Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 489

The Dera tribe exchanged glances at Ian’s suggestion. Then, as if they had reached an agreement, they huddled together in a circle, their heads close.

They whispered, their noses, which looked like snouts, twitching constantly. It was impossible to hear what they were saying over Beric’s shouting and the loud hammering, but it was easy enough to guess.

“They’re giving us a Dripper? Why?”

“It seems like they want something, right? I’ve never seen anyone from the Imperial Palace offer something out of pure goodwill.”

“It’s too old, so we need to check its condition first. It’s one of the very first Drippers, after all.”

“We can fix it quickly. No problem. As long as we have the design.”

“They said they’ll help with the material supply, so why not take it first? It’s not like we’ll only make Drippers with it.”

“Hmm. We don’t know what they want, though.”

“Maybe they want us to leave Mount Laja?”

“What? Why?”

“They want to get the Dryad [a tree spirit] and develop this place!”

“If that’s the case, I’m absolutely against it! I’d rather start from scratch-”

“That’s not it.”

“Eeeek!”

Ian quietly interjected, and the Dera tribe scattered in surprise. He hadn’t even spoken loudly, but they seemed quite startled.

‘They probably didn’t expect me to add that,’ Ian thought with a smile, shaking the Dera tribe’s hammer again. Here, he was showing his intentions.

“Do you know the political situation centered around Bariel and Vergos?”

“Of course not!”

The Dera tribe answered Ian’s question confidently.

“What about the passing of His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Huh. He lived a long time. So, he’s finally gone?”

“When the ruler of history changes, the political situation also changes greatly. A war between Bariel and Vergos is predicted. Furthermore, with the North, even further up.”

Beyond Vergos is Toolun. It was a country where the shadow of God had taken over, so it was necessary to drive out that darkness. He wanted to achieve results without war as much as possible, but was that even possible?

No. Ian drew a firm line.

Belief and love are things that drive humans to death, and the intersection of the two is religion. It wouldn’t be easy.

“The North, you say? The monster zone?”

“I can’t tell you the details right now, but the important thing is that Bariel needs more advanced power. Not just special, small talents like magic swordsmen, but the kind of power that can support a large number of soldiers.”

“Ah!”

The Dera tribe blinked their small eyes at the sight of the hammer.

“You want us to make hammers?”

“Is it a special material? I heard that it knocked Beric out with just two hits. It’s very unusual, so I’m very interested in your weapons.”

“Well, if you call it special, it’s special. Ian, are you human?”

“Yes.”

“Then, excuse me!”

Clang!

Pim lightly struck Ian’s shoulder.

The sound echoed clearly through the tunnel. Beric, who had been singing, paused and turned to look at Ian, then noticed the hammer on his shoulder. One second, two seconds, three seconds.

“Hey! You crazy bastard!”

Just as Beric was about to rush in and unleash his magic, Ian stopped him with a calm gesture.

“It’s okay, Beric. It doesn’t hurt.”

“What?”

“I barely feel anything.”

“It made a ‘clang’ sound, though? Dude, it was a really loud ‘clang’?”

Ian smiled as if to say it was true. He had thought it wouldn’t be a normal weapon, but it was more than that.

Pim twirled the hammer lightly and gave Beric the middle finger, as if to say, ‘Come at me anytime.’

“It all started with the Dryad. If you cut down the trees, there’s a side effect of eardrums bursting from the screams, but more importantly, you can’t get the fruit the following year.”

“Is it only effective on other races?”

“That’s right. I can say with the Dera tribe’s pride that we can even take down a dragon with it.”

“So, you knew Beric was from another race?”

“I don’t know. Who cares? I’m not interested. I just used it as a threat to humans, but it felt better than I thought.”

Hmm. Ian rested his chin on his hand, pretending to ponder for a moment.

In fact, it was rather good. It meant that ordinary soldiers could fight against monsters, and that the people of the Empire could also protect themselves from monsters.

However, Ian sighed as if he was a little troubled, and the Dera tribe twitched their noses, sensing the change.

“If you want, we can also make ordinary weapons. The swords and shields we make are the best on the continent.”

“I’m sorry, but the Imperial Palace blacksmiths are just as skilled as you.”

At Ian’s answer, the Dera tribe shook their short arms, looking displeased. How dare he compare them to anyone?

“What? That’s nonsense! You should see it before you speak!”

“Should I? Then, let’s get the weapons for other races first, and then the ordinary weapons. I’d like to bring the Dripper myself, but I’m going to the North, not the center. Soon, an Imperial Palace investigation team will be dispatched here. How about meeting them and going to the center in advance?”

The Dera tribe paused at the natural suggestion. So, what was the deal? Was he saying that they should supply both weapons for other races and ordinary weapons for one Dripper?

“Of course, I’ll give you a fair price and the necessary materials. We need to discuss the details in the center, not here. Don’t you think so? You also need to see the Dripper with your own eyes.”

“Ahem. Well, that’s true…”

They felt like they were getting the short end of the stick. They wiggled their small, thick fingers, estimating the weight of the Dripper, the material supply, and what they would give. Or was it? Was it about the same?

“Then, I’ll write a letter. Please lend me paper and a pen. When the Imperial Palace investigation team arrives, show them this and go with them. Who will go? Pim?”

Ian raised an eyebrow as he took the pen the Dera tribe offered. Some of the Dera tribe poked Pim in the side, and Pim reluctantly agreed. Since he was the one who brought the outsider, it was his job to take responsibility to the end.

“Okay. So, I just need to go to the center first?”

“I won’t take long either. If the timing is right, we’ll probably arrive around the same day.”

“What are you going to the North for?”

“To meet a companion.”

Ian muttered, writing a short letter. It was a request for the Imperial Palace Magic Department Minister to treat the Dera tribe with the utmost care, as they had a deal with them. Pim carefully put the note in his pocket and asked.

“A companion? Are there any companions in the North? Well, I guess you’re taking that thing with you.”

He didn’t know that the mages were in the northern region, so it was a genuine question. Pim glanced at Beric, which seemed to diminish the meaning of his words.

“That thing? Did you just call me ‘that thing’?”

“Yeah. You stupid face! If I hit you with a hammer, you wouldn’t be able to make a peep. You’re just bad-tempered.”

“Come here, I’m going to kill a mole for the first time today.”

“Two hits were enough to knock you out, right? What do you think will happen if you get hit three times?”

“If you’re going to fight, go outside! There are so many things being forged here!”

“Beric! Why don’t you sing some more? Huh?”

“Hey! Let go of me!”

As Beric and Pim were about to fight, the Dera tribe rushed in at the same time, getting tangled up with each other. It was hard to tell if they were trying to stop them or just joining in the fun.

Ian clicked the pocket watch he had bought at the market, checking the time. He felt like his senses were dulling inside the tunnel. Even just a few dozen meters inside was like this, so the strange sensation he had felt in the abyss was beyond words.

Ian realized that more time had passed than he had thought and got up.

“Beric. Are you sober now?”

“Sober? I’m so pissed off because of this bastard that I’m completely sober! But why?”

“Why? Because we have to leave for the North. My stamina isn’t good, so we need to move quickly.”

At Ian’s call, Beric stopped bickering and put his bag back on his shoulder.

The Dera tribe also gathered around. Except for the thief, it had been a long time since they had a guest in their tunnel, so they gave a regretful farewell.

“Are you leaving? Already?”

“Have some more drinks before you go.”

“If the contract is successful, we’ll see each other again in the center. I’ll have a drink with you then.”

“I’m going first! Ian, get on my back.”

Beric picked Ian up and stomped his feet on the path leading upwards.

“And while you’re making things, fix this entrance. That’s why you keep getting robbed by those pathetic things. Tsk tsk.”

“Get lost! You idiot.”

“Yeah, take care. Moron.”

Beric and Pim flipped each other off, not giving an inch. Ian calmly raised his wrist.

“Thank you for the treatment. See you again soon.”

“Hmph. Take care of your subordinates.”

Whoosh!

Pim threw a hammer at Ian. Heeik! Beric, who was about to get hit in the head, turned his head in horror, and Ian caught it easily.

“It’s a sample. I don’t know who will arrive first, so take it with you.”

“Thank you.”

Ian smiled and waved his hand, and the Dera tribe waved back in response.

Beric energetically ran up the slightly steep slope. In the distance, the white moon began to appear.

“Beric. Do you remember where we tied the horses?”

“Of course!”

Beric answered confidently and took a light step towards the moon. But before he could take even a couple of steps, Ian had to turn his face to the side and correct his direction.

“…Not that way, this way.”

* * *

“Captain Hale!”

With a rough beard and a very short haircut, Hale turned towards the sound, a cigarette in his mouth. It was his subordinate.

They were in the monster zone in the North, on a temporary barrier. The smoke visible far beyond the barrier was surely the breath of monsters leaking from the rifts, or the traces of the Atan tribe grilling monster meat.

Whatever it was, it was an unusual situation, but Hale felt a monotonous peace. It was a moment that made him realize that humans are animals of adaptation.

“What?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’? What time is it, and you’re still smoking? Seriously, you should be coming to relieve us! The guys are waiting for the captain!”

“Ah. Has the time already come?”

“Unbelievable, really.”

“You sound just like Acorella when you say that.”

“If Captain Acorella were here, you wouldn’t be able to smoke so leisurely. You know that, right?”

Hale didn’t deny it and, with the cigarette in his mouth, headed down the barrier. Bariel soldiers, fully armed, were densely packed in front of the temporary barrier.

The rifts in the North were too old and large, making it difficult for the Magic Department to manage them all. Therefore, they were arbitrarily divided into areas, and control was focused on places with special circumstances.

That meant that monsters could appear from the rifts under the barrier at any time, and the Atan tribe could launch a surprise attack.

Tap tap.

The closer he got to the bottom of the barrier, the more a foul smell and heat rose. And in the distance, a faint amber light was spreading. The mages were using Idgal [a magical substance] to control the rift’s magic.

“The control range has been the same for almost half a month.”

“We’re running out of Idgal. By the way, Captain. What’s wrong with you lately? You seem out of it. You can’t concentrate well.”

“Ah-”

Hale threw away the burnt cigarette and answered.

“Is it just me? Don’t you feel strange these past few days?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Something, um. I don’t know.”

“Unbelievable. Is it a side effect of the cigarettes?”

He was scolded by his subordinate, but Hale just laughed. What could he do if it was true? This sensation that was hard to explain. His sixth sense was sending a signal, but it was difficult to figure out what it was.

That was because how could he imagine that Ian had returned after 10 years, and that he was coming this way? His keen senses were only grasping a faint, but definitely familiar, shadow.