Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 706

“That little rascal, acting like a thunderbolt,” Taoma muttered, watching Beric and his group quickly disappear.

‘Where is he going, leaving me here alone? My mission is to find the painting and get him back to the Southern Kingdom,’ Taoma grumbled, tucking the double-edged staff into his arms, and once again carefully examined the village.

“Huh.”

Seriously. This is a bolt from the blue. It was always a lively place, even if it was small.

He lightly shook the fallen priests by their collars, but it was meaningless. They were in no condition to even let out a small groan.

“Hey, coachman. Don’t hide, let’s search the village together. We need to find a painting with a red flower on it.”

“Huh? M-me too?”

“Or would you rather sit here and twiddle your thumbs?”

Taoma urged the coachman and entered the village chief’s house first. The interior, which had been simple and neat, was a mess, and there was no trace of human warmth.

‘If they ran away with the painting, they would have left clues, and if they didn’t have the mind to do that, they wouldn’t have taken the painting. Either clues or the painting must be left in the village.’

He searched the village with the coachman. Taoma hoped it was the former if possible. He would rather they had all escaped somewhere and were alive…

“Hey, isn’t this it?”

“Ah.”

But seeing the painting the coachman found, Taoma’s wish quietly faded. He sat down on the floor, staring blankly at the painting.

It was then. Something strange caught the coachman’s eye as he peeked from behind.

“Huh? I-is that moving in the painting…?”

‘Something’s moving inside?’

At this, Taoma’s eyes widened, and he immediately stuck his head into the painting. The coachman stepped back at the absurd and bewildering sight, but Taoma, as if that wasn’t enough, even put his waist into the painting, as if he had found something.

Swoosh!

“Paper and pen!”

“Yes?”

“Bring them!”

Taoma urged the coachman, his left arm still in the painting.

The method and frequency of passage through a magic stone painting are determined by how it is made. And once you step all the way in, you can’t come back out, so the only way was to leave a note for Beric and his group while awkwardly hanging in like this.

Swoosh.

-A message from Taoma to the colt-like Beric.

The people of this village have suffered great damage due to the discharge of sewage from the temple. But because there are so few people and the village itself is in a remote location, their claims seem to have been ignored. In a very terrible way.

But thankfully, some have taken refuge in the painting and gone to the Southern Kingdom. I will organize their testimonies and send them by messenger bird, so please tell the Imperial Palace not to be surprised and to receive the unfamiliar bird.

“Hey, Taoma-nim. Am I going with you?”

“Of course? Didn’t you get paid for several years in advance? Don’t talk nonsense, go to that house and get the wooden box in the upper cabinet of the kitchen. And look under the bed in that big wooden house. There will be a bundle wrapped in cloth.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

These were things that the surviving villagers had not been able to take when they fled. At Taoma’s instructions, the coachman busily went back and forth, while he continued to write the letter.

-This painting only opens the way from Vergos to the Southern Kingdom, so it will take some time before we meet again. But I will do my best to show my sincerity to Bariel as soon as possible. I will also send information related to Silask with the messenger bird.

And I beg you, please tell Ian to consider the sale price carefully. From what I see, it doesn’t seem to be enough with a reasonable calculation method, so I’m asking you, Beric.

Sometimes, can’t things be solved with just illogical stubbornness? If you help me, I will gladly forgive you for abandoning me like this.

“I’ve moved everything!”

“Then throw it into the painting! People from the temple might come down, so let’s hurry!”

-Ah! And one last thing. There are many paths connected to the capital of Toolun, but there are only a few main roads. Among them, the only one that can be used is the road connected to the village of Landarin in the west-northwest. The rest are unusable due to collapsed bridges or landslides, according to the surviving residents. The indigenous tribe of Toolun lives in Landarin village, and they are known to be quite sinister and say one thing and do another, so it’s best to be careful.

Well, I’ll stop here. Let’s have a drink again when we meet next time. I will never lose then.

Taoma drew his signature on the last page, then neatly folded it and hid the letter behind the frame. Then, he pulled the coachman and swoosh! Disappeared into the painting.

A single painting left on the side of the road. And a carriage. The village was once again enveloped in desolate silence.

* * *

“That’s all,” Ian said, handing Taoma’s letter to Jin. It was exactly as it was, without any changes.

Tweller and Jayrut’s eyes flashed at the same time as they heard the contents, as if they had obtained very useful information.

“Taoma is more useful than I thought.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Things have become very interesting.”

“I will send a letter to the Imperial Palace. Since it’s a messenger bird from the Southern Kingdom, it would be good to give them a heads-up in advance, as Taoma said, to prevent confusion.”

“Do as you wish. And at the same time-”

Jin added with a dry smile.

“Spread the rumors.”

The Masantar Temple is like a cradle for Toolun politicians. But not only did sewage that kills the land flow out from there, but they also killed their own people to cover it up? If the people of Toolun knew this, how would they accept it?

“There are already many who are dissatisfied with the war between Bariel and Toolun. The spiritist families were like that. There is also pressure to find mercenary mages to prepare for war, and above all, the spark of war is Ian’s mother.”

In fact, Toolun had given Bariel a justification by kidnapping Philia. No matter how you look at it, it could only be seen as their own clear mistake. It was impossible to guess how high the resentment of the soldiers and people mobilized for the war would soar.

“But if rumors spread that the temple massacred the villagers in the midst of all this… the internal rift will deepen even more.”

“That’s right. It’s a relief that there are survivors. Although they have fled to the Southern Kingdom, it seems that there will be no problem as we can secure their testimony through Taoma.”

“No matter how much they talk about the underground god or the shadow of god, the people will not believe it, nor will they understand it. Rather, such a sensational incident will resonate more with them. We will spread the truth about the Toolun Royal Palace without leaving anything out on every path Bariel passes.”

“That’s right. Everything is flowing according to the natural order, so this is also a blessing from God.”

Jin smiled with satisfaction. ‘Is that all? Is there anything else to report?’ At Jin’s gaze, Beric rolled his eyes and mumbled.

“And, well, there’s, um, one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the Aierin soldier from the sewage investigation team.”

When the name Aierin was mentioned, everyone’s eyes shifted. Some glanced at Jin, and others, like Beric, looked away completely.

“There’s a problem.”

“…What is it?”

“It seems like she has the ability to purify sewage, but there are some side effects. She has blotchy spots all over her body… Well, fortunately, she doesn’t seem to be in any pain, but it seems like some action is needed.”

Jin paused for a moment, then nodded and ordered.

“…Bring her here.”

“That won’t do, Your Majesty,” Tweller and Jayrut blocked him at the same time.

“Isn’t it said that the spots appeared after the sewage purification? Since the causal relationship with the sewage is clear, it is the same as having poison. It’s too dangerous.”

“I agree with Minister Tweller’s opinion. Although Aierin has the power of a paladin flowing through her and there are no special symptoms other than the spots, no one can be sure what will happen if she is mixed with people.”

They were all right. Even a light cough was not allowed in front of the Emperor, but where did they think they were, bringing such a person here?

Jin’s gaze shifted to Ian.

“But she is someone who sacrificed herself for Bariel. If the Emperor does not commend her, who will? Furthermore, Beric has traveled a long distance with her, so if we go by that, Beric is also subject to isolation.”

“Huh? Why me all of a sudden?”

“Your Majesty,” Ian added soothingly. He knew Jin’s feelings well, but there was nothing wrong with the ministers’ claims, so there was no choice but to find a suitable compromise.

“The Magic Department will investigate Aierin. Since she purified the sewage, she is clearly of great value. If we are lucky, we may be able to find out the identity of the sewage during the investigation process. Also, if there is no reward for those who sacrificed themselves for Bariel, the loyalty to Bariel will fade in the long run, so it would not be good as an example, as Your Majesty said. The Magic Department will take responsibility for treating her and have her commended directly by Your Majesty.”

‘Would this be okay?’ Ian’s smile was conveyed not only to Jin but also to Tweller and Jayrut. The two seemed to want to completely isolate her from the main unit, but it was better to reach an agreement here. For Jin as a human being, and for Jin as an Emperor.

“Is treatment possible? What if it’s contagious…?”

“There is no need to worry too much. Isn’t it a phenomenon caused by sewage? If so, you should all be worried about the past days you spent in Kalamat.”

They used well water instead of river water, but surely the sewage had seeped deep into the ground, even into the groundwater. It was also uncertain whether the Bariel soldiers who drank that water would be safe.

“There is no disease that cannot be cured. The only problem is whether humans can endure the process. Since Aierin doesn’t seem to be in any pain, I am optimistic.”

Moreover, if Aierin was able to purify it because she was a ‘paladin’ [a holy warrior], it was the best news. There were many temples all over Gaia. Of course, not all temples would be like Masantar.

“Anyway, the Magic Department will take charge of Aierin’s matter. And since she has been inside the temple, she has no choice but to be with the Magic Department anyway.”

“I went there too, you know?”

“Yes. Beric, you did too.”

Ian looked back at Jin politely and asked.

“May I take Beric, who is a member of the Imperial Guard?”

“Of course. There is no one more suitable for this mission than Beric. Commander Jayrut, isn’t that right?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. And it would be good to send Cedric along as well.”

“Cedric?”

He is still a trainee, and not a significant force, is he? When Jin looked back in doubt, Jayrut looked at Beric, who was covered in soot, and answered.

“When the mages are engaged in battle, someone needs to watch over Aierin. Someone who is better than a regular soldier but not to the extent that it would be a loss to the main force would be suitable, and Cedric happens to be that person. It would be good to assign him to the Magic Department.”

Also, Cedric was the first to see Aierin’s spots and had been with her the longest. It was in consideration of a possible situation.

At this, everyone except Beric muttered inwardly.

‘How cold.’

It was true, but was it necessary to express it that way? He was too cold, tsk.

But that’s why it was a more rational judgment. In the battlefield, cold and rational decisions were essential.

“Then I command it. Beric, Cedric, and Aierin, move to the temple with all the members of the Magic Department.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“…Please keep in touch, Ian,” Jin covered his mouth with his sleeve and whispered very quietly and secretly, and Ian smiled and answered that he would.