Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 276

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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 276
Each Other’s Purpose
“Gyaaaaaah!”
Berik planted one leg triumphantly on his completely defeated opponent’s abdomen and roared. He flashed playful winks at the spectators, savoring his victory, before turning his gaze toward the second floor where Ian sat. Romandro and Jin had risen to their feet, applauding.
“Berik! Well done! You bastard!”
“Good work, Berik.”
Ian, for his part, seemed occupied exchanging documents with a Mage. Berik grinned widely and threw them a wink as well. Look here, I won, he seemed to say. Romandro burst into laughter and waved his hand dismissively, telling him to stop such antics.
Creak.
As Berik descended from the arena, Xiaoxi handed him a towel and water bottle. Berik had emerged without a single injury, merely drenched in sweat, but in stark contrast, Xiaoxi’s entire body was covered in wounds. It was difficult to believe he had actually won.
No, at that rate, shouldn’t a victory like that be considered a defeat? Berik gulped down water and asked.
“Xiao, are you alright? I saw you getting pummeled the whole time. What’s wrong with you? If you get injured like that, how will you manage the next match?”
Minimal necessary strikes. Xiaoxi adhered to that principle rigorously. Even if there was much to endure for that singular moment, he could not inflict unnecessary violence.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he didn’t want to. He understood all too well how horrific the pain of violence had been during his time as a slave. When Xiaoxi offered the towel without answering, Berik shook his head.
“I simply cannot understand this!”
“….”
“The victor, please come here and sign the next match agreement.”
“Ah, okie-dokie! Winner Berik, coming through!”
At the Organizer’s call, Berik eagerly rushed over and picked up a pen. When he’d casually asked Xiaoxi earlier, he’d been told there were precautions written regarding injuries.
Since he couldn’t read, he had no idea what any of it said, but the important fact was that drawing a picture in the blank space below would allow him to participate in the next match. There was no reason not to! Berik drew a cow and his eyes sparkled.
“What rank am I now?”
“One moment. The evaluation scores haven’t come down yet. You were 47th before, so I suspect you’ll break into the top 30 now.”
Regardless of victory or defeat, the evaluation scores from the officials watching on the second floor also influenced the rankings. Berik turned toward Captain Jairat and shouted.
“Mister! Give me some good scores! I’m on a winning streak!”
“Quiet. Attitude deduction.”
“Aaah! I must be crazy. Really. D-d-don’t you know the difference between public and private matters?”
“I don’t know about public and private matters, but I do know about public and personal.”
Jairat clicked his tongue and made a note in the special remarks section. ‘Lacks common sense, most thoughts revolve around food.’ And….
“Berik. Did you read the next match agreement?”
“What? I can’t read.”
“…I’ll have to add illiteracy to the list.”
“Surely that’s not a deduction? I’m fine even if I can’t read!”
“That is your opinion. The problem with ignorance lies not in being ignorant, but in not knowing that one is ignorant. And Berik, think about it. Your opponent knows you, but if you don’t know your opponent, wouldn’t that make for a very difficult fight?”
“What? If I just win, that’s all that matters, right?”
“…Poor comprehension also needs to be added.”
“I understand! I understand now!”
Just as Berik began bouncing and protesting, the Organizer’s voice came from behind.
“Participant Berik, please return to the arena. We will begin the match immediately.”
“Mister Jairat! Watch me! I’ll show you there’s no problem even without being able to read! Then erase all those deductions!”
Tap tap tap!
Berik bounded up the stairs two at a time. With his body properly warmed up now, this time he’d really crush them! Berik’s head swiveled sensitively, keenly aware of every change around him.
Who could it be? Him? Or that guy? Ugh, who is it?
Creak.
I heard the door close. When I turned around, Xiaoxi was standing there. Berik tilted his head in confusion, then blinked.
“Xiao?”
“….”
“Damn it, who made the bracket?!”
Berik shouted this while looking up at Captain Jeirat. His expression was a strange mixture of shock, amusement, difficulty, and welcome.
“They made it damn interesting.”
“….”
“But it’s so frustrating.”
Thud.
Berik raised his fists and took an attacking stance. Hadn’t he always been singing for a sparring match with Xiao? Even though he was glad to have the opportunity, the thought that one of them had to lose irritated him.
“Xiao, you know me, right?”
I won’t go easy on you, so give it your all. As a strange light kindled in his crimson eyes, it seemed like flames were rising. Xiaoxi took his stance as well and glanced up at the second floor.
‘Is this Master’s will?’
No. That couldn’t be. For my master, it was advantageous for both Berik and me to advance to the upper ranks. Then it must be someone else’s intention….
‘The goal might be to eliminate one person first, or to cause injuries and physical exhaustion through this process. Berik seems to think it’s Captain Jeirat’s intention. Is it really? If it’s the Captain, it could also be part of another test. Specifically, to verify Berik rather than me….’
Whistle!
The referee’s whistle signaling the start of the match pierced the air.
At the same moment, Berik rushed forward with overwhelming force.
Xiaoxi reflexively stepped back and dodged the punch.
“Xiao! One-hit kills don’t work on me! So!”
Wind brushed past my ear. Was that really a human’s punch? Xiaoxi agreed with Berik’s words. Unlike others, I couldn’t aim for a decisive blow while taking those hits. Even one solid hit seemed like it would be fatal.
Xiaoxi continued circling the arena, focusing on evading Berik’s attacks.
‘If only one of us can advance….’
Ian was watching them. He had even stopped reading the documents.
Xiaoxi clenched his teeth. If one of us advances, it should naturally be Berik. By his very existence as a Mage Knight, he has value. Meanwhile, I’m just a worthless slave-born nobody.
‘Should I forfeit so no one gets hurt and we move forward? What would Captain Jeirat think? If it’s Berik, he could make up points in another match-‘
“Xiao! Focus!”
“…Yes.”
Berik barked at him with an irritated look. Even though the attacks weren’t connecting, he could feel that Xiaoxi’s mind was elsewhere.
“I’m going to place first! So I’ll even kill Captain Jeirat! And I’ll eat a ton of meat!”
Everyone gasped at the mention of killing the Captain and turned to look at Jeirat. But he remained unmoved, simply recording something continuously.
Berik rose on his toes and closed the distance to Xiaoxi.
“And Ian and-!”
“…!”
Boom!
Crash!
Ian and what? As Xiaoxi thought this, the attack landed. Xiaoxi, who took a direct hit to the face, tumbled backward.
Romandro blocked Jin’s view, and he too kept his eyes shut tight while letting out groans. It was truly difficult to watch family members striking each other like this. Though Berik, who was actually fighting, seemed unbothered.
Swish.
Jairot scribbled expressionlessly with his pen. Berik’s identity, presumed to be a descendant of the Atan Clan. The madness beyond mere belligerence, the contempt for life, the raw morality—and more.
These were traits utterly intolerable within the Imperial Palace. Ian was sheltering him and letting it slide for now, but if he enlisted in the Imperial Guards, I could no longer overlook it.
Jairot fixed Berik with a sharp gaze.
‘The Imperial Guards serve close to His Majesty. The Atan Clan’s nature is far too dangerous to keep nearby. Berik, if you don’t show me something different, this will be a problem.’
Thud! Crack!
Xiaoxi was family, living together centered around Ian. The question was whether he would show potential based on human nature.
‘Damn it.’
Berik felt Jairot’s gaze from behind, though he interpreted it differently than intended.
‘He’s checking if I’d even beat a friend. Damn, damn, damn….’
Thud! Thud!
He threw his fists harder. Xiaoxi’s blood welled up dully, but Berik felt his strength draining as he continued. It wasn’t fun. It was strange. Something, something….
“I’m in a foul mood.”
The moment he realized it, his competitive spirit crumbled. Berik turned irritably toward Jairot.
“You bastard!”
“…What?”
“This is disgusting. I can’t do this anymore. Don’t live your life like that!”
And he even raised his middle finger. Making it abundantly clear his mood had soured.
Jairot raised an eyebrow and hurried his pen along.
“What’s got you so upset? You’re winning.”
“I don’t know! I said I don’t know! You filthy old man. I’ve been calling you mister all this time, but now you’re not even that anymore!”
Personality defects, disrespect, crude language—it continued being written down. But—
“How much more are you going to beat Xiao? You madman! Stop it!”
When Berik cried out like that, Jairot paused. After a moment of consideration, he drew a line through “raw morality,” a trait of the Atan Clan, and erased it. Though Berik kept demanding he ring the bell, Jairot refused.
“Who decides when it ends? He hasn’t conceded, nor has he lost consciousness.”
“What kind of nonsense is that….”
Berik frowned and turned back. Wasn’t Xiaoxi, covered in blood, coughing as he rose to his feet?
Rustle.
Jairot flipped the page and pulled out Xiaoxi’s evaluation form. His skill was decent, but he showed no aggression worth noting as a problem.
Was a soldier who gave everything for minimal offense truly beneficial to the Imperial Palace?
‘Well, if he can give everything, he’d certainly be suitable for protection. Count Ian does have an eye for people. His skill in deploying them appropriately is the same.’
Xiaoxi wiped away the flowing blood and looked up at Ian. As if asking what he should do. But instead of answering, Ian only offered encouragement.
“Xiao. Do as you wish.”
“….”
Conceding was fine. Fighting was also fine. He was no longer a slave—he needed to decide for himself. Xiaoxi spat out the blood pooling in his mouth and murmured.
“…Berik.”
“What?”
You fight because of ‘being with Ian.’
I fight because of ‘Ian.’ More precisely, to show Ian that I, cast into freedom, am living well.
As Xiaoxi took a fighting stance, Berik scratched his head frantically. After all that, he wanted more beating?
Crack!
But what could I do? I couldn’t simply let an unbroken opponent slip away. As Berik rushed forward, Xiaoxi concentrated all his senses, tracking his trajectory.
One strike.
There was only one chance, never to come again, to claim victory.
“Ugh, seriously!”
“….”
As Berik closed in and extended his fist, Xiaoxi evaded once more. This time, he didn’t retreat. Instead, he slipped through the opening and pressed close beneath his opponent’s body.
Whoosh!
Crack!
Their fists struck each other’s jaw and ribs simultaneously. A tremendous impact echoed across the distance. The spectators winced as if they themselves had been struck, their mouths slowly falling open.
The sound of impact was not merely brutal—it was extraordinary. Such a sound only emerged when attacks connected with absolute, flawless precision.
Boom!
Shrill whistle!
The whistle signaling the end of the match. Romandro held Jin’s arm firmly while releasing only a regretful groan, and Jin himself clicked his tongue in frustration.
“Oh, what a shame.”
“Who won? They both collapsed.”
“Berik must have won. Even if they both lost consciousness, the attack points he accumulated earlier remain. It would be a decision victory.”
Whoosh.
I closed the folder and rose, approaching Captain Jairot. He had been fulfilling his duty, awarding points until the very moment the match concluded.
“Captain Jairot.”
“Yes, Minister.”
“Are you satisfied? Did the results turn out as you desired?”
“…It exceeded my expectations somewhat. There was considerable value gained.”
As he moistened his lips and spoke, I smiled faintly. Had he informed me beforehand, I could have demonstrated what he wanted through other means without losing personnel.
It was a clever move, but one I could not overlook.
I issued a warning, speaking quietly.
“Be careful. The talents of the Imperial Palace belong not to you, but to His Majesty the Emperor.”

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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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