Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 29

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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 29. Silask
When my response was delayed, Kakantir turned to look at me. I lowered my head slightly and answered.
“Yes, that is correct.”
Was he asking because they were a tribe that served the heavens? Or did he ask knowing that another Ian existed within my inner self? Winchen smacked her lips as if savoring my brief and straightforward answer.
“You are truly born of Count Derga Bratz’s blood?”
“Without question.”
“Does your very existence mean peace?”
“I swear it—peace alone is the reason for my existence.”
A smile crossed Winchen’s lips. Kakantir nodded and silently gestured to the servants, who laid her back down on the bedding.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Rest well, Chieftain. The desert storms have grown too fierce these days. The heavens themselves burn hotter.”
Only the old man’s feeble murmur lingered in the tent. As I stepped outside, the Cheonryeo tribe members, tense and rigid, studied Kakantir’s expression.
“Provide a tent for Ian Bratz and his companions.”
He had indirectly announced that Ian was indeed a child of the Bratz family. And it also meant that all the arduous proceedings of this peace accord were now officially complete.
Su exhaled a sigh of relief and called out to me.
“Ian. This way.”
“What about me? Will I share the same tent?”
“Why not? Should we give you a separate room because you’re someone precious?”
As Su shot back at him, Berik whispered to me.
“For a warrior, she’s awfully narrow-minded. I don’t understand why she’s only like this to me. When you think about it, wasn’t it you who started the mockery that day?”
“Well, Berik, it was you who threw the actual punch.”
“What? Are you backing out like this?”
The tent assigned to me was in better condition than I expected. I couldn’t say it was particularly good, but there was no sense of being treated as a sacrificial offering from an enemy nation.
‘This is strange. Wasn’t it said that relations became quite cold after Count Derga’s older brother crossed the border and died?’
Of course, the chieftain of that time and Kakantir now were different people. Given the nature of leadership that changes readily, they might be quite ancient figures in this tribe’s history.
If that were the case, shouldn’t their perceptions and ways of relating have changed even more? These people were not as ruthless as what I had heard at the Bratz Estate.
‘Cold-blooded yet not heartless, free yet not savage.’
This was my assessment. Berik asked while unpacking his belongings, which were covered in sand.
“So, what do we do now?”
“First, I need to wash up.”
“I mean, we’re not going to live here forever, right?”
That’s true.
But for me to return to Bariel, Mollin would need to arrive at the Capital with the inspectors and behead Count Derga first.
By now, he had likely only just reached the Capital. It would take about two weeks to a month to come down and carry out the deed.
“Think of it as a journey. Since there are countless people here you can’t defeat, you could spar with one person a day and a year would pass in no time.”
“A year? That’s a lie.”
“I’m joking. Two weeks. A month at most.”
Berik cursed silently with his eyes and flopped onto the bed. A wandering life meant any place with a bed would do, but he simply couldn’t adapt to the desert heat.
“Ian.”
Screech—
Su entered through the tent flap, carrying clothing and simple provisions. She glanced around the room, her eyes checking whether anything was lacking.
“Eat for now. Everyone’s busy recovering from the journey. There will be a return ceremony when the sun sets, so I’ll come call you again. Oh, and—”
Su, who had been hurrying to leave, paused and turned back.
“Jangyelung said so. The storm was truly fierce. It was the largest and most threatening thing he’d ever encountered. Since he broke through it with his bare body, nothing was swept away, but if your group had met it, things would have been difficult.”
“I see.”
Did she want to say thank you? I smiled and turned the conversation to Kakantir.
“The chieftain’s judgment was truly wise.”
At my words addressing their leader, Su’s face brightened. Then, quietly, she slipped out of the tent. Berik, who had been staring blankly after her, muttered irritably.
“…So she really only does that to me.”
“Are you upset?”
“I don’t care!”
Berik waved his hand dismissively and threw himself onto the bed. Still covered in sand, he collapsed as if losing consciousness immediately. It was the result of spending several days outdoors exposed to the wind. I too, after some thought, unknowingly drifted into sleep.
* * *
Boom boom! Boom! Boom!
I opened my eyes at the sound of drums ringing from somewhere.
Outside was dark. Night had fallen. The only light illuminating the room was the Milky Way shining like milk. The moment I was about to shake Berik awake, Su entered through the tent flap again.
“Ian? Berik?”
“Mmm….”
“Will you come out? Everyone’s waiting.”
Still drowsy as if intoxicated by dreams, Berik and I stumbled after Su. A white building erected inside the encampment. As Su opened the door, an unbelievable sight unfolded.
“Ahahaha!”
“One more time! Hey, if you keep doing that already, what then?”
“Remember what I said last time? It turned out I was right!”
Cheonryeo tribespeople adorned in red pigment and gold were dancing and playing. Between them lay enormous quantities of meat and alcohol. Whether from burning candles, subtle smoke filled the space.
A dancer laughed as she passed by, and the musicians played their instruments even faster.
“My goodness.”
I had never seen or heard of such a banquet. Under the orange glow of the lanterns, everything appeared free. Berik too seemed to have jolted awake, rubbing both his cheeks.
“Ian. Berik.”
Kakantir, sitting at the head seat, called to us both. A dried leaf was held in his mouth—the same kind burning beneath the torches.
‘Guroot leaf.’
So that was guroot leaf. As the realization struck me, I took a deep breath. It was quite similar to the scent I had caught in Winchen’s tent. It seemed it had been guroot leaf all along, not cinnamon.
“Ah. Why do I feel like this?”
“Like what?”
“…I want to beat the hell out of everyone.”
“Keep your mouth shut.”
We whispered to each other as we approached Kakantir. Beside him, Nersaren and others who appeared to be the tribe’s upper ranks were enjoying the banquet.
“Have you recovered from your fatigue?”
“Thanks to the chieftain’s consideration.”
“Good. Sit for now.”
I felt as though everyone was watching me. But it was only brief. They returned to their revelry, laughing and talking loudly. Kakantir poured grape wine into my cup.
“Tell me something. That map you gave me—does Count Derga or anyone else at Bratz Estate know of its existence?”
“No, sir. My tutor handed it to me in secret before departing immediately from Bratz. He traveled north through the upper lands toward Blaster.”
Kakantir broke into a satisfied laugh. With a remarkably favorable gesture, he encouraged me to take some meat. It seemed his subordinates had already reported to him about the storm.
“Everything you possess was given by Bratz for the Cheonryeo Tribe, so I trust this map may also be used for our people’s benefit?”
“Of course.”
After all, the Cheonryeo Tribe would accompany me when I returned to Bratz. Beyond that point, there would be no need to cross the Great Desert, so what use would the map be to me? It was better to surrender the small thing and paint the larger picture.
“Count Derga has raised his son well.”
“My father would be delighted to hear such words.”
The conversation ended there. The singing had grown progressively louder. While I was briefly pondering the gurul leaf, I felt an unfamiliar gaze upon me.
‘Hmm?’
Two seats away from Nersaren, a man was staring at me intently. When our eyes met, he curled his lips slightly upward and sent some sort of signal.
“Su. Who is that man?”
When the surroundings grew momentarily distracted, I gestured toward the man with my chin and asked. Su answered while holding wine in her mouth.
“Bumart? He’s family of Nersaren’s—the cousin of his second stepmother, actually. He’s the chief administrator of food supplies.”
I didn’t quite understand the connection, but by their logic, it seemed they were bound by family ties. Judging by his proximity to the upper seats, he held considerable status. But why did he keep staring at me?
‘How unsettling.’
I deliberately shook off his gaze and asked Su, speaking as innocently as possible. As though no emotion beyond curiosity colored my words.
“Is everyone chewing on gurul leaf?”
Su nodded, and I was about to ask whether I might also try tasting it. But at that moment, Kakantir cut off our conversation by extending a cup toward me.
“Ian. There are several rules you must follow to remain safe here.”
“Please, tell me.”
“One of them is to show absolutely no interest in the gurul leaf whatsoever. Questions are not permitted either. While you cannot avoid catching its scent during daily life, everything beyond that is strictly forbidden.”
His words implied there was a significant difference between merely smelling it and actually chewing it.
The heated festive atmosphere cooled noticeably. Those around us who heard Kakantir’s words unconsciously sharpened their vigilance.
“I will remember this.”
I nodded and replied as such. Berik beside me was too occupied picking up meat to pay us any mind.
“Then enjoy yourselves. To our safe return.”
“Yes, Chieftain Kakantir.”
Right. This gathering was a homecoming celebration. Not a welcome feast for a foreigner. I finished taking in the overall atmosphere and was preparing to end the evening.
But then….
“Chieftain!”
One of the tribesmen approached rapidly and whispered something into Kakantir’s ear. He immediately set down what he was eating and gestured to Nersaren. Those indulging in entertainment were too intoxicated to notice their leaders slipping away.
‘What’s happening?’
Su stared quietly at the ground before murmuring.
“It seems the Winchen Chieftain has had another episode. I just saw a physician following after them.”
“Is that so? His condition must be quite serious.”
“The Chieftain likely went first so everyone wouldn’t worry.”
“Is there no remedy?”
Su smiled faintly and shrugged. Everything was as the gods willed it; even physicians could not prevent it. She could only hope that Winchen wouldn’t suffer too greatly.
“Berik. Let’s go.”
“Huh? Why? I need to eat more….”
“Come on.”
If something were to happen to Winchen, my absence from this gathering would draw less suspicion. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to look after Su and myself if that occurred. One should know when to enjoy themselves moderately and when to slip away gracefully. Since we aren’t the main attraction here, this is sufficient.
Tap tap tap!
And that judgment proved correct.
Early dawn. My eyes snapped open at the commotion outside. It was as if war had broken out.
“Winchen is completely unconscious?”
“Oh my. What are we to do about this?”
“What will the Chieftain do?”
“He said he’d send people out again. The symptoms are too pronounced now, so it seems unavoidable.”
Send people out? They must be taking measures to cure Winchen’s illness. I leaned my back against the window and closed my eyes. Drifting between sleep and wakefulness, my mind grew hazy.
“They’re looking for Silask, aren’t they?”
“The people who went before still haven’t returned….”
“Where does a flower exist that blooms eternally without fading? I doubt its existence from the start.”
Then my eyes flew open.
What were they saying? A flower that blooms eternally without fading? Silask?
‘That potted flower I bought at the park.’
‘It’s a strange flower. It stays in full bloom for quite a long time.’
‘The people at the manor don’t know what it is either.’
‘Yes. Everyone says they’ve never seen such a plant before. I was worried it might be toxic, but fortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case.’
I recalled the conversation I’d had with Count Mollin at the manor. Then I retrieved the carefully wrapped potted flower from the box and tore away the paper. The red flower that had never wilted once since I received it at the park.
“…What?”
Surely not?
I carefully set the potted flower on the ground. Then I instinctively understood. Why I had been reborn in the body of Ian, a bastard.
Everything was unfolding according to God’s design.

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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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