Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 275

‘Ugyaaaak!’

Beric roared, one foot planted on his defeated opponent’s stomach. He winked playfully at the spectators, basking in his victory, then turned his gaze to the second floor where Ian was. Romandro and Jin were standing and applauding.

‘Beric! Well done, you rascal!’

‘Good job, Beric.’

Ian, however, seemed preoccupied, exchanging documents with a mage. Beric grinned and winked at them too. *Look, I won.* Romandro laughed heartily and waved his hand, telling him to stop showing off.

*Squeak.*

As he descended from the arena, Siochi offered him a towel and a water bottle. Beric had barely broken a sweat and was uninjured, but Siochi was covered in cuts and bruises. It was hard to believe he had won.

*No, considering that, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say he lost even if he won?* Beric thought, gulping down water.

‘Sio, are you okay? I saw you getting hit a lot earlier. Why are you doing that? What if you get hurt and can’t do the next match?’

The minimum strike. Siochi had adhered to that principle strictly. Even if there were many things to endure in that moment, unnecessary attacks were not an option.

*No, it would be more accurate to say he didn’t want to.* Because he knew how terrible the pain of violence he had experienced as a slave was. When Siochi offered a towel without answering, Beric shook his head.

‘I just can’t understand it!’

‘……’

‘The winner, please come here and sign the consent form for the next match.’

‘Ah, okay, okay! Winner Beric, coming right up!’

At the staff member’s call, Beric happily ran over and picked up a pen. When he had asked Siochi earlier, he had said that it contained precautions related to injuries.

He was illiterate, so he didn’t know what it said, but the important thing was that if he drew a picture in the blank space below, he could participate in the next match. There was no reason not to! Beric drew a cow and then his eyes sparkled.

‘What rank am I now?’

‘Just a moment. The evaluation scores haven’t come down yet. You were 47th earlier, so I think you’ll be in the top 30 now.’

Regardless of the win or loss, the evaluation scores of the officials watching from the second floor also affected the ranking. Beric turned to Captain Jayrut and shouted.

‘Hey, mister! Give me some good scores! I’m on a winning streak!’

‘Quiet. Demerit for attitude.’

‘Aaaagh! Are you crazy, really? Don’t you know the difference between public and private matters?’

‘I don’t know about public and private matters. But I know about public and personal.’

Jayrut clicked his tongue and recorded in the special notes. ‘Lack of common sense, most thoughts are related to food.’ And…

‘Beric. Did you even read the next match consent form?’

‘No? I can’t read.’

‘…I should add illiteracy too.’

‘Is that a demerit? It’s okay if I can’t read!’

‘That’s what you think. The problem with ignorance is that you don’t know you’re ignorant. And Beric, think about it. If your opponent knows you, but you don’t know your opponent, wouldn’t it be a very difficult fight?’

‘No? It’s fine as long as I win everything?’

‘…I should add lack of understanding too.’

‘I understand! I understand!’

Just as Beric was jumping up and down in protest, an announcement from the staff member came from behind.

‘Participant Beric, please go back up to the arena you came down from. The match will start immediately.’

‘Captain Jayrut! Watch closely! I’ll show you that it’s okay even if I can’t read! Then erase all the demerits!’

*Tap tap!*

Beric went up the stairs two at a time. He had warmed up properly, so this time he would crush them! Beric turned his head quickly, feeling the changes around him sensitively.

*Who is it? Is it that guy? Or that one? Aish, who is it?*

*Squeak.*

The sound of a door closing was heard. When he turned around, Siochi was standing there. Beric tilted his head in confusion, then blinked.

‘Sio?’

‘……’

‘Wow, who made this match schedule?!’

Even as Beric shouted that, he looked up at Jayrut. His expression was a strange mix of bewilderment, amusement, trouble, and welcome.

‘They made it really fun.’

‘……’

‘But it’s pissing me off.’

*Thump.*

Beric raised his fist and took a fighting stance. He had been wanting a match with Siochi all the time. He was happy to have the opportunity, but it was annoying to think that one of them would have to lose.

‘Sio, you know me, right?’

*I won’t hold back, so do your best.* As a different light settled in his red eyes, it seemed as if flames were rising. Siochi also took a stance and glanced at the second floor.

*Is it the master’s intention?*

No. That couldn’t be. It was beneficial for the master for both Beric and himself to rise to the top ranks. Then it was someone else’s intention…

*The purpose might be to cut one of them first, or to cause injuries and physical exhaustion in this process. Beric seems to think it’s Captain Jayrut’s intention. Is it true? If it’s the captain, it could be another test. To verify Beric more than me, exactly…*

*Beep!*

The whistle signaling the start of the match rang out.

At the same time, Beric charged in.

Siochi reflexively stepped back and dodged the punch.

‘Sio! A single strike won’t work on me! So!’

The wind brushed past his ear. Was that really a human’s punch? Siochi agreed with Beric’s words. Unlike others, he couldn’t aim for a single strike while taking those hits. Even one proper hit would be fatal.

Siochi continued to circle the arena, focusing on dodging Beric’s attacks.

*If one of us, me or Beric, can go up…*

Ian was watching them. He had even stopped reading the documents.

Siochi clenched his teeth. If one of them was to go up, it was natural for Beric to go. Just the fact that he was a magic swordsman made him valuable. On the other hand, he was a worthless being from a slave background.

*Should I give up and move on without anyone getting hurt? What about Captain Jayrut’s evaluation? If it’s Beric, he can make up for the points with other matches-*

‘Sio! You’re not concentrating!’

‘…Ah.’

Beric glared at him with an annoyed look. Even though their attacks hadn’t clashed, he could feel that Siochi’s mind was elsewhere.

‘I’m going to be number one! And then I’m going to kill Captain Jayrut! And eat a lot and lots of meat!’

Everyone was shocked at the words about killing the captain and turned to look at Jayrut. But he didn’t waver and just kept recording something.

Beric took a step forward and got closer to Siochi.

‘And with Ian-!’

‘……!’

*Thwack!*

*Wham!*

With Ian, what? At the same time Siochi thought that, the attack landed. Siochi, who had been hit squarely in the face, tumbled backward.

Romandro blocked Jin’s view, and he also groaned with his eyes tightly closed. It was hard to watch family members fighting like that. Beric, who was actually fighting, didn’t seem to think much of it.

*Swish.*

Jayrut wrote with his pen, expressionless. Beric’s identity, who was suspected to be a descendant of the Atan tribe [a nomadic warrior tribe]. More than just belligerence, madness, disregard for life, and raw morality, etc.

These were characteristics that could not be tolerated in the Imperial Palace. Ian was keeping him around, but if he joined the Imperial Guard, it could no longer be overlooked.

Jayrut watched Beric with a sharp gaze.

*The Imperial Guard is close to His Majesty the Emperor. The Atan tribe’s habits are too dangerous to keep close. Beric, if you don’t show a different side, it will be difficult.*

*Thwack! Thud!*

Siochi was a family member who lived with Ian. Based on human nature, the key was whether he showed potential.

*Ah, shit.*

Beric could feel Jayrut’s gaze on the back of his head. Although he interpreted it differently from the intention.

*It seems like he’s seeing if I can beat up even my friends. Shit, shit, shit…*

*Thwack! Thwack!*

He punched harder. Siochi’s blood splattered, but Beric seemed to be losing strength as time went on. It was boring. It was strange. Something, something…

‘I feel awful.’

As he realized that, he felt his competitive spirit plummet. Beric turned to Jayrut, annoyed.

‘You bastard!’

‘…What?’

‘It’s too disgusting to do this. Don’t live your life like that!’

And he even raised his middle finger. It was to make it clear that he was not in a good mood.

Jayrut raised an eyebrow and urged his pen to move.

‘What’s so bad? You’re winning.’

‘I don’t know! I don’t know! You dirty old man. I’ve been calling you mister until now, but now you’re not even a mister!’

Personality flaws, disrespect, and rough language were continuously written down. But-

‘How can I beat up Sio more? You crazy bastard! Just end it!’

When Beric shouted that, Jayrut paused. And after thinking for a moment, he crossed out ‘raw morality,’ which was a habit of the Atan tribe. Beric kept yelling for him to ring the bell, but Jayrut didn’t allow it.

‘Who said you could end it? The opponent hasn’t given up or fainted.’

‘What the hell are you talking about…’

Beric frowned and turned around. Siochi, covered in blood, was getting up, wasn’t he?

*Rustle.*

Jayrut turned the paper over and took out Siochi’s evaluation form. His skills were good, but he didn’t show any aggression that was problematic.

Was a soldier who gave everything for the minimum attack really helpful to the Imperial Palace?

*Well, if he can give everything, he would be perfect as a guard. Sir Ian has an eye for people. And the ability to use them in the right place.*

Siochi wiped the blood flowing down and looked up at Ian. As if asking what he should do. But Ian only gave him encouragement instead of an answer.

‘Sio. Do as you wish.’

‘……’

Giving up was okay. Going forward and fighting was okay too. He was no longer a slave, so he needed to decide for himself. Siochi spat out the blood that had burst in his mouth and muttered.

‘…Beric.’

‘Why?’

You are fighting because of ‘with Ian-‘.

I am fighting because of ‘for Ian-‘. To be exact, to show Ian that I, who was thrown into freedom, am doing well.

As Siochi took a fighting stance, Beric scratched his head. He was in that state, and he was supposed to beat him up more?

*Taa!*

But what could he do? He couldn’t just pass by an opponent who hadn’t given up. As Beric rushed in, Siochi focused all his senses and followed his trajectory.

A single strike.

The only way to win was with one chance that wouldn’t come twice.

‘Ah, really!’

‘……’

As Beric got close and threw a punch, Siochi dodged again. This time, he didn’t step back. Rather, he went into the gap and got close to his body.

*Thwack!*

*Crack!*

Their fists landed on each other’s jaws and sides. A tremendous impact echoed far away. The spectators slowly opened their mouths, frowning as if they had been hit.

The impact was so brutal that it was awe-inspiring. That kind of sound. It was a sound that only came out when the attack hit perfectly without error.

*Thud!*

*Beep!*

The whistle signaling the end of the match. Romandro held Jin’s arm tightly and groaned in anguish, and Jin also clicked his tongue.

‘Oh my, this is bad.’

‘Who won? They both fainted.’

‘Beric must have won. Even if they fainted together, he had attack points from before. It will be a decision victory.’

*Swish.*

Ian closed the file and got up, approaching Captain Jayrut. He was doing his job, giving points until the moment the match ended.

‘Captain Jayrut.’

‘Yes. Minister.’

‘Well, are you satisfied with the results you wanted?’

‘…More than I thought. There are some gains.’

As he licked his lips, Ian smiled. If he had told him in advance, he could have shown him what he wanted in a different way without any loss of manpower.

It was a cute act, but he couldn’t let it go.

Ian warned him in a low voice.

‘Be careful. The talents of the Imperial Palace belong to His Majesty the Emperor, not to you.’