Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 643

“Uuurp,”

Kalamat’s central market.

Beric patted his bulging belly, which looked like a mountain, picking his teeth with satisfaction. He’d been eating so much meat in the castle that he was now banned from the dining hall and storerooms outside of mealtimes.

‘They’re so stingy. Especially to someone who’s been on a long trip.’

‘Excuse me, sir?’

‘What? I’m not done eating yet. Bring me more ale.’

The restaurant owner smiled awkwardly and clasped his hands together. He seemed to be from Bariel, but judging by the amount he ate, he was definitely not an ordinary person. A mage or a magic swordsman, something like that.

Even though they were the force that brought down Vergos, seeing the mountain of plates in front of Beric made him feel a mix of awe and gratitude. Fifteen large plates, no less. And he had finished three jars of ale.

‘I’m sorry, sir. We’re completely out of meat and ale.’

‘Huh? Already? Are you even trying to run a business?’

‘Yes. Next time, if you let us know in advance when you’re coming, we’ll stock up on more meat. Thanks to you, sir, I can go home early today and see my kids.’

‘Is that your way of saying thank you?’

‘Of course. It’s much easier than having to serve many customers like other restaurants. Let me take care of the bill.’

As he spoke, the restaurants across the street and on the other side were crowded and noisy with soldiers who had come out to relax.

On the other hand, the place where Beric was was empty. The soldiers who had tried to come in recognized Beric and all turned away. They said if he was there, there wouldn’t be any food left in the restaurant.

‘Please, be sure to let us know next time you come! We’ll serve you heartily until your stomach bursts! Thank you!’

‘Yeah, yeah, go take care of your kids. Uuurp.’

Ah, I’m a bit short on ale. Beric burped repeatedly as he walked deeper into the market. Unlike Bariel and Clifford, the aftertaste of Vergos’s ale was heavy, which was another delicacy.

He pulled a chair out in front of a bar and sat down roughly.

‘Owner-!’

‘Yes, sir. There are many seats inside.’

‘I’ll eat outside. The weather’s nice. Bring me your most expensive ale.’

‘Y-your most expensive ale?’

The owner’s face brightened instantly, and he quickly ran inside. During the civil war, it was a blessing just to have enough to eat, but after the Bariel army was stationed there, the market was bustling with energy. They traded for what they needed, besides the royal palace supplies, at fair prices, and the soldiers came down to Kalamat to enjoy meat and ale. The country was ruined, but they had found a way to live.

‘Please wait a moment!’

‘Hurry up. If the ale wears off, it won’t taste as good.’

Up above, the bewitched mother and daughter were releasing money and food supplies to win the hearts of the people, and down below, the Bariel soldiers were spending money like water, so much so that small towns nearby were lining up to get into Kalamat.

When many people gather, it means that anything can make money. At least within Kalamat, the reputation of Bariel was quite favorable.

‘Uuurp. Ugh, it keeps coming up.’

Beric sniffed and looked around.

A quiet back alley. In front of the tavern was a small art gallery that looked like it had been closed for a long time. The glass windows were covered in dust, and piles of unsold paintings were scattered around. He was about to turn his gaze away without much thought when-

‘Huh?’

Didn’t something inside just flash?

Beric blinked his eyes wide, feeling a bit tipsy. Was it the sunlight reflecting off the glass? But the window was too dirty for that.

Flash!

‘Uh-oh?’

What the hell.

Beric was puzzled and pressed his face close to the window. Just then, the tavern owner, who had come out with the ale, called to him in a flustered manner.

‘What’s wrong, sir?’

‘Something keeps flashing in there. It’s annoying.’

‘…Is that something to be annoyed about? There are probably other crafts besides paintings, so that’s probably why. I’ve been doing business here for ten years, and that place has been closed even before that. Rumor has it that they used to supply paintings to nobles and royalty. But after the royal family fell ten years ago, well, I guess there was no one to buy them.’

‘It’s been a while. But the inside looks cleaner than I thought.’

‘Really?’

The tavern owner didn’t think much of it and popped open the ale bottle with a ‘thwack!’

Regardless, Beric was persistently rolling his eyes, looking inside. Sniff, sniff. There wasn’t any particular smell either. Hmm…. It’s a closed art gallery, but why does it bother me so much?

‘Huh.’

At that moment, the painting hanging in front of him changed. A shadow of a person suddenly appeared and disappeared in the painting of a cozy and distant hallway. It was as if someone was alive and moving inside the room.

Beric’s eyes widened, and just as the tavern owner, who knew nothing, was about to bring out the complimentary food-

Crash! Bang!

‘Haa!’

Beric smashed all the windows of the art gallery with his fist. When the doorknob wouldn’t turn, he kicked the door repeatedly, breaking it in two.

The owner gasped and backed away, then ran to call the guards.

‘U-uwaaah! Is, is anyone there! A ruffian is destroying the building! Help me!’

‘Shut up. I broke the window, did I break your head or something?’

‘Guards! Guards!’

‘Such a fuss, tsk.’

Beric ignored the noisy owner and went inside. The dust was quite thick. But there were faint footprints. Traces left by the dust.

Beric drew his magic sword and stood in front of the problematic painting.

‘Sniff, sniff.’

The smell of dust is less here.

There’s no doubt. There’s something here.

‘…Rutherford also crossed over through a painting.’

Is it a painting drawn with a magic stone? Then should I tear it up? Wouldn’t that be safer? It just moved. What if they’re trying to cross over here?.

But who is it this time? Toolun? If an unexpected opponent suddenly attacks, will Ian be overwhelmed again?

Swoosh.

Beric pointed the tip of his sword at the painting.

‘Okay.’

Let’s tear it. Beric, who had made up his mind, was about to take a stance.

If he had been even a second late, he would have torn the painting without hesitation. But then, wasn’t it a very familiar-looking woman who passed by openly with a man? As if they didn’t know they were being watched.

‘Huh?’

Just now…….

‘Ri… what was it. Wasn’t that Clark’s girlfriend who just passed by?’

Madam Rien Merelov. He had witnessed her passing by, talking with a merchant.

Beric, who had been putting strength into his sword, hesitated and just rolled his eyes. Whatever else, the Madam was on Ian’s side. If she had betrayed them, it meant there was a problem with the entire Hiel!

But, is it really a betrayal?

‘Ugh, my head is splitting.’

Thud.

Beric threw his sword back, and the magic sword evaporated and disappeared. He didn’t know if it was because he was thinking too much, or if it was because he was drunk.

As Beric sat down and clutched his head, the tavern owner arrived with the guards.

‘That’s the one! He ordered the most expensive ale, and then suddenly smashed the windows and door of the art gallery!’

‘Hey there. We are the guards. What is your identity?’

‘Me, Beric.’

‘…Put your hands above your head and turn slowly this way. Are you from Bariel? Affiliated with the Imperial Palace?’

‘Ugh! Can’t you tell by my accent? I’m a native of Bariel!’

‘Identification! Show me your identification! If you refuse, we will take you into custody.’

Identification? He didn’t even remember where he had sold it. Beric rummaged through his pockets. Oh, crap.

‘I don’t have any money.’

He thought it was silver coins, but they were copper coins. As Beric muttered, the owner’s face turned red and he urged the guards.

‘You don’t have any money, and what? You asked for the most expensive ale? Hey! Arrest him immediately and roll him up in a straw mat! There’s no way that guy is a Bariel soldier. He must be some bum who wandered in from somewhere!’

‘Ah, sorry, sorry. I’ll go get it right away.’

‘Where are you going, you rascal! You’re trying to run away!’

‘No, I’m really not lying.’

‘Arrest him! Quickly!’

As the guards approached with their spears, Beric hesitated.

‘If I get caught, Ian will be contacted. Damn it.’

Not only would he get an earful for drinking without identification or money, but he would also be in trouble for breaking the windows and doors. Would he have to count numbers with his hands up again? It would be better to do push-ups with his forehead on a rock.

Beric rolled his eyes, then snatched the painting hanging on the wall and ran away.

‘Catch him! He’s a thief!’

‘No, I’m really Beric! From the Imperial Guard!’

‘Then stop! You’re all talk! Catch him!’

‘Damn it.’

Tap tap! Thud!

Beric moved his feet quickly, dashing through the chaotic market. Where he passed, fruit carts overturned, ale jars broke, and piled-up goods were scattered.

‘Oh no, all the fruit is ruined!’

‘Hey, you crazy bastard!’

‘Oh, sorry!’

‘Catch that guy!’

Beric sniffed and ran towards the Imperial Palace, and the soldiers who were eating ale and meat on the street watched the scene with interest.

‘Isn’t that Imperial Guard Beric?’

‘Yeah. It is. I guess he got into some trouble again.’

‘Anyway, his life must be fun.’

The soldiers didn’t even think about getting involved, and just clinked their glasses together, as if it was nothing unusual.

* * *

‘So, to reiterate-‘

Ian’s eyes narrowed. Not only that, Jin pretended not to hear and turned his head away, and Tweller chuckled in disbelief.

The mages’ expressions were no different from Ian’s. They stood in a row behind Ian with their arms crossed, glaring at Beric.

‘…You ate without paying, damaged property, caused a disturbance by refusing to cooperate with the investigation, and then ran away?’

‘No, Ian. It’s not like that- I didn’t even drink a sip of ale at that place? And the property damage was an unavoidable process. As for refusing to cooperate with the investigation, well, yeah. That’s how it turned out.’

Beric smiled sheepishly, and the mages pinched their noses.

‘Ugh, the smell of ale. Ian, sir. This guy is definitely drunk. He’s not in his right mind.’

‘I’m not! I’m completely fine! Do I look like a lightweight who would fall apart after just three jars of ale?’

‘He’s saying the painting is moving, and all that. You idiot, how can you handle a painting mixed with magic stones in such a back alley? You have no common sense. Huh? You have a very impressive head.’

‘Then look for yourself!’

Thwack!

As Beric confidently held out the painting, the mages stretched their necks to look at it. But unfortunately, they couldn’t identify a painting drawn with magic stones at once.

‘What should we do, Ian, sir? We can’t confirm it right away unless it’s Commander Acorella.’

Unlike Acorella, who could detect magic stones just by their smell, ordinary mages had to go through a long process in the laboratory to confirm it. That was why the Bariel Emperor used it as a secret passage, and how Rutherford was able to infiltrate.

‘There are many things to do, why bother confirming it? Just tear it up and throw it away. It seems like Beric is hallucinating, but just in case, to prevent any possible threat.’

‘Yes, and we can ask Commander Acorella to look at it when she returns. What do you think?’

Ian turned the painting this way and that, checking for anything unusual. But it was still difficult to tell. In the end, Ian nodded, meaning it was okay to do so.

‘For now, tear it up and keep it.’

‘Yes, I understand. What about Beric? Should we tear him up too?’

‘Hmm. Not a bad idea.’

‘Ian?!’

Beric was startled by Ian’s calm joke and jumped up. It felt like he sobered up instantly.

Just as the mage was about to move the painting with a chuckle-

‘……!’

Someone was clearly sticking their face out in the background where there was nothing before, looking this way? And then-

‘Uwaaaah!’

‘……!’

A single arm rose up, swoosh. Tweller and Ian were surprised and blocked Jin, and the mage threw the painting towards the wall.

Thud!

A sound of something breaking was heard. The painting that hit the wall slid down, and blood was smeared along its trajectory. It was blood from the nose of the stranger who had stuck his head out.