Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 36

“Hyah!”

Derga spurred his horse, galloping into the forest. It was a forest bordering the Merelov territory, the opposite direction from the Great Desert. A temporary training ground had been built there in the previous generation to secure the area.

Theo would be there with the soldiers.

‘No, he has to be there!’

Due to the pressure from the investigation team, the soldiers at the mansion had been dismissed, but the private army centered around Theo remained.

“Theo!”

Derga dismounted and ran towards the temporary training ground. He shouted with a heart full of despair, and his voice echoed back, unanswered.

The surroundings were quiet. There was no sign of anyone.

“No way, no way…”

Could there be a worse scenario after the worst? All sorts of terrible possibilities flashed through Derga’s mind. Had the escaped butler managed to deliver the message to Theo? Even if he had, had Theo run away…?

“Lord Count!”

It was then. The training ground flag fluttered, and a voice was heard. Derga, panting, stepped inside and was soon facing the hidden soldiers.

“Theo!”

“Lord Count, are you alright? What about the Cheonryeo tribe?”

The original plan was to support the forces from the rear when the Cheonryeo tribe arrived and shook the investigation team. A full-scale war with the central army was more than just a confrontation, so they had intended to use the Cheonryeo as a buffer.

“It failed. Those guys betrayed us. We must quickly retake the mansion before the central army arrives. We have to hold out until we get a reply from First Prince Marib.”

They were being humiliated because they were on the border, but it was also manageable because they were on the border. Bratz had two or three times more soldiers than other territories, and there were many variables due to the unique terrain.

And that wasn’t all.

The existence of the Cheonryeo tribe meant they were always prepared for war. The fact that they were able to gather the soldiers despite the sudden attack by the investigation team was proof of that.

For the first time in his life, Derga felt pride in his territory and soldiers.

“Understood.”

“Unlike the central army, the investigation team’s forces aren’t that great. Let’s go. Let’s go and kill them all. We’ll tear them to pieces and feed them to the beasts.”

Theo bowed his head and smiled.

There were always those who desired war. And now, Theo was one of them.

‘If we win this battle, the military command will surely come to me.’

Then, he would be the second most powerful person in the Bratz territory after Derga. Chel? Even if that fool became the next Count, the blood and sweat Theo shed today would be remembered forever.

He was also from a humble background, and the heart of a man who had reached the pinnacle of his life began to race.

“Let’s go! To reclaim our daily lives!”

“Uwaaaaaa!”

As Theo shouted, the soldiers’ cheers echoed like a wave. It was a fierce roar that shook the quiet mountain. The mountain birds were startled and flew away, and a large hawk circled leisurely among them.

Swoosh.

In the distance, the long line of the central army was captured in the hawk’s eyes. The Bratz territory, passed down for generations. A bloody battle between their own people, which had never happened before and would never happen again, was fast approaching.

Watching this, Su reached out and caught the hawk, fixing Kushile’s head towards the Great Desert.

* * *

Beric’s body was drenched in cold sweat. The old physician grabbed a handful of herbs and stuffed them into the hole in his side, continuously pouring an unknown black liquid into his mouth.

Kakhantir leaned against the entrance of the tent, watching the scene, and then casually asked,

“How long will it take for him to get up? A month?”

“Kakhantir, those who are not of the Cheonryeo tribe have low recovery rates. If he were a normal person, he would probably be dead. But judging by his feisty nature, I think he’ll be fine in three or four months.”

“Three or four months. Sir Ian, that’s going to be difficult.”

The battle between Derga and the central army was imminent.

Even if Ian had the Cheonryeo tribe on his side, Beric was his only personal force. In this chaotic situation, if he didn’t even have that…

Ian smiled faintly and brushed a strand of hair off Beric’s forehead. It was a mess of sweat and sand.

“It’s alright.”

“You seem to have something else in mind.”

“Whether Beric gets up or not, there’s always a way.”

Kakhantir left at the sound of Nersarn calling from outside. The physician continued to treat Beric, constantly changing the blood-soaked herbs. As time passed, Beric’s dark skin seemed to be turning pale.

“Please watch him for a moment. I need to change the medicine.”

The physician asked Ian and then went outside with a pile of debris. In the quiet space, Ian took a breath and placed his hand on Beric’s forehead.

‘I don’t know if it will work, Beric. But it’s better than doing nothing.’

Just like before, he would continue to infuse him with mana. His condition was severe, but it would definitely help. Beric had shown his abilities as a magic swordsman himself. He wanted to believe that the effect would be more pronounced than before.

Zzzing. Zzzing.

Ian activated his mana.

Unlike before, when he only pushed a little, he continued, and continued. It felt like he was constantly exhaling without stopping.

“Ah…”

How many minutes had passed?

The beads of sweat that had formed began to pour down, and his vision began to blur. But still, Beric showed no reaction. When Ian felt like he couldn’t take it anymore, he took his hand away.

Chaak.

“What are you doing? Sir Ian. Are you alright?”

The physician, who was just coming in, stopped and asked. Ian staggered as if he was about to fall, supporting himself on the edge of the bed.

“I’m fine.”

“Why, why suddenly…”

“I felt dizzy. Don’t worry about it.”

“If you wait a moment, I’ll just change the herbs and bring something good for dizziness. Oh? Look at this?”

The physician, who was changing the cloth, stopped when he saw Beric’s face. The one who had been groaning and unconscious had regained a fairly stable breath. He touched the damp herbs with his hand. There was much less blood on them.

“What is this guy?”

“…Beric?”

“Not the name. I didn’t see the battle myself, but everyone was talking about it.”

The physician muttered and continued the treatment. He glanced as if wanting an answer, but Ian turned his head away, feeling drained of energy.

“…Kakhantir?”

Kakhantir was entering with something in his hand. He smiled curiously at Ian’s condition.

“Oh dear. Is it not enough?”

“What do you mean?”

Kakhantir silently placed a gurute leaf on a round candlestick. With a crackling sound, thick smoke filled the tent. The chieftain carefully handled the leaf and held it to Beric’s nose, then handed it to Ian.

“It’s how the Cheonryeo avoid death.”

“Will it work on Beric?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen an outsider use it. But from what I saw at the banquet, it seemed to have some effect.”

A secret technique of the tribe that makes them forget pain and instantly boosts their energy. They were strong on their own, but they couldn’t ignore the effect of the gurute leaf. That’s why, even in trade with Bratz, the gurute leaf was not designated as a prohibited item.

But to share it with an outsider.

The meaning was profound, and it was a new feeling.

“Thank you.”

Ian chewed on the leaf. It had a bitter taste, followed by a sour and tangy one. Kakhantir looked down at Ian for a moment, then continued.

“Ryul, who was sent with Su, returned first. Su decided to wait at the border.”

“You mean the giant hawk?”

“Yes. As you said, Derga is cornered. It seems he’s gathering soldiers.”

The strength of Bratz was somewhat predictable. He had seen and heard things while living in the mansion. More than anything, he had seen how much they were spending on maintaining their private army, so that wasn’t the problem.

“What about the central army?”

“There’s no report on that yet.”

The problem was the size of the central army and the investigation team. Only by knowing that could they predict and respond to the approximate battle situation. Ian noticed that his heart was starting to beat a little faster and spat out the gurute leaf.

“You have a few days, so get some rest.”

As soon as Kakhantir left, Ian collapsed to the side and curled up. The physician glanced over and pulled the blanket up to his shoulders.

How long had it been?

Saaah.

Ian opened his eyes at the sudden rush of cold air. It was dark night. The physician was nowhere to be seen, and the candle was out. Only a faint smell of gurute leaf could be felt.

“…Beric?”

Beric was no longer sweating, but he was still unconscious. Ian leaned against the bed and rubbed his face to shake off the hazy sleep.

Swoosh.

Then, he heard a noise from outside.

It seemed that it wasn’t just the wind that had woken Ian. He stared silently at the entrance and fumbled on the floor. There was a dagger attached to the belt that Beric had taken off.

“Who is it?”

There was no answer.

Ian, with the moonlight pouring behind him, slowly walked towards the entrance. Ian’s shadow stretched long. He instinctively felt that someone was at the door.

‘Damn it. I don’t understand.’

The presence outside was definitely a member of the Cheonryeo tribe. They were the only ones who lived in tribes in the Great Desert, and even if Derga had sent a spy, they wouldn’t have been able to get past the Cheonryeo’s borders.

That’s why Ian couldn’t figure it out.

Just in the afternoon, they had been so kind to Ian and Beric that they had even given them gurute leaves, but why was the presence outside filled with murderous intent?

Chwaak!

It was the outside that pulled up the door. They had noticed that Ian was hesitating and acted first.

A mask made of fur and feathers covering the shoulders. The man immediately swung his sword and attacked Ian.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

It would be more accurate to say that he had luckily deflected it rather than blocked it.

The dagger that Ian had reflexively swung was broken in half and lay on the floor. The assailant did not hesitate. He grabbed Ian’s face roughly with one hand, then grabbed his neck with the other.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

He had completely blocked his mouth so that he couldn’t ask for help.

Ian’s feet flailed in the air. So this was what it felt like to have your breath cut off, a pain he was experiencing for the first time in his life. And no wonder, who would dare grab Emperor Ian’s neck?

“You should have stayed put like the lowborn you are, instead of scheming?”

The voice wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

“Do you know how much trouble you and that red-haired guy have caused? Anyway, that’s why those from the Empire are no help. Your father was the same.”

He mentioned Derga?

Ian reached out and touched his face as if to push him away. He was worried that the fur mask might nullify his mana, but…

Zzzing. Zzzing.

“Now, die quietly-!”

Swaaaak!

Bang!

Ian unleashed his mana like an explosion. The sudden impact pushed the assailant back, and Ian was also thrown into the air and fell.

Thud!

“…Damn it.”

Ian coughed, lying on the floor. His wrist was throbbing, probably from falling wrong. At the same time, one by one, lights began to turn on outside the tent.

The Cheonryeo tribe, who had keen ears, had woken up from the commotion.