Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 603

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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 602
Fire. The Legend of Purpato
Once upon a time, there lived a girl who dwelt in poverty, alone. She survived by gathering scraps of food that others had discarded and abandoned.
Then one day, a mysterious purple deer appeared in Purpato. Stumbling weakly, the deer made its way to the center of the square and collapsed.
The people offered it food, thinking the deer was hungry. Yet it did not move an inch.
-If I die, all the forests nearby will perish as well.
The people began to grow afraid. The deer’s purple body seemed to be draining away.
It was death itself, consuming the earth, the sky, and humanity. The people grew alarmed and emptied their storehouses, bringing forth food.
“Please try this as well.”
“And this too!”
Yet the deer’s condition did not improve.
While everyone was consumed by worry and despair, the girl approached carefully. Then, among the piled offerings, she placed her own contribution—scraps of bread and apple pieces that others had left behind.
The people grew furious. They said it was already insufficient to offer only the finest foods to such a sacred deer, so how could she possibly present such things?
-At last.
But the deer’s reaction was unexpected. Though it had not moved despite consuming many precious foods, it regained its strength upon eating the girl’s offering.
Its purple fur gleamed with vitality, and the death that had been draining away transformed into life.
-You have given everything you possessed, and my heart is deeply satisfied. In return, I shall eternally govern the nearby forests. And child, I shall grant you the wish that your heart truly desires.
The purple deer spoke thus and vanished.
The people were overjoyed. Had they continued sharing food with the deer, they would have starved to death. They elevated the girl to hero status and treated her with kindness, and she was happy to feel warmth for the first time.
But happiness did not last long.
Soon the people fell into worry once more. Since they had given everything to the deer, they did not have much food to survive the winter.
Winter approached, and they had no choice but to starve until the following spring arrived.
“What should we do?”
“Let us pray to the deer. Since we saved the deer and this came to pass, surely it will help us.”
The people united and searched for the deer, but it was in vain. Ultimately, they faced winter without a great harvest.
As the people starved in the harsh winds, they suddenly remembered something. The girl’s existence.
“What if we asked the child to make a wish for us? To bring us abundant food?”
“That’s right. After all, she only survived because of us. She ate scraps we discarded!”
“Let’s go! Let’s ask her to make a wish!”
The villagers rushed forth in a crowd. Upon hearing their request, the girl was troubled, but soon nodded in agreement.
“Yes. I will make a wish for all of you. That you may pass through a warm winter.”
“Thank you, please do it at once.”
The girl clasped her hands together and prayed, but there was no response.
As the people wondered what was wrong, they soon found their answer. The girl did not truly desire abundance and warmth for them. Enraged, the people beat the girl mercilessly.
“How dare you? You wretch who ate nothing but scraps, showing no gratitude!”
“Please, save me! Save me!”
“Let us use the child as an offering and pray. Then the deer will surely appear. Kill her!”
“Kill her! Strip her!”
The girl was beaten savagely and then bound and placed upon a platform. Then those who opposed the girl’s death cried out.
“Let the child down!”
“The boy is blameless!”
“What right do you have to kill someone?”
Bound and trembling, the boy watched tears stream down his face as people argued around him. After a long while, he squeezed his eyes shut and whispered softly—begging the deer to make the authors suffer a painful death. He repeated their names over and over, praying to the deer.
Then—
Boom! Crash!
Lightning struck from a clear sky, and the people whose names the girl had whispered died on the spot.
The bewildered people were startled, but secretly relieved. With the people dead, their mouths were sealed as well. Thus they were able to safely endure that harsh winter.
Spring came again. The people sought out the girl’s dwelling to offer thanks and apologies. But they could not find her anywhere in the village.
After that, no one ever knew what became of the child.
* * *
Raudan hesitated. In that brief moment, a legend passed through his mind—one that descended upon Purpato. Though there were countless variations, the core narrative had never changed.
“Am I to take your silence as your answer?”
Not Ian Hielo, but a different name? Did this Minister of Magic operate under an alias?
Bariel’s side showed no sign of agitation. They shared the author’s secret. At this, Raudan cut through the nonsense sharply.
“…The Guardian is a transcendent being. Whatever your name may be, the fact that I die by your hand does not change.”
“Then let us test it. I too am curious about the outcome, so I shall cheer for your demise.”
The curse could not be avoided, but he claimed it was within manageable limits. Moreover, what if the oath truly had a loophole? Raudan could not guarantee that his death would be effective.
With Purpato’s fate hanging in the balance, if he were to die, he had to seize the Minister of Magic’s lifeline as well. But to think he had a true name elsewhere….
“Your thoughts seem to have deepened.”
Snap!
I flicked my fingertips, drawing Raudan and his subordinates’ attention. If they wished, they were welcome to turn back. No blood had been spilled yet, so a path to retreat remained.
This was a reasonable path for me as well. Even if the curse was manageable, it was right to avoid it if possible, and it was also a courtesy to the Guardian who had shown goodwill.
“I give you two hours. Use that time to gather your thoughts and return with your decision. Bariel will respect whatever you choose. If you desire death, I shall grant death. If you desire survival, I shall grant survival.”
“Lord Raudan. W-we should return for now.”
“Yes, we have achieved our primary objective. We have learned that the Guardian’s oath is at stake.”
“Having time to regroup is also advantageous for us.”
“Lord Raudan, sheathe your sword and come this way.”
As his subordinates dragged at the immobile Raudan, he reluctantly lowered his blade. As he slowly turned his horse’s reins toward the castle gate, that was when it happened.
“Take this with you.”
I tossed him a broken branch. It was proof that the legendary forest truly existed, and a warning from Bariel. Raudan could not bring himself to discard it, so he tucked it into his robes and urged his horse toward the castle gate.
As they withdrew, the mages maintaining the protective barrier relaxed and reduced their magical power, while the soldiers exhaled in relief.
“Lord Ian. Do you think the authors will surrender after two hours?”
“I cannot say. For them, both resistance and surrender are righteous paths. Which is more effective and better serves their purpose is a matter to consider later. Ultimately, what unfolds will be revealed by history in time.”
I glanced at Tweller, suggesting we take a brief rest. Two hours—not generous, but sufficient time to ease the soldiers’ fatigue.
The mages crept closer to me and whispered.
“But Lord Ian. What exactly is this curse?”
“The Guardian’s blessing meant that fortune descended upon those who prayed for me. Their fortune would also color my fate—a beautiful cycle of reciprocity. The curse was connected to that.”
It was precisely the conversion of the fortune they gained and enjoyed into misfortune that I would repay. That was the curse.
If someone’s fortune once saved their life at the threshold of death, then at my own moment of life and death, misfortune would surely be added. I could die from what should not kill me, and what I expected could go awry.
What would return and in what measure was unpredictable. For fortune, like misfortune, seeps invisibly through their lives and vanishes.
“W-wouldn’t it be better to break the oath first? Not much time has passed yet, so how much fortune could those praying for Ian really have accumulated?”
“Yes, I agree. As time passes, the fortune grows exponentially. The burden of the curse will certainly increase as well.”
“I understand luck is needed during wartime. But the price is too steep. Perhaps we should abandon this.”
The mages’ concerns went unanswered by Ian.
Unless Purpato’s death triggered it, I couldn’t abandon the blessing first. And for good reason—the recipients of fortune were ‘those who pray for me.’
‘Naum. And…’
“…Philia needs this fortune.”
“Ah.”
Regardless of what trouble they faced elsewhere, they were people whose lives had been shaken because of me. So this was the only way I could offer them even the smallest measure of luck.
“…I understand. If that is your will, Ian. I do hope news regarding Philia reaches us soon.”
“It will surely help her. Countless imperceptible moments accumulate to forge destiny, after all.”
I lightly patted the mages’ shoulders in gratitude for their understanding.
Just then, in the distance, the gates of Purpato Castle swung wide open. It appeared Raudan and his subordinates had entered.
“They’ve gone in! Two hours! Starting the count now!”
The mage announced this while checking his pocket watch.
Meanwhile, behind the castle walls of Purpato, an urgent meeting was underway. Before Raudan could even dismount, residents rushed forward, each throwing in their own words.
“What has happened? What does Bariel say?”
“There was indeed a forest oath, but since we don’t know Ian Hielo’s true name, we can’t use it. Damn it. Raudan, what should we do?”
“Let’s surrender. Fighting with force will only lead to meaningless death. Purpato’s survival is guaranteed, so planning for the future seems wiser.”
“But if we open the gates here, it will affect other cities too. Is there anything more shameful than giving up without a fight? We’d be hastening Burgos’s downfall.”
“Yes, I agree. Meaningless death is better. And besides, it’s not meaningless death. It’s a show of resolve, a defense of Burgos.”
Raudan suddenly wondered if this was what the legendary boy had witnessed. People fiercely debating life and death. The voices buzzed in his ears, then abruptly ceased.
Without thinking, Raudan raised his hand, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Minimize casualties, but show Burgos the will of Purpato—isn’t that everyone’s opinion?”
Merging the views of those who wanted to surrender with those who wanted to fight, it came to that.
Everyone looked at Raudan in silence, and he withdrew a broken twig from his pocket. Ian Hielo’s words came vividly to mind.
“Then let’s test it. I’m curious about the result too, so I’ll cheer for your death.”
“…Yes. Let’s try it.”
“Raudan?”
“Those who wish to surrender shall open the gates and discard their weapons. Outwardly, accept their proposal so that Bariel passes through Purpato. I will die alone where no one sees, calling out Ian Hielo’s name.”
Raudan murmured while gazing at the wavering Burgos flag.
“If other cities condemn Purpato for this, then reveal my death at that time. Tell them there were those who resisted with their lives given the circumstances. And that opening the gates was part of our strategy and orders.”

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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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