Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 104

-Excuse me, are you busy right now?”\n\n”……??”\n\nBeric just kept blinking. That dog, grinning widely while looking up at him, panting. Did that dog just talk?\n\n”Ha, no way. I’m going crazy. I must be losing it from boredom. Seriously, this is ridiculous.”\n\nBeric chuckled and ruffled his hair. But then, he snapped back to attention at the sound of the voice again and turned around.\n\n-I’m talking to you. If you’re not busy, could you spare some time? Hmm. You’re a uniquely handsome fellow.\n\nThe dog was still sitting calmly, looking up at Beric.\n\n’Is this bastard calling me ugly right now?’\n\nBeric rolled his eyes, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. But it was all snow, and there were many places to hide, so it wasn’t easy.\n\nTap!\n\nThe friendly dog sensed that Beric’s gaze had turned strange. It slowly backed away, then suddenly started running away. Beric reflexively chased after it.\n\nWoof! Woof woof!\n\n”Hey, you can bark too. What are you?”\n\nWoof!\n\nIan, who was backing up the carriage, frowned at the commotion. He couldn’t help, and he didn’t know what kind of trouble they were causing. In the distance, the red hair running like crazy was particularly noticeable.\n\n”Beric!”\n\n”Ian! Catch this dog!”\n\n”Why a dog!”\n\n”This bastard, it’s a talking dog. And it’s kind of rude!”\n\nThe way he was running around and causing a ruckus seemed worse than a dog. Ian frowned at Romandro and his subordinates, signaling them to ignore it.\n\n”I don’t know why he’s acting like that.”\n\n”Leave him be. He must have a lot of energy.”\n\nRomandro laughed, defending Ian. While Beric was playing tag with the dog, the subordinates had turned all the carriages around and finished preparing for departure.\n\n”Ian, sir. Since we’ve stopped anyway, can we finish checking the wheels? The snow is more slippery than I thought.”\n\n”The horses could use a little more rest too.”\n\nIan checked his watch and readily agreed. Even considering the sunset time in winter, there was plenty of time. Even if they went back a little, they would arrive in Karenna by evening.\n\n”Alright. It’s not that far anyway.”\n\n”By the way, is that really a bandit hideout? It’s too close to Karenna, isn’t it? It’s so obvious, there’s no way the guards there would just leave it alone.”\n\nThe coachman, who was lighting a cigarette, glanced at the village and asked. He had a point. But since avoiding the worst-case scenario was the priority, Ian didn’t change his decision.\n\n”Finding that out is what we’ll do in Karenna.”\n\n”Gotcha! You mutt!”\n\nSqueak.\n\nAt that moment, Beric shouted, holding a white lump in one hand.\n\n”Ian. Look at this! This guy’s a talking dog!”\n\nThe group that was resting didn’t pay any attention, and neither did Ian. That is, until Beric shoved the dog right in front of his face.\n\nThe dog was looking at Ian with a frightened gaze.\n\n”Beric. Talk sense.”\n\n”Why? Magic or whatever is believable, but a talking dog isn’t? It’s real, I tell you! It asked me if I had time.”\n\nUgh. The way he said it so firmly, it didn’t seem like a joke. Either he was hearing things, or it was the truth…\n\n”Talk, then.”\n\nSqueak.\n\nIan muttered, seriously making eye contact with the dog. Then, Romandro, who was watching from the side, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Beric was one thing, but even Ian was like this, it was quite a sight.\n\n”Sorry. Ahem. Hey, you there. Um, give me a cigarette too.”\n\nWhen Ian looked at him, Romandro looked away and ran towards his subordinates. The dog just wagged its tail and panted.\n\n”Don’t waste your energy on useless things and let it go.”\n\n”Hey, it’s real. This guy’s funny. Should I just eat him up.”\n\nAs Beric muttered in confusion, the dog looked shocked. The moment Ian noticed it, the dog bit Beric’s hand.\n\nSnap!\n\n”Ouch!”\n\nThump thump!\n\nAnd it ran up the hill with all its might. While Beric was squatting down, swallowing the pain, Ian calmly followed the dog’s tail with his gaze.\n\n-You rude people! You’ve misjudged me! I thought you seemed like honorable people! Ugh, ptooey! Ptoo!\n\n”See! That bastard’s talking!”\n\nIan was also surprised, his mouth slightly open. The way it was shouting with such dignity in its small body was quite adorable. Romandro and his subordinates glanced at the commotion, but by then, the dog had already disappeared.\n\n”What was that just now? Did a dog really talk?”\n\n”Hahaha! Romandro, sir, you’re joking too much.”\n\n”Alright, alright. Shall we get going now?”\n\n”Ugh! I want to hurry and rest.”\n\nWhile everyone was busy preparing to leave, Ian and Beric stared blankly at each other, tilting their heads.\n\n”What’s going on?”\n\n”If you don’t know, how would I? I got bitten properly, damn it.”\n\n”Well, this is a perplexing situation.”\n\nWas it an Inhuman? Or a divine beast?\n\nBut it was too insignificant to be a divine beast.\n\nIf it was neither, it could be a monster, but it wasn’t easy to find a monster in the inland of Bariel in this era.\n\n”I can’t figure it out.”\n\nThe moment Ian was about to get on the carriage, he looked up at the hill again, feeling a presence behind him. Beric shook his hand and turned his head, following Ian’s gaze.\n\n”What’s wrong?”\n\n”I feel like someone’s there, can’t you feel it?”\n\n”That dog bastard, didn’t it leave yet!?”\n\n”Alright. Let’s get on. The wind is getting stronger.”\n\nIan pushed Beric’s back and got on the carriage. While the procession turned around and went back the way they came, Ian remained on edge. Romandro, who noticed the change, asked worriedly.\n\n”What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”\n\n”No, it’s just that I’m nervous since this is said to be a place where bandits often appear.”\n\nNeigh!\n\nClip-clop, clip-clop!\n\nThe long line of carriages gradually disappeared. Black figures hidden in the forest followed the shadows of the carriages.\n\n* * *\n\nAs the coachman said, Ian arrived in Karenna around sunset. A quiet, unremarkable small city. The residents who were finishing their day stopped what they were doing and watched Ian’s carriage procession.\n\n”If this were Bratz, they would have been in an uproar wondering what kind of people had invaded again. It’s quiet here.”\n\n”It’s close to the inland, so we don’t have to worry about foreign invasions. And bandits wouldn’t come in with carriages.”\n\nRomandro clicked his tongue, glancing at Beric’s hand.\n\n”By the way, are you okay?”\n\n”My hand? It’s nothing.”\n\n”That’s why you shouldn’t grab random dogs you see.”\n\n”Was that just a random dog? It was a talking dog!”\n\nBeric had a point. No matter how much he thought about it, it was absurd. It was the first time he had seen an animal speak human language, but the voice and tone were so shocking, unlike its soft appearance.\n\n”Could it be some kind of sorcery?”\n\n”I don’t know. It could be, but there’s no way there would be a sorcerer in a small city like this…”\n\nNo. There could be.\n\nEven Ian, a mana user, was at the front line of the border fighting the barbarians, so a sorcerer was possible.\n\nSqueak!\n\n”We’ve arrived, Ian, sir.”\n\n”Good work. Unload the luggage and rest well today.”\n\n”Oh my, everyone worked hard.”\n\n”Huh! Are you planning to stay at the inn today?”\n\n”Are you the owner? We have quite a few carriages and luggage.”\n\n”Welcome! Just a moment!”\n\nThe woman who was sweeping in front of the inn rushed inside and brought out the staff.\n\n”I’d like the horses to be kept separate since they’re sensitive.”\n\n”We don’t have any guests staying right now, so we can accommodate you perfectly. Please come this way.”\n\nWhile the subordinates were taking care of the horses and carriages, Ian went into the inn and started writing in his journal. The paper was clean, it seemed like it had been blank for a few days.\n\n”It seems like there aren’t many guests these days because of the winter.”\n\n”Yes, yes. That’s right. Well, to be honest, we don’t do that well even when the weather is good. There’s nothing to see or eat here. We used to get people passing through like you, but that’s stopped since the rumors of bandits.\nAre you staying for one night?”\n\n”Yes.”\n\nThe innkeeper chuckled and checked the journal. Twenty horses, ten carriages, nearly a dozen people, and a lot of luggage to store…\n\n”Including meals and bathwater, it’s one gold coin.”\n\nIt was a bit more expensive than he thought, but this was the only place where the group could stay together. Otherwise, they would have to split up, and it would be better to pay the gold than to go through that hassle.\n\nAnd since they were staying anyway, it would be better to receive the best treatment.\n\nClink.\n\nIan readily took out two gold coins and handed them over. The innkeeper’s face lit up, and he bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude.\n\n”Oh my! We will do our best to serve you!”\n\n”It’s cold, please put a lot of firewood.”\n\n”Of course! Shall we heat the bathwater right away?”\n\n”I’d appreciate that.”\n\n”I want food! Food! I’m hungry!”\n\n”Yes, yes. Please wait a moment, and we’ll prepare it soon. Please come this way. Oh, there are only two rooms with attached bathrooms. How would you like to do that?”\n\nAt the innkeeper’s words as he climbed the stairs, Ian turned to Romandro and nodded.\n\n”I’ll use it with Beric. Romandro, sir, please rest comfortably.”\n\n”Oh my, is that alright? Thank you.”\n\n”Don’t I have a say? I want to use it alone?”\n\n”Is that so? There’s no one in the stable, though.”\n\n”……”\n\n”This way! Be careful on the stairs!”\n\nSqueak.\n\nIt was an old but tidy room. The smell of dry firewood and cheap soap filled the air, and the interior was dark because half of the lights were out. But it was cozy, warm, and above all, the existence of the bed itself was a blessing. For the past few days, they had all been sleeping on the cold snow.\n\n”Yay!”\n\nBeric also jumped onto the bed and rolled around. As they roughly unpacked their luggage, the innkeeper quickly brought some snacks.\n\n”If you’re okay with it, please have a snack before the meal.”\n\n”Thank you.”\n\n”No, we’re the ones who are grateful. I was wondering if we’d have to suck our fingers this month.”\n\nIan took the tray and asked.\n\n”Has Hyman stopped operating?”\n\n”Are you talking about the bank?”\n\n”Yes. I heard that they weren’t operating in Karenna, Longin, and Zailkuff, but I don’t know how it is now.”\n\n”They closed down completely, but now it seems like only Longin is open for shorter hours. People from here and Zailkuff have to go there to do their business. It’s close, and the bandits haven’t been taken care of yet.”\n\n”Still?”\n\nWhat on earth was the guard doing? It was a small city, but three areas had been affected. They should be wiped out immediately.\n\n”On the way here, I saw a village that wasn’t on the map. We thought it was a bandit camp.”\n\nAt Ian’s words, the innkeeper paused. As if he was remembering something from a long time ago.\n\n”Ah, you’re talking about Danil.”\n\n”Danil?”\n\n”Yes. It probably won’t be on the recent maps. The villagers all died a few years ago, so it was abandoned. It’s too much work to tear it down, so we just left it.”\n\nSince it was a map for travelers, there was no reason to mark an abandoned village. Ian frowned and sighed.\n\n”The villagers all died? How?”\n\n”I don’t know the exact cause, but they were all found dead, lying down as if they were sleeping. It was a huge mess. The people from this village all went to drag out the bodies. An investigator came from the Imperial Palace, and, um. What did they say? Mass food poisoning, I think?”\n\nAt the innkeeper’s words, Beric, who had been lying down, raised his head.\n\n”…Does that make sense?”\n\n”If the Imperial Palace says so, then it must be so. It was the Magic Department that came down, so the investigation itself must have been thorough.”