widely. A nobleman who couldn’t enter the main hall of the gathering—that meant not only was his title low, but he had no influence whatsoever. He was probably someone who had recently bought his title with money.
“He seems to have quite a few knights under him.”
Watching around Berik, there were no shortage of people crowding in. But Berik didn’t stop his momentum, continuing to rub his head against the forehead of the man he was picking a fight with. His eyes were rolling back like before—he seemed to have truly lost his mind.
“That’s his main business. Apparently he was originally a street ruffian from the back alleys, but he’s quite capable—his mercenary introduction agency has become quite successful.”
Perhaps he obtained his title just to gain access to the imperial training grounds. After all, just having ‘imperial palace’ on a knight’s record would double their value.
I moistened my lips with the drink Malon offered while watching Berik.
“The little bastard has no fear, going at it like this….”
“Damn it. So are we doing this or not? You scared? Scared?”
In the imperial training grounds, especially in a place like this where everyone gathered to test their skills, mutual agreement was paramount. The man’s face flushed red with insult as he looked up at his master, Viscount Tabienna.
“Is it alright if we fight?”
Tabienna glanced at me, then twirled his mustache. Normally the goal would be to display one’s skills while maintaining dignity, but the opponent was none other than the talk of the town—Ian Hielo. If rumors spread that he had defeated a mage’s escort, there would be no better premium than that.
“Would it be alright with you, Viscount Ian Hielo?”
“Do as you wish.”
When Tabienna asked formally, I gestured lightly. Despite being of the same rank, my demeanor conveyed a clear difference in standing. With the master’s permission granted, the man laughed and stripped off his shirt, pushing against Berik’s head.
“Good. You brought this on yourself, so don’t regret it. With your head already red like that, a little blood won’t even show.”
Thump! His hairy chest! Thump! His muscular arms the size of a man’s head! As the man ground his teeth, Berik spat into his palm and laughed.
“I’ll learn a technique from you. You learn two from me.”
“Shut your mouth! Let’s see how far you can run that tongue!”
“Don’t fall down! If you do, I’m ripping out all your chest hair!”
Whoosh!
The man threw his fist first. With so many aggressive types gathered in one place, bare-handed matches starting from quarrels were common occurrences. But….
“Isn’t the difference in physique too severe?”
“Still, that red-haired one is supposedly a mage’s escort.”
“Really? Then it might be worth watching.”
“Look at that footwork. The boy’s got some skill.”
“Must be from the streets. His technique is completely raw and unrefined.”
There was so much worth watching that everyone nearby stopped what they were doing to observe the two fighters. Even the Imperial Palace Guardsmen in the distance did the same. They wiped their sweat and laughed, saying they had to see this.
“Such vulgarity. And they call themselves warriors, tsk tsk.”
“This is why I hate coming out on free training days.”
“Still, that one’s pretty decent, isn’t he? Barsabe, look.”
“Pfft!”
Barsabe spat out the water she’d been drinking. He’d mentioned coming to the palace training grounds, but she never expected him to arrive this quickly. She wiped her mouth and examined Berik with an astonished gaze.
“Hya—ho! Ahahaha!”
Thwack! Thwack!
Crack! Crunch!
He was driving his fists forward with shouts as if playing a game. Despite the light attitude, his attacks were anything but. The dull impact sounds that rang out each time the man struggled to block revealed the true force behind them.
“What’s wrong, old man? Did your mouth stop working after all that bragging earlier?”
“You, you bastard….”
“That’s why! People! Must! Show! Respect! To! My! Master!”
Thwack!
Who was he lecturing about respect to right now?
While Ian snorted in disbelief and shook his head, Malon laughed heartily, even clapping his hands. After all, when it came to sparring, the participants aimed to test their skills, and the spectators deserved entertainment. It was a perfect match in every way.
“Hahaha! Count Ian, he’s quite useful! How much did you purchase him for?”
“Just the cost of his meals would suffice.”
“What? Ahahaha! Excellent value for money!”
If only he knew how much the boy actually ate.
Thwack!
The time spent airborne already revealed the skill gap between the two. Berik continued to fly about as if his feet never touched the ground, striking the man repeatedly. As blood dripped from his nose onto the floor, his opponent held his nose and breathed heavily.
“You, you crazy bastard!”
Clang!
Finally, a sword was drawn. The atmosphere among the spectators, who had been watching this as mere entertainment, suddenly shifted. Drawing a blade—and not even a practice sword—in the training grounds. This was as clear a signal as any that they intended to see this through to the end.
“Good. Let me show you something. I went to the blacksmith recently and had the edge sharpened completely. Just brushing it against paper cuts right through.”
Berik’s eyes gleamed as if he’d been waiting for this, and he drew his own sword. Then, muttering with undisguised madness, he said:
“I wonder if human arms cut as easily?”
“You, you lunatic….”
Clang! Clang!
As the two exchanged blows again, Barsabe could only swallow hard. Then, from behind her, came a man’s voice.
“Barsabe.”
“Ah, Captain.”
One of the Imperial Palace Guardsmen captains, Barsabe’s superior, and Petreio’s close friend. It was Jairot.
“So that’s Ian and his subordinate.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Whoosh.
He adjusted his uniform jacket and approached them. In that brief moment, Berik had already slashed the man to pieces. The man’s pained groans flowed out along with his blood. Berik crouched before him and tapped his neck repeatedly with the blade.
“Boy, tsk. If anyone saw this outside, it’d be straight to the executioner’s block.”
“Ugh, save me, please save me….”
“Right! Of course. This is the imperial palace, after all. Ahahaha. But I’ll trim some of that chest hair for you, yes? From now on, don’t go around shirtless so carelessly. It’s an eyesore.”
Snip.
Berik turned his head at the presence he felt behind him. The man appeared to be in his fifties, yet his bearing was solid and unwavering, possessing an uncommon dignity.
“Are you a subordinate of Ian?”
“Subordinate? Hmm, yes. That’s right! My master is Ian!”
Berik glanced upward, then shouted confidently. Upon hearing his response, Jairot grasped the hilt of his sword.
“I am Jairot, Captain of the Imperial Guardsmen. It seems you possess considerable skill. I would appreciate it if you would spar with me. What say you?”
What did I say? Berik searched for Ian with his gaze, just as the man had done moments before. As if seeking permission. I leaned halfway over the railing, looking down at the two of them. I was smiling.

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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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