Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 283

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

Chapter 283. The Award Ceremony
Along the path connecting the outer districts to the center, dawn was barely breaking, yet a long procession of carriages stretched across the road. Each one was laden with enormous barrels of ale, dried meat, cheese, and the like.
The tavern owners emerged to greet the coachmen. The streets still bore the remnants of yesterday’s festival—those still sipping beer, others sprawled unconscious on the ground, and trash piled in various corners.
“Over here. Thank you for coming. I’ve cleared out the back storage, so please unload everything there. Everyone, the supplies have arrived!”
At the tavern owner’s call, his employees began hauling the barrels inside. The coachman sipped the soup he’d been handed and asked curiously.
“But why did you order so much? It’s five times more than usual. The horses have had quite the journey.”
“I know, I know. That’s why I’m paying you extra, isn’t it?”
“That’s not my concern, sir. Will all this even sell? The selection trials ended yesterday, and today’s supposed to be the final day. People aren’t drinking like this anymore. Everyone from the provinces seems to be heading back home.”
The innkeeper clicked his tongue at the coachman’s meddling. Neither the drinkers nor the tavern owner complained, yet here was the delivery man grumbling about his labor.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Haven’t you heard the rumors? Prince Jin’s appointment ceremony will have all three nation’s leaders attending. Everyone’s in an uproar about it.”
The prince’s appointment ceremony alone was a festival among festivals, but now three nations’ leaders were coming? The scale of their delegations was beyond imagination. According to exaggerated rumors circulating, it would be as if an entire small nation was mobilizing.
And that wasn’t all. Guests from across Bariel would flood in, and this time foreigners were expected as well. The selection trials paled in comparison to the grand days that lay ahead.
“When that time comes, I won’t be able to stop serving even if I wanted to. I’m stocking up now. I’ll be ordering this much daily for a while, so prepare yourself for the work.”
“The selection just ended and you’re already making such a fuss. The ale will go flat!”
“Why would ale go flat? It tastes better the longer it sits. Ah, if you keep complaining, don’t bother coming back! Should I request a different coachman?”
Unable to endure the innkeeper’s scolding any longer, the coachman quietly rose and began hauling the barrels.
Pathetic! The innkeeper snorted inwardly, then noticed someone half-collapsed on the tavern’s threshold.
“Hey there! Guest!”
“Uuughhhh…”
“Good heavens, your face is a mess. Guest! The sun’s up! Weren’t you supposed to participate in today’s award ceremony?”
Berik opened his eyes halfway at the sound of his name and lifted his head. The innkeeper frowned as if he couldn’t bear to look at the sight.
“…Award ceremony?”
“I remember you well—you brought in quite the revenue yesterday. Shouldn’t you hurry inside? Your master, or whoever he is, said he’d scold you if you’re late, didn’t he?”
“Ah! Ahhhhh! No!”
“Wham!”
He was so naturally affable that he’d swept through table after table in the tavern alone, which was quite unusual.
From what I’d heard, he’d performed exceptionally well in the selection trials, and his master had rewarded him for it.
“My horse! Where’s my horse!”
“Boy, bring the guest’s horse!”
“It’s dead. Damn it, it’s dead!”
“The guest’s horse is dying. Hurry!”
Berik splashed water from a table across his face to wash up. The moment his horse emerged from the stable, he seized the reins frantically and kicked his feet. The horse, still half-asleep, stumbled as it galloped down the street.
The innkeeper and his employees watched and shook their heads.
“I don’t know who he is, but his master must have quite the time with him.”
“He eats an enormous amount too. Yesterday’s revenue—half of it came from him alone.”
“Exactly. His master really will have his hands full.”
Clop clop clop!
Still, since it was the quiet early morning, I could ride without obstruction. If I didn’t lose my way, I could arrive before Ian noticed my absence!
Clinging to hope and anticipation, I spotted an old man across the road in the distance. I could probably pass by if I kept riding straight, but…
“Huh? Wha—?!”
The old man wasn’t walking—he was crawling across the ground, hunched over with a heavy bundle strapped to his back.
Berik jerked the reins in shock, and his horse leaped over the figure.
Neigh!
“Hey, wait! Are you alright?”
“Oh my, you nearly scared me to death!”
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I was in such a hurry.”
Berik dismounted and approached the elder. He hadn’t felt an impact, but what if something had happened? He looked over the figure carefully, checking for injuries, but the old man simply stared at him.
Berik froze under that gaze. The emptiness he felt through his fingertips—there were no legs.
“Oh no! That was close! So that’s why you were crawling! Grandmother, I’m truly sorry.”
Berik rummaged through his pocket and counted his remaining coins. Ian had given him a gold coin as both pocket money and a congratulatory gift, but only a few copper coins remained.
Still, since no actual accident had occurred, wasn’t this compensation enough for the fright?
“It’s not much, but go get yourself some warm soup. Nothing settles a frightened heart better than that.”
“Boy, I don’t take money!”
“Huh? Then what?”
The old man looked Berik over from beneath his robe, then clicked his tongue dismissively and continued crawling down the street.
“Never mind. You have nothing worth eating.”
“…What the hell? Grandmother, are you a cannibal?!”
“Enough! Go on your way!”
Berik grabbed the hem of the robe in alarm, and the old man waved him away. It was fortunate no one else was on the street—otherwise, this would have been quite the spectacle.
Berik clung to the elder, refusing to let go.
“Are you saying you’re not a cannibal? What if you report me later? Ian will really scold me! Just take the money and go!”
“I said I don’t take money, you brat!”
“Damn it! Then what do you want?”
This legless old man possessed surprising strength. Had he drunk too much yesterday? Berik stumbled along, practically being dragged.
“Fine, fine. Just let go and let me leave.”
“Take the money and go.”
She sighed, glancing around nervously. She wanted to disappear before the streets grew crowded.
“I survive on something other than money.”
“Damn it, human flesh after all?!”
“A secret.”
The old woman cut him off sharply. In all her years, she’d never encountered someone so relentlessly stubborn.
She wrenched her robe from his grasp and told him plainly.
“And you have no secrets worth eating.”
She’d never met someone without secrets either. Even children possessed them.
There were two possibilities in such cases: either a being who lived without thought, or one whose secrets were completely exposed.
Judging by his behavior, both seemed likely.
“Secrets? I have secrets!”
“…You’re just deluding yourself about what counts as a secret.”
“What the hell? So what am I supposed to do?”
“If you truly wish to make amends, bring me someone else. Someone who appears thoughtful, speaks little, and whose depths remain utterly unknowable—that would be suitable.”
“What a peculiar old man, truly.”
“Who’s calling whom peculiar?”
Berik carried the old man’s bundle across the street and glanced up at the sky. Dawn had fully broken, no longer merely approaching. If I delayed any longer, Ian might actually scold me.
“Understood. So where should we meet?”
“Can you read a calendar?”
“No.”
“On the night when the half-moon rises, let’s meet here.”
“Got it. But you absolutely cannot report this to anyone!”
The old man merely waved his hands, urging me to leave.
In the brief moment Berik mounted his horse and turned around, the old man’s robes vanished into the alley. Moving on all fours yet so impossibly fast. Berik furrowed his brow, thinking he’d truly seen every strange old man there was.
“Let’s go!”
Neigh!
And once more, I urged the horse forward with desperate speed. I had to make up for lost time.
As the imperial palace’s main gate came into view, Berik waved his hand. The gatekeepers who had been waiting for my arrival immediately moved to open the gates.
“Thank you!”
“Hurry, Berik! Ian just asked if you’d arrived!”
Gasp! Berik panicked and urged the horse even faster. In what felt like an instant, I reached the Ministry of Magic and practically flew up the stairs. The mages greeted Berik with their remarks.
“Berik, are you just arriving now?”
“Oh, have you lost your mind?”
“Quiet! Where’s Ian?”
“Where else would the Minister be? Not in his office.”
Tap tap tap!
Bang!
Berik burst through the door without a sound. While Romandro jumped in surprise, Ian merely clicked his pocket watch.
“D-Did I miss it? I mean, Ian, there was an accident on the way—”
“Barely. Exactly one minute left.”
“Wow. I thought I was done for.”
As the tension released, the hangover surged up. Berik clutched his churning stomach and stumbled forward, while Romandro helped him up and hurried him along.
“Ugh, reeking of alcohol. Is this how the award ceremony’s champion should look? Your hair’s a mess, and your face is all puffy!”
“This is as good as I get.”
“And you’re still half-drunk on top of it. Tsk tsk. Get ready quickly!”
Romandro thrust formal attire in front of Berik. Today was the day of the year’s champion and my official induction into the Imperial Guard!
The servants dragged Berik away, and Ian tapped the reports.
“I’ll head out first. Romandro, once Berik is ready, come together.”
“Understood.”
Could the award ceremony possibly lack magical effects? Ian departed the main building with the mages who had been waiting.
* * *
Five hundred individuals who had participated in the selection and achieved excellent results were invited to fill the seats. Most had decided to enlist in the Imperial Defense Force, while a few attended for the sake of participation alone and looked forward to next time.
Xiaoxi was among them. He sat among the crowd wearing clothes that Jin had personally gifted him.
“I’ve heard the champion is quite young.”
“Yeah. I heard he hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet. They say he’s a Mage Knight.”
“He defeated the captain, so he deserves to win. So he’s the youngest Imperial Guard captain?”
“No. I heard someone else will be captain? I’m not sure of the details, but it seems there’s some disqualifying reason or something.”
People murmured and spoke Berik’s name.
From that day onward, whenever two or more swordsmen gathered, Berik’s story inevitably came up. It was shocking enough to shake the martial world.
Xiaoxi lifted his head and looked toward where Jin and Ian were seated. Jin gazed forward with dignity, but Xiaoxi knew the truth. The boy was sneaking glances at Xiaoxi and grinning.
“Ah. It’s starting.”
Whirrr. Whirrr.
The Prime Minister ascended the platform and grasped the magical artifact. His greeting spread quietly through the ears of hundreds.
“…For the health and future of the great Empire of Bariel, I commend all those who have participated. The events that have continued in recent days have been strong and powerful….”
The Prime Minister’s greeting. As always, it was tedious and stale. People swallowed their yawns internally and practiced the art of listening with one ear and letting it pass through the other.
“Therefore, I shall bestow commendations upon those who have shown particular distinction in this selection examination. Those whose names are called, please come forward.”
Rustle.
The Prime Minister turned the paper and fell silent for a moment.
“Berik.”
“Yes! I’m Berik!”
“Simon, Bonita, Higa….”
Names called in succession. Those sitting in the front row all stood and ascended the platform. Leading the way was Berik. Dressed in formal attire for the first time in a while, he was quite a sight.
“Is Berik the one with the red hair?”
“Then who’s the captain?”
“There, Simon and Bonita.”
“Ah.”
Simon was the one who had won when fighting Berik in unarmed combat. There was quite a weight class difference, they said, yet he was truly remarkable. One might wonder if he had giant blood mixed in.
“Berik. Congratulations. I hope you will continue to exert yourself and strengthen Bariel’s spirit.”
“Don’t worry!”
“…For Bariel’s sake, have you decided where you will work?”
The Prime Minister handed him a bouquet and trophy while asking. Berik, as if the question were obvious, pressed close to the magical artifact and shouted.
“The Imperial Guards!”
Ah. Damn it. The guards watching from below squeezed their eyes shut. Regardless, Berik added loudly.
“Next time, I’ll be the captain!”
Simon and Bonita.
Ian watched the two new captains and wiggled his fingers. They would be the vanguard in the demon beast battles to come.
The Magic Ministry burst forth with flower petals to celebrate Berik’s victory and the birth of a new generation.
Whoooosh!
Swish!
Flower petals descended beautifully. Berik waved the bouquet around while gazing toward the Imperial Guards. Then a quick wink thrust their way. It was a silent greeting saying they should do well together from now on.
Led by Ian, applause erupted from all around.

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