Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 488

“Roel, you said you lived in the Great Desert when you were little, right? Tell me about what you saw back then. I’ve never seen a desert before.”

Bibi rolled across the lawn, resting her head on Roel’s lap.

Roel, who had been reading a book, paused for a moment, then gently removed a leaf stuck to Bibi’s cheek. He then returned his gaze to the book and murmured,

“Golden sand. And the desert flood that my father said reminded him of my mother.”

“What’s that?”

Bibi asked, curious, but there was no answer. However, as if used to it, Bibi nonchalantly stretched her hand towards the sky, pretending to grab a cloud.

Philia and Vivianna, holding teacups, watched the scene with warm smiles. Two girls of similar age, yet with opposite personalities. They seemed to get along much better than expected.

“My child is bothering Roel. I’m so sorry.”

“No, it seems Roel likes Bibi very much. I was worried Roel might be rude to Bibi, but it was just my concern. Bibi has a very good personality.”

“Oh, shall we go to the dress shop together this afternoon? You said you didn’t have a suitable dress for His Highness Jin’s coming-of-age ceremony, right?”

“Yes. You have work tomorrow, so today would be good. Do you still go to the same place as before?”

“Oh, it’s been changed for a long time. Time flies, you know.”

‘That’s right.’ Philia smiled faintly, counting the past ten years.

At that moment, Roel, who had been reading, looked towards the entrance of the mansion as if sensing something. Bibi, who was resting her head on his lap, did the same.

“What’s wrong?”

There’s nothing there?

Just as Bibi was about to get up, a brown horse came around the corner. The Magic Department’s flag was attached to it. Clatter, clatter! The rider approached the fence, reined in the horse, and shouted.

Neigh!

“Lady Philia! Is Lady Philia here? I’m from the Magic Department! It’s a message about Lord Romandro’s sudden passing! Please receive it directly!”

At the shout, Philia and Vivianna looked at each other, bewildered. Usually, if there was a message, wouldn’t it go through Vivianna, the wife? Philia quickly put down her teacup and received a note.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

Something must have happened at the Magic Department. The fact that the rider from the Imperial Palace turned around without even getting off his horse meant it was urgent.

Vivianna also approached Philia with concern, and soon they checked the contents of the note together.

“Oh my!”

Vivianna was the first to exclaim. She covered her mouth and didn’t know what to do. Ian Hielo was alive and was currently returning to the center with Beric! Vivianna hugged Philia and offered her congratulations.

“My lady!”

“…….”

“Oh my goodness, Nershaln, come out! It’s a joyous occasion! Roel, your brother has returned alive. Ian Hielo, the Minister of the Magic Department! Nershaln!”

Wow, amazing. The Ian Hielo they had only heard about? Bibi raised both thumbs, while Roel simply closed his book without any particular reaction.

As Vivianna ran into the mansion to call Nershaln, Philia leaned on the fence and staggered.

“Ugh, my lady! Are you alright?”

“Bibi, I, I’m sorry, but, a glass of water, please…”

“Just a moment! Mom! Mom!”

Philia gasped for breath, clutching her chest. It was so shocking and unbelievable that she felt like the world was shaking. Unable to stand properly, Philia sat down and unconsciously clasped her hands.

‘Thank you. Thank you.’

Thank you for not taking my son’s life. Thank you for bringing back the meaning of my life that had disappeared for a moment. Living through the death of my child was so painful. Whatever path Ian takes in the future is fine. I am happy to watch Ian’s back forever. I will be satisfied just by believing and relying on the fact that we are living together…

“Mother.”

Roel knelt down and placed his small hand on his mother’s hand. Philia looked up. Tears were streaming down her jawline. The child looked up at his mother and whispered quietly.

“It is enough to just say thank you.”

“…Roel?”

“God acts far beyond human understanding, so if you get carried away with emotion and pray, it will sometimes become difficult.”

She didn’t quite understand what he meant. Philia sniffled and looked at him, asking for a detailed explanation, but the child only wiped away his mother’s tears.

Philia slowly hugged Roel, and the child willingly embraced her. The mother buried her face in the child’s shoulder and murmured.

“It was really good to come to the center. If I had heard this news in Hielo, the fifteen days it would take to get here would have felt so long.”

“Yes. Stay in the center. If you leave, it will be difficult to see your brother.”

“Roel. What else did you see?”

“…….”

Philia grabbed Roel’s shoulders and asked earnestly, but the child closed his mouth again.

However, his gaze subtly shifted to the side. Usually, he wouldn’t have said anything, but it wasn’t easy to remain silent in the face of his mother’s tears.

“…Beric is very strange.”

“Huh?”

“Either way, he will do well. Let’s not worry and wait, Mother.”

Roel murmured as if he was in trouble, and Philia smiled brightly without asking further.

‘That’s right.’ Ian said he would return, and Beric was by his side, so what was there to worry about? Tears continued to flow down her face, but Philia didn’t care and smiled even more broadly.

* * *

At that time.

Ian looked at Beric with a pathetic expression, who was drunk and singing at the top of his lungs. Beric was holding a half-bent hammer, with one foot on a wooden box. Had he forgotten that the hammer had hit his head?

Around Beric, who was singing, the Pym family, the Dera tribe, gathered and clapped their hands.

“The best warrior is coming! Clear the way! If you don’t, I’ll spank your butts! Ujja jja jja!”

“Ujja jja jja!”

“Kuh. He may look like a mess, but he sure can sing! Hey, what did you say your name was?”

“Shut up! Who talks during a song?”

“It’s Beric, Beric. That’s why the world is fair. His face is a wreck, but his singing is amazing!”

“Hahaha! Want another drink?”

“Yeah! Give it to me! I don’t drink from a glass!”

“Ooooh. He knows how to drink.”

That alcohol is the problem.

The Dera tribe’s tunnels were deep underground, and flames were rising everywhere, as if one person had five furnaces.

Beric had been complaining about the heat from the moment he entered the tunnel. He had gotten so drunk from the alcohol they gave him to cool down.

Pym glanced at Beric and carefully wrapped a bandage around Ian’s hand.

“It’s amazing he hasn’t passed out yet. The alcohol we drink is quite strong.”

“Beric is also a heavy drinker.”

“He’s useful, except for being ugly and having a bad personality.”

It was quite interesting. Beric, who was almost kicked out for singing a single line at Philia’s wedding. And now, they were cheering for his singing, saying it was good.

Was it because they had only heard the screams of dryads [tree spirits] and the clanging of smelting all their lives? Or was the Dera tribe’s aesthetic standard unusual? It was impossible to know.

But anyway, it was clear that the meeting with the Dera tribe was taking place in a much smoother atmosphere thanks to Beric’s relaxed state. Even Pym, who had been openly hostile, was humming along to the ridiculous harmony.

As Ian turned his wrist, which was soaked in herbs, other Dera tribesmen who had been watching gathered around.

“You said you came from the Imperial Palace? Is that guy also from the Imperial Palace?”

“That’s right. I am Ian Hielo, the Minister of the Magic Department, and that guy is Beric of the Imperial Guard.”

Ian noticed that the Dera tribesmen playing with Beric were all young. Including Pym, those sitting next to Ian calmly wrinkled their noses.

“So, what do you think? What are your impressions of the Dera tribe’s tunnels?”

“Hmm…”

It felt more like a cave than a tunnel. The high ceiling was tens of meters high, and the roots of ancient trees that had been breathing for hundreds of years served as pillars.

The scrap metal scattered everywhere formed walls, but to Ian, there seemed to be little distinction between spaces. It was as if everyone had dedicated their lives to making something, and traces of daily life, such as eating and sleeping, were excluded.

“It’s like a treasure trove.”

“What? Hahahaha! Yes, that’s right! This is a treasure trove! It’s full of shiny things!”

It was an observation that respected the Dera tribe’s pride. They seemed pleased and shook their bottles of alcohol. In response, clang! Clang! Hammering echoed from somewhere.

“Would you like a drink?”

“I politely decline. Beric is already drunk.”

Ian felt the humid heat and lightly pulled at his shirt. Pym nodded in understanding.

“It’s not a suitable environment for anyone other than the Dera tribe. Shall we get straight to the point?”

“Sure.”

“Do you really have the Dripper?”

Dripper! At Pym’s question, the Dera tribe twitched their noses. Ian drank some cool water that someone handed him, then nodded.

“Yes. It’s clear. Isn’t it a kind of automatic recording device that you made? It automatically makes dots at regular intervals.”

“That’s right! How did you get your hands on it?”

“I already explained to Pym that it was through Lady Rien.”

When Ian looked at Pym, Pym added,

“A girl born between a dryad and a human.”

“Ah? Ah! I remember. How many years ago was it? Twenty years ago?”

“It wasn’t that long ago, was it? You’re talking about the child who ran away after betraying her mother, right? I remember. Is she doing well? She was called by a different name back then, umm. Rien, huh. She got a very good name.”

“Of course, my lady is doing well. She should be ruling the Mereloff territory.”

“What? Oh my, I’ve never seen anything like this. Haha! It was so easy to pick fruit thanks to her back then. If there was a child, the dryads wouldn’t act so fiercely without us having to hammer.”

“That’s right, that’s right. That’s probably why we gave her the Dripper as a gift when we went down the mountain.”

“Who gave it to her back then? We should have given her something else!”

The Dera tribe made a fuss of joy, reminiscing about Lady Rien. Ian quietly watched them and then asked casually.

“Do you need the Dripper?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah. It’s not the Dripper itself, but something we’re trying to make with it.”

What is it? Ian looked at them curiously, but the Dera tribe seemed unwilling to tell him and changed the subject. It seemed they hadn’t opened up their hearts that much yet.

“It wasn’t difficult before. If we failed, we would make another Dripper and try again, break it, and make it again. But when was it? From a certain day, it became difficult to obtain the necessary materials.”

“Is it because it’s imported from Burgos?”

“It seems like it’s been like that since that country went to hell.”

The Dera tribe muttered seriously, resting their chins on their hands.

“There’s a limit to recycling it. So, there was only one Dripper left, but those damn bastards stole it, damn it.”

“Let’s not stay still this time? Let’s go find it!”

“No. If we go down the mountain, we might die.”

“We’re not monsters, so what? If they attack, let’s fight back!”

The Dera tribesmen stretched their mouths this way and that, each making their own claims. It seemed there was some disagreement among them.

As the heat intensified, Ian gestured slowly to calm them down.

“Unfortunately, your last Dripper was destroyed.”

“What?”

“I could tell because I have the same one. It was completely destroyed and mixed with scrap metal.”

Deeng. The Dera tribe seemed so shocked that their small eyes popped out. Their mouths were even open, and their tiny front teeth peeked out.

“Th, th, those damn things!”

“Ki, kill them-!”

Just as everyone was about to get angry and look for their hammers, Ian calmly continued.

“But if you want, I can give you mine. And I think I can help with the supply of those materials, although I don’t know exactly what they are.”

Then, he naturally took the hammer that was nearby into his hand.

This weapon was powerful enough to knock Beric out in just two hits. What if this was supplied to the Imperial Palace soldiers in large quantities?

“How about it? Will you take my Dripper?”