Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 17

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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 17. Enemy
It happened in an instant. Unable to withstand the sudden impact, the man’s body crumpled backward. Berik mounted him and rained down merciless punches.
Thud! Thud!
“Ugh…”
The companions standing nearby watched in stunned silence. Even if they had been caught off guard, a man of that build shouldn’t have fallen from a single punch. He looked like he’d grab Berik by the hair and throw him again any moment now.
Yet he was taking it all without resistance.
“Hey, stop him! Stop him!”
“Are you insane! What are you doing! Berik!”
“Has this bastard lost his mind!”
But the pinned man’s reaction was strange. As if unconscious, he didn’t move a finger and collapsed pathetically. Only then did his companions panic and rush at Berik.
“Get back!”
“Snap out of it!”
Berik’s breathing was ragged and irregular. As if he’d taken some drug, his momentum was fierce. It took more than five trainees to finally drag him away.
“What are you doing right now!”
“What’s going on?”
Deo and the instructors came running at the commotion.
A sprawled giant of a man and a bloodthirsty Berik. It was hard to believe this had happened with nothing but fists, no weapons. If anything, I would understand it if Berik were the one lying down.
“Ha… ha… haha!”
“This is completely insane, Instructor!”
“Berik suddenly rushed at him!”
Berik lay flat on the ground, laughing. The satisfied expression on his face was quite a sight. The trainees pressing down on his body grimaced in disgust. The instructor lifted his chin with his foot.
“Berik.”
“Ah. Damn, this feels good.”
“Berik!”
“That idiot turned his back during sparring like it was over!”
His wild shrieking was chillingly intense. The instructor, deeming him not worth responding to, kicked his face, and Berik’s pained cry erupted.
“Take that one to the infirmary, and bind Berik for the punishment chamber.”
At the instructor’s command, everyone moved in unison. As Berik was dragged away, his gaze locked with mine. Unlike my composed expression, his eyes gleamed with the excitement of an adventurer who’d discovered treasure. He seemed unable to contain his satisfaction.
‘He’s definitely insane.’
I agreed with what the trainees said. Of all the Mage Knights I’d seen so far, he seemed to be among the most unhinged.
Conversely, that meant he had no fear in combat. There is no match for a warrior who doesn’t fear death.
“Ian.”
“Yes.”
Deo approached me, furrowing his brows.
“What did that bastard do?”
Despite the content, his tone wasn’t concerned at all. It was merely a formal question. I brushed off my sleeves and answered.
“Nothing. Just got a mouthful of curses.”
“…Unfortunately, we should wrap up for today. Given Chel’s condition and the disorder in the training ground.”
Chel lay sprawled in the shade, catching his breath. His round belly heaved laboriously up and down. At this point, we could only be satisfied that he’d moved at all.
Moreover, blood was splattered where the man had been pinned, so today’s training was clearly over. At least, if my purpose was only training.
“That’s true. But this fellow named Berik…”
Deo, who had turned to leave, stopped at Ian’s call.
“What will his punishment be?”
“Since he’s caused so much trouble, we’ll need to hold a meeting to decide, but he’ll likely be whipped and expelled.”
And the wages paid to him thus far would be confiscated under the guise of compensation for damages. I moved forward with an expressionless face, but inside, I wore a satisfied smile.
‘Not intentional, but it worked out well.’
Currently, Berik’s status was that of Count Derga’s personal soldier. But once expelled and freed, establishing a connection would be far easier. A man who blindly chases strength would surely seek me out, curious about the mysterious phenomenon he just experienced.
‘With that temperament, he’ll probably crawl to find me the very day he’s whipped.’
I gazed at the back exit of the training ground where Berik had disappeared and shook my head with a slight smile.
A fiery one. If a “Contract Magic” were possible, I’d control him with that, but it was beyond my reach for now. I’d need to manipulate him skillfully, like handling a beast.
“Huff, huff…”
“Brother. Are you alright?”
“…I can’t. I really can’t do this!”
Chel whined and complained almost tearfully. Ever since seeing my golden eyes, he hadn’t raised his voice loudly. He truly seemed to be at his limit.
“Understood. From now on, brother, you’ll manage on your own.”
But I smiled with the meaning that if he cost the Count my training opportunity, I wouldn’t let it slide.
Whether he understood or not, Chel wiped away his sweat and struggled to his feet. The pool of blood on the ground was horrifying, and the sound of whips and screams heard from somewhere terrified him.
Chel realized once again that the training ground was truly not a place suited for him.
* * *
And the next day.
The third official luncheon with Mollin began. The surroundings were bright with flowers from the Garden, which had bloomed even more abundantly. Mollin, Mac, and Dgor led the meal far more comfortably than before.
“So I asked the young lady at that time, you see.”
“Ah. I’ve heard that story before.”
“The Countess seemed to know about it as well.”
Unlike before, he didn’t drop meaningful remarks, nor did he engage in a battle of wills with Count Derga. There was no sign of the probing questions that seemed to test me. Centered around Countess Mary, he only brought up trivial gossip from high society. This change surely arose because he and I had come to an understanding behind the scenes.
Count Derga, who had been silent for a while, spoke up.
“Mollin.”
“Yes, Count Derga.”
“Have you shown Ian around the territory well?”
There was something suspicious about it, but there was no concrete evidence. Chel and Deo knew nothing, and I had checked the brooch three times amid the busyness. Yet there was absolutely nothing to seize upon.
“It was our first outing, so we went to the Garden after lunch. The weather was lovely, and the walk was quite enjoyable. The scholarly discussion was also excellent, so the memories from that day remain vivid.”
“…Then I’m relieved.”
“By the way, Ian. Would you show me the room you mentioned last time today?”
A room? What room? I searched my memory for a brief moment.
When Mollin first suggested an outing, hadn’t he jokingly asked if I wouldn’t like to see his room?
I glanced at Count Derga and smiled. The steak on my plate had been cleanly finished. If permission were granted, it would be best to stand up and conclude the meal right away.
“Would that be alright, Father?”
“I’d like to accompany you as well, but…”
Count Derga tried to join us, but the presence of the aide lingering at the Garden entrance was overwhelming. The way he moved about restlessly, like a whimpering puppy, made it even more apparent. There was clearly urgent business remaining.
“Have the Countess finish entertaining our guest.”
He clicked his tongue inwardly and glanced at Mrs. Mary. Her tone carried an air of compulsion beneath the guise of instruction.
“Of course, I shall.”
Ever since their quarrel, the chill between them had only deepened. The fact that guests were present was the only reason they maintained any semblance of propriety.
Mrs. Mary wiped her hands with a napkin and smiled brilliantly. She resembled an actress changing expressions upon the stage.
“Shall we rise then?”
“Very well. The meal was excellent today. A fine dinner indeed.”
As everyone set down their utensils, the servants waiting in attendance moved with practiced efficiency. One of them approached the lady as if he had been anticipating this moment and whispered something to her.
“Ah.”
“Is something the matter, madam?”
“My apologies. It seems Countess Merelrof’s servant is waiting at the main gate.”
“You mean the Countess of the neighboring territory, Countess Merelrof?”
Mac asked, sounding somewhat surprised. Count Merelrof—given that this was a border region, I hadn’t expected him to be particularly renowned in society. Yet from Mrs. Mary’s demeanor, it was clear she knew him quite well.
Mrs. Mary laughed in agreement, though her smile carried a hint of mockery.
“Yes. I have something to receive from her. Ian, would you show our guests to the parlor first? I’ll have tea brought up shortly.”
The lady excused herself with graceful courtesy. Count Derga also offered his final greetings before ascending to his office, and I accompanied the guests to the guest house chamber.
Creak.
“Indeed, a room truly reflects its master. How splendid it is.”
Mac surveyed the surroundings with praise. Three of us sat around the sofa. I retrieved parchment and a pen, then gestured to my chest. Everyone understood what the crimson brooch signified.
“Thank you, Lord Mac.”
“I hear you’ve been practicing your penmanship. Might I observe?”
“Of course.”
Mac and Dgor chattered endlessly to fill the silence. With little time before Mrs. Mary’s arrival, I grasped the pen and wrote out a simple sentence.
-What should I do?
-Is it possible to access Count Derga’s study?
-I go up there regularly to regenerate mana stones.
His approach to finding the office suggested it was likely a tax-related matter, as I had anticipated. Mollin paused, choosing his words carefully.
-I need to verify the total harvest of grains produced in the territory and the mining output from the Monne Mountain Range. Additionally, I require the peasant tax confirmation documents from last summer until now. A full transcript would be ideal, but if that’s difficult, simply recording the figures with an official seal will suffice.
So the territory did possess mines. Though they were coal mines, hardly a substantial fortune.
Even without a detailed inventory, a document bearing an official seal could be treated as a whistleblower’s report, allowing for a forced search.
This was why nobles held their seals in such high regard, and why entrusting one’s seal served as a universal measure of loyalty.
-Are you suggesting the Bratz family has embezzled taxes?
-I have only suspicions at this point.
I feigned hesitation as I wrote my question.
-Embezzlement is a grave crime that destroys a house.
I needed an oath that he would not annihilate the family.
If Bratz Castle disappeared, my position would vanish with it. And that wasn’t all—with Derga’s blood running through my veins, I would likely become a slave of the Imperial Palace. I would have to dedicate my life to repaying the embezzled taxes.
-If I oppose your adoption, you will no longer be of the Bratz family. You will escape capital punishment and have no need to cross the border. How fortunate would that be?
‘Look at these people.’
As expected, Mollin refused to give me the answer I sought. He seemed to believe I was ignorant of the subsequent procedures, and his attitude suggested he didn’t particularly care.
Unless one was a mana user, a common child from the red-light district would find such terms sufficient compensation.
‘It’s the obvious choice, but it does pose a problem.’
Given my position, I couldn’t openly demand the family’s continuation. First, I absolutely needed the Imperial Palace’s backing to bring down Count Derga. But if they discovered I was thinking this deeply about it, things would become complicated.
“Ah.”
An exclamation escaped my lips before I could stop myself as I pondered deeply. At the sudden sound, Mac and Dgor turned to look at me.
“Ian?”
“My apologies. I bit my tongue.”
“Be careful. Even small wounds can be quite painful.”
Mollin’s concerned words didn’t sound concerned at all. If I let myself be dragged along like this, there would be no way out. I steadied the plan that had just occurred to me and wrote out the characters.
-Then I have a proposal for you.
-Please, proceed as you see fit.
A way to protect myself from the Imperial Palace’s judgment, and a way to preserve my claim to the territory. There’s a saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. There was still a common enemy between Count Derga and the Imperial Palace.
-I will not pledge allegiance, but I will meet with the Cheonryeo Tribe.

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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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