Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 490

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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 490
Fire. Northward
At my proposal, the Dera Tribe exchanged glances with one another. Then, as if they’d reached some understanding, they huddled together in a circle, their heads pressed close.
Whisper, whisper—their snouts, or rather their noses, twitched incessantly. I couldn’t hear what they were saying over Berik’s boisterous laughter and the loud clanging of hammers, but I could make a reasonable guess.
“You’re giving us the Drifter? Why?”
“Seems like you want something. I’ve never seen a government official propose anything out of pure goodwill.”
“It was made so long ago that we need to inspect its condition first. It’s one of the earliest Drifters, after all.”
“Reinforcing it won’t take long. No problem. As long as the form is intact.”
“Since you say it’ll help with material procurement, why not accept it first? We won’t just use it to make Drifters anyway.”
“Hmm. Since I don’t know what you want, I’m against it.”
“Could it be that you want us to leave Rajashan?”
“What? Why?”
“You get the Dryad and develop this place!”
“If that’s the case, I absolutely oppose it! I’d rather start from scratch—”
“That’s not it.”
“Ahhhhh!”
As I slipped in and whispered, the Dera Tribe scattered in surprise. I hadn’t spoken loudly, yet they seemed quite startled.
Perhaps they hadn’t anticipated I’d add something like that. I smiled and waved the Dera Tribe’s hammer again. Here, I was showing my intent this way.
“Do you know the current political situation centered around Bariel and Burgos?”
“Of course I don’t!”
Thump! The Dera Tribe answered confidently to my question.
“The Emperor has passed away?”
“Gasp. He lived quite long. So he’s gone now?”
“When the master of history changes, the political situation shifts dramatically with it. War between Bariel and Burgos is inevitable. Moreover, with the North beyond that.”
Beyond Burgos lies Toollun. It’s a nation consumed by the Shadow of God, so we need to drive out that darkness. I want to achieve results with as little war as possible, but is that feasible?
No. I drew the line firmly.
Conviction and love are things that drive humans to death, and their intersection is religion. It won’t be easy.
“When you say North, where exactly? The monster territory?”
“I can’t explain in detail right now, but what matters is that Bariel needs more advanced military strength. Beyond special rare talents like Mage Knights, the kind of power that can support many soldiers.”
“Aha!”
The Dera Tribe blinked their small eyes as they looked at the hammer.
“You want us to make hammers?”
“Is it a special material? I heard it took only two strikes to knock Berik unconscious. It’s such an unusual occurrence that I’ve become deeply interested in your weapons.”
“Hmm. Well, if you call it special, then it is special. Ian, are you human?”
“I am.”
“Then, if you’ll excuse me!”
Clang!
Pim lightly brought the hammer down on my shoulder.
A clear, ringing sound echoed through the tunnel. Berik, who had been singing, stopped short and turned toward me, then immediately spotted the hammer resting on my shoulder. One second, two seconds, three seconds.
“Hey! You crazy bastard!”
The moment Berik rushed forward to unleash his mana, I held him back with a calm gesture.
“It’s fine, Berik. It doesn’t hurt.”
“What?”
“I barely feel anything.”
“But there was a huge clang sound? Damn it, that was a seriously loud clang?”
I smiled genuinely. I’d suspected it wasn’t an ordinary weapon, but it was far more than that.
Pim spun the hammer lightly and raised his middle finger at Berik, as if inviting him to attack whenever he pleased.
“The reason I started this was because of the Dryads. When you cut down trees, there’s a side effect where the screams rupture eardrums, but more importantly, you can’t harvest fruit the following year.”
“Does it only work on non-humans?”
“That’s right. I stake the pride of the Dera Tribe on it—I can confidently say it could even strike down a dragon.”
“So you already knew Berik was a non-human?”
“No idea. Why would I care? I only used it as a threat against humans, but the impact felt better than expected.”
I paused, pretending to ponder while resting my chin in my hand.
In truth, it was actually favorable. It meant ordinary soldiers could stand against magical beasts, and the citizens could protect themselves from them as well.
But I exhaled slightly, as if troubled, and the Dera Tribe detected that shift with a twitch of his nose.
“If you want, we can forge general weapons just as easily. The swords and shields we make are the finest on the continent.”
“I apologize, but the Imperial Palace blacksmiths are equally skilled as you are.”
At my response, the Dera Tribe waved his short arms, showing displeasure. Who was he comparing to whom right now?
“What nonsense! Let me see it first before you talk!”
“How about this? We prioritize supplying non-human exclusive weapons first, then general weapons afterward. I’d like to bring the Drifter directly, but I’m heading north, not to the capital. An Imperial investigation team will be dispatched here soon. Why don’t you meet with them and head to the capital ahead of time?”
The Dera Tribe hesitated at my smooth proposal. Wait, so how was the deal structured now? Was he asking them to supply both non-human weapons and general weapons for just one Drifter?
“Of course, I’ll provide appropriate payment and the necessary materials. The details should be discussed in the capital, not here. Don’t you agree? You’ll need to see the Drifter with your own eyes anyway.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s true, but….”
Something felt off. They wiggled their small, thick fingers, trying to estimate the weight of the Drifter, material procurement, and what they’d be giving. Or was it roughly balanced?
“Then we’ll proceed with that understanding. I’ll write a letter for you. Lend me paper and a pen. When the Imperial investigation team arrives, show them this and travel with them. Who will go? Pim?”
I took the pen the Dera Tribe handed me and raised my eyebrows. Several Dera Tribe members poked at Pim’s sides, and Pim reluctantly agreed. Since he was the one who brought the outsider, it was his responsibility to see it through to the end.
“So I just need to arrive at the capital first?”
“It won’t take me long either. If the timing works out, I should arrive around the same time.”
“What business do you have in the north?”
“To meet a colleague.”
I muttered thus and wrote a brief letter. It was a request to the Minister of Magic at the Imperial Palace to treat the Dera Tribe with utmost care as they had business to conduct. Pim tucked the note securely into his pocket and asked.
“A colleague? Are there colleagues worth calling that in the north? Though I suppose you do travel with strange things.”
Since he didn’t know the Mages were in the northern region, it was a genuine question. Though when Pim glanced at Berik, the meaning seemed to fade.
“What? Did you just call me ‘that thing’?”
“Yeah. You stupid-faced idiot! If I beat you with this hammer, you won’t even squeak. Your personality is the only problem.”
“Come here. Today I’ll kill a Mole for the first time.”
“Two hits knocked you out? What do you think three hits would do?”
“If you’re going to fight, take it outside! This place is full of things being forged!”
“Berik! Just sing more, will you?”
“Hey! Let go of this!”
As Berik and Pim were about to fight, the Dera Tribe members rushed in simultaneously, and they all tangled together. I couldn’t tell if they were trying to stop the fight or just playing along.
I checked the time with the pocket watch I’d purchased at the market, clicking it open and shut. Being inside the tunnel dulled my senses. Even just a few dozen meters down affected me like this—I didn’t even want to think about the strange sensations I’d felt in the abyss.
Realizing that more time had passed than I expected, I stood up.
“Berik. Are you sober now?”
“Sober? I sobered up the moment this bastard got on my nerves! But why?”
“Why? We need to head north. My stamina isn’t great, so we need to move diligently.”
At my call, Berik stopped his bickering and adjusted his pack back to the front.
The Dera Tribe gathered around. Except for the pickpocket, these were guests visiting the tunnel for the first time in ages, so they offered reluctant farewells.
“You’re leaving already?”
“Have some more drinks before you go.”
“If the contract goes through, we’ll see each other again in the capital. Then I’ll raise a glass with you too.”
“Let’s go! Ian, get on my back.”
Berik hoisted me onto his back and stomped heavily up the path toward the exit.
“And instead of making things, fix up that entrance, will you? That’s why shabby creatures keep robbing you blind. Tsk, tsk.”
“Get lost! Idiot.”
“Yeah, take care. Blockhead.”
Berik and Pim flipped each other off without backing down an inch. I simply raised my wrist to show them.
“Thanks for the treatment. See you soon.”
“Hmph. Just manage your subordinates better.”
Whoosh!
Pim threw a hammer toward me. Berik, who nearly got hit in the head, yelped and jerked his face away, while I caught it smoothly.
“A sample. Since we don’t know who’ll arrive first, take it with you.”
“Thanks.”
As I smiled and waved, the Dera Tribe waved back in response.
Berik charged up the steep slope with vigor. In the distance, a white moon began to appear.
“Berik. Do you remember where we tied up the horse?”
“Of course!”
Berik answered confidently and bounded cheerfully toward the moon. But before he’d taken even a couple of steps, I had to turn his face to the side and correct his direction.
“…Not that way. This way.”
* * *
“Captain Heil!”
Rough beard and noticeably short hair. Heil turned toward the voice while a cigarette hung from his lips. It was his subordinate.
They were standing on a temporary barrier in the northern monster territory. The smoke visible far beyond the barrier was surely either the breath of monsters leaking from the rift, or traces of the Atan Clan roasting monster meat.
Regardless of which it was, the situation was far from ordinary, yet Heil felt a monotonous peace. It was a moment that made me realize anew that humans are creatures of adaptation.
“What is it?”
“What? Did you just ask ‘what’? What time is it and you’re still smoking? Seriously! I came to relieve you! Do you know how long the troops have been waiting for you?”
“Ah. Has it gotten that late already?”
“You’re crazy, really.”
“The way you talk, you sound just like Akorella.”
“If Captain Akorella were here, sir, you wouldn’t be smoking so leisurely. You know that, right?”
Heil didn’t deny it. He took a drag from his cigarette and headed down toward the barrier. Bariel Soldiers stood packed in full armor before the temporary barrier.
The northern Rift Zone was far too ancient and vast for the Ministry of Magic to oversee alone. Thus, they had divided it into arbitrary sections and maintained control primarily over areas showing unusual activity.
Which meant that demonic creatures could spawn from the rifts beneath the barrier at any moment, and surprise attacks from the Atan Clan targeting those moments were entirely possible.
Tap, tap, tap.
As I descended further below the barrier, an indescribable foul stench and heat rose up to meet me. And far below, an amber light spreading softly. The Mages were using Idgal to control the rift’s mana.
“The control range has remained unchanged for nearly two weeks.”
“We’re short on Idgal. But Captain, what’s been going on with you lately? You seem distracted, like your mind is elsewhere. You’re having trouble concentrating.”
“Ah—”
Heil tossed away his burnt-out cigarette and answered.
“Is it just me? Haven’t you felt something strange about the atmosphere these past few days?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. Something, well. Hard to say.”
“This is driving me crazy. Is it a side effect of the cigarettes?”
Though his Subordinate reproached him, Heil could only laugh. What could he do about the truth? This sensation was difficult to explain. His sixth sense was sending signals, but identifying what they meant was impossible.
How could he have imagined it—that Ian had returned after ten years, and was heading toward him? His keen senses could only brush against a vague, yet unmistakably familiar shadow.

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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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