Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 625

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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 624. Disguise
“Ian! Where are we going?”
Crash!
As Berik suddenly threw open the door, the Mages paused and turned to look at him. They had wondered why things had been quiet for days, but seeing how well he looked, it was clear he had been hiding somewhere to eat and rest.
I nodded while casually packing clothes into a small travel bag.
“Toollun.”
“Why there all of a sudden? What’s going on?”
“I’m going to find out what’s happening there. Berik, pack your things too. By the way, you don’t need to bring food. Toollun is a prosperous nation.”
Just then, Heil appeared with a cigarette in his mouth, dragging a travel bag slightly larger than mine. The Mages could tell without looking what was inside—the amplifiers that Heil and Akorelra had left behind.
“Captain Heil is going too? For real.”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m counting on you, Berik.”
“Does that mean don’t cause trouble?”
“Sir Ian. Berik’s comprehension has improved remarkably these days. They say even dogs understand human speech if they live with people long enough. It’s fascinating to see it actually happen.”
“Cok! Who are you comparing to a dog?”
“Since we’re on the subject, sit down. I’ll explain our objective and schedule before we depart.”
As Berik sprawled across the sofa and crossed his legs, Heil unfolded a small map. It was a map of Toollun.
“We’ll open a portal in a remote area near Toollun’s capital where few people venture, and move from there. We can’t let it be known that Bariel Mage has come to Toollun, so we’ll move swiftly late at night to minimize exposure. This location on the map is suitable—it’s far from residential areas while connecting to the path leading to the capital—”
“While connecting?”
“The map is so old that I can’t be certain. If we encounter any witnesses during our movement, we’ll have to deal with them.”
“Hmm. Okay. I understand.”
While Heil gave Berik one-on-one instructions, I focused on adjusting my appearance in the mirror. Just as I was about to touch my hair with my hand, the Mages waved both hands frantically, redirecting my gaze toward them. They knew all too well that if I tried to style my own hair, it would end up looking like a cow had licked it.
“From the portal to the capital will take roughly half a day at most. The time needed to return to Kalamato is undetermined. It could happen in the capital, or we might return to the departure point to open the portal. Everything will be fluid and decided based on the situation.”
“How long will we be there?”
“At most a month. We must return within that time. If our objective seems sufficiently achieved, we might come back early.”
“So what exactly is this objective? Are we supposed to bring back King Toollun’s head or something?”
“The capital is in the palm of King Toollun’s hand. It’s like a grand stage he has created. Berik, if you act recklessly, you’ll get a hole drilled in your head first. So remember this. There are exactly three things we want to know—”
Heil counted off on his fingers as he spoke.
“The Western Temple. The circumstances of Toollun’s royal palace. And Philia’s whereabouts.”
“Philia? She’s there?”
“I don’t know. I can only guess that something went wrong during the Puppeteers’ transport process. Our objective in this covert operation is to confirm this in detail.”
“Question!”
Berik pondered something for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand.
“Does Toollun not have a Central Guard like Bariel? Don’t you need to show identification to enter the capital? What do we use?”
“That was a good question, Berik. Therefore, we will employ a disguise. We’ll pose as fallen nobility from Bariel who operated a merchant company and are returning home after liquidating it.”
“Oh, fallen nobility? Then am I the young master?”
Berik’s eyes sparkled as if he were lost in a dream, and he looked around. Look at that! I’m nobility now!
“Wake up. You’re a bodyguard knight.”
“Huh? Then what about Captain Heil?”
“The head of the household. With two children.”
Two children? As Berik turned to me with a puzzled expression, I nodded toward the door. My sister was coming, I indicated.
“Pardon me.”
“…Teeth?”
It was Barsabe in a flowing dress. She still had a blindfold covering her eyes, and her discomfort was evident. To be frank, she could count on one hand the times she’d worn a dress in her life.
“Huh? Why are you taking her?”
“If something did go wrong during the Puppeteer’s transport, we can speculate on several scenarios. Internal conflict, betrayal, natural disaster, and bandit attacks, among others. Given the current unstable security in the northern regions due to the war aftermath, we’re placing weight on the connection to bandits. If that’s the case, there’s a strong possibility that Philia ended up flowing into the slave market.”
So if I went with Barsabe, I could search the slave market thoroughly without raising suspicion.
A woman of “appropriate age” to assist a blind noblewoman and someone “fluent in Bariel” wouldn’t be particularly common even throughout the entire slave market.
Berik clicked his tongue and looked Barsabe up and down.
“She doesn’t suit this at all. Just bring someone else instead. With her eyes like that, what good will she be?”
“That’s precisely why she goes with us.”
“Berik, give me your hand.”
Barsabe fumbled forward and extended her hand to Berik. When he grasped it without understanding, she traced upward to find where his head was. Then she gently cupped his cheeks, securing them firmly, and—
Crack!
She delivered a headbutt with all her strength.
“Ahhh! You crazy teeth!”
“Near the royal palace, there’s far more information about the Puppeteer. If we’re lucky, we can break the curse before we return.”
Barsabe’s vision was currently connected to the Toolun royal palace. It was dangerous, but if she kept her eyes covered as usual, there would be no problem.
Moreover, above all else, Barsabe possessed a “special” ability. Among the Mage Knights, her skills were particularly exceptional—the kind of ability that could be put to great use against the King of Toolun if done right.
Berik scratched his ear and asked listlessly.
“What, does she have something like that? I know her.”
“Yes, you would know. You saw it too. In front of Maelidaeli.”
“Maelidaeli? Ten years ago? I was nearly dead back then, so I don’t remember well.”
“Then that’s fine. Anyway, with Barsabe included, we’ll be moving as four. Keep that in mind. We depart at five in the morning. Toolun at three in the morning. Pack your things well.”
“That’s far! Tell me too!”
Berik thrashed his feet on the sofa and ended up kicking Barsabe’s dress. At this, Barsabe extended her hand again. This time, as if asking him to take it.
“Hmph. Do you think I’ll fall for it twice? No way.”
“Right. You don’t have to.”
Crack!
“Ahhh!”
“Now I can gauge it just by the sound.”
“This is insane. Want me to knock out the other side too? Damn, and where in this world does a muscular noblewoman like this exist? A guard knight would suit her better!”
Berik bounced around protesting, but everyone ignored him. After all, Barsabe would be covered by a veil throughout the covert operation.
“Or we all go equally! Why do I always have to be the guard knight every time I go out?”
“Berik, you’re more than adequate as a guard knight.”
“A fallen noble must still be a noble. That makes it easier to access information from the palace.”
I fastened a brooch I’d prepared beforehand to my chest, muttering to myself. It was the seal of a fallen house that had actually existed somewhere in Burgos.
I studied the map Heil had produced carefully, calculating the portal coordinates.
“Once we board the portal, we’ll arrive at our destination within five minutes. Prepare horses and carriages to match.”
“Yes. Understood, Ian.”
“Travel safely. Captain Heil, please bring back some sweets when you return. I hear Toolun honey cakes are quite delicious.”
“Oh? Me too.”
“I do hope you’ll bring Lady Philia back safely.”
“Yes! If anything happens, just open the portal right away! I’ll be waiting!”
Bustling about, the Mages helped me organize my belongings, while Berik became utterly captivated by the mention of honey cakes.
Amid the commotion, I alternated between examining the Puppeteer’s portrait and a hastily sketched drawing of Philia, then carefully folded both and tucked them into my chest. I could only pray that God was watching over us.
* * *
“Kyaaaah!”
At Philia’s scream, the Thieves turned their heads in unison.
The marketplace was ordinarily so raucous that most screams went unheard, but this was no ordinary cry—it was the shriek of something worth at least thirty gold coins. They reacted instinctively, moving toward Philia, only to stop short in surprise. A thin wound had appeared on her face.
“What happened to her?”
“Hey! Why does her face look like that?”
“What? Oh my, it’s real.”
A woman who had been flipping through her ledger while speaking with another merchant also looked up in alarm, examining Philia’s face. A rather long scratch ran across skin that appeared as soft as flour.
Philia stared at the woman with tears streaming down her cheeks, and the woman failed to comprehend what that gaze meant for the first time.
“Did you do this?”
One of the Thieves asked in a menacing tone, and the woman placed her hand on her hip in disbelief.
“…What nonsense is this?”
“I asked if you did it. Never mind—just answer the question. Your tongue seems to be getting in the way.”
“For heaven’s sake! This is ridiculous! Why would I lay hands on her? A thing like this is worth nothing but her face!”
“Exactly. You’re trying to scratch her up to haggle down the price, aren’t you? Since you can’t seem to get away with it now, why don’t you just eat dirt?”
“Damn it! I’ve been doing business here for ten years! Do you think I have no merchant’s honor? Anyone can see the brat scratched herself with her own nails. You’re the one who can’t even keep your merchandise properly—where do you get off making accusations?”
As the atmosphere between the woman and the Thieves grew tense, nearby merchants stopped what they were doing to watch. After a moment, fearing a blade might be drawn in the middle of the street, one merchant stepped in to mediate.
“I saw it. That merchandise scratched itself with its own fingernails.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes, of course! She’s premium quality, so my eye naturally caught it. I’ve been watching the whole time.”
As the Thieves turned back to Philia in disbelief, she stared at them with wide, dry eyes as if she had never been crying at all.
“This crazy girl. If you keep acting so cunning, you’ll really ruin your life. Sister, if you behaved properly, you could enter the palace and live well. Why do you insist on doing things that won’t help you?”
The woman gripped the cage and whispered irritably, and Philia replied quietly in turn.
“…I’m not going to the palace. Please stop worrying and just move on.”
“Hey!”
Clang!
The woman grabbed the cage roughly and shook it, but the Thieves blocked her with awkward movements. They had both become offended by the baseless suspicion, so there was no way the transaction would proceed. Thirty coins had been ambiguous anyway, so they decided to use this as a pretext to cancel the deal.
“Enough. I’m sorry, but let’s see each other next time.”
“No, I’ll give you fifty coins. Hand her over.”
Seeing the woman’s temper flare, the Thieves inwardly rejoiced. Fifty coins! That meant if an auction were held, this woman would definitely bid fifty coins.
“Ahem. We’ll see you at the auction then. Farewell.”
“Let’s go! Unload the donkey!”
“Yes, yes, let’s go.”
“When is the auction?!”
As the woman shouted in frustration, the Thieves examined Philia. The wound didn’t seem deep—it would likely heal in a few days.
“I’ll present her in the finest condition. Three or four days should be sufficient, don’t you think? Oh, and pass along a message for me. Tell her that if she damages her body again, I won’t let it slide.”
But Philia understood the implication immediately and gently touched her own cheek. A silent promise that she would cause no more trouble.
The donkey moved slowly across the marketplace, and the woman left alone let out a hollow laugh as she turned away. And watching all of this was Philia.
‘I’ll settle this at the auction.’
The woman had raised the price from thirty to fifty with her own mouth—I would extract every last bit of that difference from her.

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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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