Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 873

“Th-that-”

Philia stammered, and the man with the halo gently gazed at her face. His golden hair shimmered and sparkled.

*Have I seen her somewhere before?* the man wondered. The assassin, sensing an opening, drew his bow again.

“Arrow!”

Ian shouted in surprise, but the man reacted calmly. Once again, he casually caught the arrow and snapped it in half.

The man tossed the arrow shaft aside and muttered,

“…Bandits, I see.”

“Y-yes! Bandits!”

“Just a moment.”

He strode towards the chaotic sword fight.

Philia and Ian watched him, holding each other tightly. It was a stark contrast. Amidst the screams and fountains of blood, his steps were so calm.

“Die!”

“Eek!”

One of the attackers climbed onto the fallen Romandro, raising his sword. The sharply honed tip of the blade was aimed at Romandro’s neck.

But at that moment-

*Whump!*

“Cough!”

The man put strength into his fist and struck the attacker’s side. The attacker’s body flew up and tumbled several meters away.

Romandro looked up at him with teary eyes. *Is he even human? That didn’t sound like a punch just now?*

*Thud!*

“Wh-what’s going on-”

“That guy, he’s from a different race! Kill him first!”

“Damn it, this wasn’t in the plan! Everyone, attack!”

“Uwaaaah!”

The attackers, seeing their comrade knocked away with a single blow, realized the man’s strength was extraordinary. They split to the left and right and charged at the man, who leisurely took off his robe.

*Rustle.*

The massive physique of a tanned man was revealed instantly. The attackers, who had charged so boldly, involuntarily paused.

As if telling them to hurry up, he took a step forward, closing the distance to the enemies.

*Tap!*

It was just one leap, but in the blink of an eye, he was right in front of them. The man didn’t seem to care that his opponents were holding swords.

He ducked to avoid the incoming sword and grabbed the opponent’s hair, slamming him into the ground.

*Crack!*

“Huuuuh!”

*Whack!*

Romandro, who was watching, covered his face with both hands as if his own nose hurt.

“Ouch!”

This time, the man’s blow landed squarely on the solar plexus. Romandro clutched his chest, stiffening as if he couldn’t breathe.

*Snap!*

“Teeeek! His ankle’s broken, that one!”

The tanned man had annihilated dozens of bandits in the blink of an eye. He turned to Romandro, looking bewildered. *What’s with that reaction?*

As the man dusted off his hands and picked up his robe again, the magic department staff rushed over and tied the bandits’ limbs with ropes.

“Th-thank you!”

“Tie them up and lay them on one side!”

“If you’re injured, raise your hand!”

“Wait! The injuries are too severe! Doctors!”

Fortunately, doctors were present, so treatment was immediate. Doctors gathered around the coachmen, porters, and magic department staff, opening their medical bags.

“……”

The man put on the robe he had taken off. He was preparing to leave.

Philia, holding Ian, approached him.

“Excuse me, thank you. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

“Ah, you’re cut here…”

Philia, noticing a small wound on the man’s neck, quickly rummaged through her bag. She should have a handful of emergency herbs… Meanwhile, Ian pulled the man’s arm, telling him to lower his posture, and he had no choice but to sit on the ground.

“Thank you for saving us. I am Ian Hadel of the Hadel family.”

“You’re a noble. I knew there was something different about you. I am-”

The man paused slightly at Philia’s touch. As a subtle atmosphere passed between them, Ian tilted his head, eyes wide with curiosity.

“Malatai Chin Nersarn.”

“Nersarn. You don’t seem to be from Bariel.”

“…I am from Chunryeo.”

“Chunryeo?”

He seemed to be watching to see if he would be scorned as a barbarian. But Ian simply asked with a curious tone.

“Are all Chunryeo people as strong as you? You’re amazing. Where is that place?”

“It’s in the center of the Great Desert, bordering the Enrow Territory, east of Bariel. By the way, please speak comfortably.”

“I can’t do that. You’re the benefactor who saved my life.”

The treatment was quickly finished. It was such a small injury that it was hard to believe he had faced nearly a dozen enemies alone.

Philia finished wrapping the bandage and stood up, then ran off to find where she was needed. Nersarn stared intently at her retreating figure.

“Nersarn?”

“…Yes?”

“What brings you to Bariel?”

Nersarn, startled back to his senses, replied,

“The funeral of the tribal chief of Chunryeo ended recently. I came to Bariel to deliver the chief’s last will.”

“A last will?”

“Yes. He told me to report your death directly to the Imperial Palace. Normally, the allied Enrow would submit a report, but I believe he had a reason for doing so. I believe it.”

Nersarn still couldn’t understand the chief’s intentions. Why did he have to go to the Imperial Palace himself?

But the chief was a ‘seer of the future,’ the spiritual guide of Chunryeo, and a great leader who had saved the tribe from near extinction. He was on his way to the Imperial Palace, thinking there must be a reason.

“Then we have the same destination.”

“Are you also going to the Imperial Palace, Ian?”

“Yes, I am.”

Nersarn paused, holding the reins of his horse. Then, he hesitated for a long time, as if he was about to say something difficult, and cautiously asked,

“By any chance, the woman from earlier.”

“Who? Philia?”

“Yes, Philia. Is she your mother?”

“Of course not. Philia is alone.”

The child clearly resolved the question.

Nersarn’s expression didn’t change much, but Ian quickly sensed his mood and smiled brightly, offering a suggestion.

“If it’s alright, would you like to travel with us to the center? It’s not far, but I’m worried that more bandits might appear.”

“…I don’t mind.”

“That’s a relief. Then, just a moment.”

Ian approached Romandro, who was inspecting the captured bandits. They were all unconscious from Nersarn’s blows, not a single one was in good condition.

“You crazy bastards. Do you even know what kind of carriage this is?!”

“Romandro, no one can hear you.”

“That’s why I’m shouting like this. Ahem.”

“Hey, Romandro.”

“Ah! Ian! Are you alright?”

Ian tugged at Romandro’s sleeve and gestured with his eyes, as if he wanted to talk quietly for a moment. At the child’s signal, Romandro approached the bushes, looking puzzled.

“What is it?”

“Romandro, listen carefully. I think those bandits were targeting me.”

“Yes?”

*What are you talking about?* Romandro crouched down, listening to Ian’s words.

“Didn’t you hear what they were saying earlier?”

“…Where is he?”

“This wasn’t in the plan…”

Romandro and the others were too busy fighting to hear it properly, but Ian wasn’t. The child clearly saw who had said those words.

“Why would they target Ian…”

But Romandro was just puzzled. He was just a five-year-old child. Assassination? What complicated circumstances would cause bandits to target his life?

Ian fidgeted with his fingertips, as if debating whether to tell Romandro about it or not.

“Oh my, heavens!”

*Whistle!*

It was then. The guards from the nearby area suddenly appeared, blowing their whistles. It was strange. They had been told that a carriage hijacking would ‘occur,’ but how were the bandits already captured?

Romandro waved his hand and shouted,

“Oh! Guards!”

“What, what happened here?”

“What do you mean what happened! We were suddenly attacked on the road. If it weren’t for that hermit over there, everyone here would have been killed! Where is the guard of this area? You should have taken care of those bandits a long time ago!”

As Romandro pointed to Nersarn, the guards stared blankly with bewildered expressions. He was single-handedly lifting the overturned carriage. …This is crazy, why is such a monster here?

“W-we’re sorry. We’ll take the bandits into custody for investigation and punishment. It’s not far from here, so if you need help from the village, we can move together.”

“Hmm.”

Romandro looked back at the doctors. There were already several dead, and many others needed urgent surgery.

There was no choice. They would have to stay overnight in the village, find a new coachman, and repair the carriage.

“We’ll do that. But-”

Romandro instructed the guards,

“I’d like to do a quick investigation of those guys first.”

“Yes? You? Who are you?”

“I’m late with the introduction. I’m Romandro from the Magic Department.”

As Romandro handed over his business card, the guards frowned, looking displeased. He wasn’t an investigator, just some magic department staff, where did he get the authority?

As the guards’ mood stiffened, Romandro subtly poked their waists.

“There’s something a little strange. It’s okay if we just observe.”

“…I’ll report to my superior.”

“Yes. I’d appreciate that.”

Romandro winked at Ian. As Ian had said, their attack might have been planned by someone. This was something that definitely needed to be investigated. Ian smiled brightly and nodded.

“Alright! Let’s move the injured to the village first!”

The guards loaded the captured bandits behind the horses, and Nersarn put the fallen carriage wheel back in place, tapping it lightly. Finally, he gathered the ropes that the bandits had put up to block the road, and the carriage moved forward again.

* * *

“Lord Crony! Lord Crony!”

*Thud!*

Crony, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book, frowned and turned around. Why was it so noisy? He was annoyed. Such calls always brought unexpected, negative news.

As he turned his head, one of his men rushed in with a flustered face.

“Th-there’s a problem.”

“What problem?”

“Ian Hadel was attacked by bandits and has moved to a nearby village.”

*Clink.* The sound of the teacup being put down was ominous. Crony’s eyes were sharp and fierce, as if blades had seeped into them.

*Are you kidding me?* That wasn’t the report he was supposed to receive.

“Moved to a nearby village?”

No. That shouldn’t have happened. ‘The guards found the body of Ian Hadel, who was attacked by bandits’ was what it should have been.

But his men scratched their heads, not knowing what to do.

“It seems he was helped by a mercenary who was passing by. There were some casualties among the coachmen and others, but Ian Hadel is safe.”

“…Is that so?”

When they commissioned the bandits, they had approached them under false pretenses. It wouldn’t be revealed immediately, but if they investigated over time, the truth would eventually come out.

Crony slammed the book shut and stood up.

“It’s a relief that my uncle is safe. I’ll go see him myself. Bring the horses.”