Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 39

Those who called themselves warriors of Cheonryeo were all galloping across the Great Desert. With Kakantir at the forefront, a fierce sandstorm rose. Ian, with his hood pulled up, closely followed behind him.

Beric was…

“Ugh. Ugh-heck.”

“You’re loud. Shut your mouth.”

He was stuck right behind the warrior escorting Ian, constantly giggling. He seemed happy that they hadn’t left him behind, though he was wrapped up like a package in cloth and secured with ropes.

“Sir Ian, is it really okay to carry this?”

“What can we do? If we leave him, he’ll cause trouble.”

“Crazy bastard. Even when told to rest, he refuses.”

“Is that resting? It’s being excluded!”

Beric could miraculously raise his upper body, but walking was still too much for him. While they were all agreeing that it would be better to leave him behind, he made a bombshell declaration.

That if they left him, he would bite his tongue and die.

It was absurd, but it seemed like Beric would actually do it, so they had no choice.

“So, is this considered participating in the battle? You’re just going to keep hanging onto Kushile [a large, horse-like animal] and moving around. Well, if arrows come flying, at least be a shield.”

“Yeah. No. I think I’ll be healed in two days.”

“Your head’s gone bad.”

“I’m serious. I can feel it.”

Ian shook his head, listening to Beric’s chatter with the warrior. Surely, that guy had a hidden secret besides being a magic swordsman. Even the Cheonryeo people, who were born with the energy of nature, couldn’t show that level of recovery.

Ian kept glancing at Beric, and Beric, noticing it, grinned. He seemed to be in a very good mood.

Clatter, clatter!

“Kakan! I see Bariel!”

“Let’s go!”

A warrior who was running ahead shouted. The small temple where they had made a truce agreement began to appear. At Kakan’s cry, they all increased the speed of their Kushile.

Neigh!

They quickly passed the temple and crossed the two rocks that marked the border. Beric chewed on a gulut leaf and cheered.

“We’re back!”

“Are you happy, Beric?”

“Yeah! I feel great!”

The warriors all burst into laughter at the same time. Kakantir, who was glancing back, was the same. He slowly pulled on the reins of his Kushile, slowing down. It was the meeting point they had agreed on with Su.

“Everyone! Over here!”

“Su!”

Everyone was happy to see Su and approached her. She briefly hugged her comrades, then immediately reported on the current situation.

“The Bratz soldiers are quite capable. Even though they’re on the defensive, they’ve been using the terrain well to hold them off. Of course, other than that, they’re not doing so well, so the tide has inevitably turned. If they had given up on retaking the mansion and gone into the forest, wouldn’t that have been the end of it? They fought so fiercely it was brutal.”

“What about Derga?”

This was the most important part for the Cheonryeo people. At Kakantir’s question, which was filled with anger, Su smiled brightly.

“He’s still alive. The central army hasn’t stopped chasing him. And there doesn’t seem to be any news of them entering the mansion.”

“Good, Su. Join us. We’re going into Bratz.”

At Kakantir’s command, everyone nodded in unison. They galloped further into the heart of Bratz. The river that crossed Bratz was stained with blood, and countless unidentifiable corpses were scattered everywhere.

And that wasn’t all.

The fields, ready for the autumn harvest, were a mess of debris from half-destroyed residences, and screams and cries mixed together, creating the most terrible sound a human could make. It was impossible to pinpoint where it was coming from.

“Aaaah!”

“Someone help me here! Please help!”

“Wait, wait! Thief! Thief!”

“Has this bastard gone mad! Give me my bread!”

Thwack! Thud!

Where the sword had passed, the dregs of humanity flowed out. As if it were natural to step on someone else’s foot to survive, the weak pressed down on the weak, and then the weak again, in an endless cycle.

“It’s more miserable than I thought.”

“Is it? I think it’s exactly as miserable as I expected.”

Ian replied to Kakantir’s words. Having experienced many wars, Ian was used to it, but it was still uncomfortable. Even if it was an inevitable part of the flow of history.

Nersarn muttered, looking at the smoke rising in the distance.

“At this rate, it seems like they’re dealing quite a blow to each other.”

“Yes. It’s perfect.”

It was best for Ian and the Cheonryeo people that the central army and Derga’s private soldiers were as close to annihilation as possible. Only then would the existence of the Cheonryeo people become more significant, and it would give Ian more power.

“Gasp! Look, look at that!”

It was then. The territory’s people, who were trying to restore order, pointed and shouted. They had recognized the Cheonryeo people’s procession.

“Barbarians! The barbarians have invaded!”

“Oh, God! Why! Why!”

“Everyone, run away! Run away!”

“Waaaaah!”

Everyone started running, holding their children in their arms. Some had completely given up, just praying in terror.

That was understandable, as they were already devastated by the battle with the central army. There was a limit to how much misfortune one could endure. If the barbarians joined in, all that would be left for them was despair.

“You heartless bastards! You came to invade at a time like this? You beasts! Get out! Get out!”

“Honey! Don’t do that! Please!”

“Yes, kill them! Kill them all! Kill them and be judged before God! Kill them!”

“The Cheonryeo people have invaded! It’s the Cheonryeo people!”

“Those bastards will rob the bank too, hurry, hurry, keep running! Run!”

It was utter chaos. Kakantir’s expression was calm, but the warriors couldn’t hide their displeasure. They hadn’t come to help, but they hadn’t invaded either. They were slowly leading their Kushile towards the mansion.

“Waaaaah!”

Thud!

Among the territory’s people who were running, a child fell. The parents who had let go of their hand were nowhere to be seen. Kakantir stopped his Kushile and looked down at the child.

“Hic…”

Tears welled up in the child’s big, round eyes. Even as the child trembled, with their mouth tightly shut, Kakantir just looked down at the child without a word. The territory’s people who were running away also stayed far away, watching the situation.

“There’s a child in front. Drive the Kushile carefully.”

“Yes, Kakan.”

Clatter, clatter.

There was no kindness in helping them up or asking about their condition. But he instructed the group behind him to split apart and pass by the small child as if they were a rock. The child just looked up, frozen in shock.

“Here. Get up. The ground is cold.”

Ian slowly reached out his hand as he passed by. The face visible under the hood was not that of a Cheonryeo person, but a familiar blonde and green eyes. The child unknowingly grabbed Ian with their dirty hand.

“Good boy.”

Ian held the child and slowly led his Kushile. And then, he gestured to the territory’s people who were standing there, unsure of what to do.

“Come and take the child. Are the parents there?”

“I, I, I am the father!”

“What is a father doing standing there?”

At Ian’s call, a man snapped to his senses and ran over. And then, he flinched as he received the child. The slightly lifted hood revealed a familiar face.

“…Sir Ian?”

“Do you know me?”

“I, I am the stable keeper. Don’t you remember?”

“Ah, yes. It’s you.”

He didn’t remember the name, but the face was familiar. He didn’t recognize him easily because he was covered in dirt, not to mention the minor injuries. Ian patted the stable keeper’s shoulder and smiled.

“It’s been a while. I’m glad you’re alive.”

“…H-how did this happen?”

“Later. I’m a bit busy right now. But the Cheonryeo people have come to help Bratz, so don’t be too afraid, and tell your neighbors too. Well, take care.”

When he turned his head, all the Cheonryeo people who had been going ahead were waiting for Ian. Even Beric, who was tied up and hanging in the middle. Ian led his Kushile as naturally as if he were returning to his original place.

“Hey, hey. What did he say?”

“Is he someone you know?”

As the Cheonryeo people disappeared, everyone ran to the stable keeper and asked him questions. They were dying to know what would happen to their fate and their hometown.

“It was… Sir Ian?”

“Ian? The Count’s illegitimate son?”

“He was sold to the Cheonryeo… Huh?! That’s right! He went over the desert!”

“What did the illegitimate son say? Huh? He said something long.”

Everyone realized the existence of the illegitimate son that they had forgotten and exclaimed. The stable keeper hugged his child tightly and followed Ian’s disappearing figure with his eyes. Before crossing the Great Desert, he had told Hanna to quit her job at the mansion, as if he knew the future.

‘It’s not entirely because of that, but…’

In any case, most of those who left the mansion were spared, and those who remained were killed by the investigation team.

With even the Countess and the young master’s lives uncertain, the lives of the servants were so insignificant that they were rolling on the ground.

“He said… the Cheonryeo people would help…”

“The Cheonryeo people will help?”

“What…”

The territory’s people snorted with absurd expressions. But no one dared to openly object, because the reality was so hopeless.

In this situation where their homeland Bariel and their lord Derga were fighting, where else could they find a force to stop them?

“Get out of the way. We have no business with you.”

“Run, keep going forward!”

“Barbarians! The barbarians have invaded!”

“Ah, those bastards keep calling us barbarians, barbarians. Can’t we just kill them and go?”

“Kyaaaak! Beast people! Save me!”

“Shut up, Mugurun. Don’t get distracted.”

“The mansion is in front!”

Meanwhile, the Cheonryeo people, who had been crossing the village, finally arrived at the Bratz mansion. Instead of the family’s flag, the scorched flag of the investigation team was flying. It was a clear indication of who had won the battle.

Neigh!

Kakantir pulled on the reins of his Kushile, bringing it to a complete stop. The soldiers guarding the front of the mansion hurriedly thrust their spears forward. Their helmets and armor were covered in blood, and they didn’t seem to have any limbs intact.

“Who, who are you!”

“Are you barbarians from the outskirts! How did you get here?”

Clang!

The way they were shouting while limping was pitiful. As a warrior, who was in a very bad mood, was about to step forward with his sword drawn, Ian stopped him. And with an apologetic look, he stepped forward.

“I am Ian, the illegitimate son of Count Bratz. These are the warriors of the great desert, the Cheonryeo people. We have not come to oppose you, so inform your master of ‘our’ presence.”

The soldiers paused at the sight of Ian’s blonde hair and green eyes. Certainly, that appearance was of a person from Bariel. Their gaze turned to the warriors who were firmly standing behind Ian.

They were people who embodied the spirit of nature. The aura of an unapproachable predator was felt raw and unfiltered. The soldiers hesitated and muttered.

“…W-wait a m-moment.”

If they were told to step back, it seemed like they would crush their own heads with their hands. The soldier stammered and stepped back, then ran inside to report.

His remaining comrades held their swords in awkward positions.

Neigh!

Even at the sound of the Kushile’s cry, they flinched and broke out in a cold sweat.